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## 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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Women's Highlights | Birmingham City 1-3 Palace

### Summary:

**Potter names an unchanged side from the win at home against Bristol City.**

- **9: Weerden lofts a nice ball to the back post, but a Palace player can't get on the end of it**
- **22: Yañez saves from Leidhammar's long-range effort**
- **29: GOAL - Blanchard puts Palace ahead after a lovely cutback from Sharpe**
- **42: Yañez denies Sarri from close-range**
- **43: GOAL - It's two for Palace as Larkin heads home at the back post**
- **HT: Birmingham 0 - 2 Palace**
- **49: McKenna flashes an effort wide**
- **74: Leidhammar goes close once again**
- **80: GOAL - Palace get a third after Weerden finds Hughes**
- **89: GOAL - Hurtré pulls one back from close-range**
- **FT: Birmingham 1 - 3 Palace**

Palace Women climbed into third-place in the Barclays Women's Super League 2, after a stunning 3-1 away win at Birmingham City. 

Goals from Annabel Blanchard and Abbie Larkin put the Eagles into a 2-0 lead at half-time, before Elise Hughes got in on the act with a goal on 80 minutes.

Océane Hurtré pulled one back for the hosts on 89 minutes, but it was too little, too late, as Palace left the Midlands with all three points.

Blanchard opened the scoring on 29 minutes after a wonderful Palace counter-attack.

Larkin nodded Hayley Nolan's chipped ball around the Birmingham defender, and Molly-Mae Sharpe was there to run in behind.

Sharpe took one touch and cut the ball across to Blanchard, who tucked it home superbly after arriving late in the box.

Things then got even better for Potter's side, as Larkin doubled the lead on 43 minutes.

Good combination play saw Weerden pick the ball up on the left, and loft a cross to the back post.

Larkin leapt highest in the box, and powered a header beyond Adrianna Franch to make it 2-0 before the break.

It was a pivotal goal for Palace in the game, and it also made Larkin joint top goalscorer in the WSL2.

The Eagles were happy to just soak up pressure in the second-half, with the Palace defence dealing with everything that the Blues threw at them.

Then, on 80 minutes, Palace got their third, with substitute Hughes popping up with a goal.

Weerden was released on the counter-attack, and she squared the ball to Hughes, who took a touch and passed the ball beyond Franch.

Birrmingham did manage to score on 89 minutes, but Palace held firm to claim all three points.

This result moves Palace up to third-place in the WSL2, just a point off of Birmingham City in second-place. 

The team will now be on international break, with the next home fixture on Sunday, 15th March against Nottingham Forest.

**You can be there to back Palace in their bid for promotion, just click the button below to secure your tickets!**

Buy Nottingham Forest tickets here!

**Birmingham City**: Franch (GK), Harris (Quinn, 90+4), Leidhammar (Lee, 84), Hopcroft (Miyagawa, 84), Holloway, Crosthwaite, McKenna, Cornet, Lindström (Louis, 84), Sarri (Hurtré, 45) Herron

Subs not used: Thomas (GK), Silcock, Cooke, Harrison-Murray

**Palace:** Yañez (GK), Napier, Cato, Everett, Sharpe (Swaby, 63) Howat (Hughes, 63), Weerden, Nolan, Ladd (Littlejohn, 90+2), Blanchard (Vanhaevermaet, 81) Larkin (Brown, 90+2)

Subs not used: Annets (GK), Arthur, Brady, Newell

Crystal Palace Women earned another huge win in the league, as they beat second-place Birmingham City 3-1 at St Andrews.

Report & Highlights: Palace Women climb to third with huge win against Birmingham 

Birmingham City Women v Crystal Palace Women (2026-02-16)

Crystal Palace Women

Women's Super League 2

Birmingham City Women

Last Match

Nottingham Forest Women

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EXPLORE PALACE WOMEN

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Qualifiers for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil are the focus for the majority of Palace's internationals.

The Eagles will represented across the world, with Palace players competing in UEFA, CONCACAF and OFC qualifiers over the next month.

Meanwhile, Palace's England Under-20's will travel to Spain, as they build towards the final round of qualifying for the UEFA Women’s Under-19 European Championship, as well as the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup taking place in Poland in September.

Read below to find out more!

*All kick-off times listed below in GMT.*

#### **Republic of Ireland**

**Abbie Larkin, Ruesha Littlejohn & Hayley Nolan**

[Larkin’s last-minute heroics last October secured Ireland’s promotion to Nations League Group A](https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/women/international-eagles-late-larkin-winner-seals-historic-night-for-ireland/), a result which guaranteed a World Cup play-off place for the Girls in Green.

They now take on France and the Netherlands in League A, in a bid to secure qualification via the group stage.

**Tue, 3rd March (18:30): Republic of Ireland v France (UEFA World Cup Qualifiers)**

**Sat, 7th March (19:45): Netherlands v Republic of Ireland (UEFA World Cup Qualifiers)**

#### **Wales**

**Elise Hughes & Hayley Ladd**

Hughes and Ladd have two qualifiers in March, first going away to the Czech Republic on the 3rd March, before hosting Montenegro on the 7th March.

