Bradford City Women’s Football Club
vs Stoke City LFC FA Women’s National League, Sunday 27th January 2019, Kick-off 2PM
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THECLUB
THEPROGRAMME 5
Chair Chatter: Chairwoman Sally Thackray gives her thoughts ahead of this afternoon’s game
6
Match Preview: Everything you need to know about today’s fixture
7
View From The Dugout: With manager Steve Winterburn
8
Bradford City DFC: Welcome to our guests today, Bradford City DFC
THE DETAILS
10
Juniors: Update from Luke Norris
First Team Home Venue: Eccleshill United, Kingsway, Bradford. BD2 1PN
12
Today’s Opposition: Looking at today’s opponents, Stoke City
Training Venue/Reserves Home Venue: Rawdon Meadows, BD10 0NN
13-17The Origins of Womens’ Football in Bradford: The first part of John Dewhirst’s serialised article
THE HONOURS Yorkshire and Humberside League Champions: 1988/89 1995/96 Yorkshire Plate Runners-up: 1989 Yorkshire Cup Winners: 1996 Northern Division Champions: 1996/97 FA Cup Quarter Finals: 1998 Premier League Cup Semi Finalists: 1998 North East Premier League Champions: 2006/07 County Cup Champions: 2006, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
THE PERSONNEL Treasurer: Allyson Matthews
18-19 FAWNL Preview: Looking ahead to this weekend’s league matches
Manager: Steve Winterburn
20
20ish Questions: We get to know goalkeeper Aimee Routledge
22
Last time out: Read up on the Bantams’ last outing as they played host to Derby County LFC
Chairperson: Sally Thackray
Coaches: Luke Norris, Dan Nicol
Physio: Riz Khanom Committee: Adam Lee, Andrew Fox, Matthew Kermode, Nick Hird, Paul Rogers
THE ISSUE Editor: Matthew Kermode Photos: Paul2Paul Photography
FAWNL | BRADFORD CITY VS STOKE CITY LFC | 3
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Chair Chatter: Sally Thackray ahead of today’s game Good afternoon to everyone for this afternoons FA Women's National League Premier North League fixture against Stoke City Ladies. A warm welcome to all players, club officials and spectators who have made the journey from the Potteries for todays match. We are again in League action today continuing the battle for our first league points of the season. Stoke have had an excellent first half of the season, currently in 4th spot in the League table. So it will definitely be a hard game for us today, but I know we will be working hard and making every effort to take be successful today.
I would like to take this opportunity to welcome Steve Winterburn back to the Club. He had a very successful 10 years here in the past, and we wish him all the best as he starts the long process of rebuilding the Club back up again. Jamie Grand, Meg Lawson and Toni Butcher have decided to take a break from the Club, and I want to thank all of them for their help in progressing things at a very difficult time, and wish them all the best for the future. We welcome some guests today from Bradford City Disability Football club. The Club has gone from strength to strength over the years and they have now started women's and girls teams. We welcome them to join us today and hope they enjoy their afternoon. More details about the Club will be found elsewhere in the programme. I also want to use this column to remind all spectators about the standards of behaviour that the football community expects from all their fans. Like all football clubs Bradford City Women's FC are committed to a policy of equal treatment for all on the grounds of gender, race, nationality or ethnic or national origin, religion, sexual orientation or disability. It is important that all our supporters have this in mind when attending matches and that any comments passed do not cause offence or contravene the strict standards that we must all adhere to. As a Club we have a zero tolerance policy on any comments or actions that do not comply with these requirements. Your help in making sure we keep our training and matches a safe and encouraging environment for all our players is much appreciated. Get behind the girls today, they need your support
Sally FAWNL | BRADFORD CITY VS STOKE CITY LFC | 5
Match Preview: Bradford City WFC vs Stoke City LFC Bradford City and Stoke City have already faced each other this season in a high-scoring game which saw Stoke run out 7-3 winners. Stoke opened the scoring on 12 minutes through Nicola Hudson, then 10 minutes later Shirley Murphy equalised for Bradford. The visitors then took the lead through Demi Wisher, before Fay McCoy took over for Stoke and scored two in three minutes to give Stoke a 3-2 lead at half time. Ashleigh Haynes grabbed a fourth for Stoke, and Emily Owen put the home side 5-2 up with 15 minutes left on the clock. Rosie Gill looks to attack as Hannah Shuttleworth looks on
6 | FAWNL | BRADFORD CITY VS STOKE CITY LFC
Then in the last five minutes there was another flurry of goals, first substitute Hannah Keryakoplis scored for Stoke, followed by McCoy who completed her hat-trick with two minutes remaining. Bradford grabbed a third through Zoe Roberts in the final seconds of the game.
