Tottenham Hotspur

NILDÉN | From Sweden to becoming Lilywhites

Nildén sisters | From Sweden to becoming Lilywhites

Clare Hunt’s Australia maintained an unbeaten record in the Women's Asian Cup group stage with a dramatic 3-3 draw with South Korea in their finale fixture of Group A on Sunday morning.

Having already qualified for the quarter-finals of the tournament after winning their first two games, a victory would have seen the host nation finish top of their group, but they were ultimately forced to settle for a point in the end with South Korea advancing as group winners and the Matildas in second.

South Korea, who also collected six points out of six in their first two fixtures, fired into an early lead but former Spur Alanna Kennedy and Sam Kerr turned the game into the home side’s favour by the break.

However, two goals in a three-minute spell after the restart reinstated the visitors lead and they looked on course for victory in Sydney but that was until the eighth minute of stoppage time when Kennedy grabbed her second of the game and a very late equaliser for Australia, but it wasn’t enough to topple South Korea at the top of Group A, who had a better goal difference across the three games.

Next up for Clare and Australia is a quarter-final tie on Friday 13 March against the nation who finishes as the runner-up in Group B – which will either be North Korea or China.

On International Women’s Day, we’re shining a light on the incredible work happening across our Club and alongside our supporters to make football a more inclusive game for women and girls.

Women of the Lane

Women of the Lane is the Club’s official supporters’ association for women and non-binary fans of the men’s team, established to strengthen representation and connection among women and non-binary supporters. Co-founded on International Women’s Day in 2024 by Miranda Ashitey, Hannah Barlow, Bhavna Malkani, Chris Paouros, Hemali Patel, Rachel Smethers and Ali Speechly, the group has seen significant growth since its launch and now has over 950 active members.

Two of the group’s co-founders are representatives on the Club’s Fan Advisory Board (FAB), meeting regularly with the Club to ensure that the perspectives of women and non-binary supporters are represented.

Beyond their work with the Club, Women of the Lane has also built a strong and active community among supporters themselves. The group regularly organises matchday meet-ups and travel opportunities, encouraging members to attend games together, build friendships and strengthen their connections with likeminded supporters.

Ali Speechly, co-founder of Women of the Lane said: "As we celebrate another International Women's Day, we feel proud reflecting on the work we have done with the Club so far to improve experiences for women and non-binary Spurs fans. We are keen to continue building this community, including working closely with similar groups across the Premier League to ensure we are all doing our best to make football more inclusive."

Women’s Safety

The Club supports a variety of public and personal safety initiatives as part of the drive to end violence against women and girls. This includes:

Players – we work with appropriate agencies to take enforcement action against anyone who posts harmful content about our women’s players

Staff – all staff are trained to be Active Bystanders, ensuring we create a workplace that is free from misogyny and abuse

Fans and Visitors – our Stewards are trained to identify signs of domestic abuse and call in our specialist Safeguarding and Welfare Officers to offer advice and guidance. Ask for Angela is in operation across all our bars and staff are trained to offer support and intervene appropriately

Spurs Football Development

Our Spurs Football Development programme is committed to empowering girls in our community, providing a platform for them to develop their talent and reach their potential with the support of FA and UEFA-qualified coaches.

Tomorrow, Spurs Football Development coaches will host a tournament for girls from eight local schools at our Training Centre, during which Club staff will share insights into their roles in order to highlight the breadth of opportunities for women in football.

Tottenham Hotspur Foundation

Our Foundation plays a vital role in creating opportunities for women & girls in our local communities, delivering all-women and all-girls cohorts across its programmes that inspire, empower and transform lives.

It has recently brought together its Lily’s Little Stars and Next Generation football sessions – for girls aged five to 11 and 12-17 respectively – together with its women’s walking football offer into a single Monday evening hub in Enfield, creating a clearer and more accessible pathway for participants of all ages.

Beyond football, the Foundation is also running a pioneering skateboarding initiative across Enfield schools, This Girl Can Skate, designed for girls at risk of disengaging from school life, helping them to build confidence, resilience and unleash their creativity.

