The home of Palace Women. Find the majority of games played here in Sutton with our official supporters guide.

Visiting the VBS 

## Annabel Blanchard

> Blanchard joined Palace in 2022 off the back of a remarkable season with Blackburn Rovers in which she earned both Coaches' and Supporters' Player of the Season, and has since grown into one of English football's most exciting playmakers.

Blanchard is a young, two-footed forward capable of playing across the front line or, more regularly, as a No. 10.

Blanchard began her career aged just 16 with Liverpool, but started her time with the England youth setup the year before, and has represented the national side from Under-17-Under-19 levels.

After leaving Liverpool she joined Leicester City and then Blackburn Rovers, with whom she finished joint-top goalscorer in 21/22.

Blanchard then joined Palace in the summer of 2022 and made a strong start in South London, with four goals in 22 Championship appearances in her maiden campaign.

In 2023/24, Blanchard's brilliance shone as Palace Women claimed promotion from the Championship, the forward scoring 11 times in just 19 league games including clinical hat-tricks against both Durham and London City Lionesses.

Such form led to Blanchard not only winning both the Championship Goal and Player of the Month awards in September – as well as a nomination for the latter for November – but also the club's Player of the Month awards for October and March to boot.

At the start of Palace's first-ever top-flight season, Blanchard became our inaugural Women's Super League goalscorer, netting a brace in our first win against Leicester City – 2-0 at the King Power Stadium – in October 2024.

September 2023

Championship Player of the Month

Championship Goal of the Month

Blackburn Rovers, 2021/22

Coaches' Player of the Season

Supporters' Player of the Season

February 2023, October 2023, April 2024

Crystal Palace Player of the Month

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### Summary:

- Larisey drops out of the starting line-up, whilst Sharpe is handed a start from manager Smerud
- **14:** GOAL - The away side take the lead thanks to a stunning volley from Mead
- **26:** GOAL - The ball is given away cheaply and Russo capitalises to make it 0-2
- **34:** Caldentey flashes an effort just past the right post
- **45:** Stengel finds herself in a good position but can't keep her effort under the bar
- **HT: Palace 0-2 Arsenal**
- **52:** Weerden has an audacious attempt from 25 yards out, but can't get it on target
- **60:** A smart save from Yañez denies Arsenal a third
- **77:** GOAL - Arsenal work the ball well down the left side and the ball finds the net by way of an own goal
- **90:** GOAL - Mead doubles her tally with another brilliant effort
- **FT: Palace 0-4 Arsenal**

2885 fans turned up to watch Palace face up against second-place Arsenal in what was an action packed day in South London.

The Champions League semi-finalists took the lead 14 minutes in, thanks to a stunning volley from Lioness Beth Mead.

The Gunners doubled their lead 12 minutes later, with Alessia Russo ruthlessly punishing a Palace giveaway on the edge of the area.

Palace were inches away from pulling one back just before the half-time whistle, but Katie Stengel just couldn't keep her effort under the bar.

Shae Yañez was called into action early into the second half, with the goalkeeper making a smart save on 60 minutes to deny a third goal for Arsenal.

The Eagles managed to stifle the away side for most of the second half, with the Gunners being reduced to few chances.

Despite Palace's hard work, Arsenal managed to kill the game off on 77 minutes.

England international Chloe Kelly worked the ball cleverly down the left side, and the subsequent cross deflected off of Allyson Swaby and into the Palace net.

In similarly sensational fashion, Mead then doubled her tally on the 90 minute mark with a wonderful long-range effort to make it 4-0 to Arsenal.

Palace remain in 12th place in the league, with some of players set for to go on international duty over the coming weeks.

When they return, Palace will face Chelsea away at Kingsmeadow with further details set to be announced soon.

**Palace:** Yañez (GK), Woodham, Swaby, Nouwen, Nolan (Potter, 64), Cato, Green, Arthur (Riley, 64), Sharpe (Veje, 64), Weerden (Blanchard, 82), Larkin (Hughes, 79), Stengel

Subs not used: Majasaari (GK), Green

**Arsenal**: Domselaar (GK), Fox, Williamson (Reid, 84), Catley, Caldentey, Mead, Maanum (Pelova, 61), Wälti (Little, 61), Kelly, Nighswonger, Russo

Subs not used: Zinsberger (GK), Little, Kafaji, Foord, Blackstenius, Ilestedt, Cooney-Cross

It wasn't to be for Palace Women, as they suffered a 4-0 defeat to Arsenal in front of a record-crowd at the VBS Community Stadium in Sutton.

Report: Palace suffer defeat to title-chasing Arsenal at Sutton

Crystal Palace Women v Arsenal Women (2025-03-30)

Arsenal Women

English Women's Super League

Crystal Palace Women

Last Match

Chelsea Women

Next Match

EXPLORE PALACE WOMEN

Kicking us off on the opening day of the month, **Eddie Nketiah**'s soaring header against South London rivals Millwall was a beauty – and the perfect way to settle our FA Cup fifth-round tie.

