Episode 1 The Women's Football Show

Good evening and welcome to The Women's Football Show. The new

season is almost upon us, there have been plenty of changes since last

year, and we've a lot to discuss over the next half hour.

England's Lionesses usher in a new era under Mark Sampson. After

multiple takes, can Scotland qualify for their first major tournament?

WSL newcomers Manchester City lay their cards on the table.

And the Royals of Reading welcome a new queen.

And we have a couple of half-decent guests to start off our new series.

England and Liverpool striker and WSL Player of the Year Natasha

Dowie, alongside the new England gaffer, Mark Sampson. Welcome to

both of you. Under Mark's stewardship, England

resume their World Cup qualifying campaign against Montenegro on

Saturday. Let's remind ourselves of the story so far.

England on their way home after just three group games. Sacked as the

manager of England's women's football team. I have to respect

that. It's the start of a new era for this crowd. I feel really

privileged to be given the chance. A hat-trick! What a first half she has

had! On a hat-trick! And she absolutely buried that! Here's

Natasha Dowie. This time she is in and this time she scores! And

England have eight! Touch off the Scot. She took that so well! England

top the group. He's done all he can! Who gets the job is up to the powers

that be. It's one of those things where we all have to fasten our seat

belts because it's going to be a really exciting journey for all of

us. It's a very positive environment. Mark has a lot of

positive energy, a lot of new ideas, and the players are really keen to

buy into it. We are very hard to break down defensively. I think he

has a more attacking focus. It's an unbelievable feeling just

representing England again and I get a bit choked up with the national

anthem because we were singing so loud. It's just an amazing feeling.

Another fantastic tournament. I think we only conceded two goals in

four games. What Mark is trying to do, the girls have taken that on

board. The mentality changes definitely showing on the pitch and

off the pitch. And the first of those qualifiers

comes against Montenegro on Saturday.

England top of the group there. Not a bad position to be picking up with

a national side, is it? Sitting pretty like that! That's right. It's

a good group. Credit to him for putting us in such a position but

hopefully we will get three more points on Saturday. Your players

were saying very nice things to us and I promise you, it wasn't with a

view to knowing you in the studio and sitting with us. But what is the

enthusiastic mentality about? We have a few ideas we want to

implement. We have looked at that through the tournament, playing

Cyprus. We have encouraged the players to be themselves and we have

a lot of new people that we are impressed with their character and

they are willing to work hard and listen and we also have many

talented players so if we can mix and match that correctly it will

give us the chance and the opportunity. And that is the

challenge, to make sure when the players cross the white line they

are in the best possible place. How are you finding being a national

manager from a personal point of view? It's really good fun. I've got

to say that. Enjoyable already. Hard work. Selecting players and making

sure all the details are rightfully each camp is important. It's early

days as well and because of that it is important we get the right

message across. We want consistency from all the staff and understand

where we want to go and we want the players to be excited about where we

want to take them on this journey. It's a long road and lots of ups and

downs along the way. But the transfer the players now is to

embrace that and go for it. -- but the chance for the players. A chance

to reinvent ourselves and be a positive team. It looks like you

were all enjoying yourselves on the pitch, reaching the final and then

losing to France. But a new regime for you on the beach. It's been

great. Mark, Lee and Marianne, they've worked well together and

brought in new ideas. We've had a few different threats, social

threats, disciplinary wraps, and bringing in cups of tea. --

different representatives, social representatives. You may be staying

your room sometimes and don't mingle with everyone so new ideas to sit

with everyone and sitting on the bus with the other players as well. But

it not when the final but to get to a final is great for our first

tournament. -- gutted not to win. What can we expect on Saturday with

England and Montenegro? It is important we get three points but it

is about progress at this stage. Like the girls in Cyprus. With every

performance we want to lay down a marker, a bit further than the

previous one, and so far, so good with that. I think we've showed that

game on game. Come the final whistle, we honoured -- in a

position where we can look back and feel we have improved? Based on the

players so far, I am sure we can do that. It will be a challenge but the

players are ready for that. One issue up in the is the England

captaincy. You able to give us and exclusive? Will you stay with Katie

Stone? We are reviewing that process in terms of who will be captain

moving forward but we have to realise it is a very important

decision. A great honour to be England captain, so whichever player

sees that honour hopefully will enjoy it and embrace it. But we'll

make a decision this week and the captain will be a captain for a long

time, hopefully. We will find out by the weekend anyway. You can find out

how they do this Saturday from 12:55pm. That is on BBC Two.

