Manchester United Women v Leicester City Women match programme, WSL, 02.03.25
v Leicester City Women
BARCLAYS WOMEN’S SUPER LEAGUE • SUNDAY 2 MARCH 2025 • 12.30PM
FAN MESSAGES
UNITED
JUNIOR
ELSEWHERE
MANCHESTER UNITED FOOTBALL
Co-chairmen Joel Glazer, Avram Glazer
Directors Bryan Glazer, Kevin Glazer, Edward Glazer, Darcie Glazer Kassewitz, Michael Edelson, Sir Alex Ferguson, David Gill CBE, Omar Berrada, Sir Dave Brailsford, Jean-Claude Blanc Secretary Rebecca Britain Honorary president Martin Edwards
MATCH PROGRAMME TEAM
Editor Charlie Ghagan Contributors Zoe Hodges, Helen Rowe-Willcocks, Mikey Partington, Sean Mullan, Harry Robinson, Jamie Spencer, Matt Brown, Tom Chase, Joe Ganley Photography Charlotte Tattersall, Poppy Townson, Ash Donelon, Zohaib Alam, Getty, Alamy Thanks to Ellie Decrop, John Shiel, Ian Nolan, Mark Froggatt, Benjamin Williams, Jonny Cooper
Marc
SKINNER
THE BOSS WAS DELIGHTED WITH OUR SECOND-HALF REACTION AGAINST PALACE BEFORE THE BREAK,
AND
TODAY HE
WANTS
TO
SEE
SIMILAR LEVELS OF PROFESSIONALISM FROM HIS IN-FORM REDS...
Welcome back to LSV following the international break.
I’ve been really pleased with what I’ve seen from the squad in recent weeks, both on and off the pitch. The attitude of the players has been fantastic and we now have six wins in a row in the WSL. What I was really pleased with from our most recent win, against Crystal Palace, was that when we conceded, we adapted and evolved. We needed to be more transitional and we realised that. We were all on the same page with what changes were needed, and we dominated the second half.
With every game I am seeing us adapt, and it’s great to see what we plan during the week come to fruition on a match day. We said it would take a little time to gel this season but what we are seeing now is how well we are growing and evolving together.
The international break was different for us. We had five players here while most of the group were away, which meant we had time to spend on individual sessions. It was also
important for everyone to get some rest in before we start another big month, with four WSL games in March, and one in the FA Cup.
Today’s opponents Leicester come to LSV on the back of a really good result, beating Aston Villa. We know they are going to sit in a block and counter, and that can be really tough to attack against. They don’t give their opposition any space so today it’s going to be all about concentration. We have the joint-best pressing statistics in the league, along with Chelsea, so we want to keep showing that energy.
With a win today, we can overtake the points total we got in the league for all of last season, which is a really important marker for us showing our growth, with seven games still to come after today.
It is so important to us to keep this unbeaten run going. We take each match as it comes so we can concentrate on each individual opponent. We have to earn and work for every victory and we are going to keep pushing for every possible point.
numbers Run the
A STAT-BASED PREVIEW OF TODAY’S WSL CLASH
United go into this meeting with Leicester on the back of winning our last six WSL games, including all four in 2025. It would be fair to say that momentum has been flowing for the Reds of late and, while we’re all keen to see the team take to the pitch again today after the international break, there is little doubting that the enthusiasm will be shared in the home dressing room
as Marc Skinner’s players prepare to reignite their blossoming chemistry at the start of a busy month. This is the first of five outings before the end of March and although we’ve won six of our previous seven WSL tussles with today’s opponents, last season’s 1-1 draw in the corresponding fixture should serve as a reminder that another three points is not a given. The Foxes have had a change in the dugout since that October 2023 stalemate, with former Chelsea youth prospect Amandine Miquel now calling the shots, but we should expect another stern test from a side growing in confidence on the back of their own successful 2025 to date (read more about that from page 34).
A staple of our impressive start to the year has been a series of lightning-quick early goals that means the Reds could make a piece of WSL history shortly after play gets under way today. If you’re reading this ahead of the first whistle, you may want to keep one eye on the digital clock situated at the top of the East Stand, because if United score inside the opening 10 minutes, we’ll become the first-ever WSL team to net inside that period across
four consecutive games. Ella Toone’s second-minute strike at home to Brighton (below) was our earliest goal of the season so far, and Elisabeth Terland has taken on the responsibility of punishing any United supporters who didn’t make it to their seats early enough in the wins over Spurs and Palace! Only Spurs and Everton have conceded more times (five) than Leicester (four) in the opening 10 minutes of WSL games this term, but the Foxes kept a clean sheet against Villa last time out and will be in no mood to surrender defensive solidity here, particularly early on.
