Merricks vows Birmingham City will give their all in WSL promotion battle with London City Lionesses

AMY MERRICKS will urge Birmingham to give it everything in today’s promotion decider with London City Lionesses.

And Brum boss Merricks reckons the women’s second tier deserves far more attention than it currently gets.

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Amy Merricks has guided Birmingham City to 12 wins and four draws in 19 games in the Women’s Championship this season[/caption]

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Birmingham City are expecting approximately a crowd 7,000 for their pivotal clash with London City at St Andrews[/caption]

City must win at St Andrew’s to deny London the Championship title and a place in the WSL for the first time.

Blues whose club’s co-owners include NFL legend Tom Brady are bidding to return to the league they helped establish 15 years ago.

Ex-Lionesses Under-19 boss Merricks, who took charge of Birmingham City last April, said: “This club was one of the founding members of the WSL and to take it back there would be amazing.

“But we have to focus first and foremost on the process to get there. The performance is that process and we’re taking nothing for granted.”

Today’s 2:15pm showdown is the first Women’s Championship game to be shown live on Sky Sports.

Brum have already sold more than 7,000 tickets but Merrick hopes TV coverage will help attract even more fans to the second tier.

She added: “My squad are ready to give everything. I’m really excited and what a great showcase for the Championship.

“This is a league that deserves so much more attention. We have so much talent here and we are focused on showcasing the best of ourselves.”

An away win for London City would see them become the only standalone women’s team competing in the WSL next season. 

The club, who share their Hayes Lane home ground with League Two men’s side Bromley, have been a force to be reckoned with this term after finishing eighth last term. 

Since being purchased by USA-born Michelle Kang, the club that was following a May 2019 breakaway from Millwall has undergone an overhaul in recent years. 

Her December 2023 takeover has been followed by a revamp of London City’s squad.

A team whose players include senior internationals such as Sweden veteran Kosovare Asllani, 35, and rising young stars such as defender Teyah Goldie currently on loan from Arsenal.

And last June the club appointed France-born Jocelyn Precheur as head coach following his one-season stint as Paris Saint-Germain during which he led the team to a Women’s French Cup win. 

Among the younger players who have helped London City register 13 victories and three draws from 19 games is England Under-23s player Isobel Goodwin. 

The forward 22, is set to win the Women’s Championship Golden Boot for this term after scoring 15 goals so far during the campaign. 

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Isobel Goodwin has been in fine form in front of goal for London City Lionesses following her transfer from Sheffield United last September[/caption]

Goodwin said:”The Championship is such a big league now and the growth in it each year is getting better and better. 

“Being in the promotion race, it’s just so exciting and this is probably one of the biggest games of my career knowing that we could possibly lift that trophy. 

“It’s every girl’s dream is to play in the WSL and get promoted. So hopefully we can do that.”