Under-21s attacker **Hindolo Mustapha** makes the shortlist twice this month, with eye-catching solo efforts against both Arsenal and Manchester City proving crucial to his team taking points in both matches.

Fellow Academy forward **Benjamin Casey** is also on the shortlist for his brilliant control and volleyed finish in a win over London rivals West Ham United.

**Ismaïla Sarr**'s fine form continued in March with two brilliantly-taken goals: the first his match-winner against Ipswich Town at Selhurst Park, and the latter a flicked header in our FA Cup quarter-final win at Fulham.

**Ebere Eze**'s crucial opening goal in that game – a spectacular low rocket, following a clever run inside from Tyrick Mitchell's lay-off – is an also an option for you to choose from.

And **Ashleigh Weerden**'s vital goal for Palace Women from outside the area – a powerful finish which helped propel the Eagles to a first-ever Women's Super League home win – is also shortlisted.

**Choose your favourite of the eight goals below!**

Crystal Palace's strong form continued across their Men's, Women's and Academy sides in the month of March, with goals aplenty. Below are eight of the best – so choose the one you want to take the Goal of the Month trophy!

Vote now for your March Goal of the Month!

After Chelsea's progression to the semi-finals of the UEFA Women’s Champions League, this match is now set to take place at Kingsmeadow on **Wednesday, 23rd April**, with **kick-off scheduled for 19:15 BST**.

The game will be broadcast live on **BBC iPlayer** and the [**BBC Sport website**](https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00260cf) in the UK.

In the WSL this season, matches will be shown on both BBC Sport and Sky Sports, the two primary broadcast partners of the league.

Every single match which is not shown across these platforms this season will be available to live stream via the WSL YouTube channel.

If you can't watch the game, the best place to follow all the action live on matchday is via our [**Palace Women X channel**](https://x.com/cpfc_w) and [**Instagram channel,**](https://www.instagram.com/cpfc_w/?hl=en) with live updates and content throughout the afternoon.

You can also follow via the official [**Crystal Palace App**](https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/information/palace-app-upgraded-download-and-use-now/), through which **goal updates and other important notifications are delivered straight to your phone**, keeping you informed of all the goals and key incidents for both sides.

Throughout the game, live **Opta stats** on the app will also keep you up to date with all the action. Even from ahead of matchday, and after the full-time whistle, you can follow all the action, **with previews, reaction and video** all in one place.

**Tickets for this game are now on-sale,** you can find out more details below!

Buy tickets here!

*Please read the information in full below before purchasing your tickets.*

### 📅 **Match Details**

**Chelsea vs Crystal Palace:**

- **Opponent**: Chelsea
- **Date**:  Wednesday, 23rd April 
- **Time**: 19:15
- **Competition**: Barclays Women's Super League
- **Venue**: Kingsmeadow

### 🎟 **Ticket Price**

- **Adult**: £15
- **Senior (65+)**: £7.50
- **Junior (Under 20)**: £7.50

### ℹ️ **Matchday Information**

- Tickets will be fulfilled as PDF's which will be sent no later than 24 hours prior to kick off
- Supporters under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult over the age of 18.
- Matchday visitors Guide - <https://www.chelseafc.com/en/tickets-guides-policies-and-forms>
- Supporters are reminded that there is no parking available on-site.

### **👜 Bag Policy** 

- No bags larger than A4 will be permitted into the stadium. This equates to 30cm x 20cm x 10cm, about the size of a standard handbag.
- Please note that due to a lack of space, baggage deposit facilities will not be available, so your supporters are strongly advised not to bring any bags to Kingsmeadow. 

Crystal Palace Women’s upcoming Barclays Women’s Super League fixture against Chelsea will now kick off at 19:15 BST on Wednesday, 23rd April.

Palace’s WSL fixture at Chelsea rescheduled

Chelsea Women v Crystal Palace Women (2025-04-20)

Match reports

Match reports

Report: Palace suffer defeat to title-chasing Arsenal at Sutton

Latest News

Vote now for your March Goal of the Month!

Palace’s WSL fixture at Chelsea rescheduled

Latest Videos

Leif reflects on tough loss at home

Pre Match Press conference Arsenal (H)

Leif reflects on WSL loss

WSL Pre Match Press conference Everton (A)

WSL Highlights: Palace 3-1 Aston Villa

Leif praises team's fight in WSL win over Villa

10Annabel
Blanchard

Match reports

Match reports

Report: Palace suffer defeat to title-chasing Arsenal at Sutton

Latest News

Vote now for your March Goal of the Month!

Palace’s WSL fixture at Chelsea rescheduled

Latest Videos

Leif reflects on tough loss at home

Pre Match Press conference Arsenal (H)

Leif reflects on WSL loss

WSL Pre Match Press conference Everton (A)

WSL Highlights: Palace 3-1 Aston Villa

Leif praises team's fight in WSL win over Villa

10AnnabelBlanchard

10Annabel
Blanchard