Crystal Palace forward Molly Sharpe believes that the team can make a positive impact at both ends of the pitch this season.
The Eagles turned full-time 12 months ago but endured a challenging campaign in 2022/2023. Crystal Palace are now ready to go again under the guidance of recently-appointed head coach Laura Kaminski.
If Crystal Palace are to enjoy a successful season, they must tighten up at both ends of the pitch. When speaking exclusively to FAWSL Full-Time, forward Sharpe said that the team have the potential to do well both in attack and defence this year.
“In pre-season, we have scored a lot of goals and we want to take that form into the season,” Sharpe said. “With the players that we have got, there is no reason why we can’t score a lot of goals.
“A massive problem that we had last season was conceding too many goals. We have worked hard on limiting that in pre-season.
“I think there are a lot of goals in us but also, I think there is potential for us to keep a lot of clean sheets as well which is absolutely vital in this league.”
New head coach Kaminski finally has the opportunity to take charge of an elite club team after occupying various assistant roles in recent years. Sharpe has been impressed by her new boss since her arrival at the club last month and hopes are high for a successful season.
She said “Laura has been great, she’s been really supportive of us all and she wants to get to know us off the pitch as well as on the pitch which I think is very important. It is really important to know who we are as people as well as football players.
“She’s really excited about letting us express ourselves on the pitch. We are all talented girls so I think if we can take that and work together as a team, as well as expressing ourselves, it is only going to go well for us.”
Another change for Crystal Palace this season sees them move to a new home ground. The Eagles are swapping the Reloc8 Em Community Stadium in Bromley for the VBS Community Stadium, home of EFL club Sutton United. Sharpe says that Crystal Palace have received a warm welcome from their new landlords.
“Bromley has been great for us and we have loved being there but I do think that playing on a grass pitch (at Sutton) helps with the legs and things like that,” Sharpe said. “It is a better playing environment and hopefully, we can get more fans in.
“There is a real buzz around the club and the stadium to have us there and for it to be our new home. It is really exciting.”
Crystal Palace’s first Barclays Women’s Championship fixture of the season is against Reading at the VBS Community Stadium on Sunday. Tickets for the match can be purchased by clicking here.
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