Turquoise Hayes Lane

Hopperational Details
Date & Venue	Friday 4 September 2026 at The Copperjax Stadium (Bromley FC)
Result	London City Lionesses 2 Manchester United Women 1
Competition	Women’s Super League
Hopstats	My second visit, nominally, to this ground in Hayes Lane which is completely transformed from my first (3 Jan 2009), when Bromley were in the Conference South. The blog hadn't started back then, so there are no photos to compare.
Context
Opening game of the WSL season, a 5400 sell-out. Lionesses are challenging the recent top order of teams with their ambitious billionaire owners, and they have recruited an impressive multinational squad for this season. Manchester United have a new manager and ambitions of their own. They were 4th, just outside the Champions’ League places, last season and London were 6th in their first season at this level. London City are the only WSL side that are not linked to a men’s side with the same name.
Match Report
This match will have been covered in detail elsewhere so I will be brief. The scoreline looks close but United’s goal was a very late consolation. London City scored early on and probably should have been further ahead at the break. Their energetic high pressing unsettled the visitors, and some of their United players were looking very disgruntled as the game wore on. The London marquee signings (Alexia Putellas, Maria Leon among others) have clearly adapted quickly to the requirements of this expanding and developing league. Even Mary Earps had to start the season on the bench against her former team. The opening goal, eventually recorded as an o.g. due to deflection The only downside for the hosts was the sight of Lucia Corrales being stretchered off in the second half. Manchester United had improved after the break but the second London goal came at the right time. It was a delightful backheel from Danielle van der Donk which I could not fully appreciate until I saw the TV replays later. On balance I think it will be good for the women’s game if this league becomes one where “anyone can beat anyone”, more like the men’s Championship than the Premier League. There has been some press coverage of the London shirt deal, which is said by the owner to be worth more than those of some men’s premier league clubs. The official name of the colour is … wait for it … hyperturq. The human race is doomed.
So What?
Too early to say really, but a definite ripple through the existing pecking order is on its way.
Pre-match Entertainment
To be honest, I avoided the fanzone and chose a good spot to stand whereupon I piled on some Duolingo points during the warm-ups. Increasingly, I'm pleased to say that I now know a French subjunctive when I see one.
Pix
I'm a chemistry teacher but pyro is pointless imo Nice second-half sky with shades of megapink and gigaviolet
Goalkeeper Top Colour Stats Update
The background to this, and the latest keeper top colour league table, is here on this dedicated page. Today Yellow (Elene Lete) v Pink (Phallon Tullis-Joyce). Pre-match Prediction based on Keeper Top Colour: Prediction: Away Win Was the prediction correct? No % of correct predictions so far 48% (108 from 224)
What Next?
Games taking place tomorrow at eight unvisited grounds, so a random selection will be made with the aid of three coins, one each from Barbados, Norway and the UK. Eight is two to the power three, you see, so with three two-sided coins there will be eight unique sequences when they are flipped. All will be documented in the next post.