Fran Bentley
{{Short description|English footballer (born 2001)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2018}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Fran Bentley
| image = Fran_Bentley.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Bentley with Bristol City in 2022
| fullname = Francesca Bentley
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2001|6|26|df=y}}
| birth_place = Southampton, Hampshire, England
| height =
| position = Goalkeeper
| currentclub = Bristol City
| clubnumber = 1
| youthyears1 = 2010–2015
| youthclubs1 = Manchester United
| youthyears2 = 2015–2018
| youthclubs2 = Manchester City
| years1 = 2017–2018
| clubs1 = Manchester City
| caps1 = 0
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2018–2021
| clubs2 = Manchester United
| caps2 = 1
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2019
| clubs3 = → Sheffield United (loan)
| caps3 = 6
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2020
| clubs4 = → Blackburn Rovers (loan)
| caps4 = 4
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2021–2022
| clubs5 = → Bristol City (loan)
| caps5 = 19
| goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2022–
| clubs6 = Bristol City
| caps6 = 36
| goals6 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2017–2018
| nationalteam1 = England U17
| nationalcaps1 = 3
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2018–2019
| nationalteam2 = England U18
| nationalcaps2 = 3
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalyears3 = 2021–
| nationalteam3 = England U23
| nationalcaps3 = 0
| nationalgoals3 = 0
| club-update = 17 November 2024
| nationalteam-update = 29 October 2024
}}
Francesca Bentley (born 26 June 2001) is an English footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Bristol City of the Women's Super League. She has previously played in the youth ranks at Manchester City, Manchester United on loan at Sheffield United, Blackburn Rovers and Bristol City, and has represented England from under-15 to under-23 youth level.
Club career
=Early career=
Bentley joined Manchester United aged nine and remained at the club for five years. In 2015, she joined local rivals Manchester City due to the limited first team opportunities available at her former club.{{Cite web |title=Fran Bentley {{!}} Man Utd Women Player Profile |url=https://www.manutd.com/en/players-and-staff/detail/fran-bentley |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211203102741/https://www.manutd.com/en/players-and-staff/detail/fran-bentley |archive-date=3 December 2021 |access-date=2024-12-11 |website=Manchester United F.C. |language=en }}
=Manchester City=
In July 2017, Bentley signed with the Manchester City development squad for the 2017–18 season and became a regular for the club.{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/franbentleyy/status/889776045523644416|title=Fran Bentley on Twitter|last=Bentley|first=Fran|date=25 July 2017|website=twitter.com|publisher=Twitter|access-date=11 October 2018|archive-date=9 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220709093235/https://twitter.com/franbentleyy/status/889776045523644416|url-status=live}} In April 2018, she helped the club win the FA Development League Cup.{{Cite news|url=https://www.mancity.com/news/mcwfc/mcwfc-news/2018/april/man-city-women-academy-development-squad-cup-finals|title=Double delight for Academy aces|last=Oatway|first=Caroline|date=14 April 2018|work=Manchester City Football Club|access-date=11 October 2018}} Bentley was named as an unused substitute for the first team on two occasions as they finished runners-up in the Women's Super League and the FA WSL Cup.{{Cite web|url=https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2018/02/11/england/wsl/manchester-city-lfc/liverpool-lfc/2564263/|title=Manchester City 4–0 Liverpool|date=11 February 2018|website=soccerway.com|publisher=Soccerway|access-date=10 October 2018|archive-date=11 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181011080722/https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2018/02/11/england/wsl/manchester-city-lfc/liverpool-lfc/2564263/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2018/02/21/england/wsl/birmingham-city-lfc/manchester-city-lfc/2564265/|title=Birmingham City 2–0 Manchester City|date=21 February 2018|website=soccerway.com|publisher=Soccerway|access-date=10 October 2018|archive-date=11 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181011055158/https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2018/02/21/england/wsl/birmingham-city-lfc/manchester-city-lfc/2564265/|url-status=live}}
=Manchester United=