Skinner and Miquel first met in November
Speaking of scoring, Skinner’s side brought up 50 goals for the season in our last match against Palace – a tally we’ll be looking to add to in the first 10 minutes and beyond this afternoon. Outside of our Championship-winning campaign of 2018/19, in which we scored 113 goals in just 29 games across all competitions (at an average of 3.89 goals per game), a total of 80 in 2022/23 provides our best previous return during a term in which we’ve played our league football at the top level. While surpassing that number is not the primary target of the season’s final three months, which we enter today, it would
certainly be a satisfying achievement, and a sign of the progress made in our attacking play. In terms of games left this term, we’ll have a minimum of nine and a maximum of 11 (should we take our defence of the FA Cup back to the final) left to do it – so around three goals a game would be needed. That’s a feat we’ve achieved in each of our last three home WSL clashes, so here’s to the trend continuing!
Awujo and Riviere were members of former United boss Casey Stoney’s Canada squad for the Pinatar Cup
That’s the number of United players who were called up by their countries for matches in the recent break. Thirteen of the 20 were picked in squads that kicked off the new UEFA Nations League season, including Terland and Melvine Malard, who faced each other when Norway came up against France last Friday. Elsewhere on the continent, Simi Awujo and Jayde Riviere were members of former United boss Casey Stoney’s Canada squad for the Spain-based Pinatar Cup while, in the United States, Hinata Miyazawa represented Japan at another
invitational tournament: the SheBelieves Cup. With the exception of young trio Lucy Newell, Jess Simpson and Emma Watson who are out on loan, the Reds who have been proudly flying the United flag across the globe could be back and involved here at LSV this afternoon.
Hini in Japan action last week
Our four against Liverpool in December would kick-start a goal-laden run in the WSL here at Leigh Sports Village
*date and kick off time subject to change
MARCH DATES CONFIRMED
Arrangements set for Anfield and Villa Park, after Cup defence continues at LSV
United’s next three games, following this afternoon’s visit of Leicester, have had their dates and kick-off times set after the latest rounds of broadcast selections were announced.
Our FA Cup quarter-final against Sunderland is next up and we now know it will take place here at Leigh Sports Village on Saturday 8 March, as a 5.15pm kick-off that will be shown live on the competition’s YouTube channel and The FA Player.
Marc Skinner’s side then return to Women’s Super League action with a first trip to Anfield, for a clash with Liverpool that has been brought forward to Friday 14 March so it can be televised on the BBC as a 7.15pm start. That’s before Sky Sports
screen our visit to Villa Park for Sunday 23 March’s league encounter with Aston Villa, which will now get under way at
4.30pm. The latest information on tickets for all three of these matches can be found at tickets.manutd.com.
TERLAND TOPS POTM VOTE
Reds forward Elisabeth Terland has won the fan vote to be crowned United Women’s Player of the Month for February. Our Norwegian striker earned the majority of the vote from supporters on ManUtd.com and in the United app, to finish ahead of fellow nominees Jayde Riviere and Mared Griffiths, after a standout month that saw Terland notch four goals and an assist across our three matches, against Tottenham, Wolves and Crystal Palace. Terland also had efforts that finished second and third
in United Women’s Goal of the Month voting, but it was team-mate Ella Toone who pipped her to that prize, after the latter accumulated the highest
percentage of the vote for her precise curler away to Wolves. As ever, thank you to everyone who got involved in the voting for both awards.
We’ll be back at Villa Park – where we won in dramatic fashion last season – on Sunday 23 March
Elisabeth and Ella both enjoyed a strong month
TERI’S GOLDEN GOAL
Photo taken: Sunday 16 February 2025, Leigh Sports Village
What’s the story? Elisabeth Terland lets out a cry of joy after finding the net for the second time in our WSL game against Crystal Palace, played here in Leigh exactly two weeks ago. It was a landmark strike for the Reds – our 250th goal scored here at LSV (in our 87th game here, with 68 goals conceded – turn to p14 for more stats) – six of which have come from Terland, whose strength and ruthlessness in the penalty box continues to impress. Most importantly though, it put us 2-1 up on the day, and right back on track to pick up another vital win in the WSL...
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Captain’s column
MLT
THE REDS HAVE A QUICK TURNAROUND AFTER THE INTERNATIONAL BREAK, SO MAYA KNOWS WE NEED TO BE READY...
I love playing at Leigh at any time, but it’s particularly nice to get back to you fans following an international break. Our last game here was a strong performance against Crystal Palace and we want to continue this good form as we enter March.
Much of our squad has been spread out across the world during the break and it’s great to see everyone shining away from the club as well. I’m so proud of how hard we are all working at the minute and that is obvious to see with the international call-ups, from the youth teams up to the senior squads. It’s showing our quality and it’s great that we are sharing all of these experiences together.
International games are a little different to the WSL, but it’s nice to get different types of experiences as a footballer and I love playing for England as much as United. When we all come back together as a group – apart from the fact the coaches can’t get us to stop talking! – it’s like we’ve never been away.
