Manchester United Women v Everton Women match programme, Women's Super League, 31.3.24

AFTER A WEEK OF REGROUPING ON THE TRAINING GROUND, THE BOSS WANTS TO SEE MAXIMUM FOCUS TODAY

MARC SKINNER

Hello and welcome back to Leigh Sports Village for our Women’s Super League clash with Everton.

Reflecting on the derby loss last weekend, we are all disappointed with the result. When I watched the game back it reaffirmed my feeling during the game that there are large periods we can be proud of and build from. The chances we created, some moments of individual play, and our attitude in the second half are some of the positives we can take out of the game at the Etihad.

However, the three goals we conceded against Manchester City are below the high standards we set ourselves and they came in a period of the game where we fell below our performance standards. It’s important that we are as close to our best through the entirety of a game to ensure our performance matches our own expectations.

Our aim is to try and win every game, but we didn’t last weekend, so it is now even more important how we choose to react to that defeat.

We have played Everton twice this season and had two positive results against Brian Sorensen’s side. They are a very organised team with a distinct style and they will pose a difficult challenge for us today. We are going to have to be energetic. We have to concentrate in every moment and use our fantastic fans to help push us on for three points.

We need to focus, create lots of chances and when we do create, take those chances. When we look back on recent games we are happy with the chances we create and so focusing on taking them is key, as well as stopping the opposition at the other end of the field.

We always love playing here at Leigh Sports Village and having our fans behind us. Thank you for your continued support and I hope you enjoy the game.

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

COUNTDOWN TO KICK-OFF

SPRING INTO ACTION

As the clocks go forward, the Reds will be looking to bounce back in the Women’s Super League as Brian Sorensen’s Toffees come to town...

It’s good to have you back at Leigh Sports Village, for a 12pm kick-off that’ll feel like an even earlier start due to the clocks changing overnight (don’t be the one fan who forgets and rocks up at half-time!)

For Marc Skinner’s Reds, however, the aim is clear: be fully focused from the first midday kick to the full-time whistle, make the most of the chances when they arrive, and get back to winning ways following the disappointment of defeat in last weekend’s Manchester derby at the Etihad.

It was a result that – allied with Liverpool’s draw away to our latest opponents, Everton – saw us fall below the Reds of Merseyside and into fifth place. While a top-three finish now looks ambitious, to say the least, there are still many reasons why we need to find some winning form: to get that derby

defeat out of our system, to rise above our biggest club rivals and back into fourth spot ahead of us facing them in early May, and – perhaps most importantly in the current context of our season – to head into a massive FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea, next up here at LSV, in a positive frame of mind on the back of a morale-boosting victory.

United have a two-week break after today before that colossal Cup contest, and all of Skinner’s charges will be wanting to stake a claim for a starting berth in that one.

Looking back at our four most-recent home fixtures, making a fast start is something we’ve excelled at – we’ve scored early in all of them, against Liverpool (Toone, 3 mins), Villa (Parris, 7 mins), Brighton (Parris, 9 mins) and Bristol City (Naalsund, 9 mins). We were also arguably the better of the teams against City in the early exchanges, but the challenge for the players is to maintain such levels over the full 90 minutes.

That’s something we certainly managed to do in our two most-recent meetings with Everton –a 5-0 win in the reverse fixture in October, soon

The Reds wasted little time opening the scoring in our last home fixture

IT WAS THE FINAL WEEK OF MARCH LAST YEAR WHEN THE REDS STARTED A WINNING STREAK THAT WOULD CARRY US THROUGH

APRIL AND MAY

followed by a 7-0 rout in the Conti Cup at LSV – but Brian Sorensen’s side have shored things up at the back since then. Heading into this weekend, only five teams in the WSL have conceded fewer goals this season than the Toffees’ 29, with their makeshift defence standing strong to keep Liverpool out in the recent Merseyside derby, which finished 0-0.

We haven’t had too much luck in the wide positions lately, with Leah Galton’s thigh strain keeping her out of the derby, before Jayde Riviere limped off during the game following an awkward fall. Eight days on, let’s hope the quickfire pair are back to full fitness.

There has been good new recently when it comes to longer-term injury casualties. Aoife Mannion has been back in first-team action, while midfielder Hinata Miyazawa has been back in training and is close to a return.

It was the final week of March last year when the Reds started a winning streak that would carry us through April and May, with only Chelsea narrowly pipping us to a pair of trophies – and now is the time to regain such momentum. And as ever, your encouragement from the stands can really help spur the team on. Let’s do this, Reds!

ACROSS

We run through this weekend’s league schedule (with a spot of important cup action thrown in)

Only four fixtures take place in the WSL this weekend, rather than the usual six, with Arsenal and Chelsea taking a brief break from league action in order to contest the Conti Cup final at Molineux a little later this afternoon.

That game kicks off at 3pm and is a repeat of last season’s showpiece, with Chelsea – competing in their fifth successive final in the competition – out to take revenge after the Gunners won 3-1 to take the trophy 12 months ago. There are high hopes of a competition record crowd at the 31,750-capacity stadium in Wolverhampton, surpassing the 19,010 who watched on at Selhurst Park last March. The 13th Conti Cup final is live on BBC Two. Matchweek 18 of the WSL season began yesterday with simultaneous lunchtime kick-offs as Manchester City travelled to Liverpool’s Prenton Park and Aston Villa entertained Leicester at Bescot Stadium. With Chelsea not in action, City would have been keen to put the pressure on their title rivals by winning to open up a three-point lead at the top. But they were facing a Liverpool side unbeaten in their five previous WSL fixtures stretching back to late January, taking 11 points from a possible 15 during that time. However, City had won the reverse fixture 5-1, just a couple of weeks before Liverpool’s run began. An inconsistent Villa could yet finish in the top half with a strong end to the season, so the visit of Leicester was a big opportunity to take maximum points at home against a team three points below them before kick-off. Carla Ward’s Villa have secured good recent away wins at Everton and Tottenham, but their last home win going into yesterday’s fixture had come on 17 December. For the Foxes, three straight WSL defeats wasn’t

