Football / Bristol Rovers Women
Rovers number one George Hunt: from fan to first team
When George Hunt stands in goal for Bristol Rovers at the Memorial Stadium in front of the Thatchers End, it will only be a few yards from where she used to stand on the terraces as a fan with her dad.
In their first season in the National League, Rovers will play all of their home games at the Mem.
And Hunt says that playing at the stadium could form a huge part in the Gas Girls having a successful year in the fourth tier.
is needed now More than ever
“I’m looking forward to playing at the Mem consistently so it becomes natural,” said Hunt.
“You get nerves going into a stadium. That is pressure. But once we get comfortable playing there, it doesn’t matter where we go.”
George Hunt is relishing playing all of Rovers’ home games next season at the Memorial Stadium – photo: Bristol Rovers
Since joining Rovers in 2022, Hunt has been an integral part of the team and last season won the golden glove award for the South West Regional Premier Division, pipping fellow Rovers shot-stopper Charlotte Cousin into second place.
Like most of the Rovers squad, Hunt juggles full-time work with playing football.
The 23-year-old is a primary school PE teacher who admits she still gets imposter syndrome on occasions including signing memorabilia for young fans.
But on the pitch, Hunt is a formidable presence: “When I play, I’m loud, I’m annoying, I’m boisterous. I will scream and I will shout.
“Off the pitch, I can be quite soft. On the pitch, I have a different personality… There’s something about being on a pitch with the opposition in front of you, just thinking, ‘I want to beat you’.”
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Having played football since she was nine, Hunt has always been a goalkeeper apart from one season when she played at centre back before heading back between the sticks after picking up multiple yellow cards.
She started playing competitively at Mangotsfield, then St Nick’s in Chipping Sodbury and signing for Rovers from Chipping Sodbury.
“I had offers from other clubs before but something about coming here felt natural,” Hunt said.
“It’s exciting to be a part of. There’s big personalities but there’s no big egos and we all respect the fact that we all work hard to be here and we need each other to make this work.”
George Hunt recently extended her contract with the Gas Girls – photo: Bristol Rovers
In just her second start for Rovers, Hunt broke her collarbone playing against Forest Green. But remarkably, she was back in the starting lineup after just three months.
“Rovers has just been a thing in my family forever so to be able to play for the club is amazing,” said Hunt just a few days before the Gas Girls took on Cardiff City in their first pre-season game.
“But this is also the club I have ever been at that has made me think that I can play at a high level of football. I just used to play football because I loved playing football…
“Rovers brought the best out of me. It brought out my competitive side and motivational side. I wanted to be the best I can be at this. If I’m going to put this much time and effort into it, why not go all the way?”
So how did she feel in a Rovers shirt? Not the blue and white quarters of course but what she describes as ‘highlighter’ orange.
“I felt like I was making people proud. To see my family proud of me for something that I just did for fun, that nothing was ever serious, it was a really nice feeling.”
Hunt added: “I just want to strive as far as we can go. I just want to push it. I want to be known as someone who helped Bristol Rovers go as far as we can, not just me doing well, I want to make a difference in our progression through the leagues.”
Main photo: Bristol Rovers Community Trust
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