Sunderland 1 Forest 1

Blimey, I wasn't expecting Pompey to win that one, hope they've now peaked prior to Sunday😟

• Healy pleased with team's performance in the Birmingham game; said either team could have won it

• Healy aware of Durham's smaller, 3G pitch from her days with Man Utd when those teams played in cup competition

• Acknowledgement of Durham's playing style now that Neil Redfearn is head coach there

• Marine Dafeur suspended after picking up fifth yellow card last Sunday. Healy says everyone has "clean bill of health" - maybe we'll finally see Vicky Losada back in the squad?

• Plans to organise some sort of friendly for the players that aren't going away during international break

Apologies for no thread last week; I was out when the Birmingham press conference was released & busy for most of last weekend

• All WSL2 final day fixtures will now kick-off on Saturday May 2nd, 3pm KO.
  All games will be livestreamed on YouTube (guessing Saturday 3pm blackout doesn't apply?)
• All WSL final day fixtures will now kick-off on Saturday May 16th, 1pm KO (same day as men's FA Cup Final)
  All games live on Sky Sports
• The WSL play-off final will be held on Saturday May 23rd, 12.30pm KO.
  The WSL2 side will be hosting the game, giving them home advantage

City Women can confirm the Subway League Cup group stage draw, which took place this morning.

City will be in Group E and are in the southern section of the competition. They will face Aston Villa, Birmingham City and Tottenham Hotspur.

The dates for the group stage matches are:

24/25 September

18/19 October 2025 

22/23 November 2025 

Following the completion of the group stages, the first placed team from each group will progress to the quarter finals which will be held across December 20th and 21st, before the semi-finals that will take place over January 21st and 22nd.

The final will take place on the weekend of March 15th and 16th.

https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/preview-portsmouth-a-3/

Coming into today's fixtures, City are currently 5th in the table with 26 points (three points behind Birmingham who are in 2nd place, but have played a game less).

Pompey, fresh off breaking Charlton's undefeated league 479-day streak, are 11th in the table with 13 points (two points above Ipswich Town who are bottom)

Matchday guide here on Pompey's website
https://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/news/2026/march/13/matchday-guide-pompey-women-v-bristol-city/

Also, Pompey Women have a brand new mascot for them, if anyone is interested in meeting
https://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/news/2026/march/12/mary-rose-returns-as-pompey-women-mascot/

Game live on WSL2 YouTube at 2pm

- The likes of Katie Robinson & Emily Syme playing in an U21 game was purely to keep fitness during the longer international break
- Praise for Portsmouth following their shock win against Charlton, but Charlotte Healy said they won because it was "a corner & a free kick"
- Marine Dafeur is close to returning to fitness, but with the Women's African Cup of Nations being delayed this means she'll be available for City rather than play for Algeria
- Healy fully focused on City's game on Sunday despite her former colleagues at Manchester United playing at Ashton Gate in the League Cup Final
 

Bristol Women's Voice are offering 200 free tickets for the Subway Women's League Cup Final this Sunday at Ashton Gate Stadium!

Chelsea will take on Manchester United in this major women's football final, with kick-off at 2:15pm. As well as incredible action on the pitch, there will be a fanzone from 11:15am with activities for all the family, including DJs, games, face painting, and a photobooth.

To claim your tickets in the Atyeo and South stands, you can use the voucher code below for up to 4 tickets per transaction.

Claim them here using the voucher code → TFT589498
(Please note voucher available for 200 tickets for this offer, first comes first served basis)

London City Lionesses defender Poppy Pattinson earns her first call-up to the seniors, while Hannah Hampton, Jess Carter, Alex Greenwood, Leah Williamson and Lauren James are back in the fold after being absent from the last squad in November. Niamh Charles, Missy Bo Kearns, Ella Toone and Beth Mead were all unavailable for selection due to injury.

These fixtures mark the team’s first outings of a pivotal year and the beginning of the campaign to secure a place at next year’s World Cup in Brazil.

England travel to Antalya to take on Ukraine at the Mardan Sports Complex on Tuesday 3 March [K/O 5pm GMT]. It is more than ten years since the two sides last met when goals from Eni Aluko and Casey Stoney sealed a 2-1 victory in a World Cup qualifier in Lviv in June 2014.

The Lionesses then head to the City Ground home of Nottingham Forest for the first time in 32 years as they play host to Iceland on Saturday 7 March [K/O 12.30pm GMT]. Only a small number of tickets remain for the fixture, available here. The previous encounter between the two teams came in 2009 in Colchester, where Iceland claimed a 2-0 win.

Poppy Pattinson has received her first senior call-up, having represented England women through the development pathway

Sarina Wiegman said: “It’s a new year with new objectives, as we start our qualification journey with these two very important fixtures against Ukraine and Iceland. We want to start our campaign off in the best possible way and will need to be at a top level as we face two different challenges. This is new opposition for this England team, so that’s exciting too. I am looking forward to being back with the squad and getting back to work.”

