shahanshahan

A fair few people (including @phantom & @Dollymarie) sent photos to me & my friends of when we briefly appeared on Sky just before KO. I managed to find the footage & it should be in the videos below...

In true NTTDS style, here are most of my away day photos! Meadow Park in Borehamwood is a nice little ground. Not sure how long Arsenal will play there as they continue to have more games at the Emirates. I'm definitely in no rush to go again but at least I can say I have now been!

https://www.90min.com/posts/what-are-ffp-rules-womens-football Article from June 2023; but hopefully still relevant How does FFP function in the women's game? There is a lot less financial regulation in the women's game in the United Kingdom and Europe right now and that has led to calls for changes to be made. In the Women's Super League, there is a salary cap which allows top flight sides to spend 40% of their turnover on wages. The issue with that is that those totals can be merged with the men's team within the same club, so the likes of Manchester United Women can spend 40% of a much larger pot of cash as the overall club of Man Utd generates so much money. Man Utd's head of group planning and finance that has been recently calling for more financial regulation in the UK women's game so that a small set of teams do not kill the competitiveness of the division. Speaking at the European Club Association's first women's football summit, Francesca Whitfield said: "Currently in the WSL we have a salary cap system which is 40% of revenue, but that includes parent club income, meaning the larger clubs naturally benefit from shirt deals on the men's side. "That's creating a gap that is affecting the product and this can't be something that we just address domestically, this has to be something we address on a European level to make sure the European tournaments are the best and we're at the forefront of that." In the Premier League right now, the rules allow for total losses over a three-year period of £105m. There are penalties in place for clubs that exceed that figure. Whitfield is aware that it is not as simple as copying the rules in the men's game as it is a different financial landscape. "We can't simply emulate or replicate what we did on the men's side, the game is in a different space and we need to ensure that we can invest but equally attract investment," said Whitfield. "Smaller clubs are not able to invest at that level, so how do we encourage them to do so if it's not a fair playing field and they can't possibly ever be competitive with how things currently are?" https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/womens-football-needs-ffp-rules-says-manchester-united-chief-j632d2sdf Another article from June 2023, which I can't read because of a paywall. But it's title & heading are Women’s football needs FFP rules, says Manchester United chief Present rules allow men’s clubs to transfer wealth to their women’s team, which it is feared will harm competitiveness

I don't listen to Saturday matchdays much (if at all), but am aware that BBC Radio Bristol & BBC Radio Somerset combined have to cover a lot of various football & rugby teams that may play that day. And I believe one game may feature on both stations. Plus, there's one game covered on one frequency (DAB) for one station then another for the same station, but on a different frequency (AM/FM?)...

Yes, Having A Gas has featured Rovers women on their show. As has The Scrum which has had Bristol Bears Women on their show too And Sound of the City is a dedicated show to Bristol City. One episode just happens to focus more on City Women (a team that is in the top flight in a league with more exposure than ever) and people are losing their minds... I think these teams are under the Robins Foundation umbrella, whereas City Women are a full-time, professional unit. Unlike Rovers' team who are funded entirely by the Rovers' equivalent of the Robins Foundation (and somehow secured yet another promotion this season) There is a subforum all about City Women, which I am not sure if the OP was aware of. Part of the reason I joined OTIB was to add to this discussion (and I am glad others are doing so too) I assume you are referring to the previous iteration that ended in the 2000s. The sport has come a long, long way since then. Even Manchester United disbanded their women's team when the Glazers took over at that time, but then was reformed over 10 years later I wouldn't expect any BBC local radio station to do that. If a team is under a football club, they should appear on that relevant programme To be honest, this is how it has been regularly, but last night was a much-needed fans panel & needed the dedicated time for it, much like an episode from a few weeks ago featuring men's team fans in the studio. I support both teams so I don't skip the show at all - and I even got into the women's team because of the men's team The City Women fanbase is growing. As part of the SC&T board, I have seen how the women now have their own awards, HOF inductees, and away support/coach travel for WSL fixtures has been popular. It's not often that City Women get a majority focus on Sound of the City; and even rare that fans are live in the studio. Anyway, I'm looking forward to next week's show to see what is discussed about Saturday's home game against Liverpool, as well as the away game at Norwich (which I'm going to and therefore missing the women at home despite being a ST holder)...

