Episode 1 The Women's Football Show

the latest news and views from the women's game, including a look ahead

to a rather important match coming your way on the BBC. We are counting

down to the FA Cup final, and we have reporters in both camps.

Arsenal are the favourites. We have a lot of experience, playing in that

kind of occasion. Hopefully we can use that to our advantage. Bristol

are hoping to rain on their parade. There is no fear for our players.

The only fear is we do not perform. We must give our best shot. We will

take a closer look at the Super League, now in its third season,

going from strength to strength. is more competitive, and it is a

better platform to develop our elite players. The quality has increased.

Steph Houghton and Siobhan Chamberlain tackle your messages.

will score with an overhead kick. I'm delighted to say we have a fair

bit of experience here. Faye White and Sue Smith, they have nine FA Cup

is between them. Sue Smith has 93 caps for England. Let's start with a

look at how Arsenal and Bristol Academy make it -- made it through

to the showpiece final at Doncaster. We begin with the semifinals and a

momentous occasion at Anfield. History was made by Liverpool when

this semi-final became the first to be played at Anfield. Was this to be

inspiration for victory over Arsenal? The crowd of 2000 hoped so.

But it was Arsenal who took the lead, with their first effort on

target after half an hour. Rachel Yankey supply Ellen White, who

hooked the ball past the goalkeeper. The gunners had chances to extend

their lead but did not put them away. They were made to pay for

those misses. Liverpool corner in front of the cop was only half

cleared, and across was sworn in which was bravely met by the

goalkeeper. -- by the striker. Liverpool continued to press but

were undone by a superb breakaway. The ball fell kindly to Gemma

The ball fell kindly to Gemma Davison, researched forward. Kim

Little produced a finish which was worthy of sending Arsenal into the

league ground for their tie. Ashton gate was the stage, with Bristol

looking to reach their second final in three years. Mark Sampson's side

had to wait until 60 minutes to open the scoring. Great work, doing just

enough to beat the goalkeeper. Bristol continued to control the

game, and grabbed the deserved second goal later on. Some static

defending allowed Nikki Watts space to find Laura del Rio. Her stunning

strike means they will have the chance to avenge their final

chance to avenge their final defeat. That match came a week after

they went out of the semifinals of the Champions League. It seemed they

were inspired by that and the fact they were playing at Anfield.

had a great run in the Champions League. Disappointing not to get to

the final because it is at Stamford Bridge, but to make up for it

playing a semi-final at Anfield, I know the girls were very up for it.

We did not win this trophy last year, Birmingham bid. They certainly

wanted to put themselves back into the final. It was their first time

against a Liverpool team who have changed since last season. There was

a lot of discussion about how much better they were. To win 2-1 was

really positive for the team. sure you said "our trophy" there!

feels like it is ours. 11 times. This is a repeat of the final from

two years ago. Both sides have changed. Yes, and Bristol have

improved. They had a fantastic start, and beating Lincoln 2-0, they

are very structured, Lincoln, the manager has set them up in a strict

formation, difficult to break down. It shows how good they are attacking

that they scored against them. presume they were good value for

their semi-final victory? The Lincoln manager admitted it.

Definitely. To scored two goals against his side, he will not be

happy with that. He likes to keep it tight and hit on the brakes so they

have done fantastically well. The Spanish strikers have done really

well. We saw them in the clips, gliding past players of

international standard. You can see that they are fantastic players.

will be talking plenty more about them and seeing more of their goals

throughout the show. We will be looking forward to the final.

Bristol face the sternest of tests. Arsenal Ladies have lifted five of

the last seven FA Cup is on offer. Now they hope to reclaim the

trophy. Player of the match that day was Kim Little. We sent a reporter

normally play at number ten, just behind the striker. I like to get

forward a lot, create goals, scored goals. Arsenal Ladies have been a

dominant force in the women's club game in this country, with Kim

Little's contribution instrumental. Kim Little work the angle

brilliantly. A goal worthy of winning any cup final. Her talent

and influence on the game has earned the 22-year-old Arsenal star another

accolade. The winner of the women's Player Of The Year award is Kim

Little. To even be nominated was great. To be nominated by fellow

players, that makes it even more special. It was a great achievement

for me to win it. Also the fact that you can reap the benefits and be

involved in such a big thing is great for women footballers.

receive it from Faye White as well. Definitely. You're only 22, you've

had such incredible success. Do you feel there is extra pressure on you?

