Women’s FA Cup: Bristol Rovers ‘up for the challenge’ against Aston Villa

Rovers’ women’s side relaunched five years ago after the club being without one since 2005.

Their promotion last spring was their third in four seasons and in April they were brought under the financial remit of the men’s team. They have been playing their home games at the Memorial Ground this season.

Douglas praised manager Nathan Hallett-Young, as well as the wider staff at the club, for helping them grow so rapidly.

“With the amount of effort that goes into it behind the scenes with the coaching staff and the players I’m not surprised we’ve got this far,” she said.

The tie against Villa – currently seventh in the WSL compared with Rovers who are fifth in the fourth tier – will take place on Sunday, 12 January at Poundland Bescot Stadium.

“It’s going to be a ridiculously tough game but I think we’re all buzzing – we’re all up for it. The magic of the FA Cup – it’s a one-off game so we’ve just got to see what we can get out of it,” Douglas said.

“We’ve just got to treat it as any other game. It’s a massive occasion but at the end of the day we’re there to play and we’ve just got to remember that going into it.”