CORI WILLIAMS watches an FA Cup upset of Lewes for Cardiff City Ladies, the only Fourth Division side left in the game.
And head coach Jamie Philip, 29, would like to see his players take on Chelsea if they get a shock result today.
3
3
Cardiff are currently the lowest-ranked side in the game this season, having knocked out third-tier Burnley.
And striker Williams, who was on the scoresheet during that 4-1 win, says today’s win would be a huge boost for her side.
Williams, 33, said: “It’s incredible to be honest. You are competing in the FA Cup and just want to compete and get as far as possible.
“Getting to this stage is something we never expected.
“To be where we are as a level four team now competing against level one and two teams is absolutely huge for us.
“Last year we were relegated, which was very disappointing.
“But the road we’ve taken from the start of the season so far has been good.”
Like her teammates, Williams does not earn a wage playing for Cardiff city.
All their players and staff in the back room are volunteers.
And for Williams, who has seven international caps in Wales, her love for the club is what motivates her to compete for the side.
She adds: “Our coaches are volunteers, everyone behind the scenes is a volunteer.
“We all need to have full-time jobs to maintain our lifestyle.
“Obviously it’s tough when you’re busy nine to five, five days a week and then you have to show up for training and be engaged.
“It certainly shows the love we have for the game. doing our job full-time and of course spending our free time playing football.”
Cardiff’s opponents Lewes are currently seventh in the Women’s Championship and have won two of their last six games in all competitions.
And like Lewes’ second-rate rival Durham, Cardiff is financially independent and not dependent on funding from a men’s football club.
If the team progresses to the quarter-finals, they will earn £20,000 in prize money or £5,000 if they are eliminated from the match.
Head coach Phliip said: “Many of the (lower) clubs that went through the qualifying rounds could survive a few years on just the win or loss of FA Cup money.
3
“It means a lot to us because we’re in the middle where we’re thinking, are we going down the road of being a semi-pro and trying to test ourselves against the top?
“Or do we stay where we are and try to survive the next few years?
“We want to use this money to invest to push ourselves up.