I do not really feel pressure. I do not really get nervous about things,

because I just love playing football. I enjoy it so much.

touch that is by Kim Little. Another landmark was representing Team GB at

the Olympics. Will anything ever come close to playing in front of

70,000 people at Wembley? I'm pretty sure nothing will come close. It was

still so incredible, to win at Wembley, to play in front of 70,000

people. Just to be involved was so special. You were one of only two

non-English players to represent Team GB. You must have been a very

proud Scot. It was great to be one of the Scottish people involved in

Team GB. It was great to be representing Britain and Scotland.

Speaking of Scotland, you have had a change of manager. What ideas has

the new manager brought in? It's great to have a new person in. It is

different to what it was before, more specific. We work on different

things in each session. She has brought a lot of new things,

freshness to the club, which I think is going to be great. Is it more

difficult? You could say that. Some people say Scots are a bit tough. A

little bit. There are rules being put in place. It is definitely good

things. Not the best start to the season, losing 4-0. Your first loss

since July 2011. How difficult was that to take? It was disappointing.

I think you're always going to lose in football, you need to bounce

back. Next Sunday is the first chance to claim silverware. How are

you feeling about that? We are excited. The FA Cup final is always

one of the best games of the season. Hopefully it will be a great day and

a victory. You have scored in three finals now. You are counting.

What is it like to score in an FA Cup final? The first final we

played, when I was quite young, to play in front of 25,000 people, it

was incredible. We played Bristol two years ago in the final. We beat

them 2-0. Hopefully we can do that again next week. I'm sure it'll be

difficult game. Kim Little, the first-ever PFA Player Of The Year.

Just how good is she on a day in day out basis? She makes it look very

easy. You cannot get close to her. I used to hate marking her because she

is so quick over five yards. She has such good close control. She knows

what to do when she gets the ball. She can worm out of the tightest

spaces. You will see from some of the clips that she can score with

her right foot, left foot, a left foot is just as strong. You don't

knows which side to show her onto. She is so talented. She has really

come into the team, she is the creative player. She scores so many

goals from midfield. She has been our Player Of The Year and the

league Player Of The Year, and now the PFA. That shows you about the

players respect. She is not overawed by any occasion. How difficult do

you think it was for her to join up with the Olympic squad? I think the

type of player she is, she probably did not find it very difficult. She

is quite happy to take on board any sort of match she plays in. For me,

she settled in really well. She was doing what she usually does,

creating goals, finding pockets of space, it is difficult for defenders

and midfielders to pick her up. remember seeing her as a 16-year-old

playing for Scotland, big things were expected of her. She signed

from Hibernian as an 18-year-old. Was she quieter from the start?

but on the field she came good. She really came into the team at a time

when we lost Kelly Smith to America, she took over her mantle, which are

big boots to fill. For me, to see her in the Team GB team was massive,

because no disrespect to Scotland but they have not qualified in the

time she has burst into the scene to major tournament is. To see her

perform on that stage, the impact she made on the team, it was vital

for her to grow as a player. She has brought back into this season.

will no doubt be a really important player at the weekend. Sunday will

mark Bristol's second major final in three years. Established in 1998,

they are one of the game's recent success stories, and a team on the

up. Bristol Academy women's football club has come a long way since their

formation in 1998. Winners of the South West combination Trophy in

2001. Promotion to the National division in 2003. Founder members of

the league. That forward momentum is continuing. In that very same year,

they reached the FA Cup final. Arsenal were the victors, 2-0.

someone had told us three years ago that we would have reached two cup

finals, played in the Champions League and finished in the top four,

nobody would have believed them. There has been huge progress. When I

was here before we did not get very big crowds. The standard of football

was not very good. We constantly look to move forward, and as long as

that is the case, I think they will be pleased to work for the football

club. Foundations have been laid for the future. It is the only

purpose-built women's football stadium in the country. Attendances

are on the up. The club is on the move. Our Bristol better placed to

weren't ready to feel that moment and make the most of it. Now we know

we've experienced at we know this is what helps us and these are the

moments we fight for. Some people were in or of the occasion. Or we

will certainly do is make sure that we want to win. That is the first

thing if we want to win the cup. personnel has altered slightly since

2011. They have lost one of their stars but forward momentum has been

maintained. A formidable front structure at the players are given

freedom within that. They have the confidence on the pitch which can

only rub off good on the younger players. It is a massive thing to

lose a player like chess. It is a big loss. But they are both

experienced players and have played in different countries and are

It is meant to be our sunniest season! When the tally was here, I

don't think it got above zero Excellent! There has been a positive

start to the season, with goals aplenty. Just the small matter of

meeting the mighty Arsenal. Everyone was expects Arsenal to win, and

historically, yes, they do win, because they are very successful,

but if you want to play them you want to play them now because they

lost 4-1 at the Emirates, which is a big shock for anybody in the women's

league. We go into that game knowing we play at our best and we can beat

them. It is a final, it is 90 minutes and anything can happen.

only fear is that we don't perform. Have to make sure we are at our best

on that day. You going to win? course we're going to win! They may

be the underdogs, but believe me, another landmark in the Vixens story

could be just around the corner. So a couple of decent Spanish

players up front for Bristol to trouble the Arsenal defence at the

weekend. Hopefully from their point of view. Just how good is del Rio?