The Czech Republic game, which will be played in Uherske Hradiste, is Wales' first competitive fixture since Euro 2025 - the first women's major tournament the team had qualified for.

Unless they finish bottom of their group, Wales will progress to a play-off campaign in order to secure a place at the tournament.

**Tue, 3rd March (17:30): Czech Republic v Wales (UEFA World Cup Qualifiers)**

**Sat, 7th March (15:30): Wales v Montenegro (UEFA World Cup Qualifiers)**

#### **Jamaica**

**Allyson Swaby**

Swaby will join up with the Reggae Girlz as they take on Nicaragua in their CONCACAF qualifiers.

It may prove to be a decisive clash as Nicaragua lead the qualification group with six points from two games, ahead of Jamaica who sit second with three points.

[Swaby recently spoke about the pride she feels when representing her country, you can read that piece here.](https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/women/allyson-swaby-on-her-return-from-injury-the-promotion-race-and-representing-jamaica-the-world-cup/)

**Mon, 2nd Mar (23:00): Nicaragua v Jamaica (CONCACAF World Cup Qualifiers)**

#### **Scotland**

**Kirsty Howat**

Palace's number ten has been selected as part of Melissa Andreatta's squad, as they take on Luxembourg in a World Cup qualifying double-header.

Howat bagged a brace for Scotland in their last game, scoring two goals within four minutes against China in December.

**Tue, 3rd March (19:30): Luxembourg v Scotland (UEFA World Cup Qualifiers)**

**Sat, 7th March (17:00): Scotland v Luxembourg (UEFA World Cup Qualifiers)**

#### **Suriname**

Suriname currently sit top of their CONCACAF qualification group, with a clash against Haiti awaiting on the 3rd March.

Haiti are no pushovers however, boasting the likes of Lyon's Michelle Dumornay and Birmingham City's Batcheba Louis.

A win in Paramaribo could prove decisive for Weerden and her team, as they target a first-ever appearance at the World Cup.

**Tue, 3rd March (20:00): Suriname v Haiti (CONCACAF World Cup Qualifiers)**

#### **England Under 20's**

**Eve Annets, Lola Brown & Lucy Newell**

England have already booked their place at the 2026 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in September, but will play three games in Spain to prepare for UEFA Women’s Under-19 European Championship qualifying.

They take on Spain, the Netherlands and Mexico at the Albir Garden Resort in Alicante.

**Sat, 28th Feb (11:00): England U20's v Spain U20's (Friendly)**

**Tue, 3rd March (14:00): England U20's v Netherlands U20's (Friendly)**

**Fri, 6th March (11:00): England U20's v Mexico U20's (Friendly)**

#### **Belgium**

**Justine Vanhaevermaet**

After the late heartbreak against Ireland last year, Belgium's qualification route to the 2027 World Cup has been made slightly more difficult.

They will need to avoid finishing bottom of their group in order to secure a play-off.

They are in Nations League Group B, and will take on Israel in a double-header as they look to qualify for a first-ever World Cup.

**Tue, 3rd March (18:30): Israel v Belgium (UEFA World Cup Qualifiers)**

**Sat, 7th March (16:00): Belgium v Israel (UEFA World Cup Qualifiers)**

#### **New Zealand**

**Indiah-Paige Riley**

Indiah-Paige Riley will join up with the Football Ferns, as they take on Samoa, the Solomon Islands, and American Samoa in their OFC World Cup qualifiers.

It's going to be a busy schedule for Palace's number 20, with 15,000 kilometres separating London and Honiara - the capital of the Solomon Islands and the location of all three games.

**Fri, 27th Feb (02:00): Samoa v New Zealand (OFC World Cup Qualifiers)**

**Mon, 2nd March (06:00): Solomon Islands v New Zealand (OFC World Cup Qualifiers)**

**Thu, 5th March (02:00): American Samoa v New Zealand (OFC World Cup Qualifiers)**

The team will then return to face Nottingham Forest at home on Sunday, 15th March in the Barclays Women's Super League 2.

**Click the button below to get your tickets, as Jo Potter's side push for promotion!**

Buy Forest tickets here!

Thirteen Palace Women players have joined up with their nations ahead of the upcoming international break, read below to see who they will be playing and when!

Women

Women

Report & Highlights: Palace Women climb to third with huge win against Birmingham

Latest News

International Eagles: World Cup qualifiers await

Report & Highlights: Palace Women climb to third with huge win against Birmingham

17Annabel
Blanchard

Women

Women

Report & Highlights: Palace Women climb to third with huge win against Birmingham

Latest News

International Eagles: World Cup qualifiers await

Report & Highlights: Palace Women climb to third with huge win against Birmingham

17AnnabelBlanchard

17Annabel
Blanchard