Adam Millar, Foundation programme coordinator, said: “We’re committed to providing high-quality provision with clear progression pathways for women and girls in our community.

“By creating dedicated spaces where participants feel supported and inspired, we’re seeing positive health, wellbeing and social outcomes that extend far beyond sport. Bringing some of our sessions together in Enfield strengthens that pathway and allows us to support girls from their very first kick of a ball through to adulthood.”

As part of our celebration for International Women’s Day, we asked our Women’s First Team and Academy players who were their key female figures as a youngster.

International Women’s Day is an opportunity to recognise the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, and our players are role models for thousands of fans here and abroad whenever they wear the Lilywhite shirt.

But who were the ones that inspired them when they were growing up?

Matilda Nildén

“I would say my biggest female inspiration has always been my mum. She is a strong woman and is someone I have always looked up to. But, also in football, my sister Amanda [Nildén] has always been a really big inspiration for me and I have been inspired by her from a very early age. They’re both so driven as people and that inspires me a lot.”

Bethany England

“My biggest role model was Rachel Yankey. There wasn’t much Women’s football to watch when I was younger but I loved watching her play for England. She played on the wing and had a wonderful left foot. I Just thought she was extremely creative and scored some wonderful goals.”

Cathinka Tandberg

“When I was younger, Alex Morgan was someone I often watched a lot. She’s a really good striker and scored lots of goals - and that made me follow in her footsteps. She has also got a cool and big personality that I liked with her.”

Signe Gaupset

“To be honest, I didn’t know much female role models when I was younger but, of course, when Ada Hegerberg won the Ballon d’Or she quickly became a role model for me and someone I looked up to in the early stages of my career.”

Lenna Gunning-Williams

“I would actually say Jessica Ennis-Hill. I was really into track when I was younger and I remember going to the Olympics in 2012 in London and she won gold there! I was also lucky enough to meet her at the Sports Personality of the Year awards one time and I got the chance to interview her. She was really lovely and it was inspiring to talk to a female who knows what it takes to be the best.”

Julie Blakstad

“To be honest, I didn’t really have one specific female role model in football when I was growing up. However, I find inspiration in a lot of different players - both in the way they play but also getting to know different players. I find inspiration in their journeys.”

Ella Morris

“Mine would be my sister. She started playing football, so naturally I wanted to copy. We pushed each other a lot growing up and always wanted the best for each other. I look up to her a lot still now.”

Maite Oroz

“I would say Eunate Arraiza - a player who played with me at Athletic and is deaf. She is an example of a player that continues to inspire me and she was an incredible team-mate when I was there.”

Grace Bellwood

“Mine would be my mum because she’s always keeping me motivated and challenges me to better myself. She’s always there for me through the good and bad times, and I can’t thank her enough for her continuous support in my journey.”

Ruby Mace

“My mum and sister. They’ve always gone above and beyond for me to be the very best version of myself and give me the best platform to pursue my dream.”

Jhanaie Pierre

“Growing up, Drew Spence was a big inspiration to me. Seeing a Black female player performing at that level really inspired me and made me believe that I could pursue football too. Now, it’s amazing because the person who inspired me to get into the sport is someone I now have the honour of learning from. Since training with the first team, she’s given me a lot of advice and I look up to her as someone who helps guide me and pushes me to better myself - both on and off the pitch.”

Olivia Holdt terrific run of form continued on the international stage on Saturday evening as she stepped off the bench to net the equaliser for Denmark in their 1-1 draw with Italy in the FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifiers.

The attacking midfielder was introduced in the 61st minute and just two minutes later, with her nation behind to Martina Piemonte’s first half opener, Oli was on hand to make an instant impact as she brought the scores level in the contest.

With Sofie Svava picking out our number 11 in the centre of the box, the 24-year-old directed a right-footed effort into the back of the net – just her second goal for her nation to date.

A bright spark throughout the season for us so far, Oli has now provided 13 goal contributions (eight goals and five assists) in 24 games for Club and country this term.

That goal earned Denmark a valuable point away from home and sees them pick up four points from their first two qualifying games in Group One of League A, having beaten Serbia 3-1 earlier in the week.

