Bristol is the home of two professional football clubs: Bristol Rovers and Bristol City.
Experiencing a match is a great way to enhance your stay in Bristol. Check our Sporting Events page to see the latest football fixtures in the city. Is your team playing away to one of the Bristol clubs? Extend your stay and really make a weekend of it by experiencing more of what this fantastic city has to offer – whatever the result!
Bristol City FC men’s team play in the English Championship and their home stadium is Ashton Gate, which is also home to the Bristol Bears rugby, and you can often get tickets on the day, or just a little bit before to watch a match. Founded in 1894, and reformed in 1982, Bristol City FC have played their home games at Ashton Gate Stadium since 1904. The club's home colours are red and white, and their nickname is The Robins. The bird has featured on the club's badge since the 2019/2020 season for the first time in 25 years. Their main rivals are Bristol Rovers, with whom they contest the Bristol derby, and Cardiff City, with whom they contest the ‘Severnside derby’.
Bristol City Women play in the Women’s Super League, the top division in the country, after winning the Women’s Championship in 2023. Their home games are also played at Ashton Gate with a real family-friendly atmosphere.
Bristol Rovers men’s League one side are based at the Memorial Ground in the Horfield area of North Bristol, close to Gloucester Road for pubs and restaurants before or after a match. The club was founded in 1883 as Black Arabs F.C. and were also known as Eastville Rovers and Bristol Eastville Rovers before finally changing its name to Bristol Rovers in 1899. The club's official nickname is The Pirates, reflecting the maritime history of Bristol. The local nickname of the club is The Gas, from the gasworks next to their former home at Eastville Stadium (now all replaced with an IKEA store!).
Bristol Rovers Women’s FC, also known as ‘Gas Girls’ play in the South West Women’s Regional League (Premier Division). Home matches are played at the Lockleaze Sports Centre which is easily accessible by bus, train and car and entry is free.
- Go VIP at a Bristol Rovers game
There are many local football clubs in and around Bristol and the Bristol City Council website helps you to find a local team to play for in Bristol – perhaps if you are a student here for university.
You'll often find groups playing an impromptu game of football in one of the many parks in Bristol, either using clothes as goal markers or the fixed position goals available.
Football with a twist
Fancy playing rather than watching? Spartacus Bubble Soccer runs bubble football sessions in Bristol and Bath, where players wear giant inflatable bubbles and bump their way around the pitch, perfect for stag and hen dos, team building and parties. You can also try FootGolf at Ashton Court Estate, where the rules are the same as golf but you kick a football into a larger hole in as few shots as possible.
Explore more of the sporty side of Bristol:
