ARSENAL WOMEN V
Barclays Women’s Super League
Friday 6 October 2023 ○ 7.30PM
#allredallequal
£2
HEAD COACH’S COLUMN
BIG PICTURE
COUNTDOWN TO KICK-OFF
REDS REPORT
KATIE ZELEM COLUMN
2023/24 PREVIEW
SIGNED PLAYER POSTER
HAYLEY LADD INTERVIEW
MU FOUNDATION
MY HEAD SPACE
THE OPPOSITION
FAN SECTION
JUNIOR REDS
STATS SECTION ADDED-TIME QUIZ
MANCHESTER UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB
Co-chairmen Joel Glazer, Avram Glazer Directors Bryan Glazer, Kevin Glazer, Edward Glazer, Darcie Glazer Kassewitz, Richard Arnold, Michael Edelson, Sir Bobby Charlton, Sir Alex Ferguson, David Gill CBE Secretary Rebecca Britain Honorary president Martin Edwards
MATCH PROGRAMME TEAM
Editor Charlie Ghagan Editor-in-chief Ian McLeish Contributors Helen Rowe-Willcocks, Jamie Spencer, Harriet Drudge, Sean Mullan, Matthew Brown Photography Charlotte Tattersall, Ash Donelon, John Peters, Matt Peters, Getty, Alamy Design Tom Chase, Andy Ball, Kulsum Karolia, Dave Flanagan Thanks to Steve Bennett, Stuart Davis Printed by MuPrint.com © Manchester United 2023
Good evening and welcome back to Leigh Sports Village. It’s really exciting to be back, and to be in front of a sell-out crowd against a side like Arsenal – it all makes for a massive occasion. It always feels slightly different being under the floodlights, and the atmosphere is going to be special, as it was when we last played Jonas Eidevall’s side here. Our fans are always magnificent, as you were at Villa Park on Sunday, and when we play at home the energy we get from that gives us all a lift.
We left it late against Arsenal last season at the Emirates, when I felt we were pretty dominant, and then when they came to LSV we showed a different side – that we could stay in games and be compact when we needed to, which was really good to see. At home, we have this wonderful ability to ride out games but also control them, and of course we’ll go into tonight with real belief having beaten Arsenal twice last season – but that’s what we should have in every game we play now; we go into it prepared to win.
The thing that was most exciting for me at Villa was the professionalism. When Villa went down to 10 players we found a way to quickly evolve into a higher progressive shape. And even when we conceded I didn’t feel we were ever out the game. Some of
the big wins from last season has given us that mindset, that we can win any game from any point, and that’s a healthy outlook to have and something I’m challenging our players to keep up.
We’ve seen a lot of changes since we were last here in Leigh, and I believe this group has a special mentality that allows players from different teams, different cultures, different nationalities, to come and fit right in. We’re a family-based team that likes to connect to our community and to our fans, and so from our perspective, the girls treat a new signing like a sister that’s come into the group, and they’re looked after brilliantly.
So it doesn’t surprise me that the new players have integrated quickly on the pitch – we’ve only had six sessions as a full squad but they’ve started very well. There are tactical things you only get used to from playing with each other, but that’s to be expected when you evolve a team. But the excitement our fans will get – and I know they saw it at Villa Park – from the new-look attack, plus our players that came on and changed the game, and also the solid foundations we’ve built over a number of years, all showed. That’s something we should all be very proud of.
Enjoy the game.
We should have seen it coming, really. With the Reds searching for a winner as the clock ticked into injury-time at Villa Park five days ago, and Rachel Williams having stepped off the bench, of course she delivered the goods. And with it our last-action hero (she’s buried in this photo somewhere!) became the first player in WSL history to have five consecutive goals come during the last 10 minutes of matches. “I know my role very well now,” smiled our super-sub in the no.28 shirt post match. “When the going gets tough it’s like, ‘we’ll throw big Will on!’ So I ran out there, and I’ve done my job.” And that’s exactly why you’ve become such a cult hero, Rach...
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After some very late celebrations at Villa on Sunday, we have a tasty clash to start our home campaign
Leigh Leopards rugby league fans might think otherwise, but based on the conclusion to the last football season, a ticket to Leigh Sports Village to watch United Women feels like one of the hottest tickets in English sport right now.
Starting with Brighton in the FA Cup semi-final, then Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester City in the WSL, matchgoers here enjoyed four thrilling wins that kept us pushing for a first major trophy until the very last day of the season. Alas, we’d ultimately fall just short on both fronts to Emma Hayes’s Chelsea, but such was the excitement around that quartet of fixtures, the anticipation
for our 2023/24 opener here was always going to be high. Throw in another massive summer on the international stage to drum up further interest, plus the fact another one of the WSL’s big guns (with a certain Lioness now leading their line) are our first visitors, and no wonder tickets for tonight’s televised tussle sold out just as quickly as our 2023/24 season tickets.
United have a decent record when it comes to kick-starting our home campaign in the WSL –the past three seasons have seen us draw with Chelsea (in 2020/21; the only time we’ve ever avoided defeat against them), followed by reasonably straightforward wins against Reading in both 2021/22 and 2022/23. The last time we lost our opening home game in the league? Against Arsenal in September 2019, when Danielle van de Donk’s late winner cruelly denied us a draw.
The Gunners were reigning champions at the time, and despite not lifting the trophy since then, they’ve finished in the top three in each of the four subsequent seasons. And although their recent WSL form has been poor by their usual standards – including the final two matches of last season, the London club are now on a run of three straight WSL defeats without scoring; their worst record since 2011/12 – don’t be surprised to see them pushing for English football’s top prize come next May, especially once key talents such as Vivianne Miedema return from long-term injuries to bolster the ranks.
As for United, the ACL injury sustained by new signing Emma Watson while on Scotland duty will unfortunately keep her out long term – we all wish you well, Emma – while Aoife Mannion – who was so central to our 1-0 win against Arsenal here in April –remains out with a thigh issue.
It’s very early days, of course, but with no other games until Sunday, wouldn’t it be nice to spend at least a bit of time at the top of the WSL, having secured six points from six while moving the same number of points ahead of one of our biggest rivals? Let’s do this, Reds!
We’re only six fixtures into the new WSL season, but already we’ve seen an opening-day shock plus a few talking points, with plenty more to come between now and 18 May.
