️ Smith pens new three-year deal.

Smith returned to the club she calls ‘home’ this summer as Interim Head Coach, having previously spent seven years in the West Country when she began her coaching journey with the club’s Under-13 age group back in 2010.

In her first four months in charge Smith has rebuilt the squad with 11 new signings and six academy graduates coming into the first team, as well as making additions to her backroom staff which has enabled the Robins to make a solid start to life in the Championship.

Smith’s new deal will run to the end of the 2023/24 campaign, which will provide both the club and Smith the stability needed to implement the long-term vision of the women’s programme.

Bristol City Women Chairperson Gavin Marshall said: “When we began our recruitment process this summer Lauren was the stand-out candidate and we are delighted with the work she has already done in such a short space of time.

“She has built a squad and backroom team that have shown they can compete with the best teams in the Championship and play an exciting brand of football with a young squad built on a core of homegrown talent. We’re confident the group will only get stronger over time under Lauren’s guidance.

“Stability is key in the development of Bristol City Women as a football club, and having Lauren committed until at least 2024 will allow us to build a core group of squad and staff members who will enable us to fulfil our vision for the club.”

Bristol City Women Head Coach Lauren Smith said: “I’m really pleased to be able to move on from what we’ve started and build towards the future with a long-term process in mind. I’m really thankful to the club and the board for giving me this opportunity.

“The players and staff we have brought in have been excellent. Week-in, week-out they’re getting better, they’re making sure we build towards a better future and their attitude to do that has been outstanding.

“Everything that Gavin (Marshall) has spoken about since the start of my time here - building towards a one club approach and being aligned with the men’s first team - the next three years gives us time to do that and put things in place that will only improve the women’s team for years to come.”