The transition back into the league schedule is quick, so we don’t get much time to think
about anything else. It’s important to us that we remember our values and remember our principals so we can jump straight back in and put in a good performance.
Today we face Leicester. The last time we faced them we got the win, but they like to sit in so we know we are going to have to be at our best today. Leicester had a big win against Villa in their last game, and we know they are going to be organised today, but we are working really hard as a squad to give ourselves lots of different options on the pitch, both pushing forward and tracking back as one.
Enjoy the game. We’ll be giving everything to get another three points on the board to continue our winning run.
The skipper is keen to start the five-fixture month that lies ahead
#11 Leah Galton
DAYS AFTER HITTING AN APPEARANCE MILESTONE FOR UNITED, ONE OF OUR ‘ORIGINALS’ JOINED US AT CARRINGTON FOR A PRE-TRAINING CHAT, WHERE SHE RECALLED HER MANY HIGHS AND (VERY OCCASIONAL) LOWS AS A RED, BEFORE LOOKING
AHEAD TO A BIG MONTH IN BOTH LEAGUE AND CUP
Congratulations on reaching 150 appearances, Leah. Are such milestones – both for yourself and the team – something you keep a close eye on?
I’m getting on a bit now so I’m happy for the milestones to roll in, and someone can tell me when they’re close! [Smiles] But obviously they are special. My family might come to the game and we’ll make a bit of a day of it, which is nice.
Marc Skinner was particularly complimentary about you in his programme column for the Palace game, writing that: ‘Leah still has so much more to give – she’s not slowing down and she’s become an even bigger goal threat.’ That must be nice to hear. Would you agree – that you’re still improving at the age of 30, and you’re a bigger goal threat than you were back in 2018?
FACTFILE
DATE OF BIRTH 24 May 1994
PLACE OF BIRTH
Harrogate, North Yorkshire
POSITION Winger
YOUTH CAREER
Knaresborough Celtic, Harrogate Railway, Leeds United
SENIOR CAREER
2010-12 Leeds United
38 games, 9 goals
2016-17 Sky Blue FC (New Jersey)
30 games, 5 goals
2018 Bayern Munich
2 games, 0 goals
2018- Manchester United 151 games, 41 goals
INTERNATIONAL CAREER
England U15, U17, U19 level
I think I’ve definitely improved over the years I’ve been here. I’m 30 now but still learning and that’s exciting. It’s not just like the learning has stopped and I’ve stayed the same player – I’m learning something new every day, which you can’t do in every job, so I know that’s a nice thing. And I’m even more hungry to improve now because we’re doing well, and we need to keep competing. We’re second in the league so I’m just enjoying my football and trying to do my best for the team.
You mention that you’re 30 – which is far from old in modern-day football! You do seem to be as pacy and powerful as ever down the wing this season – do you believe that 30-year-old Leah could beat 20-year-old Leah in a sprint race?
[Smiles] Part of me thinks I’ve got slower but part of me knows I’m in good shape, I feel fit, I feel healthy, and training with the likes of Jayde every day is something that probably keeps me up there [as a
Interview: Charlie Ghagan
fast player]. Jayde is absolutely the fastest person I’ve met in my whole life! We were having a laugh about it the other day. I’m chasing Jayde all the time, and I feel like I’m constantly looking at the back of her head. But she was like: ‘You are fast, and you are strong as well, so combine that, it’s difficult to play against you’. So chasing Jayde must be good for me!
As for shooting, you seem to be more precise than ever. Ahead of the Palace game you have the fourthbest shot conversion rate in the WSL this season, with a mix of right-foot and left-foot goals too... That’s thanks to Saf [Middleton-Patel, who Leah gives a wave to across the room] – she stays after training and does some crossing and finishing with me. Saf’s doing lot of extra work with me, and I like to think I’m helping her also. I’ve been working on my right foot a lot, so it’s nice that it’s been coming off in the games.
Looking back on your 41 goals as a United player, which one stands out as your best in terms of its quality, and which one have you enjoyed most for what it meant?
The best was a while ago, against Bristol City [20 December 2020] – I scored twice [in a 6-1 win] and it was my first one. I was
about 25 yards out and Baggers [Sophie Baggaley] was in goal for them. I just leathered it and it flew in. I was like, ‘oh, okay!’ So I’ll always remember that one. Then obviously the big goals in big games are always in the memory, like City away... there’s nothing better than scoring against City.
We take it you mean your goal at the Etihad in 2022/23 [in a 1-1 draw], rather than your recent one there from about two yards out? Yeah, but that was still great as it was scoring against City. The other one was better though!
What about the goals that got away – your disallowed header at PSG, or the close offside ‘goal’ in the opening minute of the 2023 FA Cup final – which of those kept you awake at night the most?