The big-stadium fixtures have always had plenty of fanfare, but they’re becoming so regular now, even listing them all is a challenge: following our trip to Villa Park for the division’s 2023/24 opener last Sunday, there were games at the Emirates, Ashton Gate and Stamford Bridge, while tomorrow will see Leicester play at the Foxes’ principal stadium, as Everton visit the King Power.
That’s nice to see, of course – and such fixtures helped to drive an overall attendance increase of 170 per cent last term compared to 2021/22 –although the priority for most clubs will continue to be building up the crowds at their regular home. The Reds led the way on that front last season, with our average attendance here at Leigh Sports Village being close to 6,000 in the WSL, peaking with the 7,864 who attended May’s thrilling victory in the Manchester derby.
United aren’t the only WSL club to have adjusted ticket prices for the new season (an increase, if still fantastic value, especially for season tickets), which should ensure far fewer no-shows for those big ‘sold-out’ fixtures, such as tonight’s game. Just how close will we get to five figures this evening? We can also expect to see busier away ends than
previously (see p14), with such developments all being part of how the WSL – and by extension the Championship and lower down the league pyramid – is continuing to evolve and become increasingly self-sustainable, which is what everyone connected to the women’s game, from fans to players, wants to see.
More top players from all over the globe see this growth and want to be a part of it, and that’s also the case in the dugout, with new Tottenham boss Robert Vilahamn joining Swedish compatriot, Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall, in north London this season, while Brighton’s Melissa Phillips (USA) and Everton’s Brian Sorensen (Denmark) also bring a foreign flavour to the WSL.
Reading have dropped out of the top flight, but Bristol City are back – and they’ll be led by impressive Welsh boss Lauren Smith, named Championship Manager of the Season last term. As the first club promoted to the WSL since 2018 without an attachment to a men’s Premier League
side, Smith’s Vixens are favourites for relegation, but it’s never easy to predict with just one side going down – when Bristol City were last in the WSL, they finished bottom in 2020/21, but just three points behind West Ham, who finished as high as ninth. The Hammers are another side to have changed manager this summer – ex-Spurs boss Rehanne Skinner replacing Paul Konchesky – ensuring a Skinner v Skinner (no relation) head-to-head here at LSV in a few weeks’ time. Next up for West Ham though, are Brighton away – one of five fixtures on Sunday; the others being the aforementioned Leicester v Everton game, Tottenham v Bristol City, Liverpool v Aston Villa, plus the smaller matter of Manchester City v Chelsea at City’s Academy Stadium (now known as Joie Stadium) at 12.30pm.
United know as well as anyone about the importance of picking up points against Emma Hayes’s side if a title charge is to be maintained. The Londoners will be aiming for a fifth straight WSL success, with Sam Kerr likely to lead the way on the goals front once again. Can we keep pace with Chelsea until the final day, when they visit LSV? The last two seasons have seen the title race go right to the wire, so here’s hoping. That final day, when all 12 teams play concurrently, is confirmed as Saturday 18 May, a day before the Premier League’s big finale to maximise interest. That’s one date worth pencilling into your diary now, as is the next ‘Women’s Football Weekend’ on 23/24 March – with the men on international duty and some eye-catching games for the women (a Manchester and a Merseyside derby), it’s an important couple of days in the WSL calendar. As ever, if you are looking to plan ahead, fixture dates and times are subject to change until the broadcast picks have been confirmed – usually six-to-eight weeks before each matchday. In the UK, Sky Sports will continue to show two exclusive fixtures each week – tonight’s game being one of them this time around, along with Liverpool v Villa – with the BBC showing one live match each week, and the FA Player providing free live streams of all remaining matches. So there we have it: half-a-dozen games down, 126 to go – starting right here under the Friday-night lights in Leigh...
MORE TOP PLAYERS FROM ALL OVER THE GLOBE SEE THE WSL’S GROWTH AND WANT TO BE A PART OF IT – AND MANAGERS DO TOO
Women’s Super League
Villa Park, Sun 1 Oct
Pre-season friendly
St George’s Park, Sun 17 Sep
ONE-SENTENCE SUMMARY: Lucia’s quick thinking sees Reds edge cagey contest at national football centre.
ONE-SENTENCE SUMMARY: A familiar finale in more ways than one – a late winner away to Villa, and Rachel Williams only too happy to provide it.
COMPETITIVE DEBUT WATCH: Gabby George and Geyse started, and Hinata Miyazawa came on after 80 minutes... just as things were getting very exciting.
EX-REDS AT VILLA: Hanson, Staniforth, Salmon and Leon all featured for the hosts – for Kirsty, it was hard not to feel sorry for her when shown a 74th-minute red card for a high foot on Hayley Ladd.
CROWD WATCH: The 12,533 crowd at Villa Park was a WSL record crowd for Villa. Officially just over 3,000 away fans were in the Trinity Road Stand, but based on the red shirts as well as the noise, it felt more like a neutral fixture.
TRIPLE G: We were given a tantalising taste of what could be a lethal attacking line of Galton-Geyse-Garcia. Geyse’s power and poise was thrilling to watch in the first half, with Garcia claiming the Player of the Match award.
STANDOUT MOMENT: Rach’s winner, from Nikita Parris’s deflected cross. With Villa Park holding its collective breath, the ball seemed to move in slow motion before crossing the line. Phew!
DEBUT WATCH: Gabby George played the full 90 on her bow (appropriately at St George’s Park), and looked solid as we kept a clean sheet. Irene Guerrero replaced Hayley Ladd on 70 minutes, while Phallon Tullis-Joyce joined fellow goalkeeper Safia Middleton-Patel on a double-barrelled subs’ bench.
FAMILIAR FACES: Spurs’ starting XI contained Grace Clinton (on loan from United) and Martha Thomas (just three days after leaving the Reds).
PHYSICAL CONTEST: With the WSL kick-off closing in, this was more intense than our previous friendlies –even Clinton picked up a yellow card for a late challenge on Nikita Parris.
STANDOUT MOMENT: Lucia Garcia reacted promptly and decisively to some slack play in the Spurs defence on 26 minutes, pinching the ball from the opposition before finding the net.
OTHER SHOUT-OUTS: Not for the first time this summer, Geyse and Ella Toone linked up very nicely at times before their 70th-minute substitutions.
Pre-season friendly Carrington, Wed 13 Sep
ONE-SENTENCE SUMMARY: Toone’s early brace sets us up for comfortable win at training ground.
DEBUT WATCH: Hinata Miyazawa was one of five half-time changes, and soon showed her quick feet in the middle of the park to switch the play.
