Millwall Lionesses boss Chris Phillips reveals family FA Cup connection ahead of Liverpool tie
Millwall Lionesses are in a state of high excitement ahead of a dream FA Cup tie at Liverpool on Sunday – with boss Chris Phillips equally exuberant because of his own family connection to the famous men’s trophy.
The Lionesses beat Lewes 1-0 at the weekend to book their passage into the fifth round – a glorious Grace Neville volley in injury time earning them a first victory of the campaign.
The win was a huge relief after a long wait for success and a reward for steady improvement this season, as well as a refusal to become dispirited about the defeats which have left them rooted to the bottom of the table.
And now they can look forward to a fabulous day out on Merseyside against a team from the top flight of the women’s game.
Phillips is under no illusion about the task ahead, but says everyone is going to embrace the occasion wholeheartedly.
“Preparation for Liverpool started straight away, with video downloads of them in action and the first of four training sessions this week,” he told the South London Press on Monday.
“We’ll travel up the day before the game, so everyone can get a good night’s rest ahead of the match. We will be in great spirits. There’s a great determination and desire to work hard and put the hours in ahead of this one.
“We know it will be hard, of course. The gulf between the sides is massive. They may be only a division above us, but in terms of finances and status, it is like a non-league side taking on a Premier League club.
“They are a full-time professional outfit. We are a team with an average age of 18 who are all at school, college or working.”
Phillips knows all about the magic of the FA Cup. His mother’s uncle was Billy Meadows, who played for non-league Hereford United in one of the most famous cup ties of all time in 1972.
That was when Ronnie Radford scored that blinder in an astonishing 2-1 triumph over Newcastle United. Mum Shirley was there watching at the time, pregnant with Phillips’ sister Kim.
“I was yet to be born, but the FA Cup connection is there,” he said.
“I’m just as thrilled as the players about this game, and really pleased for them. They deserve it for their togetherness, energy, enthusiasm and work-rate, which is still there, even after such a difficult season in the league. We are going to make the most of it.”
Two-goal Gemma Bryan helped struggling Crystal Palace Ladies to ease their problems near the bottom of FA Women’s Championship with a 3-2 win over Leicester City.
Bryan, who caused the home side problems throughout the afternoon, slid a simple effort into an empty net to decide a rollercaster match in the 84th minute.
The victory saw the South Londoners climb one place to ninth in the second tier table. Nikita Whinett was also on target for the Eagles.
IMAGE BY KEITH GILLARD
