2023–24 Bristol City W.F.C. season

Bristol City
2023–24 season
Head coach	Lauren Smith
Stadium	Aston Gate, Bristol
WSL	12th
FA Cup	Fourth round
League Cup	Group stage
Highest home attendance	12,008; (vs. Arsenal, 22 October)
Lowest home attendance	4,132; (vs. Leicester City, 1 October)
Average home league attendance	8,070
Home colours	Third colours

The 2023–24 Bristol City W.F.C. season is the club's eighth season under the Bristol City affiliation and the organisation's 25th overall season in existence. It is their first season back in the Women's Super League, the highest level of the football pyramid, following promotion as Championship winners, ending a two-year absence. Along with competing in the WSL, the club will also contest two domestic cup competitions: the FA Cup and the League Cup.

Ahead of the season, the club confirmed the women's team's primary home ground would be the club's main stadium, Aston Gate, moving from the Robins High Performance Centre in Failand after one season. Megan Connolly was announced as the new captain on 19 September.^[1]

Squad

As of 21 October 2023^[2]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
1	GK	ENG	Fran Bentley
2	DF	WAL	Ella Powell
3	DF	DEN	Sille Struck
4	DF	ENG	Naomi Layzell
5	DF	ENG	Brooke Aspin (on loan from Chelsea)
6	MF	IRL	Megan Connolly (captain)
7	FW	SCO	Abi Harrison
8	MF	ENG	Amy Rodgers
9	FW	JAM	Shania Hayles
10	MF	NIR	Rachel Furness
11	DF	SCO	Jamie-Lee Napier
12	DF	IRL	Chloe Mustaki


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
13	GK	WAL	Olivia Clark
15	MF	ENG	Jasmine Bull
16	MF	ENG	Emily Syme
17	FW	DEN	Amalie Thestrup
21	GK	USA	Kaylan Marckese (on loan from Arsenal)
23	FW	WAL	Carrie Jones
24	FW	WAL	Ffion Morgan
25	GK	ENG	Erin Foley
27	FW	ENG	Jesse Woolley
28	FW	WAL	Tianna Teisar
29	DF	ENG	Mari Ward
44	DF	JAM	Satara Murray

Preseason

2 September 2023 Friendly	Manchester City	3–2	Bristol City	Manchester
	Castellanos Aspin (o.g.) Shaw	Report	Harrison (pen.) Furness	Stadium: Academy Stadium Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

10 September 2023 Friendly	West Ham United	3–0	Bristol City	Dagenham
	Asseyi 58', 63', 90'			Stadium: Victoria Road

Women's Super League

Results summary


Overall								Home						Away
Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
4	0	0	4	4	14	−10	0	0	0	2	3	6	−3	0	0	2	1	8	−7

Last updated: 22 October 2023.
Source: WSL

Results by matchday

Round	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22
Ground	H	A	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	A	H	A	H	A	H	H	A	H
Result	L	L	L	L
Position	11	12	12	12

Source: ^{[citation needed]}
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Results

1 October 2023 1	Bristol City	2–4	Leicester City	Bristol
14:00	Jones 33' Thestrup 85' (pen.)	Report	Palmer 45+2' O'Brien 49' Petermann 52' Cain 78' Rantala 83' Green 90'	Stadium: Ashton Gate Attendance: 4,132 Referee: Elizabeth Simms

8 October 2023 2	Tottenham Hotspur	3–1	Bristol City	Leyton
14:00	Neville 23' Ahtinen 31' Thomas 35' Summanen 45+4'	Report	Napier 12' Aspin 59' Thestrup 64' (pen.)	Stadium: Brisbane Road Attendance: 1,605 Referee: Lauren Impey

15 October 2023 3	Manchester City	5–0	Bristol City	Manchester
13:00	Roord 9', 45+2' Aleixandri 33' Shaw 38', 45+6'	Report	Rodgers 48'	Stadium: Academy Stadium Referee: Stacey Fullicks

22 October 2023 4	Bristol City	1–2	Arsenal	Bristol
18:45	Furness 16', 84' Murray 90+3'	Report	McCabe 7', 59' Wubben-Moy 31' Russo 78'	Stadium: Ashton Gate Attendance: 12,008 Referee: Adewunmi Soneye

