Carney prepares for Banks's Stadium clash later this month...
ENGLAND Women's International, Karen Carney will be a guest at our game against MK Dons on Saturday as she prepares for the big Euro 2013 Qualifier against Croatia, which takes place here on Wednesday, September 19th.
The Birmingham City and England ace was a key member of the Team GB women’s squad at London 2012 and she was delighted to see bumper crowds at all their matches – in Cardiff, Wembley and Coventry.
But now her focus will shift from the Olympics to the European Championship, as a victory for Hope Powell’s side here at Banks's Stadium will seal their place at Euro 2013.
“The Olympics was the best experience of my life,” began Carney. “The whole nation got behind us and got behind the women’s tournament in general and I think we helped to change a lot of people’s perception of women’s football.
“I think that shows how much the game has progressed. The Olympics proved that women’s football has got a really big following in this country so I’d like to think that we’d get a good crowd at Walsall.
“It’s a really important game for us. If we win it we qualify for the Euros and that would be another opportunity for us to promote women’s football, so a big crowd at Banks’s Stadium could help us do that.”
European Championship qualification is clearly Carney’s focal point, but on a personal note, the Birmingham-born bag of tricks is relishing the chance to play for England so close to home.
“Walsall is just up the M6 from me so it’s great for me to be playing for my country so close to where I live,” she added. “I have played there twice before. It’s a great stadium, they’ve got a great pitch and I’m looking forward to going there again.
“Hopefully we can get the three points we need to make it to the Euros.”
Tickets for England Women v Croatia Women are now available from the Banks's Stadium Ticket Office or by telephone on 01922-651 414/416. They are priced at £5 (adults) and £2.50 (under-16s and over-65s). Under-12s are free with an accompanying paying adult. Come and show your support for our girls...