International football is coming to the Keepmoat Stadium as the England Women’s team prepare to take on Serbia in a UEFA Euro 2013 qualifier on Wednesday 23 November.
The two sides met in Belgrade in September when a Vesna Smiljkovic equaliser deep into added time earned the Serbs what had, at times, appeared an unlikely 2-2 draw.
But with Group 6 rivals Holland battling with the Three Lions for Group 6 supremacy, England defender Sophie Bradley recognises the importance of a win in Doncaster next month.
“We should have put the game to bed long before they scored their first,” Bradley said, of the two sides’ last encounter.
“In the first half we had so many chances, we just didn’t put them away. But we felt comfortable at half-time; we were 2-0 up and all over them. Fair play to Serbia, though, they played well after the break and put us on the back foot for most of the second half.
“Hopefully it’ll be a different story at home,” she continued. “We’ll have our own fans behind us and we’ve learnt our lesson from the last game. We have to be more clinical and not allow Serbia into the game like we did before. But we know we’ve got it in us to win this game, and we have to really, if we are to stand a chance of topping the group.”
Bradley is no stranger to this part of the country, having lifted The FA Women’s Premier League Cup with Leeds Carnegie (now United) in 2010. Neither is she unfamiliar with the Keepmoat, having played here for her current side, Lincoln, in August, and she is nothing but complimentary about the surface and the facilities on offer.
“The pitch at Doncaster is lovely,” Bradley said. “If you can’t play football on that, then you can’t play football on anything. It’s brilliant to be able to play this game at such a great stadium, with great facilities and a great pitch and hopefully that will give us an advantage because of the style of passing football we like to play.”
And not only is the 22-year-old keen to collect three points here, she also hopes the game attracts as many women’s football fans as possible. Her time with Leeds has proved to her that there is a genuine appetite for the game in this area and the success of Doncaster Rovers Belles in the inaugural FA Women’s Super League has increased the interest further.
“When I was at Leeds there were girls coming through all the time, at every age group, so there is definitely a love for women’s football in Yorkshire,” she said. “We’ve seen that with the Belles as well. Hopefully as many female players as possible can come to watch us at Doncaster.”
Tickets for the game are on sale now, priced £5 for adults and £2.50 for concessions (U7s go free when accompanied by an adult). Ticket hotline 01302 762 576.
Sheffield & Hallamshire CFA 