KNOWING THE SCORE

The Lionesses gained international attention in August this year, their Euro win over Germany signifying the top tier pinnacle of the game of women’s football. Things needed to change, they said afterwards, so that future generations of female players would have the support and opportunities that had not been open to them. Emma Clegg talks to Jane Jones, Community Director at Bath City FC who has recently launched the Bath City Women’s team

After England’s Lionesses Euro 2022 2–1 win over Germany at Wembley in August – the country’s first major trophy since the men’s side won the World Cup in 1966 – the then Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted: “Football has come home! A stunning victory by the Lionesses. Football pitches across the country will be filled as never before by girls and women inspired by your triumph.”

Prime ministers have departed and arrived since then, but Boris’s words still ring true. The Lionesses’ thrilling win has given a new dynamic to women’s football and the sporting aspirations of girls all over the country. It has been described as a ‘legacy win’ that will inspire present and future generations to invest more in women’s football.

This was the luminous highlight of decades of campaigning, promotion, training and competition by those advocating the development of women’s football and those taking part. It had started way back in 1972 when UEFA recommended that national football associations incorporate the women’s game, with the ban on women playing on English Football League Grounds also overturned that year.

After their win at the Euros, the England players wrote an open letter to Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss, the candidates in the Conservative Party leadership election, in which they declared their “legacy and goal was to inspire a nation”. The letter pointed out that only 63% of British girls could play football in school PE lessons and concluded: “We – the 23 members of the England Senior Women’s EURO Squad – ask you to make it a priority to invest in girls’ football in schools, so that every girl has the choice.”

In tune with the rising prominence of the women’s game just before the Euro win – and with the help of founding sponsor, local financial services firm Novia Financial – Jane Jones was in June appointed as Community Director to Bath City FC with a brief to set up a Bath City Women’s team.

Jane, who works for the team in a voluntary capacity, has the perfect pedigree. Always a massive football fan, she was the Communications Director for the British Paralympic Association (BPA) between 2007 and 2015.

“That was an amazing role,” says Jane. “My first Paralympic games was in 1996 in Atlanta when there were no spectators and very limited TV coverage. When I joined the BPA in 2007, the movement had grown but it took our home games in London for the country to really take Paralympic sport to its heart. I think the success of the women’s team at the Euros has had a similar effect on women’s football.

“An awful lot of women have been playing the game for years,” says Jane, “but what has been transformative for women’s football is that it is now far easier to watch on TV, the Premier League clubs are embracing it more, and we’re seeing larger crowds going to the games.”

Jane is passionate about the allure of women’s football. “When you have a thrilling competition it doesn’t really matter who is on the pitch. It’s 11 versus 11. What you want to see is a hotly contested game – that’s what keeps you gripped. I’m hoping I can bring some of what I’ve learned about promoting sport that is sometimes overlooked to the women’s game.

“When I was asked to do this I had support from the FSA (Football Supporters’ Association), who put me in contact with clubs up and down the country who have successful women’s teams. What I found was that not all women’s clubs are part of the main club. They use the name, but aren’t embraced fully by the club. As a community owned club since 2017, our ethos is to be inclusive, therefore we wanted our women to be treated as equally as possible at this level; so everything we do for the club is no longer just for the men, it’s for the men and the women.”

Players were recruited shortly after the funding from Novia Financial was confirmed in May. The first priority was to find a head coach – and Matt Abreu was taken on at the beginning of July. Jane says, “I was keen to get a very good coach because for some women’s teams the standard of coaching hasn’t been the same as in the men’s game. And if you are going to develop, progress and get promoted then it starts with good coaching.

“Matt is local and he’s been coaching football since he was 18. He told us that he didn’t have much interest in the women’s game until he had a daughter, and then he became aware of the fact there were not the same opportunities for girls as there were for his son, in terms of learning the game and playing competitively at a young age.

“We had a recruitment day and from that we got a nucleus of a team. We attracted some experienced players, who had played at a higher level than we are currently playing, but were excited about the opportunity to play in a proper stadium and for a club with the reputation of Bath City. We also got some of the most promising younger girls who were over 16, and a few people in their 20s, looking for a new challenge, and we have carried on slowly adding to the team where we’ve needed to, and we’re still getting enquiries from people.” The ultimate plan is to have a first team, a reserve team and a development team for Bath City Women.

