Bristol City Women’s Coach Kirby: Team Not Yet ‘Full Product’ Despite Strong Run

Head coach Stephen Kirby stated that Bristol City Women are not yet “near the full product,” even after securing their third consecutive Championship victory on Sunday. The team currently holds second place in the Championship table, separated from the top spot only by goal difference. Following their decisive 5-0 win against Durham over the weekend, City Women are positioned second in the league, sharing the same number of points as Birmingham City, who are currently the league leaders. Kirby, whose appointment was on September 19, commented that the team has progressed “really well and quite quickly” since his tenure began. Speaking to BBC Radio Bristol, Kirby remarked, “I still don’t think we’re near the full product. I still think there’s lots of key areas that we can and will work on going into 2025, but that’s a good thing because that’s constant evolution for us to keep pushing.” The club aims for an immediate return to the Women’s Super League, having been relegated last season after spending only one campaign in the top division. Under Kirby, who succeeded Lauren Smith as coach, the team has achieved six victories in eight Championship matches, with two defeats. Kirby indicated his intention to strengthen the squad during the January transfer window. “There will be some movement out as is usually the case in a window. We will look to add to the squad again so we can keep continuing these types of performances [against Durham],” Kirby further stated. He elaborated, “We will deliberately bring in players who [fit] the ethic of the team and continue to add and contribute from that perspective.” “That’s what we’re after – constant improvement – and to do that we need to keep adding to the squad in terms of numbers and quality, so we can continue to build on for the rest of the season and beyond,” he concluded. The club is now entering a three-week hiatus before their next fixture, an away match against Arsenal in the FA Cup fourth round on January 12. Subsequently, they will face promotion rivals London City Lionesses at Ashton Gate on January 19.