As the 2024-25 season draws to a close, Norwich City Women are looking to finish on a high note and set themselves up for a strong promotion push next term. With their final league game of the season scheduled to take place at Carrow Road on April 27 against Queen’s Park Rangers, the team is eager to put on a show in front of their home crowd. Currently sitting second in the Women’s National League (WNL) Division One South East table, Andy Cook’s side has had a remarkable turnaround since Christmas, winning their last six games in a row. This impressive run has been a testament to the team’s determination and resilience, and they are now looking to carry this momentum into the new season.
Despite their recent success, the team’s hopes of winning the league title were dashed earlier in the season due to a run of three successive defeats in November and December. However, midfielder Eloise Morran remains positive, viewing the experience as a valuable learning opportunity for the squad. “The turnaround we’ve had since Christmas is like an achievement in itself,” she said in an interview with BBC Radio Norfolk. “We’ve finished this season really strong and we’ve got the game to go to really end it on a high note.” With many young players in the squad, Morran believes that the team has gained invaluable experience in bouncing back from setbacks, which will serve them well in the future. The team’s ability to learn from their mistakes and adapt to challenges has been a key factor in their success, and they will be looking to build on this in the coming season.
The game against QPR will be Norwich City Women’s first league appearance at Carrow Road this season, following a WNL Cup game against Ipswich Town earlier in the year. The team has a strong connection with the stadium, having become fully integrated with Norwich City FC in 2022 and playing several games there last season. Morran is excited about the prospect of playing in front of a large crowd, saying, “These are the games you live for. We’ve had some amazing attendances in the past and hopefully we’ll get that again this time.” The atmosphere at Carrow Road is always electric, and the team is eager to feed off the energy of the crowd as they take to the pitch. With the home crowd behind them, the team will be looking to put on a show and make the most of the opportunity to play at their home stadium.
The team’s performances against top-of-the-table Real Bedford have been particularly impressive, with Norwich drawing both league games against the club backed by bitcoin investors the Winkelvoss twins. Morran believes that these results demonstrate the team’s ability to compete at a high level, saying, “The performances we’ve put up against them have been really good. We’ve shown there’s no reason we can’t compete at that level, if not higher.” This confidence and self-belief will be crucial as the team looks to push for promotion next season. With their sights set on the top of the table, Norwich City Women are determined to make a strong start to the new season and build on the progress they have made this year.
One of the key takeaways from this season has been the importance of consistency and taking things one game at a time. Morran emphasizes that the team has learned to focus on the journey rather than just the final destination, recognizing that the season is a long and challenging one. “There’s been a lot of takeaways from this season which will hopefully help us for next year,” she says. With a strong squad and a wealth of experience, Norwich City Women are well-equipped to make a serious push for promotion next term. The team’s ability to learn from their mistakes and adapt to challenges has been a key factor in their success, and they will be looking to build on this in the coming season.
As the team looks ahead to the new season, they will first turn their attention to the County Cup final against Mulbarton Wanderers, which will take place at Carrow Road in May. This game will provide a further opportunity for the team to play in front of their home crowd and build on the momentum they have generated in recent weeks. With a strong squad and a newfound confidence, Norwich City Women are eager to make a statement in the cup final and set themselves up for a successful season ahead. As Morran says, “I don’t think there will be anyone in our squad who is not desperate to score at Carrow Road but at the end of the day, we want it more for the team.” This team-first mentality has been a key factor in the team’s success, and they will be looking to build on this in the coming season. With their sights set on the top of the table, Norwich City Women are determined to make a strong start to the new season and build on the progress they have made this year.
