Manchester United Women v Liverpool Women match programme, Women's Super League, 17.12.23

OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME

2023/24 SEASON • VOLUME 06 ISSUE 08

MANCHESTER

UNITED WOMEN V

LIVERPOOL WOMEN

Barclays Women’s Super League SUNDAY 17 DECEMBER 2023 ○ 12.15PM

#allredallequal

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13/12/2023 15:04

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02/10/2023 23:28

IT’S MATCHDAY!

W H AT ’ S I N S I D E

04 HEAD COACH’S COLUMN 09 COUNTDOWN TO KICK-OFF 13

REDS REPORT

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KATIE ZELEM COLUMN

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RACHEL WILLIAMS INTERVIEW

23

FAN PHOTOS

24

FAN INTERVIEW

28

BRING ON 2024!

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MY... HEAD SPACE

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39 MUW ACADEMY 41

MU FOUNDATION

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THE OPPOSITION

44 JUNIOR REDS 47

STATS SECTION

50 ADDED-TIME QUIZ

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39 MATCH PROGRAMME TEAM Editor Charlie Ghagan Editor-in-chief Ian McLeish Contributors Helen Rowe-Willcocks, Courtney Hill, Zarah Connolly, Jamie Spencer, Adam Bostock, Sean Mullan, Matthew Brown Photography Charlotte Tattersall, Ash Donelon, John Peters, Matt Peters, Getty, Alamy Design Tom Chase, Kulsum Karolia, Jake Paul, Andy Ball Thanks to Ellie Decrop, Steve Bennett, Benjamin Williams, Stuart Davis, Jonny Cooper/Opta Printed by MuPrint.com © Manchester United 2023

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UNITED WOMEN

MANCHESTER UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB Co-chairmen Joel Glazer, Avram Glazer Directors Bryan Glazer, Kevin Glazer, Edward Glazer, Darcie Glazer Kassewitz, Michael Edelson, Sir Alex Ferguson, David Gill CBE Secretary Rebecca Britain Honorary president Martin Edwards

13/12/2023 14:49

THE BOSS INSISTS WE WILL NEED TO BE AT OUR VERY BEST TODAY IF WE ARE TO END 2023 IN A VICTORIOUS MANNER...

MARC SKINNER W

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UNITED WOMEN

ell here we are, for the last game of 2023 for Manchester United Women.

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you fans for your support this year. We’ve been on quite a journey together, with ups and downs, but I want to thank each and every one of you for your growing support and your enthusiasm. We appreciate you all.

As fans you are growing with us. We are still a new version of Manchester United. We are building on the foundations of success and we want to be fighting at the very top. Once again at Tottenham last weekend you did us proud and we could hear you throughout the match.

It feels like we play at home even when we are away. I have seen a lot of games at Tottenham and have never seen any team pack out that away end like we did.

Tonight we need to finish the first part of the season on a high. I think Liverpool are one of the toughest teams in the league to face.

Beardy can mix styles and their players are showing that they have his temperament.

They play like a team who want to keep possession but they have also shown that they want to be aggressive. We know we are going to have to be

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at our very best to get a result today. We are going to have to defend well as a team – and that starts all the way from the front.

As we go into the winter break, I am pleased that we are able to give the players some proper time off.

It’s been a really busy time for games, especially for those who have featured internationally as well, and all the players deserve a break. Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, it’s important to be around family at this time of the year.

This first part of the season was always going to be a ‘get to know each other’ vibe. We brought in a number of new players, with four signing on deadline day. I have been so impressed by how quickly they have all come together but now we have the chance to really gel. In January we are heading to Malta and it’s another reset point.

Hopefully we will have some decent weather out there and we can get back into learning about each other. We went last year and we love the facilities and being around the fans in Malta. It’s a camp where we’ll have time to coach both as a team and with individuals. I’m really looking forward to it.

For now, enjoy the game and enjoy the holidays, however you chose to celebrate, and see you in 2024.

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HEAD COACH 05

UNITED WOMEN

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BIG PICTURE 06

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Ella Toone and Tottenham’s Celin Bizet Ildhusoy battle for the ball at Brisbane Road during our last WSL fixture, played seven nights ago. There were many standout performers in the 4-0 win – Spurs’ first home loss of the season – but it would be Toone who collected Sky Sports’ Player of the Match award, as our no.7 continued a productive spell which saw her rack up two goals and six assists in seven appearances up to and including the win in London. As for her lofted finish to put us 2-0 up on the night, it was more than reminiscent of her most famous strike, for England in the Euros final last year. “I like scoring chips, apparently!” she smiled at full-time. Keep it up, Tooney!

BIG PICTURE

SUNDAY NIGHT, LONDON LIGHTS...

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13/12/2023 15:03

THIS IS ME www.remington.co.uk/manutd

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21/03/2023 19:29 02/10/2023 22:34

M AT C H P R E V I E W

COUNTDOWN TO KICK-OFF

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STEP INTO CHRISTMAS ...with three important league points is the aim today, in a fixture that always excites, whatever the context or competition

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UNITED WOMEN

It’s a 33rd and final 2023 outing for Marc Skinner’s Reds this afternoon, and with Liverpool the opposition it’s a certainty that we’ll see four very busy stands making plenty of noise here at Leigh Sports Village, with ticket sales surpassing the 8,000 mark by Wednesday morning.

While our fixtures against Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea have held the most prominence in recent seasons in terms of our WSL aspirations, the long-standing club rivalry between the Reds of Manchester and Merseyside

– dating back to April 1894 – has ensured this fixture between two inter-city rivals in England’s North West will always be an important one, with few contests in world sport holding as much meaning as ‘Manchester United versus Liverpool’.

The Merseysiders’ relegation from the WSL in 2020 briefly took the fixture out of our schedules, but following a two-season spell in the second-tier Championship, they returned for the 2022/23 campaign and with it saw the return of a derby we all want to watch as fans, and a set of games the players so desperately want to be involved in.

While our previous three WSL meetings with Liverpool have gone massively in our favour – we’ve won them all, scoring nine goals without reply (meaning we’re the only team Liverpool have never beaten or even scored against in the WSL) – there’s no question that the Merseysiders

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M AT C H P R E V I E W 10

WH ATE VER 2 2 P L AY ERS ARE ON THE P I TC H C O M E KI CK- OF F, T H E Y W I L L KN OW E X ACT LY W H AT TH I S F I X T U R E M E A N S are a much improved side under the wily stewardship of Matt Beard, who is determined to take them back towards the heights of 2013 and 2014, when he led them to two WSL titles. Liverpool might have lost their way for a while, but they’re most definitely back, and that WSL history must be respected.

Speaking to liverpoolfc.com in midweek, Beard described the 6-0 loss here on their last visit in January as “bad memories... one of my most frustrating days in football, which we can’t have a repeat of”. Recent form will give him and his charges belief of taking something from LSV – their only defeat in their last six WSL games came away to Chelsea – and if they do win today it’ll mean United have lost consecutive home WSL games for the first time in our history. But let’s not forget that our loss to City at Old Trafford last month was a first WSL defeat in 16 – home or away – with 12 wins and three draws preceding it.

Today’s match is likely to be too soon for short-term injured trio Irene Guerrero, Hinata Miyazawa and Evie Rabjohn, while the visitors had concerns about the fitness of ex-United youth-teamer Natasha Flint earlier this week following a training-ground injury. But whatever 22 players are on the pitch come kick-off, you can be sure they’ll know exactly what this fixture means. Come on United!

January’s WSL win here was a record-breaking one

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ACROSS T What else is happening this weekend in the top flight? Let’s take a look...

In-form Arsenal had a north London derby to contest yesterday

The fight to be top of the WSL heading into the winter break is on. Arsenal moved level on points with Chelsea at the summit following last weekend’s 4-1 statement win over the Blues in front of a new record crowd for the division at Emirates Stadium. At that stage, only Chelsea’s superior goal difference – which the Gunners had severely dented while boosting their own – was keeping the reigning champions marginally ahead.

Arsenal have already been in action this weekend, playing at another big venue as they took on Spurs at their local rivals’ Tottenham Hotspur Stadium yesterday. After the disappointment of an early Champions League exit and a slow start to the domestic season, things have really clicked into gear for Jonas Eidevall’s side and they went into the derby on the back of seven straight league wins – nine in all competitions – scoring 16 goals in their last four games alone. Tottenham’s form was less impressive on the derby approach, with Robert Vilahamn’s side coming into the game looking to bounce back from painful defeats to Manchester

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City (0-7) and United (0-4), having only lost once all season in all competitions prior to that. Will captain Bethany England’s return to fitness help Spurs get back on track?

