
Reaching the FA Cup First Round is every grassroots club’s dream. It only happens once every blue moon, and will forever overshadow any silverware, county and league cups. Not only did Handsworth achieve this, but a mix of dark arts, a raucous crowd, and tight family ties saw the Ambers do the unthinkable…win an FA Cup First Round game.
Handsworth Ladies, a club on the outskirts of Sheffield, had put so much into the women’s game, but were yet to taste their own bit of success. Little did they know, they would make their name known in the FA Cup, going on a club record-breaking run to reach the First Round proper, dispatching Brunsmeer Athletic in the most dramatic circumstances.
After a Brunsmeer attack, Handsworth looked to counter in the 91st minute through darting winger Abby Watkinson, who drove down the right flank, slid it into the mixer for Holly Mappin, found Dani Pinder lurking inside the box, and the captain fired it in. 3-2, the referee sounded three whistles, two short and one drawn out; Handsworth had achieved a club first, reaching the FA Cup First Round proper.
Celebrations drew long into the night, but they knew preparations would have to start instantly for the biggest day in the history of the football club. Awaiting the Ambers in round one…National League outfit York City, a tie that Handsworth Ladies boss Gary Jepson revelled in, partly because the Ambers had one advantage.
We are underway here in the FA cup 💪 come on you Ambers!! 🧡🖤 pic.twitter.com/RrkeXqNJ8g
— Handsworth Ladies FC (@HandsworthWFC) November 3, 2024
“We were one of the lowest-ranked teams left in it,” said the Handsworth head coach. “We knew we were going to play somebody higher. Then you think, what’s the best scenario for us? Obviously, playing at home.
“I was excited about the story of the FA Cup, the excitement that comes with that, and we made a big deal of it. We got 260 in there, which for a grassroots football team was fantastic. A lot of Handsworth shirts, we saw a lot of amber and black stripes in the barmy crowd.”
It was going to be a first for the Ambers, often they were an attacking, free-flowing unit, but coming up against the formidable Minsterwomen, a change of approach was needed.
“We were always going to defend. We were always going to have a low block, try and get bodies behind the ball, and then try to steal something.
“We set up with a 5-3-2, we dropped the defensive line ten yards from what it normally would be. The midfield wasn’t pushing on, they were shifting left and right.
“We were always going to be dangerous on corners. So for us, we’ve got two or three who are very physical in the air.
“So yeah, Ellie’s [goal] was from a corner, the first time we got a corner in the game, the routine was there.
“If we were ever going to win, which was the biggest long shot, we had to score first. We were never going to be able to chase the game because as soon as we opened up, they’d absolutely tear us apart.”
If Handsworth getting their noses in front was an unlikely story, then Jepson’s wife bagging what would go on to be the winner for his side is even more incredible.
“I think it was a matter of minutes [between the two goals]. And the second was from another corner. It was my wife, Katie, who actually scored.
“It was a roller coaster for a couple of minutes because we scored a goal to make it two-nil, which you think in your head that’s an even bigger platform to perform on.
“The second emotion was obviously to see that my wife had scored it. So the elation for her and knowing how happy she would be to see my daughter celebrating. My wife ran towards my daughter, knowing how proud she’d be.”
That being said- a huge congratulations to the Ladies and to Gary. Our highest ever finish, points tally and goals scored! A huge achievement, not forgetting our incredible FA cup run. With a depleted squad, it really has been an unbelievable season 🧡🖤
— Handsworth Ladies FC (@HandsworthWFC) May 11, 2025
Handsworth had officially hit fairytale status at this point, achieving a two-goal cushion in a matter of minutes, with the crowd behind the players. But one thing made it difficult, and that was the fact that there was still over a half to play, and that called for one thing, utilising the dark arts.
“Once we were two-nil up, I told one of the girls to go down with cramp and give us 30 seconds for everyone to get their breath.
“And then you’re thinking, from a game plan perspective, that low block, that three in front is the right approach. We kept with that, and it was about getting to half-time. The message was ‘just hold’, nothing silly, nothing daft.
“When you’re two-nil up, the girls buy into the game plan even more. They buy into that little bit of, maybe having a walk for a corner, maybe if the ball goes out for a throw, we tie our shoelaces first. We discussed that there were going to be times in a game when we had to slow it right down. We had to frustrate them.
“And then you could feel it as the clock went into 75 minutes, their bench was very irate. They were shouting for decisions, questioning the linesmen. The [York City] girls on the pitch were getting frustrated, and for us, that played into our hands, because we could feed off that energy that they were getting more nervous, which allowed us to grow, and feel like we got them rattled.”
Handsworth had won the mental battle with minutes to spare, and that saw them win in the FA Cup First Round for the first time in their club’s history, they were unsuccessful against a high-flying Mancunian Unity side next up, but that didn’t matter, the Ambers had achieved the unthinkable, that 2-0 win will stand out in each individual’s career.