“As always we’re grateful to the fans for their support. A big crowd in Nottingham in a historic stadium will be really special, but we can’t look too far ahead and our full focus first will be on our opening fixture.”

The second international window of the year follows in quick succession and the meeting with Spain taking place on Tuesday 14 April at Wembley Stadium, connected by EE. Tickets for this fixture remain on sale. It is followed by the return meeting with Iceland in Reykjavik on Saturday 18 April – a contest which will also be in celebration of the historic milestone of the Lionesses’ 500th game.

The Squad

Goalkeepers: Hannah Hampton (Chelsea), Anna Moorhouse (Orlando Pride), Ellie Roebuck (Aston Villa)

Defenders: Lucy Bronze (Chelsea), Jess Carter (Gotham City), Grace Fisk (Liverpool), Alex Greenwood (Manchester City), Taylor Hinds (Arsenal), Maya Le Tissier (Manchester United), Esme Morgan (Washington Spirit), Poppy Pattinson (London City Lionesses), Leah Williamson (Arsenal), Lotte Wubben-Moy (Arsenal)

Midfielders: Laura Blindkilde Brown (Manchester City), Grace Clinton (Manchester City), Lucia Kendall (Aston Villa), Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich), Keira Walsh (Chelsea)

Forwards: Aggie Beever-Jones (Chelsea), Freya Godfrey (London City Lionesses), Lauren Hemp (Manchester City), Lauren James (Chelsea), Chloe Kelly (Arsenal), Jess Park (Manchester United) , Alessia Russo (Arsenal)

TAKEN FROM HERE

Reminiscing on her highlight moment from her special season, she makes mention of the hat trick she scored against Bristol [City]. 

“So let’s just say I faced ethnicity-based barriers where my agent informed me that a club didn’t want to sign me ahead of that season due to my name not being “marketable.” So when I eventually played against that team, I took that game very personally and ended up scoring my first ever professional hat-trick in the Women’s Super League, which left them having to write my name 3 times in the end.”

Positively fueled by her rage, she netted a hat-trick, silenced her haters emphatically, and got her revenge, with the club having to write her unmarketable name thrice on the score sheet. She now lives rent-free in their heads. 

“I feel like that was one of the pinnacle moments of my career in England.”

The game in question was when Liverpool beat City 5-2 in April 2019
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47924092

Two things I would consider:

1. From a City fan POV, this seems really bad by the club if this was the actual reason why she wasn't signed. But I acknowledge that the people making that supposed decision would probably not be at the club anymore.
2. Also, her time at Liverpool ended on a whim as she fell out of favour, and hasn't played in England since.

I know very little about Steve’s involvement in women’s football aside from taking Bristol City to the Premier League, subsequently not spending any money, seeing them relegated again, and then sold them to some Italians. 
 

Does anyone know what this award will be recognising him for? 

Hopefully they won't be at full strength and we make a game of it! We should do really as we have WSL experience with Losada, Ingle and Robinson and, if fit,their experience will be crucial as we'll have to adapt our game to that of underdogs.

Charlotte's presser from Thursday below, hopefully the link will work. Some points;

• Some niggling injuries so have a thinner squad to chose from, injury updates Friday.
• Players did their own review following Saints game, players are alligned to what the Management want from them, ie. being brave reading between the lines.
• Still early on in the 'journey' compared to Birmingham, Newcastle.
• She expects they'll be as strong as possible and wants us to make it horrible for Arsenal

Healy previews Arsenal - Bristol City FC

City won 5-0. Even though it was a Bristol City home game, Gloucester City did the livestream instead

Simply not good enough, Mercury13 need to act quickly and bring in a new coach, whilst it might still be possible to fight for 3rd place and a play-off game.

Fans forum for the women's team.

11th February 

- Harley Bennett expected to be out until next international break due to hamstring injury. Marine Dafeur not available for the same period due to injury (no further details given)

- Charlotte Healy has not heard from the relevant authorities in regards to the moment from the Palace game where they should have had a player sent off for the foul on Jessie Gale 

- Fran Bentley available for selection 

- Healy enjoyed her first Fans Forum held earlier in the week

- Difficult to train at the HPC this week due to the constant bad weather (especially with a men's academy game being called off there). Team have even had to use a 3G pitch at one point

Algerian international Marine Dafeur joins on a two year deal. Signing #13!

- Charlotte Healy said that Oliwia Woś will add some experience to the backline, but will have to adjust to different playing style
- Malaika Meena & Lia O'Leary went out on loan as they wanted to play, but weren't guaranteed first-team football at City at the moment
- Emily Mutch has a hamstring injury & will be out for a while; Fran Bentley back on the grass but this weekend will be too soon for her return; Harley Bennett picked up a knock & will be out for a couple of weeks. Bentley & Mutch being out is why Jackie Burns was brought back
- Praise for Marine Dafeur (& Jessie Gale) as both are nominated for PFA's WSL2 Player of the Month in January. Healy says Dafeur is underrated & has great partnership with Sophie Ingle
- All the recent new signings are on longer-term deals; as part of club's ongoing project & strategy
- Healy looking forward to seeing (& hearing) the away fans that are travelling up on the coach this Sunday
 

For me it’s at least two with real pace, players who have the speed and strength to carry the ball forward, enabling a fast transition from our own half up to and around the box, or simply getting on the end of long balls down the channels.

