2023–24 Bristol City W.F.C. season

Bristol City 2023–24 football season

Bristol City

2023–24 season

Head coach

Stadium

12th (relegated)

Top goalscorer

League: Amalie Thestrup (9)
All: Amalie Thestrup (9)

Highest home attendance

14,138
(vs. Manchester United, 26 November)

Lowest home attendance

4,112
(vs. Everton, 18 May)

Average home league attendance

6,974

Home colours

Away colours

Third colours

← 2022–23

The 2023–24 Bristol City W.F.C. season was the club's eighth season under the Bristol City affiliation and the organisation's 25th overall season in existence. It was 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 also contested 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.

On 28 April 2024, Bristol City were relegated to the Championship after a 4–0 home defeat to Manchester City left the team eight points adrift from safety with two games left to play.

Squad

As of 25 January 2024

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. 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
13	GK	WAL	Olivia Clark
15	MF	ENG	Jasmine Bull


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
16	MF	ENG	Emily Syme
17	FW	DEN	Amalie Thestrup
18	MF	CAN	Sarah Stratigakis
22	MF	SCO	Lisa Evans
23	FW	WAL	Carrie Jones
24	FW	WAL	Ffion Morgan
25	GK	ENG	Erin Foley
29	DF	ENG	Mari Ward
30	GK	USA	Shae Yáñez
36	MF	ENG	Fearne Slocombe
38	MF	WAL	Manon Pearce
39	FW	ENG	Maya Kendall
44	DF	JAM	Satara Murray

Preseason

Manchester City v Bristol City

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

West Ham United v Bristol City

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

Women's Super League

Main article: 2023–24 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
22	1	3	18	20	70	−50	6	0	0	11	7	32	−25	1	3	7	13	38	−25

Last updated: 18 May 2024.
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	W	L	D	L	D	L	L	L	D	L	L	L	L	L	L	L	L	L
Position	11	12	12	12	11	12	12	12	11	12	12	12	12	12	12	12	12	12	12	12	12	12

Source:
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Results

Bristol City v Leicester City

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

Tottenham Hotspur v Bristol City

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

Manchester City v Bristol City

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 Attendance: 3,789 Referee: Stacey Fullicks

Bristol City v Arsenal

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

West Ham United v Bristol City

5 November 2023 5	West Ham United	2–3	Bristol City	Dagenham
15:00	Asseyi 27' (pen.) Ueki 45+3'	Report	Napier 5' Furness 17' Thestrup 32' Powell 37' Aspin 55' Harrison 80' Connolly 90+2'	Stadium: Victoria Road Attendance: 791 Referee: Kirsty Dowle

Bristol City v Aston Villa

12 November 2023 6	Bristol City	0–2	Aston Villa	Bristol
14:00	Jones 38'	Report	Leon 35' Connolly 77' (o.g.) Salmon 86'	Stadium: Ashton Gate Attendance: 4,407 Referee: Melissa Burgin

Everton v Bristol City

19 November 2023 7	Everton	2–2	Bristol City	Liverpool
13:00	Piemonte 5', 69' Finnigan 57'	Report	Rodgers 45+1' Thestrup 82'	Stadium: Walton Hall Park Attendance: 886 Referee: Adewunmi Soneye

Bristol City v Manchester United

26 November 2023 8	Bristol City	0–2	Manchester United	Bristol
12:30	Aspin 4' Connolly 64'	Report	Miyazawa 50' Parris 55'	Stadium: Ashton Gate Attendance: 14,138 Referee: Stacey Fullicks

Liverpool v Bristol City

10 December 2023 9	Liverpool	1–1	Bristol City	Birkenhead
14:00	Hinds 22' Bonner 46' Fisk 55' Haug 57'	Report	Harrison 12' Thestrup 43', 50'	Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: 1,341 Referee: Stacey Fullicks

Bristol City v Chelsea

17 December 2023 10	Bristol City	0–3	Chelsea	Bristol
14:00		Report	James 17' Charles 24' 90+6' Cuthbert 34' Kerr 59'	Stadium: Ashton Gate Attendance: 9,442 Referee: Amy Fearn

