Sunday will be a big day for Oxford City Women but for one player in particular it promises to be particularly memorable.

Midfielder Anna O’Leary will play a big part in City’s team to face Swindon Town as they try to reach further in the competition than they ever have before, but to do so she has had to make quite a choice: She graduates from Oxford University on the same day…

“It couldn’t have been worse timing!” she told us. “I loved my time at the University and put a huge amount of work into my PGCE at uni and in schools on placement so was really looking forward to celebrating. But we’ve also worked hard as a team to get this far in the FA Cup and it's already a fantastic achievement. I had to make a decision and in the end I just couldn’t miss the match! The dream is to win and we're going to do everything in our control to make sure we end the day in celebrations. Then I guess the graduation celebrations will come later..."

How hard has it been to combine studying with playing football at City?

“It’s been fantastic to combine my two real passions. I have had to juggle my time here and there, alongside playing for the university too, but that’s not so unusual. All the girls work unbelievably hard on and off the pitch. Ellie Walecki, for example, often turns up for training in her paramedic uniform because she drives an ambulance as her ‘day job’ and Billie Bough-French teaches kids in a primary school: all of us have other commitments. To be able to balance all of that with reaching the second round proper is all credit to the girls.”

Anna knows that the Hoops face a tough task as they welcome Swindon Town Women to the MGroup.

“It’s going to be a really hard game. Swindon are in a higher league and have players who have played at the highest level. They will want to make progress and get on a decent run themselves but we are determined not to let all the hard work go to nothing. And it's the FA Cup so anything can happen... We have left it late in the last couple of FA Cup games but we have a togetherness and spirit and we will have our fans there again.

“To get 500, then 700, and to be looking at even more fans there on Sunday is incredible. The atmosphere is amazing and inspiring: especially seeing all the young girls there supporting us. That’s what we want to do: show those young players that they can play football and be whatever they want to be.”

Come along and support Anna and the team. Kick off is at 3pm and tickets are available HERE