It’s been great to see Hinata back in training, having recovered from a fractured ankle

West Ham are at home for a second straight weekend, while their previous opponents Chelsea have a cup final to focus on today

ideal preparation, although they did knock Liverpool out of the FA Cup earlier this month. Moving on to today, taking to the pitch at Chigwell Construction Stadium about an hour after we finish here at Leigh Sports Village are West Ham and Brighton, for the final WSL game of the weekend. The Hammers have struggled to kick on from a surprise 2-1 win over Arsenal at the start of February, which gave them real breathing

UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF ‘MINDFUL MIKE’, BRIGHTON HAD CLIMBED TO EIGHTH AFTER TWO RECENT WINS

room in the relegation battle a week after beating bottom club Bristol City. Since then, they’ve taken a solitary point from the last 12 on offer and will be chasing just a second home league win of the season. Brighton, still under the guidance of interim boss Mikey Harris, whose love of meditation has earned him the nickname ‘Mindful Mike’, had climbed to eighth coming into the weekend thanks to away wins over Bristol City and Leicester so far this month, with only Khadija Shaw and Lauren James ahead of the Seagulls’ Elisabeth Terland in the WSL Golden Boot stakes at the time of writing. Due to their involvement in the Conti Cup final, Arsenal’s league clash with Bristol City, as well as Chelsea’s trip to Tottenham, have been postponed, meaning no game at all for the Robins or Spurs this weekend. The Gunners will catch up against Bristol City on the evening of Saturday 14 April, while Chelsea will keep hold of a game in hand until the final week of the season as their Tottenham game couldn’t be rearranged until Wednesday 15 May. This could make for a very interesting final week in the WSL for Emma Hayes before she departs to the States, with the Spurs game falling just three days before the Blues visit Old Trafford to wrap up the league campaign.

Can Harris inspire his Seagulls to another victory this afternoon?

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REDS REPORT

BY JOE NELSON

TIMELINE OF ALL THE RECENT ACTION AND NEWS

EIGHT DAYS AGO

3 MAN CITY

1 UNITED

Women’s Super League

Etihad Stadium, Sat 23 Mar

ONE-SENTENCE SUMMARY: Jess Park stars for City as visiting Reds are beaten in the 15th women’s Manchester derby.

BRINGING THE NOISE: A crowd of 40,086 turned out at the Etihad – the third time the derby crowd has surpassed 40,000. Big praise must go to the packed away end, which remained loud until the very end, despite United not having too much to cheer about.

FIRST-HALF MOMENTS: The two sides were closely matched in the opening half, with Marc Skinner’s side looking dangerous at times. A long ball over the top for Nikita Parris to chase was well dealt with by City keeper Khiara Keating, before Lucia Garcia so nearly burst through, but was just offside. Geyse’s quick feet were also troubling the hosts, but after Park and Yui Hasegawa came close at the other end, the Blues would get the breakthrough on 37 minutes. Park’s strike past Mary

Earps should have been ruled out for offside by Bunny Shaw in the build-up but with no VAR it stood. Park then smashed home from close range – a real blow just before half-time – with Alanna Kennedy claiming the assist.

SHAW’S STINGER: The Reds returned to the field eager to find a way back into the contest, but within seconds of the restart, Shaw made it 3-0 – the lethal Jamaican receiving Park’s pass before powering though to slot past Earps. It saw her become City’s all-time record scorer in the WSL era (68 goals).

OWN GOAL GIVES US HOPE: United pushed for a way back into the match and, on 74 minutes, Kerstin Casparij turned Hannah Blundell’s low cross from the left into her own net. Geyse then had a chance to make it 3-2 but fired over the bar, and the Reds would end the game having had 15 shots, the same as the hosts, with City having five shots on target, one more than United.

PAIR REACH HALF-CENTURIES: Rachel Williams’ second-half introduction saw her become the 20th player to play 50 games for the Reds – Parris becoming the 19th on that list after she started the game against her former club.

The visitors go close, but it would be City claiming the derby spoils on a frustrating afternoon at the Etihad

MUW NEWS

REDS UP FOR WFA s

We’re pleased to announce that Manchester United features in a number of shortlists for the 2024 Women’s Football Awards, including Best Fan Engagement. On the football side of the prestigious awards, Mary Earps is up for Player of the Year, as well as 2023 World Cup Hero, while Maya Le Tissier is included in the Young Player of the Year category, and Marc Skinner in the Manager or Coach of the Year category. The prizes above will be decided by a public vote –simply scan the code to your right to see the full list of nominees and to get involved!

CUP SEMI-FINAL TICKETS

If you haven’t yet secured your ticket for our next game – the Women’s FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea on Sunday 14 April (2.35pm kick-off) – please scan here for the latest availability. Please note, only season ticket holders to have opted in for cup fixtures will have automatically received a ticket for this fixture. Tickets are £12/£6, while hospitality is £75pp, which includes a two-course meal inside a shared box, plus private balcony seating.

14 DAYS AGO

2 UNITED 0 BRISTOL CITY

Women’s Super League

Leigh Sports Village, Sun 17 Mar

ONE-SENTENCE SUMMARY: Naalsund bags in both halves to ensure Reds get back to winning ways in the league here at Leigh Sports Village.