We don’t have anyone with real pace amongst the current starters. Farrugia has only shown short bursts of speed. Syme carries the ball and drives well due to her good close control but lacking real pace (which if she had she’d be playing for one of the top WSL teams), then there is Ward who can break quickly but doesn’t really have the strength to avoid being knocked out of stride.

Think it would make a massive difference to have two who can cause some panic with strength and pace. Maybe a midfielder / wing back and a forward.

With the second place team guaranteed promotion this season, we have to push the boat out to secure that. Hopefully Mercury13 will help.

https://www.itfc.co.uk/news/2026/january/07/ticket-details---bristol-city--h-/

For those that are going, I hope you can enjoy! I would have gone (mainly because it's a new ground) but I am elsewhere this weekend

New sponsor.

- Charlotte Healy acknowledges that team weren't good enough in the game against Ipswich; they didn't do enough to win it
- Issi Hebard back on the grass in training, Esther Morgan unavailable this weekend after picking up concussion
- This will be the first game of the WSL2 this weekend, with other fixtures taking place after Saturday
- Healy responded "potentially" when asked about any players coming in or going out during this window
- Excited to be playing a home game for the first time since December 17th
- With the men's team playing tonight instead of tomorrow, their supporters are welcome to watch City Women tomorrow. Also, supporters who haven't done an away game for City Women yet should definitely try Crystal Palace away next weekend, especially as coach travel is available
 

- Quote of "still having conversations", when asked about bringing more players in this window

- International clearance still not come through for Lauren Brzykcy, hence why she wasn't featured in squad for the Southampton game. No indication that this may come through in time for the game this Sunday 

- Question was asked about players who are going out of contract this summer. Charlotte Healy said that conversations with these players will happen after the window closes

- Academy player Issi Hebard (who scored in the reverse fixture at Ashton Gate) is not available due to injury she's still recovering from.

Emily Syme shortlisted, get voting peeps!

Emily & Lexi have also been shortlisted for December GOTM but haven't seen where to vote yet.

There is also a SaveOTM apparently which they seem to announce every two months. So far Ipswich's Natalia Negri & Charlton's Sophie Whitehouse have won Sept & Oct.

Fran made a great save at AG recently but cannot recall who against  so she may be shortlisted.

Bristol City Women Football Club Limited have released their accounts for the year ending 30 June 2024 making a loss of nearly £1.28 million, compared to the year ending 30 June 2023 with a loss of over £637,000

This follows the one season back in the WSL in 2023/24, and a permanent move to Ashton Gate. Fan analysis suggests further investment is required by the club in order to make a profit (and make the team more competitive on the pitch).

The sales of Naomi Layzell & Carrie Jones took place after 30 June 2024 & so these figures will be reflected in the next accounts

https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/11460716/filing-history

- Charlotte Healy wanted another goalkeeper to come in following the early departure of Naomi Williams. Praise for Lauren Bryzkcy & her previous experiences; will give Fran Bentley (& Emily Mutch) some competition 

- Charlotte still looking to bring in new players this window, but is happy with the current squad

- No new injury news ahead of Sunday 

- Club were looking at Jessie Gale last summer, before she went on loan to Portsmouth

- Club are awaiting written confirmation that Jessie Gale can play this Sunday in the FA Cup, having played for Portsmouth in the last round (and following recent rule changes in the men's game)

- Charlotte addressed comment made during last Sunday's livestream about Lexi Lloyd-Smith leaving this window, and she confirmed there are no plans for Lexi to leave

Left City at the end of the 2019/2020 season, had a few years at Brighton, then went to Villa before going on loan to Everton for the first half of the season. Part of the England squad during the 2023 World Cup

Will be a very interesting & ambitious move - although I still haven't forgiven her for her hard celebrations when she scored against City while she was at Brighton

- Of the players returning early from their loans: Naomi Williams back to Arsenal because of their goalkeeping injury crisis there, Jess Ziu back to West Ham as she couldn't get much game time at City due to injury, Olivia Johnson back to Brighton as it sounds like they were impressed with her & wanted her back.

Vera Jones will stay at City. No question asked about Camila Saez so can assume the same

- Katie Robinson available for selection on Sunday. No other injury news (apparently)

- Motivation of how the team lost the Forest game at home earlier on in the season. Healy acknowledges that Forest have changed on the pitch since then

- Healy quashed certain rumours of Mari Ward leaving now that Katie Robinson is in the team. She looks forward to seeing them both play together 

If there's anything I missed, listen back & put a comment here

Olivia Johnson, said trialist from yesterday, has joined on loan from Brighton

Maria Farrugia, Rio Hardy, Sophie Ingle & Lexi Lloyd-Smith all up for contention.
Winner to be announced on Friday