Manchester United Women v Aston Villa Women match programme, WSL, 03.12.22

v United, 2018 The full tale of a historic, goal-laden first meeting, in the Championship.

TUNNEL

Hello and welcome to Old Trafford. It feels like a while since we’ve seen you here, but we really enjoyed seeing those of you who were in the away end at the Emirates last month and we felt everyone’s support that day, whether you were there in person or not.

We won’t be getting carried away, but it was a brilliant result, there’s no doubt about that. It’s one we believe we earned, not just on the day – though on the day we were excellent and showed a lot of personality – but through everything we’re doing all week, week in and week out. Belief is a huge part of our progression. You have to believe to be able to achieve.

It’s not often the case when you win, but there are several things we can learn from that result: we were behind, and we couldn’t hear each other well – something we have to get used to playing in the biggest stadiums in front of bigger crowds. But we were taking risks at appropriate times.

At no point did this group panic, look defeated or want to settle for a point. We continued to play our football and even when Lucia and Martha’s chances came and went, you could see we were calm. The team were playing with freedom and maturity.

It was a big step. We’ve shown another side to us now. We know we can beat any team in the league, we have the quality. It’s now about consistency and we won’t be getting carried away.

That consistency is about backing up results like the one against Arsenal and today we welcome

Aston Villa to Old Trafford. We played them earlier in the season in the Continental League Cup and, given our performance, we were unlucky not to win. But we’ve developed as a group a lot since then; more players have more minutes under their belts and we have different experiences to draw upon.

It’s another big occasion. Playing in these fixtures at big stadiums and in front of large crowds is what we’ve been working towards for a long time. The game is getting the recognition it deserves and we are proud to be a part of that.

In a sporting sense, it’s something we have to prepare the players for so the occasion doesn’t become an obstacle to performance. The ground and the crowd become part of our performance. It’s an incredible experience to play at Old Trafford and we can’t wait to see you all this afternoon for what we hope will be another memorable day in this special club’s history. Enjoy the game.

THE REDS WILL WALK DOWN THE OLD TRAFFORD

WITH REAL PRIDE TODAY, SAYS THE BOSS, AND ONCE THAT WHISTLE BLOWS HE WANTS TO SEE ANOTHER PERFORMANCE FULL OF PERSONALITY

THE SCOREBOARD TELLS THE STORY...

Deep into injury-time under the Emirates floodlights two weeks ago, every United player drops deep to help defend an Arsenal free-kick. Just minutes earlier the Gunners – who came into the match having won their previous 14 WSL games – had been stunned by two terrific headed goals from the visitors – first from Millie Turner (85 minutes), then Alessia Russo (90+1 minutes), to swing the scoreline in our favour in front of over 40,000 fans. Knowing that a victory would put us level on points with the Londoners, it was a tense conclusion; the game reaching men’s World Cup-levels of additional time as the clock edged towards the 100-minute mark. When referee Kirsty Dowle finally blew her whistle and outstretched her arms, it left those in the bright green shirts – plus those to the right of this photo in the packed away end – celebrating wildly. “The second half was a whirlwind!” smiled matchwinner Russo to the Sky cameras amid those joyous scenes. Oh, what a night!

INSIDE STORIES

BACK ON THE BIG STAGE

The refreshed Reds are determined to kick off December with a vital victory

As if there’s wasn’t already enough excitement about this afternoon’s fixture – just United Women’s second at Old Trafford in front of a crowd – the manner of our victory at Arsenal on 19 November, which has kept us flying high in the WSL, has made the two-week wait for today feel like an eternity.

Thankfully, the time has come, and there’s so much to look forward to today. A record-breaking crowd for a United Women home fixture is

expected, with some local promotion such as that seen on nearby Victoria Warehouse’s vast digital screen (below) helping to remind the thousands of cars that pass it each day that professional domestic football hasn’t stopped while the men’s World Cup is on!

That particular tournament, which you might have heard about, resumes in Qatar at 3pm (UK time), meaning the only competition of interest to anyone in M16 come

It’s been over eight months since our last visit

12.30pm is the WSL, as Marc Skinner’s Reds aim to pick up a win that could (if only for a matter of hours) take us back to the top of the table, with Arsenal hosting Everton at 2pm, and Chelsea away to Leicester at 3pm.

Our opponents Aston Villa will have other ideas, however, as they seek a third straight WSL victory. The Villans have been far more dangerous in attack this season compared to recent years – as you’ll read about later in this programme – and a win today would take them level on points with Manchester City in fourth.

Such big-stadium fixtures as this one have become a more common sight this season, with Villa’s most recent win coming at Villa Park, and Skinner’s Reds off to the Etihad

MAYA IN THE SPOTLIGHT IN LATEST WFS

Autumn training means hoods up, or hats on!

THE CONTI CUP RETURNS IN MIDWEEK

ABOUT MAKING IT THREE WSL WINS FROM THREE IN M16

Stadium next weekend for a tasty Manchester derby. We’ve already won at Leicester’s King Power Stadium this season, of course, while last week saw a new date confirmed for our trip to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (Sat 11 Feb, 12pm) after the original clash with Spurs was postponed in September.

So while the players of both United and Villa will be as eager as the rest of us to get started today, they will all be confident of handling the occasion – including Villa’s Kenza Dali who, curiously, is set to face us for the third straight season here, having previously lined up for West Ham, then Everton.

The Reds come into the game on the back of a two-week rest, and with no

fresh injury concerns at the time of print following an intense 90 minutes at Arsenal. Carla Ward’s Villa did play last weekend, as they beat Durham 1-0 at home in the Continental Cup. With the Reds in the same group and only the top side (plus just one second-placed team from across the five groups) progressing to the quarter-finals, it’s a result that puts Villa in top spot ahead of our Wednesday meeting with Everton at Leigh Sports Village (7pm kick-off –hopefully see you there!) and nothing less than a win will do for United if we’re to have a chance of staying in that cup.

Today, though, it’s all about the WSL, and making it three wins from three at the Theatre of Dreams. Let’s go!

CHANGING ATTITUDES

Ahead of our last game at Old Trafford, in March, Manchester United unveiled ‘Change the Game’, a campaign aiming to highlight the club’s continued commitment towards leading the way in changing attitudes towards women’s football. While there’s been so much positive momentum since then, it’s important to keep

building on that – whether that’s challenging stereotypes, celebrating the quality and passion within the women’s game, or inspiring the next generation of fans. The club will continue to amplify this message, with the ‘Change the Game’ logo seen across club platforms in the build-up to today’s game, as well as our match programme cover.

The latest episode of the The Women’s Football Show is packed with MUW news and insight, as host Zarah Connolly is joined in the stands of Old Trafford by ex-Reds goalkeeper Siobhan Chamberlain, as well as four members of our supporters’ club. The half-hour show – which you can instantly watch by clicking on the button below – sees Maya Le Tissier share her pride about winning a first England cap, while Shiv and the fans discuss how the Reds will benefit from having a head of women’s football in Polly Bancroft. And just for giggles, four Reds play a fun game of ‘Who’s more likely to?’ You can also look out for the show on ManUtd.com, the club app or MUTV.

WATCH THE LATEST EPISODE HERE

BUT TODAY IT’S ALL

MEET THE MASCOTS

TeamViewer competition offers kids a matchday experience at Old Trafford they will never forget

This weekend’s game is set to be a particularly special one for a group of lucky young Reds (pictured right), who will be proudly walking out as mascots alongside the United Women players, as part of a competition held by Manchester United’s principal shirt partner TeamViewer.

As promoted on ManUtd.com last month, parents or guardians of youngsters aged 7-13 were invited to nominate a child to be in the competition – and unsurprisingly there were a huge number of entries, with the four winners picked randomly from the (digital) hat.

As well as leading Marc Skinner’s Reds on to the pitch at Old Trafford, the kids, along with their parents or guardians, have been provided with travel and accommodation, not to mention being given some behind-the-scenes access at the stadium, plus the chance to meet their favourite United players.

The whole day will be captured as part of the ‘Your View’ campaign, in which TeamViewer looks to bring supporters closer to the game, using its partnership rights to offer fans exclusive experiences across the season. As part of this, women’s team players Ella Toone, Hannah Blundell, Hayley Ladd and Martha Thomas have all been interviewed about their own experiences and views of Old Trafford, with specific reference to our previous game at the stadium, against Everton in March.

United’s five-year agreement with global technology company TeamViewer as principal shirt partner began ahead of the 2021/22 season, bringing together one of the world’s most popular and successful sports teams with one of Europe’s fastest-growing software companies. Please visit teamviewer.com/ en/sponsorship/manutd to find out more about TeamViewer and its partnership with Manchester United.

↑ Jack Rowley, 7 Favourite Reds: Ella Toone & Alessia Russo

↑ Isla Hallet, 10 Favourite Reds: Hayley Ladd & Ella Toone

↑ Ryan Walker, 9 Favourite Red: Ella Toone

↑ Name: Minnie Hagan, 9 Favourite Red: Ella Toone

Opening doors to confidence

Football provides skills that last a lifetime. That’s why the Barclays Community Football Fund is giving grants to community sports groups who need it most. Find out more at home.barclays/footballfund

Community Football Fund

Barclays Bank UK PLC is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority (Financial Services Register number: 759676). Registered in England. Registered no. 9740322. Registered office: 1 Churchill Place, London E14 5HP.