LIONESSES RETURN: Ella Toone, Katie Zelem and Mary Earps were all in the line-up together for the first time since last season, following their prolonged exploits with England at the World Cup.
STANDOUT MOMENT: Ella took her goals well (on 10 and 14 minutes) but it was Geyse’s strike on 68 minutes that most impressed, as she finished off a fine team move that also involved some good play from Hannah Blundell and Miyazawa.
SAF’S CLEAN SHEET: Liverpool’s goal came just before half-time (from ex-United youth-teamer Natasha Flint), meaning half-time sub Safia Middleton-Patel was to keep a second-half shut-out in an assured display between the sticks.
OTHER SHOUT-OUTS: Defender Evie Rabjohn, who – much like fellow 18-year-old Safia – could be proud of how she denied Liverpool after joining the action in the second period.
As those 3,000+ Reds who made the trip to Villa Park last Sunday will have noticed, away tickets for WSL games can now be purchased via our own ticketing website – a development across the women’s top flight, that should not only make buying tickets easier (meaning you won’t need to sign up to any rival clubs!) but ensure you’re sat alongside fellow Reds at the game. Although away ends have always been a regular sight when we’re on our travels – often on an informal basis at the game – dedicated away ends are now a more common occurrence across the WSL, and easy purchasing can only help.
At the time of writing, tickets are still available for next Tuesday’s huge Champions League home leg against Paris Saint-Germain here at LSV. Simply scan here to check the latest availability. Please note: season ticket holders will need to purchase a ticket, unless you opted in for the auto-cup scheme – in which case your digital ticket will have been sent to you. Information on the second leg at Parc des Paris can also be found by scanning the link.
The club museum at Old Trafford is always looking to make its vast collection as representative as possible of the Reds’ diverse fan base, and as such they are appealing for unique memorabilia from United’s female supporters, of either the men’s team or women’s team. If used, your name would appear next to it at the museum. If you think you can help, email curator@manutd.co.uk.
Pre-season friendly Herzogenaurach, Germany, Wed 6 Sep
ONE-SENTENCE SUMMARY: Boss Skinner pleased with test at German training camp, despite Frauen-Bundesliga champions battling back in roasting hot conditions in Bavaria.
DEBUT WATCH: No bows here, although recent arrivals Rabjohn, Evans, Geyse and Watson were all among the 16 players used.
STRONG FIRST-HALF: Galton and Geyse took the game to the Germans in an open first half-hour, with both rewarded with a goal – Geyse’s first Reds goal coming after fine work from Lucia Garcia.
STANDOUT MOMENT: We have two: before Geyse doubled our lead, Maya Le Tissier and Jayde Riviere both put in excellent tackles to twice deny Alexander Straus’s side an equaliser.
WSL FACES: The dangerous Pernille Harder –fresh from her move from Chelsea – sparked Bayern’s comeback, while former Manchester City midfielder Georgia Stanway played the first half.
LOOKING AT THE POSITIVES: “I am really, really happy with how the team performed,” said Skinner post-match. “We were disciplined at times and had to be patient. We had to bide our time and jump at the right times, and both our goals were created so well.”
Riviere wins in the ball in Bavaria
Pre-season friendly Carrington, Sat 2 Sep
34 DAYS AGO
ONE-SENTENCE SUMMARY: Reds get set for Germany trip with first pre-season win.
MATCH ACTION & NEWS
REDS GO GREEN: This Saturday-afternoon contest saw a first run-out for the smart new dark green away kit. (We probably didn’t need it against Everton, but hey, it’s a friendly!)
STANDOUT MOMENT: Emma Watson looked dangerous until she was replaced by Alyssa Aherne in the second half, and Emma’s accurate crossing was rewarded when she found Leah Galton to net the game’s only goal on 37 minutes.
30 DAYS AGO 15
SEVEN SWAPS ON 70: Skinner rang the changes with 20 to play, with Mses Rabjohn, Francis, Crook and Deering – as well as the aforementioned Aherne – stepping on to the field at Carrington, as an extremely youthful side containing numerous Academy players saw out the win.
Pre-season friendly Carrington, Mon 28 Aug
ONE-SENTENCE SUMMARY: Entertaining draw acts as useful preparation for forthcoming WSL clash with Willie Kirk’s Foxes in mid-October.
DEBUT WATCH: With our World Cup stars still away, this first pre-season game presented an opportunity for new signings Gemma Evans and Emma Watson in the starting XI.
OUTGOING SCORERS: A dominant first half saw Ivana Ferreira Fuso and Martha Thomas find the net – their final goals before their transfers away.
STANDOUT MOMENT: Hannah Blundell provided a reminder of her attacking threat with a neat cross-field pass to take out the Foxes’ defence and find Ferreira Fuso, who fired low and hard to score.
Hello again after a long break from Leigh! We’re back with a really busy spell –six games in three weeks, with our next three here – which is the most intense spell we’ve ever had. It’s not something we’re used to, but at the same time it’s exciting and we want to keep that up for as long as possible by going far in every competition we play in.
So the next few weeks will all be about recovery and managing the minutes, and that’s where the squad depth will be needed. We’ve had a lot of change over the summer, but the backbone and spine of the squad has been here for a long time, and the new girls have settled in really well. The squad feels as tight-knit as it ever has.
Tonight’s opponents Arsenal will be disappointed to be out of the Champions League, as well as losing their opening WSL game, but they are a side with real quality, and we’ll need to be at our very best this evening if we are to continue our winning start. We’ve done well against them over the past couple of years. Whether it be late goals or holding on to 1-0 leads, there’s been some real drama, and it could easily be another tight scoreline again. Obviously Alessia was involved in a few of those moments for us and
now she’ll be playing for the other side, but that happens in football, and we’ve brought in some brilliant attackers who can hopefully fill that role. I’m sure you fans are looking forward to being back at our home stadium and making as much noise as you did at Villa Park last weekend. We could even see another LSV attendance record here tonight, which would just make it even more special if we can start a big few days at home by taking three points.
IT’S SO GOOD TO BE BACK, WITH SOME EXCITING SIGNINGS – PLUS AN EXTRA TROPHY TO COMPETE FOR – REALLY WHETTING THE APPETITE FOR ’23/24…
WORDS: JAMIE SPENCER
The start of the football season brings fresh beginnings, renewed expectations and – certainly as far as we’re concerned – a real sense of optimism over what could lie ahead for Marc Skinner and his Reds between now and the end of May next year. So much has changed around the team since United last lined up in Leigh, 138 long days ago as Lucia Garcia brought the house down with her last-gasp derby winner. Here’s a reminder of everything that’s happened since then, as well as what could be in store for the team we love...
