Manchester United Women v Brighton & Hove Albion Women match programme, WSL, 26.01.25
v
Brighton & Hove Albion Women
BARCLAYS WOMEN’S SUPER LEAGUE • SUNDAY 26 JANUARY 2025 • 6.45PM
ACADEMY ROUND-UP
JUNIOR REDS STATS
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, Joe Ganley, Sean Mullan, Jamie Spencer, Matthew Brown
Thanks to Ellie Decrop, John Shiel, Paul Davies, Ian Nolan, Mark Froggatt, Nicola Wellington Printed
Warming up one week ago, in preparation for a massive away win in the 16th Manchester
Marc
SKINNER
women’s derby
THE UNITED BOSS REITERATES THE IMPORTANCE OF FRESHNESS FOR THIS CLASH UNDER THE LIGHTS , AS
WE SEEK A FOURTH SUCCESSIVE WSL VICTORY...
Welcome back to Leigh Sports Village for this evening’s WSL game against Brighton & Hove Albion. We are up against a side that’s been in good form this season under Dario Vidosic, who has changed their style of play since taking charge in the summer.
We found them to be a difficult opponent when we drew there earlier in the season, so we’re expecting another tough game. They used the summer transfer window to recruit some really experienced players, and we know the threat they can carry if their opponents dip in energy or performance. So it’s important that even at the end of a three-game week we go into this match fresh and push for the win.
We showed true Manchester United spirit in our most recent WSL fixture, away to Manchester City last Sunday, and we are excited about the progression we are making with one of the youngest teams in the WSL.
We also understand the challenges that having a young team brings. We must work hard as a collective to drive our standards and grow as quickly as possible, while gaining
experience and trying to win matches, and it’s been really encouraging to see how we’ve risen to that challenge so far this season.
As this is our last home match before the anniversary of the Munich Air Disaster next month, it’s important that we take the time this evening to remember and pay tribute to those who sadly lost their lives.
Since coming to United, I’ve learned our club is built on success and tragedy. Through the highest highs and lowest lows, we stick together and push through as one. We are unique in that even when the Busby Babes faced the darkest of days, they were a shining light for the growth of our club.
They will never be forgotten and live every day in all of us that love Manchester United. When the anniversary comes around, it plays as a reminder that you work for the biggest club in the world and to never forget you must bring your best every day, as we’re standing on the shoulders of giants.
numbers Run the
A STAT-BASED LOOK AT TONIGHT’S WSL CONTEST
Having hosted matches in the FA Cup and League Cup since the turn of the year, against West Brom and Manchester City respectively, tonight we play our first home WSL game of 2025. Between those fixtures, a win away at the latter in last weekend’s derby was the perfect way to resume our league campaign after the
winter break, and now all focus turns to the visit of Dario Vidosic’s Brighton & Hove Albion side. The Seagulls were one of the stories of the season’s first half, but a run of three outings without a win in the competition has recently seen them drop to fifth, vacating the third spot they held eight matches in. It’s a position United have since occupied with three successive league victories creating a seven-point buffer between the sides, but if there’s anything those recent runs show it’s that the tables can turn quickly in this league, so we’ll need to be at our sharpest from the very first kick tonight as we look to maintain our winning momentum in the WSL. Let’s go, Reds!
Tonight’s clash is the 12th outing of our 22-game WSL campaign, after we reached the midway point with last Sunday’s derby success. While the recent mid-season break was the unofficial page-turner to the second half of the season, Brighton’s visit does mark our entrance into the term’s business end as far as the league is concerned. Marc Skinner’s Reds have built a solid foundation to take into it too, positioned just inside the three European places heading into the weekend schedule after accumulating seven wins, three draws and
just one defeat. While our 20 WSL goals scored is behind the respective tallies of Chelsea, Arsenal and City, we’ve certainly stepped up in front of goal in all competitions since the start of December. And at the other end, our five goals conceded (joint-best in the WSL, alongside Arsenal) is hugely impressive. Remember that old chestnut: ‘Attack wins you games, but defence wins you trophies!’
Tonight’s teams last met in mid-October
Someone else who enjoys a shut-out at the back...
Such is our defensive record in the league, we’re even on track to beat our own top-flight record of 2022/23, when Mary Earps shipped just a dozen all season. And talking of ’22/23, three members of that season’s United squad are now among the visiting cohort that could feature for Brighton tonight – while we could see as many as five players to have represented both clubs involved across the 90 minutes. Sophie Baggaley and Maria Thorisdottir both departed United for the south coast at the end of ’22/23, before Nikita Parris (who scored against us in October’s reverse fixture) followed in her team-mates’ footsteps last summer. Going the other way ahead of the current term was Reds striker Elisabeth Terland, who netted 20 WSL goals for the Seagulls, two years after Brighton Academy graduate and now-United captain Maya Le Tissier made the same switch between the clubs. Le Tissier is expected to be involved tonight having – incredibly – featured in every one of our 80 matches across all competitions since signing from Brighton in 2022. When it comes to consistency, our skipper’s stats are mind-boggling – so much so, we’ve put them all in a nice infographic on p14.