The PSG one was difficult to take because we were back in the game then; it would have made it 3-2 on the night. It was disappointing, and it would have been my first Champions League goal, so there were a lot of things behind that decision. But you have to give and take... I might have been offside for some of the goals I did score, so it’s swings and roundabouts.
Right foot, left foot – Leah’s shooting ability was certainly evident in the recent FA Cup win at Wolves, as she brought up her 150
UNITED TO DELIVER EXCELLENCE
PLAY WITH STYLE
WHAT IS STYLE?
It’s Control. Creativity. And being prepared to cross that line. It’s the freedom to do your thing and play to your own whistle. It’s the ‘I’ in Individuality and the ‘You’ in UNITED.
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“Jayde is absolutely the fastest person I’ve met in my whole life, but chasing her must be good for me!”
A philosophical way to look at it. None of your 41 goals have been penalties – in fact, we don’t think we’ve ever seen you take one, even in a shoot-out. Is there a reason for that? Considering how cleanly you strike a ball, surely you take a good spot-kick? No, I haven’t taken one. I hate penalties, I absolutely hate them! [Laughs] I think it’s because we’ve always had a specific penalty taker every year, so it’s been like, if we get any penalties, this is who will take it. As for shoot-outs, I don’t think been on the pitch for many, it’s only been a couple, and they’ve never gone on long enough to get to me as I’ll be way down the list!
Your best run of goals came at the end of 2022/23, which was quite a time for you and the team – our last 10 WSL games saw nine wins and one loss, with you scoring seven goals. That run began at a similar time as now two years ago – looking at it from the outside as a fan, there’s a sense of
momentum building with the team right now, just as we had two years ago, wouldn’t you agree? It would be lovely to do that again, yeah. Obviously it’s nice when you get a bit of momentum as a player and you’re constantly on the scoresheet but ultimately as I’ve got a bit older and wiser, I don’t mind who scores as long as we win, and we’re doing well at the minute. So yes, you do want to get on the scoresheet, but if we’re winning games and keeping clean sheets, then I’m happy.
Let’s discuss our first March opponents, Leicester. You missed our 2-0 win at the King Power in November, but they are no pushovers, are they –they’ve beaten some good teams in the WSL this season and – perhaps most impressively – are the only side to have stopped Chelsea winning... It’ll be a very tough game. Whenever we’ve played Leicester in recent seasons the games have always
What could have been in Paris if this had been given...
Receiving a customary framed shirt ahead of our last home outing
Scoring at City – something Leah would replicate this season
been close as they are really well organised. They might have some young players but I wouldn’t say they are inexperienced – they have players with experience behind them, and they’ve brought in players in the transfer window, so it’s not going to be easy against a decent side. But it helps that we’re at home for this one – hopefully we can put in a strong winning performance and get another three points.
Looking further ahead, Sunderland are next up in the FA Cup. Arguably our best chance for a trophy this season will be by defending the Cup. What would it mean to you to get back to Wembley for a third final in a row – especially considering how the 2024 final ended for you? It would be really special to win it again, and obviously I’d like to go back there and actually play without a broken leg! [Leah’s ankle injury saw her substituted after 50 minutes in the 2024 final]. As much as last year was amazing – we won it and put in a really dominant performance – it was a bit of a tough one for me because I couldn’t give what I wanted to give that day and I ended up being out for four months so there were mixed emotions. So to be able to go back and make some new memories at Wembley would be nice.
INK-REDIBLE REMINDERS!
Leah’s love of tattoos is well known (and clear to see as soon as she walks into the room or on to a pitch!). When she became just the fourth Red to reach a century of appearances in 2023, she had a ‘100’ tattooed behind her ear (below), to serve as a reminder of her accomplishment for many years to come. So what’s to follow now she’s hitting fresh milestones with the Reds? “The plan is to put ‘+50’ next to it,” she reveals. “Then when I get to 200, I’ll put another ‘+50’ there! My tattoos remind me of things that have happened in my life – things that mean the most to me.”
“As amazing as last year’s Cup final was, it was a tough one for me. So to be make some new Wembley memories would be nice”
Talking of big stadiums, we have an exciting WSL trip to Anfield to look forward to in March. How much are you looking forward to that one?
I’ve never played at Anfield, and I’ve never even been to Anfield, so that’ll be very exciting, yes.
Old Trafford and Wembley aside, what’s the best club stadium you’ve played at with United? For the pitch and the stadium, definitely Spurs, at their men’s ground. If there had been a bit more atmosphere for our game there, that would have been good – it’s a huge stadium and hard to fill, I get that – but otherwise, Spurs was the best for me. ●
Another FA Cup win (without the ankle cast) is on Leah’s wish list
2024/25 POSTER MILLIE TURNER
Helping our young people tell their stories.
FOLLOW ALONG
Happy 15th birthday
Katie, love from Mum, Dad and Charlie.
Isaac loved meeting Jayde after the Brighton game!