5 November 2023 5	West Ham United	v	Bristol City	Dagenham
15:00				Stadium: Victoria Road

12 November 2023 6	Bristol City	v	Aston Villa	Bristol
14:00				Stadium: Ashton Gate

19 November 2023 7	Everton	v	Bristol City	Liverpool
13:00				Stadium: Walton Hall Park

26 November 2023 8	Bristol City	v	Manchester United	Bristol
				Stadium: Ashton Gate

10 December 2023 9	Liverpool	v	Bristol City	Birkenhead
				Stadium: Prenton Park

17 December 2023 10	Bristol City	v	Chelsea	Bristol
				Stadium: Ashton Gate

21 January 2024 11	Brighton & Hove Albion	v	Bristol City	Crawley
				Stadium: Broadfield Stadium

28 January 2024 12	Bristol City	v	West Ham United	Bristol
				Stadium: Ashton Gate

4 February 2024 13	Aston Villa	v	Bristol City	Walsall
				Stadium: Bescot Stadium

18 February 2024 14	Leicester City	v	Bristol City	Leicester
				Stadium: King Power Stadium

3 March 2024 15	Bristol City	v	Brighton & Hove Albion	Bristol
				Stadium: Ashton Gate

17 March 2024 16	Manchester United	v	Bristol City	Leigh
				Stadium: Leigh Sports Village

24 March 2024 17	Bristol City	v	Tottenham Hotspur	Bristol
				Stadium: Ashton Gate

31 March 2024 18	Arsenal	v	Bristol City	Borehamwood
				Stadium: Meadow Park

21 April 2024 19	Bristol City	v	Liverpool	Bristol
				Stadium: Ashton Gate

28 April 2024 20	Bristol City	v	Manchester City	Bristol
				Stadium: Ashton Gate

5 May 2024 21	Chelsea	v	Bristol City	Kingston upon Thames
				Stadium: Kingsmeadow

18 May 2024 22	Bristol City	v	Everton	Bristol
				Stadium: Ashton Gate

League table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification or relegation
8	Everton	22	6	5	11	24	37	−13	23
9	Brighton & Hove Albion	22	5	4	13	26	48	−22	19
10	Leicester City	22	4	6	12	26	45	−19	18
11	West Ham United	22	3	6	13	20	45	−25	15
12	Bristol City (R)	22	1	3	18	20	70	−50	6	Relegation to the Championship

Source: Women's Super League Table
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored.
(R) Relegated

Women's FA Cup

As a member of the first tier, Bristol City will enter the FA Cup in the fourth round proper.

January 2024 Fourth round

TBD

FA Women's League Cup

11 October 2023 Group stage	Bristol City	1–1 (3–4 p)	Southampton	Failand
19:30	Furness 33'	Report	Lloyd-Smith 50' Peake 87'	Stadium: Robins HPC
	Penalties
	Rodgers Teisar Ward Jones Napier Aspin		Peake Peplow Purfield Thompson Kraft Morris

22 November 2023 Group stage	Tottenham Hotspur	v	Bristol City	Leyton
19:30				Stadium: Brisbane Road

24 January 2024 Group stage	Reading	v	Bristol City	Reading
19:00				Stadium: Madejski Stadium

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	PW	PL	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Arsenal (Q)	4	3	1	0	0	14	5	+9	11	Advanced to knock-out stage
2	Tottenham Hotspur (Q)	4	3	0	1	0	15	3	+12	10	Possible knock-out stage based on ranking
3	Southampton	4	1	1	0	2	3	6	−3	5
4	Bristol City	4	0	0	2	2	3	8	−5	2
5	Reading	4	0	1	0	3	1	14	−13	2

Updated to match(es) played on 24th January 2024. Source: FA Women's League Cup
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of wins; 5) Head-to-head record
(Q) Qualified to the phase indicated

Squad statistics

Appearances

As of match played 22 October 2023

Starting appearances are listed first, followed by substitute appearances after the + symbol where applicable.

