FA Women's Cup Final 2015: History in the Making

Tomorrow, Saturday 1st August 2015, English football history will be made.

The FA Women’s Cup final is being played at the iconic Wembley Stadium for the first time in its history.

It’s set to be the biggest in the competition's history, with more than 26,000 tickets already sold.

Neither Notts County nor Chelsea, the two teams contesting it, have ever won the showpiece of the women’s game in its 44-year history.

And of course, given England’s wonderful showing at the World Cup, interest in the women’s game on these shores has never been greater.

So great was the Lionesses’ impact in Canada that the final will now be shown on BBC One instead of BBC Two as previously planned.

For anyone who’s forgot exactly what England’s campaign contained, let’s go through a checklist:

- Opening day defeat in the group stage? Check.

- The team rallying round and claiming two victories in the subsequent matches to qualify? Check.

- Defeating a strong nation in the round of 16 and getting people to think 'we may be on to something'? Check.

- Knocking out the hosts in the quarters and getting further than ever before? Check.

- A heartbreaking defeat at the death which has created a valiant yet unlucky and heartbroken hero which everyone rallies round to show support? Check.

- Beating Germany, one of the best sides in the world, by means of a penalty scored by a player who has overcome adversity the likes of which most people would have never experienced, and with a stunning redemptive performance by the previous round's hard done by player to secure World Cup medals and get further than any England side barring the 1966 winners? Check.

England's class of 2015 effectively played out the perfect World Cup campaign, which contained hope, skill, passion, heartbreak and redemption.

The last time I can think of an England football team that delivered anything close to the above was in 1996, or at a push, 2002. And if you want to remember the last time England actually got their hands on some medals, you have to go back 49 years, to… you guessed it, 1966.

Needless to say, tomorrow’s game is going to be a very, VERY big deal.

And Ray Trew’s decision to invest heavily in the women’s team at Notts County appears to have paid dividends.

Myself, I cannot believe that I’m going to Wembley to watch my team represented on the biggest domestic stage of all, at the home of football. It’s absolutely incredible.

It promises to be a wonderful day, and this is even before taking into consideration the fact that Notts could be bringing the first major piece of silverware to our city since 1990, when the noisy neighbours brought home the League Cup.

No matter what happens, it’s going to be an amazing occasion, but if Laura Bassett, whose indomitable narrative during the World Cup was just as powerful as that which befell Paul Gascoigne on the Stadio Delle Alpi pitch 25 years, ends up lifting the trophy for the Lady Pies, it’ll be sensational beyond words.

Lady Pies, I’d like to wish you all the best. We at Pride of Nottingham will be in the stands supporting you every step of the way, come rain or shine. You’ve made the city proud and, as one of the teams which play in the Women’s Super League and have contributed so many players to the Lionesses class of 2015, you’ve made the entire country proud.

COME ON YOU PIES!!!