The Women’s Champions League is the big new addition to our calendar, with our second-place WSL finish last term granting passage into UEFA’s elite club competition for the first time. The Reds start in the second qualifying round, which stands between us and the group stage. There were many
strong sides in the draw and Paris Saint-Germain – 2015 and 2017 runners-up in the competition –were pulled out of the hat alongside United. PSG were second in Division 1 Feminine last season, behind Lyon, and reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League, where they were knocked out by eventual finalists Wolfsburg – another quality side we could have faced in this round. The first leg is at Leigh Sports Village next Tuesday (have you got your ticket yet?), with the return at the grand setting of Parc des Princes on 18 October. You can be certain that many from our supporters’ club and beyond will be there in Paris, and with so much at stake it could be a very tense night. Skinner’s Reds will look back to a 1-0 win over PSG in Toulouse during pre-season last summer, while there will be familiar faces among their ranks in ex-Reds Jackie Groenen and Aissatou Tounkara. PSG’s squad also features some of Europe’s biggest names in Grace Geyoro, Lieke Martens and chief goal threat Marie-Antoinette Katoto, who is back following a lengthy ACL injury. Should United be successful over the two legs, the group stage awaits, which will mean six midweek European games, from mid-November until the end of January. The top two in each group will progress to the quarter-finals in March, with the semi-finals in April and the final (at San Mames in Bilbao) planned for the weekend of 24-26 May. Including qualifying, it would be a marathon total of 13 games for United to go that far.
Of course, there are some real heavyweights vying to be crowned European champions, with holders Barcelona strong contenders to retain their title, plus competition from Lyon, Chelsea and an improving Bayern Munich, to name three. Arsenal were knocked out by Paris FC in the first qualifying round, which goes to show the strength in depth the competition now has at every stage.
Reaching the Champions League group stage would also mean United getting a bye into the Continental Tyres League Cup quarter-finals, although defeat to PSG would instead result in a tough Conti Cup group with Manchester City, Everton, Liverpool and Leicester. As for the Women’s FA Cup, we’ll kick-start what is hopefully another long road to Wembley in our opening 2024 fixture – once again we’ll join in the fourth round.
As soon as last season’s top-three finish was mathematically certain, Skinner was up front about the need to recruit to prepare for European football. “I don’t think we have to have a massive overhaul, as the squad has a lot of the key components we need,” he said in May. “We’re going to supplement and find different tools for Europe.” Over the course of the summer, that’s exactly what was done...
Very few players around Europe can offer as much Champions League experience as four-time winner Melvine
Malard, who has joined on a season-long loan from Lyon. The 23-year-old winger has consistently played with and against some of the best players in the world, and is excited about the challenge of playing outside France for the first time – our new no.9 already has a particular fondness for English football’s fast-paced, physical intensity, saying “there is so much to discover and learn here”.
Malard was one of four deals announced in a busy 24-hour period right at the end of the transfer window, with Irene Guerrero’s arrival from Atletico Madrid being another one. Irene (below) was part of Spain’s World Cup-winning squad and the midfielder was attracted to United on account of the ambition she’s seen from the club. As with Malard, the challenge of adapting to the WSL was also enticing. “I hope this will make me a more complete player,” Irene said of the move. Her sporting idol is late basketball legend Kobe Bryant, while she comes from a sporty family and her father, who sadly passed away in 2019, was a Paralympic basketball player for Spain in 1980.
living her dream’ was how Gabby George reacted on social media to confirmation of her signing. The versatile defender, who had been tipped by some as an outside contender to make England’s World Cup squad, became Everton’s first full-time professional player in 2017 but had previously been at United’s Centre
of Excellence (which we now know as the Regional Talent Club) from the age of 14. She grew up in our youth ranks with Katie Zelem and Millie Turner, and was also an Everton team-mate of Millie when – both aged 17 – they started the 2014 FA Cup final against Arsenal. Gabby was shown a picture from her youth-team days alongside the pair, and joked: “I think we’ve all had a glow-up since then!”
Phallon Tullis-Joyce has brought depth and competition in goal, joining from OL Reign, where she was an NWSL Shield winner in 2022. The New Yorker spent two years in France’s top flight with Reims, before heading back to America in 2021. At the University of Miami she studied marine biology – a passion she holds to this day (see p37). Phallon also wears an unusual shirt number (well, by WSL standards, anyhow) in 91. The story behind it’s not quite as fascinating as her love for marine creatures such as the Pacific spiny lumpsucker, but in case you were wondering: as a kid she wore 19 as a nod to her birthday – 19 October – but found it was already taken when joining a new team aged 12, so decided to reverse the digits instead. At least, that’s what Phallon’s mum tells us!
Earlier in the summer, United made two eye-catching attacking signings in Geyse, who won the Champions League with Barcelona last season, and Japan international Hinata Miyazawa. Geyse was on the scoresheet four times in the Champions League in 2022/23, a Copa America winner with Brazil in 2022, and gave England a tough time in the Women’s Finalissima.
One of Geyse’s most impressive feats was finishing 2021/22 as the joint-top league scorer in Spain, alongside Asisat Oshoala and ahead of numerous other Barcelona players, netting 20 times despite playing for a Madrid CFF team that struggled in the bottom half. “Geyse is a proven winner on the biggest stages,” Skinner said upon her arrival. “She’s won domestic and international honours and her winning mentality is an important addition to our team, ahead of a busy campaign across several important competitions.”
When midfielder Miyazawa won the Golden Boot at the recent World Cup, scoring five times in five matches, she immediately joined some of the all-time greats of the women’s game – Birgit Prinz, Marta and Megan Rapinoe, to name three. Two of
Miyazawa’s goals were scored against Spain, as the eventual champions were torn apart by Japan in the group stage. They were very different types of goals as well, showcasing the attacking fluidity and different options that ‘Hini’, as the 23-year-old has already been dubbed by her team-mates, brings. There is also the not so small matter of being nominated for the 2023 Ballon d’Or. Away from the pitch, she is excited about living abroad for the first time, “experiencing the culture” and “finding many good things about Manchester”.
Meanwhile, Gemma Evans is the latest Wales international to sign for United, linking up with
international colleagues Hayley Ladd and Safia Middleton-Patel. The centre-back has amassed substantial WSL experience with Yeovil, Bristol City and Reading. By her own admission, Gemma is a classic “old-school defender” and that is reflected in the numbers with her 19 blocked shots in the WSL last season being the third highest in the division. That gritty defence was also on display when she contributed to Bristol City’s dogged win at LSV back in 2020.
