Good report on what was a really enjoyable day and, as fellow long-standing QPR (and AWFC) season ticket holders, much needed after Saturday's last gasp loss to Wrexham. I do wonder how late this tournament was pulled together as there wasn't even a programme let alone competition merch. We would have been all-in for a pair of AS FAR away shirts if they had been available. 8k fans for the evening game is not too shabby (was it really that many? hard to sell from the upper reaches of the north stand) but I suspect it could have been closer to a sell out with six months to market it and no competing Champions League games. I was also surprised how many regular fans of the Arsenal women's side (uncharacteristically quiet on the night compared with the Moroccan contingent) apparently opted for a meaningless game at the Emirates over a FIFA competition semi. The football overall was ok but it was, as you say, all about the fans. They may have been slightly fortunate but I wanted Corinthians to win for the supporters' sakes. The least they deserved. The second game was a ruthless display by the European Champions against a physically out-matched but skilled (and very game) opponent. On their day they would give pretty much anyone from the bottom third of the WSL a contest. I am looking forward to seeing them on Sunday in what might be a more evenly-matched game given that I imagine Gotham, mentally at least, already have one foot on the plane home. I am slightly apprehensive about the likely attendance on Sunday. I would be surprised if as many as 30k show up and it may not even attract the 25k that were at the Villa home game back in September. Which is a shame because with a longer pre-sale I think they could have come close to selling it out. With the semi out of the way maybe there will be a run on tickets between now and Sunday? Hope so as the competition deserves that much.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts Ian. Will be interesting to see the turn out on Sunday. Hoping we don't have yet another embarrassing result against Coventry on Saturday.
Good report on what was a really enjoyable day and, as fellow long-standing QPR (and AWFC) season ticket holders, much needed after Saturday's last gasp loss to Wrexham. I do wonder how late this tournament was pulled together as there wasn't even a programme let alone competition merch. We would have been all-in for a pair of AS FAR away shirts if they had been available. 8k fans for the evening game is not too shabby (was it really that many? hard to sell from the upper reaches of the north stand) but I suspect it could have been closer to a sell out with six months to market it and no competing Champions League games. I was also surprised how many regular fans of the Arsenal women's side (uncharacteristically quiet on the night compared with the Moroccan contingent) apparently opted for a meaningless game at the Emirates over a FIFA competition semi. The football overall was ok but it was, as you say, all about the fans. They may have been slightly fortunate but I wanted Corinthians to win for the supporters' sakes. The least they deserved. The second game was a ruthless display by the European Champions against a physically out-matched but skilled (and very game) opponent. On their day they would give pretty much anyone from the bottom third of the WSL a contest. I am looking forward to seeing them on Sunday in what might be a more evenly-matched game given that I imagine Gotham, mentally at least, already have one foot on the plane home. I am slightly apprehensive about the likely attendance on Sunday. I would be surprised if as many as 30k show up and it may not even attract the 25k that were at the Villa home game back in September. Which is a shame because with a longer pre-sale I think they could have come close to selling it out. With the semi out of the way maybe there will be a run on tickets between now and Sunday? Hope so as the competition deserves that much.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts Ian. Will be interesting to see the turn out on Sunday. Hoping we don't have yet another embarrassing result against Coventry on Saturday.
I’m heading to the Emirates on Sunday and seeing the fans on TV has got me more hyped for the final, Arsenal-Corinthians should be a vibe!