2018/19: Manchester United Women became professional!
Casey Stoney was appointed the first head coach of Manchester United Women when it was reformed in 2018. Their first season was played in the FA Women’s Championship (tier 2) against the likes of Sheffield United, Tottenham, and Aston Villa. Bringing 21 strangers together to form a team that had high expectations wasn’t going to be easy.
In Casey’s words:
“It’s a massive journey to go on but an exciting one”.
Millie Turner, Lauren James, and Ella Toone were just 3 of the players that were signed to be a part of the first women’s senior team at Manchester United. The squad was very young, but the future looked bright. England international, Alex Greenwood was made captain and the team was ready to create history.
The Red Devils started their campaign off well. With 2 victories in the cup to kick off the season, their 1st league win came against Aston Villa when they won 12-0. An amazing result for a newly formed team. Topping the league with 18 wins out of 20 was a surprising statement but one they had worked extremely hard to achieve.
Getting promoted to the WSL in their 1st season as a professional club was the first step to reaching Stoney’s ultimate aim of becoming the most successful women’s team.
2019/20: New Chapter, New Captain
Manchester United were ready to embark on their first season in the WSL. Stepping up into the top women’s league in England presented a new challenge for the club. Players came and went which led to a new captain. Katie Zelem who has been at United since the beginning was given the responsibility of leading the team for the 2019/20 season.
Katie Zelem:
“I am incredibly honoured to be named Manchester United captain – a club so close to my heart and a childhood dream fulfilled”.
They lost their 1st two games 1-0 against Manchester City and Arsenal who are known to be in the top 3 English women’s teams, alongside Chelsea. Their first win came over Liverpool, and since then, they began to pick up points. After playing 14 games, they had 47 points, just one behind Arsenal.
COVID OUTBREAK causes chaos!
On the 13th of April 2020, the FA stated that all professional football was suspended until at least the 3rd of April. However, the decision was made on the 25th of May 2020 to cancel both the Women’s Championship and WSL due to the severity of the pandemic.
BREAKING: FA confirm immediate termination of 2019-20 Women's Super League and Women’s Championship
Read here👉https://t.co/jggLdsE0gA#newschain #football #womenssport #wsl #womenssuperleague #womensfootball @BarclaysFAWSL @FAWC_ @WSNet #coronavirus #covid19 #cancelled pic.twitter.com/67U23IdILz
— NewsChain Women's Sport (@newschainwomen) May 25, 2020
Table standings were decided on a points-per-game (PPG) basis meaning Manchester United finished 4th. An impressive start on their journey to the top but they narrowly missed out on a Champions League spot by 1 point.
Manager Casey Stoney said:
“It’s obviously disappointing not to be able to complete the season, but it is the right decision for the safety of everyone involved.”
She also expressed how proud she was of the hard work put in by the players and staff during the season and that their ambitions for the future remained high.
Football Returned –Â 06/09/2020!
A day the football world was all waiting for!
Football was back however fans were unable to support their teams in person. This caused issues for United regarding its financial status. They lost £76k in matchday revenue due to matches being held behind closed doors. Supporting behind a screen wasn’t ideal but the safety of everyone was most important. A season which felt strange for all, ended with Chelsea crowned as champions again.
Although this season felt like a step backward for the women’s game, Manchester United had some positives to take from it.
On the 8th of November 2020, the Reds defeated Arsenal 1-0. A huge accomplishment for everyone involved at the club. It was the first time, they had a victory over one of the top teams. The pandemic stopped fans from sharing this achievement with the team in person, but their happiness and support was shown through social media.
They also played their first game at the Theatre of Dreams, known as Old Trafford but still, no fans could share this incredible moment with the team.
A year later, they returned to Old Trafford but this time it was in front of 27,919 fans. They put on an impressive performance winning 4-0 against West Ham.
A change in leadership!
Casey Stoney announced her departure as head coach ahead of the 2021/22 season. After what had been 3 amazing seasons at the club, she felt it was the right time to take some time away. She said:
“It has been an honour to lead the women’s team at this great club. Having come on board to start the team from scratch, then winning the Women’s Championship in our first season, we have now successfully established the team as a force in the Women’s Super League”.
Marc Skinner: Appointed as the new head coach following his time spent in the NWSL. His previous experience of leading a team in the WSL gave United hope that he could continue to support and guide them on their incredible journey.
Skinner expressed how he was excited to work with the staff and “this talented group of players” at the club. In his words, “Our focus is to build on everything they have already achieved in the women’s game. I want us to achieve success together and our aim is to give the fans a team they can continue to be proud of.”
In his first season at the club, the team was able to maintain their 4th-place finish in the WSL. The Champions League (CL) was still a distant dream but one they hoped would come true soon.
Recruitment was going to be key if United wanted to carry on their success and challenge for one of the top 3 spots and a place in the UWCL.
Seven players left the club at the end of the 2020/21 season including Amy Turner and Jess Sigsworth. Both players joined the club from the very start.
Lauren James agreed on a permanent move to rivals Chelsea in 2021. During her time at the club, she made 56 appearances and scored 28 goals. As part of the deal, Chelsea defender Hannah Blundell signed for the Reds. Sophie Baggaley, Martha Thomas, Vilde Bøa Risa, and Aoife Mannion were among the 9 new additions before the 2021/22 season.
The squad on paper looked to have strengthened however they were still unable to bridge the gap between them and the top 3.
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MUFC Women make history!
The 2022/23 season has definitely been one to remember. England Women became European champions in the summer and women’s football was on the rise. Attendances were the highest they have ever been for domestic games and participation in the sport has also increased.
Breaking new ground in 2022/23 đź’Ąđź’Ş
🧵 Presenting a thread of moments that have made this season so memorable… #MUWomen
— Manchester United Women (@ManUtdWomen) June 7, 2023
For Manchester United, the completion of this season was bittersweet.
5 years since the re-launch of the club and what a journey it’s been. They pushed Chelsea to the final day but fell 2 points short of winning the title. A 2nd place finish, reaching their first FA Cup final, and the Champions League confirmed for the 2023/24 season is something the players and staff set out to achieve from the beginning. Despite having to deal with many ups and downs over the years, the team has stuck together and can now enjoy a well-deserved rest following the celebration of their achievements.
Marc Skinner’s thoughts
“The experience we’ve had this year – the good, the bad and ugly. It will hurt that we’re two points off and we’ve not won the league even though we’ve broken our own points tally record, but I think next year it will change again.
When asked about the future of the team at United he said:
“Our team is not about any one player. I hope they stay, but if I was them, I don’t think I’d want to leave from this team, in my opinion, because of what we’re achieving and what we’re doing.”
 Special words from the players
 Ella Toone
“I’ve seen everything that’s gone on in the five years and I’ve seen where we were and where we are now, and still where we want to get to,”
“To be on that journey, right from the very start, is special.”
https://twitter.com/ManUtdWomen/status/1666452019257782273?s=20
Millie Turner
“It’s so amazing to be able to go on the journey with the same fans. I say every single time that I’m asked about, they are 100 percent our 12th man and we would not be able to do it without them.”
Katie Zelem
“I think women’s football is growing at a really rapid rate and it’s up to us and Manchester United to keep up with that and hopefully in the future, we’ll have some more stars coming through.”
Thanks to the fans!!
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