Jane explains the league system: “The women’s football pyramid has seven tiers and the top tier, the Women’s Super League, is where the likes of Liverpool Women and Manchester City Women play. As a new team we have to start at the bottom in Tier 7, which is the Somerset County Women’s League. We will need to win the league to progress into Tier 6. We are ambitious, though, and want to move up the pyramid as quickly as possible.”

The women’s game is absolutely no different to the men’s game ... and when you have a thrilling competition it doesn’t really matter who is on the pitch

Before the establishment of the new women’s football club at Bath City, the only choice for a girl of 16 wanting to carry on playing locally after school was at Larkhall Athletic, who play in Tier 4 which is a big step up from age-group football, so Bath City Women hope to plug this gap and therefore to keep more girls actively playing.

What has been notable at the matches that have been played since September is the level of support from the younger generation. Jane describes how, “In one recent Sunday morning match the Bath City Youth under 10s team came along as mascots, and afterwards they met the players and asked for autographs, even getting their football boots signed by the players, who are really pleased that they are inspiring the next generation of Bath City Women.”

I ask Jane if she has had any experience of encountering old-school views about football not being a woman’s game. She says, “It is not something I’ve witnessed – I’ve only ever heard supportive comments. I can’t speak for all of the 1200 regulars that go on the terraces, but what I do know is that recently one of our young players, Ceris Evans, scored at Twerton Park. Her mum and dad never miss a men’s home game, and now a women’s game either. Ceris has been volunteering since she was young, has risen up the ranks of Bath City Youth, and now she plays for the women’s team. There was a clip of her goal on social media and that went down really well, because people can see that she is one of our own.

“Obviously we are playing at a different level to the men, but if you have a closely contested game it can be just as gripping as anything that people might be used to seeing at Twerton Park. Entry to our games is free and we want as many people as possible to come along and cheer us on.” n

ABOVE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Ali Diegutis (defender) and Emily Bristow (winger) in a game against Banwell Ladies; Ceris Evans (defender/midfield) celebrating a goal; Liv Davis (midfield); and Community Director Jane Jones, captain Tara Taylor and head coach Matt Abreu PREVIOUS PAGE: The Bath City Under 10s team come in vocal support of the Women’s Team

At The Core and King Edward’s School, Bath have announced an exciting collaboration designed to support exercise and movement within the whole school community.

At The Core was established in 2020 to help people maintain fitness and the ability to stay active well into later life. Co-founded by former Exeter City football manager Paul Tisdale and chartered physiotherapist Adey Saunderson, their careers in professional sport make them the perfect partnership to achieve their ambition –to help the people of Bath lead long and active lives.

It is widely known that physical exercise is important in maintaining positive mental health. At King Edward’s School, the wellbeing of students is of utmost importance and the Sports department aims to promote a positive mindset towards physical activity, laying the foundation for all pupils to be able to follow active and healthy lifestyles.

The partnership sees At The Core providing the following support to the school:

•Safe play at key school derby matches by provision of a pitch-side physiotherapist

•Performance coaching and careers advice to pupils

•Wellbeing talks to the school community

•Providing staff development with a bespoke programme of ‘coaches coaching’ sessions

•Preferential clinic rates for the staff, students and parents

David Chapman, Assistant Head and External Relations lead at King Edward’s School, Bath, says of the partnership: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with At The Core to support the wellbeing of our pupils, staff and parents. As well as offering physio and rehabilitation support, among other services, the team at ATC will also be providing pitch-side assistance at various fixtures, performance coaching and valuable careers advice to our pupils. We believe the partnership will prove hugely beneficial to the KES community and we are looking forward to working with ATC.”

Typically young, active sports enthusiasts benefit from bespoke nutrition programmes, physiotherapy and rehabilitation to manage and treat sport-related injuries and performance coaching for injury prevention.

With a range of services to help patients overcome pain, recover quickly from injury or surgery and keep the body in good condition to support an active lifestyle, At The Core supports movement through physiotherapy, nutrition therapy, soft tissue therapy and MBST® therapy. And it is this innovative treatment modality that makes At The Core unique.