Happy 30th birthday to season ticket holders, Ellen and Abi Williams
Happy 10th birthday
Alyssa, love Mum, Dad and Isla.
Morgan turned eight on 16 February and she’ll be cheering us on today.
‘Happy 60th to Andrew – our hero, husband and Dad. Love Debbie, Lauren, Helen, Michael & Stacey.’
Sophie is 15 and a massive Toone fan!
Here’s Fliss in the centre of the action – she has a birthday this week. All the best from MUFC!
Enjoy your last game Poppy before you move Down Under!
● Birthday shout-out for Lola sat in the South Stand – she’s a session ticket holder turning 15 ● A belated happy birthday to Dylan Owen – hope you had a good one, Dylan! ● Happy birthday Rya – have a great day, lots of love from Mam and Dad ● Hannah has been celebrating a 16th birthday, and Sophie would like to wish her all the best ● Alice Padmore-Carmont is attending her first-ever match today – we all hope you enjoy it ● Belated birthday wishes to Will Owen, who turned 13 recently ● Zarah Mohamed would like to wish her partner Michael a happy 30th birthday ● Happy 40th birthday to Cara Broadbent
UNITED
...are the team for me!
YOUNG RED CARLOS M C INTOSH , 20, TELLS US ALL ABOUT HIS BONKERS ROUND-TRIPS FROM LONDON TO LEIGH, AND EXPLAINS WHY LSV TRUMPS OT...
I’ve been a Man United fan my whole life. I was born into it, through my cousin – I basically had no choice! Everyone down here in London is Arsenal or Chelsea, and you even get City fans now as well. But my support of United Women started in 2019. We weren’t always televised at that time, so I was always checking the results and watching whenever I could. I was too young to travel by myself then but, when I turned 18, I started to travel to every game. Home and away.
When I first started watching, I really liked Lauren James, before she left for Chelsea and, obviously, Tooney has always been up there. Leah Galton, as well. Her longevity is amazing, especially given the injuries she’s had. But my favourite player – men’s or women’s – is Maya Le Tissier. Her potential was always there to see. She’s 22, already captain, and played every minute last season. That’s impressive.
The women’s team has more chemistry than the men’s, in my opinion. They’re just gelled together a bit more, and more interactive with the fans. That doesn’t mean that much to me, per se – I just watch the game and go home! But if a youngster wants to come to a game and get autographs or whatever by the stadium, the players won’t just sign, they’ll have a little conversation before moving on. It’s this collective thing.
For me, personally, Leigh Sports Village is better than Old Trafford. Unless there’s a big game against City or something, you don’t get Leigh’s sort of atmosphere. When there was the semi-final against Chelsea last season, the atmosphere was there, everyone was packed in... it was so much better than going to Old Trafford, where everyone is separated and not as gelled together. We’re all together at Leigh. I’ll usually be with the supporters’ club – all great, friendly people.
I travel everywhere. If the match is at 12 noon, I’ll get a coach from London about midnight. I live in Wembley so, from there, I go to Wembley Central station and get the Bakerloo Line to Oxford Circus, and then I get the Victoria Line to Victoria. Then I go to Victoria coach station and get the coach. The coach has a 45-minute layover about
Interview: Joe Ganley
Wembley Central: handy for any FA Cup finals (not to mention the new Lioness line) but a long way from Leigh for Carlos!
“If the match is at 12 noon, I’ll get a coach from London about midnight. I get to Manchester at 5.30 in the morning... there’s always a McDonald’s open, because people are finishing clubbing”
2.30am. You could be mid-sleep on the coach and everyone has to get off for 45 minutes! Then I get to Manchester at 5.30 in the morning. Then you’re waiting for time to go past before you go to Leigh. There’s always a McDonald’s open, because people are finishing clubbing, or maybe I’ll go for a walk if it’s not too cold. Then I get the 35 or the V1 bus to Leigh. I’ll probably get back about 11.30pm.
I go to men’s games as well, when I can. Last month was difficult, because I went to the men’s game against Rangers on a Thursday, but the women played at LSV on the Wednesday, v City. I think I spent an hour at home before I had to come back for the Rangers game! I have three jobs. I’m a railway engineer on the tracks, and have two side jobs, as a waiter and bartender.
If I’m not travelling to Manchester, I’m working!
My favourite-ever game was probably the Chelsea semi-final last season that I mentioned before [below]– it was crazy to be there.
Normally at a women’s game, the standing terrace will always be the noisiest part. But the whole stadium at LSV was up on its feet and cheering. The last 10 minutes were shaky, though. My hands started to sweat – I didn’t know what was going on!
I think the rest of the season is all about Champions League qualification and doing a double in the FA Cup – any United Women fan, that’s all we’ll talk about. I don’t think Chelsea will slip up in the league, but I really hope so. As for me, I’m actually looking at moving to Manchester, because basically I can be anywhere in the country for my work. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do since I was younger. I can get up a bit later then!