Tonight we could see as many as five players to have represented both clubs involved across the 90 minutes
This evening’s 6.45pm kick-off will be our women’s team’s 16th meeting with Brighton since the Reds were reformed in in 2018. The Seagulls, who were promoted to the top flight one year before us, have become familiar opponents in both the league and domestic cup competitions, so much so that we’ve only faced Everton (18) and Manchester City (17) more times than them. The Reds have a favourable record in the fixture’s head-to-head record and will be looking to add to our tally of 11 wins (to Brighton’s one, alongside three draws) once play gets under way. It’s great to
have you here cheering on the team under the dark skies (that’s become a very familiar feeling this month, hasn’t it, and we’ve got another 6.45pm kick-off to follow at Spurs next Sunday). Don’t worry, we’ll all see some daylight at some point in February, and in the meantime, let’s sing up under the floodlights to help push the mighty Reds on to victory...
Last Sunday saw Terland became the first-ever player to provide three assists in a WSL game for the Reds
The LSV lights have been busy of late
JUNIOR EXPERIENCES
Pre-match kickabout near the stadium is free for all young LSV matchgoers
As the matchdays start to get warmer in the months ahead, any young fans might wish to get involved in some fun activities away from the game here at Leigh Sports Village.
Junior fans are welcome to join Manchester United Foundation coaches to practise football drills on the 3G pitch located behind The Whistling Wren pub, next to car park 10.
The pitch will be open from two hours before kick-off and close 15 minutes before the game starts. Simply turn up and play, although junior fans must have
With the 67th anniversary of the Munich Air Disaster falling on Thursday 6 February, commemorations will be made at tonight’s fixture, as they will be when our men’s team play Crystal Palace at Old Trafford on Sunday 2 February. Ahead of
a parent or guardian with them. Admission is free, with donations to the Foundation welcomed.
As for a memorable post-match experience, junior season ticket holders have the chance to attend a meet-and-greet with some United Women players. A
number of lucky junior season ticket holders will get invited on the week of a home game here (so check your email, including junk/spam!) and those fans can then apply for up to six tickets (under 14s must be with an adult). The meet-and-greet takes place at The Hub (the building in between the stadium and Morrisons).
More fan activities are set to be announced, so keep an eye on the MUW section of ManUtd.com for updates. Note: all experiences are supported by the Premier League Fans’ Fund, so will only take place for WSL weekend fixtures.
the game this evening, wreaths will be laid on the pitch, our players will wear black armbands, and The Flowers of Manchester will play before kick-off. Flags will also be laid out in the North Stand as a mark of respect.
The tragedy in 1958 saw 23 people, including eight players and three members of club staff, lose their lives when their aeroplane crashed at Munich-Riem Airport.
Munich is a core part of the club’s Academy education programme, to ensure every young player understands the footsteps they walk in, with our women’s U21 team marking the occasion on Wednesday, as they played Chelsea at The Cliff.
SPURS ON SUNDAY
Next up for United after today is the small matter of a WSL trip to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium next Sunday (Sun 2 Feb, 6.45pm). It’ll be a second trip to Spurs’ impressive primary stadium, following a 2-1 win there in February 2023. A crowd of almost 22,000 was there for that one, and for our latest trip to north London we’ve received an allocation of 2,174 safe-standing tickets, including 26 wheelchair pairs. Tickets are £15/£5 –see manutd.com/tickets to buy, and for coach travel.
All young fans are welcome
FOUR NIGHTS AGO IN LEIGH...
Photo taken: Wednesday 22 January 2025, Leigh Sports Village
What’s the story? The Reds celebrate after Millie Turner had found the net to equalise in the 35th minute of our League Cup quarter-final against Manchester City. It was a wonderfully composed finish from our no.21 (and a rare Millie T goal from her boot rather than her head), but sadly it wouldn’t be enough for us on the night as the visitors hit back to take a 2-1 lead into half-time, which is how the tie would finish despite United having the best of the action after the break. So our quest to reach a first League Cup final goes on, but we’d like to thank every one of you Reds in attendance among the 3,011 crowd for your support.
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Captain’s column
MLT
MAYA IS HAPPY TO SEE HER OLD CLUB’S PROGRESS, BUT THREE BIG WSL POINTS ARE THE ONLY FOCUS TONIGHT...
Games against Brighton are always special for me. I was there for a while before coming to United and I loved my time at the club. They’re doing so well this season and that’s really nice to see. But sentiment aside, I’m a United player now and my focus is on doing everything I can to help us win tonight’s game. We’re coming up against a good team that is fresh and has a lot of talent, so it will be a big challenge but one we’re really looking forward to.
