Savannah Andrade hopes Women’s Grand Final soon shares Old Trafford stage
SAVANNAH Andrade would rather not have home comforts as she and York go for glory.
She would prefer to be stepping out at Old Trafford and feels the best of the women’s game will be soon.
Savannah Andrade (left) hopes to see the Women’s Grand Final played alongside the men’s at Old TraffordSWPIX.COM
History was made this season as the Women’s Challenge Cup final shared the same stage as the men at Wembley.
But so far, the girls’ league decider does not have the same status. Instead, she will be on home turf as Valkyrie look to defeat Leeds.
And as much as that could be an advantage, she would much rather it be at the Theatre of Dreams.
“It’s really good the final is at our home ground and it’ll be a big event, but hopefully there’ll be talks about holding it at Old Trafford, even for next year,” Savannah said.
“Having the Challenge Cup final at Wembley was a huge step for the women’s game and having the league final at Old Trafford would be amazing.
“Whoever gets there would be so proud of that achievement. Hopefully it’ll be there next year, fingers crossed. That would be the next big step for us.
MOST READ IN RUGBY LEAGUE
“And the way the women’s game has grown since I started playing aged 14 is amazing. When I started, we didn’t know where we were playing until the day of the game and they weren’t the nicest grounds.
“Now we’re sharing many stadia with the men’s teams. It feels like people care about watching the women’s game.”
Savannah, 23, may be aiming high but her day job working for a Leeds-based housing charity makes sure she cannot get too big for her boots.
Dealing with people who may be refugees, fleeing domestic violence, overcoming homelessness and needing emergency temporary accommodation is very much an eye opener.
Savannah and York go for glory against Leeds todaySWPIX.COM
And that attitude is coursing through the veins of Lindsay Anfield’s side, which is looking to avenge a league draw with the Rhinos that prevented a perfect record.
Savannah added: “It was our second league game – other than that and the Challenge Cup semi-final, which we lost by a point that was the only game we didn’t win.
“So that’s definitely a motivating factor. In that game, we didn’t perform as well as we could.”