LAST TIME OUT

2 ARSENAL

Maanum 46, Wienroither 73

3 UNITED

Toone 39, Turner 85, Russo 90+1

Two late goals ensured a thrilling United comeback as Marc Skinner’s side shocked Arsenal with a 3-2 win at the Emirates.

With 40,604 fans watching on, the Reds claimed a first-ever WSL victory away to the Gunners, while also ending their opponents’ previously perfect winning start to the current league campaign.

Leah Galton had an early chance to open the scoring when she was sent through by Ella Toone, but Leah saw her effort tipped around the post by Manuela Zinsberger. Maya Le Tissier was next to go close as she rose to connect with Katie Zelem’s corner, but the defender’s header was too high.

A bright start was rewarded before the interval. Zinsberger flapped at a cross from Hayley Ladd, leaving Toone unmarked at the far post to tap into an empty net.

The Reds were hugely unfortunate to be pegged back early in the second half. Frida Maanum drove forward before her shot took a wicked deflection off Le Tissier and wrong-footed Mary Earps for the equaliser.

RECAP OF THE REDS’ MOST RECENT FIXTURES

Arsenal then pounced on a loose ball to create an opening for Stina Blackstenius, but Le Tissier made another intervention, this time deflecting the effort behind.

After Skinner had received a yellow card for his protestations over the referee’s

failure to award a free-kick for a forceful Caitlin Foord challenge on Nikita Parris, the home side went ahead for the first time.

Katie McCabe sent a deep delivery towards the far post where the ball was met perfectly on the volley for Laura Wienroither to fire a fierce strike past Earps.

It appeared as if it would be back-to-back defeats for United, and a 15th straight league win for Arsenal, but everything changed in a dramatic finale. First, Millie Turner got on the end of a Zelem free-kick

LINE-UPS

ARSENAL: Zinsberger; Wienroither, Wubben-Moy, Catley, McCabe; Walti, Maanum, Nobbs (Miedema 59); Mead (Agyemang 90+10), Blackstenius, Foord (Beattie 90+5)

Subs not used: Maritz, Marckese, Iwabuchi, Earl, Reid Booked: McCabe 90

UNITED: Earps; Batlle, Le Tissier, Turner, Blundell; Ladd, Zelem; Parris (Thomas 81), Toone, Galton (Garcia 72); Russo

Subs not used: Baggaley, Thorisdottir, Moore, Boe Risa, Tounkara, Williams, Staniforth Booked: Parris 43; Ladd 76

Referee: Kirsty Dowle Att: 40,604

Sat 19 Nov, Emirates Stadium, WSL

Stepping out for a lively Saturday night in the capital

Ella feels the love as she opens the scoring

to brilliantly head home via the crossbar and level things up at 2-2. It was a huge moment for the popular centre-back, who scored for the first time since April 2021 after missing much of last season through injury.

Far from being content with a point, the Reds sensed the victory was there for the taking, and continued to press for a winner. Two substitutes combined to go close when Martha Thomas crossed for Lucia Garcia, with the Spaniard’s attempt parried away by Zinsberger. Thomas then had a chance of her own when Hannah Blundell’s cross landed at her feet, but Zinsberger was there once again to keep it out.

It seemed as if the game was destined to finish level before an incredible climax sealed a famous Reds win.

Alessia Russo was already well known to Arsenal, having scored two headers against the Gunners in the space of 17 days during 2021/22. Despite that, they failed to heed the warning, and Russo met Zelem’s corner to direct another headed effort into the far corner and spark delirium among her team-mates.

One dampener on the evening was Arsenal and England’s Beth Mead leaving the field in tears after suffering an injury deep into stoppage time.

But for the Reds, it was a significant win in more ways than one, with a first-ever WSL triumph away to one of the so-called ‘big three’, as well as moving Skinner’s team level on points with the opposition.

3 CHELSEA

Kerr 60, James 64, Cuthbert 90+2

United began November with a 3-1 defeat to Chelsea at Leigh Sports Village, a result that ended our perfect start to the WSL season.

For the second time this season, the Reds played in front of a new record attendance at the venue, with the total of 6,186 fans beating the previous high set against Reading in September.

The visitors started on the offensive, with Mary Earps called into action to tip Niamh Charles’s dangerous cross over the bar. Pernille Harder then tried her luck, getting on the end of Sam Kerr’s cross but heading wide at the far post.

It was Kerr who opened the scoring on the hour mark, receiving the ball from Sophie Ingle and sending a precise finish through Maya Le Tissier’s legs and into

the bottom corner. Four minutes later it was 2-0. Kerr was the creator this time, latching on to a long ball over the top and squaring for former Red Lauren James to sweep a low strike beyond the reach of Earps.

Chelsea were threatening to run riot when Guro Reiten smacked the outside of the post, before Earps denied Harder on the follow-up.

Russo gives the Reds some hope

There was a lifeline for United on 71 minutes as Ella Toone collected a misplaced pass and played a perfect ball to Alessia Russo, who slotted in with a clinical effort.

Sam Kerr almost restored Chelsea’s two-goal advantage when she somehow headed wide from close range from Ingle’s cross. But it was they who had the final word when Erin Cuthbert’s speculative attempt took a deflection and found the net in injury-time.

Skinner and his squad show their gratitude for those in the away end at full-time

Millie T launches a bullet header that would level the scores

EARPS #27 MARY

Mary, there’s no better place to start than last time out and the win over Arsenal. What an experience that must have been...

Yeah, it was obviously a very tough game. I thought we dominated the first half, then let it slip in the second, so we’ve got lots to work on and lots to learn from, but it was incredible character from the girls to make sure we got the win – and that’s the most important thing at the end of the day, and the fact we managed to get the three points against a top team as well.

You mentioned character there –how pleasing is that? There have been games this season that have been tough, and the character has always been there... It’s really pleasing, especially against top-three opposition as well. Obviously, we want to be really up there come the end of the season, but all we can do right now is keep putting points on the board. To take three points off Arsenal is fantastic, to be honest, and if the game had finished at 45 minutes, I felt we controlled it. But we made it very difficult for ourselves in the second half – Arsenal grabbed a couple of goals which I think we could have done better from as a team. But it’s really important that we have that belief as a team, and when you get results like that, that’s what it does – it brings you together and you can refer back to that at later times when things get tough, as I’m sure they will later in the season.

THIS YEAR HAS BEEN “SPECIAL”, ACCORDING TO OUR GOALKEEPER, AND LOOKING AT WHAT SHE’S ACHIEVED, IT’S NO WONDER SHE’S ALL SMILES WHEN WE MEET AT CARRINGTON. NEXT UP, AN OLD TRAFFORD TRIP TO START DECEMBER, SO SHE’S NOT DONE YET FOR 2022...

Interview: Mikey Partington

After the Old Trafford game earlier this year, you spoke about how hard it was to communicate with your team-mates because of the noise of the fans. Did you experience that again at the Emirates? It was similar but I feel like I’m a lot more used to that now, especially from the summer with packed-out stadiums every game, which is the beauty of the way the game has gone and hopefully that just continues. It’s a problem I’d love to have, put it that way!

FACTFILE

FULL NAME

Mary Alexandra Earps

DATE OF BIRTH 7 March 1993

PLACE OF BIRTH Nottingham

YOUTH CAREER

West Bridgford Colts, Leicester City

SENIOR CAREER

2009-10 Leicester City, 0 games

2010-11 Nottingham Forest, 6 games

2011-12 Doncaster Rovers Belles, 33 games

2011 Coventry City (loan), 0 games

2013 Birmingham City, 15 games

2014-15 Bristol Academy (below), 46 games

2016-18 Reading, 37 games

2018-19 Wolfsburg, 6 games

2019- Manchester United, 76 games

INTERNATIONAL CAREER

England: 29 caps

MARY EARPS

We saw on social media that the team went to see the show Mamma Mia! together later in the weekend too [right] – how good are experiences like that for team bonding? It’s really good. I love the West End, I love the theatre, me and [lead actor] Mazz [Murray] are good friends and I go and see it whenever I can, so it was nice to be able to do that with the team and for us to have a bit of a sing and a dance and enjoy that time in London.

Let’s talk about the season so far – what’s your verdict? There have been some pleasing WSL performances…

Overall, I’ve not really thought too much about it. It’s about taking every game as it comes and making sure we put our best foot forward, our best performance forward and making sure we get as many points on the board as possible. That’s literally all I’ve been thinking about; I think it’s too early to look at anything else. We know what our aspirations are, but we have to deliver on them, and perform. There’s no point talking about them in that sense – I think it’s just about staying focused, staying true to ourselves as a team and staying true to our objectives. That’s where my mind is totally at.

That focus must have played a part in keeping those clean sheets to start the season – five on the bounce for you, which must have been pleasing for yourself and the team as a whole?

Yeah, clean sheets are tough to come by in this league and so to keep five to kick off the season was brilliant and I thought well deserved for all our hard work as a team and as a defensive unit. We all really grafted for one another and put our bodies on the line at different times. I want to get some more clean sheets on the board and hopefully we can get back to that soon.

Fine-tuning

How satisfied have you been with your own performances in 2022/23? You had a brilliant Euros and have started the season very well… I feel good. I’m really loving my football and trying to just continue to improve and do my absolute best for Manchester United and for England, and that’s all I think about when I step on the pitch. Every day and every game, I just want to give my absolute best. It doesn’t always go 100 per cent to plan the way I would like it to because if it did, I would never concede a goal but I’m just loving my football and long may that continue. I want to keep growing as a player and a person and add as much value as I can to the teams I play for.