View From The Dugout: With Steve Winterburn 10 long hard years I spent at City and I can remember my first training session as if it was yesterday. I was appointed the reserve manager back in the 2005/06 season and the training was held at the Thornton Recreation Centre, up Thornton Road in Bradford. Nervous? Not really, just hadn’t met any of the players and wanted to get started. I walked onto the rock hard outdoor hockey pitch and waited. The first team manager was there and soon to follow was the high flying first team squad. My job was to train the reserves, so I waited a bit longer, and a bit longer and a bit longer. Just as the first team had finished their warm up, a lonely figure walked through the gates and introduced herself as Olivia. I asked her where the others were and she replied, “we don’t get many at training in the reserves.” Wow I said, that might have to change. I coached Olivia most of the night as a one to one session before the first team decided to finish off with a match which Olivia joined in. By the end of the night I had a decision to make… By the end of the 07/08 season We had won the WR Premier League and the WR Premier Cup and had an average of 18-20 strong reserve players training twice a week and enjoying every minute of it. But it took blood sweat and tears to reap the rewards and by god we knew it, but we did it. Soon after I became first team manager, eventually winning the county cup three times in row and gaining two promotions. Hard work? YES. Extremely hard but I wouldn’t change it for anything. Great memories, great squad, a great junior section together with great coaches and committee we had forged a unique Bradford City WFC. Towards the end of 2016 I knew it was time to leave. I couldn’t take this club or team any further with the resources that were available to me and my time had come to an end. An extremely sad part of my coaching experience but one I had to deal with. During my break I ventured over to Huddersfield Town LFC but in 2018 I became aware that the club I spent ten years at and loved was struggling. I heard many rumours and knew something wasn’t right. I had decided to leave Town for footballing reasons and a few weeks later I made contact with BCWFC and offered to help out if they wanted me. To start with I was informed they didn’t need me but then during the Christmas break I was asked if I could offer my services. Initially it was to help but sadly other coaches and many players walked away. Not Ideal as things were bad enough without losing them midway through a tough season. I’ve been back training at the club since the 3rd January now and I feel as though I’ve fallen down a pit shaft and I still haven’t reached the bottom. What I’ve learnt and witnessed so far has been hard to digest and saddens me. The senior players that have stayed on board have a fantastic attitude despite knowing things will get worse before they get better. They are a hardworking bunch and a pleasure to coach and know it’s going to be a very difficult and uncomfortable second half to the season. We have had many conversations about the situation we find ourselves in, but what I do know now is that a new chapter is about to begin! Is it going to be hard? Of course it is. Watch this space! FAWNL | BRADFORD CITY VS STOKE CITY LFC | 7
Bradford City DFC: With Jaimie Dorwood Bradford City Disability FC are the first female disability team in Bradford, they formed from turn up and play sessions in January 2018. The ladies were encouraged to come along to a 1 hour female only session with a female coach and one of the goal for the new team was to enter the FA Peoples Cup! At the end of February they entered the regional competition and were the only ladies team in the county to compete and were over the moon to reach the finals day, in April they headed to St, Georges Park where they went from being a start up to the Runners Up!!
streamed on twitter with 85,000 people watching.
Many firsts for the city were achieved in their success. As a significant achievement in the only female disability national tournament that is held, the runners up medal and first round cup is now on display in the National Football museum as a part of their new exhibition launched at the The ladies some of whom had never played beginning of January called 'The Game of before overcame many barriers to come our Lives' . together in the most amazing way, their ages range from 17 to 38 and they came Today we are visiting with Lincolnshire FA together to produce some of the most female disability team who have joined us amazing memories and a fantastic national for a friendly in advance of the 2019 FA achievement! the video of their story was Peoples Cup!