In addition to top internationals and established senior players, United have also recruited with an
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eye on the future. Evie Rabjohn was the first player through the door in the transfer window, brought on board from Aston Villa as early as April, just prior to turning 18. The full-back has been known to Skinner since U10 level at Birmingham City’s RTC, with the now-United boss stating he’s “never seen a player as talented as her” at that age. Emma Watson has joined United aged 17, but already has top-flight, Champions League and international experience with Rangers and Scotland. Asked what type of player she is, fans are sure to love the response: “I’m quite creative, tricky on the ball, I like to take people on. But then also, defensively, I do like a tackle.” Sadly for Emma (right), an ACL injury suffered with Scotland last month will delay her debut for some time yet.
We also bade farewell to a number of individuals over the summer, with both senior and Academy players moving on in a variety of permanent and loan deals. Catalan-born Ona Batlle has returned home to Barcelona, the club where she started her career, having developed into one of the world’s best right-backs during her three years at United.
Alessia Russo scored 26 goals in 59 appearances but now lines up for tonight’s opponents Arsenal, with fellow forward Martha Thomas joining Tottenham and Adriana Leon recruited by an ambitious Aston Villa. Kirsty Hanson, one of our 2018 ‘Originals’ and a home-grown talent, has also gone to Villa permanently after an excellent loan spell last season. Home-grown keeper Emily Ramsey has returned to Everton where she spent 2022/23 on loan and played her way into the
England squad. Maria Thorisdottir and Sophie Baggaley will strengthen a Brighton squad looking to kick on in the WSL after surviving a relegation battle, with Carrie Jones leaving permanently for newly promoted Bristol City. And they weren’t the only departures: Vilde Boe Risa swapped places with Irene Guerrero at Atletico Madrid, meaning Vilde will embark on a new challenge in the fourth country of her career. Meanwhile, Aissatou Tounkara, as mentioned, has returned to France with Paris Saint-Germain. Veteran midfielder Jade Moore and Brazilian forward Ivana Ferreira Fuso have inflated the group of ex-Reds at Birmingham in the second tier, where Martha Harris and Charlie Devlin are also based. Permanent exits to the same division have also seen Tara Bourne and Ella Kinzett join Sheffield United, with Chloe Williams, Niamh Murphy and Emma Taylor all opting for Blackburn, who are early promotion chasers.
As for loans, Grace Clinton has been given her next challenge at a higher level with Tottenham after
playing an important role in Bristol City’s promotion last season. Top-flight minutes will now be crucial to her ongoing development. It is a similar story for Alyssa Aherne, who has gone to Everton for the season, and Jess Simpson at Bristol City. Fresh from signing her first professional contract in August, Keira Barry will spend 2023/24 at Crystal Palace, who have started well in the Championship. Bella Reidford and Eleanor Ashton have joined Burnley and Derby County respectively on dual-registration terms. Both clubs are in the third tier Women’s National League Premier Division.
There have also been some changes to staff too, with Martin Ho leaving his role as assistant coach
in June after three-and-a-half years to take his first head coach job, with SK Brann in Norway.
Harvey Bussell has moved internally within the club to become the recruitment lead for the women’s team. In the medical department, Sam Huddlestone is senior team doctor, replacing Eddie Craghill, with Siobhan Polly also joining as a physiotherapist. Jake Nelson joins as an operations assistant, while Mollie Derhun arrives as an analyst. In the youth set-up, Kevin de Keijzer is new Academy physical performance coach, with Amanda Goodwin the Academy manager.
On the pitch, pre-season was equally busy for the Reds, featuring five friendlies over the course of three weeks – the most friendlies United have played during any pre-season. Wins against Everton, Liverpool and Tottenham followed an opening draw with Leicester. There was also opportunity for a useful test against German champions Bayern Munich at adidas HQ in Herzogenaurach, Bavaria, where a 3-2 defeat was a much closer result than last summer’s 3-0 loss to the same opponents.
With the action now under way, a glance at the calendar (see p48-49) brings much anticipation about what could lie in store. Of course, those Champions League group-stage dates are merely possibilities for the time being, but one certainty is that Old Trafford will see more of the Reds this season, with a minimum of two games to be held in M16 in 2023/24. Everton, previous visitors to the stadium in 2022 for the first women’s game with fans in the stands, will return on the final weekend of March. Before then, however, a first Manchester women’s derby at Old Trafford stands to be one of the biggest games in our five-year history. The Reds beat City in dramatic fashion at LSV in May – a maiden WSL victory over our neighbours –and against a major rival this promises to be a huge opportunity to set a new team attendance record for a home game. The current mark is 30,196 when Aston Villa visited last December. Last season was the best yet for United, but could we surpass that in 2023/24 with a first piece of major silverware, alongside a long run of continental excursions? We can’t wait to find out.
OUR FIVE FRIENDLIES, PLAYED OVER THE COURSE OF THREE WEEKS, WAS THE MOST WE’VE PLAYED DURING ANY PRE-SEASON
Before we chat United, Hayley, let’s start with the World Cup over the summer, which was quite the spectacle in Australia and New Zealand. Do you manage to watch much of it? Yes, I saw a lot of it, as much as I possibly could. Unfortunately I wasn’t there with Wales, after we missed out in the play-offs, but once I got over those mixed feelings about watching it, I loved it. Australia and New Zealand did an amazing job of hosting it, the crowds were huge and the atmosphere at the games looked incredible. It really came across well as a viewer on TV.
It felt like just the latest step of the women’s game ramping up yet another level, which must be so exciting for any professional player right now... Exactly. We can all see the trajectory of the women’s game, but it honestly feels like it’s on such an upward climb right now. It’s so exciting to be part of that, and for players and fans in this country to think about what the potential of the Women’s Super League can become over the next few years.
Away from the football, how was your summer away from the pitch and the training ground? As a professional athlete, how important is it to be able to switch off for a week or two? It is really important, and thankfully it’s something that’s valued at United – the management really understand the importance of the players having some off-time. Soon after the end of last season, I took a trip to Mexico for two weeks, to travel around a bit and get to see some cities, and to experience and explore different things, different places, and cenotes [natural swimming holes] that they have in Mexico. I had a wonderful time. Very soon after, I was off to camp with Wales, so I was very grateful to make the most of that window.