Brighton & Hove Albion v Bristol City

21 January 2024 11	Brighton & Hove Albion	3–2	Bristol City	Crawley
14:00	Terland 31', 90+5' Robinson 57'	Report	Rodgers 52' Harrison 55' Jones 83'	Stadium: Broadfield Stadium Attendance: 2,049 Referee: Lisa Benn

Bristol City v West Ham United

28 January 2024 12	Bristol City	1–2	West Ham United	Bristol
14:00	Connolly 46' Thestrup 48' Powell 90+8'	Report	Hayashi 13' Harries 23' Asseyi 55' Shimizu 90+5' Smith 90+14'	Stadium: Ashton Gate Attendance: 6,214 Referee: Lauren Impey

Aston Villa v Bristol City

3 February 2024 13	Aston Villa	2–2	Bristol City	Walsall
12:30	Nobbs 13' Leon 60'	Report	Napier 11' Thestrup 15' Jones 75' Hayles 83' Yáñez 90+2'	Stadium: Bescot Stadium Attendance: 2,190 Referee: Stacey Pearson

Leicester City v Bristol City

18 February 2024 14	Leicester City	5–2	Bristol City	Leicester
15:00	Momiki 33' Takarada 45+1' Cayman 54' Rantala 76', 81' Draper 89'	Report	Morgan 20' Powell 24' Napier 63' Thestrup 49'	Stadium: King Power Stadium Attendance: 2,219 Referee: Stacey Pearson

Bristol City v Brighton & Hove Albion

3 March 2024 15	Bristol City	3–7	Brighton & Hove Albion	Bristol
14:00	Powell 22' Connolly 47' Aspin 71' Thestrup 74'	Report	Terland 20', 54' Bremer 24' Pinto 64', 90' Haley 89' Losada 90+2' (pen.) Robinson 90+6'	Stadium: Ashton Gate Attendance: 3,468 Referee: Adewunmi Soneye

Manchester United v Bristol City

17 March 2024 16	Manchester United	2–0	Bristol City	Leigh
12:00	Naalsund 9', 90+5'	Report	Napier 2' 82' Harrison 90+9'	Stadium: Leigh Sports Village Attendance: 4,254 Referee: Elizabeth Simms

Bristol City v Tottenham Hotspur

24 March 2024 17	Bristol City	0–1	Tottenham Hotspur	Bristol
14:00	Ward 89'	Report	England 2'	Stadium: Ashton Gate Attendance: 5,262 Referee: Phoebe Cross

Arsenal v Bristol City

14 April 2024 18	Arsenal	5–0	Bristol City	Borehamwood
18:45	Mead 7', 32' Powell 34' (o.g.) Rusoo 59', 73'	Report		Stadium: Meadow Park Attendance: 3,565 Referee: Lisa Benn
Note: Rescheduled from 31 March 2024 due to Arsenal's participation in the 2024 FA Women's League Cup final.

Bristol City v Liverpool

20 April 2024 19	Bristol City	0–1	Liverpool	Bristol
12:30	Aspin 25'	Report	Höbinger 13' Kearns 35' Haug 85'	Stadium: Ashton Gate Attendance: 4,780 Referee: Phoebe Cross

Bristol City v Manchester City

28 April 2024 20	Bristol City	0–4	Manchester City	Bristol
18:45		Report	Fowler 62', 75' Rodgers 77' (o.g.) Greenwood 90+9'	Stadium: Ashton Gate Attendance: 8,749 Referee: Cheryl Foster

Chelsea v Bristol City

5 May 2024 21	Chelsea	8–0	Bristol City	Kingston upon Thames
18:45	Reiten 6' (pen.), 56', 70', 77' Nüsken 23' Beever-Jones 52', 88' Charles 74'	Report	Rodgers 86'	Stadium: Kingsmeadow Attendance: 4,289 Referee: Stacey Fullicks

Bristol City v Everton

18 May 2024 22	Bristol City	0–4	Everton	Bristol
15:00		Report	Snoeijs 16' S. Holmgaard 23' Bissell 48' Piemonte 90+4'	Stadium: Ashton Gate Attendance: 4,112 Referee: Grace Lowe