Anyone interested in playing Jaimie 07818 515639 www.bradfordcitydfc.co.uk Twitter: @bcafcdisability / Facebook: Bradford City Disability FC 8 | FAWNL | BRADFORD CITY VS STOKE CITY LFC
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One Club, One Bradford: Luke Norris on the Under 18s The 18s season is now in full flow with a third round of fixtures being added by the league. The new year started with a tough match away to a Scarborough side that were unbeaten at the top of the table having only dropped points to Bradford in the reverse fixture. The game did not start well as the home side scored an early scrappy goal due to miscommunication between the keeper and a defender. However, the team displayed great character and as the game went on, Bradford grew into the match and started to dominate. Just before half time, their control was rewarded as Ellen Kennedy went on a run down the left before taking a shot, the keeper produced a good save but the rebound fell to Paris Durrant at the edge of the box who lobbed the keeper to score. Second half continued in the same vein and Paris scored again from the edge of the box, hitting the bar before it bouncing over the line. Bradford then defended resolutely to hold on for the 1-2 win, particularly from goalkeeper Phoebe Tomlin and captain Lydia Bennett. Head coach Luke Norris emphasised how the hard work and attitude of the players is paying off: ‘It was a fantastic performance to start 2019 and shows what this team are capable of. The hard work the girls have been putting into training and the positive environment they have created is now coming to the fore.’
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The connectedness of the club is demonstrated by the movement of players through teams. Luke highlighted how recently, some of the U16s players have been stepping up and playing with the 18s: ‘A number U18s Captain Lydia Bennett of the U16s players have been called upon to play for the 18s and I have been impressed with what I have seen. They have always performed well, sometimes under great pressure, showed great attitude, and seemed keen to challenge and improve themselves.’ This has been enhanced by the arrival of Steve as the first team coach who has included some of the 18s players in the first team. This demonstrates the one club mentality and that if players are ready and show the right attitude, that there is always opportunities for them to progress. Coming up for the U18s is a double header against Wigton Moor with the next home match scheduled for Saturday 9th February.
Today’s opposition: Stoke City LFC An early Stoke Ladies team was formed in 1921 by Len Bridgett, a director at Stoke. His side were generally referred as "Stoke United" and their games were mostly for charitable causes. They played against Dick, Kerr's Ladies from Preston twice in April 1921 in aid of the Royal Staffordshire Infirmary. However, in December 1921 the FA banned woman's football claiming it to be "unsuitable for females". Undeterred Bridgett arranged for his side to play in Barcelona against French side Les Sportives de Paris. They played two matches against Paris and won both. Their final match was against Dick Kerr's in Colne, on 22 September 1923. Modern history Stoke City Ladies were formed in 2001 and began playing in the West Midlands League Division One, the sixth tier of Woman's football in England. They finished in third position gaining promotion to the West Midlands League Premier Division. They spent the next seven season's in the fifth tier before winning the league title in 2008–09 after amassing 81 points scoring 95 goals and conceding only 14 in just 22 matches. 12 | FAWNL | BRADFORD CITY VS STOKE CITY LFC
They also won the Staffordshire County Cup four time in a row from 2009 to 2012. In March 2013 with the side well on top of the Midland Combination League the club decided to apply to join the expanding FA Woman's Super League, however their attempt was unsuccessful. They won their sixth County Cup by beating their reserve team 5–1 on 19 March 2013. They won the Midland Combination League title on 26 March 2013 beating Leafield Athletic 1–0. This season they sit fourth in the FAWNL and have won their last 10 games in a row in all competitions, their last league defeat coming in October at Blackburn Rovers. Next up for Stoke is an SSE Womens FA Cup fourth round tie at home to WSL 2 side Aston Villa.
