Birmingham City Women face London City Lionesses in a Championship title decider on Sunday afternoon (2:15pm)
Louise Quinn will step out at St Andrew’s for the final time on Sunday
Birmingham City Women’s title decider with London City Lionesses is set to be watched by a club-record attendance at St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park.
Blues have introduced a wave of initiatives to encourage supporters to get behind the women’s team in their promotion shoot-out, and more than 5,500 tickets have already been snapped up, according to the club.
London City are top of the table, two points clear of Blues, so Amy Merricks’ side have to win to seal their place in next season’s Women’s Super League. No other scenario will cut it on Sunday.
Both teams were held to 1-1 draws last weekend to set up this winner-takes-all clash.
Van Egmond ready for one last push
Emily van Egmond is among the biggest names in Blues’ squad, having won 156 caps for Australia, and her experience will be key on Sunday.
The Aussie insists the team should be proud to be in the conversation for promotion.
“I did a little bit of research before coming in and it’s a competitive league from top to bottom,” said Van Egmond. “As a footballer, that’s what you want, you want a challenge every week.
“The team should be proud to even be in this situation, competing for a promotion spot.
“Hopefully we get all our fans out there to support us because it will honestly feel like a 12th man for us out there.”
Wagner will be in attendance
It is no surprise ticket sales have increased since Tom Wagner’s call to arms earlier this week.
Blues chairman Wagner said: “When we fill St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park we rarely, if ever, lose. This weekend we’ve got a huge match on the women’s side against London City Lionesses where a win secures promotion.
“I’ll be there, I would love to see you all there as well to make it a very special day for everyone.”
Recognition for Magill
Northern Irish forward Simone Magill has been nominated for the Barclays Women’s Championship Player of the Month for April after scoring three times in two matches.
Magill netted a brace in Blues’ huge 3-1 comeback victory over Durham at St Andrew’s before opening the scoring in the draw at Newcastle United last weekend.
Magill is up against Newcastle’s Beth Lumsden, London City’s Isobel Goodwin and Portsmouth’s Sophie Quirk.
Quinn to retire
Blues Women will bid farewell to club captain Louise Quinn after their match with London City.
Quinn, 34, has made 84 appearances for Blues across a four-year spell and top scored for the team in the 2021/22 campaign.
Before joining Blues in 2021, Quinn represented Fiorentina, Arsenal, Notts County and Swedish side Eskilstuna United.
“Retiring was no easy decision and you go back and forth, but I’m going to continue being a fan in whatever way I can be,” said Quinn.
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