Brighton have already made history in reaching their first Women’s FA Cup final - but for midfielder Bex Rayner it would be “a dream come true” to go one step further by beating Manchester City at Wembley on Sunday.
Brighton are underdogs against a Man City side searching for their fourth FA Cup title and on course to complete a historic domestic double.
The Seagulls, though, are comfortable upsetting the odds and having battled back to fitness after a lengthy metatarsal injury, Rayner is prepared to let herself dream of walking the hallowed Wembley steps to lift the club’s first FA Cup.
“We have already made history by reaching the final,” the 26-year-old exclusively tells Standard Sport.
“But we beat City earlier in the season. So, if we stick to our game plan then we will have a chance.”
It will be cooler on Sunday than the record temperatures recorded over the last week, yet the heat will still play a part at Wembley.
With the temperature set to stay at around 22 degrees celsius, Brighton know they will struggle if they allow City to dominate possession and move them around the vast Wembley pitch.
Brighton have focussed on preparing to play in the heat and Rayner says the team have acclimatised well to the energy sapping conditions.
“We have had two weeks (since the end of the Women’s Super League season) to prepare, so we have acclimatised to the heat.
“We also like to keep possession, so we will be comfortable taking the game to City.”
Rayner, who signed a new contract in January, loves living in Brighton. The wispy sea breeze is a far cry from the landlocked West Yorkshire city of Bradford, where she grew up.
Brighton is a city with colour and character and regardless of the result this afternoon, they are a club on the up after announcing plans to develop Europe’s first purpose-built women’s stadium by the start of the 2030-31 season.
“It is really important to have somewhere to call home. We already have our own facilities at the training ground but it will be good to have a stadium that caters specifically to our needs.”
We also like to keep possession, so we will be comfortable taking the game to City
Bex Rayner
A childhood Manchester United, Rayner was in attendance when Jesse Lingard struck a thunderous extra-time winner in the 2016 FA Cup final against Crystal Palace to seal the Red Devils’ first title following Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement.
A win over Man City would therefore be that extra bit sweet for Rayner, who is looking to deliver a slice of history for her adopted home.
Brighton are trying to break up the established order. Not since 2012 have a team outside of Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal or City lifted the FA Cup.
Brighton have always punched above their weight, though, and beating City would be a natural if unexpected sign of how far the club have come after turning professional less than a decade ago.
