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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Back the Eagles

Last May, it was announced that [Crystal Palace Women would be competing in the newly-named Women's Super League 2.](https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/announcement/palace-women-to-compete-in-newly-named-wsl2-from-2025-26/)

Along with a new name - the WSL2 has a new structure for this season. 

In previous years, only the top team would earn promotion to the Women's Super League,  this was how Palace earned WSL promotion in the 2023/24 season.

However, for this season only, up to three teams can go up - making this a totally unique campaign for Jo Potter's side.

#### **Who gets promoted to the WSL this season?**

- Like previous years, the first-place side will earn automatic promotion to the WSL.
- The second-place team will also earn automatic promotion to the topflight.
- The third-place team will contest a playoff game against the bottom side in the WSL, with the winner taking the last spot in the topflight.

The 2025/26 format is unique to this campaign, as from the 2026/27 season onwards - the second-place team will contest the playoff against the 13th-place WSL side.

This means the WSL will have 14 teams instead of 12 from the 2026/27 season.

#### **What do Palace need to do?**

Following Sunday's 3-2 win over Charlton at Selhurst park, Palace Women are now in third-place with 35 points - the promotion playoff position.

Birmingham now sit in first-place, six points ahead of Palace on 41 points.

Palace won't be able to climb any higher in the table this weekend - with second-place Charlton Athletic on 41 points.

Fourth-place Newcastle United and fifth-place Bristol City find themselves on 32 and 30 points respectively.

**If Palace win all three of their remaining games**, they will guarantee a promotion playoff spot as a minimum.

**To catch Birmingham**, Palace will need to win all three games, and hope the Blues earn no more than two points from their remaining two games.

**To catch Charlton**, Palace will need to win all three games, and hope the Addicks fail to win both of their two remaining games.

It's all set to be a dramatic final day - as Palace host 12th-place Portsmouth, whilst Charlton take on Birmingham at home.

**Palace will host 11th-place Ipswich Town at the VBS Community Stadium this Sunday (5th April) at 14:00 BST - click the button below to join them as they fight for promotion!**

Buy Palace v Ipswich tickets!

Sunday's huge win over Charlton could prove crucial in the race for promotion. Read below to see what Palace need in order to secure an immediate return to the topflight...

The Run-In: What do Palace need to get promoted?

Crystal Palace Women v Portsmouth Women (2026-05-02)

Sunderland Women v Crystal Palace Women (2026-04-26)

Crystal Palace Women v Ipswich Town Women (2026-04-05)

Crystal Palace Women v Charlton Athletic Women (2026-03-29)

Charlton Athletic Women

Women's Super League 2

Crystal Palace Women

Last Match

Ipswich Town Women

Next Match

EXPLORE PALACE WOMEN

Palace Women have three huge games left to go in the race for promotion, starting with Ipswich on Sunday.

**Kicking off at 14:00 BST on Easter Sunday - here is what you can expect from Sunday's game in South London...**

Buy Ipswich tickets here!

#### **What to expect from our Fanzone?**

The **Fanzone opens at 12:30 BST**, 90 minutes before kick-off, and is packed with family-friendly games and activities. It's the perfect place to get into the matchday spirit!

**You can look forward to a range of exciting attractions, including:**

- **Early Easter Excitement:** The first 500 fans through the gates will receive a special Easter treat.
- **Arts and Crafts station:** Make your Easter masterpiece with our popular Arts and Crafts station.
- **Face-painter:** Show your support in style and get your face painted with the Palace colours.

#### **What else can I expect?**

- **Half-time penalty shootout:** Our popular penalty shootout will run at half-time!
- **Pete and Alice:** Get your photo taken with our beloved club mascots, Pete and Alice, who will be there to meet fans of all ages.

### **Match Details**

- **Crystal Palace Women vs Ipswich Town Women**
- **Sunday, 5th April (14:00 BST)**
- **Barclays Women's Super League 2**
- **VBS Community Stadium**

**First time at the VBS? Check out our Supporters Guide below!**

Supporters Guide

After their huge win over Charlton, Crystal Palace Women will now host Ipswich Town on Sunday, 5th April. Read below to see what is on offer!

What to expect from the Easter Sunday Special!

Larkin was impressive all afternoon, but it was her goal on the 76th minute that made all the difference in South London.

Palace broke with pace - Annabel Blanchard releasing Ashleigh Weerden on the left-wing.

Weerden hesistated for a second and lofted a ball to the back post where Larkin was waiting to head beyond Sophie Whitehouse.

It was a goal assisted by the league's leading assist-maker, and scored by the league's joint top scorer.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Abbie Larkin scores again 👏 <a href="https://t.co/jF04DP7kCV">pic.twitter.com/jF04DP7kCV</a></p>&mdash; Crystal Palace F.C. Women (@cpfc_w) <a href="https://twitter.com/cpfc_w/status/2038568166193070187?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 30, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Larkin came on top with **30.9%** of the vote, with fellow goalscorer Hayley Ladd coming in second-place with **13.6%**.

Rounding out the top three was Ashleigh Weerden, who managed to get **10.6%** of the vote.

**You can view the results of the poll below!**

She scored the goal that would end up proving the difference - you voted for Abbie Larkin as your TEN Player of the Match!

Women

Women

The Run-In: What do Palace need to get promoted?

Latest News

What to expect from the Easter Sunday Special!

Your TEN Player of the Match from Palace v Charlton - revealed!

17Annabel
Blanchard

Women

Women

The Run-In: What do Palace need to get promoted?

Latest News

What to expect from the Easter Sunday Special!

Your TEN Player of the Match from Palace v Charlton - revealed!

17AnnabelBlanchard

17Annabel
Blanchard