We know you’re a perfectionist and you mentioned you’re constantly striving for improvement. Is there a particular thing in your game at the moment that you want to get even better at?

There are a few things. Me and Wilko [Ian Willcock], our goalkeeping coach, have a good relationship and we’re constantly talking about tweaking things and seeing where I can get the extra ‘one per cents’ or the ‘0.1 per cents’, whatever that may be. I’m striving for constant

improvement in any area of my game that we see fit and the pursuit of excellence. That’s what I try to focus on every time I put my boots and gloves on.

David De Gea has been on the UTD Podcast recently and praised your form. How nice is it to hear that? Yeah, that’s cool. Obviously, me and David have spoken a few times, and we send each other messages every now and then, but obviously it’s really nice to get high praise from someone like him. Hopefully we can continue to push goalkeeping forward for Manchester United and put in great performances, because he’s doing pretty decently, isn’t he?!

We’re in the final month of the year now, which is always naturally a time of reflection. When you look back at this year as a whole, would you say it’s been the best of your career? No doubt... the best of my life. It’s hard to see how it will ever be matched, to be honest. The emotions, the comeback and for myself personally and the journey I’ve been on, it’s nothing I’ve ever experienced before and I’m so grateful I’ve been able to do it, and the

“THIS YEAR? THE BEST OF MY LIFE. IT’S HARD TO SEE HOW IT’LL EVER BE MATCHED. THE JOURNEY I’VE BEEN ON... IT’S NOTHING I’VE EVER EXPERIENCED BEFORE”

Left: a typically animated 90 minutes from Mary away to Arsenal last month!

her game while sharing a joke with Wilko and Baggers on the training ground

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opportunities now that we’re seeing and the growth of the women’s game. To have been a part of that is something really, really special.

The year is going to finish with some important games to come over the next month too. How much are you looking forward to playing at Old Trafford again in the first of those?

I’m really looking forward to playing at Old Trafford. I’ve been fortunate enough to play there a few times now. The summer was incredible as well [England v Austria at Old Trafford in the Euros opener], especially because it was sold out so hopefully, we can get as many fans down as possible for this game, and pack it out with the Reds’ Barmy Army as much as possible.

Is there something you’ve learned from playing at Old Trafford, or maybe something you now know having played there several times in the past?

I love playing there because it’s a fantastic pitch and a fantastic stadium. It comes with a lot of history because of this club but football is football, a pitch

is a pitch and so from that point of view, there’s nothing really to learn; it’s just about going and doing the fans proud in such an incredible environment and putting in our best performance.

We’re sure it will be an incredible occasion but of course there is a task at hand, as always, to get three points and Aston Villa are the opponents. What kind of test do you think we can expect from them?

I think they’ll be a really tough side. They’ve started really well, scoring a lot of goals. Rach Daly is in brilliant form up front, so I think we’ll be going to put our brand of football on display, and look to get those three points and do our fans proud.

Just finally, our own Kirsty Hanson is obviously on loan with Villa this season. She can’t play in this game but how nice has it been to see her doing so well on the pitch for them? Yeah, we always wish our players well and it’s great to see her doing well at Villa. I’m looking forward to catching up with her at Old Trafford. ●

KATIE ZELEM

THE MANNER OF THE WIN AT ARSENAL SHOWS HOW

FAR THE TEAM HAS COME, SAYS ZEL, WHO IS EXCITED TO LEAD THE REDS OUT AT OLD TRAFFORD FOR A THIRD TIME

I’m just going to start by saying: what a result at the Emirates! To go there, take the lead, go behind, then win in stoppage-time… there aren’t many better feelings in football.

And the team! We have been so close so many times before against the best sides in this league, but this time we made sure. It was an unbelievable match, one we won’t ever forget. Our on-pitch celebrations said a lot, but we know we now have to build on this. The result won’t mean anything if we don’t maintain those standards for this busy period coming up and for the rest of the season.

But that’s not to say we can’t enjoy these moments. After the match, the mood in the group was, understandably, sky-high and we’d already made plans to go to see Mamma Mia! in London on the Sunday. That was made all the sweeter by having three points to bring back to Manchester with us too.

What was so good about that result against Arsenal was we now have the experience, rather than just the confidence and belief in isolation, that we can bounce back from setbacks in a game against the top teams. We know we have it in us and that can only be

a good thing for us going forward. Togetherness, resilience, character: three words that really sum up this group. Something the manager is big on is that we play with personality. We showed that in abundance against Arsenal. Maybe last year we would have settled for a point; this year we knew we wanted to push on to the three points.

And now we have the chance to step out at Old Trafford again, something myself and all the girls are so excited about. We’re hoping to see more fans than ever today, to keep building on these attendances and the atmosphere every time we play. Aston Villa will be a tough opponent; they have some really good players and some key threats within the team, so that’s something we need to manage. We know anybody in this league can beat anyone on the day, so you’ve always got to be on your game.

But Old Trafford is becoming such a special place for us, especially with some of the girls being Manchester United fans, so we’re hoping to put on a show for you again, as we did last time here.

Words: Charlie Ghagan

Today’s visit of Aston Villa is just our third match played here at Old Trafford – and only our second with fans in attendance – making it a special occasion that naturally brings much excitement. But in the years and decades to come, the history books will highlight a different date as being the most significant one linked to this particular fixture: Sunday 9 September 2018.

Fifty months have passed since an overcast day at the Trevor Brown Memorial Ground, when United Women competed in our first-ever league game, against Aston Villa Ladies (they would change their name to ‘Women’ in 2019), after the Reds had been reformed as a professional side that summer, joining the league pyramid in the second tier.

Led by Casey Stoney on the sidelines, and Amy Turner on the pitch – the defender wearing the armband for the first time due to the absence of Alex Greenwood – the Reds headed down the M6 on the back of two Conti Cup ties to begin our existence: a famous 1-0 win away to Liverpool, followed by a 0-2 loss to Reading in Leigh.

As for the Villans, they had finished ninth in the 10-team second tier in 2017/18 – teenage forward Ebony Salmon scoring seven times in 12 league outings before her summer switch to United. But with new manager Gemma Davies bringing in fresh ideas, as well as some talented arrivals such as forward Sophie Haywood and midfielder Nadine Hanssen, Villa had reasons for optimism about better days ahead in the inaugural Women’s Championship campaign, with the division

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having been rebranded from WSL2. Villa also had a new home, after moving from Tamworth (where they averaged a crowd of 212 in 2017/18) to Sutton Coldfield – less than four miles up the road from Villa Park. And what a fixture they had there to commence their league season, with United in town. Well over a thousand fans came through the gates for the visit of Stoney’s side, with a fan zone and a face-painter keeping the kids entertained ahead of the 3pm kick-off, and club mascot Hercules high-fiving supporters all the way around the touchline.

REDS AROUND THE GROUND

A cursory glance around that perimeter revealed enough red shirts and scarves to suggest that a decent chunk of the crowd were there to cheer on the visitors, although the formation of the ‘Barmy Army’ (which would later become Manchester United Women Supporters’ Club) was still in its embryonic stage.

“This was before the fans started getting together in numbers – it was a new team and not many fans knew each other really,” says David Pritt, a Northenden-based Red who made the trip that day. “From my point of view, I missed the very first game at Liverpool – one of my best friends was getting married – so I couldn’t miss our first home game, against Reading, and I also really wanted to say ‘I was there’ for our first-ever league game.

“At the Reading game, I got chatting to a United fan called John, who goes to all the games with his son Alex.

I saw him after the game and he said, ‘oh, we’re going to the Villa game, do you fancy it?’ So luckily I got a lift, and match tickets back then were just pay-on-the-door, so the whole day was easy for me. I didn’t really know anyone else. There must have been quite a few United fans there from the Midlands, and Natalie from the Barmy Army –before it all started – was over the way [on the opposite side of the ground] with her flag, alongside a few other people. The flags were from the men’s game then. It took a few games until the fans started really getting together, and at that point people started making new flags.”

United’s goalkeeper that day, Siobhan Chamberlain, has two overriding memories from the day – the pitch and the fans. “It was an artificial pitch, which as a keeper is never ideal, and I recall us turning up in our tracksuits and being told we couldn’t go on the pitch without boots on, which was bizarre,” she tells us. “Usually you want to walk around it to get your bearings, but even Casey [Stoney] was told to put boots on, and she was in a suit! But once we got out there in our boots, it felt like a home game. That noise is something United are known for now, but at the time it was new – all the ‘originals’ in the Barmy Army were there, singing around the ground, and it was the first time I really became aware of them.”

‘MAD’ 90 MINUTES

Come 3pm, and with 1,165 fans keen to get started, referee Asaka Koizumi began proceedings – and, as Pritt

“THIS WAS BEFORE FANS STARTED GETTING TOGETHER IN NUMBERS –IT WAS A NEW TEAM AND NOT MANY FANS KNEW EACH OTHER REALLY”

perfectly summarises about the 90 minutes that was to follow: “It was all a bit mad, really.”

He recalls: “After the cup games against Liverpool and Reading, we were thinking it was probably going to be another low-scoring game, especially after the slow start that day at Villa. I remember thinking hopefully United can nick a win, or at least get an away draw... but then out of nowhere it was goal, after goal, after goal.”

