Manchester United W.F.C.

Manchester United Women Football Club is a professional football club based in the Salford suburb of Broughton, Greater Manchester, England, around 1.5 miles from Manchester city centre, that competes in the Women's Super League (WSL), the top tier of English women's football, after gaining promotion from the Championship at the end of the 2018–19 season. They are based at Leigh Sports Village, although the team is expected to move to The Cliff once redevelopment work is completed.[1]

This article is about the women's football club. For the men's football club, see Manchester United F.C.

Manchester United Women
Full nameManchester United Women Football Club
Nickname(s)The Red Devils
Founded28 May 2018 (2018-05-28)
GroundLeigh Sports Village
Capacity12,000
OwnerManchester United plc
Co-chairmenJoel and Avram Glazer
Head coachCasey Stoney
LeagueFA WSL
2019–20FA WSL, 4th of 12
WebsiteClub website

History

1970s–2001: Unofficial team

A team called Manchester United Supporters Club Ladies began operations in the late 1970s and was unofficially recognised as the club's senior women's team. They became founding members of the North West Women's Regional Football League in 1989.[2] The team became increasingly competitive throughout the 90s at various levels of the FA Women's National League up until 2001.[3]

2001–2005: Partnership and disbandment
It's very disappointing. The progress of women's football can be really helped by professional clubs taking women's teams under their umbrella and it's a blow to the game that a great club like Manchester United will no longer be doing this.

—Ray Kiddell, FA vice-chairman, 2005[4]

In 2001, the team formed an official partnership with Manchester United. However, the club began to stagnate with a string of successive mid-table finishes in the third division.[2] The team were disbanded four years later, in 2005, shortly after Malcolm Glazer's completed takeover with the new regime deeming the women's team to not be part of the "core business" and unprofitable.[5] A media spokesman for Manchester United also claimed the club wanted to focus on its women's academy instead of its senior team.[4]

2018–present: Current team
Manchester United celebrate winning the Championship title in their inaugural season.

In March 2018, Manchester United announced their intentions to reintroduce a women's football team.[6] Manchester United Women Football Club were founded on 28 May 2018, following the club's successful application to join the newly-formed 2018–19 FA Women's Championship.[7][1] It marked the club's return to women's football after a thirteen-year absence; though the club's academy continued via the Manchester United Foundation, with the likes of Izzy Christiansen and Katie Zelem being produced by United's Centre of Excellence academy.[8][9] Casey Stoney was appointed as the club's first head coach on 8 June,[10] with their inaugural 21-player squad announced just over a month later.

The team's first game back was on 19 August 2018, where they won 1–0 in an away game against Liverpool in the FA Women's League Cup, with Lizzie Arnot scoring their first competitive goal in thirteen years.[11] Three weeks later, their opening Championship encounter ended in a 12–0 victory away to Aston Villa.[12] On 17 April 2019, United secured promotion to the FA Women's Super League following a 5–0 win against the same opposition.[13] They clinched the FA Women's Championship title three days later following a 7–0 win at home to Crystal Palace.[14] In May 2019, Manchester United were named FA Women's Championship Club of the Year at the 2019 FA Women’s Football Awards.[15]

The 2019–20 season was the team's maiden FA WSL campaign. The season opener was a Manchester derby, held at the City of Manchester stadium. Manchester City won the match 1–0 in front of a then league record attendance of 31,213.[16][17] United's first top-flight campaign was ended prematurely after the season was curtailed by the COVID-19 pandemic with the team awarded fourth place on a points per game basis.[18] The last game was a 3–2 victory over Everton on 23 February 2020, with Leah Galton scoring twice and Ella Toone scoring once for Manchester United in the first game played at Everton's new Walton Hall Park stadium.[19] In the FA Cup, Manchester United lost 3–2 to Manchester City in the fourth round, the first time they had lost in the first knockout round of a competition.[20] However, they repeated their best League Cup finish by reaching the semi-finals for the second consecutive year, losing 1–0 to eventual cup winners Chelsea.[21]

Ground

Following the club's acceptance into the 2018–19 FA Women's Championship, it was revealed that the women's team would be based in Broughton, Salford at The Cliff training ground; subject to completion of redevelopment work.[1] In the meantime United play their fixtures at Leigh Sports Village.[22] Moss Lane serves as a backup venue for when the Sports Village is unavailable.[23] Ewen Fields has also been used as a contingency plan, hosting United’s FA Cup fifth round match against London Bees in February 2019.[24]

