The 2023–24 Bristol City W.F.C. season was the club's eighth season under the Bristol City affiliation and the organisation's 25th overall season in existence. It was their first season back in the Women's Super League, the highest level of the football pyramid, following promotion as Championship winners, ending a two-year absence. Along with competing in the WSL, the club also contested two domestic cup competitions: the FA Cup and the League Cup.
| 2023–24 season | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Lauren Smith | |||
| Stadium | Aston Gate, Bristol | |||
| WSL | 12th (relegated) | |||
| FA Cup | Fourth round | |||
| League Cup | Group stage | |||
| Top goalscorer | League: Amalie Thestrup (9) All: Amalie Thestrup (9) | |||
| Highest home attendance | 14,138 (vs. Manchester United, 26 November) | |||
| Lowest home attendance | 4,112 (vs. Everton, 18 May) | |||
| Average home league attendance | 6,974 | |||
|
| ||||
Ahead of the season, the club confirmed the women's team's primary home ground would be the club's main stadium, Aston Gate, moving from the Robins High Performance Centre in Failand after one season. Megan Connolly was announced as the new captain on 19 September.[1]
On 28 April 2024, Bristol City were relegated to the Championship after a 4–0 home defeat to Manchester City left the team eight points adrift from safety with two games left to play.
Squad
edit- As of 25 January 2024[2]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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|
Preseason
edit| 2 September 2023 Friendly | Manchester City | 3–2 | Bristol City | Manchester |
| Report | Stadium: Academy Stadium Attendance: Behind-closed-doors |
| 10 September 2023 Friendly | West Ham United | 3–0 | Bristol City | Dagenham |
|
Stadium: Victoria Road |
Women's Super League
editResults summary
edit| Overall | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
| 22 | 1 | 3 | 18 | 20 | 70 | −50 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 7 | 32 | −25 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 13 | 38 | −25 |
Last updated: 18 May 2024.
Source: WSL
Results by matchday
editResults
edit| 1 October 2023 1 | Bristol City | 2–4 | Leicester City | Bristol |
| 14:00 | Report | Stadium: Ashton Gate Attendance: 4,132 Referee: Elizabeth Simms |
| 8 October 2023 2 | Tottenham Hotspur | 3–1 | Bristol City | Leyton |
| 14:00 | Report | Stadium: Brisbane Road Attendance: 1,605 Referee: Lauren Impey |
| 15 October 2023 3 | Manchester City | 5–0 | Bristol City | Manchester |
| 13:00 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Academy Stadium Attendance: 3,789 Referee: Stacey Fullicks |
| 22 October 2023 4 | Bristol City | 1–2 | Arsenal | Bristol |
| 18:45 | Report |
|
Stadium: Ashton Gate Attendance: 12,008 Referee: Adewunmi Soneye |
| 5 November 2023 5 | West Ham United | 2–3 | Bristol City | Dagenham |
| 15:00 | Report | Stadium: Victoria Road Attendance: 791 Referee: Kirsty Dowle |
| 12 November 2023 6 | Bristol City | 0–2 | Aston Villa | Bristol |
| 14:00 |
|
Report | Stadium: Ashton Gate Attendance: 4,407 Referee: Melissa Burgin |
| 19 November 2023 7 | Everton | 2–2 | Bristol City | Liverpool |
| 13:00 | Report | Stadium: Walton Hall Park Attendance: 886 Referee: Adewunmi Soneye |
| 26 November 2023 8 | Bristol City | 0–2 | Manchester United | Bristol |
| 12:30 | Report | Stadium: Ashton Gate Attendance: 14,138 Referee: Stacey Fullicks |
| 10 December 2023 9 | Liverpool | 1–1 | Bristol City | Birkenhead |
| 14:00 | Report | Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: 1,341 Referee: Stacey Fullicks |
| 17 December 2023 10 | Bristol City | 0–3 | Chelsea | Bristol |
| 14:00 | Report | Stadium: Ashton Gate Attendance: 9,442 Referee: Amy Fearn |
| 21 January 2024 11 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 3–2 | Bristol City | Crawley |
| 14:00 | Report | Stadium: Broadfield Stadium Attendance: 2,049 Referee: Lisa Benn |
| 28 January 2024 12 | Bristol City | 1–2 | West Ham United | Bristol |
| 14:00 | Report | Stadium: Ashton Gate Attendance: 6,214 Referee: Lauren Impey |
| 3 February 2024 13 | Aston Villa | 2–2 | Bristol City | Walsall |
| 12:30 | Report | Stadium: Bescot Stadium Attendance: 2,190 Referee: Stacey Pearson |