As for Chelsea, they have the chance to respond this afternoon as they visit Bristol City.

The last league meeting between the clubs was a hardly-romantic 5-0 drubbing dished out by the Blues on Valentine’s Day 2021. The Robins didn’t last much longer in the top flight after that but are back this season and moved out of the drop zone last weekend after drawing with Liverpool.

Simply put: Chelsea will be top for Christmas if they match Arsenal’s result and hold on to their goal difference advantage, which was three better than the Gunners ahead of this weekend.

But being the WSL leaders at Christmas isn’t necessarily an indicator of who’ll go on to lift the trophy. Indeed, in only two of the last five seasons has it equated to becoming champions – Chelsea in 2022/23 and Arsenal in 2018/19. In between

IN ON LY T WO OF T H E L AST F I VE SE A S ON S HAS TH E TE A M TOP AT CHRI STMAS GON E ON TO BECOME C H A M P I ON S

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UNITED WOMEN

Villa are on home soil for the final fixture of the year later today

WSL PREVIEW

S THE WSL

times, Arsenal have been at top at Christmas and not finished there (twice), as have United in 2020/21. So whatever the table looks like heading into 2024, there will still be so much to play for once the WSL action resumes.

That will certainly be the thinking for Manchester City, just three points behind the top two coming into this weekend. Gareth Taylor’s Blues have built some real momentum since a shock defeat to Brighton in early November, showing different kinds of qualities in coming from behind against Aston Villa a week ago – as they did against United at Old Trafford – but thrashing Tottenham. City will kick off against Everton at Walton Hall Park at 1pm. The Toffees are in solid form of their own, unbeaten in three and winning their last two to surge from 10th to seventh, away from potential danger and into the mid-table battle.

With both Tottenham and Everton up against it in difficult games this weekend, Leicester might fancy their chances of taking advantage and ending 2023 in the top half when they face a struggling West Ham at home at 3pm today. The Foxes are massively improved on last season when they lost nine in a row to start the WSL campaign and, despite being winless in the league since gameweek two, know they have the quality to break that slump after taking the lead in recent draws against Brighton and Tottenham.

Meanwhile, the Hammers have lost six of their last seven games. Another defeat today would leave them bottom of the pile for Christmas.

The final WSL game of 2023 is tonight’s 6.45pm kick-off between Aston Villa and Brighton. The hosts have struggled to build on last season’s fifth place finish, losing five in a row in an incredibly tough fixture list to start the season. Carla Ward’s side threatened a result against City just last weekend after going ahead, only to lose 2-1, and Villa will be keen not to go into the winter break having suffered a third straight loss.

Brighton’s most recent outing, coming from 2-0 down late on to snatch a draw against Leicester, will have done some good to restore confidence after a couple of recent one-sided defeats. And that will round things off in the top flight for 2023, with just under a five-week pause until the WSL action resumes on Saturday 20 January.

13/12/2023 15:23

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02/10/2023 22:35

Newcastle are top of the National League Northern Premier Division table

MAGPIES UP IN CUP Tuesday saw the Reds in the hat for the Women’s FA Cup draw, with Newcastle United our fourth-round opponents here on home soil. It will be the first time the sides have met, with the Magpies only recently turning professional, as they look to work their way up from the third tier. The tie is scheduled to take place on Sunday 14 January at Leigh Sports Village (full details to be confirmed at time of print).

FIVE DAYS AGO

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EARPS UP FOR SPOTY United goalkeeper Mary Earps has been named on the six-person shortlist for BBC Sports Personality of the Year. Cricketer Stuart Broad, jockey Frankie Dettori, wheelchair tennis player Alfie Hewett, athlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson and golfer Rory McIlroy are the other nominees, with the public vote to take place during the show, to be broadcast live from Salford on BBC One on 19 December. Good luck, Mary – you’ve got our vote!

FIVE DAYS AGO

CHELSEA CONFIRMED Our first trip to Stamford Bridge to begin our 2024 WSL schedule has been confirmed as a 12.30pm kick-off on Sunday 21 January. If you’re unable to make the game – scan the code below and click on the ticket tab for news on availability – fans in the UK will be able to watch the match live on BBC.

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NINE DAYS AGO

l at e s t → ticket news

UNITED WOMEN

The other ties are as follows: – Derby County v Leicester City – Sunderland v Southampton – Burnley v Birmingham City – London City Lionesses v Moneyfields – Tottenham v Sheffield United – Chelsea v West Ham – Crystal Palace v Blackburn Rovers – Reading v Hull City or Wolves – Arsenal v Watford – Luton Town or Keynsham Town v Brighton & Hove Albion – Plymouth Argyle v Nottingham Forest – Ipswich Town or Lewes v Charlton Athletic – Bristol City v Liverpool – Durham v Manchester City – Aston Villa v Everton

It’s a lunchtime kick-off when we visit Stamford Bridge

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REDS REPORT

M AT C H A C T I O N & N E W S

TIMELINE OF ALL THE RECENT NEWS

A big night in Salford awaits for Mary

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02/10/2023 22:46

C A P TA I N ' S C O L U M N

ZEL’S NOTES

CAPTAIN KATIE REFLECTS ON AN EVENTFUL 12 MONTHS, WITH THE FANS ALONGSIDE THE TEAM EVERY STEP OF THE WAY...

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15 Paris didn’t quite go to plan, but our first foray into Europe is still something for us all to be proud of in 2023, says Zel

As a squad we are looking forward now to heading back to Malta in January for some warmer weather! It’s a chance for us as a team to bond. We missed out on that in pre-season. It’s been a learning process throughout the season which has been difficult with so many games but we will really take the chance while we are in Malta to get to know each other even more and build on things for the second half of the season.

Have a great Christmas and new year, and after today we hope to see you back here for an exciting FA Cup tie against Newcastle in January.

UNITED WOMEN

oday is the final game before the break and we all want to end the year on a high with a win – it’s great to go into the Christmas period with three points.

But Liverpool have been good so far this season and will be a threat. They have surprised a few teams. For us it was a tough game against them in the Conti Cup and we know they are going to bring even more in the WSL today.

Playing against Liverpool is always important.

Everyone knows that Manchester City is a big one for us but Liverpool has always had that ‘fight’ in the men’s and the women’s games. You’ll see it today – it’ll be a feisty game, with tackles going in, and it’s a game of real pride. We have to make sure we come out on top in that battle.

I’d like to thank you fans for your support over the past year. Our Champions League debut in October didn’t go as expected but to have our fans in Paris, and us making memories and history with you all, is something we’ve reflected on. It’s an achievement for you all too, especially you fans who have followed us for so long.

We appreciate the positivity – the positive messages surrounding every single member of the team, no matter their role.

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RACHEL WILLIAMS 16

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RACHEL WILLIAMS

AS DANGEROUS AS EVER ON THE PITCH, AND A FINE ROLE MODEL OFF IT, RACHEL WILLIAMS TALKS TO US ABOUT FUTURE PLANS – STARTING WITH THE CHRISTMAS BREAK – AND WHY SHE’S STILL A MIDFIELDER AT HEART!

I’m enjoying my time here, and I still feel young at heart

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I N T E RV I E W : Z A R A H C O N N O L LY

You must have enjoyed our most recent home game against Liverpool in January, when you scored our sixth and final goal minutes after coming on to the pitch in front of 7,662 fans.

What are your abiding memories of that day?

It’s a while back now, but like always, I’m just sitting there waiting to come on. I got the nod from Marc and I got a nice little header! I’ve had a few headers now so it was a nice moment.

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United v Liverpool is obviously a historic derby.

How much of a sense do you get of that local rivalry when you take to the field for this fixture? And would it be fair to say that United v City feels like the bigger local showdown in the women’s game right now? That could soon change, such as been Liverpool’s progress...

Since being here, I feel that United v City is the bigger derby. I don’t know whether it’s because it’s built up, like the ‘fight of the city’, but the Manchester derby definitely feels bigger. I do

M U WI NF TC E_ R2 V3 I/ E2 W4

And more recently, you started against them in our Conti Cup win just a few weeks ago.

Another win, but a much tighter contest. Did you think we were worthy winners that night?