As a physiotherapy adjunct, MBST® therapy enables At The Core to support tissue healing and speed recovery. In addition to the traditional services patients would expect of a physiotherapy practice, MBST® is being increasingly used by professional sports clubs to help speed player recovery. n At the Core, Unit 3, The Foundry, Beehive Yard, Walcot Street, Bath; atthecore.health

The At the Core team: Paul and Julia Tisdale with business partner and physiotherapist Adey Saunderson

Christmas is coming, and for many of us, it’s a time to celebrate. However, we’re often so preoccupied over the festive period that it’s easy to forget about our health and wellbeing. Here, the specialists at Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital offer advice on how to enjoy a healthy holiday season.

In the build up to Christmas, many people worry about the weight they imagine they will gain. Sometimes this makes them want to diet beforehand, and sometimes they will try to ignore it, deciding to refocus in the New Year. Either way, it can keep us on the treadmill of dieting, which we know doesn’t work in the long term.

So this year, how about trying a different approach? Clinical psychologist Dr Vanessa Snowdon-Carr explains: “Have you ever reached the end of a packet of something and not really remembered eating it? It’s usually when we’re watching TV or working at the same time. This can be a busy time of year so we might be more likely to eat mindlessly. Research has found that if we are distracted when eating, we feel less satisfied and are likely to eat more.

“Mindful eating, however, means paying attention to our food, like we would if we were eating a lovely meal out; slow down, savour the taste, chew more and notice how your body is feeling. By eating more mindfully around the Christmas period, we can reduce the extra bits of food that we don’t really want or need, and instead focus on enjoying our favourite food at this time of year.”

Even if weight isn’t a concern for you, the excesses of the festive season can still put a strain on our health, in particular our digestive system. Consultant gastroenterologist Dr Amanda Beale says: “A gut suddenly required to cope with large amounts of Christmas pudding, smothered in brandy cream, can sometimes show the strain. Most of these odd gut symptoms will resolve quickly but, if persistent, can suggest underlying bowel problems.”

Dr Beale continues: “Any variation in bowel habit, new pains, or bloating that is still present in the New Year could indicate an underlying bowel problem. This in turn can cause poor absorption of nutrients, leading to anaemia and significant fatigue. If you have any concerns, seek medical advice.”

Unfortunately, the festive season also falls during the winter flu season, and like flu, COVID-19 cases have also increased this autumn. Both flu and COVID-19 are serious illnesses which can cause death, not only in vulnerable groups, such as older people and those with an underlying medical condition, but also among people who are fit and healthy. Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital’s infection prevention co-ordinator, nurse Janice Bowler explains: “You can have either of these viruses and pass them on to others without displaying any symptoms yourself, so being immunised not only protects you, it protects those around you, including family, friends and work colleagues.”

Janice says: “If you are unfortunate enough to have flu or COVID in the run-up to Christmas, rest up and stay away from work until you’re better – even if that means missing the office party! Your colleagues won’t appreciate catching it from you, and then being struck down over Christmas itself. As well as getting the jab, you can help to reduce the spread of germs by regularly washing your hands, and when coughing or sneezing, do it into a tissue or handkerchief, or if you don’t have one, do it into the crook of your elbow, rather than your hand.” There’s still time to get the flu jab before Christmas – and the COVID-19 booster, if you’re eligible – so speak to your GP or a local pharmacist if you would like more information.

Christmas is usually portrayed as a happy, social, family time, but for many it doesn’t live up to these expectations. Even for those people who enjoy it, Christmas can still be stressful and there’s a price to be paid afterwards for overindulgence. Bristol GP Dr Gill Jenkins tells us: “The main problems GPs see before Christmas revolve around the stress of trying to provide the ‘perfect’ Christmas, or conversely being aware that you will be alone. Fear of getting into debt, not meeting loved ones’ expectations, and feeling lonely all lead to increased self-harming, sleep difficulties and panic attacks. A heightened feeling of loss, anxiety and depression occur and the social media phenomena of competitiveness, oneupmanship and ‘fear of missing out’ add to the stress. After the event we see more problems related to overindulgence of food and drink, including indigestion and a realisation that alcohol use may be a problem, and weight gain that needs addressing. It almost makes you wonder why we do it!”