Players
Main article: List of Manchester United W.F.C. players
See also: List of Manchester United W.F.C. players § Club captains

Current squad
Manchester United in February 2019 before a match against Arsenal
As of 21 January 2021[25]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  ENG Emily Ramsey
2 DF  ENG Martha Harris
3 DF  NOR Maria Thorisdottir
4 DF  ENG Amy Turner (vice-captain)
7 FW  ENG Ella Toone
9 FW  ENG Jessica Sigsworth
10 MF  ENG Katie Zelem (captain)
11 FW  ENG Leah Galton
12 MF  WAL Hayley Ladd
13 FW  GER Ivana Fuso
14 MF  NED Jackie Groenen
16 FW  ENG Lauren James
No. Pos. Nation Player
17 DF  ESP Ona Batlle
18 FW  SCO Kirsty Hanson
19 FW  SCO Jane Ross
20 DF  SCO Kirsty Smith
21 DF  ENG Millie Turner
22 GK  ENG Fran Bentley
23 FW  ENG Alessia Russo
24 FW  USA Christen Press
27 GK  ENG Mary Earps
37 MF  ENG Lucy Staniforth
77 FW  USA Tobin Heath

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
5 DF  ENG Abbie McManus (at Tottenham Hotspur until 30 June 2021)[26]

Reserves and academy

Despite not having a senior women's team for many years, Manchester United have continued to run a girls academy up to under 16's level in accordance with FA regulations.[27] The club's partner charity, The Manchester United Foundation, also works in coaching girls at all ages across the Greater Manchester region.[2] Ahead of the 2019–20 season, Manchester United entered a full-time U21 team into the FA WSL Academy League for the first time, managed by Charlotte Healy.[28][29] The club's development team had contested the WSL Academy Cup final against Arsenal the previous season.[30]

Under-21 Development Squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
26 FW  ENG Megan Hornby
28 MF  WAL Carrie Jones
29 MF  ENG Rebecca May
30 MF  WAL Chloe Williams
32 MF  ENG Tara Bourne
33 DF  ENG Poppy Lawson
34 MF  ENG Lara Miller
35 DF  ENG Chloe Broughton
36 MF  ENG Fran Stables
38 FW  NOR Karna Solskjær
No. Pos. Nation Player
39 FW  ENG Holly Davenport
40 DF  ENG Niamh Murphy
41 DF  ENG Emelia Wilson
42 DF  ENG Izzy Reidford
43 DF  ENG Pheobe Hollin
44 GK  ENG Sophie Hillyerd
45 MF  ENG Ella Kinzett
46 FW  ENG Alyssa Aherne
47 MF  ENG Polly Watson

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
31 FW  ENG Maria Edwards (at Blackburn Rovers until 30 June 2021)[31]

Academy graduates

The following is a list of academy players who have made senior team appearances. Bold indicates the player is still at the club.

Coaching staff

First-team
As of 13 July 2020.
Position Staff
Manager Casey Stoney[10]
Assistant manager Martin Ho[32]
Goalkeeping coach Ian Willcock[33]
Performance coach Elle Turner
Strength & Conditioning Coach Tommy Munday
Lead physiotherapist Kitty Forrest
Physiotherapist Eva Gibson

Academy
Position Staff
Under-21s manager Charlotte Healy[28]

Managerial statistics

Information correct as of 7 February 2021. Only competitive matches are counted.

List of Manchester United W.F.C. managers
Image Name Nationality From To P W D L GF GA Win%[nb 1] Honours Notes
Casey Stoney  England 8 June 2018 present 67 46 6 15 193 50 068.66 1 FA Women's Championship title [10][34]

Honours

Seasons

Key
  • QF = Quarter-finals
  • SF = Semi-finals

Champions Runners-up Promoted Relegated

Season summary
Results of league and cup competitions by season
Season Division P W D L F A Pts Pos FA Cup League Cup Name Goals
League Top goalscorer[nb 2]
2018–19 Championship 201811987551st QF SF Jessica Sigsworth 18
2019–20 FA WSL 147252412234th R4 SF Lauren James 9
2020–21 FA WSL 1410223213322nd R4 GS Leah Galton
Ella Toone		 6

Records
Main article: List of Manchester United W.F.C. records and statistics

Notes
  1. Win% is rounded to two decimal places
  2. Goals in all competitions (FA Women's Championship or FA Women's Super League, Women's FA Cup and FA Women's League Cup are counted.)