We’re heading into it on the back of two derby clashes and, while I’m putting these notes together ahead of the second game, in the cup, I know we really showed our true colours in last weekend’s win at the Etihad. We pressed high, forced them into mistakes and that’s what a United team should be about. We didn’t give them any time to settle and that’s something we want to continue against all our opponents throughout the second half of the campaign.
We’re up at the top end of the league table
again and of course that’s exciting, but our mindset is the same every season: we want to win every game, keep defending well and continue to score goals. We know you will be behind us every step of the way, too.
We love playing for United, a club with so much history, and tonight we’ll pay tribute to the lives lost in the Munich Air Disaster. Its upcoming anniversary is a reminder of how privileged we are to represent this special club, and I hope we can channel that pride and honour into our performance as we commemorate the tragedy this evening.
After last Sunday’s solid display at City, the captain wants to see more of the same against the Seagulls
As she gets set to face her former club, we salute the remarkable consistency
0 UNITED GAMES PLAYED GAMES MISSED SINCE SIGNING
80
78 MAYA’S ON
GAMES AS A STARTER
GAMES AS A SUB 2
THE MARCH
of our captain since she moved to Manchester… and even before as a Seagull!
#14 Jayde Riviere
OUR
FLYING FULL-BACK RECENTLY CELEBRATED HER TWO-YEAR ANNIVERSARY WITH
THE REDS
BY
SIGNING A NEW DEAL AND, AS SHE TELLS US, HER LOVE FOR THE CLUB SHE’S SUPPORTED SINCE SHE WAS A KID GROWING UP IN ONTARIO HAS GROWN EVEN STRONGER DURING THAT TIME...
Interview: Zoe Hodges
January marks two years since you arrived here in Manchester, Jayde. What are your reflections on the last 24 months as a whole? It’s been great. Honestly, I’ve enjoyed my time here. I’ve enjoyed getting to know the girls on a deeper level, being a part of some highs and some lows of the club. I’ve enjoyed myself a lot, and hopefully as the season keeps going on, I’ll keep progressing, and our team will just get closer and closer.
How has playing for the club that you grew up supporting compared to what you thought it would be like when you found out you were joining United early in 2023?
FACTFILE
DATE OF BIRTH
22 January 2001
PLACE OF BIRTH
Markham, Ontario, Canada
POSITION Midfielder
YOUTH CAREER
Pickering SC, Markham SC, Vancouver Whitecaps REX
COLLEGE CAREER
2019-22 Michigan Wolverines
SENIOR CAREER
2022 AFC Ann Arbor, 4 apps, 0 goals
2023- Manchester United, 35 apps, 0 goals
INTERNATIONAL CAREER
2022- Canada, 47 caps, 1 goal
That’s a good question. I feel like it’s hard to formulate into words what it would be like, just because you never actually think you’re going to play for the biggest club in the world, the club you support. I think now, being a part of it, and being a part of the journey, winning the FA Cup with the team, it’s a lot more exciting than I would have ever imagined, and I’ve enjoyed every single minute of it. It’s brought a lot of joy to myself, my family. But yeah, there’s not really a lot of words to formulate the feeling of it, but I think that it’s been a blessing.
What was it like coming into a club at this time of year, and having to adapt to a new team, and in your case a new country, as well as a new league? I came here by myself, and I came here halfway through the season in January. So it was a little different, because the girls had started their season, and then they came back after the Christmas break, so it was an interesting time to arrive. I also came in while rehabbing an injury, so I was in a different →
head space. But it’s been great. The transition has been really easy. That’s kudos to the staff and the girls that are here, that helped make that transition very smooth. I’ve loved every minute, and I can’t wait to make more core memories with the team.
Speaking of transfers, your international team-mate Simi Awujo came in last summer and appears to have fitted in very well too... Simi is doing well, she likes Manchester. We obviously are very close, so we hang out outside of training too. I think she transitioned very well, and she’s starting to get more minutes under her belt, so she’s really enjoying the process. It’s her first professional contract and sometimes we’ve got to pinch ourselves a little; remind ourselves where we started and where we want to be. That was me two years ago, you know, all starry eyed being at Manchester United, the team I support, and she heavily supports them too. So, I think it’s kind of a pinch-me moment for her, but she’s doing great.
You seem to play a bit of a big sister role to Simi. You mention how you spend time away from the training ground together. What are your favourite things to do?
Yeah, I mean, you’ll have to ask her if I’m more of a big sister to her [laughs], but I just wanted to be there for her because I came here by myself, and I think there’s nothing more comforting than having a friendly face or someone you know, being at a club you’re going to. We’ve gone to the Christmas markets together, we’ll go to dinner, go shopping... just some things outside of football, you know. It’s been really good. I was very happy when I heard she was coming. We spend a lot of time with each other at training and then outside... and then we go on international duty!
