Club history
Bristol Rovers Women 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 year ahead, allowing Bristol’s only top-flight women’s football club to continue with the same level of funding and facilities for at least another 12 months.
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 now at the helm, before successfully gaining a foothold with the elite. The first year within the National Division proved a struggle but season
Cup Battlers
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.
The Gas Girls have fared well in the Women’s FA Cup and have proved to be redoubtable battlers. In 2000/01, whilst still only a SW 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 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.
The girls reached their fourth FA Semi final last season, but again were beaten by Aresenal.
Despite not having appeared in the Women’s FA Cup Final, 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 six of the seven consecutive seasons, their near neighbours from the crimson part of the City of Bristol providing the only meaningful opposition.
Bristol Academy of Sport
Filton College has won the prestigious National FA Charter Standard Colleges 2006 Female Football Award as a natural consequence of using football to provide high quality Academic and Football programmes.
Claire Scanlan, Head Coach of Filton College’s Female Football Development Centre received the award from Sir Trevor Brooking at Old Trafford ‘Theatre of Dreams’ pitch during half-time of the men’s senior International match between England and Macedonia.
Filton College’s Female Football Development Centre (FDC) won this National title for its strong ethos that recognises and encourages the talents of players whilst not compromising their overall education and welfare.
The female football development centre currently has 30 student-athletes in two squads. The players benefit from the development centre’s unique set-up which allows students the opportunity to participate in football alongside a vast array of academic courses, such as GCSE’s, NVQ’s, A-Levels and also National Diplomas.
In 2005 Filton College celebrated receiving the award for its male development centre. The award for the female development centre strongly emphasises the college’s belief that it is the country’s leading football college. The 2006 accolade enhanced a benchmark of quality for setting standards and providing the best opportunities for young people to develop their soccer talent whilst balancing their education.
Filton College in their partnership with Bristol Academy Women’s Football Club, one of the top 5 senior sides in the country, offers Development Centre and also Centre of Excellence programmes. Programmes are offered at under 10’s up to senior, National Division level.