In just over a fortnight, Tash's Liverpool begin the defence of their

WSL title against Manchester City. Kat Downes has been to visit a City

side preparing for their maiden season in the top flight.

It promises to be an exciting season for a new team on the block,

Manchester City, taken under the wing of the men's team and the

ladies can now boast a new stadium, a new coach and a host of big new

signings. City are hoping they will be holding the trump cards in the

race for the title. This is a straight game of top

Trumps. You know the rules. I don't want any dirty tricks, all right?

You ready? Let's play WSL top Trumps! International goal support.

I've only got 13! What has it been like with the new setup? I've just

will enjoy training every day and being within this setup. -- I've

really enjoyed. It's something I've wanted to do ever since I was

younger and never really been given that opportunity. The support for

Manchester city... I don't know, I don't think I could have said no.

The vision they have for the club. Also to be captain of the club was

something obviously I was honoured to do. International caps, 99. It

was me as well! 46! I think there's a massive pull in

terms of names but also the players that we've got. The likes of Jill,

she's one the best box to box midfielders in the country. And a

starting position in the England squad. The girls that are here as

well, I came in, not surprised, but the standard of the players is not

that much different. Obviously a lot of emphasis on the players that have

been signed but it's about the whole squad. This is a golden card, this!

Titles won, one. Ah! None! Having played top Trumps, who you -- who

will you be keeping an eye on? I think Liverpool have done anywhere

with the signing of Gemma Davison. We just can't get nearer. They have

good players all over the pitch but at the same time I believe we have

players all over the pitch, too, so sometimes it just comes down to the

day. Last card. International caps? 19. 103. I'm not happy about that. I

think there was some cheating going on! I think it'll not just be us

wanting to beat Liverpool. It will be the whole Super League. There are

definitely ambitious players and we do want to win things eventually.

So, fascinating season ahead. Manchester City face Liverpool in

their opening fixture. Everton have lost more key players.

They are away at Birmingam. Chelsea will look to start strongly after

winning just one of their final 11 league games last season. They're at

Bristol. And Notts County, formally Lincoln Ladies, now reincarnated as

a full-time set-up at Meadow Lane, face Arsenal.

And that game will be the first of at least 16 live commentaries

throughout the season on 5Live Sports Extra on Wednesday 16th

April, kick-off at 7.30pm. Interesting that they said

eventually. Do they really think not this season? Because I recall

Liverpool people were saying eventually and look what they did.

They won it. I think if you are a player you want to win everything.

So if you ask her she's busy going to say yes. And Matt were saying the

same. He wanted to be a mid-table team but we'll sat down before the

season and said, we want to win everything, the WSL, the Cup games,

and as a player, if you don't want to win, you are playing the wrong

sport. You got to have that winning mentality. So, no, I think they'll

wanting to be go in and making their mark. Yes, training full-time as

well. Do you see City as your main rivals? To be honest, I think the

league's going to be really tough. City have a really good set up

there, obviously, so the players training full-time will obviously

help that but the likes of Chelsea, Notts County. I think everyone's

going to be tough and I'm getting excited to play City first game on

TV as well. It's obviously a great occasion and hopefully we can get

three points that game. You've lost a few players with injury. And

Lucy, for example. But you have brought in Gemma Davison. How do you

stand? Gemma Davison as well, coming in, she is the quickest player in

the league and she can run quicker with the ball than people without a

ball. And I'm dead ex eight -- excited and I hope she can assist me

a lot this season. Odyssey to lose Nicole is a massive loss but we have

other players who can step up now. Honestly we are champions and want

to defend our title . -- obviously to lose. So we will see what players

we have on the pitch. You and Bristol did amazingly well, taking

the title race to the final day there at Liverpool. The new manager,

what you think of him for Bristol? Every game is going to be

competitive. As she said, it's going to be an interesting season. I think

Bristol will be fine. A very competitive team this year. There's

no reason why they can be a -- there at the end of the season. They've

obviously made a good decision appointing Dave as manager. You

couldn't say it was a terrible disease, could you!