You’ve both played your part in the WSL season so far. How would you reflect on what we’ve achieved to date in 2024/25?
I think for the club, we always strive to push for more. We want to win trophies and win titles. I think when we got a taste of what it was like to win an FA Cup, that was unreal – especially being in that scenario again, just the year before, and losing it. So being there and being able to win it, it’s something we strive to do again. It’s something the staff have pushed us to do, and the directors of the club want more from us. So going into this season it’s the
same mission as any other: to bring home trophies and to keep pushing the women’s game forward.
We’ve kept a lot of clean sheets this season. What has been the key to our defensive success? We have fantastic defenders to begin with, individually, but I think collectively we outshine most. We have Phallon between the two goal posts, who is an unbelievable goalkeeper to begin with, and then having a bunch of other great defenders in the backline, we pride ourselves on clean sheets. I think ultimately clean sheets win games, so that’s something we strive to do. Our captain is in the backline too, and she plays such a leadership role for all of us. But we gel with each other off the pitch as well, and it’s really helped on the pitch.
You mentioned our skipper there. How has Maya adapted to the captaincy?
I don’t know what it’s like to captain such a big club,
Jayde’s new contract extends her deal with the club until June 2028
Our no.14’s dynamic play down the right has made her a real attacking threat
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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. www.remington.co.uk/manutd
Riviere is proud of how she’s developed over the past two years as a Red
“It’s been amazing to play alongside Maya. You can see her leadership skills in training, and she holds us to the highest standards”
but I can imagine it comes with its own personal and public pressures. She received it off someone who has been a captain for a long period of time at United. She’s still young, which I think adds to it, because there’s a lot of expectation at such a young age, but she has such talent and has filled those boots. It’s been amazing to play alongside Maya. You can definitely see her leadership skills come into play throughout training. And she holds us all to the highest of standards.
Our attention now turns to Brighton. They’ve had a strong first half of the season. Have you had a chance to follow their progress, and what are you expecting from this game?
I’ve followed their progress a bit, but I personally like to focus on United. I like to focus on our team,
because that’s what I have control over – how I play, and ultimately, when I’m playing well, it helps the team play well. Obviously we had Nikita Parris, and she’s now at Brighton, and she’s doing what Keets does and smashing it, but I think for us, we do well when we focus on us, and that’s all we can control.
You mention Nikita there, your former team-mate and a good friend to many of the squad. Have you kept in touch with her since she left?
I haven’t been in touch with Keets much, but she was like a big sister to me. She is a big sister to me and she reaches out here and there. She’s such an experienced player, a dominant player, and she’s doing really well where she is, which is expected. Obviously, we miss her, but I know she has to do whatever is best for her. Off the pitch, we’re all friends but on the pitch, we’ll obviously have that rivalry, because she’s in the frontline and I’m in the backline.
She scored against us last time out and you must have faced her a fair bit in training before. How do you plan on defending against her?
Yes, that game where she scored against us I wasn’t there, but I know Keets is dominant and a huge threat. She’s hungry in that box! I think for us, it helps in a way, because we know how Keets plays, but she’s forever evolving as well. I think my number one thing is, obviously I don’t want any attacker to score
Old friends could be reunited as we face Brighton today
Maya’s proving to be the perfect skipper, says Jayde
against us and, though Keets is a friend, I’m hopeful that she won’t score against us in the near future.
Just going back to training, there’s a saying that ‘iron sharpens iron’. How much do you feel you are developing every day by working with the talent we have here at United?
Something I’ve spoken about since being here, is just how much I’ve progressed as a person and a player. Ultimately, you want to play in an environment where you’re playing with the best of the best, and you’re being challenged and pushed in that environment. I am being pushed every single day by my team-mates. I’m being pushed every single day by the staff that are there because you’re at a huge club that expects that from you. But for me, I think that where I was before signing, and where I am now, is a little bit of night and day. For me, I think I’ve been able to show, hopefully the fans and everyone, what I’m capable of doing, and I just want to continue to push those standards forward into the new year.
Over the last 12 months, you’ve had some time off with injury. How much have you learned about yourself and your resilience during those times? It’s been a very difficult time. You know, there are a lot of spells where you question, ‘why me?’ and I went through a spell of trying to figure out why do I always get injured? What is it that I’m not doing? What targets am I not hitting? And sometimes it’s just the nature of the game. Unfortunately, it’s just something that happens to many players, both in the
“Where I was before signing, and where I am now, is night and day. I want to continue to push those standards forward”
women’s and the men’s game. For me, it was a hard time navigating that. But, the resilient part is that I’ve always come back. Injuries are unfortunately going to come. It’s a love-hate relationship with the sport. But moving forward, knowing I have that resilient mindset and will always come back from whatever is put in my way, is something I can take forward with me.
