A glorious feeling: Emma Hayes savours the moment with coach TJ O’Leary, who also runs Kentish Town FC. Picture: Catherine Etoe

Published: 6 August, 2015
CATHERINE ETOE reports on Wembley’s historic Women’s FA Cup Final

CHELSEA Ladies manager Emma Hayes has dedicated her FA Cup triumph to her Camden-born parents following her side’s historic win at Wembley on Saturday. 

Miriam and Sid Hayes were in the stands at the national stadium to see their daughter walk up its hallowed steps after the Blues had beaten fellow Women’s Super League side Notts County 1-0 to capture the trophy. 

And once former Parliament Hill School pupil Emma had held the prestigious cup aloft, she raced down the steps to seek out her parents. 

“I passed my winner’s medal over to my mum and I said ‘that’s for you and dad’,” said the 38-year-old.

“I wanted them to have it because I grew up playing football on the Curnock Street Estate in Camden until 10 at night dreaming about a day like that and my parents always encouraged me. It was an era when women’s football wasn’t accepted like it is today.” 

That the prestige final was held at Wembley for the first ever time is testament to how far the women’s game has come, as was the record attendance of more then 30,000. 

Accordingly, it was a special moment for Emma, who won the FA Cup as Vic Akers’ assistant at Arsenal Ladies in 2007, the year that the Gunner Girls also won the quadruple. 

It was extra special, too, for Emma’s 69-year-old mother Miriam, a former Richard Cobden School pupil, who was born and raised in Plender Street, Camden Town. 

“My mum is a Chelsea fan, and she said that when I got the Chelsea job it was one of the proudest days of her life. She was in tears at Wembley,” Emma added. 

Emma's father Sid, pictured with his wife Miriam

The Ladies’ victory was also a cause for celebration within Chelsea, with Blues’ skipper John Terry telephoning Emma before the match and texting his congratulations after. And on Saturday night, the club threw a party for the players and their families at Stamford Bridge. 

Emma’s 74-year-old father Sid, who was raised in Somers Town, and has run the family’s foreign exchange business in Covent Garden for the last 30 years, said he now expects the Blues to kick on.

“I always saw her winning things, but to do it at Wembley was great,” he said. “It’s just a matter of time before they collect more trophies.” 

With the celebrations well under way Emma still found time to single out Chelsea’s elite squad development coach TJ O’Leary, who also grew up in Camden. “I enjoyed it for everybody at the club, including TJ, who gives his life and soul to all my staff, and the players,” she said.