I don’t think you need any extra motivation than an FA Cup final – Martha Thomas

Tottenham forward Martha Thomas has no extra motivation to get the last laugh over Manchester United in the Women’s FA Cup final on Sunday.

Thomas was allowed to leave United to sign for Women’s Super League rivals Spurs in September after she endured a difficult 2022-23 campaign.

Minutes were hard to come by at United for Thomas, who was a late substitute in the club’s FA Cup loss to Chelsea at Wembley last year, but she has flourished in north London with 10 goals in all competitions.

Ahead of a return to the national stadium, the 27-year-old played down talk of a revenge mission.

“No, I don’t think it is necessarily extra motivation,” Thomas told the PA news agency.

“I don’t think you need any more extra motivation than an FA Cup final, wanting to get your hands on some silverware and putting this club in such a pivotal position to do that.

“I don’t think it will have a big impact. So, I will stay focused and if I get on the pitch and play, I will try to help the team in any way I can.”

Thomas has played a key role in Spurs reaching a first major final after she struck an extra-time winner in the semi-final against Leicester, but it could have been a different story.

While the former West Ham attacker wanted a new challenge last summer, a move away from United appeared unlikely until Tottenham secured her services on transfer deadline day.

Hip surgery for Spurs captain Bethany England a week earlier also played its part in manager Robert Vilahamn being desperate to bring in a new forward and it has paid off handsomely.

Thomas admitted: “It was very last minute and all happened pretty quickly.

“I had conversations with United over the summer figuring out what could be done and I just kind of felt like nothing would get over the line.

“Obviously agents and clubs deal with it but yeah, at the last minute Spurs came in and reached an agreement. I was over the moon and got on a train straight away to come down.

“Sometimes you have to take a leap and hope it works out. There is never a right or wrong answer.

“In this case, it felt like the right fit and the way the season has gone validates that a little bit.”

During two years as largely a bit-part player at United under Marc Skinner, Thomas only scored eight times, but she has already bettered that tally with her current employers.

The one-time Charlotte 49ers captain has also developed a habit for the big occasion with two memorable winners at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The first against Arsenal in December secured a maiden north London derby victory before Thomas’s 118th-minute header against Leicester sent Vilahamn’s side through to a first FA Cup final.

“Obviously the winner against Arsenal, being a derby, that was a huge game and it was such a beautiful team goal the way we did it,” Thomas said.

“I was just so happy to get the goal and for us to get a historic first north London derby win.

“To help send the club to an FA Cup final was massive. It’s probably up there for one of the most impactful goals I have scored, definitely.

“It will be special (on Sunday). An FA Cup final is huge and a sell-out crowd.

“I have been loving it here at Spurs. I have really found my feet and hit the ground running from the beginning, so I hope to see out the end of the season with a few more wins.”