Chamberlain admits she had similar concerns early on. “In the first five minutes I remember I had to claim a cross, plus Villa had a half-hearted shot,” she says. “Everyone was expecting a United win but it was all a bit unknown to us still – we were a new side, in a new league, and you just never know how things can go. But once that first goal went in, there was no stopping us.”

It was Lauren James who the opened the scoring, beating Villa keeper Sian Rogers at her near-post on 10 minutes, and by half-time, incredibly, it was 6-0: James smashing home from outside the box on 23 minutes, and Jess Sigsworth showing a real striker’s instinct to poach a quick hat-trick (25, 33 and 35 minutes) either side of Katie Zelem’s 29th-minute penalty after Martha Harris had been fouled. “After that first goal, every time we attacked in that first half we seemed to score,” says Pritt.

As the action resumed after the interval, Villa’s social media team raised a smile by tweeting the following alongside a crossed-fingers emoji: ‘The second half is underway. Just the seven goals needed for a Villa win’, but unfortunately for the hosts, there was plenty more agony to endure. Sigsworth scored her fourth after 49 minutes, again from close range; Kirsty Hanson bagged a rapid double (55, 59 mins) before Sigsworth stabbed in her fifth and United’s 10th (62 mins), and substitutes Mollie Green (66 mins) and Ella Toone (69 mins) claimed their first goals in a United shirt. A dozen goals to celebrate, and still over 20 minutes to play.

If it weren’t for Rogers pulling off a series of late saves in the Villa goal – including one to deny Sigsworth a sixth

and another to prevent a Hanson hat-trick – it could have been even worse, while in a rare attack Villa’s Jodie Hutton forced Chamberlain to tip a dangerous shot over the bar to preserve her clean sheet.

ALL DONE AT A DOZEN

With the ball staying out the net in that final spell, it would finish 12-0 – meaning Manchester United Women had broken the men’s team record for the biggest margin of victory (in any competition) in their first league game.

WHO PLAYED THAT DAY?

It was tough on the hosts, who had an average age of just 21 that day and weren’t yet full-time footballers – something that wasn’t lost on the players of both sides. “First we have to give credit to Manchester United – they are a very good team and obviously train full-time,” said Villa skipper Kerri Welsh after the game. “We changed our gameplan to what we thought would nullify their front three – we wanted to stop it at source and press them high but it didn’t work. But the girls never stopped. They have given everything and some are struggling to walk. They have absolutely nothing left in the tank.”

As for United’s five-star Siggy, no wonder she was smiling post-match: “We didn’t start great but we built our way into the game, then the floodgates just opened,” said Jess. “We’ve been together seven or eight weeks now. We’ve trained really hard, we’ve bonded really well and everyone gets on amazingly. It’s a

great

“THE WAY VILLA ARE NOW, YOU CAN’T COMPARE IT. THEY ARE PROFESSIONAL, AND CARLA WARD IS ONE OF THE BEST MANAGERS IN THE WOMEN’S GAME”

VILLA: Sian Rogers; Elisha N’Dow, Jade Richards, Hollie Gibson; Aoife Hurley; Jodie Hutton, Alice Hassall, Nadine Hanssen (Kerri Welsh 68), Ashlee Brown; Alison Hall (Phoebe Warner 58), Sophie Haywood (Asmita Ale 79)

UNITED: Siobhan Chamberlain; Martha Harris, Amy Turner, Millie Turner, Kirsty Smith; Katie Zelem (Ella Toone 54); Kirsty Hanson, Charlie Devlin (Mollie Green 46), Lauren James (Aimee Palmer 64), Leah Galton; Jess Sigsworth

team environment and that showed on the pitch, but there’s still of lot of things to improve on.”

United boss Stoney was in agreement with our lethal no.9, as she reflected in her next programme column: ‘The relentlessness of our scoring against Villa was impressive but I must be honest and say we weren’t pleased with the start to the game, nor the last 15 minutes. And a 12-0 scoreline means nothing in the long-term so we need to keep our feet firmly on the floor.’

Thankfully, Stoney’s Reds would remain extremely grounded in the months ahead, as we went on to comfortably win the Championship title, spurred on by an ever-growing, inclusive fan base; a group of familiar faces who after starting to sit together at games, would begin to travel together to away fixtures. “That Villa game was the one where I thought, ‘right, I’ve got to come back and I’ve got to make as many games as possible’,” says Pritt. “I went to every away game after that during that season, and missed two at Leigh. And I did even better the next season – I went to every one.”

David says that memorable maiden league fixture remains one of his best United memories. “I remember how appreciative the players were after that Villa game,” he says. “All but four players had signed my programme at the Reading match, and I didn’t know who each player was properly at the time. I thought I’d have to wait by the bus afterwards [to get the remaining signatures] as it was an away game but they all came over to us in the stands, and I got the signatures [above, right]. It’s a nice tradition that’s continued, which is great, especially with more kids coming now, as meeting the players can make their day.”

Of those to feature at the Trevor Brown Memorial Ground that afternoon, only a handful remain at either

club four years on – Millie Turner, Katie Zelem, Kirsty Hanson (on loan to Villa, but ineligible today), Leah Galton and Ella Toone for the Reds; while only Elisha N’Dow (on loan at Charlton) is still on Villa’s books, with the squad becoming full-time professionals en route to their own promotion during the Covid-hit campaign of 2019/20.

TOUGHER CONTEST AWAITS

So both teams have come a long way since we first met – 113 games, in United’s case – and Pritt is expecting a far, far, closer contest this time around. “The way Villa are set up now, you can’t compare it [to 2018] – they are professional, and in my opinion Carla Ward is one of the best managers in the women’s game,” he says. “We had a few players on loan at Sheffield United when she was their manager, and the type of football her teams play, and what she achieves with her players, is breathtaking really. We’ve done well against her in the past, but we also know she can really get a team going, as we’ve seen already this season.”

Chamberlain, who retired from the game in 2020, also notes that recent Conti Cup meeting between the teams as evidence of Villa’s progress. “It will be tough for United, and Villa will get confidence from that cup game, but after Chelsea and Arsenal away, United will be at Old Trafford, and have a massive crowd behind them, so it could be something special. I’m looking forward to it.”

You’re not the only one, Shiv, as the teams prepare to step out to some very different surroundings than the Trevor Brown Memorial Ground, for meeting number eight between the sides. ●

Above: James was the first of six scorers at the Trevor Brown Memorial Ground

Left: When Villa did reach the United box, Chamberlain was in commanding form

SOPHIE BAGGALEY

Born: 29 November 1996 Nationality: English United apps/goals: 8/0

MARIA THORISDOTTIR

Born: 5 June 1993 Nationality: Norwegian United apps/goals: 41/1

HANNAH BLUNDELL

Born: 25 May 1994 Nationality: English United apps/goals: 37/1

AISSATOU TOUNKARA

Born: 16 March 1995 Nationality: French United apps/goals: 3/0

JADE MOORE

Born: 22 October 1990

Nationality: English United apps/goals: 8/1

MARY EARPS

Born: 7 March 1993 Nationality: English United apps/goals: 76/0

ONA BATLLE

Born: 10 June 1999

Nationality: Spanish United apps/goals: 55/2

AOIFE MANNION

Born: 24 September 1995 Nationality: English United apps/goals: 19/0

MAYA LE TISSIER

Born: 18 April 2002 National team: England United apps/goals: 9/2

MILLIE TURNER

Born: 7 July 1996 Nationality: English United apps/goals: 91/6

VILDE BOE RISA

Born: 13 July 1995 Nationality: Norwegian United apps/goals: 30/4

KATIE ZELEM

Born: 20 January 1996

Nationality: English United apps/goals: 108/28

GRACE CLINTON

Born: 31 March 2003

Nationality: English United apps/goals: 0/0

ELLA TOONE

Born: 2 September 1999 Nationality: English United apps/goals: 111/44

LEAH GALTON

Born: 24 May 1994

Nationality: English United apps/goals: 91/24

ADRIANA

LEON

Born: 2 October 1992

Nationality: Canadian United apps/goals: 6/1

ALESSIA RUSSO

Born: 8 February 1999

Nationality: English United apps/goals: 40/17

HAYLEY LADD

Born: 6 October 1993 National team: Wales United apps/goals: 69/6

LUCY STANIFORTH

Born: 2 October 1992

Nationality: English United apps/goals: 39/3

MARTHA THOMAS

Born: 31 May 1996

National team: Scotland United apps/goals: 33/6

LUCIA GARCIA

Born: 14 July 1998 Nationality: Spanish United apps/goals: 7/1

NIKITA PARRIS

Born: 10 March 1994

Nationality: English United apps/goals: 9/3

RACHEL WILLIAMS

Born: 10 January 1988

Nationality: English United apps/goals: 4/0

“

”

WE MAKE MEMORIES ON LANDMARK OCCASIONS LIKE THIS

UNITED’S NEW HEAD OF WOMEN’S FOOTBALL, POLLY BANCROFT, TELLS US ALL ABOUT HER MULTI-LAYERED ROLE, AS WELL AS OUTLINING THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR LATEST TRIP TO M16

“Yes, I’ve had a very warm welcome... a warm northern welcome!” smiles Polly Bancroft, as we ask United’s new head of women’s football about her first three weeks in the role, after she made the 250-mile move from Brighton & Hove Albion, having spent two years as general manager of their women’s and girls’ teams.