NORWEGIAN SHOWS HER CLASS: Lisa gave us the lead on nine minutes, weaving in between Bristol City’s defence before slotting low past goalkeeper Shae Yanez – Naalsund’s first WSL goal for United. She’d add another in second-half injury-time, turning the ball home from Katie Zelem’s delivery for her fifth goal of the season.

WOODWORK DENIES VISITORS: In between Lisa’s goals, the visitors had their moments on the break, although they couldn’t muster a shot on target. The closest they came was when Emily Syme and Shania Hayles linked up well in the second half, before the latter smashed an effort past Mary Earps and against the upright.

DEFENDERS PUSH ON: While United’s defence held firm, the quartet also pushed on at times to cause the Robins problems. Jayde Riviere was a continual attacking outlet, while in the second half, after seizing on a loose pass, Maya Le Tissier raced through on goal only to be denied by a recovering challenge by Brooke Aspin.

GEYSE’S IMPACT: In the 58th minute, Geyse was introduced in place of Melvine Malard. Our no.23 hadn’t featured for the Reds since mid-February due to her Gold Cup commitments with Brazil, and she was predictably dangerous on the ball as Lauren Smith’s side struggled to contain her.

Three of our defenders salute a clean sheet, alongside United’s two-goal hero

ZEL’S NOTES

WITH SOME SPECIAL GUESTS IN THE STANDS, THE SKIPPER EXPECTS TO SEE A REACTION TODAY AFTER LAST WEEKEND

Last weekend was a tough one for us. Manchester City are a good, in-form team and we knew that going into the game at the Etihad. I thought we started the game well but the goals deflated us a bit, and that third goal so quick after half-time seemed to take it out of us.

As a team, how we started the game and finished the game is how we need to perform in every fixture for the rest of the season. We need to get on the same page and collaborate well for the games we have ahead in the league and cup.

The run-in to the end of the season will be tough. We still have five WSL games, including Liverpool and Spurs, who are close to us in the table, and we obviously need to take as many points as possible. All the girls have that same mentality: we’re coming in every day, we’re all working hard and we all have the same targets.

The last two times we faced our latest opponents, Everton, in the league and Conti Cup, they were really successful games for us. But Everton in the second half of the season have been playing like a well-coached side, and they’ve been getting better results, so we know it’s going to be a test today.

‘Be prepared’ is a motto that applies as much to football as Girlguiding!

I had the pleasure of meeting two Rangers last week – as in Girlguiding, not the Scottish football team! – and I presented them with a shirt and had a nice chat with them. It will be exciting to have them here at the game today, and lots of other Guides too. I hope we can put a good performance in for you all and are able to inspire more young girls to get into football.

A letter to my younger self

Kelly Smith | Former Professional Footballer & Barclays Football Ambassador

Dear Kelly,

One day you’ll let your hair grow long, because you won’t have to pretend to be a boy just to be allowed to play football. The world of football might not seem to be set up for you right now, but that’ll change and your story will be celebrated by women and girls everywhere.

Right now your feet hurt because your football boots are too small. Mum and Dad can’t afford adult sizes but absolutely nothing will stop you playing.

Hang in there - it’ll all be worth it, I promise.

That move across the pond (yes, America!) to play football when you’re 17 will be one of the hardest things you’ll do. Moving away means you’ll no longer have Mum and Dad on the sidelines to drown out opposition parents shouting stuff like, ‘break her legs!’.

Those awful comments are because you’re playing better than their sons and they can’t handle it.

Embrace the journey ahead. You’ll play plenty of games in boots that fit (even if the kit doesn’t) – 117 times for England, 112 for Arsenal, and more than 130 in the US. Proud moments are ahead of you, so those boots might make your toes wonky, but they pave the path to greatness. You’ll retire as England’s top goal scorer and future generations of Lionesses will call you their hero.

Love, Kelly x

We’ve made a record-breaking commitment to women and girls’ football.

But for us, it’s never just about women’s football, it’s about creating a brighter future together.

Read the full letter at home.barclays/football

FAN GALLERY

Happy birthday to twins Abi and Ellen (pictured 18 years ago, aww!) for 4 April.

SEND YOUR PHOTOS AND MESSAGES TO

‘Look who’s made it into the programme! Enjoy the game Nancy. Come on you Reds!’

Hello Daisy, aged five, and Phoebe (10) – both are big Ella Toone fans.

Today is season ticket holder Claire Walmsley’s 50th – we wish you a great birthday here at LSV.

↑ Best mates Amelia and Robyn both turn 15 on 1 April – enjoy your joint birthday! Lily is pictured in London but today she’s in Leigh! And she’s turning 16 – all the very best for your big day.

YOUR TEXT MESSAGES...

Liv, age 10, is attending her first-ever game – she’s over from the Isle of Man. →

Happy birthday Laura – what better way to spend a birthday! Lots of love, Jade and Teddy.

● A happy 7th birthday to Freya from Colchester in Essex. We hope you are enjoying your birthday trip to see your favourite team. Lots of love, Mummy, Daddy and Dexter. ● Happy ninth birthday, Alyssa H ● Young Reds Paige and Jess would like to wish their mum Joanne a very happy birthday! ● Lily Scrimshaw is turning 16 and is here for a birthday surprise! ● Happy 13th birthday to Ciara Leigh Hayhurst – we hope you have a brilliant day.

BACK IN ACTION FOR THE REDS, AOIFE MANNION WAS TYPICALLY FULL OF POSITIVITY FOR WHAT LIES AHEAD WHEN SHE JOINED US FOR OUR LATEST BIG INTERVIEW –ALTHOUGH UNITED’S NO.5 WAS ALSO VERY HONEST ABOUT THE CHALLENGES SHE’S FACED OVER THE PAST YEAR...

