Match Preview: Bristol City Women vs Lewes FC Women.

It’s the Robins against the Rooks tomorrow afternoon in what will be City Women’s first fixture at their new Failand-based home.

The state-of-the-art facility will be the home stadium for all Championship matches, bar when the Robins will take on Blackburn Rovers at Ashton Gate Stadium on Sunday, November 14^th.

This weekend will also see spectators welcomed into the Robins High Performance Centre for the first time as City Women fans will be able to watch their new-look team in action for the first time in 20 months.

Both sides will meet again in exactly three weeks’ time at the Robins High Performance Centre, but with three points on the line. The fixture will be City’s first home fixture of the 2021/22 Championship season, with tickets on sale now to supporters.

New Faces

Lauren Smith was appointed as Head Coach back in June and fast forward two months she has made nine new signings and brought seven academy youngsters into the first team fold.

Ava Kuyken, Chloe O’Connor, Ffion Morgan, Simran Jhamat, Ella Powell, Satara Murray, Fran Bentley, Sophie Whitehouse and Melissa Johnson have all arrived at the club throughout the summer months.

OUR OPPONENTS: LEWES FC WOMEN

• Nickname: The Rooks
• Home Stadium: The Dripping Pan
• Manager: Simon Parker

Lewes have spent the last three seasons in the Championship since their introduction to the league in 2018, finishing 8^th in the league table last time out.

Much like City there are new faces aplenty in the Rooks’ ranks as manager Simon Parker aims to build a strong squad ahead of the opening weekend of the Championship season.

Parker has made seven signings so far this summer, which has seen the arrival of Rebecca Kenna, Lara Miller, Heidi Logan, Ellie Mason, Amelia Hazard, Izzy Dalton and Kallie Balfour.

LAST TIME OUT: Lewes FC 1-3 Bristol City

• November 18^th, 2020
• Continental Cup Group Stage
• Scorers: Jemma Purfield, Emma Bissell, Ebony Salmon

The two sides last met in the group stages of the 20/21 FA Continental Cup as City travelled to the Dripping Pan in late autumn.

Goals from Jemma Purfield, Emma Bissell and Ebony Salmon helped the Robins defeat the Rooks on their path to topping their group and eventually making the final of last year’s competition.

Word from the camp: Lauren Smith

It has been a whirlwind first two months for the new City Women Head Coach, but Smith is pleased with how her squad has taken shape with the addition of nine new signings as well as the introduction of five Academy players into the first-team fold.

Speaking exclusively to Robins TV, Smith said: “It’s different now compared to day one, coming in with a very small squad and having to build that through to the point we’re at now. We’ve had two pre-season games, we’ve got depth and there are some really talented players in there.

“Every day has been really different, that has been exciting and I’ve loved every minute so far.

“The players we have brought in have added a lot of depth and different levels of experiences. Whether that’s here, in the Championship or wherever they have come from and now we have a really diverse squad. I’m really pleased with how the squad is looking right now.”

Parking 

Ticket holders for the Robins’ pre-season match-up against the Rooks can purchase a car-park space in the QEH Sports Ground, which neighbours the Robins High Performance Centre.

Supporters are encouraged to pre-book as there are a limited number of spaces available and this can be done via the Bristol Sport ticketing site for £3, whereas parking purchased on the day will cost £5.

Car-park address: QEH Sports Ground, Failand, Bristol, BS8 3TN

Supporters are reminded that there will be no pay on the day tickets available to supporters.