Ipswich Women ready to show their mettle against West Ham in FA Cup

Joe Sheehan can remember the attendance at his first match in charge of Ipswich Town Women without hesitation. It was about three years ago and they were playing Brantham Athletic in the quarter-finals of the Suffolk County Cup: there were 32 fans watching and, while nobody would sniff at a 14-0 win, an appearance at the equivalent stage nationally felt some way off.

On Sunday, though, Ipswich will be there: they host West Ham in the last eight of the FA Women’s Cup and the sellout attendance at their home ground, in nearby Felixstowe, will total about 2,000. They lead the National League South, one of the third tier’s two branches, and the Hammers’ visit is the latest show of progress for one of the UK’s most progressive operations. Ipswich are a Championship club in waiting and potentially much more: it will be a chance to show that to the country, given the tie will be screened live, and perhaps a reminder that the league system needs shaking up to give its more impressive setups the opportunity to flourish.

There are no guarantees Ipswich will top their division, to which they were only promoted last season: Southampton and Oxford are offering stern competition and the smart money would be on a contest with the Saints going to the final weekend. But even if they do, they would then have to play off with the winners of National League North – likely to be Wolves – for a sole promotion spot. It means only one team out of 27 can be successful and there is a sense that the lack of fluidity is doing the game no favours.

“I can speak passionately on behalf of ourselves, Southampton and Wolves because I know the work we’re doing and the challenges we’re all facing,” Sheehan says. “To a certain extent I want us all to do