Barcelona Champions League Anniversary Special #2 - Nikki Watts

Bristol City Vixencast

10 years ago this November, Bristol Academy WFC beat Barcelona in the UEFA Women's Champions League. Bristol Academy - the Vixens - were established in 2005 and became founder members of the WSL in 2011. In the club's short history, we punched well above our weight: twice FA Cup finalists (2011 and 2013) and WSL runners-up in 2013. The Vixens also qualified for the UEFA Women's Champions League twice. In 2011 we got knocked out in the first round. In 2014 Bristol Academy reached the quarter-finals, losing to eventual winners Frankfurt, but beating Barcelona along the way. That's right, Bristol Academy beat Barcelona! This special commemorative edition of the Bristol City Vixencast celebrates the 2014 Champions League cup run. Across two episodes, released on the anniversaries of the 1st and 2nd legs, we reflect on the significance of Academy's achievements - always the underdog, always fighting together, against the odds, to win a match no one thought we could. In this episode we talk with Nikki Watts, who held it together to score that penalty which won us the tie. These conversations are much more than a trip down memory lane, they are a refusal to forget the foundations of top-level women's football in Bristol. They are a refusal to forget when Bristol Academy beat Barcelona in the Champions League. ** Many thanks to Tash Harding and Nikki Watts for sharing their memories with us. Thanks also to Ed Hadwin and BBC Radio Bristol for allowing us to use the commentary from the match, which captures the electric atmosphere, euphoria and noise. Props also to Annie Heatherson, for some amazing co-comms. Vixens 'til we die Watch match highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGiJwTbrsa4 Interview with Dave Edmundson and Nikki Watts: https://www.uefa.com/womenschampionsleague/news/021b-0e15b6e1cf52-28ebfc46e267-1000--watts-on-how-bristol-eliminated-barcelona/