Bristol Academy give their views on visiting Chelsea in the FA Cup, four days before hosting the same side in their WSL opener.
Bristol Academy face Chelsea away in the FA Cup 5th Round on April 13th, four days before they open their WSL campaign at The Stoke Gifford Stadium on Thursday 17th April.
The tough draw won’t affect how the team or the manager approaches the match; Bristol beat three WSL clubs to get to the final last year.
Bristol manager Dave Edmondson said, “It is slightly unfortunate that we have been drawn away in the only all FAWSL1 tie but to win the FA Cup which is obviously the aim of the club, you have to beat the likes of Chlesea, Arsenal, Liverpool etc, so 5th round or final, it doesn’t really matter.”
Edmondson says the Vixens will be well prepared for the FA Women’s Cup, “The FAWSL season starts just 4 days after the 5th round of the FA Cup so we were always going to have to be ready for that challenge so drawing Chelsea in the Cup doesn’t change our pre-season plans at all. We have always aimed at being ready to play anybody from the start of April.”
Bristol Academy have had a successful cup run in previous years, having reached the final in 2011 and 2013.
Vixens captain Corinne Yorston is excited for the 5th round; “The FA Cup was a good competition for us last season reaching the final, so I’m really looking forward to starting this year’s campaign against Chelsea. It’s always a good game when we play them, and with it being the cup there’s always extra excitement.”
Chelsea Ladies have been busy in the off season signing new players, and Bristol are aware that they face a very different outfit compared to the team they beat comfortably last season in the FAWSL both home and away.
Edmondson is relishing the challenge of facing Chelsea back to back, “The fact we play Chelsea in our two opening games will make for an interesting tactical battle. With both teams being able to adapt and learn from the experience of the first game, it will be a good test of coaches and players.”
New signing Sophie Ingle, who has joined the Vixens from Chelsea this season, said jokingly when asked about the draw: “We’ve been drawn against Chelsea the first game of the season and now drawn against them in the FA Cup a few days prior…there’s just no getting away from them.”
The Welsh international is looking forward to the 2014 campaign with the Vixens, “It’ll be an interesting game and a good battle between us, and of course everyone loves a cup game,” and no one loves the FA Women’s Cup more than Bristol Academy’ supporters.
The Vixens’ fans have been recognised as the best supporters in the WSL, and female football fans will remember the Smurf Army of the 2011 Cup Final at the Ricoh Arena, and more recently the ‘Shoes off for Bristol’ campaign which saw 5 coaches of supporters making the trip up north to the Keepmoat Stadium, along with the FA Cup song which received 5,000 hits on YouTube.
Pictured – Manager Dave Edmondson with Sophie Ingle.
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