Aston Villa Women
2020-21- FAWSL so far!
A promotion to the top level of Women’s Football in England was always the goal from the day first came to see a Villa game under Joe Hunt. In the time I watched Aston Villa Ladies play this always would feel a bit of a pipe dream as after a good few seasons with Joe Hunt in charge. We seemed to lose alot of players and forever was rebuilding a team that ended up fighting near the bottom of the table rather than the top end. In my time watching Aston Villa I have seen 3 managers in charge, Joe Hunt, Iain Sanky and the now in charge Gemma Davies. All with different resources to work with but it has always been enjoyable to be behind the team we support. The past players of many that have come and gone, moved on or left football always be apart of our history and we still support and see alot of the players at their new clubs.
After last seasons promotion campaign we lost so many players with many coming in. The sad thing with last years season ending prematurely meant we didn’t have the chance to say goodbye to those who played such a massive part in the history of our club Kerri Welsh and Jade Richards to name a few had been there since the day I first watched Aston Villa play and always have been such a huge part of our team. Luckily we have seen Kerri Welsh, who doing fantastic work with the Academy team and Jade Richards who as always such a key defender now smashing it for Blackburn Rovers. But with the players leaving it also meant that the fans have yet to see 7 of the players in person with the COVID-19 restrictions apart from on the television. As we sit in Tier 3 as I write this it means that our new home, The Banks Stadium (Bescot for anyone who loves a bit of history) is still a venue we can’t attend to see our team in a history making season playing in The FAWSL for the first time. The first Second City Derby in the top division at Villa Park was included in this. Hopefully we can get out of Tier 3 soon and return to seeing our team play wether it be at The Banks Stadium on a Saturday or away on a Sunday.
Preseason was a secret with not finding out results or even how games were going just getting a photo dropped every now and again it meant we would go into the season blind to what our team could do with a fair few of our players being unknown entities, and untested in the English League. The first day approached with Manchester City going to Aston Villa for the first ever game in The FAWSL, we all got the chance to watch on BT Sport and so on.
The opening day was always going to be tough against a team that could be touted to win the WSL or at least push for the Champions League spots. After a nightmare start Villa didn’t do too bad on a scoreline basis as they grew into the game but never really threatend Manchester City who were just to strong for Aston Villa.
Reading 3-1 Aston Villa (Larsen)
Sunday 13th September 2020
The second game saw Villa’s first away day and Villa’s first ever goal in The FAWSL but by the time that Stine Larsen had found the ball in the back of the net Reading had already taken a 3-0 lead. Stats don’t lie in a game Villa just wasn’t at the races as they were still building with a new look team and taking the step up.
Aston Villa 0-6 Everton
Saturday 3rd October 2020
Villa’s first ever game at their new home The Banks Stadium might be one Gemma Davies team would like to forget as Willie Kirk’s Everton came to Walsall and gave Villa a rude welcome to The Banks Stadium. Everton were just to strong and clinical in front of goal. Hayley Raso was causing all sorts of troubles.
Aston Villa 1-0 Sheffield United (Hutton)
Wednesday 7th October 2020
The Continental Cup got underway and with a fair few familiar faces returning to the line up and a few of our all time favorites in the Sheffield United line up. A rivalry from last season was renewed and It was Jodie Hutton once again that sunk The Blades, from the penalty spot to get the campaign underway. Villa second penalty of the season and a 100% record.
A first win, a first goal from open play and a first clean sheet in The FAWSL for Aston Villa. Brighton are always a tricky team to take on and going to their place and coming away with 3 points would not only be a huge boost but could be so pivotal in the season for Gemma Davies team. It was a very even game with Villa taking their chances and such a huge goal by Ramona Petzelberger to relieve the pressure near the end of the game. This was after Anita Asante put Aston Villa into the lead in the first half.
Coventry United 0-9 Aston Villa (Hanssen (3), Silva (2), Hayles (2), Syme, Follis)
tuesday 10th November 2020
Coventry United had just returned from a COVID case running through their team and were depleted in numbers but Aston Villa were so clinical once again with players trying to show they should be forcing their way into the starting 11 in The FAWSL. Nadine Hanssen was unplayable at times throughout the game and without Olivia Clark in goal who knows how many she could of scored. But the whole team was clinical as they walked away from the Barkers Butts Arena with the 3 points and a clean sheet as they nearer closer to a second year in the Continental Cup Quarter Final.
