SHE HAS been on the losing side on two occasions in the final but Gemma Bonner’s eyes are firmly fixed on claiming the SSE Women’s FA Cup this season.

The 25-year-old England international missed a crucial spot-kick when her Chelsea side were beaten on penalties by Birmingham City in 2012.

As a 16-year-old with her hometown club Leeds, she was a runner-up in 2008 against an all-conquering Arsenal outfit – although the West Yorkshire side did claim League Cup glory that year.

Now skippering Liverpool, the centre-back admitted lifting the trophy on the hallowed turf of Wembley Stadium is an ambition she is determined to fulfil in her career and falling at the final hurdle twice drives her on.

Arguably the most mouth-watering of this month’s quarter-finals will come on Merseyside as Liverpool host Chelsea for a place in the last four on March 18.

Liverpool have never lifted the cup – they were runners-up in 1994, 1995 and 1996 while Chelsea claimed the honours in 2015 before losing out to Arsenal the following year.

Emma Hayes’ Blues currently lead this year’s FA WSL 1 and Liverpool skipper Bonner knows her charges will have their work cut out later this month if they are to progress to the semis.

“It would be a dream – a lot of people grow up wanting to play at Wembley,” said Bonner, who has scored once in ten international appearances.

“And for me, growing up, football was never going to be a career. I think it was always a dream and not necessarily a reality – one that can come true.

“Now it is a possibility and I want to do everything I can to get there.

“I think the experience will be one to remember – I’m sure every other girl will be doing all they can to get themselves in the team there.

“Everyone knows what an impressive side Chelsea are and the quality they’ve got throughout the squad.

“For us, we’re under no illusion that it’s going to be a tough game.

“But we’ll be as prepared as we can, as we do for every other game – if you want to be in these finals of the competitions, you want to be successful and you’ve got to beat the best teams along the way. That’s definitely something we’ll be looking to do.”

Bonner was at St. George’s Park on Monday with former England and Arsenal striker Kelly Smith for the launch of SSE’s Together We Can campaign.

The drive unites their SSE Wildcats scheme, aimed at attracting young girls to play football, with their partnership with education charity Teach First in helping young women and girls reach their potential in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and the energy firm’s ongoing commitment to giving women and girls the chance to thrive in the energy sector.

Bonner knows only too well the feeling of walking out in a major final and se has vowed to be on the winning side once more.

“We’re expecting to see 50,000 at the final this year,” she added. “Those opportunities in the women’s game don’t come around very often. I think you do everything you can to be part of that experience and make it one to remember.

“I’ve experienced being on the losing side twice in the final – for me it’s something that’s always got away from me.

“I’ve won a league title and cup but the FA Cup I’ve never won, so on a personal level it’s something I want to achieve and hopefully I can do that with Liverpool.”

Women’s FA Cup sponsor SSE have launched the #TogetherWeCan campaign designed to inspire positive change on and off the football field. For morbgbce information about SSE’s involvement in women’s football visit www.sponsorship.sse.com