| 18 February 2024 14 | Leicester City | 5–2 | Bristol City | Leicester |
| 15:00 | Report | Stadium: King Power Stadium Attendance: 2,219 Referee: Stacey Pearson |
| 3 March 2024 15 | Bristol City | 3–7 | Brighton & Hove Albion | Bristol |
| 14:00 | Report | Stadium: Ashton Gate Attendance: 3,468 Referee: Adewunmi Soneye |
| 17 March 2024 16 | Manchester United | 2–0 | Bristol City | Leigh |
| 12:00 |
|
Report | Stadium: Leigh Sports Village Attendance: 4,254 Referee: Elizabeth Simms |
| 24 March 2024 17 | Bristol City | 0–1 | Tottenham Hotspur | Bristol |
| 14:00 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Ashton Gate Attendance: 5,262 Referee: Phoebe Cross |
| 14 April 2024 18 | Arsenal | 5–0 | Bristol City | Borehamwood |
| 18:45 | Report | Stadium: Meadow Park Attendance: 3,565 Referee: Lisa Benn | ||
| Note: Rescheduled from 31 March 2024 due to Arsenal's participation in the 2024 FA Women's League Cup final. | ||||
| 20 April 2024 19 | Bristol City | 0–1 | Liverpool | Bristol |
| 12:30 |
|
Report | Stadium: Ashton Gate Attendance: 4,780 Referee: Phoebe Cross |
| 28 April 2024 20 | Bristol City | 0–4 | Manchester City | Bristol |
| 18:45 | Report | Stadium: Ashton Gate Attendance: 8,749 Referee: Cheryl Foster |
| 5 May 2024 21 | Chelsea | 8–0 | Bristol City | Kingston upon Thames |
| 18:45 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Kingsmeadow Attendance: 4,289 Referee: Stacey Fullicks |
| 18 May 2024 22 | Bristol City | 0–4 | Everton | Bristol |
| 15:00 | Report |
|
Stadium: Ashton Gate Attendance: 4,112 Referee: Grace Lowe |
League table
edit| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Everton | 22 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 24 | 37 | −13 | 23 | |
| 9 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 22 | 5 | 4 | 13 | 26 | 48 | −22 | 19 | |
| 10 | Leicester City | 22 | 4 | 6 | 12 | 26 | 45 | −19 | 18 | |
| 11 | West Ham United | 22 | 3 | 6 | 13 | 20 | 45 | −25 | 15 | |
| 12 | Bristol City (R) | 22 | 1 | 3 | 18 | 20 | 70 | −50 | 6 | Relegation to the Championship |
Source: Women's Super League Table
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored.
(R) Relegated
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored.
(R) Relegated
Women's FA Cup
editAs a member of the first tier, Bristol City entered the FA Cup in the fourth round proper.
FA Women's League Cup
edit| 11 October 2023 Group stage | Bristol City | 1–1 (3–4 p) | Southampton | Failand |
| 19:30 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Robins HPC Attendance: 597 Referee: Will Finnie |
| Penalties | ||||
| 9 November 2023 Group stage | Arsenal | 3–1 | Bristol City | Borehamwood |
| 19:00 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Meadow Park Attendance: 1,974 Referee: Lisa Benn |
| 22 November 2023 Group stage | Tottenham Hotspur | 3–0 | Bristol City | Leyton |
| 19:30 | Report |
|
Stadium: Brisbane Road Attendance: 506 Referee: Sunny Singh Gill |
| 13 December 2023 Group stage | Bristol City | 1–1 (4–5 p) | Reading | Failand |
| 19:30 | Report | Stadium: Robins HPC Attendance: 648 Referee: Lisa Benn | ||
| Penalties | ||||
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal (Q) | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 5 | +9 | 11 | Advanced to knock-out stage |
| 2 | Tottenham Hotspur (Q) | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 3 | +12 | 10 | Possible knock-out stage based on ranking |
| 3 | Southampton | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 6 | −3 | 5 | |
| 4 | Bristol City | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 8 | −5 | 2 | |
| 5 | Reading | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 14 | −13 | 2 |
Updated to match(es) played on 24th January 2024. Source: FA Women's League Cup
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of wins; 5) Head-to-head record
(Q) Qualified to the phase indicated
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of wins; 5) Head-to-head record
(Q) Qualified to the phase indicated
Squad statistics
editAppearances
edit- As of match played 18 May 2024
Starting appearances are listed first, followed by substitute appearances after the + symbol where applicable.
