Bristol Academy Women’s Football Club (BAWFC)
Filton College Female Football Development Centre Trials
Date announced!
We will be holding trials for our 16-19 Football Development Centre on Tuesday 17th February 2009 at Filton College, WISE Campus, Bristol, BS34 7AT commencing at 11am. The trials are for any player interested in attending the Colleges Football Development Centre programme next season.
The trial will take place on either grass or astro so players should bring kit and equipment suitable for both, including warm waterproof kit, and plenty of fluids. All players on the College Development Centre must enrol and complete a full time course at the college during their time at the Centre; information on college courses is on our website: www.filton.ac.uk
Please complete the application form here and return to mark.sampson@filton.ac.uk ASAP (applications received after January 30th will not be accepted)
Please contact Mark Sampson-Head Coach on 07707 720222 or mark.sampson@filton.ac.uk for more details
Download the application form here:
http://www.bristolacademywfc.co.uk/pdfs/TRIAL_APP_FORM.pdf
Bristol Rovers Women’s FC became known as Bristol Academy Women’s FC during the summer of 2005 under a
new partnership agreement with Filton College. The Team are still known as the ‘Gas Girls’ and they
continue to perform in traditional Blue and White Quarters.
The change in title came after the College made a substantial commitment to the Gas Girls for the years ahead, allowing Bristol’s only top-flight women’s football club to continue with the same level of funding and facilities for the future.
Filton College has been Rovers Women’s most influential partner in the last three seasons, and the change in title to Bristol Academy reflects the continued successful affiliation between the College and the football club.
The Roots
Bristol Rovers Women’s Football Club was formed as a senior club in 1998 after girls, successively playing up to U16 level, became too old for these age groups.
A merger with Cable-Tel LFC, in Wales, enabled the Club to enter the South West Women’s Combination. Each season thereafter has brought its successes both in the league and the Women’s FA Cup.
From winning the SW Combination in season 2000/01, with Dave Bell as Manager, the Club was promoted to the Southern Section of the FA Women’s Premier League. At that time it was only champions of the league that were being promoted to the National Division and the Gas Girls had to wait until summer 2003, with Tony Ricketts at the helm, before successfully gaining a foothold with the elite. The first year within the National Division was difficult but season 2004/05, under the guidance of Gary Green, ended with the Gas girls finishing in their highest ever position, with only Arsenal, Charlton, Everton and Birmingham City being above them.
Cup Battlers
The Gas Girls have faired well in the Women’s FA Cup and have proved to be cup battlers. In 2000/01, whilst still only a South West Combination side, they reached the semi-final stage losing 3-0 to Arsenal Ladies in front of over 3,000 spectators at The Memorial Stadium. Having whetted the Club’s appetite, in two of the three following seasons Bristol Academy again reached the semi-finals only to find Arsenal outperforming them on each occasion.
The Gas Girls thought their time had eventually arrived in March 2005 when, with a strong side, they again they reached the semi final stage. With Arsenal being occupied in the other semi final tie, it was hoped that the Gas Girls would inflict a first ever defeat on Charlton Athletic. Unfortunately, in a disappointing game for the Gas Girls, they did not reproduce their excellent league form and a Cup Final appearance was again put on hold for a future season.
Despite not having appeared in the Women’s FA Cup Final yet, the Gas Girls have had phenomenal success in the Gloucestershire FA Women’s Challenge Cup. Since first entering the competition, back in 1998, the Club have lifted the trophy in no fewer than eight of the nine consecutive seasons, their near neighbours from the crimson part of the City of Bristol providing the only meaningful opposition.
Bristol Academy in 2007/2008 is building on the foundations set over the past couple of years and is a strong contender for end of season silverware. With International representing England, Wales and Ireland, this year’s squad is the strongest yet. With up to 10 players from Filton College’s Female Football Academy training with the senior team, Bristol Academy proves to have the ideal structure in place for developing young players and helping them achieve their goal of premiership football.