What of the other WSL contenders? Arsenal and Birmingham had the small

matter of a Champions League quarterfinal yesterday, which gave

us the perfect platform to launch former England and Arsenal captain

Faye White into her new scouting role for The Women's Football Show.

The Blues have arrived in London with a slender lead and both teams

made a number of changes over the season. Today is an ideal

opportunity to look at both before the new season. Birmingham six

badly, pressurising midfield. And they have the first of. -- started

brightly. Birmingham six just gone up and Arsenal need three goals. She

is not getting any service behind the defenders so Arsenal need the

player midfield. They are pressing harder and their quality on the

field is better than Arsenal. Arsenal have not shown any real

quality in retaining the ball. Birmingham lead 2-2. -- 2-2 is zero.

-- 2-0. The centre half is stepping into midfield more.

Birmingham have defended magnificently at the moment. 2-20

winners today, they looked very impressive midfield. Overall, it

will take time for Arsenal to gel. Certainly that centre half pairing.

Birmingham could be a surprise package and they will take points

from other teams during the season. Congratulations to Birmingham, who

now face Swedish side Tyreso, who include five-time World Player of

the Year, Marta, in their ranks. They are hoping to play the home leg

at St Andrews but we'll know more in the next few days.

What did you make of Birmingham? They had a plan and they stuck to it

and the players really worked hard within that. To be honest, their

mentality was fantastic, they showed a lot of bravery and they took the

game to Arsenal. I was impressed. Young, English players, fantastic to

see. Will this affect Arsenal? They have come up against a very good

team, they had really worked out how to stop Arsenal playing and punish

them on the counterattack. Framingham were clinical over both

legs but Arsenal have brought some new players to the club and you can

see the way they are trying to play, different type of identity. That

always takes time, but they have brought in some quality, World Cup

winners, international players. It will take time to gel together. It

isn't working they do the same. They want to start the new campaign well.

We sell records from players afterwards, they wanted to prove

people wrong. They certainly have done that! Birmingham are a great

team and Arsenal have obviously dominated women's football for years

but added that what was of the games. Birmingham science Ashgrove

Birmingham have some great players and Arsenal also have some real

talent. For Birmingham, it is good they have won both games and they

have stands the mark and people will not underestimate them. Fascinating,

looking to the new season. Before the WSL returns, both England and

Scotland play qualifiers live on the BBC and one player who relishes

performing in front of the cameras is Scottish captain, Gemma Fay.

Gemma Fay, take one. Rubenesque is a pilot I did for sky living. It is

about a female referee whose ambition is to be the first in the

Premier League. But there is a contentious decision and she is

suspended and what happens next is a series of events that leads her to

becoming a model, which is quite a journey from tomboy referee. It was

great fun to do, I absolutely loved it. Did you not have acting

experience before? None whatsoever. My mother was a trained actress and

we advised the kids not to go down that road but it is in your blood. I

have been playing football since I was three years old! I know the game

as well as anybody. As an athlete, you put on a performance and get the

right mindset and you have to take on a certain persona to deliver

that. I guess it is the same thing for acting. Tech three. We have

always had talented players in Scotland, we always have, we have

never had enough depth of talented players and we're starting to get

that. In terms of the fitness levels, they are becoming greater

and greater. In the morning sessions that is conditioning and strength

work. We do that through the Scottish Institute, which has tested

us to the max. In Cyprus we could see that paying off. All those early

mornings were worth it. The performance against France is the

best we have played. And one of the best performances we have ever put

in. It was unfortunate with the goal that we lost but to back that up

with victories over Holland and Australia, it shows that continuity

and ability to perform every time at the top level. First, the focus is

on the march. We won in the first leg but it will be difficult. They

are a good team with dangerous players and they are well organised.

Bosnia, we will have to up our game to get a result there. From the

squad point of view, there was determination in there and it is

phenomenal. Firstly, I would like to see myself as Gemma Fay, captain of

the first Scottish women's team that goes to a World Cup final. I am

privileged to have been given that armband and they know how many

people would love that opportunity. How did feel to be captain, making

it to the World Cup? Is giving me tingle is giving me tingles already!