Photo courtesy of Stoke City LFC
Feature: The Origins of Womens’ Football in Bradford John Dewhirst is the author of a number of books about Bradford City. In this recent piece he has kindly given us permission to reproduce, explores the history of womens’ football in Bradford. This is the third part of the full article. The shaping of prejudice towards women’s football A game at Windhill, Shipley in June, 1881 was possibly the first involving women to be played in Bradford. It was one of a series of exhibition games between teams of women purportedly representing England and Scotland, staged in Scotland the previous month and then across the north of England in Blackpool, Manchester and Blackburn. The fact that Bradford was chosen as part of the tour reflects the fact that it was recognised as a centre of enthusiasm for football. However, this was not an initiative to encourage female participation in football. It was literally a crude commercial entertainment venture to attract a male audience.
commented that ‘the unsuitability of the game to women in every way, for all reasons, is sufficiently obvious’. The Dublin Daily Express of 23 June, 1881 similarly reported on two of those games that had recently taken place in Manchester, equally dismissive of what had occurred. The reporter referred to the players having been ‘attired in a costume which is neither graceful nor very becoming’ and hinted at lewd display: ‘The score or so of young women who do not hesitate to gratify vulgar curiosity by taking part in what is termed a ladies’ football match.’ Impudent women in unwomanly garb
The account of the Windhill game that appeared in The Yorkshireman of 18 June, Of note, the games in Glasgow and 1881 was entirely consistent in expressing its Manchester had provoked crowd own disapproval. What is unambiguous is that disturbances. Newspaper reports are not clear the event was staged solely for the purpose of what should have been the cause but it is entertaining a male audience, capitalising on possible that the crowd had objected to the the growing enthusiasm for football. That the standard of the entertainment and/or that game was staged at Windhill as opposed to their expectations had not been met. A the district’s premier sporting enclosure at common cause of crowd disturbance in the Park Avenue is a demonstration that it was 1880s was to do with betting disputes, highly unlikely to have been deemed a invariably because scores were deemed respectable show. unfavourable or unjust and sometimes grievances that the outcome of the games had ‘There is no branch of human knowledge, industry, or advancement in which women been rigged. We can only speculate but for disturbances to have occurred twice inevitably have not – whilst actuated, no doubt, by that feeling of mental superiority which every one raises suspicions about gambling disputes. of them feels she possesses over those overBy the time the troupe (that appears to have rated and altogether despicable beings, the originated from Glasgow) had arrived in men – in recent times encroached upon the Shipley, provincial newspapers had already special privileges of the other sex. railed about the spectacle. The Dundee Courier of 20 May, 1881 for instance Cont’d over FAWNL | BRADFORD CITY VS STOKE CITY LFC | 13
Feature: The Origins of Womens’ Football in Bradford ‘I should, with the characteristic blindness and folly of my mindless sex, have imagined her disqualified (to play football). ‘I marvelled much when I heard that a comparatively obscure place like Windhill had been chosen as the scene of an exhibition of so advanced a kind as a female football contest.
‘Reader I know what you will at once ejaculate when you reach this point, ‘What were they like?’ Well, that’s just what I mean to tell you so far as I can. Imagine to yourself a mixture of disbanded ‘extra’ ballet girls, dissipated mill girls, and dubious maidens with light, metallic-looking, dyed, flaxen hair, and usually known as ‘canary birds,’ and let your imagination as much figure as possible – waist sashes, loose flannel breeches reaching to the knees, ordinary coarse striped stockings and unlimited impudence. It was not like football; although the players were evidently purporting to play an ‘Association’ game, it had none of the spirit of the game, for the players – with the exception of one dusky-looking female, with an evident dash of nigger blood in her, who was christened ‘the demon’ – struggled or lolled about in an enervated, half-hearted way. Bless your life, the spectators didn’t attend to see a game of football, they went to see a lot of impudent women in unwomanly garb, and engaged in a brutal occupation. ‘The contending parties professed to represent England and Scotland, but not a man I asked, and I asked many, could tell me which was which, and I doubt if the players themselves knew which side they belonged to. There was palpably no genuine rivalry between the sides except to command the admiration of the male spectators as much as 14 | FAWNL | BRADFORD CITY VS STOKE CITY LFC
possible. The whole of the players evidently had an impression the plain English of which was ‘We must do something as an excuse for having as little clothing on as possible and acting as little like women as we can.’ And they carried out the idea by listlessly struggling with a ball and, whenever it was at all feasible, getting near the spectators. As to those, they were mostly Bradfordians, fast merchants’ clerks, betting men, publicans, and men about town generally, with a sprinkling of other male individuals who attended out of ‘curiosity.’ I cannot say that all the spectators were youthful, for there were present many men well stricken in years whom no amount of curiosity should have induced to lend countenance to such a display. ‘The character of the show was indicated in the spectators themselves, for throughout the latter there was an all-pervading air of looseness, ‘There were plenty of Germans of course amongst the spectators in the field, and I heard one of them say, ‘All zese girls are in ze game vat you call ‘forwards’. I suppose.’ All
Feature: The Origins of Womens’ Football in Bradford around the field a running fire of coarse comments was kept up by the spectators.
