Outside of Redditch United I have interviewed Notts County Women’s captain Holly Fowler which can be viewed below:

In September 2024 I shadowed Manchester City Women’s Media Team for their 1-0 WSL victory against Brighton & Hove Albion Women.

I wrote a match preview prior to my arrival to the City Football Academy which can be viewed below:

Match Preview | Manchester City Women Vs Brighton & Hove Albion Women

On Sunday sees WSL action return to The Joie Stadium as City Women begin their home league campaign as Brighton & Hove Albion Women are the visitors with kick off scheduled for 12:30pm.

Last Time Out

Last time out following City’s 2-2 against Arsenal at The Emirates on the opening day of The WSL season last weekend City were in Champions League qualifier action as they welcomed Paris FC to The Joie Stadium.

The Blues went into the match with a 5-0 aggregate lead after goals from Vivianne Miedema, Mary Fowler, Chloe Kelly and a brace from Jess Park in Paris left City in complete control of the tie ahead of the second leg back in Manchester.

City came away 3-0 winners on the night and an aggregate score of 8-0 thanks to a brace from Bunny Shaw following Chloe Kelly’s second minute strike.

City learnt their UEFA Women’s Champions League group stage opponents on Friday afternoon. They were placed in group D alongside ST Polten, Hammarby and the last two winners of the competition Barcelona.

Brighton meanwhile put in a very impressive display after they beat Everton 4-0 on the opening day of The WSL season thanks to a hat-trick from Kiki Seike on her WSL debut and Fran Kirby who scored on her Brighton debut after her free transfer move from Chelsea. 

Injury News

Gareth Taylor has confirmed that midfielder Jill Roord will return to the squad after eight months out with an ACL injury that she suffered against Manchester United in the Continental Cup in January.

The City boss also stated that captain Alex Greenwood should be okay for the visit of Brighton after coming off early with an injury scare in Wednesday’s Champions League game against Paris FC. Leila Ouahabi is a doubt for this weekends fixture after suffering a groin injury in City’s draw at Arsenal.

Brighton manager Dario Vidosic said he had no new injury concerns ahead of the game, but there has been sickness going around the camp.

Previous Meetings

Last time the two sides met City came away 4-1 winners at The Broadfield Stadium thanks to goals from Lauren Hemp, Mary Fowler, Bunny Shaw and Laura Coombs. Brighton’s Lee Geum-Min got a consolation goal in added time.

In the reverse fixture last season at The Joie Stadium Brighton ended City’s twenty seven game unbeaten streak across all competitions as Lee Geum-Min’s eighty first minute strike sunk The Blues.

I also whilst shadowing City Women’s Media Team wrote a piece that was published on City’s website regarding City Women’s captain Alex Greenwood’s thoughts on the game. (to view the article please click on link below)

https://www.mancity.com/news/womens/alex-greenwood-man-city-brighton-wsl-reaction-63863222

Inside Reds

Interviews

WSL Announces Restructure From The 2026/2027 Season

On Monday, the Barclays Women’s Super League announced that from the 2026/2027 season that the league will be restructured, subject to FA board approval.

The clubs voted to expand the WSL to 14 teams from the start of the 2026/2027 season.

The new format would see three teams would be promoted from the Barclays Women’s Super League 2 at the end of the 2025/2026 season. The top two teams in the WSL2 would be promoted automatically, and there would be a playoff between the 12th-placed WSL side and the 3rd-placed WSL2 side.

From the 2026/2027 season, the team that finishes 14^th in the WSL would automatically be relegated, and the team that finishes as champions would automatically be promoted to the WSL.

Furthermore, there would be a relegation/promotion play-off match between the team that finishes 13^th in the WSL and the side that finishes 2^nd in the WSL2 for the right to play in the WSL.

It has been confirmed that the WSL2 will remain a 12-team league and there’ll be further opportunities from the FA Women’s National League and Southern Premier Divisions, with the details on how this will happen to be released in due course by the FA.

It was also agreed that with the new format for the WSL that 14 teams would still compete in a round robin format, with the top three teams securing UEFA Women’s Champions League qualification.

The Women’s Super League CEO, Nikki Doucet, had this to say regarding the changes:

“Over the past few months, WSL Football has led a thorough and robust, consultative process backed by research and analysis, which

explored multiple options that could drive the game forward and help it reach its

potential.

Our priority was to find a route that would benefit the whole women’s game pyramid,

and we believe this next evolution of women’s professional football will raise minimum

standards, create distinction, and incentivise investment across the board.

Subject to the approval from the FA Board, expanding the BWSL to 14 teams will

stimulate movement between leagues and through the pyramid, which increases

opportunities. The introduction of a promotion/relegation playoff creates distinction for

the women’s game and introduces a high-profile, high-stakes match.”