It’s a sunny Thursday morning in early November at our Carrington training ground, and the MUTV cameras are also here to see and hear more from Polly, who in October became the first person to hold this important new role at United. Responsible

for overseeing all women’s football activities at the club, while also driving forward the club’s long-term strategy to help grow the women’s game, from first-team level to Academy age groups, Polly’s new position is certainly a wide-ranging one, as she tells us with much enthusiasm.

“The role is hybrid – football and the business side – so it’s quite a broad remit,” she explains, before breaking it down further. “Clearly the priorities are to support Marc and the players, so that we’ll do as well as we can in the Women’s Super League. Outside of the women’s first team, it’s to →

support the other seven women’s teams within the club –that is the first layer. The second layer is then to continue the integration of women’s football in the broader club –so it’s working with the legal team, the commercial team and the marketing team to make sure the women’s and girls’ teams are front and centre of their plans. The final layer is working with the stakeholders – the FA, broadcasters and the supporters’ club – to be a leader in women’s football and to make sure the opinions and the position of this club is at the forefront of the professionalisation of the women’s game.”

Having such a wide area of responsibility is something Polly is both excited by, and experienced in. Prior to her two-year spell at Brighton, where she oversaw the development of the Seagulls’ £8.5 million training facility for the women’s team, Polly spent more than a decade in a variety of roles, beginning in 2008 when she became a women’s and girls’ football development officer – first at West Riding FA in Yorkshire, and then for Birmingham County FA. Having qualified as a UEFA B licensed coach, in 2011 Polly took the job as head coach for Leeds United Women’s U17s, before she went back behind the scenes, excelling in two fresh roles: initially for the FA (as women’s football national project manager, 2012-16), and then for UEFA (as business development specialist, 2016-20), ahead of her taking the general manager vacancy at Brighton.

Alongside her employment and coaching credentials, Polly has a UEFA diploma in Football Leadership and Management, and an FA qualification in Talent Identification – all of which comes together to make a seriously impressive CV, which helped her stand apart when applying for the head of women’s football role at United.

When we ask Polly what attracted her to Manchester United as a club, she replies: “The power of the brand, and the opportunity to do good with the power of that brand –regionally, nationally and internationally; taking that opportunity to do good. Using the voice of Manchester United and putting that at the forefront of the table of conversations around the direction of the women’s game is a great opportunity as well.”

She has much admiration for the team’s progress since United Women became a professional side in 2018, and wants to help the Reds reach the next level. “It’s been a rapid growth – this is only the fifth season in the new era of women’s football at Manchester United – so hats off to Casey and Marc for the work they’ve done in those formative seasons,” she says. “Clearly we are ambitious and we want to achieve. We’d like silverware, so competing in every competition we participate in is key, yet also being mindful of ‘the United way’ and developing players through the pathway. So if we can keep to those two expectations and identity of the club, we’ll be pleased.”

“WE WANT THE OPINIONS AND THE POSITION OF THIS CLUB TO BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE PROFESSIONALISATION OF THE WOMEN’S GAME”

She’s not the only one to have praised Marc Skinner in recent weeks, with recognition coming his way since Polly joined the club in the form of October’s WSL Manager of the Month award. “Marc will be the first to say it’s a team effort, both in terms of the players and staff, but I am really pleased for him because it’s been an exceptional start to the season. Marc and I are really aligned on our values. We have different ways of working but they complement each other really well. We’ve both developed and grown up with the women’s game, so we both bring a vast amount of experience with the women’s game that we’re aligned on.”

As well as working closely with Marc, Polly will be in regular contact with United’s football director John Murtough [right], as well as new deputy football director Andy O’Boyle. “Between the four of us there’s a fantastic blend of experience both within the women’s game and the men’s game,” she says. “So it’s about utilising all of that knowledge and experience and applying it to the women and girls’ programme. Clearly I’m excited to work with them. They’re very passionate and committed and great supporters of Marc and I, and the women’s programme as a whole.”

Polly is keen to discuss the importance of today’s game in helping to further raise the profile of United Women, with this WSL fixture

at Old Trafford coming towards the end of what’s been a brilliant year for the women’s game in this country, with four current Reds being part of the victorious England squad at this summer’s Euros. “We can create our own history and own memories from matches and occasions like this,” she says of today. “It’s a fantastic opportunity. We’re expecting a bumper crowd, and we really want to make sure the fans are enthused by their experience, and stay in the women’s game. Ideally, they’d come and watch at Leigh Sports Village, or be engaged either through social media or watching more matches on TV. So let’s just hope we can kick on from the game with three points in the bag, and an increased attendance and fan base. Our season isn’t defined by just one match at Old Trafford, but let’s use it as a catalyst to continue growing.”

Polly knows from her previous roles that inspiring young girls to follow the sport, and maybe pull on a pair of football boots, is crucial to that growth, and with that in mind she highlights the importance of Regional Talent Club graduates such as Katie Zelem and Ella Toone, with Ella recently signing a new contract at the club, after captain Katie did the same last year.

“They are role models – present role models,” says Polly of the Reds’ top two all-time appearance makers. “We’re really mindful of

Young fans gather by the players’ tunnel to catch a glimpse of their new heroes at our last Old Trafford game

“WE’RE EXPECTING A BUMPER CROWD, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE FANS ARE ENTHUSED BY THEIR EXPERIENCE, AND STAY IN THE WOMEN’S GAME”

keeping that pathway linked, so the women’s first team are going to speak to the players in the Academy to explain about their journey, to talk about how they’ve made it into the women’s first team. So there is that commitment from me to make sure that continues.”

As well as the players themselves, Polly knows the value of those behind the scenes in maintaining that pathway. “It’s part of the fabric of this club,” she says of the entire Academy set-up. “It’s part of the identity and DNA, and we are really fortunate that the staff and practitioners within our pathway are the best in class. A huge amount of trust is put into staff to develop players through that pathway.”

Shrewd recruitment will always be equally vital if the Reds are to compete for the top honours, and one recent addition, Maya Le Tissier, is someone Polly knows from her time at Brighton. “It couldn’t have gone any better for Maya, so I’m delighted for her,” says Polly of the 20-year-old, who signed from the Seagulls in July and last month received her first England call-up, making her debut against Norway on 15 November. “Her integration has been seamless, and there is a bright future for Maya. I think having so many international players throughout the squad helps, and Maya’s playing week in week out, so to be able to give her that profile and the fact she’s now competing at a higher level, it’s helped her be in Sarina Wiegman’s thoughts.”

On a wider level – what Polly earlier referred to as “the final layer” of her role – she’ll be closely involved in helping to push the women’s game further in England, with United putting much care into responding to the government’s recent Women’s Football Review. Chaired by England legend Karen Carney, the aim of the review is to ensure the sustainable growth of the women’s game at elite and grassroots level, and build on the Lionesses’ Euros success. “We put a really informed and considered submission into that review,” says Polly. “Being at the table in terms of the future governance and ownership of the Women’s Super League, we’ll continue to be in those conversations for the long-term sustainability and growth of the women’s game to make sure it’s professionalising in the best way possible. To be involved in those conversations and to be helping to drive it – not just reacting to it – is really important.”

Pleasingly, the ‘Euros effect’ has already seen many more bums on seats at games across both the WSL and Championship. From United’s point of view, our Leigh Sports Village attendance record has been broken (twice) in 2022/23, while we’re set to smash last term’s Old Trafford attendance today. The dedication of the Manchester United Women Supporters’ Club continues to help create a welcoming (and noisy!) matchday experience, which helps encourage many first-time spectators to return for more.

Polly recognises the importance of the MUWSC, and she has already met the group. “We’re in regular dialogue, which is great, and we’re happy to support them in fan-engagement opportunities,” she says. “They’re passionate, loud, they know the women’s game inside-out and they’re a fantastic support to Marc and the players, at home and on the road. That’s really something quite unique about our team, that we have a huge presence at our games. I know the players really appreciate them and we just hope they grow in number.”

Today’s game can only help in that respect, as those on the pitch look to inspire thousands more in the stands to start cheering on the Reds every weekend.

Carney has led an in-depth review into the domestic game

The signs look good for our most-recent additions to United’s senior squad

“TO BE INVOLVED IN CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE GROWTH OF THE WOMEN’S GAME AND HELPING TO DRIVE IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT”

DESTINATION: M16

WOMEN’S

● 22 APRIL 1989

LEASOWE PACIFIC 3, FULHAM 2

WOMEN’S FA CUP FINAL, ATT: 941

The 19th Women’s FA Cup final was nearly called off, with it taking place a week after the Hillsborough disaster, and players from Leasowe Pacific (the Wirral side that would become Everton) in the Leppings Lane End to witness the horrors. The women’s final finally went ahead – the players wearing black armbands and observing a minute’s silence in tribute to those who died – and Leasowe edged an open tie, with Hope Powell on the losing side.

● 2 SEPTEMBER 1990

ENGLAND 0 NORWAY 0

EURO 1991 QUALIFIER, ATT: 435

This Euros qualifier was played on a weekend when Old Trafford was free on account of Alex Ferguson’s Reds being up in Sunderland. Martin Reagan was in charge of England Women (although his 11 years at the helm would end weeks later), and his side dug deep for a useful point against eventual Euro 1991 finalists Norway. The 0-0 draw completed England’s nationwide group-stage tour, having already played at Griffin Park (0-0 v Finland) and Bramall Lane (in which there was actually a goal, as they beat Belgium 1-0.)