Liverpool did make it tough for us. It was a nice little practice game for both teams for when we play them in the league. We’ve had a look at them, they’ve had a look at us. It was an odd game, the conditions didn’t help, but with the fight the girls have, we got the win which we were happy with.

Liverpool have had some good results so far this season – what have you made of them?

It was a big shock when they got relegated so for them to bounce back with Matt Beard as manager, he’s been around the league a long time and it’s Beard... he just gets you fighting for him! He understands the game well and I think for Liverpool, they’re back where they deserve to be.

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RACHEL WILLIAMS 18

love playing against Liverpool, but like any game we need three points. We’ve dropped a few points so far this season and we’re not happy with that, so we just want to keep on the toes of those at the top and see what happens.

We love how you’re so laid back about putting the ball in the net – a couple of high-fives then back to the centre circle (with a few exceptions of course!) Have you always been so cool in that way – and be honest, have you ever practised your own trademark celebration?

No! [Laughs]. I don’t know if people know this but I don’t actually like being a forward. I got put there by chance really, back when I was at Birmingham, but my role, I’ve always been an 8 or a 10. I don’t think I’ve ever had a celebration, or I’m not too bothered about it. For me, whether you score a goal, make a goal, your team wins... you work hard for the team; that’s what is most important. Half the time when I come on the game is already won so it’s just a little ‘woo hoo!’ but I think that’s why I’ve never really been bothered about celebrating, because at heart I’m actually a midfielder.

Although you’re still going strong at 35, considering your immense experience in the game, have you thought ahead to what’s next?

Inevitably you’ll be linked to a coaching role...

What are you dropping my age for? I’m 21, I’m 21!

[Laughs]. I am getting on a bit now but I still feel young at heart. The older I’ve got, I’ve started to help the younger ones, and I know I’m going to really miss it when I can’t play anymore. Now is the time I’m going to start looking at what’s next, and whether that is a coach or... I don’t know!

I had a little joke with [kit man] John the other day

UNITED WOMEN

TH E OLD E R I ’ V E G OT, I ’ V E START ED TO H E L P TH E YOUN G ER O N E S, AN D I KNOW I ’M G OI N G TO RE AL LY M I S S I T W H E N I CAN ’ T P L AY AN Y M OR E

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With almost two decades’ worth of senior experience to her name, Rachel is a player the youngest Reds can learn a great deal from

about being a kit woman, and he said, “oh, you’d be great for it!” as I like things organised. A lot has been said about me going back into plastering too, and I really like that so we’ll see what happens.

This is our final game of 2023, with close to a month before we return in the FA Cup. Would you sacrifice that long break for more games, even if it meant playing in Christmas week?

No. I think with it being as busy as it is with international breaks and summer tournaments, the Christmas break benefits a lot of players. So I think it’s really important to keep that. And you know what? Two weeks isn’t actually that long, and we’ll get sent programmes to keep fit, so it’s not really a break, like the off-season.

What are your plans for Christmas?

From start to finish? How long have you got?! With football being so hectic, I don’t get home quite as much as I’d like to. The week we finish, starting

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RACHEL WILLIAMS A tidy header to score against Liverpool on the last time the Merseysiders visited LSV

FULL NAME Rachel Louise Williams DATE OF BIRTH 10 January 1988 PLACE OF BIRTH Leicester

International career England: 13 caps, 4 goals Great Britain (2012 Olympics)

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And going back to the FA Cup, how much are you looking forward to that starting in a few weeks’ time, especially having won it with Birmingham in 2012, and us reaching the final last season. It’s almost impossible to compare the two tournaments across that 11-year gap, isn’t it, such has been its growth…

I love the FA Cup. I always have. The final last season didn’t quite go to plan, but we will do everything we can to get to that final again and, hopefully, fingers crossed, we do win and bring the trophy home. I need a nice shiny gold medal!

At the time of print you have two starts and 10 sub appearances for us this season. How does your mindset differ between the two – we can imagine trying to conserve energy is more in your thinking if you’re starting a game…

I don’t think people understand how odd it is to sit there knowing that at any point you’re going to get thrown on, and you have to change the game because that’s the reason you’re getting put on.

You’re not getting put on to enjoy it, sit back and relax – even when we’ve been winning, we want more goals because like last year, it can come down to goal difference. I don’t sit still; I’ll get up, keep warming up, go to the toilet, waiting,

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M U WI NF TC E_ R2 V3 I/ E2 W4

SENIOR CAREER 2004-08 Leicester City 2008-10 Doncaster Rovers Belles 44 games, 15 goals 2010 Leicester City 3 games, 0 goals 2011-13 Birmingham City, 49 games, 28 goals 2014 Chelsea 12 games, 6 goals 2015-17 Notts County 43 games, 15 goals 2017-20 Birmingham City 41 games, 9 goals 2020-22 Tottenham Hotspur 38 games, 6 goals 2022- Manchester United 37 games, 11 goals

with the Monday I will have something every day – doing something with family, friends, getting around everyone, and then Christmas Day will literally just be with family and that is probably the only day where I sit on the sofa and don’t move, and let everybody wait on me!

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RACHEL WILLIAMS

M E L A ND G E YS E . . .

T HE Y A R E NOT O NLY G O O D P L AYE RS, B U T G O O D P EO P LE , A ND T HAT ’ S T HE K IND O F E NVIRO NM E NT W E WA NT “Try stopping this one, Phallon!”

20 Our recent win at Bristol City was Rachel’s 36th appearance for the Reds

waiting... the fact is I just love to play and I’m ready to come on at any point, whether it’s 10 minutes or I’m getting 90. I’d love to have more minutes, any player would, but if that’s my job and I have to wait my turn, that’s what I’ll do.

But I’ve had some real nice moments here where I’ve had to come on and really fight, dig it out with the girls – and then when we’ve got those winning goals, the feeling is brilliant.

UNITED WOMEN

Our ‘forwards union’ has increased this season, of course, with Geyse and Melvine arriving.

How have you found their influence?

Yeah, Mel’s absolutely crazy! It’s a bit harder with Geyse given the language barrier, but I mean, we all know how to play football and she shows it in the way she plays. She’s aggressive with it. She’s been an absolute force for us. And Mel, what a

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character off the pitch as well. And when we’ve put her on in big games as well, she’s delivered.

They are not only good players, but good people, and that’s the kind of environment we want.

And at the other end, you played in the Conti Cup game v Liverpool when Phallon saved us at the end. How impressed have you been with her incredible stretching hands in training?

Today I think I scored two past her out of about 42 shots! She makes a save and it’s almost like she is Stretch Armstrong. She’s just so long! Phallon’s been absolutely brilliant for us. She never stops working. Even when she’s been out there in the cold and there’s about seven forwards wanting to do more shots, she’s well up for it. She came and settled straight in. And she’s a bit of a surprise, she’s a marine biologist! And she speaks French.

And her drawings... you guys need to see her drawings. The girl is like Van Gogh! She’s Veronica Gogh! You need to see her drawings. I’ve asked her to draw me a picture in sea-life form of me and my siblings, and she’s going to do it!

You’ve actually only been at United 17 months – it feels a lot longer. Generally speaking, how pleased are you that you made the decision to join the club, and where would that 17 months stand in terms of high points in your career?

The FA Cup final and us competing right until the very end, the final day for the league... to sit here and it only be 17 months, it feels so much longer. I feel such a part of the team. People say we’re like a little family and we are, and that is probably why it feels like I’ve been here 10 years. I’m getting cobwebs! I’m really enjoying my time here. ●

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28/09/2023 16:23 02/10/2023 22:47

Happy 12th birthday, Bella. We hope you enjoy the game today!

FAN PHOTOS

FAN GALLERY

SEND YOUR PHOTOS AND MESSAGES TO MUWOMENFAMILY@MANUTD.CO.UK

Faye Ainley and her crew are pictured with Jess Simpson – ‘who always has time for us, she’s our favourite player’, says Faye.

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Ffion (nine) and Ava (12) are here from South Wales as part of Ffion’s birthday celebrations.

Eleri is a season ticket holder (along with Mam, Dad and Dewi) and it’s her 10th birthday!

Happy 11th birthday to Scarlett, who loves being here at LSV with her bestie, Courtney.

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‘Have a happy 14th birthday, Ellie! Love Dad, Lisa and Ava.’

