Players to Watch ahead of York City's FA Cup clash

Photography by Connor McLeod

For many players, playing in the FA Cup is one of the highlights of their career. This cup offers national league clubs and players a once in a lifetime opportunity to play glamorous ties against higher league opposition and even WSL sides.

Ahead of York City Ladies’ home FA cup clash against Wroxham Women on the Sunday 23rd November at 2PM, we looked at some key players to watch out for within their first team squad. With a win opening up York to a potential clash against a WSL 2 side in the third round proper, all their eyes will be on this huge fixture!

York’s route to the second round proper has seen them score a total of 6 goals across their two qualifying games. Their first fixture saw them breeze past West Didsbury and Chorlton women with a Katie Astle hattrick securing their spot in the next side. Their next game saw them claim a 1-0 victory to book their place in the Second Round proper thanks to another Astle goal.

Make sure to get down to support the girls in what is sure to be a great match!

Here are 6 players to watch:

Ruby Shaw

An exciting young player coming through the ranks right now at York City Ladies is undoubtedly the teenage midfielder Ruby Shaw. A perfect example of the MinsterBelles pathway in action, the youngster started off her footballing career at Fulford Girls alongside her school girls before moving to York City’s RTC and eventually working her way through the pathway towards the first team.

Describing her footballing highlight so far, two major moments come to mind for the young midfielder - ‘either scoring a last minute winner against Stockport in one of my first matches for the first team or playing at Elland Road’. This goal against Stockport came in the dying embers of the matches and demonstrated her ability to change games even at such a young age.

This season, Shaw has been impressing once again for the first team having already made seven appearances, five of which saw her start. Describing both Sergio Busquets and Lucy Bronze as her footballing idols for their composure and positive attitude respectively, Shaw may look to base her game off these legends. As York City Ladies progress into the Second Round Proper of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup, make sure to keep an eye on Ruby Shaw.

Rosie Bell

Another talented player who came through the pathway at York is the 20 year old winger Rosie Bell. For someone who is so young, Bell has already achieved a lot within football and cites her footballing highlight as the National Cup victory at the Eco-Power Stadium in Doncaster whilst playing for York City Ladies.

A committed Spurs fan, Bell might perhaps have her sights set on a potential meeting with Spurs Women if York City were to make it to the 4th Round Proper. For now however, her sights will be focussed on the side’s 2nd Round Proper clash against Wroxham Women on Sunday 23rd November.

Already this season, Bell has been made her mark, recording nine starting appearances and accumulating an impressive total of two goals and two assists. Furthermore, she has further picked up one opposition player of the match accolade demonstrating the impact that she is having on other team’s defences.

Maddie Blundell

Another pillar in the middle is 22 year old midfielder Maddie Blundell who initially developed at Hull City women’s RTC before playing for Newcastle University Women’s 1st team alongside pursuing a degree at the same university. This experience of university is a highly positive one for Blundell who cites one of her proudest footballing moments as scoring a last minute winner to secure a spot in the next round of the cup. An impressive feat she will surely be hoping to repeat in this crucial second round tie.

Now playing for York in the Division One North, the midfielder, who describes her footballing hero as either Lionel Messi or Leah Williamson, has made seven appearances so far. She has also made an appearance for the reserve side wherein she scored two goals and picked up the opposition player of the match award.

Tara Duce

26 year old midfielder Tara Duce is another player to keep an eye on in this York City Ladies side. Formerly of both Cheadle Town Stingers (where she made 18 appearances last season) and Huddersfield Town, Duce is a player with plenty of FAWNL experience under her belt. Her time at Huddersfield is something she also holds close to her heart with one of her proudest moments being her title winning 21/22 campaign where she played a key role scoring a total of 11 goals across 20 appearances.

After having played against them in the 24/25 campaign, Duce joined York City Ladies this season. She has slotted easily into the side already having made 10 appearances including six starts.

Florence Pegrum

After having previously spent time playing in the States for the University of West Georgia, left back Florence Pegrum has this season made her return to York City Ladies. Her time in the states was a successful one with her registering 17 appearances and 15 starts in her senior year and even providing a crucial match winning assist. All of these stats aside, Pegrum’s proudest college moment was when her parents, who had been the driving force behind her footballing journey, were able to come and see her play a few games

York City is undoubtedly a club close to her heart as she not only played for their RTC but also comes from a family of York City supporters. A hardworking defender who cites Lucy Bronze as her footballing hero, Pegrum has made 5 appearances so far for York this season including 3 starts at defence. Ahead of their FA Cup tie, she will be hoping to guide her local team into the Third Round Proper.

Sharone Buckle

Another key defensive figure for the MinsterBelles is 30 year old center-back Sharone Buckle. Having previously played for clubs including Barnsley, Huddersfield Town and Derby County, Buckle already boasts an impressive FAWNL career. Alongside this, Buckle was also a key player for the University of Birmingham Women’s Football club and even reached the BUCS final in her second year.

She joined York City Ladies this season on the back of an impressive season with Barnsley FC women where she recorded 18 appearances and an impressive four opposition player of the match awards. This season, she has quickly become a key player at the back for York and has already started 10 games receiving the opposition player of the match on one occasion.