Bristol Academy Women look ahead to the FA Cup Final
Posted by Sport.co.uk on: 16 May 2011 - 11:23
Author: Carly Baldwin
In 1909, Bristol City stepped out at Crystal Palace to contest the first FA Cup final in their history, going on to lose narrowly to Manchester United.
Over a century later, that remains the Robins' only appearance in English football's showpiece final, and coupled with neighbours Rovers' modest FA Cup record, that solitary final is just about the extent of the city's success in the competition - until this year.
The setting may not be Wembley Stadium and the worldwide audience will be considerably less than the estimated 500 million that will watch the men's final, but this weekend Bristol Academy Women take on Arsenal at Coventry's Ricoh Arena in the women's final.
The club - unlike any other in the Women's Super League - is separate from any male club, and is instead affiliated with the Bristol Academy of Sport, where they play their home games in a new, purpose-built stadium.
Since their formation in 1998, the club had endured four FA Cup semi-final defeats before they finally won through to the final itself, thanks to a 3-0 victory over Liverpool in April.
Left-back Alex Culvin is one of the few Academy players to have cup final experience, having twice been on the losing side for Leeds, and she says that cup fever has spread throughout the club.
"Since we reached the final of the FA Cup there has been so much excitement around the club starting from the chairman right through to the fans," she admits."It's been great for the girls and the staff because everyone has been so positive towards us."
That positivity was in evidence last week, when a bumper attendance of over 1,100 turned up to watch the second league meeting between the clubs. A late Corinne Yorston goal earned Bristol a 2-2 draw, and with the reverse fixture ending 1-0 to Arsenal, all signs point towards a closely contested final.
However, given Arsenal's recent dominance of the women's game, Culvin concedes that they will start as favourites: "Obviously people will see Arsenal as favourites as their record in the competition goes before them."
She continues: "We have now played them twice in the league though, so we will know a lot about how we believe we can beat them and vice versa."
21 year-old centre-half Grace McCatty was on the scoresheet in last week's league fixture, and she believes that her side can take confidence from their exceptional semi-final performance.
"We definately relished the occasion," she explains. "We were 3-0 up by half-time and it could have been more. Nerves didn't really show, and if anyone was nervous, they proved that they can use that in a positive way."
McCatty is among the club's longest serving players, having joined the club as a 16 year-old, and she is under no illusions as to just how big Saturdays game is for the Bristolians.
"This is the first time we have reached the final in my time at the club, and it will definately be the biggest day in the club's history," she enthuses.
"The reaction has been massive and we will go to the final as one club rather than a team." She continues: "We are hoping, seeing as we are the only high profile women's team in Bristol, to get the support of the whole city, from both City and Rovers fans."
McCatty explains her belief that this support can spur Mark Sampson's side on to upset the odds. "We believe we can win it, so why not?", she asks.
"No-one expected us to get to the final but we believed in ourselves and we have gone out there and done it. As players we all want to win the FA Cup and we see this as potentially a perfect end to the first half of the WSL season."
Whatever happens in the second half of the season, or in fact the final itself, Academy are guaranteed to be playing Champions League football next season, as the irregular start time of the WSL means that both of England's qualification places went to the FA Cup finalists.
Culvin, along with team-mate Jess Fishlock, has Champions League experience from her time at Dutch side AZ Alkmaar, and she believes that European football will be an invaluable experience as the clubs continues to grow.
She explains: "European football for Bristol Academy is fantastic, it gives us something to look forward to and build towards once the WSL has finished."
"I have been lucky enough to play in the Champions League for the last few seasons and it's an amazing experience to play against the best players in Europe," she continues. "In terms of development, we have a great infrastructure at the club that allows players to develop, but obviously the Champions League will enhance that growth."
So when the Academy girls take to the field on Saturday, despite the fact that they will be ending a century-old Bristolian absence from FA Cup finals, it is just the beginning of what they plan to achieve.