Durham Women FC’s academy team will today begin their FA WSL Academy Cup campaign.

Young players who represent the Wildcats’ pathway teams and those of the club’s education partners will today come together to face Everton in the first of a two-legged affair.

The FA WSL Academy Cup is a competition primarily contested by Barclays FA Women’s Super League clubs, with Durham one of a select few teams invited to the knockout tournament,

This is the second time the club have entered the competition, having beaten Manchester United and Manchester City en route to the semi-final in the 2019/20 season – only for the season to then be curtailed.

And while the goal will undoubtedly be to match that progress, Everton will prove a stern test in the first round.

Durham welcome the Toffees to Maiden Castle this afternoon before the second leg is played in Widnes on September 29.

We’ll have a full-time report on the club website following the conclusion of this afternoon’s game, and half-time and full-time updates on our Twitter page (@DurhamWFC).