fun. It was fun that was expected by the spectators, and fun was all that was forthcoming, the attempts at football being ‘It beats cock fighting into fits, enthusiastically feeble and farcical. claimed a dirty man, clothed in a seedy check suit. There was nothing in the costume of the lady footballers to shock the sensibilities of Mrs ‘At last the game was concluded and the Grundy, but all the same the attire is not likely players all made a rush for the gate. As they to become popular with the fair sex, for the ran so did the spectators and, incredible as it simple reason that it is not becoming. Had the may seem, many of the latter seized the lady footballers been less favoured by Nature former bodily and hugged them amorously. they would have presented a ‘dowdy’ ‘I turned towards Bradford, asking myself appearance, but the natural beauty and grace whether this show will not inaugurate a new of several saved the team from this. phase in the already pretty extensive list of To the regret of many Rugbyites the ladies degrading amusements, and whether we shall played yesterday evening under Association not ere long be subjected to female cricket rules, and owing to the half-hearted way in matches, and swimming contests, and athletic which most of the players entered into their sports and, well, I really dare not picture even work the exhibition at times fell woefully flat. to myself what besides.’ Several members of the team seemed, as the A further example is that of another exhibition crowd put it, afraid of hurting the ball, and game by the so-called ‘Lady Footballers’ at they persistently refused to ‘give it boot.’ Valley Parade in May, 1895. This was part of a The kicking of some was so gentle as to series of matches organised by a group of suggest parlour football, but there was one female footballers as a commercial venture exception. A young girl operating on the left and they toured the country to exploit the wing, who was styled ‘Tommy’ by the London curiosity of people in women’s football. It was spectators under the belief that she was a again another showground spectacle and it is boy, put in a lot of dashing play and fairly unambiguous that the crowd had not roused the crowd from its lethargy to assembled for the purpose of watching a cheering. She was certainly worth any three of competitive contest or to witness a game of the other players, but at the same time it soccer (at that time a code uncommon in should be said that one or two other players Bradford). did not ‘frame’ at all badly. A miserable travesty of a splendid game The great drawback to ladies’ football, The following is the report from the Bradford however, seems to lie in the fact that it seems Daily Telegraph on 8 May, 1895: a physical impossibility for ladies to run quickly and gracefully. As an exhibition of ‘Although the visit of the Lady Footballers to football the play was a miserable travesty of a Valley Parade last night had only been splendid game and as an entertainment it advertised for one day a crowd of between soon became tedious.’ 2,000 and 3,000 people turned up to see the Cont’d over
FAWNL | BRADFORD CITY VS STOKE CITY LFC| 15
Feature: The Origins of Womens’ Football in Bradford The game would have been the first soccer match to have been staged at Valley Parade although the historic significance was not recognised at the time (or subsequently). A further point to note is that for Manningham FC to have consented to host the event would imply that there were no misgivings about decency. (The organiser was the so-called British Ladies Football Club that had been formed in January, 1895 and which toured Great Britain during its brief existence until around September, 1896. Having been established by a woman with an upper class background, and with a genuine commitment to playing football, the project was afforded a degree of respectability despite being unashamedly commercial in nature.)
attitudes had changed and that it might now be considered harmless fun, justification for the activity was also derived from the fact that it was linked to the war effort. The report from 1917 was still dismissive about the merits of women’s football and it is therefore easy to see how prejudices would have been shaped about women’s football ahead of the Football Association ban in 1921. Indeed there is no reason to believe that attitudes in Bradford were any different to those elsewhere. Shows of pure burlesque?
