Chelsea’s Millie Bright To Equal Women’s Super League Appearance Record

On Saturday, Chelsea captain Millie Bright will equate to the all-time look record in the Women’s Super League (WSL) if she bets Toolbox at the Emirates arena.

The previous England captain has actually included in 209 WSL matches and if she plays any part of Saturday’s video game, she will match the record set by Jordan Nobbs who appeared in 210 matches for Toolbox and Aston Vacation home over 15 seasons. After withdrawing from global service this summer season declaring she was “unable to offer 100% psychologically or physically”, Bright has actually begun all 9 video games that Chelsea have actually played this season.

The look record was held by another Chelsea protector, Gilly Flahety, who played 177 WSL video games – lots of along with Brilliant – till her retirement in January 2023. She was surpassed by Kate Longurst and after that Kerys Harrop before another Chelsea gamer, Sophie Ingle, presumed the record in November that year.

Jordan Nobbs, the only gamer to rating in every WSL season, presently holds the look record, ending up being the very first to play in 200 video games this year. This summer season she made the relocate to 2nd tier Newcastle United having actually made 210 looks in the WSL.

Nobbs might yet go back to the WSL next season however in her lack from the leading flight, her previous England team-mate Millie Bright has actually captured her up and will make a record-equalling 210th look on Saturday versus Toolbox at what is most likely to be a sold-out Emirates Arena.

When the Women’s Super League was established in 2011, the 17-year-old Bright was a Doncaster Rovers Belles gamer. She made 5 alternative looks before becoming a routine starter. At the start of her 3rd season in the league, Doncaster were notified they would be benched from the leading flight with Manchester City taking their location.

That season, Bright made 14 WSL looks for a group currently condemned to playing in a lower league. She confessed to the BBC that “it was heartbreaking. It seemed like we weren’t appreciated or perhaps desired in the league, simply based upon cash. That season, we simply felt what’s the point?”

Brilliant continued to bet Doncaster in WSL 2 however, after being chosen for tbe department’s Gamer of the Season at the end of 2014, she was signed by Chelsea. Then assistant supervisor Paul Green had actually dealt with her at Doncaster and stated of Bright “she has a great deal of experience for a 21-year-old and has actually currently played a great deal of video games in the FA WSL and understands what the league is everything about. She will include strength and physicality to the team.”

Brilliant did not recall, assisting Chelsea to their very first WSL title in her launching season. She is the only gamer to function in each of their 8 championship-winning seasons, a record for any gamer in the league. Throughout the last 2 she raised the prize as captain after the departure of her previous protective partner Magdalena Eriksson to FC Bayern.

An essential figure for England when they won UEFA Women’s Euro 2022, Bright was today voted by her fellow specialists onto the FIFPro Women’s World XI for a 3rd time. Nevertheless, Bright will be more worried this weekend with preserving Chelsea’s position at the top of the league as they chase after a seventh succeeding WSL title.

Unbeaten in the league considering that May 1, 2024, Chelsea might equate to another all-time WSL record if they prevent defeat on Saturday. In between February 2019 and February 2021, Chelsea were unbeaten for a record 33 league video games, lastly beat in your home to Brighton and Hove Albion. Presently unbeaten in 32 matches, they might equal their own record this weekend.

Their uunbeaten series this time is a lot more outstanding in regards to success accomplished. Of the 32 video games up until now, Chelsea have actually won 28 and drawn simply 4. Throughout their previous unbeaten run, they drew 7 video games.

A 3rd of method into her 2nd season in the English video game, Sonia Bompastor has yet to taste defeat in the WSL. Last weekend she extended her individual unbeaten go to 30 video games, dropping simply 8 league points throughout her whole period in west London.

Coincidentally, the last time Bompastor lost a league video game was likewise in Might 2024, when her previous side Olympique Lyonnais decreased 2-1 away to Girondins de Bordeaux in an irrelevant encounter with very first position in France currently guaranteed.

In addition to protecting the league record for unbeaten matches, a win for Chelsea away to their London competitors would open a 8 point space over Toolbox and probably condemn the European champs to another season without a league title.