Despite the defeat to Women’ Championship side Blackburn Rovers Ladies on Sunday afternoon, Wolves left the pitch having earned nothing short of an incredible achievement, as the fourth-tier side overcame the odds to reach the fourth round for the first time in 15 years.
Speaking to Wolves TV shortly after the full-time whistle, McNamara expressed his immense pride in his team as they fought right up to the 90th minute.
On the FA Cup journey
“There are no commiserations. This group are something else, they really are something else. That’s what is meant to happen when you get to this level.
“I’m not saying in any way that we deserved that because they’re [Blackburn] great players, they’re sharp, they’re fit, and they had Welsh internationals out there. We’ve been undone there by two freekicks and a penalty. Effectively, that’s the difference.
“I’m just so proud of them, the journey we’ve been on for the last three weeks has been tremendous. Credit to Blackburn – what an outfit – because that’s what we’re chasing. That’s what we’re trying to get to.
“No commiserations here, I’m absolutely proud of every single one of them.”
"No commiserations here." 👏
— Wolves Women FC (@WolvesWomen) April 18, 2021
Dan McNamara describes his pride in our #WomensFACup run and after today's battling display against Championship outfit @RoversLadies.
🎥🗣 pic.twitter.com/L91s3umwbJ
On fighting until the end
“We’ve been absolutely fantastic, but we’ve got to use it as a learning experience. This is where we want to get to. We want the club to be playing in the Championship and the WSL [Women’s Super League].
“You see moments of absolute brilliance from some of the Blackburn players. The two free-kicks were, as soon as she kicked the second one, it was in. And that’s the difference.
“I think if we can hold out to half-time, we may be able to rejuvenate the girls, but we’ve been back playing three weeks, Blackburn have not stopped, and I think that showed. They were sharper, more alive, more alert to the ball.
“But there’s absolutely nothing to be ashamed of in that performance.”
On showing they deserve promotion
“I said to them in the dressing room at half-time, just go out there an compete. I’ve used the same phrase for the last three weeks. We’ve got absolutely nothing to prove to anyone and we’ve got everything to show.
“They just showed again there, that’s what’s meant to happen. They’ve competed. They compete within every aspect.
“I though Ali Miller was absolutely tremendous, I thought Jam [Jamila Palmer] was tremendous. Jade Cross, we know what we’re going to get out of her. Summer Holmes. Every one of them, all eleven of them are absolutely a credit to themselves and a credit to the football club.
“I hope everybody that’s been watching over the last three weeks has really enjoyed the journey, and hopefully, we continue that at home games when it’s allowed.”
𝐌𝐄𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐒. 💛@VitalityWFACup 🏆 pic.twitter.com/okDEDYDgs5
— Wolves Women FC (@WolvesWomen) April 19, 2021
On the team’s growing support
“It’s been amazing, the whole journey. It’s just been tremendous. It’s just been absolutely superb, and we don’t want it to be a flash in the pan, we want this group to get where they deserve to be.
“We want this support and the people at home, at the stadium when we can, because the girls deserve it.
“They’ve just proved it again. They’re a tremendous group and a credit to the club.”
Words by Katy Wordley-Smith