A further dimension to the prejudice is illustrated by another example of what happened in Bradford, this time with regards to the Football Association’s response to the A weakness for gossiping staging of pantomime soccer games at Valley In common with other British towns, women’s Parade in 1907. Annual pantomime charity football became more common during World football matches had been held at the end of War One with games staged between factory the panto season in February between artistes teams, invariably to raise funds for war in costume from the rival Bradford shows. The charities. In August, 1917 a women’s game tradition had begun at Valley Parade in 1891 was staged at Park Avenue between two (presumably on account of proximity to works sides representing the Phoenix Dynamo theatres on Manningham Lane) but had then Company and Thwaites. Again, newspaper been staged at Park Avenue from 1893. The reports hint that the game was an fixture was revived at Valley Parade after the entertainment spectacle rather than a conversion of Manningham FC to soccer in competitive contest of skill. The Leeds 1903 but in February, 1907 the Football Mercury of 7 August, 1917 pointedly referred Association adopted a rather highbrow to the women footballers that ‘their methods attitude and was reported to have ‘intimated were not quite orthodox’ but was more that they did not wish the game to become charitable in acknowledging the pure burlesque.’ I should imagine that entertainment: ‘Apart from a weakness for women’s football was similarly dismissed as gossiping with the crowd when they ought to burlesque. have been getting on with the game, they did What might have happened? very well, and the fun never waned.’ How women’s football might have developed It will be noted that unlike in 1881, or even had there not been a Football Association ban 1895, in 1917 there was no suggestion of is a matter of conjecture but it is intriguing to social impropriety. Whilst this reflected that consider the local implications. There had 16 | FAWNL | BRADFORD CITY VS STOKE CITY LFC
Feature: The Origins of Womens’ Football in Bradford already been a fragmentation of sporting options in Bradford at the beginning of the 1920s with Bradford City and Bradford Park Avenue facing competition not just from Bradford Northern RFC, but also from a resurgent interest in rugby union and a revived Bradford rugby club at Lidget Green. Might attendances at Valley Parade or Park Avenue have been cannibalised by women’s football had the FA ban not been imposed or would the novelty of women’s football have simply worn off?
leadership and promote the sport. Much the same would have been necessary for women’s football to become established.
With regards local press coverage, it is notable that there was photographic coverage of women’s football in the Yorkshire Sports during spring 1921 (albeit limited) which happened to be when the paper was expanding photo content. However the coverage abruptly ceased at the end of the 1920/21 season although women’s hockey, tennis and cricket teams were subsequently There are parallels in West Yorkshire between featured. That there were no match reports or the Football Association’s attempt to mention about the subsequent ban on suffocate women’s football in 1921 and with women’s football in the same title confirms what had happened towards the end of the that it was not an activity taken seriously. nineteenth century when it was widely felt Undoubtedly the Football Association ban was that senior Northern Union (rugby) clubs had damaging by preventing prestige exhibition deliberately acted to discourage the take-up matches and the corresponding visibility and of association football through withdrawal of inspiration that they might provide. There was support to their own soccer sides. Yet while further harm arising from restrictions on women’s football was denied an umbilical junior soccer clubs sponsoring women’s cord in 1921, the history of Bradford soccer football through sharing facilities. suggests that more would have been Nevertheless there were other major necessary for women’s football to thrive and obstacles to the promotion of women’s participation to be encouraged at a grassfootball at a grass roots level. For instance, roots level. the B&D FA had attached considerable In Bradford at the beginning of the twentieth importance to the schoolboy game as a means century, leaders of the Bradford & District FA of propagating enthusiasm and new talent but – so-called associationists – recognised that schoolgirl sport would continue to be for soccer to take hold in a rugby stronghold undeveloped for a long time to come. (For would require deep foundations. Critical that matter there were insufficient playing success factors that they identified included fields in Bradford for existing school needs the supply of local players, a suitably with much reliance upon the city’s main parks. competitive league / cup infrastructure and a This was a factor that assisted the spread of network of evenly matched teams to raise women’s hockey given that it was played on standards, the oxygen of local press coverage cricket grounds.) as well as the inspiration of a local professional club. The association itself was equally important in order to provide effective FAWNL | BRADFORD CITY VS STOKE CITY LFC| 17
FAWNL Preview: Sunday 27 January
12 of the 13 FAWNL teams are in action this weekend after a mixture of league and cup competitions in recent weeks.
they face a tough game against fifth placed Middlesbrough.
