“It was brilliant getting the trophy. [Former FA secretary] Denis Follows’ wife Betty handed it to me. She had a huge hat, it looked like she was going to Ascot and I got a bit overwhelmed because we were all muddy.”

Lloyd says Kirby reminds her of Southampton’s Pat Davies, who scored a hat-trick in 1971’s final, adding: “She was quite small, very quick and very tricky. She had very good footwork and was always in the right place at the right time, and we had Sue Lopez, a legend. So we had stars, too. You’re far more skilful than we were, and you’ve got fitness coaches, nutritionists and physios, but one thing we had was the same competitive nature. In 50 years, that doesn’t change.”

Kirby fully appreciates the significance of this year’s cup final date, which has been timed to coincide with the centenary of the FA banning women’s football on December 5, 1921. Lloyd’s first final in 1971 was a landmark moment in that women were allowed to play on an affiliated ground, which had not been allowed for 50 years, and Kirby says: “Every person who has worked in women’s football should be so proud. I feel that we often get caught up in the ‘now’ and how amazing it is, instead of championing the ones who have brought the game to where it is. We must not forget about the people who helped build this, who fought for us to be able to play.”

Lloyd says she “never dreamt it would come as far as it has” but there’s one thing she really wants to know from Kirby – will she have a night out if Chelsea win on Sunday? “We were supposed to but, now, with Covid, it’s a bit more difficult. I think we’re getting the coach back to Cobham and then going home. Hopefully when it’s safe again we can do something,” Kirby said. Lloyd’s celebrations in 1971 were similarly subdued, but for very different reasons, as she recalls: “We got in our cars and drove home. We didn’t have the money, it was hard, we had to pay our expenses. But winning is enough, nobody can take winning away from you.”

The fully-professional status of the top women’s sides today means Kirby and her team-mates certainly aren’t paying for their own petrol to drive to Wembley, as the 28-year-old outlines: “We’re looked after extremely well. We’ll go to the hotel the night before, and then we’ll have breakfast pre-match, all designed for your specific needs to fuel for the game. You can get really wrapped up in the occasion so you have to stay as calm as possible. We’ll probably have a couple of PowerPoint team meetings, and then some nutritional things, energy gels.” It’s a far cry from Lloyd’s pre-match cheese-and-pickle sandwiches.

But they both know there is more progress to be made. Asked where she’d like the game to be in 50 more years, Kirby says: “It would be the women’s having the same facilities, the same level of care that the men’s players receive. The stadiums, the pitches, these are the things we want to fight for.” Lloyd is confident that will happen, adding: “We will get it right. We’ve got good foundations now and it can only progress. The skill that’s been reached by women playing nowadays is massive.”

Kirby has one last important question for Lloyd: “Who are you supporting on Sunday?” Southampton fan Lloyd looks slightly hesitant as she politely explains that her son-in-law and grand-daughter are Arsenal supporters, but adds:  “It’s going to be a showpiece. I think you’re going to win. Chelsea are probably the favourites. I just want to see a good game, so that it enhances women’s football.”

Hopes are indeed high for a thrilling final, with the current top two sides in the league going head-to-head in the final for the first time since the fixture started being staged at Wembley in 2015. Record 14-time cup winners Arsenal are one point better off in the league table than Chelsea, who emphatically knocked out the cup holders, Manchester City, with a 3-0 away semi-final win, while Arsenal beat Brighton by the same scoreline to proceed.

The fixture could also set a new record for a Women’s FA Cup final attendance, with sources saying more than 47,500 tickets have been sold. That should see the crowd eclipse the competition-record 45,423 who saw Chelsea beat Arsenal 3-1 – including a goal from Kirby – in 2018’s final.

Tickets for the Vitality Women’s FA Cup Final on Sunday December 5 are available from £20 for adults and £2.50 for children and fans can still purchase tickets for the Final by visiting ticketing.thefa.com