Katie Zelem Follows In Footsteps Of Goalkeeping Father With Wembley Appearance

34 years after her dad, Alan, played at Wembley, Katie Zelem will lead out Manchester United Women as the team founded in 2018 play in their first major Cup final. “As soon as we made it to Wembley”, she said, “he texted me saying ‘you’re always copying me!'”

In 1989, Alan Zelem, then aged 27, played in goal for Macclesfield Town at the old Wembley Stadium in the FA Trophy final, a competition reserved for semi-professional men’s clubs. By a remarkable coincidence, daughter Katie, a professional for ten years, will make her first appearance at Wembley also aged 27.

Aged 26, Katie Zelem was cut from the provisional England squad who ended up winning the UEFA Women’s Euro at Wembley Stadium and was an unused substitute when the Lionesses defeated the United States at the same venue in November. Now 27, the winner of three league titles in her time with Liverpool and Juventus, will finally get her opportunity to play in a major Cup final at Wembley.

Alan Zelem’s Macclesfield lost that match in 1989, 1-0 to Telford United so daughter Katie will be hoping for better luck this Sunday. “That [final] was my Dad’s career highlight for sure,” she said. “If you ever get a chance to meet him I’m sure he’ll tell you that he played at Wembley! It was in a Cup final and unfortunately he got beat, so hopefully it will be a different outcome for us.”

Katie’s uncle Peter, Alan’s twin brother, also played for Chester City, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Preston North End and Burnley, making history as the first post-war professional with a surname beginning with the letter ‘Z’. However, both ended their careers before she was born. Whatever the result this weekend, father and daughter will attempt to capture the moment for posterity. “Hopefully I’ll be able to dig out a photo of him there and me there.”

Manchester United go into the 53rd Women’s FA Cup final as English league leaders having all but secured a place in next season’s UEFA Champions League. Yet they will face the reigning English league and Cup holders, Chelsea, as underdogs having never previously won a major domestic honor.

In nine previous league and Cup meetings, Manchester United have never won, losing eight. Indeed Chelsea are the only side to defeat them within regulation time this season, 3-1 at home in November and 1-0 away in London this March, a match in which Chelsea sat back and repeatedly hit the away side on the counter-attack.

Having led the Barclays Women’s Super League since February, Zelem told me she believes her side is now better-prepared to deal with all tactical efforts to suppress them. “I think everyone in this league plays so different, whether it’s a high press or if they’re going to sit in a mid to low block so, for us, we’ve faced a lot of different tactics across the season now. We’re certainly prepared for all scenarios. Chelsea are a team that’s really comfortable in not having the ball. For a top team, you don’t see that very often. Maybe it’s a different sort of test.”

“Obviously Wembley is massive so it’s a bit of a difference when you go from Kingsmeadow to there, so hopefully the pitch size will make a bit of a difference in that. For us, it’s about being patient, keeping the ball and creating chances and taking them when they come. We also know that, obviously (losing) 1-0 in the last game was down to fine margins. One long ball and Sam Kerr’s obviously scored. So for us, we’ve got to stay concentrated and stay switched on the whole game.”

Zelem has created her own bit of history this season, creating eight goals so far from dead-ball situations, an all-time record for during a single Barclays FA Women’s Super League campaign. Most dramatically, her last-minute set-piece deliveries have led to pivotal winning goals away to Arsenal and Aston Villa, a skill she tells me is the result of repetitive training.

“It’s something I do practice, whether it be a wide free kick, a corner, whatever it may be. We’ve highlighted how important set pieces can be. For me, it’s about being consistent with my delivery, whether that’s through an area or a player. As you mentioned, between Alessia (Russo), Rach (Williams) and Millie (Turner) there’s three great targets in the box for us. They’ve all scored goals throughout the season. For me, it’s about making sure I’m putting it in an area, with good pace on it, good power on it, hoping that they can get on the end of it!”

Zelem will not be the first woman to lead out a Manchester United side at Wembley, following in the footsteps of Donna Douglas, who captained a previous incarnation of the side during two exhibition matches in 1994 and 1996. Zelem realizes how her team is standing on the shoulders of the pioneering giants who came before her.

“Everyday I’m so proud to represent this club – my childhood club – and I’ve had so many amazing memories so far. This will be another one added to the list not just (for) me but for my friends and family who will all make the trip down to Wembley.”

“It’s important for me that I’m making everyone else proud and inspiring the younger generation. But it’s not only about us inspiring the younger generation, it’s the players who have come before us.”

“People forget how long women’s football has been around. There are the Dick Kerr Ladies all those years ago who were the real trailblazers for women’s football and it’s so important to remember the women who aren’t playing anymore who set the foundations for where we are now.”