No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Total		WSL		FA Cup		League Cup
No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
1	GK	ENG	Fran Bentley	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0
2	DF	WAL	Ella Powell	4	0	3+1	0	0	0	0	0
3	DF	DEN	Sille Struck	2	0	1	0	0	0	1	0
4	DF	ENG	Naomi Layzell	4	0	4	0	0	0	0	0
5	DF	ENG	Brooke Aspin	5	0	4	0	0	0	0+1	0
6	MF	IRL	Megan Connolly	4	0	4	0	0	0	0	0
7	FW	SCO	Abi Harrison	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
8	MF	ENG	Amy Rodgers	5	0	4	0	0	0	0+1	0
9	FW	JAM	Shania Hayles	4	0	0+3	0	0	0	1	0
10	MF	NIR	Rachel Furness	5	2	3+1	1	0	0	1	1
11	DF	SCO	Jamie-Lee Napier	5	0	3+1	0	0	0	1	0
12	DF	IRL	Chloe Mustaki	3	0	2	0	0	0	0+1	0
13	GK	WAL	Olivia Clark	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0
15	MF	ENG	Jasmine Bull	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
16	DF	ENG	Emily Syme	5	0	0+4	0	0	0	1	0
17	FW	DEN	Amalie Thestrup	4	2	4	2	0	0	0	0
21	GK	USA	Kaylan Marckese	3	0	2	0	0	0	1	0
23	FW	WAL	Carrie Jones	5	1	4	1	0	0	0+1	0
24	FW	WAL	Ffion Morgan	5	0	3+1	0	0	0	1	0
25	GK	ENG	Erin Foley	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
27	FW	ENG	Jesse Woolley	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
28	FW	WAL	Tianna Teisar	2	0	0+1	0	0	0	0+1	0
29	DF	ENG	Mari Ward	5	0	0+4	0	0	0	1	0
44	DF	JAM	Satara Murray	4	0	1+2	0	0	0	1	0
Players who appeared for the club but left during the season:
19	DF	ENG	Jess Simpson	2	0	0+1	0	0	0	1	0

Transfers

Transfers in

Date	Position	Name	From	Ref.
3 July 2023	MF	Amy Rodgers	London City Lionesses	^[3]
26 July 2023	DF	Satara Murray	Racing Louisville	^[4]
14 August 2023	DF	Jamie-Lee Napier	London City Lionesses	^[5]
14 August 2023	FW	Amalie Thestrup	PSV	^[6]
24 August 2023	MF	Megan Connolly	Brighton & Hove Albion	^[7]
6 September 2023	FW	Carrie Jones	Manchester United	^[8]
13 September 2023	DF	Sille Struck	Levante Las Planas	^[9]

Loans in

Date	Position	Name	From	Until	Ref.
7 July 2023	DF	Brooke Aspin	Chelsea	End of season	^[10]
2 August 2023	GK	Kaylan Marckese	Arsenal	End of season	^[11]
14 September 2023	DF	Jess Simpson	Manchester United	21 October 2023	^[12]^[13]

Transfers out

Date	Position	Name	To	Ref.
1 May 2023	DF	Lia Cataldo	Crystal Palace	^[14]^[15]
	FW	Lily Greenslade	Rugby Borough	^[14]^[16]
	DF	Jodie Hutton	Sheffield United	^[14]^[17]
	MF	Aimee Palmer	Leicester City	^[14]^[18]
	MF	Chloe Bull	Retired	^[14]^[19]
12 May 2023	MF	Elysia Boddy	Newcastle United	^[20]^[21]
7 July 2023	DF	Brooke Aspin	Chelsea	^[10]
4 September 2023	DF	Vicky Bruce	Western Sydney Wanderers	^[22]

Loans out

Date	Position	Nationality	Name	To	Until	Ref.
30 July 2023	DF		Maddi Wilde	London City Lionesses	End of season	^[23]
1 August 2023	GK		Olivia Clark	Watford	8 October 2023	^[24]^[25]