Carlos’s commitment to following his beloved Reds is to be applauded
Rewind to...
SUNDAY 10 MARCH 2019 ● LEIGH SPORTS VILLAGE
United’s 2018/19 season was an unforgettable one for so many reasons, with even the flags evoking heartwarming memories of a brilliant inaugural campaign. ‘KIRSTY HANSON – FOOTBALL GENIUS’, and ‘IF MARTHA SCORES... I’LL SHAVE MY BEARD’ are two such examples, while pictured is another, immortalising the chant about our two Turners, who happened to play side-by-side at the back.
This photo was taken following our first-ever home meeting with today’s opponents Leicester, with Casey Stoney’s Reds winning 6-1 in front of 1,554 fans. That was indeed a Turner and Turner ‘playing at the back, stopping your attack’ day here in Leigh (well, almost, with Libby Smith pulling a goal back when we were 4-0 up), with our defensive double act looking predictably composed for the full 90 against the Foxes. All in, we played 29 games in 2018/19, with
Millie T starting every one, while Amy T played alongside her namesake in all but five of those. And of the 24 games they played together, 17 were clean sheets. On this particular springtime Sunday, our goals were split evenly between the halves as Mollie Green, Lauren James and Hanson all scored prior to the break, before Ella Toone and Jess Sigsworth (twice), netted in the second half to complete a resounding victory. As for this beautiful banner... hang it in the Leigh-ouvre (sorry)!
Amy and Millie get hold of an iconic LSV banner on
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ENGAGE ● INSPIRE ● UNITE
INTERNATIONAL PRIDE
Teenage Reds head off to represent countries at either youth or senior level, while some others face their fears by partaking in Army challenge!
INTERNATIONAL CALL-UPS
Several of our players proudly represented their national teams across their respective age groups in the recent international break. The fresh experience of a different environment with unique challenges is always a valuable one for the girls. Everyone at the Academy is proud of their achievements because when they join up with their national squads they’re also representing United. Mared Griffiths and Scarlett Hill were with the Welsh senior squad. Mared made her full debut, having been part of Rhian Wilkinson’s squads for some time now, gaining experience and learning what it takes to play at the top level. “Coming from Trawsfynydd in North Wales, it’s amazing to represent my small village,” she said. “It’s a proud moment for me and my family to just be in the environment. I’m
grateful and honoured to have the opportunity.” Olivia Francis, meanwhile, was with Wales’ U19s, Amelia Oldroyd Scotland’s U19s and Lucy Newell away with the same age group for England. At U16 level, Emma, Dixie and Evie were all called up to represent England and made significant contributions in the victory over Denmark.
MARED’S CLUB DEBUT
Mared’s Wales debut followed her first appearance for United, in which she scored two goals in just 15 minutes. Griffiths was named Adobe Women’s FA Cup Player of the Round for her impactful substitute performance in our 6-0 fifth-round win over Wolves. Well done, Mared!
LEAVING COMFORT ZONE
Our U21s players not with their national sides engaged in a ‘duty’ of another kind, attending the Army School of Physical Training to focus on team building and leadership activities. Some of them faced their fears by going on the high ropes, before they worked in groups to attack the assault course. Command tasks followed, with the Army physical trainers helping our young players to show and develop their communication, leadership and team-work. Sporting role models within the Army gave inspiring and educational presentations to the girls on day two. These had a focus on elite mentalities and preceded a game against the Army women’s football team, which United won.
CUP DEFEATS
Cup quarter-final defeats left our young players disappointed but with motivation for the rest of the season. The U16s were beaten 1-0 by Bristol City in the FA Youth Cup despite a spirited display before a 3-0 loss against Chelsea in the JPL Cup. Our U21s lost 3-2 at Bournemouth in the WNL Plate. In the league, a 3-1 loss against a strong Arsenal side, featuring two senior internationals, allowed the Gunners to take a lead at the table’s top, although United’s 2024/25 record remains strong.
Griffiths enjoyed her senior debut for Wales
Harry Robinson
Hill continues to impress with her development
Today’s visitors:
LEICESTER CITY
About our opponents...
Nickname: The Foxes
Founded: 2004
Ground: King Power Stadium, Leicester (32,259 capacity)
Last season: WSL 10th, FA Cup semi-finals, League Cup group stage
Top scorer (all competitions):
Yuka Momiki (4)
Best achievement:
Women’s Championship winners, 2020/21
Leicester may be fighting near the bottom of the WSL, a little too close to the relegation zone for comfort, but they are the only team that Chelsea (23 wins and a draw) haven’t beaten this season.
