On Saturday 23rd May Charlton Athletic Women play one final game of the 2025/26 season. The play-off against the WSL's bottom club - Leicester City (12.30pm kick off)
It is a game that last summer would have been a target but now feels like one final desperate chance. Before the season began the expectations were that The Addicks would give it a go. Two automatic promotion spots and a play-off meant that it was the best chance to go up in years. Of course, Birmingham, Crystal Palace and probably Newcastle and a host of other clubs had higher budgets but we are Charlton Athletic. We punch above our weight. That is what this club does.
And for the vast majority of the season, that is exactly what happened. A long unbeaten run, that stretched back to last season. A whole calendar year unbeaten is no mean feat. But then the first defeat came - a 2-0 loss to now relegated Portsmouth. Charlton only won a single match after that, racking up three losses and one draw. The loss away to Crystal Palace stung the most as it not only dented our promotion hopes but it also boosted theirs.
Still, we went into the final day with promotion in our hands as a draw with Birmingham City was all we needed. A rather limp performance followed with two goals conceded and none scored. That Wilma Leidhammar scored both Birmingham goals tells a story in itself. The Blues saw themselves floundering behind us in the winter window and strengthened well. While we sat top of the table we brought in two players - Katie Lockwood who is yet to start a WSL2 game and Lizzie Waldie who played 21 minutes in the Portsmouth defeat and who hasn’t even made the bench in the league since.
All of that is now water under the bridge. Although this play-off might feel like a consolation, it still represents an opportunity. One final shot at the WSL, winner takes all. Although a three week break is less than ideal, Karen Hills side did look tired. The downturn in form must have had a psychological effect too. It’s hard to go from unbeaten to being turned over regularly.
Hopefully, the three week break has been a reset. Jodie Hutton has clearly been managing a niggle which we hope has healed. Carl Humphrey made the bench on the final day and she may be a more serious option. Gloria Siber picked up an injury at Southampton and we don't know whether it has healed yet. One thing we do know is that Charlotte Newsham will not be available as she sustained a ruptured ACL during the Birmingham game. The team will badly miss her marauding runs up the right wing.
Leicester City are hard to judge. They are rock bottom of the WSL and were confirmed to stay there with a handful of games remaining. They last tasted victory in December against London City Lionesses which was the last time they even secured a point. In terms of experience against WSL2 opposition, The Foxes beat Ipswich 5-1 in December in the League Cup and lost 3-0 to Crystal Palace in the same competition. Despite playing with a back five, they have conceded a whopping 51 goals. They still have Everton to face on Saturday so that number is likely to go up.
The gameplan seems obvious. Go for the jugular. Target Leicester’s leaky defence, get a lead, double it and then defend it. The issue is, Charlton don’t do that. The Addicks like to sit back, defend and hope to grab a goal from a set piece or a counter attack. That was fine when clean sheets were a regular occurrence but Sophie Whitehouse has had to pick the ball out of her net every game since the 1-0 victory against Sunderland in March.
One thing is for sure, this team deserve a big crowd. To be roared on by as many Addicks as possible in the West Stand. We can all do our bit to push Karen Hills and her side over the top and into the promised land.
Over 1000 tickets have already been sold ten days before the game. You can get yours here:
https://booking.cafc.co.uk/en-GB/categories/Womens%20Home%20Games
Photo by Danni Fairbairn