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

Main article: 2023–24 Women's FA Cup

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

Bristol City v Liverpool

14 January 2024 Fourth round	Bristol City	0–1	Liverpool	Bristol
13:00	Mustaki 36'	Report	Holland 39' 60' Bonner 85'	Stadium: Ashton Gate Attendance: 2,563 Referee: Lisa Benn

FA Women's League Cup

Main article: 2023–24 FA Women's League Cup Bristol City v Southampton

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 Attendance: 597 Referee: Will Finnie
	Penalties
	Rodgers Teisar Ward Jones Napier Aspin		Peake Peplow Purfield Thompson Kraft Morris

Arsenal v Bristol City

9 November 2023 Group stage	Arsenal	3–1	Bristol City	Borehamwood
19:00	Maanum 27' Wubben-Moy 36' Blackstenius 90+5'	Report	Struck 70'	Stadium: Meadow Park Attendance: 1,974 Referee: Lisa Benn

Tottenham Hotspur v Bristol City

22 November 2023 Group stage	Tottenham Hotspur	3–0	Bristol City	Leyton
19:30	Graham 19' (pen.) Ayane 29', 72' Percival 31'	Report	Aspin 35'	Stadium: Brisbane Road Attendance: 506 Referee: Sunny Singh Gill

Bristol City v Reading

13 December 2023 Group stage	Bristol City	1–1 (4–5 p)	Reading	Failand
19:30	Hayles 21' Kendall 90+6'	Report	Mayi Kith 68' Wellings 86'	Stadium: Robins HPC Attendance: 648 Referee: Lisa Benn
	Penalties
	Rodgers Jones Woolley Hayles Thestrup Napier		Troelsgaard Wade Wellings Primmer Woodham Houssein

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 18 May 2024

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	5	0	5	0	0	0	0	0
2	DF	WAL	Ella Powell	22	1	18+2	1	1	0	1	0
3	DF	DEN	Sille Struck	13	1	8+1	0	0	0	4	1
4	DF	ENG	Naomi Layzell	19	0	15+1	0	1	0	0+2	0
5	DF	ENG	Brooke Aspin	20	2	16+1	2	0	0	2+1	0
6	MF	IRL	Megan Connolly	25	1	22	1	1	0	2	0
7	FW	SCO	Abi Harrison	16	1	8+7	1	1	0	0	0
8	MF	ENG	Amy Rodgers	26	1	22	1	1	0	1+2	0
9	FW	JAM	Shania Hayles	19	1	3+12	0	0	0	4	1
10	MF	NIR	Rachel Furness	12	2	7+3	1	0	0	1+1	1
11	DF	SCO	Jamie-Lee Napier	22	0	18+1	0	1	0	1+1	0
12	DF	IRL	Chloe Mustaki	11	0	5+1	0	1	0	3+1	0
13	GK	WAL	Olivia Clark	8	0	6+1	0	0	0	1	0
15	MF	ENG	Jasmine Bull	13	0	3+6	0	0	0	4	0
16	DF	ENG	Emily Syme	27	0	11+11	0	1	0	4	0
17	FW	DEN	Amalie Thestrup	26	9	22	9	1	0	0+3	0
18	MF	CAN	Sarah Stratigakis	6	0	1+5	0	0	0	0	0
22	MF	SCO	Lisa Evans	9	0	3+6	0	0	0	0	0
23	FW	WAL	Carrie Jones	23	3	16+2	3	1	0	1+3	0
24	FW	WAL	Ffion Morgan	24	1	19+3	1	0+1	0	1	0
25	GK	ENG	Erin Foley	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
29	DF	ENG	Mari Ward	26	0	1+20	0	0+1	0	4	0
30	GK	USA	Shae Yáñez	8	0	7	0	1	0	0	0
36	MF	ENG	Fearne Slocombe	1	0	0+1	0	0	0	0	0
38	MF	WAL	Manon Pearce	2	0	0	0	0	0	0+2	0
39	FW	ENG	Maya Kendall	3	0	0+1	0	0	0	1+1	0
44	DF	JAM	Satara Murray	5	0	2+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
21	GK	USA	Kaylan Marckese	5	0	4	0	0	0	1	0
41	GK	NOR	Benedicte Håland	3	0	0+1	0	0	0	2	0
Players away from the club on loan:
27	FW	ENG	Jesse Woolley	4	0	0+1	0	0	0	2+1	0
28	FW	WAL	Tianna Teisar	5	0	0+1	0	0	0	2+2	0