Overall, 2024 was a fantastic year for you – you were a Cup winner, you went to the Olympics, and you even got your childhood sports field named after you! What do you want to achieve in 2025? I just want to continue to push the boundaries. I think that’s something that this club continuously asks of us. And for me personally, I want to keep pushing as an individual. I want to keep expanding my horizons and skillset, of what I can bring to the team, and hopefully, with my team-mates and with the staff supporting me through that, I’ll be able to flourish a lot more in 2025. ●
For Jayde and United team-mate Simi, they’re excited to see what lies ahead for Canada (who are now managed by former Reds boss Casey Stoney)
2024/25 POSTER ANNA SANDBERG
*date and kick off time subject to change
Happy 13th birthday to Lucy Heathcote
Happy 13th birthday Tegan Redman. Love Mum, Dad and Taylor.
Happy 10th birthday Lilly Hoyle – her no.1 player is Ella Toone.
‘Happy 13th birthday to our football-loving daughter Evie Marten – love Mum, Dad & Kira.’
Happy 12th birthday, Mia, love Mum, Dad and Josh.
Layla-Jean (left) turns 10 on 4 February – she is here with mum Kathy, Auntie Helena and best friend Molly (right).
Arthur (age 8) and Evelyn (age 5) are two very smiley season ticket holders!
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TEENAGE RED AND WEST STAND SEASON TICKET HOLDER LOLA EASTWOOD (LEFT) TALKS
US THROUGH A TIMELESS TERRACE TUNE – WHICH FOR UNITED FANS IS ALL ABOUT OUR AMAZING NO.11...
WOOOAHHH WE GOT LEAH GALTON, WOOOAHHH SUPER LEAH GALTON... WOOOAHHH , SHE NEVER GIVES THE BALL AWAY!
An oldie, but a goodie... catchiest chant ever?
I’d say so. It’s definitely always stuck in my head!
Why is it your favourite chant?
Just because it’s about Leah, basically. She’s an incredible player, first and foremost, but when I met her at our first WSL game in 2019, I just loved how she interacted with fans. It really drew me in towards her, and she’s still my favourite player.
She is a good egg. Any Leah stories to share? Well, I’ve since met her lots of times, and I had my hair done like hers, by [Leah’s partner] Sheridan.
Ha, no way!
Yeah, it was incredible. I was chatting to Sheridan at a game and she said if I ever wanted it done to let her know, so I took that opportunity! We met in the Whistling Wren pub by LSV after a game and Sheridan did it. It was like I was in a daydream...
Anyhow, back to the chant. It seems every team has a player for this one, and we’ve found its supposed origins: Newcastle fans singing it about men’s player Chancel Mbemba in 2015... I did not know that. I guess it’s a chant that works well with so many players, isn’t it?
Any player with four syllables! It’s based on Earth, Wind & Fire’s September. Where would September rank among favourite months?
I don’t really like it, to be honest, because it’s when everyone goes back to school or college after summer.
A very valid point. Although, on the plus side, it is usually when the WSL season starts... Ah, so it does. Okay, we’ll put September in the middle of the month rankings then.
It’s no May, is it? Where do you sing this chant from?
I’m a season ticket holder in the West Stand with my mum. We’re in a quieter part of the stand, but when the Leah chant starts we have to join in. Since lockdown we’ve hardly missed a home game.
That’s great to hear. Loved the chat, Lola!
Visit muwsc.co.uk for the full songbook, and you can follow Lola’s women’s football account @girlswhoplayuk
When singing the name of your no.1 player just isn’t enough!
MANCHESTER
Rewind to...
SUNDAY 12 MAY 2019 ● OLD TRAFFORD
While it wasn’t until 27 March 2021 that United Women lined up at Old Trafford for a game of football, the players certainly weren’t unfamiliar with the stadium, and in May 2019 they were invited on to the pitch ahead of the final Premier League match of the season for our men’s side.
There was a specific reason for this, of course, with the Reds having ownership of the Championship trophy, which they proudly paraded to the crowd in the M16 sunshine. It was only a day earlier when the squad first got their hands on the trophy, after our 5-0 win against Lewes here at LSV (inset), so everyone was in relaxed mood following a Saturday night celebration, as a long campaign finally came to an end for Casey Stoney’s fledgling squad.
Everyone in this photo can consider themselves an ‘Original’, of course – the collective name for our first group of professional players (while showing all due
respect to the many amateurs who previously blazed a trail for them, many of whom have since featured in this programme).
