Anita Asante sat down with The Halfway Line to preview this weekend’s FA Women’s National League Cup final.
Saturday, March 22 will see Nottingham Forest and Stoke City go head-to-head at the Poundland Bescot Stadium in Walsall, with proceedings getting underway at 15:30 BST.
Asante lifted this very trophy back in her playing days, and now coaches the England U23s. Having played both Arsenal and Chelsea, she was the perfect person to hear from ahead of this huge event. The former England international also spent time at Aston Villa during her illustrious career, and therefore knows the Bescot Stadium well.
Currently embarking on her coaching journey, Asante told The Halfway Line “I want to have impact in the game, whether that be on or off or off the pitch. Ultimately, I think it’s about making sure that we keep growing our sport, that we keep doing it with integrity. We keep maintaining the fact that we want everybody to have opportunities all they through grassroots up into the professional level, and that we stay open minded, that we don’t necessarily have to replicate what goes on in the men’s game in terms of our structures and infrastructures.”
“We have an opportunity to do something very unique and exciting,” a passionate Asante affirmed.
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The pyramid is ‘one of the fundamental cornerstones of our game’
Confidently and enthusiastically asserting that this weekend is a crucial one for women’s football in the Midlands, Asante said: “I had many enjoyable moments there. I think it’s fantastic, because it’s really important the game is, is moved around the country, so there is added accessibility to those live games as well, and more visibility in the Midlands area. All it does is show that we can create wider opportunities for participation when young people get eyes on landmark fixtures like this.”
The clash will be shown live on BBC iPlayer, as the FA WNL and the women’s game as a collective continues to grow and become more readily available to watch from home.
“Having added visibility to those teams in this division is really important,” Asante elaborated, “because it also allows young players and followers to see their teams and follow them on their journey and feel just as much passion as they do, you know, for the game in general.
“I just think it’s also a reflection of just how far the pyramid keeps developing and growing, you know, in terms of the quality, the talent that’s displayed, and the continued trickle down investment as well that is is going into those teams, and it’s important to showcase that as well as show the ambition of those clubs.”
The English football media scene in recent weeks has been brimming with debates surrounding the possible suspension of relegation from the Women’s Super League by the WPLL. Asante expressed her views on the value of the football pyramid to The Halfway Line.
She detailed: “The pyramid is important because we need every single level of that, of it, you know, to exist at the top. And anyway, I think it bridges the gap between grassroots the professional game. It provides a wide arena for players to play football across different age groups as well, and I think it’s part of our culture and our history.
“The whole element of trying to vie for something bigger, going ahead, for promotion and things like that, is is really important to not only clubs, but the players, their supporters, to go on that journey. So for me, I think it’s one of the fundamental cornerstones of our game.”
WALSALL, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 20: Anita Asante, Coach of England pose for a photo following the Women’s U23 international between England and Germany at Poundland Bescot Stadium on February 20, 2025 in Walsall, England. (Photo by Molly Darlington – The FA/The FA via Getty Images) " data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/thehalfwayline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2200916152.jpg?fit=300%2C200&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/thehalfwayline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2200916152.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1" src="https://i0.wp.com/thehalfwayline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2200916152.jpg?resize=600%2C400&ssl=1" class="wp-image-14746" alt width="600" height="400" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/thehalfwayline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2200916152.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/thehalfwayline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2200916152.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/thehalfwayline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2200916152.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/thehalfwayline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2200916152.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/thehalfwayline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2200916152.jpg?resize=2048%2C1365&ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/thehalfwayline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2200916152.jpg?resize=100%2C67&ssl=1 100w, https://i0.wp.com/thehalfwayline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2200916152.jpg?resize=50%2C33&ssl=1 50w, https://i0.wp.com/thehalfwayline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2200916152.jpg?resize=25%2C17&ssl=1 25w, https://i0.wp.com/thehalfwayline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2200916152.jpg?w=3000&ssl=1 3000w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px">
WALSALL, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 20: Anita Asante, Coach of England pose for a photo following the Women’s U23 international between England and Germany at Poundland Bescot Stadium on February 20, 2025 in Walsall, England. (Photo by Molly Darlington – The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
Arsenal quadruple heroes had ‘the same ambition for every Cup final’
Having already secured FA WNL Cup silverware with the North London club in 2005, Asante was then a part of the history-making Arsenal squad that won the quadruple in 2007.
“For any Cup final you get to, you realise it’s not an easy thing to achieve with a team – any team that you play for – but it’s always a marquee of or a reflection of your season when you get there, of all the hard work that everyone has put in,” she reminisced.
“It’s the memories you create from those moments that’s live with you forever. The highs of it, the emotional elation and all of that. We celebrate it, but everyone that’s gone on that journey, the supporters, our friends and family, they live in those moments with us.”