Looking ahead to our first home game, season tickets have sold out at Leigh Sports Village. All four stands will be packed for the Arsenal game, and hopefully that will be the case for many more home games compared to last season – what difference does that does make to you as players, and is it something you’re aware of before you walk out on to the pitch?
MIDFIELDER HAYLEY LADD MEETS US TO PREVIEW A MASSIVE WEEK HERE AT LEIGH, BEGINNING WITH THE VISIT OF THE TEAM WHERE SHE BEGAN HER SENIOR CAREER…INTERVIEW: CHARLIE GHAGAN
I think as players we might not know the number of tickets sold ahead of any home game, but we definitely notice the extra noise pre-match, and last season we saw that atmosphere really growing for those final games. We’d look out the windows and see red scarves and shirts everywhere, so we really felt the impact in that way. The energy we get from that is huge; at United it’s second to none in the WSL. And to hear that the fan base is continuing to grow, it’s a nice feeling – hopefully we can give them lots to cheer about in our first game back, and over the season.
Our first home opponents Arsenal will rightly be considered one of the title favourites again, but our two wins against Jonas Eidevall’s side last season should give us real belief for this one, shouldn’t it... Definitely – the key word being belief. They’re a top team that has recruited really well also, and while we certainly won’t rest on our laurels in terms of our results against them last season, we’ll have real belief. It’s a very big game for us to start at Leigh. We know the stadium will be full on a Friday night under the floodlights, and we’re super excited to get started at Leigh.
You have links to the opposition, of course... That’s right. I started my career at Arsenal when I was nine, and left at 17 or 18 [after making three senior appearances in the cup]. I had a great upbringing at Arsenal. I think it was probably one of the best football educations I could have had, in terms of their academy set-up. I had a good time there, but it feels great to beat them as well as they’re such a strong team.
Arsenal will obviously be gutted to already be out of the Champions League, having reached the semi-finals last year. But that could serve to sharpen their focus in the WSL, with no European distractions... Yes, that is something you think about – and maybe that benefited us last season, not being in Europe. It might prove to give Arsenal a small advantage in the WSL season ahead, but in terms of us wanting to become a big team, and grow in that way, we know that being in the Champions League is a huge part of that. It’s a big ambition of the whole squad to be in that competition, and hopefully we can get through the play-off and go a long way in it alongside the other competitions.
We’re pleased with the draw in terms of the excitement across the squad. PSG are a very good side but I think no matter who we got – even if it
WAS
ONE OF THE BEST FOOTBALL EDUCATIONS I COULD HAVE HAD... BUT IT FEELS GREAT TO BEAT THEM AS WELL!Sunday’s win at Villa saw Hayley make her 88th United appearance – only six players have played more times for us
FULL NAME
Hayley Elizabeth Ladd
DATE OF BIRTH
6 October 1993
PLACE OF BIRTH
Dacorum, Hertfordshire
was Wolfsburg – we would have met the fixture with the same sort of excitement and hunger to hopefully get through and into that group stage.
Do you think the team’s style of play is well suited to continental competition?
YOUTH CAREER
St Albans City
SENIOR CAREER
2009-12 Arsenal
3 games, 0 goals
2012 Kokkola Futis 10 (loan)
12 games, 0 goals
2012-15 Coventry City
32 games, 3 goals
2015-17 Bristol Academy/City
46 games, 1 goal
2017-19 Birmingham City
45 games, 3 goals
2019- Manchester United
88 games, 9 goals
INTERNATIONAL CAREER
Wales 85 caps, 2 goals
I personally think we’re really well suited to any sort of cup football in general. We’ve got attacking players who at any point in the game can make something out of nothing. Our ability to create is one of the best in the game, in terms of our frontline, and then we have our backline, which broke all sorts of defensive records last season. That sort of identity we have from the league should carry over to the cup competitions; be it the Champions League or the other cups as well.
Back to the WSL, the race for the title – and those three Champions League places – looks set to be as competitive as ever this season. There can’t be many top-level leagues across the world – women or men – where so many teams have such aspirations... That’s right, and it feels amazing to be part of it, with teams across the division investing a lot over the summer and improving all the time. It’s so exciting in terms of you never know what the result is going to be – anyone can get a result against anyone and that tightens the competition. And it’s a small league as well – that means every fixture is even more important because if you don’t win, there is less chance to even out the
table compared to a bigger division. That just adds to the excitement that the WSL games possess.
So many new players have signed over the past few weeks. How is everyone settling in from your point of view? We’ve obviously got another Wales international in the squad... Yes, Gemma [Evans] was signed right at the beginning of the window, so I’ve had lots of time with her. It’s been nice to try and help her settle in a little bit, but she’s taken to the squad like a duck to water. She’s made some really good friendships already, I can see. The rest of the girls have been amazing too. They all seem really great people and excellent footballers that will help us step up a level. We know the strengths they all possess, and it will only add to the desire we have in the squad, and add to the competitiveness across the squad as well.
It’s certainly an exciting time. Away from the pitch, do you find you get recognised more when you’re out and about these days, due to the increased exposure of the women’s game? Yes, I do! I do generally try and keep myself to myself but I do experience that more now. Or at
other times, when I mention to someone that I play football, they’ll be like, “oh, I know this about the women’s game...” which is great to hear. I was trying to get a car yesterday, and I was in the dealership when the guy working there was like, “oh, I’m a massive Red and I follow your team!”
Well, we hope he gave you a good price then! I’m still waiting for him to get back to me! [Laughs] But you know, it’s great that we can see that sort of connection with the fans. We’re definitely more in the consciousness of the ‘mainstream’ public now compared to just a few years ago, or those who liked football but traditionally would have supported just the men’s side. It’s nice to see and hopefully we can be another successful team that they can cheer for.
WE KNOW THE STRENGTHS THE NEW PLAYERS ALL POSSESS, AND IT WILL ONLY ADD TO THE DESIRE WE HAVE IN THE SQUAD
Since 2022, Barclays has helped over 2,500 groups make football more accessible through the Barclays Community Football Fund.
Search Barclays Community Football Fund to find out more
The Foundation’s Street Reds participants had a summer to remember as they benefited from a host of activities that harnessed the spirit and feelgood nature of a brilliant couple of months of sport.
Participants joined up with fellow young people from clubs across the country for inter-club tournaments, including some that were youth-led and others inspired by the Women’s World Cup. Highlights included more than 150 female participants –from the Street Reds sessions and Foundation partner schools – having the chance to play
at Old Trafford at the adidas end-of-season pitch day, while other youngsters played in a football tournament at The Cliff before cheering on England Women on the big screen.