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | WSL | FA Cup | League Cup | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||
| 1 | GK |  ENG
|
Fran Bentley | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | DF |  WAL
|
Ella Powell | 22 | 1 | 18+2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 3 | DF |  DEN
|
Sille Struck | 13 | 1 | 8+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| 4 | DF | ENG
|
Naomi Layzell | 19 | 0 | 15+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | ENG
|
Brooke Aspin | 20 | 2 | 16+1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 |
| 6 | MF |  IRL
|
Megan Connolly | 25 | 1 | 22 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 7 | FW |  SCO
|
Abi Harrison | 16 | 1 | 8+7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | ENG
|
Amy Rodgers | 26 | 1 | 22 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1+2 | 0 |
| 9 | FW |  JAM
|
Shania Hayles | 19 | 1 | 3+12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| 10 | MF |  NIR
|
Rachel Furness | 12 | 2 | 7+3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1+1 | 1 |
| 11 | DF | SCO
|
Jamie-Lee Napier | 22 | 0 | 18+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 12 | DF | IRL
|
Chloe Mustaki | 11 | 0 | 5+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3+1 | 0 |
| 13 | GK | WAL
|
Olivia Clark | 8 | 0 | 6+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 15 | MF | ENG
|
Jasmine Bull | 13 | 0 | 3+6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 16 | DF | ENG
|
Emily Syme | 27 | 0 | 11+11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 17 | FW | DEN
|
Amalie Thestrup | 26 | 9 | 22 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0+3 | 0 |
| 18 | MF |  CAN
|
Sarah Stratigakis | 6 | 0 | 1+5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | MF | SCO
|
Lisa Evans | 9 | 0 | 3+6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | FW | WAL
|
Carrie Jones | 23 | 3 | 16+2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1+3 | 0 |
| 24 | FW | WAL
|
Ffion Morgan | 24 | 1 | 19+3 | 1 | 0+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 25 | GK | ENG
|
Erin Foley | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | DF | ENG
|
Mari Ward | 26 | 0 | 1+20 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 30 | GK |  USA
|
Shae Yáñez | 8 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 36 | MF | ENG
|
Fearne Slocombe | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 38 | MF | WAL
|
Manon Pearce | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 |
| 39 | FW | ENG
|
Maya Kendall | 3 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 44 | DF | JAM
|
Satara Murray | 5 | 0 | 2+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Players who appeared for the club but left during the season: | |||||||||||
| 19 | DF | ENG
|
Jess Simpson | 2 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 21 | GK | USA
|
Kaylan Marckese | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 41 | GK |  NOR
|
Benedicte Håland | 3 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Players away from the club on loan: | |||||||||||
| 27 | FW | ENG
|
Jesse Woolley | 4 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 |
| 28 | FW | WAL
|
Tianna Teisar | 5 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2+2 | 0 |
Transfers
editTransfers in
edit| Date | Position | Nationality | Name | From | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 July 2023 | MF |
|
Amy Rodgers | London City Lionesses
|
[3] |
| 26 July 2023 | DF |
|
Satara Murray | Racing Louisville
|
[4] |
| 14 August 2023 | DF |
|
Jamie-Lee Napier | London City Lionesses
|
[5] |
| FW |
|
Amalie Thestrup |  PSV
|
[6] | |
| 24 August 2023 | MF |
|
Megan Connolly | Brighton & Hove Albion
|
[7] |
| 6 September 2023 | FW |
|
Carrie Jones | Manchester United
|
[8] |
| 13 September 2023 | DF |
|
Sille Struck |  Levante Las Planas
|
[9] |
| 19 November 2023 | GK |
|
Benedicte Håland | Hibernian
|
[10] |
| 5 January 2024 | GK |
|
Shae Yáñez | San Diego Wave
|
[11] |
| 20 January 2024 | MF |
|
Sarah Stratigakis |  Vittsjö GIK
