Crystal Palace captain Aimee Everett admits that she never imagined that guiding the club to the Barclays Women’s Championship title was possible.
The Eagles secured their status as 2023/2024 Barclays Women’s Championship champions following this afternoon’s goalless draw against Sunderland at Selhurst Park.
Crystal Palace can now look forward to playing Barclays Women’s Super League football next season and midfielder Everett admits that the position that the club find themselves in is beyond her wildest dreams.
“It’s an amazing feeling,” Everett said when speaking to the media after the match. “I just want to enjoy this moment now and celebrate it but I think there’s lots to look forward to and a lot of excitement to come.
“Coming into the club three years ago, I never thought that this would happen. To do it and break records with this club; this club is very special and the fans are a big part of that.”
Crystal Palace started putting down the solid foundations for Barclays Women’s Super League football in summer 2022 when they turned full-time. A strong squad of players was assembled last season and the club added further quality to their group this term. Everett says that signing players that fit into the Crystal Palace philosophy has been key.
She said “We have got a lot of leaders in the group. At the start of the season, we had the same group of girls and the same values installed. Those coming in had to fit in.
“We’ve just built on that, everyone has bought into the philosophy, the values, the culture of the club and I think that’s what has got us to where we are today.”
Crystal Palace’s title victory is made sweeter by the fact that they have beaten off four rival clubs. Everett went on to pay tribute to the other sides that have played their parts in the title race.
She said “The league this year deserves a lot of credit. To have four or five teams in it until the last minute shows amazing quality from all of those teams, so credit to them.”
Everett has now won the Barclays Women’s Championship title twice in her career. She also helped Leicester City to reach the Barclays Women’s Super League in 2020/2021.