UNITED WOMEN

Penny is turning nine, and she’s bringing six friends along to the game (and they’ll all be wearing MUFC shirts!)

Olivia is a big Red who’s been a season ticket holder since 2021.

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FAN INTERVIE W

UNITED ARE THE TEAM FOR ME!

INCREDIBLY, IT’S ONLY BEEN 15 MONTHS SINCE HER FIRST REDS GAME, BUT ROSIE BITHELL (LEFT) SAYS FOLLOWING UNITED HAS “COMPLETELY CHANGED MY LIFE” – HERE SHE TELLS US WHY...

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The funny thing is, I’ve never been too interested in men’s football, and I didn’t really follow women’s football too closely either – but then literally from nowhere, United Women came into my life! I only went to my first game at the start of last season, at home to Reading in the WSL, and I haven’t looked back.

I was instantly hooked and the only game I’ve missed since then was Lewes away in the FA Cup. I’m based in Stoke, and I travel to all the home games with my mum. I’m only 17 so last season I couldn’t even drive. Mum was my chauffeur for the whole season, but now I can drive myself she still wants to tag along, which is nice. That must mean she’s really enjoying it too!

UNITED WOMEN

Rosie (middle) and her mum (left) down at Wembley in May

24_25 Utd are the team for me CGIM.indd 1

I work as a dental nurse, so things can get hectic in terms of getting along to some games – especially the away fixtures. Having a bit of flexibility with my hours helps, although it can still be hard getting home at silly-o’clock in the morning and then working the same day. But if it’s doing something you love, you do it anyway.

I’m hooked, it’s absolutely gripped me. I enjoy it enough simply for the game itself, but along the way I’ve met so many people that I otherwise never would have met. We’re all so different but we have this one thing that draws us all together – Manchester United Women – and I genuinely feel we are now friends for life.

For away games I’ll get the supporters’ club bus. The people on that bus make the journey, and it’s always so much fun. I remember Arsenal away last season – it was a long day, but we were all in it together, singing most of the way there and all the way home after a brilliant win.

If you’re alongside like-minded people, you become friends very quickly when you’re on a long bus journey together. There’s no escape!

I enjoy the singing on the bus, especially the karaoke. I’m not sure if everyone is into my signing, but I am! We get through so many songs, and it’s great when everyone joins in.

13/12/2023 14:59

The Old Trafford games are a great experience, of course, but I have to say I prefer the games at Leigh Sports Village, 100 per cent. The atmosphere is unbeatable at LSV, and it’s been even better so far this season.

Another game I’ll never forget from this season is the trip to Paris in the Champions League. The result wasn’t what we wanted against PSG but it was so good to be a part of it, and be out in Paris with Mum and all the other United fans. We were there three days and we all met up and saw some incredible sights in the city, as well as attending the match itself.

Taking selfies with the players isn’t really for me, to be honest, although I do love the interactions. Just the little conversations we have with them, it reminds me they are just normal people at the end of the day. And the families of the players too – it’s lovely to speak to them... some are such characters!

Fun in the sun with her fellow Reds at Old Trafford

A group of us gave Mary Earps some flowers and champagne to congratulate her on all she’s achieved, and that was lovely when she came over to us to receive it. And we’ve signed some cards as well, such as the one for Emma Watson when she got injured at the start of this season. The players seem to really appreciate it.

25

UNITED WOMEN

It’s no overstatement to say that United Women has completely changed my life.

When I left school I wasn’t a massive fan of football, but now I’d say there’s nothing like it. I can’t exactly explain it but it’s just amazing, and I couldn’t imagine a weekend without it Earps is just one pla yer now. I only Rosie loves a chat with have one regret: I’m a bit gutted I didn’t get into it a few years earlier!

Want to share your love for the Reds?

Email us at muwomenfamily@manutd.co.uk

24_25 Utd are the team for me CGIM.indd 2

FAN INTERVIE W

)

IT CAN BE H A R D G E T T I N G HOME AT SI L LY-O’C LO C K AND TH EN WO R KI N G T H E S AME DAY. B U T I F I T ’ S D O I N G SOME T H I N G YOU LOVE, YOU D O I T A N Y WAY

Singing loud and proud in Paris this season

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JAYDE RIVIERE 26_27 poster Jayde.CGIM.indd 1

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2023/24 POSTER 26_27 poster Jayde.CGIM.indd 2

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N O G BRIN

2024!

TODAY SIGNALS OUR FINAL FIXTURE UNTIL MID-JANUARY, SO LET’S LOOK AHEAD TO WHAT COULD BE IN STORE NEXT YEAR...

WORDS: JAMIE SPENCER

UNITED WOMEN 28-34 MUWFC_p28-34_Liverpool_Lookahead_feature.CGIM.indd 18

13/12/2023 14:58

2024 PREVIEW

START OF WOMEN’S FA CUP The 2023/24 edition of the Women’s FA Cup (complete with new sponsor Adobe), will begin for United on the second weekend of January, with a home tie against National League North side Newcastle United first up.

All top-flight teams enter the competition at this fourth-round stage, by which point the 456 clubs who originally entered will have been whittled down to 32. We made club history last season, reaching the final for the first time and making a maiden trip to Wembley, where a world-record attendance was set for a domestic women’s club fixture. The result didn’t go our way against Chelsea, but boy did it give us a taste for such occasions, and the appetite to experience that again – and go one better by bringing the trophy home – is already insatiable. Prize money is the

The May final will return to Wembley for a 10th consecutive season

big change this season, with the FA doubling the overall pot from £3m to £6m. And just this week it was confirmed that the final will take place on Sunday 12 May, with a 2.30pm kick-off. Maybe put that in your calendar now – y’know, just in case...

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PLAYERS BACK FROM INJURY We’ll all be hoping to see a few players return from injury, and playing their part in what is hopefully an exciting run-in across three competitions.

While Irene Guerrero, Hinata Miyazawa and Evie Rabjohn have had shorter-term injuries to overcome, a trio of Reds have needed to show far more patience. Aoife Mannion has been so

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UNITED WOMEN

As much as Aoife enjoys a cup of Bovril while watching from the stands, we’re certain she’d rather be on that pitch!

unlucky since battling back from a second career ACL tear last season and putting in a Player of the Match performance on her first WSL start in over a year when we beat Arsenal in April. Sadly, our much-loved centre-back was forced to miss the World Cup with Republic of Ireland with a different knee issue and is yet to play so far in 2023/24.

Summer arrivals Gabby George and Emma Watson are two others on the ACL journey that Mannion knows only too well. George started the season strongly, before injury struck in just her fourth game, at home to Leicester, while teenager Watson awaits her senior bow. There is no rush on their rehab and both have all the medical treatment and mental support they need, but seeing them in action would put a smile on everyone’s face.

13/12/2023 14:58

Sparking teamwork in your community

Sp in y

Search Barclays Community Football Fund to find out more

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Since 2022, Barclays has helped over 2,500 groups make football more accessible through the Barclays Community Football Fund.

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28-34 MUWFC_p28-34_Liverpool_Lookahead_feature.CGIM.indd 20

BIG-STADIUM FIXTURES! Already this season, we’ve welcomed 44,259 fans to Old Trafford – a team record for a home game – when Manchester City came to town last month.

The Reds are due back in M16 in the spring, but it won’t be the only big-stadium fixture to come over the next few months. Our first WSL game of 2024 brings a maiden trip to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea on Sunday 21 January. Moving into the following month, we’re back in London on 17/18 February, where Arsenal will await at Emirates Stadium. Last season, that was the scene of one of our greatest moments as a pair of late goals secured a historic 3-2 comeback win, with the incredible travelling support making for a pulsating atmosphere. We’re then at City’s Etihad home in March, while King Power Stadium – now Leicester Women’s regular home – is the destination for the Reds in late April. With games at Villa Park, Parc des Princes and Ashton Gate already in the 2023/24 record books, the fixtures ahead that are already locked in will take it to nine at big stadiums as a minimum for the campaign... and still the possibility to get into double figures before the season’s out, of course.

31

UNITED WOMEN

In the FA Women’s Continental Tyres League Cup (to give the competition its rather prolonged official title), there’s no question we’re in the toughest group – five WSL teams fighting for one automatic place in the quarters, while every other group contains at least two Championship sides. Not that we’re bitter, though – after all, if you want to win a cup you’ve got to knock out the better teams at some point, right? At the time of print, we don’t know how Thursday’s meeting with Leicester went, but a victory there would have given us a strong chance of progression to the knockout rounds for the first time since a run to the semis in 2021/22.