Meanwhile, also in that qualifying group, Amanda Nilden, Hanna Wijk and Matilda Vinberg’s Sweden were held to a goalless draw by Serbia.

Amanda came off the bench late on for her nation, replacing Smilla Holmberg with seven minutes left on the clock, but Hanna and Tilly remained unused substitutes on the afternoon.

There was also success for Eveliina Summanen and Olga Ahtinen in their World Cup qualifiers as Finland enjoyed a 3-1 win over Lativa earlier this afternoon.

Eve started and completed 71 minutes before making way for Vilma Koivisto, while Olga made her return to the starting XI and played the full match at Bolt Arena in Helsinki.

A brace from Ria Oling before Oona Sevenius’ goal, despite Annija Andersone late consolation strike, saw Finland get their first three points in Group Three of League B.

It was a disappointing evening for Signe Gaupset and Julie Blakstad as Norway suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat to Germany in their Group Four of League A fixture.

Our duo, once again, started and completed the full match for their nation on the night, but three first half goals from Germany gave Norway an uphill task before Jule Brand put the game out of reach just before the hour mark.

Oliver Boast’s hat-trick helped our Under-18s to a big win at Birmingham City on Saturday lunchtime.

The forward bundled home inside six minutes before netting twice more after the break to complete a 4-1 victory, Conall Glancy also chipping in with his first Under-18s goal as we moved four points clear at the top of the Under-18 Premier League table.

Connor Reilly was responsible for the home side’s sole reply in the second period, but we were worthy winners overall, taking full advantage of second-placed Chelsea’s home defeat to West Bromwich Albion to stretch our lead at the summit. Our London rivals still have two games in hand – as they have had for much of the last few weeks – but the three points we earned in the West Midlands could prove important in the end-of-season reckoning as we recovered swiftly from the midweek defeat to Crystal Palace in the semi-finals of the Under-18 Premier League Cup to make it eight consecutive league games unbeaten at this level.

Coach Jamie Carr handed a competitive Spurs debut to goalkeeper Farren Doran following his switch from Manchester City last summer, while defender Cayon Hanson made his long-awaited Under-18s bow with an impressive showing off the bench in the second period after missing the entire season up to this point through injury.

We were quickly on the offensive at the Blues’ training ground and took an early lead. Harry Byrne’s cross from the left after a short corner was headed towards goal by Reiss Elliott-Parris, defender Isifu Jawara nodded it off the line but Boast was alive to the situation and bundled the ball beyond goalkeeper Alfie Smith, with Jawara – still positioned underneath the crossbar – this time unable to prevent it from going in.

Tye Hall’s low shot towards the near post was saved comfortably by Smith, but it was 2-0 on the quarter-of-an-hour mark when a great delivery from Boast on the right wing took a slight deflection and dropped between striker Elliott-Parris and left winger Joel Vidal-Philbert, but Glancy was on hand at the back stick to take advantage and open his Under-18s account. Reilly flashed an angled drive over the bar at the other end but we stayed largely in control, Smith tipping away an awkward delivery from Byrne with both Cameron Thomas and Hall firing just wide in separate attempts at goal in the latter stages of the first half.

We scored a key third goal six minutes after the restart to put daylight between the sides, Doran’s clearance down the left collected by Vidal-Philbert, whose delivery from the left caused problems for goalkeeper Smith under pressure from Elliott-Parris at the near post, with Boast converting the loose ball with a shot-on-the-turn into the far corner.

Reilly capitalised on a lapse in concentration in our defence to beat Doran inside the box and pull one back for Birmingham five minutes later, with a great covering block from Oscar Sandiford and subsequent save from Doran preventing the same player from making it 3-2 during a brief spell of pressure from the hosts.

Elliott-Parris squandered a great chance for us just afterwards when he went through one-on-one with Smith but saw his shot diverted wide by the keeper’s right foot, but we did finally bag a fourth mid-way through the second period when Vidal-Philbert’s superb cross from the left was headed home in the centre of the six-yard box by Boast, Smith getting a hand to the ball but unable to keep it out.