    References
    1. Staff writer (29 May 2018). "Manchester United get Women's Championship licence". ITV News. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
    2. Wigmore, Tim. "Why Do Manchester United Still Not Have a Women's Team?". Bleacher Report.
    3. "From A Left Wing: The Ladies of Old Trafford". From A Left Wing. 29 July 2012.
    4. "United abandon women's game to focus on youth | Football | The Guardian". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
    5. News, Manchester Evening (20 June 2005). "'United gave us a water bottle and then they dumped us'". men.
    6. Sports staff (22 March 2018). "Manchester United announce women's team and apply to join Women's Super League". The Independent. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
    7. Staff writer (28 May 2018). "Manchester United get Women's Championship licence; West Ham join top flight". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
    8. Leighton, Tony (21 February 2005). "United abandon women's game to focus on youth". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
    9. Moore, Glenn (22 March 2018). "Manchester United take vital step forward in announcing women's team – but there's still work to be done". The Independent. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
    10. Boswell, Zinny (8 June 2018). "Casey Stoney named Manchester United women's head coach". Sky Sports. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
    11. "Lizzie Arnot: Scotland cap hails 'amazing' late goal for Manchester United Women". BBC Sport. 19 August 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
    12. Kelly, Ciaran (9 September 2018). "Manchester United transfer news LIVE Pogba discusses Barcelona transfer as Man Utd Women thrash Aston Villa Ladies 12–0". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
    13. Garry, Tom (17 April 2019). "Manchester United Women promoted after 5–0 victory over Aston Villa Ladies". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
    14. "Man Utd Women 7–0 Crystal Palace Ladies: Women's Championship title sealed by win". BBC Sport. 20 April 2019. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
    15. Bonsu, Benny (18 May 2019). "The winners from the 21st annual FA Women's Football Awards". givemesport.com. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
    16. Bath, Adam (7 September 2019). "Manchester City Women 1 United Women 0". www.manutd.com. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
    17. "Record crowd watch City women win Manchester derby". Reuters. 7 September 2019.
    18. "Chelsea named Women's Super League champions, Liverpool relegated". www.bbc.co.uk. 5 June 2020. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
    19. Ludbrook, Sam (23 February 2020). "Everton Women 2 United Women 3". www.manutd.com. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
    20. Plant, Michael (25 January 2020). "United Women 2 City Women 3". www.manutd.com. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
    21. Ibson, Ben (29 January 2020). "Manchester United Women 0 Chelsea Women 1". www.manutd.com. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
    22. Duncker, Charlotte (18 June 2018). "Manchester United Women's team set to make surprise transfer announcements". Manchester Evening News. MEN Media. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
    23. Flynn, Brian (13 September 2018). "Robins Strengthen Links with Manchester United". altrinchamfc.com.
    24. "Manchester United Women venue update for FA Cup clash against London Bees". www.manutd.com.
    25. "Man Utd Women Player Profiles". ManUtd.com. Manchester United. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
    26. "Abbie McManus joins Tottenham on loan". www.manutd.com.
    27. "From A Left Wing: The Ladies of Old Trafford". 29 July 2012. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
    28. "Healy launches WSL Academy side". Twitter. 29 July 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
    29. "Full-Time : Division". full-time.thefa.com.
    30. Jamet, Sylvain (22 April 2019). "Arsenal defeat Manchester United 5-0 to win the FA WSL Academy Cup". Daily Cannon.
    31. "Rovers loan Edwards from United". www.rovers.co.uk.
    32. "UNITED WOMEN APPOINT MARTIN HO AS ASSISTANT COACH". Manchester United. 13 July 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
    33. Theivam, Kieran (19 September 2019). "'Don't be nice. You want it more than them' — a day with Manchester United Women". The Athletic. Retrieved 28 September 2019.
    34. "All 2018–19". www.manutd.com. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
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