Whatever happened against the Foxes, the meeting with Manchester City at Joie Stadium on 24 January has the potential to be decisive in Another trophy terms of that top we’d love to get spot, but failing to our hands on... get it doesn’t mean it’s all over – there are two more quarter-final places for the best runners-up (determined by points-per-game), meaning there is much to play for until the end of the group stage. The quarter-finals are scheduled for 7/8 February, with the semi-finals on 6/7 March – both ties are single-legged games – and the final on the last weekend of March.

The venue for that is still to be confirmed but last season’s final between Arsenal and Chelsea was at Selhurst Park, with Plough Lane, Vicarage Road and the City Ground other recent venues for the Conti Cup’s showpiece.

Wherever it’s played in 2024, if we can get there, the Red Army will surely pack it out.

We’re off to London SW6 next month. Why don’t you join us?

2024 PREVIEW

CONTI CUP KNOCKOUTS

13/12/2023 14:58

32

Lucia certainly entertained us on the last Women’s Football Weekend

CHELSEA AT HOME ON FINAL DAY UNITED WOMEN

When the 2023/24 fixtures came out last summer, one immediately caught our eye: Chelsea at home on the final day.

If last season is anything to go by, when the title race wasn’t over until the final round of fixtures, we’ll hopefully have a lot left to play for, on a nail-biting day when all 12 WSL teams play concurrently.

May’s fixture has the added intrigue of also potentially being Emma Hayes’s final game as Chelsea boss before she becomes the United States’ head coach (the only way it won’t be her farewell

is if her side have a Champions League final the following week). Hayes was handed the reins at Chelsea in 2012 when women’s football in England was in a very different place, and she’s been a huge part of that change, but whatever’s at stake on 18 May we won’t be looking to hand Hayes a three-point send-off.

After all, we’ve yet to beat her Chelsea side in 10 attempts ahead of January’s trip to Stamford Bridge – could we get a win here in a game that could potentially mean so much to us? We shall see...

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13/12/2023 14:58

An annual event since 2019, Women’s Football Weekend will return on 23/24 March next year, to both celebrate the women’s game and encourage fans to attend matches across the women’s league pyramid during the men’s international break. ‘There’s never been a better time to visit your local team’ was the original message behind it four years ago, as the FA took inspiration from the record-breaking crowds on the opening weekend of 2019/20, which followed a summer that saw the Lionesses capture the hearts of a nation at the World Cup. The numbers have only got bigger since then, and the 2024 edition is likely to raise the bar further, helped as ever by a few eye-catching fixtures – not least a Manchester derby at the Etihad. Our fans filled two tiers of a dedicated away section there last season, and it’s a given we’ll take vast numbers again. While the venues have yet to be confirmed, also taking place on the same weekend will be Everton v Liverpool, Aston Villa v Arsenal, Bristol City v Tottenham, Leicester v Brighton and West Ham v Chelsea – but there’s only one place we’ll want to be...

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The U16s are just one of our youth teams making great strides this season

ACADEMY PATHWAY Many of our teenage talents will be hoping to make an impact at senior level in 2024 (as you can read about later in this feature), with a number of them previously part of our Academy set-up. And it’s so inspiring for every player involved in our youth system to see that clear pathway – whether it leads to United’s senior squad, or another club competing at the highest levels of the women’s game. This season has seen the FA revise the structure to identify young talent, while also making the game more diverse, accessible and inclusive, through the awarding of Professional Game Academy Licenses (PGAs) to clubs in the WSL and Championship, and United have excelled in this area. Yes, victories on the pitch are exciting to see – and our youngest sides have some big fixtures in the PGA Cup and JPL (Junior Premier League) on the horizon – but success isn’t judged purely on trophies, with positive player development always at the forefront of the Academy’s philosophy. This runs all the way down to the Girls’ Academy (previously the Regional Talent Club or RTC), which covers the Under-10 to Under-14 age groups and is run by Manchester United Foundation. But from U10s all the way up to U21s, having that connection with the seniors – especially those such as Katie Zelem, Millie Turner and Ella Toone who have been in their very position – acts as a massive motivation.

33

U MN UI TWEFDC _W2O3M/ E2 N4

It’s fair to say we’re probably due a win against Chelsea...

2024 PREVIEW

WOMEN’S FOOTBALL WEEKEND 2024

13/12/2023 14:58

2024 PREVIEW

Jayde is already an Olympic champion with Canada

OLYMPICS IN FRANCE

34

A number of Reds will want to follow in the footsteps of Jayde Riviere when the Olympic tournament starts in France in July. With no age or professional status restrictions on players, the Olympics is a major international competition on the women’s calendar. Geyse’s Brazil have already secured their place and the Selecao will be aiming for a first global triumph after decades of continental domination. Hinata Miyazawa could also be there for Japan, if they can get past North Korea in a qualifier. With only 12 nations competing, qualification is fierce and just two European teams will make it alongside hosts France – that’s two from Netherlands, Germany and Spain... but sadly there’ll be no Team GB. We’ll just have to support whoever is there, which could also include Lucia, Irene, Melvine... or who, knows, maybe even Phallon in goal for the US? We’ll certainly be watching.

NEWCO BRINGS IN EXCITING NEW ERA A few major catalysts have sparked the women’s game in recent years: the move into professional status in 2018; the arrival of Barclays sponsorship money in 2019; and the WSL’s landmark TV deal in 2021 – all helped by the spike in interest off the back of the Lionesses’ success. That momentum continued apace after the 2023 World Cup and in recent weeks the clubs of the WSL and Championship have unanimously agreed to the formation of a new company to oversee the next steps for the English game, as the FA looks to pass on the baton, in a similar manner to the 1992 formation of the Premier League in the men’s game. NewCo is the name given to the independent organisation that will lead the new era of professional women’s football in England, with all 24 WSL and Championship clubs becoming shareholders in the NewCo structure.

It can only help strengthen the future of our women’s game.

TEENAGE TALENTS UNITED WOMEN

Young talents have always been central to the United philosophy and the next generation will continue to develop in front of our eyes as 2023 turns into 2024.

Injury has denied Emma Watson the opportunity to shine so far, but the Scottish midfielder – who turns 18 in January – has a very bright future.

young Reds, and many fans also, and she’s been a more common sight on the first-team bench this season. Lucy Newell is another name to look out for in 2024: the Then there’s 18-year-old defender defender has been dual-registered Evie Rabjohn (below), who we with West Brom but was on the also have high hopes for, with bench in the Conti Cup. And then her senior debut coming as a sub there is Jess Simpson, who signed against Everton in the Conti Cup. a first professional contract last One player determined to make a season and will be ready to kick difference off the pitch as much on once she recovers from injury. as on it in 2024 is keeper Safia And no doubt others will be Middleton-Patel. The popular knocking on the door as we step 19-year-old is a great into a year full of promise for role model for all our everyone of a Red persuasion.

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13/12/2023 14:58

FOLLOW THe FOUNDATION Helping young people make positive choices in their lives

@manchesterunitedfoundation

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@MU_Foundation

12/12/2023 09:17

WHERE

GREATNESS LIVES

WOMENSLEAGUES.THEFA.COM

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02/10/2023 22:52

G E M M A E VA N S

MY… HEAD SPACE

My Staffy Rio is my little boy – I love him!

FROM WALKING DOGS TO TRICKY JIGSAWS, RHONDDA-BORN RED GEMMA EVANS TELLS US HOW SHE TRIES TO CATCH A BREAK To clear my head, I love going for walks. It’s just a relaxing thing to do. Back home in Wales, I used to walk among the mountains. Since moving up here, I’ve been dog-walking with Maya [Le Tissier]. She has a dog and lives around the corner, so it’s perfect! It’s beautiful where we walk. We usually stay where we live for evening walks after training but in the breaks, we venture further away.

3 97

I’m a massive dog lover. My dog, Rio – a Staffy – is at home with my parents. He’s my little boy, I love him, but it was only fair that he stayed back in Wales because I don’t have a garden up here.

37_MUWFC_My-Headspace.Evans IM.indd 1

P h o t o : I n s t a g ra m @ g e m ma e van ss_

I do a bit of everything in my free time really, I’m not stuck to a routine. I’ll catch up with my family and play on the Xbox with my friends. But when I do have a few hours to myself, it’s also about recovery [between training sessions and games] and I think I manage that pretty well.