Dr Jenkins suggests: “Planning is key, with a realisation that Christmas is about sharing time and simple pleasures with the ones you care about. Remember to refresh stocks of simple ‘over the counter’ medicine, such as paracetamol, ibuprofen, indigestion or diarrhoea medicines, and ensure you have enough of your regular medicine to last until after New Year. Doctors surgeries and chemists may be closed, but there is always a GP out-of-hours (OOH) service in case anyone does fall ill, or alternatively, call 111 for advice and a GP appointment. Try to avoid A&E, as hospital emergency departments are always overrun at this time of year.”

Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital offers weight loss treatment, gastroenterology clinics, and a private GP service. If you would like to book an appointment with any of our consultants, call 0117 911 5339, or visit our website for more information.

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Launching in Summer 2023, in the historic heritage city of Bath is Pegasus Bath Leat, a stylish collection of contemporary apartments created by later living specialist Pegasus. Comprising 68 one and two bedroom homes, Bath Leat sets a new standard for independent living for those enjoying life over sixty, where comfort and wellbeing are at the heart of the community.

Perfectly placed for Bath city centre and beautifully situated on the River Avon, Bath Leat lets you enjoy the peace of a riverside community with all the perks of the city’s unique heritage on your doorstep. Homeowners will be within 10 minutes walking distance of the city centre where you will find a variety of independent restaurants, bars and cafes including The Pump Room, once frequented by Jane Austen and Charles Dickens. From boutique shops to iconic local landmarks; The Circus and The Royal Crescent, it is easy to spend hours exploring the city. Bath Leat’s prime location is also within easy reach of the picturesque Royal Victoria Park; a beautiful expanse of green parkland spanning 57 acres where there is walking and wildlife watching opportunities aplenty.

Beautiful inside and out, every aspect of the homes at Bath Leat has been thoughtfully considered - from flowing layouts to stylish fixtures and fittings. High ceilings and large windows flood rooms with natural light, whilst contemporary Computer generated image yet cosy interiors create a sense of warmth and comfort. Almost every one of the 68 luxurious apartments features a spacious patio, one or two balconies or a roof terrace, helping bring light, nature and a sense of calm into the homes. Food preparation becomes a pleasure in the kitchen, featuring flawless materials like a Silestone quartz worktop and top quality Neff appliances, whilst shower rooms and en-suites include luxury walk-in showers.

Wellbeing is a core part of life at Bath Leat and this shines through every aspect of the design. This opulent development boasts outstanding communal spaces, built to nurture your health and happiness. The communal lounge provides a great space to relax with a good book or catch up with neighbours, whilst the shared terrace is the perfect spot to toast a glass of wine in the evening. Explore the beautifully landscaped gardens or for special occasions, book the club room and guest suite so family and friends can stay and celebrate with you in style. The shared facilities also include a sauna, stretch studio, hobby room and treatment room, helping you stay fit and well. Whether it's a snug spot for a moment to yourself or a great conversation with friendly neighbours, it’s all here, waiting for you.

Because peace of mind is key to wellbeing, Bath Leat will be staffed by a General Manager and two dedicated Lifehosts, helping you feel safe and secure. Lifehost’s are on hand to ensure life at Bath Leat is as enjoyable and carefree as possible. Whether you have a question about the local area, need help with a delivery or would like to make a restaurant reservation, the Lifehost is available to help no matter how big or small the query.

With great transport links to Bristol, London and beyond, life can be whatever you want it to be at Bath Leat. If you’re looking for a safe and sociable community to enjoy your best years, or a base in which to explore all that the culturally vibrant city of Bath has to offer, Bath Leat is flexible, friendly and above all an exceptional place to call home.

The Bath Leat sales office is now open at House of St John’s, 1 Queen Square, Bath, BA1 2HA. Book an appointment with our knowledgeable sales team to discover more of the fulfilling lifestyle on offer at Pegasus Bath Leat. Call 01225 600 462 or email us at