References

^ Dougherty, Noah (19 September 2023). "Connolly named City captain". Bristol City FC.
^ "Women's first team". Bristol City.
^ "Rogers signs for City". Bristol City.
^ "Murray returns to City". Bristol City FC. 26 July 2023.
^ "Napier signs for City". Bristol City FC. 14 August 2023.
^ "Thestrup is a Robin". Bristol City FC. 14 August 2023.
^ "Connolly is a Robin". Bristol City FC. 24 August 2023.
^ "Jones signs for City". Bristol City FC. 6 September 2023.
^ "City strike to sign Sille". Bristol City FC. 13 September 2023.
^ ^a ^b "Brooke Aspin signs for Chelsea". www.chelseafc.com.
^ Dougherty, Noah (2 August 2023). "Marckese signs on loan". Bristol City FC.
^ "Jess Simpson joins Bristol City on loan". www.manutd.com.
^ Dougherty, Noah (21 October 2023). "Simpson returns to Manchester United". Bristol City FC.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "City Women confirm released list". Bristol City. 1 May 2023.
^ "Crystal Palace Women sign Lia Cataldo - News". Crystal Palace F.C. 14 July 2023.
^ "Lily Grreensalde Rugby Borough WFC". www.rugbyboroughfc.co.uk.
^ "Hutton joins United". Sheffield United FC. 26 July 2023.
^ Frith, Wilf (1 August 2023). "Leicester City Women sign midfielder Aimee Palmer". She Kicks.
^ "Bull ends playing career for FAW recruitment role". BBC Sport.
^ "Boddy departs City Women". Bristol City. 12 May 2023.
^ "Boddy signs for Newcastle United Women". Newcastle United FC. 12 July 2023.
^ "Wanderers sign Women's Championship winner Bruce". Western Sydney Wanderers. 4 September 2023.
^ "London City Lionesses land defender Maddi Wilde on loan from Bristol City". London City Lionesses. 30 July 2023.
^ Frith, Wilf (1 August 2023). "Watford Women sign Welsh international keeper on loan - SheKicks". She Kicks.
^ Dougherty, Noah (8 October 2023). "Clark recalled from Watford loan". Bristol City FC.

[1] Dougherty, Noah (19 September 2023). "Connolly named City captain". Bristol City FC.

[2] "Women's first team". Bristol City.

[3] "Rogers signs for City". Bristol City.

[4] "Murray returns to City". Bristol City FC. 26 July 2023.

[5] "Napier signs for City". Bristol City FC. 14 August 2023.

[6] "Thestrup is a Robin". Bristol City FC. 14 August 2023.

[7] "Connolly is a Robin". Bristol City FC. 24 August 2023.

[8] "Jones signs for City". Bristol City FC. 6 September 2023.

[9] "City strike to sign Sille". Bristol City FC. 13 September 2023.

[Aspin-10] "Brooke Aspin signs for Chelsea". www.chelseafc.com.

[11] Dougherty, Noah (2 August 2023). "Marckese signs on loan". Bristol City FC.

[12] "Jess Simpson joins Bristol City on loan". www.manutd.com.

[13] Dougherty, Noah (21 October 2023). "Simpson returns to Manchester United". Bristol City FC.

[released-14] "City Women confirm released list". Bristol City. 1 May 2023.

[15] "Crystal Palace Women sign Lia Cataldo - News". Crystal Palace F.C. 14 July 2023.

[16] "Lily Grreensalde Rugby Borough WFC". www.rugbyboroughfc.co.uk.

[17] "Hutton joins United". Sheffield United FC. 26 July 2023.

[18] Frith, Wilf (1 August 2023). "Leicester City Women sign midfielder Aimee Palmer". She Kicks.

[19] "Bull ends playing career for FAW recruitment role". BBC Sport.

[20] "Boddy departs City Women". Bristol City. 12 May 2023.

[21] "Boddy signs for Newcastle United Women". Newcastle United FC. 12 July 2023.

[22] "Wanderers sign Women's Championship winner Bruce". Western Sydney Wanderers. 4 September 2023.

[23] "London City Lionesses land defender Maddi Wilde on loan from Bristol City". London City Lionesses. 30 July 2023.

[24] Frith, Wilf (1 August 2023). "Watford Women sign Welsh international keeper on loan - SheKicks". She Kicks.

[25] Dougherty, Noah (8 October 2023). "Clark recalled from Watford loan". Bristol City FC.

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