In this game, you can’t dwell too much on any disappointment

INTERVIEW: HELEN ROWE-WILLCOCKS

It’s been great to see you in the squad again. It must be so nice to be back to full fitness...

It’s lovely to be back in contention. To be back around the girls on the pitch every day, I thought the novelty would wear off a lot quicker but it hasn’t yet! It’s always the way that we forget how lucky we are. Right now, I’m really appreciating it.

When you came on against Southampton last month, it was clear to see the reaction from your team-mates, staff, and fans at the game... I felt delighted. I’ve been in this situation a couple of times where I’ve had a long lay-off and then I know that feeling of getting subbed on. There are some pictures that went around where I was visibly really happy going back on to the pitch. I’m quite pleased with that. Supporters looking on don’t always get to see how pleased we are because we keep quite stern faces when we’re in

game mode but I let my guard down for a minute and really appreciated the moment. Obviously the state of the game at that point helped [with United winning 3-1 in injury-time]. So the little smile and bits of emotion were on balance probably fine!

Being injured can be really lonely, can’t it –what kept you going on those tough days?

Firstly, we’ve got a really, really nice facility now and the gym is so well equipped. Also, there are a few other people in the gym, so you become really close to whoever happens to also be unfortunate enough to be injured. Then we always get told to focus on whatever the next step is. So in a way, it’s like doing a dot-to-dot picture.

Having each other in the gym must have meant so much to you all...

Definitely. It’s always really nice to see friendly

faces. In the gym, you never want other people to be in there because it means they’re injured but if that’s the case, you can help each other. And there will always be someone that makes you laugh. That’s goes a little bit under the radar about being around people – it makes things a lot more fun!

When your name was back on the team-sheet, there must naturally be nerves about getting injured again. How do you deal with that?

There’s definitely a level of apprehension. Each injury I’ve come back from, I’ve randomly felt slightly different about. So this one, because it was a muscle injury, it was quite easy to imagine doing that sort of injury again. And when you are a substitute, you do worry about your muscles getting too cold – running on with a big smiley face, breaking into a sprint and all of a sudden it’s a Shakespearean tragedy as you pull a muscle! You do have those moments where you think like that, but what I’ve found is that it helps to remember it’s quite normal to think like that when you’ve been out for a really long time – to think ‘am I going to be okay?’. I’ve found it helps to just not take too hard of a line one way or another. And it really helps having a nice team and medical staff around to just bounce off any little worries.

That’s really interesting. You were recently called back up for Republic of Ireland, which must have been pleasing... It was a really, really nice feeling. The manager [Eileen Gleeson] had rang me to let me know. Usually when the manager rings, it’s probably not good news – good news happens in a quick email or a little text message. So my heart initially sank when I saw Eileen’s name pop up on my phone.

I DON’T THINK THERE’LL BE MANY THINGS I COME ACROSS THAT WILL TAKE THE RUG OUT FROM UNDERNEATH ME AS THE WORLD CUP DID

But then, she went on to say that for me, it was good news. We played Italy in Florence, which is a lovely city, and it was really nice to be back around the girls. It was only my third Ireland camp, so I still feel in some ways like I’ve been getting to know everyone. We’ve got a really exciting Euros campaign we’re about to embark on, so I’m hoping I’ll be able to be involved in that.

You spoke openly about the disappointment of missing the World Cup, but it was lovely to see you in Australia supporting Ireland. Was that something that felt important for you to do? Yeah, it was. I will say I was absolutely gutted. I don’t think there’ll be many things that I come across in my career as a footballer that will take

A heartwarming moment for everyone as Aoife returns to action following her extended absence through injury

Our no.5 shakes hands with Sir Jim Ratcliffe as the club’s new co-owner takes a tour of the Reds’ Carrington base

FULL NAME

Aoife Mannion

DATE OF BIRTH

24 September 1995

PLACE OF BIRTH

Solihull, West Midlands

I THINK THERE’S AN UNDERSTANDING IN EVERYONE THAT FOOTBALL CAN CHANGE VERY QUICKLY

YOUTH CAREER

Birmingham City, Aston Villa

SENIOR CAREER

2012-13 Aston Villa

21 apps, 0 goals

2013-19 Birmingham City

130 apps, 9 goals

2019-21 Manchester City

11 apps, 1 goal

2021- Manchester United

30 games, 0 goals

INTERNATIONAL CAREER

Republic of Ireland (below): 3 caps, 0 goals

the rug out from underneath me as that did – not just the injury, but then the hope to come back fit in time, and then for it not to come into fruition. I feel quite weathered by that experience, like I’ve seen the underbelly of football. We do really want things and we push for things and it can be a little bit cruel. On the flip side, I really like the team and I’d really enjoyed being involved before. So I just really wanted to wish them well. As it turned out, some of my family were going to Australia to support the team regardless of whether or not I was involved. After a few days of soaking the disappointment in, I thought, what an opportunity to see a different side of things and just go over as a fan. I didn’t know if I was going to enjoy it. I didn’t know how I would feel. But actually, it’s probably one of the best things I ever did. I feel very fortunate that I was able to go out.

When it comes to our squad, you weren’t the only one disappointed in the summer about not making it to the World Cup, with fellow defender Maya missing out for England. Did you talk to each other about that... We’re a very close-knit team and we do chat about these things. I think there’s an understanding in everyone that football can change very quickly. It

On the ball in last weekend’s derby

Aoife is excited to be part of Ireland manager Eileen Gleeson’s squad

WHEN I CAME BACK FROM INJURY LAST

YEAR, I FELT LIKE I COULD REALLY MAKE AN IMPACT... I WANT TO FEEL

LIKE THAT AGAIN

can fall in your favour. It can fall not in your favour. With a character like Maya who’s incredibly young, incredibly talented and really driven, probably the perspective we can give her and people like her as her team-mates is just that she’s doing all the right things. You can’t dwell too much on any disappointment you have because there’s always something to go, ‘okay, what’s next?’.