Gemma loves getting back to Wales to see her four-legged friend

UNITED WOMEN

I n t e r v i e w : A da m Bo s t o c k

I bought a jigsaw puzzle recently. It’s supposed to relax me... instead, it’s stressing me out because I’m not too good at it! It’s of the Northern Lights, which I thought would be easy but it’s not.

It’s so difficult, the colours are too similar. I’ve got it on a glass table and I keep going back to it, like for a few minutes when I’m making a cup of tea.

13/12/2023 14:55

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

SCAN HERE TO #FindYourSquad

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02/10/2023 22:50

ACADEMY

A

Y M E D CA ALL THE L ATEST NEWS ON UNITED WOMEN’S JUNIOR TEAMS, FROM STAFF CHANGES TO CUP SEMI-FINALS...

The U21s pose for a squad photo here at LSV

League and cup progress

United Women’s Under-21s have started the season strongly, sitting in third place in the league, three points behind top spot but with two games in hand. Wednesday also saw the U21s play in the semi-final of the PGA Cup, at home to Liverpool (result not known at time of print). Our U16s have been in PGA Cup action as well, beating Southampton 4-3 away from home in the quarter-finals. They will now face Aston Villa in the semi-finals, with the game to be played on home soil on 20 January.

U21 and U16 staff changes

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The Girls’ Academy enjoyed their Carrington visit

Girls’ Academy update

It’s also been an exciting time for the Girls’ Academy, which covers U10-U14 age groups, with six U14s picked to attend an FA Women’s England Talent Pathway regional event – congratulations to Evie, Holly, Niamh, Pixie, Taya and Tia. The goalkeepers within the Girls’ Academy had a day to remember as they participated in a training session at Carrington alongside women’s first-team goalkeeper coach Ian Willcock, U21s coach Jordan Booth and Academy coach Chris Bowcott. After the session, the girls got to chat to first-teamers Aoife Mannion and Emma Watson, while being given a tour of the new Women’s First Team building (above). All the young Reds have also been part of national campaigns to support World Mental Health Day and International Day of Disabled Persons.

UNITED WOMEN

Lewis Craig has left his role as U21 lead coach, and the club would like to thank him for all his hard work in leading the team. Tristan Rhodes (below) has taken over the role in an interim capacity, having previously been assistant coach. Elsewhere within United’s Professional Game Academy (PGA) – which covers the U16-U21 age groups – Lauren Davies has stepped up from her role with the U13s to be assistant coach with the U16s.

Congratulations to Lauren, who was once a player herself at United’s Regional Talent Club.

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13/12/2023 14:52

UNITED TO DELIVER EXCELLENCE DXC supports the Reds on and off the pitch connecting with fans and the community through technology.

Discover more in the Manchester United App.

DXC.com

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Welcome!

Three trustees join Foundation’s charity board Wythenshawe this week, after the new board met at Old Trafford for the first time.

“I strongly believe that no one should miss out on the opportunities football can provide,” said Lottie. “Personally, I owe so much to football and the opportunities the game gave me. Using football to support girls’ development – both on and off the pitch – is very close to my heart. I am driven by the force of sport for good. The opportunity to harness the power of both

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UNITED WOMEN

Manchester United Foundation has appointed three new trustees to its charity board – including a former footballer.

Lottie Birdsall-Strong, a former Arsenal youth player, represented teams in England and the USA during her playing days, and she has been joined in becoming a trustee of the Foundation by Monica Shafaq and Christopher Saad.

Lottie, Monica and Christopher visited a project at Foundation partner school Dixons Brooklands Academy in

M U F O U N D AT I O N

Trustees Lottie, Christopher and Monica are looking forward to working with the Foundation

football, and Manchester United, to support young people and their communities is incredible.”

Monica is the CEO of a gambling addiction charity, Gordon Moody, and has 14 years’ experience in the charity sector. She said: “The values and ethos of the Foundation resonate with me, which is personally very important. I have a huge love for football, so I am thrilled to be able to work in a way that combines work and my love for the game.”

As a United fan and through his role as co-chair of the club’s Fans’ Advisory Board, Christopher Saad has prior knowledge of the Foundation’s work. He said: “I am always humbled by the incredible support the Foundation receives from fans. I’m looking forward to furthering the strong ties the Foundation has with the fans, and I’d encourage any fan who is thinking about getting involved with the Foundation to do so.”

The board of 10 trustees is now overseen by the club’s chief operating officer, Collette Roche. The Foundation also announced her appointment as the Chair of the Board of Trustees this week, succeeding Richard Arnold, following his 10-year tenure.

Visit mufoundation.org/board to see the full board of trustees.

13/12/2023 14:52

LIVERPOOL 42

Liverpool’s 4-0 beating of Brighton in late November was further evidence of their improvement since last season

UNITED WOMEN

Just shy of halfway through the WSL season, it is Liverpool who are the team best keeping pace with the ‘big four’. Their improvement since last season is such that, nine games in, Matt Beard’s side are only eight points off matching their tally for the whole of 2022/23.

Determined to stay towards the top spots, the Merseysiders aren’t satisfied with just picking up the points here and there that will keep them in the division. They are fiercely ambitious and have been looking at the teams above, rather than those below. That is why failure to beat Bristol City at home last weekend, having enjoyed the majority of the ball, was so frustrating for Beard, with the 1-1 draw feeling more like two points dropped. “It was the extra touch that killed us,” was how the boss summarised the game, calling on his players to be braver and quicker with their movement on and off the ball.

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The best of Liverpool has seen them stun Arsenal at the Emirates to start the season, thanks to Miri Taylor’s winner. They’ve also overcome Aston Villa and had the resilience to beat Leicester late on, while their 4-0 win against Brighton in November is the biggest-winning margin for any team against the Seagulls this season (bearing in mind Brighton have already played all of last season’s top four).

As United have already found out in the Conti Cup after coming away from Prenton Park with a hard-fought 1-0 win, breaking through Liverpool’s organised defence can be a real challenge. While that hasn’t quite been the case in Liverpool’s other Conti Cup games, Beard has been honest in stating that the league is the priority, and shipping five goals against Chelsea last month is so far the clear anomaly in a WSL context. Across eight other league games, no other opponent has breached their back three to find the net more than once.

13/12/2023 14:51

THE VISITORS

LAST WSL LINE-UP

v BRISTOL CITY (HOME) 10.12.23 MICAH CLARK

BONNER

FISK

KEY DEFENDER HOBINGER

GRACE FISK

HOLLAND

London-born Fisk, 25, is playing under Beard for the second time after previously joining his West Ham side at the end of 2019 following four years in the US college system. The versatile defender, although uncapped, was first called up to the senior England squad in 2020 after only five WSL appearances. She joined Liverpool ahead of this season after 84 games for the Hammers.

NAGANO

KOIVISTO

HINDS

VAN DE SANDEN

HAUG

SUBS USED: LAWLEY, KEARNS, KIERNAN, LUNDGAARD, PARRY

43

IN-FORM FORWARD

HEAD COACH

SOPHIE ROMAN HAUG

MATT BEARD

The 24-year-old Norwegian scored a hat-trick v the Philippines during the summer’s World Cup and soon after joined Liverpool from Roma, where she’d won Serie A and reached the Champions League quarters last season. After taking a little time to find her feet, she has three goals and two assists in her last four WSL games.

Only Emma Hayes has won more WSL titles than Beard, 45, who collected two during his first spell in charge of Liverpool (Laura Harvey also has two with Arsenal). Beard later took West Ham to the 2019 FA Cup final in their first year as a WSL side and oversaw Liverpool’s 2022 promotion from the Championship just 12 months after his return.

● Liverpool are the only

Martha Harris were

Turner have also played

club to have won both the

part of Liverpool’s 2014

for both clubs.

● Five of the previous six

WSL (2013 & 2014) and

title-winning squad, while

● Their Salford-born forward

Alex Greenwood, Siobhan

Natasha Flint spent over a

Chamberlain and Amy

decade in our youth ranks.

meetings between the clubs the Championship (2022). have ended in United wins.

42-43_MUWFC_Oppo.CGIM.indd 39

● Katie Zelem and ex-Red

UNITED WOMEN

THE KNOWLEDGE

13/12/2023 14:51

FACT S AND FUN NIES WIT H THE UNI TED MAS COT

FFESTIVE TI E FFORMATION R T N 44

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF OUR CHRISTMAS XI, MADE UP OF REDS PAST AND PRESENT?!

