Since she first started playing football, Fran Bentley has been making a big impact in the game. As a defender and then goalkeeper for local side Hartford Boys, in Cheshire, the club changed their team name and crest to simply Hartford FC to recognise her continual presence in the team.
Just over a decade on, after time with the set-ups at Manchester United and Manchester City, Bentley is now part of the Bristol City team that has started the Championship season with three wins from three and are yet to concede a goal ahead of Sunday’s marquee match against Southampton at Ashton Gate.
The 21-year-old made the move to West Country originally last season, joining on loan from United to earn first-team football and after a fine season under Lauren Smith’s management, turning that into a permanent switch was a no-brainer.