You’ll no doubt recognise many of the Originals above – three are still here today – but let’s give a shout-out to a few lesser-celebrated Reds that shone in front of goal during that inaugural season. There’s Mollie Green (front row, far right), who bagged 16 (only Jess Sigsworth and Lauren James scored more) – Green’s now playing for Nottingham Forest. Lizzie Arnot (back row, third from right) chipped in with seven and she’s since been breaking scoring records with Rangers north of the border. And let’s not forget Charlie Devlin (back row, third from left), who got six goals from midfield – she’s still only 26 and was recently reunited with Arnot at Rangers. As for everyone else in the pic, you too will always have a special place in our hearts here at United.
Helping our young people tell their stories.
FOLLOW ALONG
ENGAGE ● INSPIRE ● UNITE
STRIKING A BALANCE
Our teenage Reds manage schoolwork with soccer, while on the pitch their development continues by going up against senior opponents...
commitment to learning
This past month has presented plenty of playing opportunities for the girls, with several important fixtures, but they’ve done well to balance that with their education. Some have taken external BTEC exams, others have been completing mock A-levels (ahead of the real thing in summer), while there have been university applications and even USA college applications to get going with. “I’m always impressed with how the girls manage their time and the commitment they show to their football and their schoolwork in equal measure,” said Amanda Goodwin, Women’s Academy Manager. “Their teachers are also equally impressed at how independent they are to catch up with missed work and I know the girls often use away match coach journeys to stay on top of their work. Well done, girls.”
IN-HOUSE FRIENDLY
During a recent break in the fixture list, the U16 and U21 groups mixed together to compete against one another in an in-house game. It proved a useful exercise not just for the players – who could challenge themselves against different opponents – but also for the Academy staff, who got a better idea of which players are ready to transition into the U21s squad.
FA WNL PLATE
Our U21s’ technical superiority showed in a 3-0 victory over Loughborough Lightning Women in the Women’s National League Plate in mid-December. Aoife Farrall scored a brace and Mared Griffiths added the third. “We knew this was going to be a tough test that was going to throw different challenges at us, with Loughborough being a [senior] women’s side,” Goodwin explained. “The girls had a dominant performance in and out of possession. Loughborough were organised, athletic and physical but the technical dominance of our team prevailed to result in an excellent
performance which takes us through to the semi-final. We play against Bournemouth [today, 26 January]. They have won all 10 of their league games so far this year, so will provide a test which we look forward to.”
ARSENAL DOUBLE-HEADER
Our U21s’ pre-Christmas schedule also included an exciting two-match week against Arsenal. A fine team performance at home earned United a 5-2 win in the first game, with Arsenal presenting a tough challenge on the day in terms of their style of play and tactics. Olivia Francis and Aoife Farrall scored braces, with the other from Amelia Oldroyd. “We were creative and clinical in front of goal and worked very hard out of possession to be tough to break down,” reflected Goodwin. “The second game a week later was away in the FA Youth Cup. Arsenal made a few changes to strengthen their team and came prepared to attack. The first half was Arsenal’s, with us coming into the break 1-0 down. We came out a lot brighter in the second half and created much more in the final third, but our bravery to push players forwards left us vulnerable at the back at times, allowing them to stay in the game. It finished 3-2 to Arsenal after a very close and hard-fought battle.”
Attacking talent Aoife Farrall has been among the goals during a busy period for our young Reds
Last season: WSL 9th, FA Cup quarter-finals, League Cup quarter-finals
Top scorer (all competitions): Nikita Parris (6)
Best league finish: 6th in WSL, 2020/21
Brighton began the 2024/25 campaign hoping for a big improvement on last term’s ninth-place finish, and for summer hire Dario Vidosic to bring the team the kind of stability they have been lacking in recent times. So far, so good.
The new boss took over from interim Mikey Harris in July, becoming Brighton’s fourth permanent head coach within a two-year period, following Hope Powell’s departure in October 2022, Jens Scheuer’s short-lived 68 days, and the sudden exit of Melissa PhiIlips last February. In addition to Harris, Amy Merricks also had two spells as an interim during that time. Under Vidosic, and following some impressive summer recruitment that included bringing in the hugely experienced Nikita Parris and Fran Kirby, the Seagulls have been the team most able to keep pace with the division’s four leading clubs during the first half of the campaign. It all began with a statement 4-0 victory over Everton on the
opening weekend, with seven new faces involved either from the start or off the bench. Alex Greenwood admitted that Manchester City had to “win ugly” against them the following week, before Brighton triumphed over Aston Villa, Crystal Palace and Leicester either side of October’s 1-1 draw with United. All in, Brighton won five of their first eight WSL games – rapidly equalling their final tally across all 22 fixtures last season.