Against the reigning champions in that pre-Christmas meeting, despite facing 28 shots and scoring their only effort on target – through Missy Goodwin in the first half – the Foxes were just under 15 minutes away from inflicting a famous defeat on the Blues, who left it late to salvage a point. Drawing on years of experience facing French giants Lyon, Amandine Miquel called on her charges to “spice it up” for that game, and how they did. Post-match, the boss said she was
creating “warriors”, with it being a markedly different performance than that seen in a 4-0 defeat to Manchester City just six days earlier.
After returning from the winter break, the Foxes comfortably saw off third-tier Stoke in the FA Cup, before Miquel’s charges returned to WSL action for 2025 with a narrow 1-0 loss to Tottenham. The Foxes had seven shots to Spurs’ two that day, and 30 touches in the opposition box compared to the hosts’ nine, with Miquel keen to highlight that attacking intent, if not end product. It was a similar story back in November as United won 2-0 at the King Power, when nine Leicester shots yielded just one on target.
But the spirit seen against Chelsea, combined with what’s been a surge of confidence and composure in front of goal following the Spurs loss, has sparked Leicester’s season. Where it was one league win, three goals and six points at the halfway stage of the WSL season, it’s now two wins, six goals and six points from the last three outings.
A heavy defeat against Everton at the start of February is the anomaly to the recent trend, sandwiched by a 2-1 victory over Liverpool and a hugely impressive 3-0 home win against Aston Villa last time out. Belgian veteran Janice Cayman,
The win against Aston Villa lifted the Foxes above their opponents into 10th place
LAST LINE-UP:
SUBS USED: MOMIKI, O’BRIEN, LAS, TORRES, TAKARADA
RECORD V THE REDS
Played: 13
Leicester wins: 1
United wins: 10
Draws: 2
Leicester goals: 11
United goals: 48
Last three meetings:
United 2-0 Leicester WSL 17.11.24
Leicester 0-1 United WSL 28.04.24
United 3-1 Leicester LC 14.12.23
who has primarily been a full-back, scored three times across those two victories thanks to a recent move up into a central midfield position. Jutta Rantala and Lena Petermann, two of Leicester’s leading scorers from last season, have been badly missed through injury, but Cayman’s eye for goal could yet play a key role in her side’s push to the WSL finish line, with the Foxes out of the FA Cup following a 3-1 loss at Manchester City. A key challenge today will be recreating their improved home form on the road. All of the Foxes last seven WSL points have been collected at the King Power, with their most recent WSL away win coming in January last year.
Appointed last July, Amandine Miquel brought over a decade of managerial experience from her native France. Part of Chelsea’s academy as a player, the now 40-year-old took charge at Reims in 2017, guiding them back into the French top flight and leading them to fourth place last year.
A young Phallon Tullis-Joyce spent two years under Miquel’s guidance there from 2019-21.
HEAD COACH EMERGING STAR
Having spent more than a decade at Arsenal, and three years at Man City, 21-year-old defensive midfielder Ruby Mace has received a stellar academy education. She enjoyed a Leicester loan spell in 2023, after which she signed permanently last summer, in pursuit of more regular playing time. Such has been her form, she made her senior England debut in December.
EVER-PRESENT
Scotland international
Sophie Howard hasn’t missed a minute in the WSL so far this season. The German-born centre-back started out at Hoffenheim, with spells there either side of playing college soccer at the University of Central Florida. She has been a fixture of English football since a 2018 move to Reading, later helping Leicester get promoted in her first season with the club.
TOURNAMENT TIME!
Reds pair offer advice to budding players at Foundation football competition
Evie Rabjohn and Keira Barry took time out from their training schedules to support aspiring female players taking part in a Premier League Primary Stars tournament at The Cliff Training Ground.
The two 19-year-old Reds spoke to the participants as they competed for the opportunity to represent Manchester United at a prestigious primary schools football tournament, to be played later this year.
Evie and Keira shared advice with the players, as part of a wonderful celebration of girls’ football at our men’s team’s historic and famed former training ground. Evie said: “I don’t remember playing in such a big tournament like this at school. We’re fortunate to be in a position where we are role models, but at the same time, we worked really hard for this. It’s nice to show the girls that they can be where we are and this is just the start for them. Everyone was really good; it was so exciting for us to come and watch.”
Keira added: “When we were in school, we only really had boys’ tournaments, so it’s great to see that there are so many schools that have a girls’ team.
“The standard is so high, there are so many talented players on every team, and that means they’ll have good quality matches – so they’re only going to get better. Tournaments like this only help the game grow.” Eight primary schools from across Manchester took part, with Our Lady of Grace RC Primary school running out winners. Their prize? To wear the red of United at Wolves’
Molineux home in June, as part of the Premier League Primary Stars national finals. Premier League Primary Stars is an education programme that uses the appeal of football to inspire children to be active and develop essential life skills, delivered by the Foundation to support young people in more than 30 partner primary schools.
See mufoundation.org for more
Evie and Keira meet Saoirse and Teiarnie, players in the Foundation’s Emerging Talent Centre
FACTS & FUNNIES FROM FRED THE RED!
