Crosthwaite’s on fire, your defence is terrified!
Lily Crosthwaite helped Birmingham City win the BWSL2 title, and her efforts saw her named Player of the Season too
Birmingham City’s 2025-26 season will be one that Blues fans will remember forever. The team finished top of the table after securing promotion to the BWSL and, in doing so, banished memories of last season’s disappointment, when they lost out on the last day to London City Lionesses.
Key to their success has been 23 year old Lily Crosthwaite, the recipient of the BWSL2 Player of the Season award.
Crosthwaite has been an unstoppable force and a fan favourite amongst the Birmingham faithful. And for good reason; the youngster scored eight goals and added six assists across the 2025-26 campaign – a BWSL2 record of 14 goal involvements – as well as averaging 2.3 chances per match.
“She’s a match winner”
There have been plenty of standout moments that made the award almost inevitable. On 1 April, for example, when Amy Merrick’s side hosted Sunderland in desperate need of a win to enhance their promotion chances, Crosthwaite’s exploits secured a vital victory when a draw looked on the cards.
In the 93rd minute, scores level, the winger received a pass just outside the box, and the rest fell into place. Her right foot sent the ball into the top left corner, enabling the Blues to leave with a vital three points that sent them to the top of the table. They would later win the league on goal difference, proving just how vital that win had been.
The 975 fans inside the stadium weren’t the only ones in awe. "That is exactly why Lily is so special,” said Merrick. “In a game that was so tight and tense, she has that moment of pure quality to win it for us. She’s a match-winner, plain and simple."
Crosthwaite’s attacking capabilities had been evident on the opening day of the season. After opening her personal goalscoring account, Crosthwaite then made a challenge that saw the ball fall to Christie Harrison-Murray who scored with an emphatic strike.
An instinctive finish against Newcastle United and a 91st-minute winner against Sheffield United swiftly followed, as Crosthwaite continued to make her mark. She then turned provider for the second of her side’s four goals against Ipswich Town, somehow keeping the ball in play when things looked impossibly tight before squaring for Oceane Hurtre to prod the ball home.
Showing she’s not just one for late drama, Crosthwaite teed up Harrison-Murray inside a minute against Portsmouth and then scored a goal of her own to restore her side’s lead in a match that had been 2-2 but ended 5-2.
A deflected strike rounded off the scoring in a 3-0 victory over her former side Durham, and she was back with another goal and assist against Portsmouth.
The next level
In all, Crosthwaite had 36 shots on target this season. She showed up in the big games, scored crucial goals in high-stakes matches, and now gets the chance to show what she can do at England’s top table next time around.
Word Credit: Taylor Simpson-Ward