Bristol City head into the new season with a clear objective and a growing sense of momentum, as Katie Robinson and Ella Smith outline a campaign built on ambition, development and belief.
At the heart of everything is one target: promotion.
“The club hasn’t shied away from it; we want to go up this season,” Robinson said. “We fell short last year, so now it’s about doing everything we can to make sure we get there.”
For Smith, the goal carries emotional weight as well as competitive importance.
“We’ve experienced promotion before, and it’s an amazing feeling,” she said. “To achieve that again would mean so much to everyone at the club.”
But both players recognise that the path back to the top flight will be far from straightforward.
The Championship is expected to be among its most competitive yet, with increased investment across multiple clubs raising the standards and intensifying the battle at the top.
“It’s going to be one of the toughest years,” Robinson admitted. “You’ve got teams coming down, clubs like Newcastle pushing, Sunderland with new owners everyone is investing. There are no easy games anymore.”
That rising competition reflects the wider evolution of the league, with professional standards continuing to develop at pace.
At Bristol City, that progress is evident not only through major structural changes, but also in the smaller details of the players’ daily environment.
“The professionalism has increased massively,” Robinson explained. “We’ve got more staff, better facilities, and stronger backing. Everything is being put in place to make us ready for the WSL.”
The club’s transformation has been supported by new commercial backing, with investment helping to raise standards across the organisation.
The women’s team is increasingly able to operate with greater focus, creating an environment designed to support its growth and development.
For Smith, even the smallest changes have made a noticeable difference.
“You can see it in the smallest things,” she said. “Even the food is more focused on nutrition now. The environment, the staff, the support it’s all improved, and that makes a big difference over a season.”
Medical provision and sports science have also become increasingly important, reflecting the physical demands of the modern game and the need to keep players fit across a demanding campaign.
“The game is getting tougher every year,” Robinson said. “So the medical side and facilities need to keep improving as well—and that’s definitely happening here.”
Evolving On The Pitch
While improvements away from the pitch have helped create the foundations for success, Bristol City are also looking to evolve in how they play.
The focus during pre-season has been on developing a side that can offer greater unpredictability and become more difficult for opponents to contain.
“We’re working hard in pre-season to implement that,” Robinson said. “We want to be tougher to play against and bring something different this season.”
Preparation, however, extends beyond tactics.
The squad’s mindset is rooted in collective effort and resilience, with the players fully aware of the intensity that comes with pursuing promotion over a long season.
“Every game is going to be demanding,” Smith said. “You can’t predict outcomes in football, so it’s about taking each game as it comes and doing everything we can as a team.”
Ashton Gate Advantage
A major boost for the squad is the continued use of Ashton Gate as their home ground, something both Robinson and Smith view as a symbol of the club’s progression.
“It’s an amazing stadium, and we’re really lucky to play there,” Robinson said. “We want as many fans as possible to come down because their support is massive for us.”
For Smith, playing at Ashton Gate represents a significant step forward from earlier stages of her career.
“Going from smaller pitches to a stadium like Ashton Gate is huge,” she said. “It creates a completely different atmosphere and shows how far the club has come.”
That connection with supporters could prove particularly important during a campaign where fine margins may ultimately determine success.
“Having that backing makes such a difference,” Smith said. “When you’re pushing for something as big as promotion, every bit of support counts.”
Ready For The Challenge
As Bristol City prepare for the campaign ahead, the message from within the squad is clear: ambition is being matched by preparation, while belief is being backed by tangible progress.
Improved infrastructure, increased professionalism and a united squad have created a platform from which Bristol City can attack the new campaign with confidence.
But the players know that progress away from the pitch will only matter if it translates into results when the season begins.
For Robinson and Smith, the objective is clear.
“The aim is promotion,” Robinson said. “We know how tough it’s going to be, but we back ourselves—and we’re ready to give everything to achieve it.”