The big one, the big game, the second city derby for the first time ever in The FAWSL at Villa Park. Birmingham City only turned up with 13 players and maybe this was something that made Villa over confident as they just didn’t really click on the day as Birmingham City scored a wonder goal to settle the Derby but it’s still the closest we have come to getting something against Birmingham City in my time of watching Aston Villa play. It beats the 0-2 defeat in the first game I ever watched at Coles Lane.
Durham 1-1 Aston Villa (Follis)
Villa win on pens 4-2
Thursday 19th November 2020
I have only watched on the highlights from the game but it looks like Durham really came to play and were maybe unlucky that Villa got it to extra time and penalties but Villa showed grit and determination with a Emma Follis free kick to get Villa back into the game. Some great penalties by Aston Villa and Sian Rogers coming back to save two from the spot made sure that Aston Villa walked away with the win. Also Natalie Haigh, Captain Shield Maiden leading the team and also scoring the winning penalty. She joins the list of Captain’s with a 100% record with Amy West.
10th In FAWSL
Qualified For Quarter Final – CONTINENTAL Cup
Not Yet Entered The Fa Cup.
A very strange time with Aston Villa Women’s campaign being interrupted by themselves having COVID-19 and other teams having COVID-19 now see that Villa have played the least amount of games in The FAWSL with games against Bristol City and Chelsea in hand. Without spreading any disrespect to any other team as well the bottom of the table is looking very tight and will no doubt be this way until the end of the season. In the picture you can see from West Ham United on 4 points the bottom 4 are covered by a win, just 3 points. With only one being relegated it hasn’t been such a bad start for Aston Villa.
But after Manchester United visit at The Banks Stadium on the 5th of December, it is a massive run into Christmas break with away trips to Bristol City, Tottenham Hotspur and also West Ham United. The teams that are in and around Aston Villa, no reason that by Christmas with 2 or 3 wins from these games that Villa can start to feel alot more comfortable. Tottenham and West Ham will have new managers and set up’s when we visit them. It’s such a huge period of the season in one block so hopefully our Women in the Claret and Blue can get on a run and bring back some points to The Midlands.
It is the second season in a row we have made it to the Quarter Final of The Continental Cup, last year this was a history making moment so can Villa go at least one step further and remake some more history for the team. The draw gave us Chelsea last season and they was too strong for Villa at that time but who knows what the draw will bring this season.
From a fan’s point of view, which is my own it still doesn’t feel like we have managed to settle in this season or enjoy the fact that we have a new set up and playing in the top division as we haven’t been able to attend any of the games as of yet. With the news that fan’s could return to games gave a massive lift like we might be back on the 5th December and get to start going away games but we were listed in Tier 3. This mean’s that until it is reviewed we can’t attend any games as we wait once again to go get behind our team in our own way. I know this is something that alot of fan’s are looking forward too and have waited what feels an eternity since the Coventry game at Boldmere last season.
Onto the players a little, as I said in the preview for the Manchester City game we really didn’t know alot about most of our new team with a few exceptions such as Chloe Arthur and Anita Asante. but with some new faces like Stine Larsen, Ramona Petzelbeger and so on we have never seen them play in person or cheered on from the stands as of yet. We have got to know our new players a little with the games being on The FA Player, BT Sport and Youtube and I know that our own Drummer Boy, Mark has songs ready to go for when the return can happen. But it not only just the Football side of things we are missing over the 6-7 years of watching Aston Villa, it’s more about the extended family we have made and although we miss those who have moved on, we still have many that are in our little group that we know haven’t seen in a very long time.
However long it takes I know that the first game back will be a fantastic occasion not only for the Football side but also the social side too. Miss having little chats with people like Stan and many more, miss getting to see our favorite troublemaker Tom Stack as well. The Tier’s will be reviewed on the 16th Of December and hopefully we will receive some good news and be able to make the final game before the Christmas break, with a trip to West Ham away on the 20th of December. Let’s hope 2021 is a much better year overall for everyone.
Stay safe, stay well to anyone who gets to this point or to anyone who scrolls down to see how it all ends! Hopefully we will all be able to be free and in attendance soon. And most of all Up The Villa.