On 1 July 2018, Bentley returned to her former club and joined Manchester United ahead of their inaugural season in the FA Women's Championship, one of seven players to return to the senior side having played for the club at youth level.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/jul/13/manchester-united-women-squad-unveiled-england-liverpool-casey-stoney|title=Manchester United include England stars in unveiled women's squad|date=13 July 2018|accessdate=13 July 2018|archive-date=19 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180919131425/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/jul/13/manchester-united-women-squad-unveiled-england-liverpool-casey-stoney|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.manutd.com/en/news/detail/meet-the-players-in-manchester-united-women-squad-with-photos-and-video|title=United Women's Squad: Player By Player|date=13 July 2018|work=Manchester United Football Club|access-date=10 October 2018|archive-date=28 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190728122703/https://www.manutd.com/en/news/detail/meet-the-players-in-manchester-united-women-squad-with-photos-and-video|url-status=live}} She made her senior debut as a 59th-minute substitute in a Championship game against Millwall with the score at 6–0. The game finished 8–0.{{Cite web|url=https://www.manutd.com/en/news/detail/match-report-on-manchester-united-women-8-millwall-lionesses-0-sunday-25-november-2018|title=Match report on Manchester United Women 8 Millwall Lionesses 0 Sunday 25 November 2018|website=ManUtd.com|publisher=Manchester United|access-date=25 November 2018|archive-date=26 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181126005530/https://www.manutd.com/en/news/detail/match-report-on-manchester-united-women-8-millwall-lionesses-0-sunday-25-november-2018|url-status=live}}
==2018–19 season: Loan to Sheffield United==
File:Fran Bentley (47683020502).jpg
On 8 February 2019, she was loaned to fellow Championship side Sheffield United until the end of the season.{{cite news |title=Sheffield United welcome Fran Bentley |url=https://www.sufc.co.uk/women/news/2019/february/fran-bentley-signs/ |website=sufc.co.uk |publisher=Sheffield United FC |date=8 February 2019 |accessdate=8 February 2019 |archive-date=9 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209124123/https://www.sufc.co.uk/women/news/2019/february/fran-bentley-signs/ |url-status=live }} She played in six games during the loan, conceded four goals and won every game. She also notably assisted fellow Manchester United loanee Ebony Salmon's goal in a 2–1 win over Tottenham Hotspur.{{cite web |title=Spurs 1-2 United Women - report |url=https://www.sufc.co.uk/women/news/2019/march/womens-spurs-report/ |website=sufc.co.uk |publisher=Sheffield United FC |access-date=28 May 2019 |archive-date=28 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190528185148/https://www.sufc.co.uk/women/news/2019/march/womens-spurs-report/ |url-status=live }}
==2019–20 season==
Bentley missed the start of the 2019–20 season after suffering a fractured humerus while on international duty with England under-18s.{{cite web |last1=Carney |first1=Sam |title=Fran Bentley suffers fractured humerus |url=https://www.manutd.com/en/news/detail/fran-bentley-suffers-fractured-humerus |website=ManUtd.com |accessdate=7 September 2019 |date=17 July 2019 |archive-date=7 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191007151200/https://www.manutd.com/en/news/detail/fran-bentley-suffers-fractured-humerus |url-status=live }}
==2020–21 season: Loan to Blackburn Rovers==
On 1 September 2020, Bentley signed a season-long loan deal with Blackburn Rovers of the FA Women's Championship.{{cite web |title=Fran Bentley loan confirmed |url=https://www.manutd.com/en/news/detail/man-utd-women-goalkeeper-fran-bentley-joins-blackburn-rovers-on-loan |website=ManUtd.com |publisher=Manchester United |access-date=1 September 2020 |archive-date=7 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210307163339/https://www.manutd.com/en/news/detail/man-utd-women-goalkeeper-fran-bentley-joins-blackburn-rovers-on-loan |url-status=live }} She made her league debut five days later in a 3–0 defeat to Leicester City.{{cite web |title=Report: Leicester City Women 3-0 Rovers Ladies |url=https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2020/september/report-leicester-city-women-3-0-rovers-ladies/ |publisher=Blackburn Rovers FC |accessdate=10 September 2020 |date=6 September 2020 |archive-date=26 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926121952/https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2020/september/report-leicester-city-women-3-0-rovers-ladies/ |url-status=live }} She made four appearances before United recalled her in December.{{cite web |title=United recall Bentley from loan |url=https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2020/december/united-recall-bentley-from-loan/ |website=rovers.co.uk |access-date=21 January 2021 |archive-date=18 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118195752/https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2020/december/united-recall-bentley-from-loan/ |url-status=live }}