“It’s important that we continue to engage with our participants in summer, and that we reach them by providing a range of activities – both for enjoyment and educational purposes,” said Tom Sellers, the Foundation’s community engagement manager.
Several volunteers supported the day’s activities – including Joy, a volunteer analyst with the
Foundation, and United Women U21 player, Layla Proctor. “This is the Theatre of Dreams, it’s where dreams come true!” said Joy. “It was amazing to see the girls’ faces when on the pitch.”
At The Cliff, young people came together over their shared love of the game – by both playing and watching in harmony. One of them, Harriet, 10, said: “I’ve enjoyed playing with different girls who I’ve not met before... an amazing day.”
The views of the Street Reds Youth Voice panel continue to be key to the programme, and the panel had a chance to look back on the activities as summer came to an end, by offering their thoughts on shaping Street Reds sessions during 2023/24.
These activities formed part of the Foundation’s wider summer delivery, which also consisted of holiday camps with local council support, resulting in 1440 meals being provided for local children.
You can find out more at mufoundation.org/streetreds
Football sessions for girls aged 12 to 14 who want to play their way.
SCAN HERE TO #FindYourSquad
I’ve been scuba diving since I was in college in Miami, and when I lived in Seattle before joining United I’d usually go twice a month. I love it so much, it’s a whole different world down there; so serene. You have one task – to just enjoy taking in everything around you. That’s such a peaceful thing for me. If you were to go to the same spot twice, you wouldn’t see the same things again.
As a sportsperson it’s so important to take opportunities to switch off, and diving’s a whole stress relief for me. I love learning things down there, so when I spot something super tiny, I’ll try and learn what it is – it’s a whole education for me outside of soccer! I really enjoy underwater videography too and I’m trying to get better at that. Not everyone has access to the ocean, so I love showing it to people, like my mum and brother.
The best place I’ve ever dived at is Hawaii. It was incredible. I saw Hawaiian monk seals –an endangered species, with less than 2,000 left... very special. I also saw frogfish, scorpionfish and sea slugs, which I really love – they are so colourful and were everywhere. Now I’ve moved to the UK I might not see creatures like that, but I know Wales has good diving spots. I haven’t found a ‘victim’ in the squad to share my love of diving with, but I will!
Major injuries made last season incredibly challenging for tonight’s visitors, but a strong recruitment drive, alongside some key names gradually returning, brought great hopes for 2023/24, which will remain the case despite a bitterly disappointing start to the campaign in both the Champions League and WSL. Their season started last month when others were still in the midst of pre-season, the Gunners entering the early rounds of Champions League qualifying against Swedish side Linkoping, and then Paris FC. Despite a 3-0 win over the former, a dramatic 3-3 draw against the Parisians, that saw the Gunners mount a comeback from 2-0 down, ended with penalty shoot-out loss. No Champions League football for the rest of this season might ease the strain on the squad, but that won’t be much of a consolation to Jonas Eidevall and co.
Four ACL injuries from last season proved costly, but the situation is improving day by day. Beth Mead returned to training at the end of August, while Vivianne Miedema wasn’t far behind in mid-September. As for Leah Williamson, she’s started running but her and Laura Wienroither will be missing for a while longer. Kim Little also sat out the end of last season with a hamstring
The talented Gunners will be keen to belatedly kick-start their season when they arrive in Leigh tonight
problem but was back with the captain’s armband against Linkoping. At 33, she’s as important as ever. Keen to equip themselves for the competitive WSL, Arsenal were ambitious in the transfer market. Alessia Russo is one signing we all know about, while Cloe Lacasse adds more depth and competition up front. The biggest departure was centre-back Rafaelle Souza, who joined Orlando Pride. But steps were taken to replace the Brazilian by bringing in Amanda Ilestedt after she left PSG, as well as World Cup winner Laia Codina from Barcelona. The Gunners also went big on deadline day by capturing Australian midfielder Kyra Cooney-Cross, fresh from lighting up her home World Cup. Fellow Matildas Steph Catley and Caitlin Foord have each penned new contracts since last season, as have box-to-box midfielder Frida Maanum and experienced defender Jen Beattie. The 1-0 loss to Liverpool last Sunday will have stung, but it’ll only leave the Gunners even more determined to beat United for the first time in their last five attempts tonight.
The Canadian is new to the WSL after spending her senior career with IBV (Iceland) and Benfica – she was prolific for both and scored 102 goals in 131 games in Portugal. The 30-year-old was at the World Cup but didn’t make her Canada debut until as recently as 2021. Last Sunday saw her feature in a wide role on her WSL debut.
LAST
Arsenal announced the centre-back’s arrival just before what turned into a superb World Cup for her. A defensive rock for a Sweden side that finished third, combined with four goals herself, landed her the Bronze Ball as the tournament’s third best player, as well as Ballon d’Or Feminin and Best FIFA Women’s Player nominations.
● The Gunners are the most successful women’s club in England, with 15 top-flight
Previously head coach of Swedish women’s team Rosengard – where he oversaw three league titles – Eidevall also served as assistant to ex-Red Henrik Larsson in the men’s game in 2016/17. His switch to the WSL came in 2021, when he replaced Joe Montemurro at Arsenal, with last term’s Conti Cup final win v Chelsea being his high point to date.
league titles, 14 FA Cups and one European crown (2007).
● Arsenal have faced us nine times – four wins each; one draw. Tonight sees Arsenal
become the sixth side we’ve played at least 10 times.
● Sunday saw them lose on the opening day for only the second time in WSL history.
● Tonight will see them play in the club’s first bespoke away kit for the women’s team – officially ‘halo pink and glow blue’.
Anew series of films from MUTV, entitled One Love, goes behind the scenes with some of the Reds’ most dedicated supporters’ groups – the first part of which focuses on United Women’s fan base.
The episode, named Trailblazers, follows Isabelle Gavin, a prominent member of Manchester United Women Supporters’ Club.
An aspiring goalkeeper herself, we see the impact United Women has had on the teenager since our 2018 formation, with the team’s home and away games playing a central role in her busy life. “Watching the women’s team definitely inspired me to play because if you can’t see it, how can you want to be it?” says Isabelle, who you’ll most likely hear cheering at the game tonight – whatever stand you happen to be in!
And as we learn in the film, the long bus trips to away fixtures – complete with songs and snacks –are almost as important to the MUWSC group as the game itself, with the journeys helping to forge a tight bond between our fans, and in an inclusive
environment where everyone is welcome.