But the loss of Kirby to injury in recent weeks has been a blow. The former Chelsea star and five-time WSL winner hasn’t featured since her side beat West Ham in mid-November. Brighton
RECORD V THE REDS
Played: 15
Brighton wins: 1
United wins: 11
Draws: 3
Brighton goals: 8
United goals: 35
LAST WSL LINE-UP:
v LIVERPOOL (AWAY, WSL), 17.01.25
BAGGALEY
BERGSVAND
LOSADA CANKOVIC
SEIKE VILAMALA
OLISLAGERS
PARRIS
SUBS USED: SYMONDS, HALEY, RAYNER, BREMER
had previously won every league game in which the 31-year-old had either scored or assisted (five goal involvements in total), but the same level of creative guile has been missing without her.
Having seen their FA Cup tie against Durham postponed until the end of January due to the cold weather earlier this month, last weekend’s WSL meeting with Liverpool was Brighton’s first game of 2025. It meant they had gone more than a month without playing and winter-break cobwebs may have explained what Vidosic lamented as a “toothless” performance in St Helens, as a late Jorelyn Carabali own goal handed Liverpool a deserved 2-1 victory. Like United, the Seagulls were eliminated from the Women’s League Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday night, with Brighton losing 4-0 at home to Arsenal. Vidosic’s side stood strong at the back for the first hour, before the holders struck a quickfire treble to effectively end the contest with 20 minutes still to play.
Ex-Australia international
Dario Vidosic is new to the WSL this season. After hanging up his own boots in 2022, he moved straight into coaching to take charge at A-League Women side Melbourne City. The 37-year-old landed the Brighton job last July, identified as someone with a ‘progressive outlook’ and whose ‘playing style and philosophy’ aligns with the visions of the ambitious club.
HEAD COACH HISTORY MAKER
Forward Kiko Seike achieved a first on the opening weekend of 2024/25, becoming the first debutant in the WSL’s history to score a hat-trick when she bagged a treble against Everton. The 28-year-old Japan international was largely unknown outside of her home country at the time of her summer transfer from Urawa Reds, but that has quickly changed.
AERIAL THREAT
Norwegian centre-back
Guro Bergsvand has been a staple of Brighton’s defence since her 2023 arrival from Brann, where she won a Toppserien title and was team-mates with Lisa Naalsund and Elisabeth Terland. Strong in the air, the tall 30-year-old is a force in both penalty areas – as United found out in last season’s 2-2 draw in Crawley when she scored her team’s second goal.
Left: Parris was on target again in Brighton’s most recent WSL game, away to Liverpool, but the hosts would take the points
“THIS WAS MY DREAM!”
Shocked pupils enjoy a meet, greet and kickabout with trio of United stars
Fourteen female pupils from Manchester United Foundation partner primary schools had the chance to meet and play alongside their Reds heroes at Carrington recently.
Invited to the club’s training base for the promise of some fun on the elite pitches on which their heroes play, little did the participating girls know that they would also be joined by Ella Toone, Elisabeth Terland and Lisa Naalsund.
Identified as huge fans of United Women and with a passion for playing themselves, the participants also received the special gift of a full United kit featuring their name on the back.
“Today is about surprising some of our primary girl students who really love football,” said the Foundation’s primary schools manager, Jordanna Roberts. “The things they have got, and to meet the players, it will change their lives and give them a fantastic boost.”
Ellis Cuttress, deputy headteacher at Bredbury Green Primary School, said: “It’s been absolutely brilliant – we brought two girls from Year 5, who play football outside of school regularly. On the way here, one of them was saying, ‘Imagine if Ella Toone is there!’ So coming
here, her little face has lit up –it’s been absolutely lovely!”
The girls were split into two teams, as they enjoyed the chance to play in front of, and with, their idols – as Toone and Terland, playing as goalkeepers, made a string of saves.
“It was nice to see their faces – there were a lot of smiles,” said Toone, while Terland commented: “When we were
young, we could always remember when things like this happened, so it’s nice to give something back.”
The participants are engaged in the Foundation’s Premier League Primary Stars programme, an initiative funded by the Premier League to help children be active and to develop life skills.
Esme, another Toone fan among the group of girls involved, loved the experience, saying: “It feels amazing. I love Ella Toone so, so much. I’ve got a scarf with her face on it! This was like my dream; amazing.”
See mufoundation.org for more
Elisabeth, Lisa and Ella take questions from the excited group, before the games began in the personalised kits (below)
CAN YOU FIND THE SIX PLAYERS WHO’VE REPRESENTED BOTH UNITED AND BRIGHTON IN OUR WORDSEARCH?
DEBUT DEBATE
EVER-PRESENTS
WE’VE PLAYED BRIGHTON IN EACH OF OUR SIX WSL SEASONS SO FAR, BUT CAN YOU CIRCLE THE FOUR OTHER TEAMS AGAINST WHOM WE’VE DONE THE SAME, AND PUT A CROSS THROUGH THOSE WE HAVEN’T?
