Manchester United W.F.C.

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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; 5 years ago (2018-05-28)
GroundLeigh Sports Village
Capacity12,000
OwnerManchester United plc
Co-chairmenJoel and Avram Glazer
Head coachMarc Skinner
LeagueWomen's Super League (WSL)
2022/232nd
WebsiteClub website
Current season

Manchester United Women Football Club is a professional football club. It is located in the Salford suburb of Broughton, Greater Manchester, England. It is about 1.5 miles from Manchester city centre. It plays in the Women's Super League (WSL). This is the highest level of English women's football. United were promoted from the Championship at the end of the 2018–19 season. They train at Leigh Sports Village. However, the team will move to The Cliff when redevelopment work is done.[1]

History[change | change source]

1970s–2001: Unofficial team[change | change source]

A team called Manchester United Supporters Club Ladies started playing in the late 1970s. It was unofficially known as the club's first women's team. They helped start the North West Women's Regional Football League in 1989.[2] The team played better and better in the 90s at different levels of the FA Women's National League, until 2001.[3]

2001–2005: Partnership and disbandment[change | change source]

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 started an official partnership with Manchester United. However, the club finished mid-table in the third division for a few years.[2] The team stopped playing four years later, in 2005. This was soon after Malcolm Glazer's bought the club. He did not believe the women's team was going to make him any money.[5] A media spokesman for Manchester United also said that the club wanted to focus on its women's academy instead of its senior team.[4]

2018–present: Current team[change | change source]

Manchester United celebrate winning the Championship title in their inaugural season.

In March 2018, Manchester United announced they wanted to start a new women's football team.[6] Manchester United Women Football Club started again on 28 May 2018. This was after the team asked to join the new 2018–19 FA Women's Championship.[7][1] This was thirteen years after the club stopped playing in 2005. The club's academy had continued through the Manchester United Foundation. For example, Izzy Christiansen and Katie Zelem went through United's Centre of Excellence academy.[8][9] Casey Stoney was the club's first head coach. She became coach on 8 June.[10] They announced the first 21-player team about a month later.

The team's first game back was on 19 August 2018. They won 1–0 in an away game against Liverpool in the FA Women's League Cup. Lizzie Arnot scored their first competitive goal in thirteen years.[11] Three weeks later, they played their first Championship match. They won 12–0 against Aston Villa.[12] On 17 April 2019, United won promotion to the FA Women's Super League after a 5–0 win against the same team.[13] They won the FA Women's Championship title three days later. This was after 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 first FA WSL campaign. The season's first game was a Manchester derby. It was at the City of Manchester stadium. Manchester City won the match 1–0 in front of a league record attendance of 31,213.[16][17] United's first division campaign ended early because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The team ended in fourth place on a points per game basis.[18] They won their last game 3–2 against Everton on 23 February 2020. Leah Galton scored twice and Ella Toone scoring once for Manchester United. This was the first game 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. This was the first time they had lost in the first knockout round of a competition.[20] However, they got to the semi-finals in the League Cup for the second time. They lost 1–0 to Chelsea.[21] Chelsea also won in the final.

Ground[change | change source]

When the club joined in the 2018–19 FA Women's Championship, they announced they would be located in Broughton, Salford at The Cliff training ground, when it was ready.[1] Until then, United will play their games at Leigh Sports Village.[22] Moss Lane is the venue when the Sports Village is not available.[23] The club also sometimes play at Ewen Fields. United played an FA Cup fifth round match there against London Bees in February 2019.[24]

Players[change | change source]

Current squad[change | change source]

