Football / Bristol Rovers Women
Studying for a doctorate during the week and scoring goals at the weekend
Bristol Rovers Women’s are just one point from clinching the South West Regional Women’s League Division One at the first time of asking.
A win or draw against Weston Mendip Ladies at Lockleaze Sports Centre on Sunday would propel the Gas Girls into the fifth tier of the women’s football pyramid.
It would mean back-to-back promotions for Rovers, a club that is an initiative of Bristol Rovers Community Trust.
is needed now More than ever
Sunday’s title clincher has been set up by last weekend’s 6-0 victory against Cheltenham Town Development with goals from Zoe Fielden-Stewart, Laura Curnock, Libby Bell, Annys Turner, Jamie-Leigh Worlock and Jacqueline Maddock.
For Fielden-Stewart (known by her teammates as ZFS), it was just the latest time her name has been on the scoresheet in what has been a prolific season in front of goal; even scoring four goals in one game for the first time in her career.
The 27-year-old grew up in Patchway and went to Holy Family Primary School in Patchway and St Bede’s Catholic College in Lawrence Weston.
Currently living in Easton, while Fielden-Stewart is not in the blue and white quarters of Bristol Rovers, she is in a white lab coat as part of her engineering doctorate in composites manufacture with the University of Bristol, sponsored by Rolls-Royce.
Listen to the full interview with Zoe on episode 34 of the Bristol24/7 Behind the Headlines podcast:
What makes Fielden-Stewart’s prolific season even more remarkable is the journey that she has taken to get here, having broken her leg in only her second game in 2020 and then worked her way up to the Gas Girls first XI after starting out in the development team.
“Every week and every game I feel more comfortable playing and I can see improvements in myself. As long as I see overall improvement in my football, then I’m happy…
“We are all super proud to play for the club because of the work that the club does: the community work, working with Bristol Pride and Her Game Too.
“There’s a lot to be proud of being involved with this club and I really enjoy it. And as long as I’m enjoying it, why would I want to go anywhere else.”
Zoe Fielden-Stewart at work in the lab – photo: Zoe Fielden-Stewart
And at work on the football pitch – photo: Rich Buchanan
Main photo: Rich Buchanan
Read more: Gas Girls’ special edition away shirt tackles sexism in football
Listen to the latest Bristol24/7 Behind the Headlines podcast:
Our top newsletters emailed directly to you
