Holders City open at Donny in Continental Tyres Cup

The fixtures for this season’s FA WSL Continental Tyres Cup have been announced with the competition kicking off in July.

There will be an extra knockout stage from 2015, with quarter finals introduced after the group games. The teams finishing in the top two in each group plus the two best third-placed teams will progress to the last eight.

The rebranded competition will begin after The FA WSL's mid-season break for the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Manchester City won last season’s competition, with Isobel Christiansen’s goal enough to overcome Arsenal in The Final at Wycombe Wanderers’ Adams Park.

Kelly Simmons, FA director of national game and women’s football, said: “We’ve looked to freshen up the competition this year and by introducing the extra knockout stage we think it will make the cup even more exciting for both supporters and clubs.

“Continental Tyres have been a big supporter of the women’s game since the start of The FA WSL in 2011 and we look forward to working with them this season to make this season’s competition the best yet.”

Peter Robb, Continental Tyres UK, marketing communications manager, added: “Continental Tyres is delighted to be part of this exciting competition for the fifth year running, and we are looking forward to what promises to be the most successful tournament to date.

“The continual rise in attendance figures over recent tournaments clearly demonstrates the growing appetite for the Women's game in this country.

“Our fifth season brings an even bigger tournament with the addition of an extra knock out round, putting even more focus on the teams’ performance, as they compete to be in the season’s concluding Cup Final.”

FA WSL Continental Tyres Cup 2015

Group One
Arsenal
Chelsea
London Bees
Millwall Lionesses
Reading
Watford

Group Two
Doncaster Rovers Belles
Durham
Everton
Liverpool
Manchester City
Sunderland

Group Three
Aston Villa
Birmingham City
Bristol Academy
Notts County
Oxford United
Yeovil Town

Fixtures

Tuesday 21 July
Aston Villa v Bristol Academy

Wednesday 22 July
Durham v Sunderland
Millwall Lionesses v London Bees
Notts County v Birmingham City
Reading v Chelsea

Thursday 23 July
Arsenal v Watford
Doncaster Rovers Belles v Manchester City
Everton v Liverpool
Oxford United v Yeovil Town

Wednesday 29 July
London Bees v Arsenal
Manchester City v Durham
Millwall Lionesses v Reading
Sunderland v Everton
Watford v Chelsea

Thursday 30 July
Aston Villa v Birmingham City
Doncaster Rovers Belles v Liverpool
Oxford United v Notts County
Yeovil Town v Bristol Academy

Saturday 15 August
Liverpool v Durham
Reading v London Bees
Sunderland v Manchester City

Sunday 16 August
Birmingham City v Oxford United
Chelsea v Arsenal
Everton v Doncaster Rovers Belles
Notts County v Bristol Academy
Watford v Millwall Lionesses
Yeovil Town v Aston Villa

Wednesday 26 August
Aston Villa v Notts County
Birmingham City v Yeovil Town
Chelsea v Millwall Lionesses
Liverpool v Sunderland
London Bees v Watford

Thursday 27 August
Arsenal v Reading
Bristol Academy v Oxford United
Doncaster Rovers Belles v Durham
Everton v Manchester City

Saturday 29 August
Bristol Academy v Birmingham City

Sunday 30 August
Chelsea v London Bees
Durham v Everton
Manchester City v Liverpool
Millwall Lionesses v Arsenal
Notts County v Yeovil Town
Oxford United v Aston Villa
Sunderland v Doncaster Rovers Belles
Watford v Reading

Saturday 12/Sunday 13 September
FA WSL Continental Tyres Cup quarter finals

Saturday 10/Sunday 11 October
FA WSL Continental Tyres Cup Semi-Finals