Manchester United in February 2019 before a match against Arsenal
As of 11 July 2020.[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 England England Siobhan Chamberlain
2 DF England England Martha Harris
3 DF Sweden Sweden Lotta Ökvist
4 DF England England Amy Turner
5 DF England England Abbie McManus
7 FW England England Ella Toone
8 MF England England Mollie Green
9 FW England England Jessica Sigsworth
10 MF England England Katie Zelem (captain)
11 FW England England Leah Galton
12 MF Wales Wales Hayley Ladd
13 GK England England Emily Ramsey
14 MF Netherlands Netherlands Jackie Groenen
No. Pos. Nation Player
16 FW England England Lauren James
18 FW Scotland Scotland Kirsty Hanson
19 FW Scotland Scotland Jane Ross
20 DF Scotland Scotland Kirsty Smith
21 DF England England Millie Turner
22 GK England England Fran Bentley
24 FW England England Maria Edwards
25 MF Wales Wales Chloe Williams
26 MF England England Rebecca May
27 GK England England Mary Earps
— MF Wales Wales Carrie Jones
— MF England England Lucy Staniforth

Club captains[change | change source]

Manchester United's first women's team's captain Alex Greenwood (left), with her now successor Katie Zelem (right).
Dates Captain Ref.
2018–2019 England Alex Greenwood [26]
2019–present England Katie Zelem [27]

Reserves and academy[change | change source]

Manchester United had a girls academy up to under 16's level even when the senior team did not play between 2005 and 2018. This was because of FA rules.[28] The club's partner charity is The Manchester United Foundation. Its work includes coaching girls at all ages across Greater Manchester.[2] Before the 2019–20 season, Manchester United started a full-time U21 team. It played in the FA WSL Academy League for the first time. Charlotte Healy is the manager.[29][30] The club's development team had played the WSL Academy Cup final against Arsenal the season before.[31] They lost 5-0.

Academy graduates[change | change source]

The academy players below have also played in the senior team. Bold means the player is still at the club.

Coaching staff[change | change source]

First-team[change | change source]

Position Staff
Manager England Casey Stoney[10]
Assistant manager England Glen Harris[32]
Goalkeeping coach England Ian Willcock[32]
Performance coach England Elle Turner
Strength & Conditioning Coach England Tommy Munday
Lead physiotherapist Scotland Kitty Forrest
Physiotherapist Eva Gibson

Academy[change | change source]

Position Staff
Under-21s manager England Charlotte Healy[29]

Managerial statistics[change | change source]

Information correct as of 23 February 2020. 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 50 37 3 10 160 33 074.00 1 FA Women's Championship title [10][33]

Honours[change | change source]

Seasons[change | change source]

Key[change | change source]

  • QF = Quarter-finals
  • SF = Semi-finals
Champions Runners-up Promoted Relegated

Season summary[change | change source]

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 20 18 1 1 98 7 55 1st QF SF Jessica Sigsworth 18
2019–20 FA WSL 14 7 2 5 24 12 23 4th R4 SF Lauren James 9

Records[change | change source]

See the main article: List of Manchester United W.F.C. records and statistics

Notes[change | change source]

  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[change | change source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Staff writer (29 May 2018). "Manchester United get Women's Championship licence". ITV News. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 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. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "United abandon women's game to focus on youth | Football | The Guardian". The Guardian. 21 February 2005. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  5. ↑ News, Manchester Evening (20 June 2005). "'United gave us a water bottle and then they dumped us'". men. {{cite web}}: |last1= has generic name (help)
  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. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 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. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "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. Archived from the original on 9 August 2020. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  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. ↑ "Exclusive interview with United Women captain Alex Greenwood". ManTtd.com. Manchester United. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  27. ↑ "Man Utd Women announce new captain ahead of the 201920 season". www.manutd.com.
  28. ↑ "From A Left Wing: The Ladies of Old Trafford". 29 July 2012. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 "Healy launches WSL Academy side". Twitter. 29 July 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  30. ↑ "Full-Time : Division". full-time.thefa.com.
  31. ↑ Jamet, Sylvain (22 April 2019). "Arsenal defeat Manchester United 5-0 to win the FA WSL Academy Cup". Daily Cannon.
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 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.
  33. ↑ "All 2018–19". www.manutd.com. Retrieved 13 August 2018.

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