‘This club is very special’ – Aimee Everett on Crystal Palace promotion to Super League

BY ANDREW MCSTEEN

Crystal Palace captain Aimee Everett has praised the ability of her squad to come together after securing promotion to the Women’s Super League for the first time in their history.

A number of new permanent and loan signings, in addition to a new manager and head of women’s football, came to South London as the SE25 side pushed for promotion in their first season as a full-time professional outfit.

But that did not upset the spirit within the squad.

“I wear the armband, but we’ve got a lot of leaders within the group,” Everett, 22, told the South London Press. “At the start of the season, we had the same core of girls [as last season] and the same values installed, so those coming in had to fit in.

“We just built on that. Everyone’s bought into the philosophy, the values, the culture of the club, and that’s what’s got us to where we are now.”

A 0-0 draw against Sunderland in front of a record-breaking 6,796 fans at Selhurst Park at the end of last month was enough to secure the FA Women’s Championship title and promotion, one point above Charlton Athletic and five ahead of the team from the north-east.

“The league this year deserves a lot of credit with four, five teams in it until the last minute. The quality from all those teams is amazing, so credit to them,” said the 2022 Palace Player of the Season.

“It’s an amazing feeling, there’s a lot to look forward to and a lot of excitement to come. Coming in to the club three years ago I never imagined that this would happen, even at the start of the season, to do that and break records with this club. This club is very special.”