MARY CHRISTMAS EARPS

SNOWNA BATLLE

MULLIE-D WINE TURNER

JINGLE B-ELLA TOONE UNITED WOMEN

LAUREN REINDEER GAMES

44-45_MUWFC_Junior-Red-Liverpool-CG.indd 1

AISSA-TOY TOUNKARA

WHEN A CHILD IS (TARA) BOURNE

CHRISTEN PRESS-ENT

HANNAH BLUND-ELVES

FELIZ HAYLEY-LADD

MISTLE-TOBIN HEATH

13/12/2023 15:19

USE THE PLAYERS’ SQUAD NUMBERS TO SOLVE THE SUMS...

K I D S ' PAG E S

MCR MATHS ELLA TOONE CLUB! +=MWAHYICAHLEPLTAISYSEIER’SR SHIRT? HINATA MIYAZAWA - HAYLEY LADD =?

45

MELVINE MALARD GABBY GEORGE =?

STARS IN STRIPES!

1 2

UNITED WOMEN

THREE HIDDEN PL AYERS FROM OUR L AST MEETING WITH LIVERPOOL – BUT WHO ARE THEY?

3

Mcr maths club answers: Leah Galton (7 + 4 = 11); 2. Irene Guerrero (20 - 12 = 8); 3. Mary Earps (9 x 3 = 27) Stars in stripes answers: 1. Nikita Parris; 2. Hinata Miyazawa; 3. Hannah Blundell 44-45_MUWFC_Junior-Red-Liverpool-CG.indd 2

13/12/2023 15:19

Sparking teamwork in your community

Sp in y

Search Barclays Community Football Fund to find out more

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Since 2022, Barclays has helped over 2,500 groups make football more accessible through the Barclays Community Football Fund.

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12/12/2023 09:21

● FA WOMEN’S SUPER LEAGUE TABLE

(Table correct as of 15 December 2023)

1

Team

P

W

D

L

GD

Pts

Chelsea

9

7

1

1

18

22

2

Arsenal

9

7

1

1

15

22

3

Manchester City

9

6

1

2

16

19

4

UNITED

9

5

3

1

15

18

5

Liverpool

9

4

3

2

3

15

6

Tottenham

9

3

3

3

-6

12

7

Everton

9

3

2

4

-7

11

8

Leicester

9

2

3

4

-6

9

9

Brighton

9

2

2

5

-11

8

10 Aston Villa

9

2

0

7

-11

6

11 Bristol City

9

1

2

6

-13

5

12 West Ham

9

1

1

7

-13

4

PLAYER

WSL

FA CUP

LEAGUE CUP

UWCL

TOTAL

APP

GLS

APP

GLS APP

GLS

APP

GLS

APP

GLS

Hannah Blundell

9

1

0

0

2

0

2

0

13

1

Mary Earps

9

0

0

0

0

0

2

0

11

0

Gemma Evans

0(4)

0

0

0

2

0

0

0

2(4)

0

Leah Galton

7(1)

1

0

0

0(2)

1

2

0

9(3)

2

Lucia Garcia

4(5)

2

0

0

2

0

1(1)

0

7(6)

2

Gabby George

3

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

4

0

Geyse

6(1)

1

0

0

0(1)

1

1(1)

0

7(3)

2 0

Irene Guerrero

0(1)

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0(1)

Hayley Ladd

4(1)

1

0

0

2

1

0

0

6(1)

2

Maya Le Tissier

9

1

0

0

2

0

2

0

13

1

Melvine Malard

5(3)

4

0

0

0(1)

0

1(1)

1

6(5)

5

Hinata Miyazawa

5(3)

1

0

0

2

0

0(2)

0

7(5)

1

Lisa Naalsund

1(3)

0

0

0

1(1)

0

2

1

4(4)

1

Nikita Parris

6(2)

4

0

0

2

4

0

0

8(2)

8

Evie Rabjohn

0

0

0

0

0(1)

0

0

0

0(1)

0

Jayde Riviere

5(2)

0

0

0

2

0

2

0

9(2)

0

Ella Toone

8(1)

2

0

0

1(1)

0

2

0

11(2)

2

Phallon Tullis-Joyce

0

0

0

0

2

0

0

0

2

0

Millie Turner

9

1

0

0

0

0

2

0

11

1

Rachel Williams

0(9)

4

0

0

2

1

0(1)

0

2(10)

5

Katie Zelem

9

1

0

0

0(1)

0

2

0

11(1)

1

(Player stats above and below do not include Thursday’s game v Leicester City)

UNITED ALL-TIME APPS & GOALS

47

Malard and Parris are among the current Reds included in our all-time top 20 goalscorers’ list (below)

Brighton’s Terland netted twice in last weekend’s draw with Leicester

● WSL TOP SCORERS, 2023/24 SEASON

● ALL-TIME RECORDS: GAMES*

● ALL-TIME RECORDS: GOALS *

7

Apps

GLS

Khadija Shaw (Manchester City)

6

Ella Toone

144

Ella Toone

46

Lauren James (Chelsea)

6

Katie Zelem

141

Leah Galton

36

Martha Thomas (Tottenham Hotspur)

6

Millie Turner

124

Katie Zelem

31

Lauren Hemp (Manchester City)

5

Leah Galton

120

Lauren James

28

Jill Roord (Manchester City)

5

Mary Earps

107

Alessia Russo

26

Agnes Beever-Jones (Chelsea)

5

Hayley Ladd

94

Jessica Sigsworth

26

Amalie Thestrup (Bristol City)

5

Kirsty Hanson

90

Nikita Parris

17

Ona Batlle

77

Mollie Green

16

Hannah Blundell

71

Kirsty Hanson

16

Amy Turner

67

Hayley Ladd

11

Jessica Sigsworth

66

Rachel Williams

11

Jackie Groenen

60

Lucia Garcia

10

Alessia Russo

59

Lizzie Arnot

9

Kirsty Smith

58

Vilde Boe Risa

8

Lauren James

56

Martha Thomas

8

Martha Thomas

53

Millie Turner

8

Martha Harris

49

Jane Ross

7

Maria Thorisdottir

45

Charlie Devlin

6

Vilde Boe Risa

44

Alex Greenwood

5

Maya Le Tissier

44

Melvine Malard

5

● WSL TOP ASSISTS, 2023/24 SEASON Victoria Pelova (Arsenal)

4

Sam Kerr (Chelsea)

3

Lena Petermann (Leicester City)

3

Johanna Rytting Kaneryd (Chelsea)

3

Ella Toone (United) 3 Jessie Fleming (Chelsea)

3

Niamh Charles (Chelsea)

3

Laia Aleixandri (Manchester City)

3

Maisie Symonds (Brighton & Hove Albion)

3

UNITED WOMEN

Elisabeth Terland (Brighton & Hove Albion)