Transfers

Transfers in

Date	Position	Name	From
3 July 2023	MF	Amy Rodgers	London City Lionesses
26 July 2023	DF	Satara Murray	Racing Louisville
14 August 2023	DF	Jamie-Lee Napier	London City Lionesses
14 August 2023	FW	Amalie Thestrup	PSV
24 August 2023	MF	Megan Connolly	Brighton & Hove Albion
6 September 2023	FW	Carrie Jones	Manchester United
13 September 2023	DF	Sille Struck	Levante Las Planas
19 November 2023	GK	Benedicte Håland	Hibernian
5 January 2024	GK	Shae Yáñez	San Diego Wave
20 January 2024	MF	Sarah Stratigakis	Vittsjö GIK
25 January 2024	MF	Lisa Evans	West Ham United

Loans in

Date	Position	Name	From	Until
7 July 2023	DF	Brooke Aspin	Chelsea	End of season
2 August 2023	GK	Kaylan Marckese	Arsenal	4 January 2024
14 September 2023	DF	Jess Simpson	Manchester United	21 October 2023

Transfers out

Date	Position	Name	To
1 May 2023	DF	Lia Cataldo	Crystal Palace
	FW	Lily Greenslade	Rugby Borough
	DF	Jodie Hutton	Sheffield United
	MF	Aimee Palmer	Leicester City
	MF	Chloe Bull	Swansea City
12 May 2023	MF	Elysia Boddy	Newcastle United
7 July 2023	DF	Brooke Aspin	Chelsea
4 September 2023	DF	Vicky Bruce	Western Sydney Wanderers
19 January 2024	GK	Benedicte Håland	Southampton

Loans out

Date	Position	Name	To	Until
30 July 2023	DF	Maddi Wilde	London City Lionesses	End of season
1 August 2023	GK	Olivia Clark	Watford	8 October 2023
12 January 2024	FW	Jesse Woolley	Reading	End of season
22 January 2024	FW	Tianna Teisar	Cardiff City Ladies	End of season

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.
"Goalkeeper Haaland signs". Bristol City FC. 19 November 2023.
"City sign goalkeeper Yanez". Bristol City FC. 5 January 2024.
"Stratigakis signs". Bristol City FC. 20 January 2024.
"Evans signs for City". Bristol City FC. 25 January 2024.
^ "Brooke Aspin signs for Chelsea". www.chelseafc.com.
Dougherty, Noah (2 August 2023). "Marckese signs on loan". Bristol City FC.
"Marckese returns to Arsenal for recovery". Bristol City FC. 4 January 2024.
"Jess Simpson joins Bristol City on loan". www.manutd.com.
Dougherty, Noah (21 October 2023). "Simpson returns to Manchester United". Bristol City FC.
^ "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.
"Swansea City Women sign Chloe Bull". www.swanseacity.com. 18 August 2023.
"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.
"Haaland departs City". Bristol City FC. 19 January 2024.
"Southampton FC Women sign goalkeeper Benedicte Haaland". www.southamptonfc.com.
"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.
"Reading FC Women welcome Jesse Woolley on loan till the end of the season". Reading FC. 12 January 2024.
"Teisar leaves on loan". Bristol City FC. 22 January 2024.

2023–24 in English women's football

« 2022–23 2024–25 »

National teams

League
competitions

Level 1	Women's Super League
Level 2	Women's Championship
Level 3	FA Women's National League Premier Division (North, South)
Level 4	FA Women's National League Division One (Midlands, North, South East, South West)

Cup competitions

Club seasons
Women's Super League	Arsenal Aston Villa Brighton & Hove Albion Bristol City Chelsea Everton Leicester City Liverpool Manchester City Manchester United Tottenham Hotspur West Ham United
Women's Championship	Birmingham City Blackburn Rovers Charlton Athletic Crystal Palace Durham Lewes London City Lionesses Reading Sheffield United Southampton Sunderland Watford
Summer 2023 transfers Winter 2023–24 transfers

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