She is a key player for Bristol. Not only can she play on the left, on

the right, she plays down the middle. And she drives that

players. And you don't like players running at you. She is quite

comfortable to do that. She scores fantastic goals as well from outside

the area so she is key to Bristol's team. They have that structure and

solid defence but then you need that little bit of, I suppose,

expressiveness to go forward, and like Mark Sampson said, she is

confident and expresses herself and takes shots. She just rides

defenders with ease, as you can see there. And what a lovely, lovely

finish. And they will be really hoping she is at the weekend. That

she is playing. But you are not neutral? I think even last year she

came into Bristol's team and scored quite a few goals early on but was

then hampered by injury a couple of times in big games where they needed

her, and the FA Cup will be won, because if you look to last year,

they had 16 games and only seven goals. So they need to score more

goals. To be that threat and to pick the other team back rather than be

soaking up the pressure is important. So if you look at their

average age of the Bristol team, it is very young. They need that. And

then players that make things happen, they grab the game by the

scruff of the neck and make chances out of nothing, sometimes. That is

something, certainly, that Natalia Pablos can do. And she has a ready

shown what a great goalscorer she is. Another great goal in this one.

And she has been described as the female Michu by her manager. Yes!

And the question was, she can do that in Spain but she has come over

here and can she do it here? And she has. She has proven she can score

goals. And they seem to link up really well and have this connection

between the two. And, yes, they definitely cause other teams

problems. There will be plenty more from Sue and Faye later in the show

and we will also have... The best of the action from yesterday's dress

rehearsal, as the two teams met in the Continental cup. And Steph

Houghton and her team-mate face the public in our Twitter nightly day.

First, though, let's focus on the rapid rise of the Women's Super

League. Only in its third season, it has been making strides on and off

the pitch and it is already heading for an expansion.

Having played myself, you would kind of know what games you would win.

And probably that competitive edge was in there. The old Winter league

was full of postponements and poor facilities and they really didn't

have the facilities to kick the game forward. I just think we really

needed to look at something different to try to elevate the

sport. Today is the launch of our brand-new Women's Super League. Only

the top eight clubs in the country. It would be easy but hopefully that

will last for many, many more years. We've had two full seasons now. I

think if you speak to anybody in the game, the coaches, players, the

fans, it is more competitive and definitely a platform to develop our

league players in England. Certainly the games I have seen, the standard

of play definitely increased. think one of the unique selling

points is that closeness and the interaction between the fans and the

players, be it at the games when they are signing autographs or

through question and answer sessions on Twitter. It is really about

trying to engage the general public, trying to make them aware of women's

football. Making it a product to watch. It is affordable, it is

friendly, it is accessible. And also there are millions of girls who play

football across the country so it is great for them to come and see the

top stars in action. COMMENTATOR: Arsenal the women's

champions of England! Whilst Arsenal have won the last two seasons, the

league is competitive and the clubs are closing the gap, so there are

lots of clubs with tough fixtures out there. The clubs are working

hard to ensure they improve because they want to start winning things

and they want to go into the Champions League. Absolutely. So it

has made the competition really healthy. Where the main partner is

an education Partner, like Bristol, we have really strong partners

helping to build the club of the pitch as well as on the pitch. --

the main partners are education partners. It has given us a local

perspective as well as an international perspective. It is

important in gauge as many females in the game as possible. It is

important we sustain it and we grow it accordingly. We launched our new

five-year strategy game changer to make sure that over a period of

time, the league and the clubs can become sustainable. We have

brand-new commercial partners backing the league with coverage.