One thing we noticed from our last home game, against Bristol City, was how quick you all managed to get changed to make your way from Leigh to Old Trafford to see the epic United v Liverpool FA Cup tie! It was really worth it. I had family over from Ireland to support the [women’s] team so it was a shame I didn’t get to spend too much time with them because I had to rush off to support the boys. But what an incredible game it turned out to be – one for the ages. I felt really lucky to be part of it.

CUPPA BOVRIL?

MANNION ON HER LOVE FOR A BRITISH FOOTBALL STAPLE

Those who follow Aoife on social media will have noticed a certain theme to her recent matchday posts: the regular photos of her enjoying a cup of Bovril. “Oh, I do really like it!” she smiles when we quiz her about it. “It really is a ‘love or hate’ thing, but I used to drink it growing up, watching football, and I feel like it’s in my roots. So when I was watching the girls play as an injured player, it was a nice thing to do. At half-time I’d have a cup and people would go mad for it on social media.” So the big question is: can she still enjoy the odd cup now she’s back in the squad? The answer is yes. “I had one actually at the men’s quarter-final at Old Trafford,” she tells us. “But I don’t think I posted that picture!”

the stands?

Aoife says yes, and we concur..

Have you set yourself any kind of specific targets before the end of the season?

Be intact. Be physically intact in the first instance. When I came back from injury last year, I was coming on to the pitch feeling like I could really make an impact. So before the end of this season, I would like to be in that same position. Whatever position I am – whether that’s a starting player or a player that’s going to impact from the bench – I want to feel like that again.

Beefy hot drink while in

One from the archives, 10 years ago: Birmingham’s Aoife, up against Nikita Parris, then of today’s opponents Everton

NIKITA PARRIS

FIRST OF THEDOZEN THE

WE TURN BACK THE CLOCK TO WIN NO.1 OF 12 AGAINST THIS AFTERNOON’S VISITORS, WHEN A QUARTET OF CURRENT REDS WERE AMONG THOSE TO SEE US TO VICTORY ON A QUIET PRE-CHRISTMAS NIGHT IN SOUTHPORT...

With United and Everton locking horns for a 16th time today, we’ve seen more of the Toffees than any other side since the Reds were reformed as a professional team in 2018.

Incredibly, that’s a fixture every four-and-a-bit months on average, with Conti Cup clashes in all six seasons alongside our five WSL campaigns. And while for many Reds the game that sticks in the throat is Everton’s most-recent WSL trip to Leigh – a 0-0 draw in February that saw us relinquish top spot to Chelsea, with Courtney Brosnan starring in the opposition goal – we’ve usually had far better

luck in front of goal against the Merseysiders. Indeed, we’ve only scored more goals against Leicester than the 41 times we’ve hit the back of the Everton net, while our dozen wins against the Toffees is another team record, United’s 3-1 victory in March 2022 is an obvious highlight – it being our first-ever fan-attended game at Old Trafford – but it would be safe to say that far fewer Reds will recall meeting no.1 between the teams, played on a bitterly cold Thursday evening in Southport in December 2018. Over five years on, the Conti Cup Group Two North tie holds the unwanted record of having

the smallest-ever attendance for a competitive United Women game outside of behind-closeddoors fixtures – just 267, which looking at the Reds’ rise since then is unlikely to ever be broken – but for those in the away end making up a decent chunk of the meagre crowd figure, not to mention the much-larger armchair audience watching live on MUTV, there was so much to enjoy. Alongside three well-taken goals and a clean sheet against Willie Kirk’s side at their Haig Avenue home, our then-manager Casey Stoney would later pick this night out as one of her proudest games in charge of the Reds.

THIRD TEST AGAINST WSL OPPOSITION

The Reds made the short trip in an unfamiliar frame of mind, with the team out to bounce back from a rare defeat four days earlier. For all the lofty expectation placed on our pioneering squad, a 3-1 loss at Durham in the league was a reminder that this young group were still finding their feet, despite leading the way in the second tier.

With our 2018/19 FA Cup campaign not yet under way, it was the Conti Cup that provided a first true yardstick of whether we were a ‘WSL team

THE CONTI CUP PROVIDED A FIRST TRUE YARDSTICK OF WHETHER UNITED WERE A ‘WSL TEAM IN WAITING’ – AS WE WERE SO OFTEN TAGGED THAT SEASON

in waiting’, as United were so often tagged that term. And results in that respect had been mixed thus far: a historic 1-0 win away to Liverpool in our first-ever game, followed by a 0-2 loss to Reading as LSV first opened its doors to the Reds. A 1-0 win against those perpetual first-season pests Durham got us back on track in Group Two North, but three points were still needed away to Everton if we were to progress to the quarter-finals.

Keen to see an improved performance from her charges following that league loss at Durham, Stoney made four changes to her starting line-up. Into the fold came Martha Harris, Leah Galton, Jess Sigsworth and Lauren James, with skipper

Galton was a menace down the left, and our no.11 would be rewarded with her first United goal

Alex Greenwood moved into a defensive-midfield role against her former club. As for the opposition, sitting ninth in the WSL, they had current Red Gabby George wearing the armband and future England hero Chloe Kelly on the wing.

FAST START IN SOUTHPORT

United certainly looked motivated from the off, racing into a two-goal lead through a pair of headers within 17 minutes – the first from James, via Harris’s high cross; the second from Galton, for the first of her 36 United goals, after James’s twisting hips had bamboozled Everton defender Dominique Bruinenberg on the right to create the chance. To Galton’s credit, she moved her body superbly to get her head behind the ball, giving Kirstie Levell no chance in the Everton goal.