The Leasowe squad, including future England internationals Mo Marley and Janice Murray, after receiving the trophy

Old Trafford had plenty of standing room in 1990, but fewer than 500 fans witnessed England’s 0-0 draw

● 31 JULY 2012

UNITED STATES 1 NORTH KOREA 0 2012 OLYMPICS, ATT: 29,522

As reigning Olympic gold medallists and with two wins from two to kick off their 2012 group stage, the USA were odds-on to beat North Korea in the final Group G matchday, while their opponents needed to avoid defeat to progress. As such, North Korea coach Ui-gun Sin opted for a five-at-the-back, safety-first approach, even after Abby Wambach had given the US a 25th-minute lead. Still, the 29,522 there seemed to enjoy it, including the cheeky fan waving a

South Korea flag during the anthems, after a graphic of that flag had been accidentally displayed on Hampden Park’s TV screens in their previous game, sparking a player walk-off.

● 6 AUGUST 2012

UNITED STATES 4 CANADA 3 ( aet )

2012 OLYMPICS, ATT: 26,630

A week later, and in front of a slightly smaller crowd (surprisingly), this Olympic semi-final was captivating from the off. Christine Sinclair scored a hat-trick as Canada led three times, but the US – including future Red Tobin Heath – kept hitting back until,

Fans from both the US and Canada mingled with the Mancunians inside Old Trafford in 2012

North Korea couldn’t get the result they needed in front of a big crowd For an authentic Old Trafford experience,

USA’s Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe both made a real impact

in the final minute of extra-time, Alex Morgan headed home to take the Stars and Stripes through to a fifth straight Olympic final – while Canada, disconsolate on the turf, were cruelly denied a first. As for the thousands of locals in the stands, were they thoroughly entertained by this North American showdown? You betcha.

●

27 MARCH 2021

UNITED 2 WEST HAM UNITED 0

WSL, ATT: 0

Six months into the strangest of all seasons (26 out of 27 MUW games were played behind closed doors), United Women walked out in M16 for the first time, kicking off very early at 11.30am. It was a nervy opening half, before a Lauren James header, soon followed by a fierce Christen Press finish, made things far more comfortable at 2-0 after the break, as the Reds eased to a win that kept us third in the WSL. For all those Reds watching the game on a screen at home, it was an occasion to savour – even if we were all desperate to have been there to witness it.

●

27 MARCH 2022

UNITED 3 EVERTON 1 WSL, ATT: 20,241

A year to the day on, the Reds were

back in glorious spring sunshine – and this time we were there, as 20,241 came to spend Mother’s Day at the Theatre of Dreams. Claire Emslie’s fourth-minute strike for the Toffees wasn’t part of the script, but it only sharpened the focus of Marc Skinner’s side. Alessia Russo’s looping header levelled things up, Katie Zelem made it 2-1 from the spot soon after half-time, before Russo nodded in again late on. Yes!

● 6 JULY 2022

ENGLAND 1 AUSTRIA 0 EURO 2022, ATT: 68,871

The Lionesses – with Mary Earps in goal, and Ella Toone and Alessia Russo stepping off the bench –began the march towards European glory in front of a huge crowd, which smashed the record for both the Euros and a women’s game at Old Trafford. Sarina Wiegman’s side took an early lead through Beth Mead, and although Earps needed to be alert to a few Austrian attacks, the hosts should have won by more on a tense, but uplifting night that will live long in the memory. ●

The Lionesses made a winning start at the Euros in the Manchester rain

EURO

2022’S

Opening doors to leadership

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ASTON VILLA

A Daly hat-trick against Reading at Villa Park was their fourth victory in seven WSL games so far this season

Following ninth and 10th-place finishes since their 2020 promotion, Villa will be setting their sights far higher in ’22/23, with the manner of their win against Reading last time out only increasing confidence further as they head to M16 in fifth position.

Rachel Daly has been grabbing the headlines following the versatile no.8’s explosive start to life at Villa, but Carla Ward’s side have looked strong across the pitch. With Daly flanked by Swiss international Alisha Lehmann and on-loan United speedster Kirsty Hanson, the new-look attack has been all about pace and precise crossing, with Daly’s unerringly accurate forehead often the target. On the left of midfield, Kenza Dali leads the way with WSL assists for Ward’s side in 2022/23 –the French international is never shy to attempt an adventurous through ball, having completed an impressive 272 passes already this season in the league.

With Villa already just one goal short of matching their tally for the entirety of last season in the WSL (13), the fans have understandably been enjoying the newfound attacking intent, and Ward’s side have looked particularly dangerous at Villa Park, having beaten Manchester City 4-3 at the club’s main stadium in September, before the 3-1 win there against Reading just under two weeks ago.

As such, the manager will be hopeful that her charges will shine, rather than be overawed, by their latest fixture on a bigger stage than their usual home of Walsall’s Bescot Stadium, while their penalty shoot-out win against United in the Continental Cup in October will only increase belief that they can take WSL points off Marc Skinner’s side.

Today’s game begins a run of WSL fixtures either side of Christmas that, on paper at least, looks tough: after Old Trafford they’re at home to Arsenal, then Spurs, before they return to these parts next month to face Manchester City.

Words Charlie Ghagan

MANAGER

CAPTAIN

CARLA WARD RACHEL CORSIE RACHEL DALY

The Isle of Wight-born ex-midfielder ended her playing career at Sheffield United in 2018, aged 34, and she stepped up from player-assistant manager to manager, leading the Blades against United in our 2018/19 Championship season. In 2020/21 Ward did well to keep Birmingham in the WSL during a difficult period at the club, before moving across the city to Villa in May last year.

A natural leader in the heart of the defence, the experienced 33-year-old has brought more stability to the Villa backline since her January arrival from NWSL side Kansas City Current. Previously on loan under Ward at Birmingham City in 2020, the boss has much trust in the Aberdeen-born Scotland international, and looks to Corsie to help guide the younger players.

The 30-year-old is arguably in the form of her career, leading the line for Villa, while dropping to full-back for England – and even that hasn’t stopped her netting for the Lionesses, with her 10th and 11th international goals coming last month. Joint-top scorer in the WSL this season with Khadija Shaw, Daly has eight league goals, and 10 in all competitions following last Sunday’s Conti Cup winner against Durham.

WANT TO CONTINUE WINNING GAMES, PLAYING AN EXCITING BRAND OF FOOTBALL, WHICH

United’s 12-0 and 5-0 second-tier wins against Villa in 2018/19 were as one-sided as the scorelines suggest, but as we’ve covered elsewhere in this programme, Villa have come on leaps and bounds since then, with a big overhaul of players commencing the following season as they worked their way up to the WSL, ahead of the sides meeting for a third time in December 2020. A 2-0 win in the WSL that day – behind closed doors at Bescot Stadium (pictured) – kept us top, but by the time of the reverse fixture four months later, we’d slipped to third, where we stayed after a 3-0 home win. Another 5-0 win came at LSV last season, with Villa standing strong in a 0-0 away draw in April to dent our top-three aspirations. October’s 1-1 draw in this season’s Conti Cup saw Villa score for the first time in this fixture, ahead of them winning the shoot-out to claim a bonus point.

“WE

WE ARE TRYING TO DO”

– MANAGER CARLA WARD

A PLAYER-BY-PLAYER

RUN-THROUGH OF CARLA WARD’S VILLA SQUAD...

ANNA LEAT

#21 Age: 21

Nationality: New Zealander Joined from West Ham in July and was the hero in Villa’s Conti Cup shoot-out triumph over United. Made international debut aged 16.

RACHEL CORSIE

#6 Age: 33

Nationality: Scottish Named in 2014/15 WSL Team of the Year and has 130 Scotland caps. Has played in her home country, as well as USA, Australia and England.

ANNA PATTEN

#15 Age: 23

Nationality: English Initially joined on loan from Arsenal in January and back for another loan spell. She played college football in USA from 2017-21.

EVIE RABJOHN

#28 Age: 17

Nationality: English Made senior debut in Conti Cup in November 2021, with her first WSL appearance in September this year, against Leicester.

SARAH MAYLING

#2 Age: 25

Nationality: English Lifelong Villa fan in second spell with the club, having come through their centre of excellence before a stint with Birmingham (2017-21).

HANNAH

#1 Age: 22

HAMPTON

Nationality: English

Played 20 of 22 WSL games in debut campaign with Villa last season. Part of England’s victorious Euros squad.

MEAGHAN SARGEANT

#3 Age: 28

Nationality: English A versatile defender who can play anywhere across the backline. Played under current United boss Marc Skinner at Birmingham

DANIELLE TURNER

#14 Age: 31

Nationality: English Came through youth ranks at Everton and was part of their first-team squad for a decade before joining Villa in July.

OLIVIA M C LOUGHLIN

#16 Age: 18

Nationality: English

Recently signed first professional deal after breakthrough season in 2021/22. She can operate in defence or midfield.

MAYUMI PACHECO

#33 Age: 24

Nationality: English Previously played for Liverpool, Doncaster Belles (where she won second-tier title), Reading and West Ham, joining Villa last year.

REMI ALLEN

#4 Age: 32

Nationality: English Experienced player who arrived from Leicester last year. Villa’s top scorer last season with five goals across all competitions.

KENZA DALI

#10 Age: 31

Nationality: French

Played in both of United’s previous Old Trafford fixtures, first for West Ham and then Everton, setting up the Toffees’ goal here in March.

