WALKER RELISHING ‘EXCITING’ FA CUP TIE

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Striker previews visit of Spennymoor Town

2024-10-31T15:00:00.000Z

WALKER RELISHING ‘EXCITING’ FA CUP TIE

Striker previews visit of Spennymoor Town

2024-10-31T15:00:00.000Z

Striker previews visit of Spennymoor Town

Claudia Walker says she and her Burnley teammates are ‘raring to go’ ahead of Sunday's Adobe Women’s FA Cup tie against Spennymoor Town.

Fixture postponements meant the Clarets had two free weekends in October and, as we enter the penultimate month of the year, Rebecca Sawiuk’s team enter the competition at the first-round stage.

“It’s a long time coming,” said Walker.

“We’ve ended up having a few weeks without a game now and it was good for everybody to be able to go home, have some time off with family and friends and switch off from football for a bit.

“We’re raring to go after the break now though!”

WALKER RELISHING ‘EXCITING’ FA CUP TIE - Image 1

The FA Cup is of course a competition steeped in history, and its one that Walker has had success in previously too.

The 28-year-old netted a hat-trick against Brighouse Town for Everton in February 2017, a performance that earned her the ‘Player of the Round’ award.

More recently, Walker’s brace helped West Ham United to a 4-1 victory over Sheffield United in the fourth round of the competition in January 2022.

Funnily enough, her current teammates Charley Docherty and Rhema Lord-Mears both came off the bench for the Blades that day.

“FA Cup games have a different kind of feel to them, as you know you have to get the result on the day," she continued.

“We want to get as far as we can in this competition and we’ve got a good enough squad to make sure we can really show what Burnley are about.”

WALKER RELISHING ‘EXCITING’ FA CUP TIE - Image 2

This afternoon’s opponents operate in the Northeast Regional Premier Division, which is the fifth tier of the English football pyramid.

That won’t affect the way the Clarets approach the game, though, as Walker explained.

“We’ve learnt more about them this week and we prepare for any side exactly the same way.

“Our aim is to be the best version of ourselves, impose ourselves on the game and get the job done; we’ve done the work on the grass this week to get ourselves in good shape.”

This will be the second time the Clarets have played at the County Ground in Leyland this season, following last month’s 2-0 victory over Derby County.

“I enjoyed playing at Leyland!” Walker finished.

“The atmosphere was good with the fans being a bit closer to us and they really helped us on the pitch.

“Hopefully we can continue our winning form there.”

Kick-off at the County Ground in Leyland (PR25 2LF) is 2pm and Burnley season ticket holders are able to claim free entry by presenting their season card at the gate.

Other adults are £5, while concessions are £2.

If you can't be there in person, be sure to follow live updates via X @BurnleyFCWomen and Instagram @burnleyfcwomen.

Our social platforms will also house post-match reaction from Head Coach Rebecca Sawiuk and the playing squad, with a match report shared on www.burnleyfootballclub.com too.