Debut debate: Millie Turner (August 2018); 2. Maya Le Tissier (September 2022); 3. Lisa Naalsund (March 2023); 4. Geyse (October 2023); 5. Grace Clinton
City, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United; No: Aston Villa, Crystal Palace, Leicester City, Liverpool.
Stats AT THE BACK
WOMEN’S SUPER LEAGUE TABLE, 2024/25
UNITED APPEARANCES & GOALS, 2024/25
WSL TOP SCORERS, 2024/25
WSL
ASSISTS,
A CLOSER LOOK...
This afternoon could see Elisabeth Terland make her 50th WSL career appearance, as the Reds go up against her former club. Only three non-British players have scored more goals after 50 appearances in the competition’s history than the Norwegian’s current tally of 24: Vivianne Miedema (52), Sam Kerr (43) and Khadija Shaw (42).
WOMEN’S SUPER LEAGUE preview
WE RUN THE RULE OVER THE FIVE OTHER GAMES IN THE DIVISION’S DIARY
This evening’s game at LSV completes the weekend schedule in England’s top flight, with the matchweek 12 action getting under way at Villa Park yesterday, as Aston Villa hosted Manchester City. It would have been a special occasion for Villa’s interim boss Shaun Goater –a cult hero at City from his playing days – who has started well in the Villa Women hotseat since taking over from Robert de Pauw in December. There can be no dispute over the biggest game of the weekend, however – Chelsea v Arsenal at 12.30pm today. Both sides have been in superb form – the Blues since the first kick of the season, while Arsenal have improved massively since Renee Slegers took over in October. A win at Stamford Bridge would be the biggest statement yet of the Gunners’ title ambitions this season, as they seek a first WSL crown since 2018/19. A win for Sonia Bompastor’s Blues, however, and that gap at the top above Arsenal will get even bigger. There’s another London derby (let’s face it, there is most weekends in this division) across the other side of the capital at 2pm, as Crystal
Palace take on Tottenham. As we found out ourselves just before Christmas, the Eagles can be difficult to break down at their Gander Green Lane home, but Spurs will fancy their chances against the WSL’s bottom side: Robert Vilahamn’s Lilywhites have picked up seven points from their last three games, and eased past Palace 4-0 on the opening day of the season.
The third and final London fixture today isn’t a derby, but it’s a big one for two stuttering teams looking to thrust themselves further away from the drop zone: West Ham v Everton at Victoria Road in Dagenham. Both sides have only two wins each in the league this season, although the visiting Toffees look more likely to be on an upward trajectory, having beaten Manchester City and drawn to Aston Villa in their last two outings. That 1-1 draw against Goater’s Villans last weekend saw fresh recruits Hayley Ladd and Emma Watson take to the field for Brian Sorensen’s side, with the pair moving from United in permanent and loan deals, respectively.
Rounding off this weekend’s action ahead of United v Brighton at LSV is Leicester v Liverpool at 3pm. As ever with the Foxes, they’ll be lining up at the club’s King Power Stadium, and having drawn to Chelsea in their previous WSL game there, Amandine Miquel’s side will believe they can go one better against the Merseysiders and pick up a precious victory.
ACROSS THE WSL
Having drawn to Chelsea at home, Leicester will believe they can go one better against Liverpool
On-loan Red Watson made an impact last weekend, playing over half an hour of Everton’s draw with Villa
FIXTURES + RESULTS
ADDED-TIME QUIZ
In which year did Maria Thorisdottir, now of Brighton, join the Reds from Chelsea: 2020, 2021 or 2022?
From which other ‘B’ side did current Brighton goalkeeper Sophie Baggaley move to United in 2021?
Who was the last member of the current squad to score against Brighton at Leigh Sports Village, in April 2023?
Against which team did Seagulls forward Nikita Parris score her final goal for the Reds? (Clue: it was in a 4-0 win last March.)
Parris hit a brace in United’s first home WSL game of 2024 – a 2-1 victory over which side?
Elisabeth Terland got 13 goals last season to finish joint-second in the WSL scoring charts alongside which former Red?
Which club has Reds skipper Maya Le Tissier played more senior games for: Brighton or United?
What was the score in the Reds’ biggest win against tonight’s WSL opponents, achieved on four occasions? 8.
It’s 11 victories so far against Brighton, but can you name the only two clubs United have beaten more often?
Leah Galton is the Reds’ all-time leading scorer against the Seagulls, having netted how many times against today’s opponents: five, six or seven? 2. 1. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 9. 10. How strong is your knowledge on our Brighton links? ANSWERS: 1. 2021; 2. Bristol City; 3. Rachel Williams; 4. Brighton & Hove Albion; 5. Aston Villa; 6. Lauren James; 7. United (80-75); 8. 4-0; 9. Everton (15) and Tottenham Hotspur (12); 10. Seven