It would be one of the most special moments in my life. This is a grip.

Sweden had a game in hand. -- this is the group. Only the group winners

will go through automatically. Their highest ever world ranking and extra

funding so some players can train more often. Is this the first ever

chance to qualify? They have Sweden, which will be tough. But there is no

reason why they cannot be competitive at both games. We saw

that with Cyprus, they played very well. They were very unfortunate to

not qualify. They had a late French goal to deny them that opportunity

but they have added a lot of good work with the Academy and some of

the work the players are going and it means a lot to them, Gemma Fay

describing it as one of the most special moments of her life, going

to the World Cup. It shows the Passion. They have a great chance

and if they can win this week, going into that Sweden game, why not?

Agonisingly close to qualifying for Europe. And you'll be able to see

Scotland's home qualifier against Poland live on BBC Alba this

Saturday evening from 5.30pm. In England the WSL continues to grow

this year, literally, with the introduction of a second tier, and

our very own Donny Belle Sue Smith has been out and about to size up

the opposition. 2014 and mournful lament with the women's game. Ten

teams competing for one single promotion spot in the new WSL two.

My team, Doncaster Belles, will push hard to get back into WSL one. But

it will not be easy. In October, I fully expect to be there. Jayne

Ludlow, one of the most decorated players, has been drafted in as

coach. I did not even think about it, it was a fantastic opportunity

that came at the right time. She is joined by her old Arsenal colleague.

She has exploited her connections, Nicky Davies has arrived from my

club and Helen Ward from Chelsea. They have taken on board everything

I have asked and have worked extremely hard. They have done it,

they want to achieve something and develop. Things are more

professional, the way we do things has higher intensity and the fitness

levels have massively increased. There have been new signings which

has made a stronger so we're very happy. Helen Ward, fantastic, I hear

that she might be pregnant? Did you tell her of? My first reaction was I

was ecstatic. On a personal level, that is a great thing and I wish

them well. As a player, I would love -- love to have this year. But I

will not but hopefully next year. What tactics will you play? What

sort of formation? Any tips? Six, five, four, two. How many is that!

Watch out for the goalkeeper. She is all right! You are not giving

anything away? Can you get promoted? The big question. Honestly, that is

not something I think about, because there are some established teams.

Doncaster... Sunderland, they have a great group of players and have

suffered any years but there are teams like ourselves, young and

hungry but for me, it is exciting. If we can play to the standard we

have been training at, we have every chance of being in the top two or

three. We are in a very strong charge. And the goals feel that way

also. We have been pre-season for eight months. We cannot wait for it

to start. Eight months! That is surely long enough to get excited

about the start of the new season. Confirmation that Reading start off

at the Madejski Stadium on Wednesday the 16th of April against Yeovil.

And we'll be reflecting on the big kick-off in WSL one and two when we

return on Monday 21st April at 7:00pm here on BBC Three. And you

can keep in touch. We've had a lot of tweets for tonight's guests.

Holly Allen asks: Natasha, what's it like being involved with England

again? And who is your England roomie? It is a dream to play for

your country. I feel like I have a fresh start to prove what I can do

on the international stage and I'm Billy enjoying it. Fara Williams is

my roommate, she talks a lot so I do not get much sleep. But she is

great, we have cups of tea and we chill out. I cannot complain. I bet

she reckons you talk a lot, also! Tom Sutherland has one for Mark: Do

you think the reorganistation of the WSL will have a positive impact on

the national team in the long-term?' You can keep in touch with us

throughout the season via #BBCWFS. With any competition, it adds that

intensity. There will be lots of teams from WSL2, who fancied their

chances. We need to win matches to make sure we stay in this division.

In terms of the long-term structure, it is a step that has to be taken

and we will see more excitement based on that change. For England,

it will certainly be positive because they play in a pressurised

environment regularly. That's all from us this week, best of luck to

England, see you in Brighton on Saturday. And good luck to all of

the home nations involved in World Cup qualifiers this weekend. Bye for

now.