==2021–22 season: Loan to Bristol City==
On 6 August 2021, Bentley signed a new two-year contract with Manchester United before joining Championship side Bristol City on a season-long loan.{{cite web |title=Fran Bentley signs new deal and joins Bristol City on loan |url=https://www.manutd.com/en/news/detail/Fran-Bentley-signs-new-deal-with-Man-Utd-Women-and-joins-Bristol-City-on-loan |website=ManUtd.com |access-date=6 August 2021 |archive-date=6 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210806131209/https://www.manutd.com/en/news/detail/Fran-Bentley-signs-new-deal-with-Man-Utd-Women-and-joins-Bristol-City-on-loan |url-status=live }} She made her debut on 29 August in Bristol City's opening game of the season, a 4–3 defeat to Crystal Palace.{{cite web |title=Match report: Crystal Palace Women 4-3 Bristol City Women |url=https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/report-crystal-palace-women-4-3-bristol-city-women/ |website=Bristol City |access-date=2 September 2021 |archive-date=9 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230409145349/https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/report-crystal-palace-women-4-3-bristol-city-women/ |url-status=live }} She played 22 games in total, keeping ten clean sheets as Bristol finished third and was named Young Player of the Season at the club's end of season awards.{{cite web |title=Harrison, Bentley and Bull collect awards |url=https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/harrison-bentley-and-bull-collect-awards/ |website=Bristol City |access-date=27 April 2022 |archive-date=29 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220429132650/https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/harrison-bentley-and-bull-collect-awards/ |url-status=live }}
=Bristol City=
Following a season-long loan, Bentley joined Bristol City permanently on 1 July 2022 on a two-year contract.{{cite web |title=Bentley joins Robins |url=https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/bentley-joins-robins/ |publisher=Bristol City FC |access-date=1 July 2022 |archive-date=3 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703100326/https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/bentley-joins-robins/ |url-status=live }} Bentley captained the squad as it won the 2022-23 Women's Championship season, earning promotion to the Women's Super League.{{Cite web |last=Robins |first=Sheridan |date=2025-06-30 |title=Bentley signs new deal |url=https://www.bcfc.co.uk/home-top-featured/bentley-signs-new-deal/ |access-date=2025-07-04 |website=Bristol City FC |language=en-ZA}} Bentley won the club's Players’ Player of the Season award, and kept 13 clean sheets to win the Barclays Women’s Championship Golden Glove for the 2022-23 season.{{Cite web |date=2023-06-14 |title=️ Bentley pens new deal |url=https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/bentley-pens-new-deal/ |access-date=2025-07-04 |website=Bristol City FC |language=en-ZA}} On 30 June 2025, it was announced that Bentley had signed a new two-year contract with Bristol City.{{Cite web |last=Robins |first=Sheridan |date=2025-06-30 |title=Bentley signs new deal |url=https://www.bcfc.co.uk/home-top-featured/bentley-signs-new-deal/ |access-date=2025-07-04 |website=Bristol City FC |language=en-ZA}}
International career
Having played for the England under-15s, on 28 April 2017, Bentley made her debut for under-17s in a 2–0 defeat to the United States.{{Cite web|url=https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2017/04/28/world/u17-national-team-friendlies-women/united-states-u17/england-under-17/2628101/|title=United States U17 2–0 England U17|date=28 April 2017|website=soccerway.com|publisher=Soccerway|access-date=10 October 2018|archive-date=11 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181011140333/https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2017/04/28/world/u17-national-team-friendlies-women/united-states-u17/england-under-17/2628101/|url-status=live}} Six months later, she made her competitive debut and kept her first clean sheet for England in a 10–0 victory against Latvia in UEFA Women's Under-17 Championship qualification.