York City Minsterbelles targeting a second slice of FA Cup history

And rightfully so, as they prepare to play in the Women’s FA Cup Fourth Round for the first time in their history this weekend.

For on Sunday they travel to fellow step-four side Chatham Town of the Women’s National League Southeast Division One. It is a tie that York City defender Rosie Bell sees as “a massive opportunity” despite the chance to be drawn against Women’s Super League sides such as London City Lionesses, Aston Villa or Liverpool, passing them by – for now at least.

The 21-year-old helped the side progress to this stage of the competition after beating the lowest-ranked side left in it last time out in Altrincham FC Women. York were 3-0 winners in a game which already marked the furthest they had ever got in the competition.

But Bell doesn’t believe the Minsterbelles are done making history just yet.

“I don’t think we expected to then have a chance to get through again in this round, so it’s obviously a good draw for us and it’s a side that we can definitely compete against,” said Rose, whose York sit third bottom of the FA Women’s National League Division One North.

The Minsterbelles have played just once since progressing to this stage of the FA Cup over a month ago with the weather getting the better of a Yorkshire derby in the league against Leeds United Women last weekend.

Manager Jackson doesn’t believe that will have too big of an impact.

“We’ve just been focussing one game at a time and when those games get postponed its straight onto the next game,” he said.

“A lot of the preparations have just been carrying on from before the Christmas break; we’ve still been training twice a week and then when games get postponed, we train on the Sunday as well.

“We can only look at it one week at a time and this week we’re focussing on Chatham Town.”

Jackson took on the role as first team-manager in September after his predecessor, Bobby Paterson, stepped down.

The 35-year-old is no stranger to what this could mean to the club but also what his role has already achieved in getting to this point.

“It’s absolutely massive for the club to be able to get into this stage of the competition,” said Jackson. “There’s a lot of work that goes on in the background and I think the players put in an awful lot of effort and do the right things.

“In terms of the club, the financial side is all well and good but what we’re doing at the moment is we’re inspiring kids and future players that want to come and play for York City. That’s the massive thing for us as a community club; we need to be pushing for our community to want to come and watch us play.”

Bell has certainly felt that inspiration during her six years at the club.

She said: “I joined when I was quite young and both the club and the prospects of women’s football have changed quite positively by inspiring so many people.”