Clubs are developing their match revenues. We are building a fan

base. Those indicators are moving in the right direction to ultimately

allow the women's game to become sustainable. For the first time, it

will create that promotion and relegation between tiers one and

two. You have to perform to stay in WSL one otherwise you will be

negated. So that will help make sure we keep the strong clubs and address

clubs at the top. That level of competition is healthy and it helps

develop the players and the product. The Women's Super League, the second

division, need to be pushing those clubs and making that transition

from volunteer to semiprofessional, ultimately to professional

football. So we are into the third year and

orally looking ahead to next year. For the first time there will be

promotion and relegation? -- and hopefully. I think it shows the game

is continuing to grow and the first few years have gone ready well, but

to bring more teams into the summer league... Yeah, I think it's going

to help because it's more competitive anyway in the first few

years but with promotional relegation at the bottom, even the

teams taking points off each other more so, because it adds that bit

more urgency to the players, especially if they are at the bottom

of the league, and obviously more incentive for the teams coming up

from division two. So it shows the progression and that it is starting

to be sustainable. Let's have a look at the WSL divisions. This is as of

next season. In the top division there will still be a teams. You

will notice Lincoln becomes not Co. That has been a lot of controversial

but the fact is, the franchise has come to an end. -- becomes not --

Nottingham County. In division two, there will be ten teams and

Doncaster Rovers Belles is very upset about the fact... You are

effectively being ligated after the first game of the season, but just

ascribe what the feeling is in Doncaster about that? -- just

ascribe. Yeah, we are obviously all very disappointed. Everybody wants

to play with the history so it is Willie disappointing. The timing was

a factor. Like you say, after one game. -- really disappointing. We

can say is that the way Doncaster has supported us and the fans have

got kind us and sign petitions and been to the town centre and

protests. So they have been absolutely fantastic and the weather

has supported us and we just have to be professional the way we play on

the pitch and play well and get results for those fans who have

supported us. Because there were 33 teams who entered the bidding

process and only 18 can be successful, eight in the top part

and ten in the bottom. But they are playing with these criteria.

Facilities, availability, financial criteria, commercial and marketing

sustainability, performance, players, coaching and staff. So all

of those criteria have to be taken into account. Definitely, and as I

say, it is disappointing we are not in there and could not reach those

criteria. Obviously I don't know the ins and outs of the bid but it is

disappointing. So we just have to be as professional as we can and play

this season and hopefully, for the fans, show what we are about, and we

are about being professional and taking that on to the pitch.

Doncaster have made an appeal against that decision so we should

find out in June what the outcome is and the confirmation of those two

divisions. But looking at this season, Faye, it was a bit of a

shock for Arsenal on the opening day at the Emirates? It was all set up

for another Arsenal victory but then full-time Liverpool ladies had other

ideas. 4-0! Certainly. It was only a week after the FA Cup game which

Arsenal won, so Liverpool were very determined to come and change that

and make amends for that result, but if you look at the result, it says

4-0 and you don't expect to concede goals and win the game. But what

this doesn't show is the amount of chances Arsenal did have. A couple

of clearances on the line and hitting the post on two or three

occasions, but it just shows if you don't take your chances what can

happen. But Liverpool will be going forward and it is good because it

means the league is more competitive. At I tell you what -

this doesn't look very common, does that? But we did have a fabulous

goal from Steph how to. And Bristol Academy one all of their games so

far. So the only one with a 100% record. Yes, and all credit to them

because they are a young team. So for them to grow each year and start

like that, and have a great run in the cup, they will come into this

game on Sunday with all guns blazing. And they have that

experience now and that feeling that they can not -- that they can upset

other teams, which they have done. Ahead of the FA Cup final, Arsenal

and Bristol faced each other in a different competition, just seven

days before the big match in Doncaster. They met at the

Intercontinental cup group stage. Pre-match, both sides were keen to

play down the effect this would have on preparations for the cup final.

Both teams rested regulars. I draw was enough to see the holders of the

cup through to the semifinals. It was the team with something to play

for who went ahead. Ellen White finished clinically. Bristol then

levelled. Jennifer Beattie misjudged the ball. Seconds before the break,

The Vixens were in front. Bristol's persistence caused Arsenal's

consistency this season, Shelley Kerr needed to give a strong

half-time team talk. Whatever she said worked. Four minutes after the

restart, the Gunners were level. Good work from Gemma Davison caused

chaos in the Bristol box. Jordan Nobbs was on hand to apply a simple

finish. Arsenal regained the lead finish. Arsenal regained the lead

five minutes later. Superb vision from Kim Little to pick out Danielle

Carter. Despite the tight angle she produced a shot with too much pace

for Siobhan Chamberlain. The victory was sealed with a fourth goal later

on. Gemma Davison again was the creator. Kim Little was the

beneficiary. A timely upturn in fortunes for the Gunners. 4-2 was

the score. It remains to be seen whether the dress rehearsal will

have any effect on Sunday's showpiece. I don't think we can take

a great deal from today's game. It was the Continental cup. Next week

is the FA Cup. We will go about things differently. We have a week

to prepare. Come Sunday, we will definitely be looking for a result.