|
[12] |
| 25 January 2024 | MF |
|
Lisa Evans | West Ham United
|
[13] |
Loans in
edit| Date | Position | Nationality | Name | From | Until | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 July 2023 | DF |
|
Brooke Aspin | Chelsea
|
End of season | [14] |
| 2 August 2023 | GK |
|
Kaylan Marckese | Arsenal
|
4 January 2024 | [15][16] |
| 14 September 2023 | DF |
|
Jess Simpson | Manchester United
|
21 October 2023 | [17][18] |
Transfers out
edit| Date | Position | Nationality | Name | To | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 May 2023 | DF |
|
Lia Cataldo | Crystal Palace
|
[19][20] |
| FW |
|
Lily Greenslade | Rugby Borough
|
[19][21] | |
| DF |
|
Jodie Hutton | Sheffield United
|
[19][22] | |
| MF |
|
Aimee Palmer | Leicester City
|
[19][23] | |
| MF |
|
Chloe Bull | Swansea City
|
[19][24] | |
| 12 May 2023 | MF |
|
Elysia Boddy | Newcastle United
|
[25][26] |
| 7 July 2023 | DF |
|
Brooke Aspin | Chelsea
|
[14] |
| 4 September 2023 | DF |
|
Vicky Bruce |  Western Sydney Wanderers
|
[27] |
| 19 January 2024 | GK |
|
Benedicte Håland | Southampton
|
[28][29] |
Loans out
edit| Date | Position | Nationality | Name | To | Until | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 July 2023 | DF |
|
Maddi Wilde | London City Lionesses
|
End of season | [30] |
| 1 August 2023 | GK |
|
Olivia Clark | Watford
|
8 October 2023 | [31][32] |
| 12 January 2024 | FW |
|
Jesse Woolley | Reading
|
End of season | [33] |
| 22 January 2024 | FW |
|
Tianna Teisar | Cardiff City Ladies
|
End of season | [34] |
References
edit- ^ Dougherty, Noah (19 September 2023). "Connolly named City captain". Bristol City FC.
- ^ "Women's first team". Bristol City.
- ^ "Rogers signs for City". Bristol City.
- ^ "Murray returns to City". Bristol City FC. 26 July 2023.
- ^ "Napier signs for City". Bristol City FC. 14 August 2023.
- ^ "Thestrup is a Robin". Bristol City FC. 14 August 2023.
- ^ "Connolly is a Robin". Bristol City FC. 24 August 2023.
- ^ "Jones signs for City". Bristol City FC. 6 September 2023.
- ^ "City strike to sign Sille". Bristol City FC. 13 September 2023.
- ^ "Goalkeeper Haaland signs". Bristol City FC. 19 November 2023.
- ^ "City sign goalkeeper Yanez". Bristol City FC. 5 January 2024.
- ^ "Stratigakis signs". Bristol City FC. 20 January 2024.
- ^ "Evans signs for City". Bristol City FC. 25 January 2024.
- ^ a b "Brooke Aspin signs for Chelsea". www.chelseafc.com.
- ^ Dougherty, Noah (2 August 2023). "Marckese signs on loan". Bristol City FC.
- ^ "Marckese returns to Arsenal for recovery". Bristol City FC. 4 January 2024.
- ^ "Jess Simpson joins Bristol City on loan". www.manutd.com.
- ^ Dougherty, Noah (21 October 2023). "Simpson returns to Manchester United". Bristol City FC.
- ^ a b c d e "City Women confirm released list". Bristol City. 1 May 2023.
- ^ "Crystal Palace Women sign Lia Cataldo - News". Crystal Palace F.C. 14 July 2023.
- ^ "Lily Grreensalde Rugby Borough WFC". www.rugbyboroughfc.co.uk.
- ^ "Hutton joins United". Sheffield United FC. 26 July 2023.
- ^ Frith, Wilf (1 August 2023). "Leicester City Women sign midfielder Aimee Palmer". She Kicks.
- ^ "Swansea City Women sign Chloe Bull". www.swanseacity.com. 18 August 2023.
- ^ "Boddy departs City Women". Bristol City. 12 May 2023.
- ^ "Boddy signs for Newcastle United Women". Newcastle United FC. 12 July 2023.
- ^ "Wanderers sign Women's Championship winner Bruce". Western Sydney Wanderers. 4 September 2023.
- ^ "Haaland departs City". Bristol City FC. 19 January 2024.
- ^ "Southampton FC Women sign goalkeeper Benedicte Haaland". www.southamptonfc.com.
- ^ "London City Lionesses land defender Maddi Wilde on loan from Bristol City". London City Lionesses. 30 July 2023.
- ^ Frith, Wilf (1 August 2023). "Watford Women sign Welsh international keeper on loan - SheKicks". She Kicks.
- ^ Dougherty, Noah (8 October 2023). "Clark recalled from Watford loan". Bristol City FC.
- ^ "Reading FC Women welcome Jesse Woolley on loan till the end of the season". Reading FC. 12 January 2024.
- ^ "Teisar leaves on loan". Bristol City FC. 22 January 2024.