Molly-Mae Sharpe on pre-season, Real Madrid, and playing at the Emirates

Women

12 Aug 2026

Crystal Palace Women's midfielder and record appearance-holder Molly-Mae Sharpe sat down this week to talk about a packed pre-season and summer schedule.

Sharpe and the team returned for pre-season training several weeks ago, after they secured a return to the Barclays Women's Super League in May.

Palace's no.8 spoke about her time away from the pitch.

"My off-season was really fun. I think it was a really good time for me and all the girls to have a bit of R&R, a bit of relaxation.

"But I think in the back of our minds we have all been looking forward to the season ahead and just wanting to make an impact in the Women’s Super League," she said.

She shared her thoughts on pre-season, and a busy summer window which has seen seven new players join the club.

Sharpe said: "Pre-season has been really good. We have got a lot of new players in quite early, which is always ideal, because we know it will be a really busy campaign.

"It also gives us more time to bond, work out people's personalities and who they're going to get along with in the team.

"The new players have settled in really well. I think they've all come in and really accepted the culture that we've built at Crystal Palace over the years.

"I think we've all been really welcoming to the new girls and they've really been giving it their all in training and games, which as a new player - that's all you can do.

"They’ve really settled into the group and we're all getting along really well."

Part of Potter's pre-season preparations included a week-long trip to Marbella, where the team faced Liga F giants Real Madrid.

"There were so many highlights in Marbella, we did a lot of things together.

"Playing against a team like Real Madrid is something that we always look forward to as a team.

"Not only do we want to be able to take on the best teams in the WSL, but in the world too.

"That was an amazing experience, and I think we did ourselves proud in that game," she said.

Palace Women's fixtures released recently - our schedule starting with a home game against Everton on Sunday, September 6th.

She said: "Everton is going to be a huge game.

"Playing at our home pitch down in Sutton is something that we take a lot of pride in, and we really hate losing there.

"We are hoping to make a splash in the league with that first game against Everton, and we want to put on a really good show and hopefully take away all three points."

Tickets are now on sale for that game, click the button below to get yours!

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