(ANSWERS AT BOTTOM OF OPPOSITE PAGE)
FAMILIAR FACES
CAN YOU IDENTIFY THE EIGHT CURRENT REDS BELOW... WHICH WE’VE PATCHED TOGETHER! DRAW EIGHT LINES TO MATCH THE PLAYERS TO THEIR PHOTO! A
RACHEL WILLIAMS
ELLA TOONE
LISA NAALSUND
CITY TOUR! SCRAMLED SCORERS
Ella Toone/Rachel Williams; D: Lisa Naalsund/
Grace Clinton. City tour – Bristol City, Manchester City, Birmingham City. Scrambled scorers – 1. Elisabeth Terland, 2. Celin Bizet
Stats AT THE BACK
WOMEN’S SUPER LEAGUE TABLE, 2024/25
UNITED APPEARANCES & GOALS, 2024/25
A CLOSER LOOK...
The win v Palace last time out was our 20th game in all competitions this term, with Maya Le Tissier and Millie Turner starting all 20 (the only anomaly to their centre-back pairing being the League Cup victory v Newcastle, when Dom Janssen partnered Turner and Le Tissier was right-back). Janssen, along with Phallon Tullis-Joyce, are next on our appearance list with 19.
WOMEN’S SUPER LEAGUE preview
Words: Mikey Partington
AN ACTION-PACKED DAY LIES AHEAD TO KICK OFF THE MARCH SCHEDULE...
The Barclays Women’s Super League springs back into action after the February international window today, with Leicester’s lunchtime visit here the first of six games in the division.
A triple-header follows at 2pm, including a big match in the Midlands, where Aston Villa and Everton – separated by just three points towards the foot of the table – meet at Villa Park.
The home team’s new boss, ex-Barcelona defender Natalia Arroyo, will hope her side can climb from second bottom via a win that would take them level on points with their opponents, who have had time to lick their wounds after a stoppage-time loss at Chelsea two weekends ago.
Only Crystal Palace are below Villa in the current standings, and the Eagles will continue their push to change that when they host one of two fixtures taking place in London at the same time. Last year’s Championship winners – currently four points adrift – welcome Matt
There’s a big match in the Midlands, where Villa and Everton – separated by three points towards the foot of the table – meet at Villa Park
Beard’s Liverpool to the south of the city, who will be aiming to strengthen their pursuit of a top-half finish in the 12-team rankings with a successful trip to the VBS Community Stadium.
Meanwhile in the north of the capital, sixth-placed Tottenham’s goal will be to hold off the Merseysiders, as they look to get the better of a visiting Manchester City team that could go back inside the three Champions League positions with a positive result.
Brighton are directly below City as ‘the best of the rest’, despite no victory in the WSL since November, but Albion will know that taking the scalp of league leaders Chelsea at 3pm is a huge opportunity to arrest the downwards momentum and turn it in their favour.
Sonia Bompastor’s Blues are still unbeaten this season however, with Lauren James’s 93rd-minute winner last time out enough to ensure that a pre-Christmas draw at Leicester is the only blemish on an otherwise perfect record across all competitions.
Sunday’s schedule is then rounded off with a tea-time encounter between two of Chelsea’s London rivals, Arsenal and West Ham, at Meadow Park. The Gunners have lost just twice since October’s reverse fixture – Renee Slegers’s first domestic game in charge – but go head-tohead with a Hammers side that are likely to arrive for the 5.30pm start in confident mood, having won on two of their last three league outings.
Brighton remain in the top five, but are without a win in six WSL games
FIXTURES + RESULTS
ADDED-TIME QUIZ
Time to test your knowledge – can you get 10 out of 10?
Five players have scored on their United debut: Lizzie Arnot, Maya Le Tissier, Grace Clinton, Mared Griffiths and who else?
For which WSL club did both Ella Toone and Aoife Mannion play for immediately before joining United?
The Reds have scored 48 goals in previous meetings with Leicester, a club joint-highest tally versus any side along with which other team?
Who has the most United goals without ever having netted in the Championship?
The surnames of the Reds’ three scorers in the club’s first-ever WSL meeting with Leicester, in 2021, all began with which same letter? 2. 1. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 9. 10.
Which current squad member has played for the most different clubs, with seven (including United)?
True or false: the Reds were unbeaten at Leigh Sports Village in 2024.
Of the players who’ve joined the club since Marc Skinner took over as head coach, who has made the most appearances?
Who holds the record as United’s youngest-ever debutant, aged 16 years and 325 days? 8.
Name the side that finished highest in the WSL last season who have never played us at Old Trafford.
Manchester City; 3. Everton; 4. Alessia Russo; 5. Rachel Williams;
True; 7. Hannah Blundell; 8. Lauren James; 9. Arsenal; 10. T – Toone, Thorisdottir and Thomas