“Every time it went into the midfield, we snapped, we won it and we went on the attack,” Stoney would later reflect of that first half, speaking to The Coaches’ Voice, while she was also keen to praise those in the more advanced wide positions. “Any time there was a switch

THE LINE-UPS

EVERTON

1 Levell

4 Brougham

6 George (c)

8 Kaagmam

9 Walker

10 Magill

11 Kelly

12 James

14 Hinds

20 Finnigan

22 Bruinenberg

Subs used

2 Bryson (Walker 52)

13 Stringer (James 85)

UNITED

1 Chamberlain

20 Smith

4 A Turner

21 M Turner

2 Harris

3 Greenwood (c)

10 Zelem

8 Green

11 Galton

16 James

9 Sigsworth

Subs used

18 Hanson (James 71)

7 Toone (Galton 90)

or it was played out [by Everton’s defence] it was the wide players’ job – Jess Sigsworth and Leah Galton, who were fast, aggressive, brilliant in the press – to get the pressure on.”

Such assertive play led to United winning numerous set-pieces, and with 37 minutes on the clock Galton’s tenacity on the ball saw her gain a free-kick just outside the box. Up stepped Katie Zelem to show her precision as she curved the dead ball beautifully beyond Levell. With Zel

Zelem congratulates scorer James, and Katie would soon find the net herself with a deft free-kick (as pictured on previous spread)

Hanson’s pace kept the hosts on their toes in the second half

OUR BEST PERFORMANCE OF THE SEASON. OUR INTENSITY, INTENT, PRESSING... IT WAS AN ALL-ROUND PERFORMANCE. FROM BACK TO FRONT AND FRONT TO BACK, I THOUGHT WE WERE IMMENSE

having already struck the woodwork from distance, and James then having a goal ruled out following an infringement in the area, it so easily could have been 5-0 come half-time, with the hosts not knowing what had hit them as they headed down the tunnel at the break.

CONTROLLED AND CALM IN SECOND HALF

With a healthy advantage, the second half saw a controlled display from the lower-division visitors, with our back four of Kirsty Smith and Harris, flanking ‘two Turners’ Amy and Millie, all displaying calm authority. And when the hosts finally found a way through, Siobhan Chamberlain was alert to deny Inessa Kaagman with a double save to preserve an 11th clean sheet in just her 14th Reds

outing. “Our best performance of the season,” was Stoney’s post-match assessment to MUTV. “Our intensity, our intent, our pressing, our play... it was an all-round performance. From back to front and front to back, I thought we were immense.”

And looking back on the cup tie years later, as she got out her tactics board with The Coaches’ Voice to specifically highlight that night as a memorable game in charge of the Reds, Stoney would recall: “It was a huge result. We were five months into our journey, as the team had started from scratch in July 2018, so to be so comfortable in that game, and to get that result to top the group, was a massive, massive result for us. It gave the dressing room the belief that they could go on to the next level.”

The win would take United through in top spot, with West Ham (a 2-0 win in the quarters) and Arsenal (a 1-2 loss in the semis) to follow

THE PERFECT WAY FOR GIRLS AGED 5-11 TO GET INVOLVED IN FOOTBALL

unitedwerisewithunity

EVERYONE IN A SQUAD PUSHING EACH OTHER –THAT’S HEALTHY COMPETITION ”

GEMMA EVANS ON THE VALUE OF BEING A TRUE TEAM PLAYER – AND BEING READY TO STEP UP...

PREPPING FROM THE BENCH

“There’s always focus on a team’s starting XI ahead of any match, but in the modern game the finishing XI is just as important. That’s why you sometimes hear the term ‘game-changers’ instead of ‘substitutes’. Look at Rachel Williams, what an example of game-changer – the very definition of it! She’s always so ready, so fresh, when she comes on, and that’s such an important mindset to have. Watching from the bench, you have to prep, knowing you could be on at any moment, as I was against Brighton recently when Jayde got injured in the first half. Seconds later I was on the pitch...”

MAINTAINING HEALTHY COMPETITION

“Of course, every player would prefer to be in the starting team than be a substitute, but you can’t look at that in a negative way. You just need to keep working hard every day, pushing the player in front of you in your position so you’re getting better, while they are needing to get better in order to keep their place – that’s healthy competition in a squad, with everyone pushing each other. We have that at United, where the girls have welcomed me with open arms – I have to remind myself I’ve only been here eight months as I feel I’ve been here much longer.”

Hard work on the training ground pays dividends for the whole matchday squad come the weekend

SIMILARITIES WITH NATIONAL TEAM

“The girls in this United squad are amazing –everyone in the squad feels equal, with us all having a strong regard for each other. There’s no bitterness over who is playing and who is in reserve. That’s not something you get in every team, and it reminds me of being with the Wales national side. I’ve obviously been part of that squad for a lot longer, and being Welsh I’m very passionate about representing my country, and we’re very close-knit there also. There are a few young Welsh players here at United, and they are coming up to the age where they train with the first team and maybe start to be on the bench themselves, for United and Wales. I think Welsh people are special – they always will be to me! –and I’ll do all I can to help them however I can.”

FULL FOCUS FROM THE SIDELINES

“When you’re on the bench watching, of course you have to look at who is playing in your position, because they are starting that game for a reason. What are they doing that is working, or perhaps isn’t working? And how

SUCH UNITY IN A GROUP CAN BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A GOOD TEAM AND A GREAT TEAM

could you counteract that if you came on, by changing something that might need changing? As much as we are on the bench, we have to be as switched on as if we were starting the game.”

