We travelled to South London to sit down with FA Cup Baller of the Round, Abbie Larkin. The 19-year-old scored the winning goal and secured an assist against Newcastle United, in the fifth round to send Crystal Palace through to the FA Cup Quarter-Final for the first time in the club’s history.

Crystal Palace take on Chelsea on Sunday 9th March 2025!

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SAB: When the game was finally over, what emotions did you feel? 

Abbie:  Just happiness, to be honest. I’ve seen the look on the girls’ faces. And especially coming off the bench, getting my first goal and helping Ashleigh get her goal as well. 

SAB: What was going through your head when you scored the winner against Newcastle? 

Abbie:  I couldn’t really believe it at first! It was one thing that I proved to myself – that I’m able to get back on my feet, get my first goal and just enjoy playing the game! 

SAB: How does it feel having Palace through to the quarter-finals for the first time in the club’s history? 

Abbie: Amazing – I actually only found out that Palace haven’t got this far in the tournament before quite recently, so to help them get here, it’s amazing. Hopefully we can go further! 

SAB: What does playing in the FA Cup mean to you? 

Abbie: It’s always been like a dream of mine as well as playing in the WSL. It’s a big Cup alongside the best teams in the league. It’s another opportunity for Palace to get a few wins under our belt as well. Coming into WSL at the start was tough – coming from the Championship. Proving ourselves in the FA Cup has been good for the team. 

SAB: What was your favourite moment from the game? 

Abbie: I’d say getting the assist for Ashleigh. That definitely gave us confidence in getting at them again and again, proving to myself that, after coming off the bench, I can make an impact. 

SAB: How do you stay composed in big games like that, and are there any tips to young players who are dealing with nerves? 

Abbie:  Just enjoy it and get everything out of your head. At the end of the day, you’re just trying to prove to yourself how good you can be and not anyone around you. When you’re feeling free, you can play your best football! 

SAB: How does it feel knowing you’ll face Chelsea in the quarter-final? 

Abbie:  It’ll be good for us. We’ve played them before when we’re in the Championship and we’ve done really well against them – we were unlucky to concede a goal. 

If you come out with a lot of confidence – like that which we had against Newcastle, we’ll definitely give them a good fight. 

SAB: What’s your favourite thing about being a footballer? 

Abbie: It’s always been my dream. I love playing football – I love the game. Making lifelong friends, moving abroad and seeing different places. I’ve always had a love for the sport. 

SAB: What’s the hardest thing about being a footballer that people might not see on the outside? 

Abbie: The mentality side of it – it’s tough, especially moving away from your family when you’re quite close to them. Making new friends can be tough for sometimes and sometimes not playing (after suffering an injury) – especially when you’ve come from playing every minute of a game. It can take a while to get your confidence back up! 

SAB: How does it feel to be Baller of the Round? 

Abbie: Feels really good! I never actually thought it would be me – especially seeing the players that were in it as well. I was just coming on and trying to make an impact for the girls. But it’s amazing so thank you! 

SAB: How far do you think Palace can go this season? 

Abbie: We can go far as long as we keep working hard. We can’t skip any corners – we have to definitely keep driving – even with any losses that we have. We’ve got to just forget about them and stay focused on the wins.