Bristol’s festive sporting fixtures 2023/2024

Bristol’s festive sporting fixtures 2023/2024

Posted on: 20 Dec 2023

With Christmas well and truly underway, we thought we’d take a comprehensive look at Bristol’s sporting calendar over the festive period, so, whether you’re City, Rovers Bears or Flyers, there is plenty of action to get your teeth stuck into.

 

Christmas time is a busy time for sports fans up and down the country and it can often be difficult to keep track of it all, so here is your festive guide to games involving all of Bristol’s main sports clubs…

 

Bristol City Men:

 

It’s been a baptism of fire for head coach Liam Manning, taking over from fan favourite manager Nigel Pearson, with a mixed bag of results. Last weekend’s industrious 1-0 win over Sunderland at Ashton Gate is a step in the right direction and with two home games over the festive period, Manning will be hoping to capitalise on some positive momentum.

 

City’s Christmas schedule begins with an under-the-lights clash with in-form Hull City in BS3 on Friday 22 December. Sitting just inside the playoff places, The Tigers are sure to prove a stern test. Head coach and ex-Robin Liam Rosenior will be happy with his new 3-year contract, but he’ll be in the Lansdown stand for this one after picking up a one-match ban.

 

Then it’s two away games in quick succession, the first being a trip to Vicarage Road on Boxing Day to take on Valerien Ismael’s Watford – a tricky proposition after The Hornet’s 1-5 win over Preston at the weekend. Birmingham City away are up next on Friday 29 December with manager Wayne Rooney experiencing a stuttering start since he took charge.

 

Finally, The Robins are back at The Gate on New Year’s Day to take on another new-ish head coach in Millwall’s Joe Edwards. Sitting down in 20th at the time of writing, the team have made some gentle progress under the new man, playing a far more ambitious style of play than in recent times.

 

Hull City (H) Friday 22 December

Watford (A) Tuesday 26 December

Birmingham City (A) Friday 29 December

Millwall (H) Monday 1 January

Bristol City Women:

 

WSL winter break – no festive fixtures.

Bristol Rovers Men:

 

The Pirates are also under new stewardship this Christmas period with ex-Rotherham boss Matt Taylor taking over from the sacked Joey Barton at the beginning of the month. After a defeat to Crawley and a draw with Cheltenham in the league, Taylor’s stint really came to life at the weekend with a 1-2 away win over high-flying Bolton Wanderers.

 

Rovers will be aiming to spark a playoff push with an away win against Blackpool on Saturday 23 December. Neil Critchley’s Seasiders are sitting just outside the playoffs with last weekend’s defeat to Cambridge marring what has otherwise been a very positive start to the season.

 

Then it’s two home games in a row, the first welcoming league leaders Portsmouth on Boxing Day. John Mousinho’s men are already seven points clear at the top of the league with only one loss all season, making this a very difficult ask indeed.

 

Next up at the Mem is a vital clash against fellow members of the chasing pack in Michael Appleton’s Charlton Athletic on Friday 29 December. The final festive period fixture, on Monday 1 January, is an away trip to unlikely strugglers Wycombe Wanderers in what should, on paper, be the kindest fixture in what looks like a tough run.

 

Blackpool (A) Saturday 23 December

Portsmouth (H) Tuesday 26 December

Charlton Athletic (H) Friday 29 December

Wycombe Wanderers (A) Monday 1 January

Bristol Rovers Women:

 

No festive fixtures.

Bristol Bears Men:

 

Eight games into the Gallagher Premiership season and there is much work to do for Pat Lam’s Bristol Bears. Having said that, last time out against Gloucester at Ashton Gate saw The Bears see off Gloucester in what was a scintillating performance with local hero (and potential new England captain) Ellis Genge picking up the man of the match award.

 

This Friday 22 December, Bristol will travel to the North East to take on Newcastle Falcons. Struggling at the foot of the table, Alex Codling’s side are currently on an abysmal run of 10 straight defeats, making it the perfect opportunity for The Bears to make it two league wins in a row.

 

Next up, on the other side of Christmas, it’s a home Gallagher Premiership tie against Exeter Chiefs on Friday 29 December. Head Coach Ali Hepher’s team have just suffered the blow of fan favourite Tom Hendrickson leaving for Japan but are in good form with two wins in their last two.

 

Newcastle Falcons (A) Friday 22 December

Exeter Chiefs (H) Friday 29 December

Bristol Bears Women:

 

Dave Ward’s Bears Women are a team on a real high right now with two comprehensive wins in a row (against Trailfinders last week and Sale Sharks back in November) and will be looking to continue this over the festive period with their lone fixture against Saracens at Stonex Stadium on Saturday 23 December.

 

Saracens Women (A) Saturday 23 December

Bristol Flyers:

 

Despite a disappointing yet tight defeat in Europe this week away to Estonian side Tartu Ülikool, Bristol Flyers are sitting nice and comfortably in the top three of the BBL Championship.

 

Whilst both their Christmas fixtures are away from home this year - firstly against Sheffield Sharks on Friday 22 and secondly Leicester Riders on Thursday 28 December – fans will still be able to catch them on the Sky Sports and British Basketball League YouTube channels respectively.

 

B. Braun Sheffield Sharks (A) Friday 22 December

Leicester Riders (A) Thursday 28 December

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Article by:

Stanley Gray

Stan is a born and bred Bristolian, recently graduated from studying English Literature in Sheffield. His passions are music and literature and he spends the majority of his time in venues all over the city, immersing himself in Bristol’s alternative music scene. A lifelong Bristol City fan, Stan’s Saturdays are spent watching his team both home and away.