Bristol City goalkeeper Fran Bentley says the Robins have ‘big ambitions’ heading into the 2025/26 WSL2 season.
The Women’s Super League 2 (formerly Championship) heads underway this Sunday September 7, and Bristol City are hungry to return to the top-flight. Following a disappointing sixth-place finish in their return to the second tier, the Robins are ready for a ‘fresh start’ says goalkeeper Fran Bentley.
The 24-year-old spoke to The Halfway Line about all things Bristol City, the club’s goalkeeper union and the strong ambitions of the side ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
Bristol City want to be ‘pushing for promotion’ says Bentley
Following a swift relegation from the Women’s Super League in 2023/24 season, Bristol City’s return to the WSL2 was a far cry from what they may have hoped.
“It was a disappointing season personally and as a team,” Bentley reflected. “I think sometimes things just don’t click and I think we’re now just looking on for a bit of a fresh start.
“I’m really excited to see how things go this season. We’ve got lots of new exciting things going on and big ambitions for this season hopefully pushing for promotion.”
The side will be thrown in the deep end on the opening day as they prepare to travel to St. Andrews to face runners up Birmingham City on Sunday. Despite a strong finish from the Blues, the Robins will be boosted by their strong away record in Birmingham – the side flattening their opponents 3-1 in their most recent trip to the Midlands.
“Birmingham away is a massive first game and we always love going there,” Bentley said. “We’ve already been talking about it, preparing for it and our pre-season games are for that game and we’re getting ready.
“Knowing that three teams can get promoted is just a push for us to really compete and work hard every day, as we know that all the teams in the league will be going for that. So, it’s definitely more competitive.”
‘I would love to win the golden glove again’ says Bentley
Goalkeeping in the second tier has faced an exponential increase over recent seasons, something Bentley said reflects “a whole different game”.
“I think goalkeeping scene in the Championship has progressed massively and so rapidly,” Bentley said. “Thinking back to when I went on loan to Sheffield maybe six or seven years ago now, I think it’s just a whole different game.
“There’s so many goalkeepers competing for the top spot in their team, and I think there’s pressure now to really perform because every team has two, three great goalkeepers there. I’d love to win the Golden Glove again but I think just performing week in, week out is my first challenge and I’m really excited.”
The Robins have recently signed Scottish goalkeeper Emily Mutch on a two-year deal from Motherwell, something Bentley is excited by.
“Emily’s great,” Bentley praised. “She’s a lovely person and she’s really impressed so far. I think the more healthy competition I can get is for the best, and she’s pushing me every day.
“We’ve got a great environment there as well with Ella Stowell, so it’s really exciting.”
In terms of setting personal goals for the campaign ahead, Bentley is focussed on ensuring that she is at her very best for Bristol City.
“Setting goals is hard because the strikers can just go for the goals, but with the clean sheets it’s down to lots of factors and my defence in front of me as well. Hopefully facing no shots in a game is the best outcome really, but I think personally my first goal is always to enjoy the football that I’m playing.
“That’s a massive goal for me this season, and just feeling confident and hoping to enjoy the football and then clean sheets should come with that. So I’m hoping to concede as little goals as I can with the help from my defenders.”