It was Boast’s second hat-trick of the season following his treble against Ipswich Town in the Under-17 Premier League Cup in October and saw him move into double figures for league goals this term – he’s now up to 11. It wasn’t his first Under-18 Premier League hat-trick, though – he bagged one for Leeds against Wolves last term while still a schoolboy, prior to his move to north London. Neither side was able to add to the scoreline after that, Boast’s fizzing drive across from the left just too strong for substitute Leon Myrtaj to get on the end of in our clearest opening of the latter stages.

‘A mixed performance’

Coach Jamie saw plenty of positives from the game, but also a number of things to work on: “It was a mixed performance,” he reflected. “We dominated large parts of the first half but although we had a lot of the ball, we didn’t always have a cutting edge. I felt we were comfortable from a defensive point of view and it was just a matter of us maintaining our standards to try and open them up and show enough of a technical level to create those moments to score.”

With a number of players enjoying individual milestones and achievements during the game, Jamie added: “It’s brilliant for Cayon to be back playing after his long-term injury. He’s had a lengthy rehabilitation process and some of the staff have done a terrific job in getting him back up to speed, then Faz (Farren Doran) came in between the sticks and looked really comfortable on the ball, helping us with our build-up. Boasty is obviously happy with his match ball – he’s always hungry to score, which is really refreshing to see, regardless of what position he plays. We just need to continue to work on all parts of his game to make sure that we give him that rounded toolkit that he’ll need for the future.”

Toko Koga and Maika Hamano helped Japan through to the knockout stages of the Women’s Asian with a thumping 11-0 victory over India on Saturday afternoon.

Our young defender, who didn’t feature in the opening game of the competition, started in what was her first appearance in the prestigious tournament while Maika was a second-half substitute in the emphatic performance in Perth.

Having tasted victory in their opening game on Group C – a 4-0 win over Chinese Taipei – they secured their place in the quarter-finals and join Clare Hunt Australia in the last eight of competition after hosts Australia reached that stage earlier this week.

Toko played the full 90 minutes for her nation, ending the game at right-back, while Maika was 66th-minute substitute.

Next up for Japan is a clash against Vietnam at HBF Park in Perth on Tuesday morning (10 March, 9am kick-off) in their final group game.

Molly Bartrip is keen to build on the momentum gained from a positive run of displays in February for our return to Women’s Super League action after the current international break.

With three wins out of four across all competitions, 11 goals scored in those fixtures, and progressing to the quarter-final of the Women’s FA Cup, it’s fair to say that February certainly brought the very best out of Martin Ho’s side – and that was recognised throughout the whole of England’s top flight as our Head Coach was named the WSL’s Manager of the Month.

“I love playing at the Stadium,” Molly said, looking ahead to next Sunday’s clash against the Toffees. “It’s amazing [to play there] and hopefully we can get as many fans there as possible.

“It always helps us when we’re playing there to hear the crowd, cheering us on, so hopefully we can put in a positive performance but we’re looking forward to being back there, we love playing there.

“The last two games were big results for us. Obviously, a lot of goals in the Villa game, disappointing to concede as many as we did, but going into the FA Cup tie, we knew it would be tough, they are a great team, but it’s a 90 plus game nowadays and we fought till the very end.

“We got through extra-time and penalties, so credit to all the girls who stood up to take the penalty. It was amazing to get through, and you could see how much it meant, not just to us but also the fans.”

Our number five has been one of a very small group to stay behind in north London over the international break, but she insists the squad is ready to go once our internationals return next week for a full week of preparation ahead of Everton.

“We’ve been working really hard,” she added. “Sometimes the good thing during the international break is that you get a lot of one-on-one coaching and more details delivered to you, so that has been beneficial for all of us."

Our Under-18s are back in action on Saturday with a trip to Birmingham City (12pm UK).

Jamie Carr’s side currently lead the Under-18 Premier League southern division standings by a point and will be looking to stay above Chelsea – who have two games in hand – with victory in the West Midlands.

We head into the match off the back of a disappointing 1-0 home defeat to Crystal Palace in the Under-18 Premier League Cup semi-finals in midweek.

However, our youngsters were on an eight-game unbeaten run prior to that match and will be eyeing a quick return to form against a side that goes into the weekend second from bottom.