The final game of the day is very much a High flying Blackburn Rovers will be mid-table clash, with eighth placed Hull confident of maintaining their dominance City making the long journey cross in the division with a home game against country to Fylde who are one spot but Sheffield FC, who sit third from bottom four points ahead of them in the division. after last weekend’s games. The weekend after will see three league Fourth placed Stoke City travel to bottom games, and three FA Cup games, where club Bradford City, with the Potters Huddersfield travel to Charlton, Stoke looking to put Sunderland and face an all-Midlands tie at home to Aston Huddersfield under pressure, while the Villa, and Blackburn make the trip south Bantams are still hunting for their first the face West Ham. points of a very difficult and turbulent Fixtures—Sunday 27th January: season for the club. Blackburn Rovers v Sheffield FC Sunderland travel to second-bottom Bradford City v Stoke City Doncaster Rovers Belles, and will be looking for win to help them keep in touch with Blackburn.
Doncaster Rovers Belles v Sunderland
Huddersfield sit third, only goal difference separates them from the Wearsiders, and
Huddersfield Town v Middlesbrough
Fylde v Hull City
Nottingham Forest v Guiseley Vixens 18 | FAWNL | BRADFORD CITY VS STOKE CITY LFC
2018-19 FAWNL Northern Division: The Standings
POS
P
W
D
L
GD PTS
1
Blackburn Rovers LFC
10 11
0
0
57
33
2
Sunderland AFC Ladies
12 9
0
3
30
27
3
Huddersfield Town LFC
13 9
0
4
19
27
4
Stoke City LFC
13 8
1
4
13
25
5
Middlesbrough WFC
13 7
2
4
10
23
6
Derby County LFC
13 7
2
4
6
23
7
Fylde LFC
11 6
2
3
15
20
8
Hull City LFC
13 5
1
7
-8
16
9
Guiseley Vixens WFC
10 4
2
4
4
14
10
Nottingham Forest LFC
12 4
1
7
-13 13
11
Sheffield FC Ladies
15 3
1
11 -21 10
12
Doncaster Rovers Belles LFC
15 3
0
12 -40 9
13
Bradford City WFC
13 0
0
13 -72 0
/FAWNLOfficial
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@FAWNL #WeAreNational FAWNL | BRADFORD CITY VS STOKE CITY LFC| 19
20ish Questions: With Aimee Routledge About you... Name: Aimee Routledge Age: 24 Position: Goalkeeper Team you support: Leeds Utd Favourite player growing up: David Beckham First ever match: Leeds Utd, but can't remember who against Your game... Shirt number: 1 Most anticipated game of the season: Doncaster Belles Pre-match routine: Chilled out routine Best goal: Not scored a goal but I have assisted one Favourite game played in: When playing Guiseley and beating them Most embarrassing football memory: When trying to be Ronaldo at the back and losing the ball. Didn't concede thankfully, phew! One rule you'd change: No penalties, being a keeper they're horrible
Your club... Best & worst trainers: Maisie's the best, Ella won't dive over the cones! Toughest player: Harry Most skillful: Hannah Biggest joker: Phoebe Player you'd least like to share a car with: Rosie Who's in charge of the playlist, and who shouldn't be? Jenny usually does the music, Hannah with her baseline! Questions from the fans... Do you have any pre-match superstitions? (From Bethany Kermode): I don’t really have any, whatever happens will happen! Who is the most famous person you’ve met? (From Paul Rogers): I’ve met a few - Rick from The Walking Dead, Star Trek cast and Ray Park who was darth maul in Star Wars! So im not sure who the most famous is.. Next up: Winger Rosie Gill tells us what her favourite game is!