FORGING UNITY OFF THE PITCH

“Away from matchday or training, squad bonding is vital as well to creating team spirit. The Malta trip in January helped forge that spirit – the sense that when you go on that pitch, you’ll have players all around you that would gladly go through a wall for you, and you’d do the same for them. Such unity in a group can be the difference between a good team and a great team.”

Just some of the Reds our no.15 would gladly “go through a wall for”

Training camps bring the group even closer, insists Gemma

Evans has also been in the starting XI in recent weeks

WHERE LIVES GREATNESS

as Foundation phase lead (U7s-U11s). Melissa will hope to continue the U21s’ fine form, with the side currently topping their league with just a few games to play. Recent results include 4-1 and 5-2 wins over Southampton and Birmingham respectively.

Under-16s reach final

The U16s, the most junior team in the Professional Game Academy (U16-U21s), have made it to the PGA Cup final and will face Arsenal on 27 April at Loughborough University. The players also recently benefited from the chance to train with Nikita Parris, who’s looking to complete her coaching licence. As well as providing Nikita with an important opportunity, this was a fantastic chance for our young players to train with a role model at the club in whose footsteps they hope to follow. The U16s faced North Lancashire Boys in mid-March, winning 2-0. Earlier in the month, they took on US Youth Soccer, learning plenty in a 3-1 loss. Such opportunities are fantastic to help our players develop and Academy staff were delighted to see the girls rise to the challenge. In early March, all teams in the Girls’ Academy

(U10-U14s) faced boys’ sides in the Timperley & District League. The U12s were delighted to defeat a strong Fletcher Moss team and continue their progress in the Spring Cup. The U11s tasted cup victory of their own at the Manchester City U12 Festival. They responded well to losing their first match, going unbeaten from that point onwards and defeating Birmingham in the final on penalties.

International call-ups

Five U16s have earned international call-ups with England and Wales, and a further four from the U21s squad. Tia and Niamh from the U14s, meanwhile, have also been with England’s youth set-up. The U14s have been in great form, recently becoming the only Academy team in the country to top a Junior Premier League Mixed League.

New U21s’ coach Melissa Brown

Our U11s at their victorious festival

The U16s are preparing for a final next month

WORDS: HARRY ROBINSON

CALLING FUTURE BALLERS

Football sessions for girls aged 12 to 14 who want to play their way.

TikTok tricks!

Fresh platform for the club’s Foundation showcases the brilliant skills of local girls

Female Street Reds participants from sites across Greater Manchester are among those starring at the forefront of Manchester United Foundation’s new TikTok account.

In celebration of its 17th anniversary – on 13 March – the Foundation launched on TikTok, with the aim of positively engaging with young people via a new online platform.

The Foundation is looking to engage a new audience of Reds fans and those who support the Foundation through TikTok. As a young people’s charity, the aim is to deliver fresh content that will excite, entertain and educate users, with both player and participant-led content;

allowing audiences to aspire and relate to what they see.

As well as featuring fun content from first-team players such as Ella Toone and Nikita Parris, young stars from the local area can be seen showing off their skills at a half-term event. Over 30 girls took part in the fun football tournament at Platt Lane Sports Complex (pictured above), and some

were challenged to show off their keepy-uppy skills and take on a target-practice drill using a football (below). Check it out on the Foundation’s TikTok!

It was a fantastic morning for all involved, as attested by two of the participants, Ruby and Esmee. Esmee said: “I enjoyed it because it was a really nice experience and I love meeting new people.” Ruby added: “I’ve had a great time at the Street Reds tournament because I’ve met loads of friends and I like playing in matches.”

Becky Topping, female community co-ordinator for the Foundation, added: “It was fantastic to bring girls from all our Street Reds sites together. The way the girls played in such a friendly spirit, with fantastic skills and ability on show, was superb to see. It’s so important we continue to inspire young girls to follow their passion for playing for football.”

Follow the Foundation on TikTok @manutdfoundation, or scan below to see the kids take target practice!

EVERTON

WORDS: JAMIE SPENCER

Today’s visitors spent nearly all last season in the top half of the WSL, eventually finishing a respectable sixth in Brian Sorensen’s first term in charge. But his second has been far tougher and the Toffees, now 10th, haven’t been higher than seventh this time around.

At the same time as an improved Liverpool and a resurgent Tottenham have raised the standard for clubs outside the WSL’s established ‘big four’, Sorensen has had to contend with many injuries and a tight budget. Nicoline Sorensen’s sudden December retirement and Nathalie Bjorn’s January switch to Chelsea further removed experience from both ends of the pitch after defensive trio Gabby George, Rikke Sevecke and Leonie Maier had all left last summer without being replaced. Nevertheless, the boss said ahead of last Sunday’s 0-0 draw with Liverpool that he feels his team is “in a good place” despite the challenges, saying: “Money aside, we have a good group and

are progressing well with the football we want to play. We’ve just been really unlucky with injuries.”

Justine Vanhaevermaet and Aurora Galli, both midfielders by trade, lined up in the back four against Liverpool. There are, however, signs that the problems are easing. Katrine Veje and Karen Holmgaard each made their first appearance of 2024 as substitutes in that game. Lucy Hope and Elise Stenevik both missed two months earlier in the season but have been back since January, though Holmgaard’s twin sister, Sara, has been sidelined again over the last few weeks.

Even so, Everton have the tightest defence in the bottom half, conceding 29 goals in 17 games. Scoring has been the issue – centre-back Megan Finnigan is the team’s joint-top scorer in the WSL, with three. Overall, their tally of 14 is the lowest in the league, with creativity lacking since vibrant loanees Aggie Beever-Jones and Jess Park returned to parent clubs Chelsea and Man City last summer.