47_MUWFC_App-Stats (up to Spurs).CG.indd 1

W S L & P L AY E R S TAT S

APPEARANCES, GOALS & ’23/24 WSL STATISTICS

● UNITED APPEARANCES AND GOALS, 2023/24 *

13/12/2023 15:09

* Result not known at time of print

2023/24 SEASON SCHEDULE 48

FIXTURES & RESULTS COMP

DATE

OPPOSITION

SCORE ATT

LINE-UP

AUGUST O CTO BER WSL

Sun 1

Aston Villa (A) 12.30pm

2-1

12,533

Earps

Blundell

Le Tissier

Turner

George

Ladd

Zelem

WSL

Fri 6

Arsenal (H) 7.30pm

2-2

8,312

Earps

Blundell

Le Tissier

Turner

George

Ladd

Zelem

UWCL

Tue 10

PSG (H) 8pm

1-1

4,827

Earps

Blundell

Le Tissier

Turner

George

Riviere

Naalsund

WSL

Sun 15

Leicester City (H) 12pm

1-1

4,903

Earps

Blundell

Le Tissier 1 Turner

George

Ladd

Zelem

UWCL

Wed 18

PSG (A) 7pm

1-3

10,358

Earps

Riviere

Le Tissier

Turner

Blundell

Naalsund 1

Zelem

WSL

Sun 22

Everton (A) 1pm

5-0

1,990

Earps

Riviere

Le Tissier

Turner

Blundell

Miyazawa

Zelem

NOV EM BER WSL

Sun 5

Brighton (A) 6.45pm

2-2

3,444

Earps

Riviere

Le Tissier

Turner

Blundell

Miyazawa

Zelem

CC

Thu 9

Everton (H) 7pm

7-0

1,804

Tullis-Joyce Riviere

Le Tissier

Evans

Blundell

Miyazawa

Ladd 1

WSL

Sun 12

West Ham (H) 12pm

5-0

4,396

Earps

Riviere

Le Tissier

Turner 1

Blundell

Toone

Zelem

WSL

Sun 19

Manchester City (H) 4.30pm 1-3

43,615

Earps

Blundell

Turner

Le Tissier

Galton

Naalsund

Zelem 1 •

CC

Wed 22

Liverpool (A) 7pm

1-0

1,958

Tullis-Joyce Riviere

Le Tissier

Evans

Blundell

Toone

Ladd

WSL

Sun 26

Bristol City (A) 12.30pm

2-0

14,138

Earps

Riviere

Le Tissier

Turner

Blundell

Zelem

Miyazawa 1

2,152

Earps

Riviere

Le Tissier

Turner

Blundell 1

Zelem

Ladd 1

DECEM BER WSL

Sun 10

Tottenham (A) 6.45pm

4-0

CC

Thu 14

Leicester City (H) 7pm

*

WSL

Sun 17

Liverpool (H) 12.15pm

JA NUA RY FA

Sun 14

WSL

Sun 21

Newcastle United (H) TBC Chelsea (A) 12.30pm

CC

Wed 24

Manchester City (A) 7pm

WSL

Sun 28

Aston Villa (H) 12pm

F EBRUA RY WSL

Sun 4

Brighton (H) 12pm

CC

7/8

Quarter-finals

FA

Sun 11

Fifth round

WSL

Sat 17

Arsenal (A) 2pm

M A RCH WSL

Sun 3

West Ham (A) 3pm

CC

6/7

Semi-finals

FA

Sun 10

Quarter-finals

WSL

Sun 17

Bristol City (H) 12pm

WSL

Sun 24

Manchester City (A) 1pm

CC

Sat 30

Final

WSL

Sun 31

Everton (H) 12pm

FA

Sun 14

Semi-finals

WSL

Sun 21

Tottenham (H), 12pm

WSL

Sun 28

Leicester (A) 3pm

WSL

Sun 5

Liverpool (A) 2pm

FA

11/12

Final

WSL

Sat 18

Chelsea (H) TBC

A PR IL

MAY

UNITED WOMEN

United score listed first. All fixtures subject to change – TV picks confirmed until 28 January.

Visit ManUtd.com/fixtures for latest fixtures information

48-49_MUWFC_Fixtures (FA Cup added).CGIM.indd 1

13/12/2023 15:05

X/Twitter: @manutdwomen

Facebook: manutdwomen

YouTube: /ManUtd

Instagram: @manutdwomen

Match programme contact: MUWomenfamily@manutd.co.uk For ticket information visit: ManUtd.com/Tickets SUBS USED

m

Garcia 1

Toone

Galton

Geyse

Williams 1

Parris

Miyazawa

–

–

m

Garcia

Toone

Galton 1

Geyse

Williams

Malard 1

Miyazawa

–

–

und

Zelem

Toone

Galton

Garcia

Geyse

Malard 1

Miyazawa

–

–

m

Garcia

Miyazawa

Malard

Parris

Riviere

Toone

Williams

Galton

Evans

m

Toone

Malard

Geyse

Galton

Miyazawa

Garcia

Williams

–

–

m

Garcia

Toone

Malard 1

Parris 2

Evans

Williams 2

Guerrero

Naalsund

m

Toone 1

Malard

Geyse

Galton

Garcia

Williams 1

Parris

–

–

1

Naalsund

Parris 3

Williams 1

Garcia

Galton 1

Rabjohn

Toone

Zelem

Geyse 1

m

Miyazawa

Parris 1

Geyse 1

Galton

Naalsund

Malard 1

Williams

Evans

Garcia 1

m1•

Malard

Toone

Parris

Geyse

Riviere

Garcia

Miyazawa

Williams

–

Miyazawa

Parris 1

Williams

Garcia

Naalsund

Galton

Malard

–

–

zawa 1

Parris 1

Toone

Galton

Geyse

Ladd

Malard

Williams

Garcia

–

1

Parris

Toone 1

Galton

Malard 1

Garcia

Geyse

Williams

Naalsund

Evans

2023/24 SEASON SCHEDULE

FOLLOW THE REDS:

49

48-49_MUWFC_Fixtures (FA Cup added).CGIM.indd 2

FA – Women’s FA Cup Scorers Bold 3rd 4th 5th ~ concussion sub

UNITED WOMEN

KEY: WSL – Women’s Super League UWCL – Women's Champions League CC – Continental League Cup + own goal • Penalty ↑/↓ won/lost on penalties Yellow/red card Substitutes used: 1st 2nd

13/12/2023 15:05

QUESTION TIME

ADDED-TIME

QUIZ A S U P E R S TA RT !

WE’RE LOOKING BACK ON 2023 FOR OUR FINAL SET OF QUESTIONS THIS YEAR...

Our first game of the year finished with our b ­ iggest ever WSL win (pictured below). We want to know...

1.

1. THE OPPOSITION? 2. THE FINAL SCORE? 3. OUR FIRST SCORER? 50

CA R E E R PAT H S

4. REAL BETIS 5. LYON 6. MIAMI HURRICANES BEST OF 2023

Can you identify these three Reds, who all joined us in 2023, based on their former sides?

LEVANTE FLEURY (LOAN) REIMS

ATLETICO MADRID UNITED (LOAN) OL REIGN

UNITED UNITED

We end with a quartet of questions from across the last 12 months...

UNITED WOMEN

7

In which month was Marc Skinner named WSL Manager of the Month?

8

Who scored the goal that sent United to the Women’s FA Cup final for the first time (left)?

9

Who was the first Red to reach double figures for goals across the calendar year?

10

How many times have United already beaten today’s opponents Liverpool in competitive fixtures in 2023?

ANSWERS 1.Liverpool; 2. 6-0 to United; 3. Lucia Garcia; 4. Irene Guerrero; 5. Melvine Malard; 6. Phallon Tullis-Joyce; 7. April; 8. Rachel Williams; 9. Nikita Parris; 10. Three 50_MUWFC_Quiz.CGIM.indd 1

13/12/2023 15:08

Manchester United Home 23/24

© 2023 adidas AG

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12/12/2023 28/09/2023 09:24 16:50

MANCHESTER UNITED WOMEN Head coach: Marc Skinner

LIVERPOOL WOMEN Head coach: Matt Beard

Gabby George

3

1

Rachael Laws (GK)

Maya Le Tissier

4

2

Emma Koivisto

Aoife Mannion

5

4

Grace Fisk

Hannah Blundell

6

5

Niamh Fahey

Ella Toone

7

6

Jasmine Matthews

Irene Guerrero

8

7

Missy Bo Kearns

Melvine Malard

9

8

Fuka Nagano

Katie Zelem

10

9

Leanne Kiernan

Leah Galton

11

10 Sophie Roman Haug

Hayley Ladd

12

11 Melissa Lawley

Jayde Riviere

14

12 Taylor Hinds

Gemma Evans

15

13 Mia Enderby

Lisa Naalsund

16

14 Marie Hobinger

Lucia Garcia

17

15 Sofie Lundgaard

Hinata Miyazawa

20

16 Teagan Micah (GK)

Millie Turner

21

17 Jenna Clark

Nikita Parris

22

18 Ceri Holland

Geyse

23

19 Shanice van de Sanden

Evie Rabjohn

25

20 Yana Daniels

Mary Earps (GK)

27

22 Faye Kirby (GK)

Rachel Williams

28

23 Gemma Bonner

Emma Watson

34

26 Natasha Flint

Safia Middleton-Patel (GK)

39

32 Lucy Parry

Lucy Newell

55

34 Hannah Silcock

Phallon Tullis-Joyce (GK)

91

35 Miri Taylor

M ATC H

O F F IC I A LS

Referee Lauren Impey • Assistants Aaron Ford, Laura van Lier Fourth official Elizabeth Simms

52_MUWFC_back cover Liv (officials added) IM.indd 1

13/12/2023 15:06