{{Cite web|url=https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2017/10/14/europe/uefa-u17-championship-women/england-under-17/latvia-under-17/2369909/|title=England U17 10–0 Latvia U17|date=14 October 2017|website=soccerway.com|publisher=Soccerway|access-date=10 October 2018|archive-date=11 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181011060656/https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2017/10/14/europe/uefa-u17-championship-women/england-under-17/latvia-under-17/2369909/|url-status=live}} Bentley made five appearances to help England qualify for the tournament.{{Cite web|url=https://uk.soccerway.com/players/francesca-bentley/516501/|title=Francesca Bentley|website=soccerway.com|publisher=Soccerway|access-date=11 October 2018}}
Personal life
While playing for Manchester United, she enrolled onto the BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma Business course at Wigan and Leigh College.{{cite web |title=Wigan & Leigh College :: Manchester United Women First team players Enrol at Leigh College |url=https://www.wigan-leigh.ac.uk/news/manchester-united-women-first-team-players-enrol-leigh-college |publisher=Wigan & Leigh College |accessdate=30 May 2019 |date=10 September 2018}}
Bentley is in a relationship with fellow women's footballer and England youth teammate Katie Robinson.{{cite web |author1=Fran Bentley |author1-link=Fran Bentley |title=🤍 |url=https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/17871391748816017/ |website=Instagram |access-date=11 November 2023 |archive-date=11 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231111175146/https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/17871391748816017/ |url-status=live }}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 8 December 2024}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|FA CupIncludes the Women's FA Cup !colspan="2"|League CupIncludes the WSL Cup/Women's League Cup !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Manchester City
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| rowspan=4|Manchester United
|1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2019–20
|rowspan=2|FA WSL |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2020–21
|0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| |Sheffield United (loan)
|6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
| |Blackburn Rovers (loan)
|4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| rowspan="5" |Bristol City
| rowspan="2" |Championship |19 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 22 | 0 | |
| 2022–23
|22 |0 |3 |0 |0 |0 |25 |0 | ||||||||
| 2023–24
|5 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |5 |0 | ||||||||
| 2024-25
|9 |0 |1 |0 |0 |0 |10 |0 | ||||||||
| colspan="2" |Total
!55 !0 !6 !0 !1 !0 !62 !0 | ||||||||
| colspan="3" |Career total
!66 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 73 | 0 |
{{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
Honours
File:Man Utd Women 5 Lewes FC Women 0 11 05 2019-769 (46935129725).jpg trophy after winning the 2018–19 season with Manchester United.]]
Manchester United
- FA Women's Championship: 2018–19{{cite news |date=20 April 2019 |title=Man Utd Women 7–0 Crystal Palace Ladies: Women's Championship title sealed by win |publisher=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47998007 |accessdate=11 May 2019 |archive-date=8 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200408063717/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47998007 |url-status=live }}
Bristol City
- FA Women's Championship: 2022-23
Individual
- FA Women's Championship: Golden Glove Winner (Best Goalkeeper) 2022-23
- Bristol City Womens Young Player Of The Year Award - 2021/22
- Bristol City Womens Players Player Of The Year Award - 2022/23
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- [https://www.bcfc.co.uk/player/fran-bentley/ Fran Bentley] at Bristol City F.C.
- {{Soccerway|francesca-bentley/516501}}
- {{Flashscore|bentley-francesca/bDltoSMs}}
{{Bristol City W.F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bentley, Fran}}
Category:English women's footballers
Category:Women's association football goalkeepers
Category:Women's Super League players
Category:Manchester City W.F.C. players
Category:Manchester United W.F.C. players
Category:English LGBTQ footballers
Category:English lesbian sportswomen
Category:Sheffield United F.C. Women players
Category:Blackburn Rovers W.F.C. players
Category:Bristol City W.F.C. players
Category:Women's Super League 2 players
Category:England women's youth international footballers
Category:Footballers from Southampton