Bit disappointing to read most of these comments. Last night's episode was a much needed live discussion/fans panel from two City Women fans & good friends of mine (one of which is a fellow SC&T board member but was giving their own opinions) - to go into detail & to hold people to account. There's been a bit of imbalance between City men coverage & City women coverage in some episodes this season (and in some episodes there was no mention at all despite the team playing a game that weekend), so it was great for Radio Bristol to use their platform to give more time & coverage on their main show for Bristol City. Radio Bristol go to City Women's press conferences & also cover the WSL home games - but a lot of match going fans like myself will miss that coverage for obvious reasons, hence usually listening to Sound of the City instead. As Nigel Pearson once said, the women's team are also a first team, just like the men's...

Catching up on some posts now Yeah, the North Bank at Meadow Park was loud. Very vocal fanbase. Seemed even louder when I watched footage the game back I think Arsenal are the only fans I've heard to do that in women's football. I've tried to do it at games myself but am always conscious of kids being around. Although me & some others did try to do this for when Sabrina D'Angelo was in the goal in front of us during the first half, but she didn't take many big goal kicks I think they only sang that once towards the end of the first half. They mostly sang "Arsenal are massive, everywhere we go". Which makes more sense if they were at an away game, but each to their own. Because there was a comparably smaller amount of away fans (in the opposite South Stand), I don't think most Arsenal fans in the North Bank saw or heard us. We kept singing as much as we could, and we were noisier than most Arsenal fans surrounding us in the South Stand terrace

Napier returns from suspension. Stratigakis starts. Struck drops to bench. Layzell, Jones & Furness back in squad but make bench. Harrison missing from squad KO 6.45pm. Live on Sky Sports. I'll try post updates while I'm here at Meadow Park

Some coincidence I have seen...

Bumping this as voting closes midnight tonight! Vote if you haven't done so yet https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/1_Awards2324

Black away kit for tomorrow...

Also available in audio. Recorded this podcast last night with some Arsenal fans ahead of the game on Sunday. Mainly given things from a Bristol City perspective, plus talk about the work I do at the SC&T - including arranging away coach travel with the football club

Layzell signed a two year deal last summer. As did Thestrup. Can't find anything on how long Connolly's contract is for...

Sky Sports remembered that they are showing a game with City Women this weekend, so have released this today...

A pretty good watch/listen with Liv Clark in this episode of This Girl Can Play. She talks about how she combined uni & football, playing for Wales even though being from Lincoln, being at Bristol City, and even mentions Nigel Pearson & Dan Bentley... Available on YouTube below or audio wherever you get podcasts from...

Saw some snippets from Arsenal's press conference this morning (which Sky covered, unsurprisingly) Jonas Eidvall is serving a touchline ban this Sunday for leaving the technical area while celebrating during the Conti Cup final Vivianne Miedema is unavailable for Sunday, so there'll be no repeat of her scoring six(?) against Bristol City at Meadow Park like she did a few years ago Frida Maanum is also not available following her collapse at the Conti Cup Final & continued recovery

That is true! Although I think Shania Hayles contract is up this summer (she didn't sign a new one last summer), and Rachel Furness has a one year contract which ends this season There are others who signed new one year deals last summer e.g. Jazz Bull, Jesse Woolley, but have an option for another year...

Some key points from today's press conference: - Shania Hayles out of arm sling but not yet match ready - Rachel Furness in squad contention after playing 45 mins with U21s last week - Naomi Layzell & Carrie Jones back in training - In-house 11v11 game took place, Lauren Smith was the ref

This could affect City (or not), but the current WSL TV deal with BBC & Sky Sports has been extended for one more season in 2024/25 https://womensleagues.thefa.com/sky-sports-and-bbc-sport-extend-bwsl-broadcast-rights-for-2024-25-season

You'd be correct! Doesn't seem to be getting as much game time for England, and she's getting older (she's 32 now) so probably would want to focus on club football I was surprised to hear the news, and have been a fan of her when playing for the Lionesses

FT 2-0 to England, who are now second in the group. France on top after they beat Sweden tonight

Saw this online of an example of the ITV picture issues that some viewers were having

2-0 to England at half time. Wasn't fully sure if the two penalties should be awarded. Surprised Greenwood couldn't convert the second one Good goal from Lauren James too Am watching ITV1 HD through my aerial plugged into Now TV box. Fine for me

England squad for tonight. Leah Williamson starts for the Lionesses for the first time in a year. England's first meeting with the Republic of Ireland for nearly 40 years. Game live on ITV1, KO 7.30pm

Wales beat Kosovo 6-0 in their Euro 2025 qualifier this afternoon. Ffion Morgan got her first goal for her country