BCLFC

The First Team have proved they are up for a challenge and that is what they have over the next seven days.  On Sunday, 14 September they are away to last season’s League Cup winner’s, Everton, in the first round of the League Cup.  Arsenal, like Chelsea and Everton, have six players in the recently chosen England squad and  Birmingham travel away to them on Sunday 21 September to take on a team who have scored 33 goals in winning five matches but who are expected to be missing crucial players Kelly Smith (suspension), Ciara Grant and Emma Byrne (International duty).  It could be interesting, very interesting - you go girls!

Despite not playing today results went in Birmingham’s favour. They are still in sixth place after Liverpool and Fulham drew 2-2 and Watford beat Leeds 1-0. Bristol failed to pull away from Birmingham after their 3-0 defeat against Chelsea. In the other game played Arsenal beat Doncaster 6-1. This was Arsenal’s fourth match in a row in which they have scored six goals or more.  Everton’s match with Nottingham Forest was postponed.

Losing 3-1 and comprehensively outplayed by big spending Chelsea at half time, Birmingham looked dead in the water, but Stuart Wilson has fostered a new fighting spirit in a group of players determined to prove they are no weaker after high-profile summer departures and Blues rolled up their sleeves and bloodied the noses of their shell-shocked hosts.  (read more)

…Doncaster Rovers Belles are the latest Women’s football club to announce financial difficulties.

The Reserve team play their final pre season freindly tomorrow night (Tuesday 2nd Sept) against Wolves at Holyfields Sports Centre Woodacre Rd Erdington B24 0JT.
Map Directions to the Ground
Kick off will be at 6:30pm

From being 3 - 1 down at half time Birmingham came back to earn a 3 -3 draw against an unbeaten Chelsea side this afternoon.
Goal Scorers
Chelsea - Aluko Sanderson plus own goal
Birmingham - Gauntlett Scheuber and Lowe
A report will follow

A first goal for defender Natasha Lynch, a first-team debut for fellow stopper Jenni Foster and another impressive display from the ever-improving Maz Gauntlett were as good as it got for the visitors as Birmingham’s flying start to the season was unceremoniously halted. (read full report)

Birmingham continued to defy the doom-mongers who predicted a season of struggle in the wake of high-profile summer departures by posting a second straight win - this time at the expense of an ambitious Leeds.  This victory puts Birmingham 4th in the table with 6 points equal with Arsenal Chelsea and Everton.  See full report

Birmingham’s next game is away to Bristol on Wenesday, 27 August.  The game will be played at Oaklands Park Gloucester Road Almondsbury BS32 4AG which is a short drive from J16 of the M5.  Birmingham are then away to Chelsea on Sunday 31 August at the Metropolitan Police ground and at home (Redditch United F.C.) to Blackburn on Sunday 7 September (2 p.m. kick off).

A trademark individual goal from impressive winger Becky Hall made it a bright opening day for Blues Ladies and ensured new manager Stuart Wilson got off to a winning start.  Read full report

On Sunday Birmingham City Ladies took on Coventry City Ladies at Redditch United’s Valley Stadium in their final pre season friendly game.  In spite of having the lion’s share of possession, Birmingham did not find Coventry easy to break down at all as the lower division side showed why they had not conceded in their previous three friendlies.  A delicate lob from Amy McCann and a diagonal drive into the bottom corner from Maz Gauntlett proved decisive though and Jenni Foster and Abigail Lewis helped contribute to Birmingham’s clean sheet as they took the big step up from Under 16s football.

Birmingham’s first Premier League game is against Nottingham Forest on Sunday 17th August at Carlton Town Football Club, Gedling, Nottingham.