LAURA BLINDKILDE

#19 Age: 19

Nationality: English Previously played under ‘Brown’ surname before switching to wear Danish middle name last year. She has U17 and U19 caps for England.

RACHEL DALY

#8 Age: 30

Nationality: English

Villa’s Harrogate-born forward and 2022/23 top scorer is also an exceptional full-back, as seen at the Euros for England this summer.

CHANTELLE BOYE-HLORKAH

#11 Age: 27

Nationality: English At Everton for eight years before Villa move last year. A regular last term, she missed just five games.

KIRSTY HANSON

#20 Age: 24

National team: Scotland

Currently on loan from United but ineligible today. The lively winger started all the Villans’ opening seven WSL games this season.

ISOBEL GOODWIN

#26 Age: 19

Nationality: English Only made her WSL debut in October, but has been involved in the matchday squad in all of Villa’s league games so far in 2022/23.

FREYA GREGORY

#18 Age: 19

Nationality: English

Her first WSL goal came against rivals Birmingham in April 2021. Made 11 league appearances on loan at Leicester last season.

ALISHA LEHMANN

#7 Age: 23 Nationality: Swiss Helped West Ham reach 2019 FA Cup final, where they were beaten by Man City, against whom she scored Villa’s first goal of 2022/23.

EMILY GIELNIK

#9 Age: 30 Nationality: Australian Got first ’22/23 goal in September’s 2-0 win at Leicester. Has won two league titles in her home country, as well as the Norwegian Cup.

NATASHA HARDING

#17 Age: 33 Nationality: Welsh Won her 100th international cap for Wales in April before summer move to Villa. Got her first goal for the club in the Conti Cup, v Everton.

SIMONE MAGILL

#22 Age: 28

Nationality: Northern Irish Scored for Everton in 1-1 WSL draw v United last season. Also holds the record for the fastest-ever women’s international goal, after 11 seconds.

RUESHA LITTLEJOHN

#31 Age: 32

National team: Rep of Ireland Experienced forward has played in Scotland, England and Norway, with Arsenal, Liverpool, West Ham and Birmingham on her club CV.

THE FUTURE IS IN SAFE HANDS

For the goalkeepers of the Regional Talent Club, meeting their United heroes has only motivated them further to get the gloves on! into what it takes to pull on the keeper’s shirt at the highest level.

There can’t be many more impactful experiences for any young, aspiring goalkeeper than spending time with those who have already made the grade, and so it proved when girls from United’s Regional Talent Club were invited to Carrington by Reds’ goalkeeping coach Ian Willcock to take part in a skills and development session with Mary Earps and Sophie Baggaley.

The girls were put through their paces as they were shown the drills that keep Mary and Sophie at the top of their game, before a Q&A session with Ian, providing valuable insight

“It was a pleasure spending time with the girls today; I loved their energy and passion,” Mary enthused. “I’ve been in their shoes myself so I’m always happy to have the opportunity to work with them and pass on advice if I can. Plus, it’s always exciting to see the next generation coming through!”

Kendall and Bella, two of those in attendance, spoke to us about what it was like to have the opportunity to learn from the best. “It was so good to have the chance to see how Mary and Sophie train and how they save

the ball,” Kendall said. “I was made up to meet them and I can’t wait to take their tips and use them in our matches and training sessions.”

“Going to Carrington was incredible,” Bella added. “The set-up was amazing and I loved how there were two former RTC girls – Ella Toone and Katie Zelem – on the Academy building’s ‘Wall of Fame’. Mary and Sophie were so nice and super helpful; they showed to me how the girls can be just as good as the men!”

At the RTC, the aim is to afford the best opportunities possible to aid youngsters’ development, and technical director Matt Johnson spoke of how there is no better way to do this than by spending time with the pros. “For young aspiring female footballers, it’s important they have positive role models to look up to,” Matt said. “It’s instrumental in enhancing motivation and inspiration, developing career aspirations and goals, and seeing that someone like them can be successful with hard work.”

For more, visit mufoundation.org

The Foundation manages the FA Tier 1 Girls’ Regional Talent Club, and the recent Carrington session with the RTC girls was also enjoyed by Baggaley, Earps and the United coaches

THE QUIZ

BEGINNER

1. Kirsty Hanson is on loan at Villa from United, but which national team does the winger play for? →

Apart from Aston Villa, which other current WSL club starts and ends with the same letter?

Who will be our final opponents of 2022?

Which current Red used to play for Villa (making 21 appearances in the 2012/13 season)?

Which country did England play at Old Trafford in Euro 2022?

Which two clubs did goalkeeper Sophie Baggaley play for at senior level before joining United? →

What is the aggregate score of United’s 2022/23 home fixtures, prior to today’s game?

Against which side did United have a league match abandoned on medical grounds following a player collision in January 2019?

Who was fouled in the box to win our penalty against Everton at Old Trafford last season?

WE ALL FOLLOW

UNITED!

NEWS, VIEWS AND PHOTOS FROM YOU DEDICATED UNITED WOMEN FANS AHEAD OF OUR LATEST TRIP TO OLD TRAFFORD

Bringing the noise

Our crowds have picked up this season. Has the buzz from the Euros helped things kick on as expected? Yeah. I think the ‘Euros bounce’ is largely responsible for a lot of the ticket sales. I think the Arsenal win will have a massive impact as well. I’ve always said: success brings the crowds in. It’s an obvious one. And if you’ve got those players that people recognise, they’ll want to turn up for them. But also for teams as well. We had that big crowd at Leigh for Chelsea too, because Chelsea have got players that are world stars. I get that. We just need to be careful that we manage to sustain what the Euros bounce has given us.

And how are things going at Leigh Sports Village? The club has launched a matchday bus scheme, to help fans get from Old Trafford to LSV for games… Leigh isn’t the most accessible place to go to. We’ve recognised that for a while and we’ve not quite got anything going until this year. The numbers are low so far, which has surprised me, because Leigh doesn’t have a lot of parking and you have a long walk from where the public transport drops you off, whereas the shuttle bus drops you at the door. We need to push it more, but it’s important to keep offering something. As for away buses, we had the most we’ve ever taken to Arsenal. But today is just about reaching out to people

who might be going to this Old Trafford game because it’s more convenient. It’s about letting them know that they can get this shuttle bus to Leigh; that there’s no reason to be afraid of travelling to Leigh!

You had a designated away section at the Emirates, which must have been great… Yeah. When tickets first went on sale there was no away section given to us. Ironically, it was largely

Deb Henry, United Women fans’ forum rep and chair of MUW’s supporters’ club, tells us how supporter culture has been developing around the team

Deb ahead of the Everton game here in March (and no, the MUWSC chair doesn’t use this seat for meetings)

Interview Joe Ganley

due to Ian Wright getting involved that we got one!

Somebody got hold of him on social media – he’s always been a big advocate of the women’s game – and he said to Arsenal: ‘You’ve got to sort this out.’

The way we won that match will always make it special, but the fact that we were all together, after having a couple of really difficult experiences at West Ham and Leicester, where we were sprinkled in with home fans, made that experience all the better.

How are you feeling heading into today’s game?

I think the importance of the Arsenal result is that we go into this Old Trafford game prepared, committed and unburdened. Hopefully we can go and express ourselves. Villa are a tough team, and hard to break down, but hopefully we can all enjoy the occasion.

Have MUWSC got any special plans for this game? We’ve been given an allocation in J Stand again. Our banner [above], which has been put up at Old Trafford, will be brought lower down so it’s just above us. We’re hoping that all our player flags will be put up again. Last time, in March, we were allowed to change the playlist too. So the songs we have chants to, we’re going to hopefully have those played over the PA. We’re hoping our member newsletter will be out ahead of the game too. It’s really about us all moving into a safe-standing area, because obviously we do stand at games. That has caused a bit of difficulty at Leigh in the past, but we can do it perfectly legally at Old Trafford. We jumped at that opportunity back in March and have done again.

hopes from today’s match from a MUWSC perspective?

are

We’ve pushed the songbook on our socials the week before the game, so it’s just to get people singing whatever they can. The ‘Tooney and Russo’ song was the popular one over the summer. That’s hopefully one that’s going to get everybody going! But there are other songs that are there as well. We will do all we can to get everyone singing and making some atmosphere. It’s still Manchester United of course, but it’s about putting the women’s team’s mark on Old Trafford for this one game.

Visit muwsc.co.uk to view the latest songbook

What

your

“WE WILL DO ALL WE CAN TO GET EVERYONE SINGING AND MAKING SOME ATMOSPHERE”

Millie T joins Deb and other MUWSC members for a post-match pic

All together now: ‘And I like it, I like it, I like it, I like it, I li-li-like it, li-li-like... here we go-oh!... Tooney and Lessi Russo!’

RED ARMY!

↑ A warm welcome to Katie, aged 11, a big United Women fan and keen footballer, who is here today with her friends, as well as mum Nicola. It’s a birthday treat for Katie so we hope you enjoy it!

↑ ‘Happy 10th birthday, Scarlett! – lots of love, from Mum and Dad.’

← Hello to Niamh, a season ticket holder who goes to many away games, and who recently celebrated her birthday.

↑ Neil recently turned 40, and he loves the Reds – as does wife Louise, plus their five kids: Emma (16), Ryan (14), George (13), Jack (12) and Holly (10). What a family!