Emma Bissell takes aim in last weekend’s Merseyside derby, but neither side could make the breakthrough at Goodison Park

KEY MIDFIELDER

AURORA GALLI

The WSL’s first Italian player was once a Juventus team-mate of Katie Zelem, winning four Serie A titles prior to joining Everton in 2021. On the score sheet three times in the WSL and with two assists, Galli has had a direct hand in more than a third of Everton’s league output this season. Getting her back into midfield after filling in at the back is vital.

YOUNG LOANEE

KATHRINE MOLLER KUHL

Kuhl arrived in January, joining on loan from Arsenal in search of more regular playing time after only six WSL minutes for the Gunners in the first half of the campaign. The 20-year-old midfielder has cited Sorensen as a big influence on her career from their previous time together at Nordsjaelland back home in Denmark and she has started Everton’s last six league games.

THE KNOWLEDGE

● Last weekend’s Merseyside derby at Goodison was played in front of 9,457 fans, Everton’s biggest home crowd this season.

● Australian midfielder Clare Wheeler also played under Sorensen at Fortuna

MOST RECENT LINE-UP

v LIVERPOOL (HOME, WSL) 24.03.24

BROSNAN

SNOEIJS

SUBS USED: VEJE, PIEMONTE, K HOLMGAARD

MANAGER

BRIAN SORENSEN

Today is Sorensen’s 52nd game in charge of the Toffees since his appointment ahead of 2022/23, the Dane reaching the half-century milestone in the narrow league defeat to Aston Villa two weeks ago. Of the 51 games the 43-year-old has overseen so far across the WSL, FA Cup and Conti Cup, Everton have won 16, drawn seven and lost 28.

Hjorring and was among his earliest signings.

● The Toffees were an original member of the newly launched Women’s Super League in 2011.

● When Everton were known as Leasowe Pacific, they won the Women’s FA Cup at Old Trafford in 1989.

KUHL

WHEELER

VANHAEVERMAET

BENNISON FINNIGAN

BISSELL

HOPE

PAYNE

GALLI

FROM BLUE TO RED

NIKITA PARRIS

(2011-15: 56 APPS, 21 GOALS)

WHO ARE YA?!

CAN YOU NAME THESE HIDDEN UNITED STARS?

THESE THREE UNITED PLAYERS ALL USED TO BE TOFFEES…

MILLIE TURNER (2014-17: 46 APPS, 3 GOALS)

GABBY GEORGE (2014-23: 152 APPS, 5 GOALS)

Here for every goal

Our record-breaking commitment to women’s and girls’ football is an investment in so much more. It’s an investment in creating a brighter future together.

WSL TOP SCORERS, 2023/24 SEASON

Left: Brighton’s Terland scored a late winner away to Leicester last weekend – she has now scored 12 of Brighton’s 24 WSL goals

Right: Naalsund’s brace against Bristol City moved her into our top 20 scorers list, below (five, joint-20th alongside Alex Greenwood)

●

● WSL TOP ASSISTS, 2023/24 SEASON

FOLLOW THE REDS:

Facebook: manutdwomen

X/Twitter: @manutdwomen

YouTube: /ManUtd

Match programme contact: MUWomenfamily@manutd.co.uk

Garcia 1

Garcia

Zelem

Garcia Miyazawa Malard Parris Riviere Toone Williams Galton Evans

Toone Malard Geyse Galton Miyazawa Garcia Williams – –

Garcia

THERE’S A TOFFEES THEME TO TODAY’S TRIVIA. HOW MANY CAN

YOU ANSWER CORRECTLY?

PLAYED FOR BOTH PAST CLASHES

Nikita Parris turned out for Everton, Manchester City, and which other English club before joining United?

Which former Red played alongside Parris, Millie Turner and Gabby George for Everton in the 2014 FA Cup final?

Toffees goalkeeper Emily Ramsey made her WSL debut on loan from United at which club, now in the Championship?

The Reds scored the same number of goals in each of the first four competitive meetings between today’s teams across all competitions – what was that number?

Which player, wearing no.16, scored United’s first WSL goal against Everton, in December 2019?

How many of the previous 15 meetings between today’s teams have ended in a United victory: 10, 11 or 12?

← Which current Red made her competitive debut in our most recent WSL meeting with Everton, back in October?

United have scored more WSL goals against Everton than against any other club.

October’s 5-0 away victory is the Reds’ biggest-ever league win over the Toffees.

Everton

Trafford.

Manchester United Home 23/24

EVERTON WOMEN MANCHESTER UNITED WOMEN

Head coach: Marc Skinner

Gabby George

Maya Le Tissier

Aoife Mannion

Hannah Blundell

Ella Toone

Irene Guerrero

Melvine Malard

Katie Zelem

Leah Galton

Hayley Ladd

Jayde Riviere

Gemma Evans

Lisa Naalsund

Lucia Garcia

Hinata Miyazawa

Millie Turner

Nikita Parris

Geyse

Evie Rabjohn

Mary Earps (GK)

Rachel Williams

Emma Watson

Alyssa Aherne

Olivia Francis

Lucy Newell

Phoebe Chadwick

Head coach: Brian Sorensen

Courtney Brosnan (GK)

Katrine Veje

Clare Wheeler

Justine Vanhaevermaet

Toni Duggan

Hanna Bennison

Emma Bissell

Emily Ramsey (GK)

Libby Hart (GK)

Eleanor Dale

Lucy Hope

Martina Piemonte

Heather Payne

Megan Finnigan

Kathrine Moller Kuhl

Aurora Galli

Sara Holmgaard

Katja Snoeijs

Rikke Madsen

Elise Stenevik

Karen Holmgaard

Annie Wilding

Isabella Hobson

Macy Settle

Karoline Olesen

Referee Lauren Impey Assistants Magdalena Golba, Matt Eva

Fourth official Stacey Pearson