FAWNL | BRADFORD CITY VS STOKE CITY LFC | 21
Last time out: BCWFC vs Derby County LFC Bradford City WFC fell to a second doubledigit defeat in a row against a clinical Derby County side. The Bantams started well, with manager Steve Winterburn’s influence clear in the way they lined up and pressed from the off. City enjoyed a lot of possession early on, but fell behind after 15 minutes when Nikki Ledge finished from close range. Three minutes later the Ewes doubled their lead as a massive deflection left keeper Aimee Routledge stranded. Then on 22 minutes Camilla Newton won and converted a penalty after an apparent trip by Rosie Gill in the box. Routledge got a firm hand to the ball but it wasn’t enough to stop it sneaking inside the post. City continued to press and held their shape well, their 17-year-old captain Maisie Norde leading by example with a solid display at the back, while Routledge defended her goal resolutely. Bradford came close to pulling a goal back as Falone Sumaili was clean through on goal, only to fall victim to a belated offside call.
Bradford started the second half strongly, and Sumaili was again caught beyond the last defender after a delightful through ball from Sophie Moulden put her one-on-one with the Derby keeper. After that City looked to tire on the heavy pitch, and Derby’s experienced players took advantage. First Moriah McIntosh fired past Routledge on 49 minutes, before Lauren Cresswell’s long range effort found the corner of the City net.
22 | FAWNL | BRADFORD CITY VS STOKE CITY LFC
Kate Donnan limped off after 54 minutes to be replaced by Paris Durrant, and on the hour Derby made it six when Emily Joyce fired in from the edge of the area. With 22 minutes left Jess Dunlop came on to replace winger Rosie Gill, and went straight into midfield but Derby continued to press, and after 74 minutes Cara Newton curled in another goal from distance. As the sun dropped Winterburn made his third change of the afternoon, bringing on under-18 graduate Ellie Edwards to replace Jen Clark, who had played most of the game with a torn muscle. The Bantams looked to tighten up, but with three minutes remaining Watson scored her second, before substitute Andi Bell scored the first of her late brace with what appeared to be a diving header, but had most of the Bradford players, coaches and supporters appealing for handball. On the stroke of full time Bell scored her second and Derby’s 10th with a tap-in after appearing to knock the ball out of Routledge’s hands leave herself with an open goal.
City manager Steve Winterburn was very honest in his assessment of the game. He said: “Despite another heavy defeat I can safely say the players gave their all and more. Without trying not to repeat myself every week about the situation we find ourselves in, we as one team and one club have accepted our position, our pride and the future is what we are playing for now and I am very proud of the players for their attitude before, during and at the final whistle today.
ABOUT US Passionate about children and young people One in a Million is a Bradford-based charity that helps children & young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, providing education through sports, the arts and enterprise. We have a passion for this great city.
ONE IN A MILLION The Bantams Business Centre, Bradford City AFC, Valley Parade, Bradford, BD8 7DY
NEXT FIXTURE FA Women’s National League Bradford City WFC vs Nottingham Forest LFC Sunday February 10th 2019 Eccleshill Utd FC, Kick-off 2pm FAWNL | BRADFORD CITY VS STOKE CITY LFC | 23
TODAY’S SQUADS Vs. Stoke City LFC, Sunday 27 January 2019, Kick-off 2pm Jenny Clark
Meg Bowyer
Mollie Cliffe
Molly Bruton
Jess Dunlop
Amy Burnside
Paris Durrant
Holly Chipman
Ellie Edwards
Ashleigh Hayes
Rosie Gill
Nicola Hudson
Ella Jacobs
Amy Hughes
Harriet Jakeman
Cassie Hyde
Keegan Lambert
Hannah Keryakoplis
Emily McNulty
Faye McCoy
Sophie Moulden
Emily Owen
Maisie Norde
Ella Pemberton
Cas Omboyi
Kelsey Richardson
Demi Pringle
Beth Roberts
Zoe Roberts
Leanne Robinson
Aimee Routledge
Natasha Tezgel
Charlotte Sales
Stacey Wright
Hannah Shuttleworth Falone Sumaili Phoebe Tomlin Rhianna Wright MANAGER
MANAGER
Steve Winterburn
Tim Dudding MATCH OFFICIALS Referee — Ashley Mallett
Assistant Referees —Peter Binks & Keir Wishart