Bristol City goalkeeper completes move to Championship rivals

Sophie Whitehouse has made Lewes Women her next club after leaving Bristol City Women earlier this summer.

The 25-year-old will remain in the FA Women’s Championship and could come up against her former side this season.

She has become the second signing of the summer for league rivals Lewes, who are due to play City on November 6, with Whitehouse’s potential return on February, 12.

“I’ve been interested in Lewes FC for a while because of the ethos of this club, Equality FC really struck with me,” she said to their official club website after making the move.

I’ve been playing fully professional for two years and it seems with the coaches coming in that it’s going to be a really good season,” says Whitehouse.

“I’m very community-minded, which is why Lewes appealed to me. I love helping out in the community and with my teammates. I’m living with some of the girls in town and it’s starting to feel like home.”

Whitehouse was mainly a back-up choice to Fran Bentley last season and announced her intentions to Lauren Smith that she would like to explore first-team opportunities.

She had left just before it was announced that Bentley would be returning whilst Olivia Clark, of Coventry United and Wales also joined to provide competition for the England youth international.

During her one and only season at the High Performance Centre, Whitehouse made six appearances across all competitions, mainly playing in the Conti Cup and Women’s FA Cup.

First-team manager Scott Booth said in the addition: “She’s a goalkeeper who has so much potential and has had a taste of being No 1.

“That’s what she really wanted – not to sit on the bench anymore. So she’s come in to be our No 1 keeper but it’s up to her to nail that down.”

As well as Whitehouse’s departure which was announced last month, the club recently broke the news that midfielder Gwen Davies was leaving.

She like Whitehouse joined in the summer of 2021 and had signed her first professional deal after playing for Cardiff City Ladies.

The 22-year-old made 19 appearances across all competitions including the two fixtures played at Ashton Gate against Blackburn Rovers and Liverpool, with the latter a record crowd.