Asante declared that the FA WNL Cup, which was then known as the Premier League Cup, was still high on the priority list of the North London club that had already made such a huge mark on the game.
“2007, that one really stands out because it was our quadruple season when we won, all the domestic trophies and European Cup so, you know, for it to to have been able to do that, you know, collectively with a team, for us, it showed that we had the same ambition for every cup final that we could reach.”
“The League Cup was just as important to us,” Asante went on, “You know, we did not let up. We wanted to reach those moments and feel those emotions and highs again. So I think that’s the beauty of it, and the opportunity to get visibility on the game, to have more eyes on it, watching it on TV, or, you know, online, or whatever. I think that is brilliant, because you’re just giving wider sort of scope for the game to keep growing as well.”
WALSALL, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 20: Anita Asante, Coach of England pose for a photo following the Women’s U23 international between England and Germany at Poundland Bescot Stadium on February 20, 2025 in Walsall, England. (Photo by Molly Darlington – The FA/The FA via Getty Images) " data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/thehalfwayline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2200916151.jpg?fit=300%2C200&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/thehalfwayline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2200916151.jpg?fit=1024%2C682&ssl=1" src="https://i0.wp.com/thehalfwayline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2200916151.jpg?resize=600%2C400&ssl=1" class="wp-image-14748" alt width="600" height="400" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/thehalfwayline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2200916151.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/thehalfwayline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2200916151.jpg?resize=1024%2C682&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/thehalfwayline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2200916151.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/thehalfwayline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2200916151.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/thehalfwayline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2200916151.jpg?resize=2048%2C1365&ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/thehalfwayline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2200916151.jpg?resize=100%2C67&ssl=1 100w, https://i0.wp.com/thehalfwayline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2200916151.jpg?resize=50%2C33&ssl=1 50w, https://i0.wp.com/thehalfwayline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2200916151.jpg?resize=25%2C17&ssl=1 25w, https://i0.wp.com/thehalfwayline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2200916151.jpg?w=3000&ssl=1 3000w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px">
WALSALL, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 20: Anita Asante, Coach of England pose for a photo following the Women’s U23 international between England and Germany at Poundland Bescot Stadium on February 20, 2025 in Walsall, England. (Photo by Molly Darlington – The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
Trophy lift will be a ‘historic moment’ for Saturday’s champions
Stoke City and Nottingham Forest are managed by two promising female coaches in Marie Hourihan and Carly Davies respectively, and Asante packed on the praise for what the pair have achieved with their sides thus far.
“It’s fantastic that they’ve both managed to reach a final. That’s no easy feat. To see two female coaches heading up their teams is also a really good reflection of how far the game is growing. You know, to see more female managers as well in the game, and fundamentally, they’re both former players, so they know what it means to try to accomplish those things and how challenging that can be.”
Asante continued, “Carly Davies is a manager that I’ve played under at Aston Villa, obviously, so I know her really well. I know how passionate she is. I know how energetic she is in particular, and I know how much this will mean to her because of how much time and dedication she’s put into growing the program at Nottingham Forest and moving them into a more professional model.”
Highlighting the importance of a good supporter turnout for both sides, Asante declared “We always talk about the 12th player in the stands, and that’s what the fans can provide. But they give us that atmosphere, that energy, and they’re cheering on their teams.
“Most importantly, this is an opportunity for either club to bring silverware back to the club and create another, you know, historic moment in their in their journey. But you know, ahead of completing their domestic season. It’s also another thing that creates the appetite to go on and win more and do more. So, you know, it’s a good it’s a massive opportunity for them to try and grasp.”
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‘Exciting’ FA WNL Cup final will be ‘a close fixture’
Asante, a seasoned professional herself, offered some words of wisdom to Stoke City and Nottingham Forest players ahead of their big day out.
“My advice to them is to not put pressure on themselves. That feeling of pressure just means that you want it, you know, you’re hungry for it. It means something. It matters, and it’s important to them. So live in that feeling, enjoy the occasion, really take in the occasion as well, and recognise that it’s just like any other football match, in the reality of it. It’s just another football game that they will have done all their preparation for. So, just really embrace it and go out there, give it their all, express themselves and more importantly, stick together.”
Looking forward to this weekend’s big event, Asante summarised “It could be a very close one. Nottingham Forest are sitting at the top of their division, and, you know, Stoke are in third, so they’re already close contenders in the league.” She went on, “I believe it will be a close fixture, which makes even more exciting, because who knows, it could go all the way into added time and create a real thriller as well.”
Tickets for Saturday’s highly-anticipated final are available for purchase here.