↑ It’s Amelia’s 13th birthday on 6 December – here she is supporting the Reds on our summer tour. All the best!

← United Women have been a huge inspiration for young Sasha since she saw us play here in March. Her parents Meg and Dan will be here with her while celebrating their 11th wedding anniversary.

↑ The University of Manchester’s women’s football team is here today to toast Anna Whibley’s 19th birthday. Have a brilliant time, from all at MUFC.

← Oliver (left picture) is about to turn six, so he’s here for his first game at Old Trafford. He’ll be with family and friends, including James (right picture), who is 11 later this month. Enjoy it, lads.

↑

← ‘Happy 7th birthday Grace, love from Mummy xxx’.

It’s Grace’s first time watching a game at Old Trafford, so give her a wave in block W201 if you see her!

↑

↑ It’s a special day for Darci, who is over from the Isle of Man to see United with her dad Jamie. Darci’s a talented player herself, so maybe she’ll be on the pitch one day!

← Ella is pictured with her little sister Rosa in their new Toone tops! The younger Ella is turning nine, and like the rest of us she wants to see her namesake on the scoresheet!

Jessica is another birthday girl making the trip to the Theatre of Dreams today. She’s turning 11, and has friends travelling up from Ipswich for the game.

Myles is football mad, just like his big brother, and he’s here today with dad Ivan to cheer on the mighty Reds.

← Hello, Emmie! She’s a big Ella Toone fan, and is here with family to celebrate turning six. We’d love to see you back in the future, Emmie!

↑ ‘Happy 7th birthday for Monday to Finley from Bedford – lots of love from Mummy, Daddy, Granny and Grandad.’

← Nine-year-old Phoenyx is here for her first football match, having been inspired from watching the Lionesses win the Euros this summer.

↑ ‘Happy 55th birthday Grandad Chris!’ – he’ll be in the stands with his granddaughter, and they both want to see a home victory!

↓ Good afternoon, Georgina, aged nine. She loves the Reds (especially Fred!).

→ Berry, aged eight, is a young Red here for her first-ever women’s match –Mum, Dad and Teddy send their love and fingers crossed you’ll get to see lots of United goals!

← Poppy is turning 12, and she’s part of a big group today, with 15 in attendance. You never know, if you all start singing ‘Happy birthday to Poppy...’ at the same time, maybe the whole stand will join in?

↑ ‘It’s always an absolute pleasure to see the smile on my daughter Lily’s face when she gets to watch United Women’, says Magen Cartwright.

Khadija Shaw (Manchester City) 8

Rachel Daly (Aston Villa) 8

Katie Stengel (Liverpool) 5

Sam Kerr (Chelsea) 4

Viviane Asseyi (West Ham) 4

Frida Maanum (Arsenal) 4

Stina Blackstenius (Arsenal) 4

Dagny Brynjarsdottir (West Ham)

Katie Zelem (UNITED) 5

Guro Reiten (Chelsea) 5

Beth Mead (Arsenal) 4

Leah Galton (UNITED) 3

Ona Batlle (UNITED) 3

Caitlin Foord (Arsenal) 3

Melissa Lawley (Liverpool) 3

TODAY:

Arsenal v Everton (right) (2pm), Leicester (right) v Chelsea (3pm)

TOMORROW:

Reading v Tottenham (12.30pm), Liverpool v West Ham (2pm), Manchester City v Brighton (2pm)

Ona Batlle

4 0 0 0 1 0 5 0

Sophie Baggaley 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 0

Hannah Blundell 7 1 0 0 0(1) 0 7(1) 1

Vilde Boe Risa 0(3) 0 0 0 2 1 2(3) 1

Mary Earps 7 0 0 0 0 0 7 0

Leah Galton 7 2 0 0 0 0 7 2

Lucia Garcia 5(1) 1 0 0 0(1) 0 5(2) 1

Hayley Ladd 5(2) 1 0 0 1(1) 0 6(3) 1

Maya Le Tissier 7 2 0 0 2 0 9 2

Adriana Leon 0(4) 1 0 0 2 0 2(4) 1

Jade Moore 0(3) 0 0 0 2 1 2(3) 1

Nikita Parris 5(2) 2 0 0 1(1) 1 6(3) 3

Alessia Russo 4(1) 3 0 0 0 0 4(1) 3

Lucy Staniforth 2(2) 0 0 0 1 0 3(2) 0

Martha Thomas 0(7) 0 0 0 2 0 2(7) 0

Maria Thorisdottir 3(1) 0 0 0 2 0 5(1) 0

Ella Toone 7 3 0 0 0(1) 0 7(1) 3

Aissatou Tounkara 0(1) 0 0 0 2 0 2(1) 0

Millie Turner 7 1 0 0 1 0 8 1

Rachel Williams 0(3) 0 0 0 1 0 1(3) 0

Katie Zelem 7 1 0 0 0(2) 0 7(2) 1

● ALL-TIME PLAYER STATS Apps Goals

Abbie McManus 25 2

Ella Toone 111 44

Katie Zelem 108 28

Leah Galton 91 24

Millie Turner 91 6

Kirsty Hanson 90 16

Mary Earps 76 0

Hayley Ladd 69 6

Amy Turner 67 4

Jessica Sigsworth 66 26

Jackie Groenen 60 0

Kirsty Smith 58 1

Lauren James 56 28

Ona Batlle 55 2

Martha Harris 49 1

Maria Thorisdottir 41 1

Alessia Russo 40 17

Lucy Staniforth 39 3

Hannah Blundell 37 1

Lizzie Arnot 34 9

Jane Ross 34 7

Martha Thomas 33 6

Vilde Boe Risa 30 4

Mollie Green 29 16

Siobhan Chamberlain 27 0

Alex Greenwood 27 5

Ivana Ferreira Fuso 21 2

Charlie Devlin 20 6

Aoife Mannion 19 0

Christen Press 17 4

Aimee Palmer 15 1

Tobin Heath 11 4

Carrie Jones 10 0

Lotta Okvist 10 0

Maya Le Tissier 9 2

Nikita Parris 9 3

Sophie Baggaley 8 0

Jade Moore 8 1

Signe Brunn 7 0

Lucia Garcia 7 1

Diane Caldwell 6 0

Adriana Leon 6 1

Emily Ramsey 6 0

Rachel Williams 4 0

Naomi Hartley 3 0

Aissatou Tounkara 3 0

Fran Bentley 2 0

Tara Bourne 1 0

Rebecca May 1 0

Aurora Mikalsen 1 0

Karna Solskjaer 1 0

REDS ON

DATE APRIL 1998 LOCATION THE CLIFF, BROUGHTON

In the Reds’ amateur days, in the decades before ‘Manchester United Women’ was formed as a professional side in 2018, few people knew much about the team outside of the club, but our official magazine (now known as Inside United) would run occasional stories to help increase their profile.

In 1998, ‘United Ladies’ played their home fixtures at Priestnall Recreation Centre in Stockport, but they were allowed to use the indoor pitch at United’s old training ground, The Cliff, once a fortnight. (The club also helped out by paying to insure the players from injury, while Umbro provided kit at cost.) They would train at The Cliff directly after a youth-team lads’ session, ran by United legends Nobby Stiles and Brian Kidd, and in the spring of 1998, the club magazine sent

Zoe Haines, who managed the publication’s adverts, over to Broughton in Salford to get involved alongside United captain Donna Douglas and co. Put through her paces by manager Geoff Konopka and coach Colin Benson, Zoe would recall the day in the following month’s mag. ‘These were not your giggly girls out for a kickaround – they were scary, hard lasses,’ she wrote of the players who were flying high in the North West Women’s League. ‘It dispelled all my preconceptions – they have a professional outlook and plenty of talent, and they asked me to go for a few beers when the session was finally over. “We thought you’d be better at drinking than football,” they reasoned. Thanks girls. You were right.’

Ah, such different times, eh!

Zoe (centre, in the gym gear!) joins the amateur Reds at The Cliff, which was the club’s primary training facility until Carrington opened its doors in 2000

MANCHESTER UNITED WOMEN ASTON VILLA WOMEN

Head coach: Marc Skinner

Ona Batlle

Maria Thorisdottir Jade Moore Aoife Mannion Hannah Blundell Ella Toone Vilde Boe Risa Martha Thomas Katie Zelem Leah Galton Hayley Ladd Maya Le Tissier Lucia Garcia Adriana Leon Aissatou Tounkara Millie Turner Nikita Parris Alessia Russo Grace Clinton Mary Earps (GK) Rachel Williams Sophie Baggaley (GK) Lucy Staniforth Safia Middleton-Patel (GK) Jessica Simpson

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 15 17 19 20 21 22 23 26 27 28 32 37 39 45

Manager: Carla Ward

1 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 10 11 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 26 28 31 33 34 35

Hannah Hampton (GK)

Sarah Mayling Meaghan Sargeant Remi Allen Rachel Corsie Alisha Lehmann Rachel Daly Emily Gielnik Kenza Dali Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah Anna Draper (GK) Danielle Turner Anna Patten Olivia McLoughlin Natasha Harding Freya Gregory Laura Blindkilde Kirsty Hanson Anna Leat (GK) Simone Magill Isobel Goodwin Evie Rabjohn Ruesha Littlejohn Mayumi Pacheco Martha MacPhail Georgia Mullett

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee Louise Saunders • Assistants Lucy-Anne Briggs, Abby Dearden Fourth official Anthony Backhouse