When you've lost that game before the cup final you will always say it

is completely different. But Bristol did have seven regular starters on

did have seven regular starters on the bench. Will it have any bearing

did have seven regular starters on the bench. Will it have any I don't

think so. Mark will have gone into that game with a different

mentality. It was a different competition and they had already

lost. He was obviously giving the younger girls an opportunity. Four

of them were under 18. You had many of the players up in the stand

watching the game. They will bring in those players. It will be a very

different team. Also for Arsenal there were a few changes, Jane

Bailey, a young player, not her first start in midfield. A few

changes at the back. Both managers do not want to show their hand. You

certainly don't want mind games and week before the final. You would be

happy to be rested before the cup final. The last thing you want is to

get injured. Without a doubt. They don't want to give anything away.

There are a few main game going on. You can just see Bristol, they have

got that development. Several of the players have come through. That is a

great example of how you can develop a club. For them to come and play

against Arsenal would be a great experience. Hopefully they will

stake a claim to play in the final the week after. They do have some

good players coming through, don't they? They really do. That shows how

much it has progressed and the game is getting better. WSDL are doing it

the right way. Some of those players who played well will ask for a shot

in the cup final. -- Bristol are playing well. They will fancy a run

out. It is important to have experience of coming off the bench.

Social media has become an integral part of the game. Many of the

players are very active on Twitter. Each team has a digital ambassador

acting as a link between the club and the fans. Steph Houghton and

Siobhan Chamberlain at the dash and third questions from the fans ahead

of the FA Cup final. Our cameras went along to find out how they

feared. We are here to do a live question-and-answer session. It is a

way of interacting with the fans. Because I am responsible for

promoting the club, I do this. sure lots of people have questions

for us. I had a look and there are some questions coming in that are

good. Do you have a favourite FA Cup final? Personal one was winning the

first one. 2-0. I don't want to speak about the match against

Liverpool. What are you most looking forward to about the FA Cup final?

Winning it. What music do you listen to in the changing room? I used to

do music, I think I am getting on a bit because I have moved on. Why?

Because you're nearly 30? Cut! That is outrageous. What is your

favourite memory of playing in the final? It would have to be the one

when we played you. The whole occasion was amazing. I was going to

say the same thing. When we came out, and this -- and the fans were

behind the goal. That is my favourite memory. Is this relevant?

Have you dreams of scoring the winner in the cup final? Yes!I have

dreamt about it. I'm not going to lie. Have you been practising

penalties? Would you fancy yourself to save or score it? Will you take

one? I would rather concentrate on saving them. Does the winner of the

cup gets bragging rights in the England camp? I'm on my own in the

England camp. I meant team-mates. I have got friends. Who is going to

win? I think it will be a high-scoring game. I do not want it

to be but you guys can score goals, we have been scoring goals. I will

see you in the final. Good luck. see you in the final. Good luck.

Good luck. Should you wish to get in Good luck. Should you wish to get

any of them, here are the contacts. There is somebody they are called

Sue Smith, supposedly writes about what her team are up to. You can go

what her team are up to. You can go and follow her and any of the other

what her team are up to. You can go and follow her and any of the In

terms of the final, what do you think? It's going to be a close

game. If there's a time to play it's probably no. They are inconsistent.

They are normally so consistent. They have won every game, into the

final, and it is a foregone conclusion. This year there has been

some upsets. If Bristol are going to believe they need to believe now. On

the other hand, I have watched Arsenal a few times and they have

created so many chances. Will they start to put those chances away?

Will the floodgates open? It could go either way. No trophies yet for

Bristol, 38 for Arsenal. Bristol players and managers will hate me

for saying that. Will that be weighing on their minds?

experience of playing in the final is one thing you need to manage. 15

and 20 minutes, I have played in a few and even the last one, you still

get nervous, you get adrenaline. Obviously Arsenal have that

experience but I believe Bristol will be going in, seeing themselves

as underdogs, there is no pressure, and they will set the team up to

fight for each other and they will come with a gameplan. They are very

good executing that. They also play attractive football. It should be

attractive. We will make chances and it is just whether we can put them

away. We shall see. While the build-up will continue, the main

event is days away. The FA women's cup final is live on BBC Two this

Sunday. We are nearer 2pm. I will be in the company of the girls again.