City Women player pathway continues to flourish.

The Robins youth system is comprised of a Regional Talent Centre (RTC) aging from Under-10s, 12’s,14’s and 16s as well as the WSL Academy, which is run in conjuncture with SGS College’s football programme.

City Women’s player pathway has nurtured a number of homegrown talents that have gone on to represent the club at First Team level as well as receive international honours.

Jas Matthews, Aimee Palmer, Flo Allen, Jesse Woolley and Georgia Wilson are all First Team players that have transitioned through the Bristol City/SGS College pathway combining their playing and educational commitments.

As pre-season 2020 gets underway there is an exciting opportunity for the top end talent from the current college programme as Grace Mitchell, Sarah Mitchell, Ellen Jones and Maisy Collis – who notably has made the transition from the RTC U10’s through to the First Team – are training as part of Tanya Oxtoby’s wider squad ahead of the 20/21 campaign.

First Team Assistant Manager Marco Chiavetta is also Technical Director of the club’s RTC programme and works alongside Dan Liddiard, who heads up the WSL Academy and SGS College women’s football programme.

“The player pathway at Bristol City is pivotal to the club’s success on the pitch and the system is something that the club is renowned for,” said Chiavetta.

“My role with the RTC is to oversee the training environment we create for our younger players to ensure we are instilling our club philosophy and club curriculum at all levels.

“We want to replicate as best we can what is happening at First Team level right the way through the youth system.

“We’ve seen a number of successful cases where players have made the transition through the RTC into the Academy and then the jump to First Team level, which speaks volumes about the programme and give inspiration for the young girls who are currently in our RTC.”

Youth Development Head Coach Dan Liddiard highlights the importance of dual career prospects for all young players.

“We’ve seen the successful cases of the player pathway at the club and it’s fantastic to have nine players in the current First Team training group that have passed through or who are currently in the player pathway,” said Liddiard.

“It’s very beneficial that we’re able to combine our WSL Academy programme with SGS College and we actively encourage young players to consider their dual career options because there is more to life than just football.

“We want our players to come through the Academy and be set up for life both on and off the pitch and if they can progress further to represent Bristol City it is brilliant for both the player and us as a club.”