As we see in the film the numbers of home-and-away Reds are growing all the time, and the players are appreciative of the sacrifice they make.
“People feel close and connected to the players, and to the personnel that are involved within the team and the squad,” says Deborah Henry, chair of MUWSC, in the film. “Maybe they feel invested in a different way from the men’s fan base.”
MUWSC started out as the self-styled ‘Barmy Army’ – essentially an atmosphere group – in our early days, but is now an official supporters’ club that looks to offer support and inclusion for all United Women fans, from away travel, to social events, to regular engagement with the club. The group were kept very busy in the run-up to our first-ever Women’s FA Cup final in May, and the final scenes of the film see the cameras board the fans’ bus for the journey to Wembley, From that long drive south, to full-time in the stands (left) and then back on the bus, it was a rollercoaster day of emotions for Isabelle and her fellow Reds, as our women’s side once more contributed to the trail that’s being blazed for the future of the women’s game. You can enjoy the short film for free by scanning the code above.
Ella and Rosa Titterington are season ticket holders, and both have been counting down the days to tonight!
Hello to Claire Harris and her daughter – they’re both big Ella Toone fans.
‘Keep playing the best you can,’ says Amelia Elsa, six. Good advice!
Here are season ticket holders Faye, Ava, Rebecca and Joseph, aged four. Enjoy the game!
Martha Samphire has just turned 10 – we hope you had a top birthday!
Lydia turned 11 this week, and she will be cheering us on with brother Fraser, as well as Mum and Dad.
Opposition corner (how could we refuse?!) – a warm LSV welcome to young Gunners Matilda and Beatrix
CAN YOU REMEMBER THE MISSING PLAYERS FROM LAST SEASON’S FIRST HOME GAME, A 4-0 WIN AGAINST READING? THE MAP OPPOSITE MIGHT HELP YOU OUT!
(ANSWERS BELOW RIGHT)
MARVELLOUS MARY
WHAT A YEAR IT’S BEEN SO FAR FOR OUR GOALKEEPER!
OUR FIRST-TEAM SQUAD NOW INCLUDES PLAYERS FROM ELEVEN NATIONS... THAT’S A WHOLE TEAM OF COUNTRIES!
BRAZIL Geyse
CANADA Jayde Riviere
FRANCE Melvine Malard
REP OF IRELAND Aoife Mannion
JAPAN Hinata Miyazawa
NORWAY Lisa Naalsund
SCOTLAND Emma Watson
USA Phallon Tullis-Joyce
WALES Gemma Evans, Hayley Ladd
ENGLAND Hannah Blundell, Mary Earps, Leah Galton, Gabby George, Maya Le Tissier, Nikita Parris, Evie Rabjohn, Ella Toone, Millie Turner, Rachel Williams, Katie Zelem
Since 2022, Barclays has helped over 2,500 groups make football more accessible through the Barclays Community Football Fund.
Search Barclays Community Football Fund to find out more
Garcia has scored in each of our last three WSL games, either side of summer
AUGUST
OCTOBER
WSL Fri 6 Arsenal (H) 7.30pm
UWCL Tue 10 PSG (H) 8pm
WSL Sun 15 Leicester City (H) 12pm
UWCL Wed 18 PSG (A) 7pm
WSL Sun 22 Everton (A) 1pm
NOVEMBER
WSL Sun 5 Brighton (A) 12pm
WSL Sun 12 West Ham (H) 12pm
UWCL 14/15 Group stage MD1
WSL Sun 19 Manchester City (H) 12pm
UWCL 22/23 Group stage MD2
WSL Sun 26 Bristol City (A) 2pm
WSL Sun 10 Tottenham (A) 2pm
UWCL 13/14 Group stage MD3
WSL Sun 17 Liverpool (H) 12pm
UWCL 20/21 Group stage MD4
FA Sun 14 Fourth round
WSL Sun 21 Chelsea (A) 12.30pm
UWCL 24/25 Group stage MD5
WSL Sun 28 Aston Villa (H) 12pm
UWCL 30/31 Group stage MD6
WSL Sun 4 Brighton (H) 12pm
CC 7/8 Quarter-finals
FA Sun 11 Fifth round
WSL Sat 17 Arsenal (A) 2pm
WSL Sun 3 West Ham (A) 3pm
CC 6/7 Semi-finals
FA Sun 10 Quarter-finals
WSL Sun 17 Bristol City (H) 12pm
UWCL 19/20
Quarter-finals, 1st leg
WSL Sun 24 Manchester City (A) 1pm
UWCL 27/28
Quarter-finals, 2nd leg
CC Sat 30 Final
WSL Sun 31 Everton (H) 12pm
FA Sun 14 Semi-finals
UWCL Sat 20 Semi-finals, 1st leg
WSL Sun 21 Tottenham (H), 12pm
UWCL Sat 27 Semi-finals, 2nd leg
WSL Sun 28 Leicester (A) 3pm
WSL Sun 5 Liverpool (A) 2pm
FA 11/12 Final
WSL Sat 18 Chelsea (H) TBC
UWCL 24-26 Final
Match programme contact: MUWomenfamily@manutd.co.uk
For ticket information visit: ManUtd.com/Tickets
WE SIGN OFF WITH SOME REDS-RELATED
HOW MANY CAN YOU GET RIGHT?
Can you identify these current Reds from their clubs before they moved to United?
Check out the pictures from last season and tell us who had just found the net…
These final questions all have links to our previous games with the Gunners...
Who was the first United player to score a competitive goal against Arsenal, in the Continental League Cup semi-final in 2019 (left)?
And who was the first Red to net against Arsenal in a WSL meeting?
How long is United’s current unbeaten run against today’s opponents: three games, four games or five games?
Which Lionesses star was the first player to join United from Arsenal, in the summer of 2018?
Lotte Wubben-Moy
Jen Beattie
Leah Williamson
Steph Catley
Beth Mead
Kim Little
Vivianne Miedema
Frida Maanum
Hayley Ladd
Lia Walti
Sabrina D’Angelo (GK)
Katie McCabe
Noelle Maritz
Lina Hurtig
Caitlin Foord
Giovana Queiroz
Victoria Pelova
Kathrine Moller Kuhl
Alessia Russo
Cloe Lacasse
Stina Blackstenius
Laura Wienroither
Laia Codina
Amanda Ilestedt
Teyah Goldie
Kyra Cooney-Cross