Manchester United Women v Lewes FC Women programme, FA Women's Championship, 11.05.19

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25/04/2019 14:44

20/11/2018 11:32 11/12/18 7:52 AM

W E LC O M E

IT’S TIME FOR THE TROPHY! BUT BEFORE THAT, THE TITLE WINNERS WANT ONE LAST VICTORY...

Inside today’s commemorative match programme: p4 Casey Stoney column p6 Pictures from Palace win p8 Match reports p12 The story of the season

p18 p20 p25 p26

2018/19 infographic Alex Greenwood interview Chamberlain’s snaps MU Foundation

p29 p30 p33 p34

Fan zone Player statistics Today’s opposition 2018/19 team statistics

2019 PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD Manchester United Women’s first Player of the Year was announced on Thursday night, at the club’s annual red-carpet event at Old Trafford. With the fans’ vote remaining open until the previous day, the winner was not known by the time this programme went to print, but we would like to offer our congratulations to all three nominees – as selected by the squad themselves.

Leah Galton has hit a purple patch of form in recent months, scoring a header in our vital win away to Tottenham and providing a Goal of the Month contender when she netted from a tight angle in our last home fixture, against Crystal Palace.

Millie Turner has been in the starting line-up for the Reds in every game this season – the only player to do so. In her 28 appearances to date, the 22-year-old centre-back has helped Casey Stoney’s side keep 20 clean sheets in all competitions.

Katie Zelem, winner of the Championship Player of the Month award for March, was the third nomination, our no.10 reaching double

Manchester United Football Club Limited

figures for goals from midfield before the end of March, while being a constant supplier of assists with her precise set-pieces.

Two other award winners announced in the past few days were the Championship Player of the Month for April – for which Charlie Devlin and Lauren James were among the nominations, alongside Sheffield United’s Danielle Cox and Tottenham’s Ashleigh Neville – while Casey Stoney has been named LMA Manager of the Month for April. Head to ManUtd.com to find out who won all the awards presented over the past week.

Co-chairmen Joel Glazer, Avram Glazer Directors Bryan Glazer, Kevin Glazer, Edward Glazer, Darcie Glazer Kassewitz, Ed Woodward, Richard Arnold, Michael Edelson, Sir Bobby Charlton, Sir Alex Ferguson, David Gill Secretary Rebecca Britain Honorary president Martin Edwards

MU Women commemorative match programme: Editor Charlie Ghagan Editor-in-chief Ian McLeish Contributors Harriet Drudge, Joe Ganley, Adam Bath, Ash Head Design Andy Ball, Anthony Moore Photography John Peters, Matthew Peters, James Boyes, Getty, PA Thanks to Suzie Hamilton, Julie Ferguson, Tom Keeling, John Shiel, Tom Jones Printed by MuPrint.com ⬤ Copyright Manchester United 2019

Manchester United Women v Lewes FC Women 03

H E A D C OAC H ’ S C O L U M N

Casey Stoney Next season will bring increased expectation, and it’s important we show all of our professionalism today

W

elcome to Leigh Sports Village for what is the final match of our 2018/19 campaign. I can’t quite believe how quickly this season has gone; it really has flown by, with plenty of highs and – as it goes in football – some lows in there, too.

It has mostly been a season of highs, though. Our last two performances here were excellent and, of course, meant we secured promotion and the league title. While it’s always nice to record such emphatic wins, regardless of who we’re playing, there’s always expectation, which brings pressure with it. The players dealt with that pressure brilliantly, going about their business very professionally against both Aston Villa and Crystal Palace, using the ball well and scoring some really good goals.

What’s really impressed me since then has been how high standards have been in training. The consistency, desire and appetite to develop, learn and improve is still there among this group of players, which is huge credit to them. We’re setting new targets now and obviously looking ahead to next season.

We’re well aware of how different it will be in the Women’s Super League. The argument in some parts this season has been that we’ve been full-time in a semi-professional league, so the expectation has always been on us to win games.

Next season we’ll be in a division full of full-time clubs, and although it will be our first season at that level, there will still be an expectation – both internally and externally – that we need to perform, which is an expectation I want the players to have too.

In the Championship, you can get away with turning the ball over or making a few sloppy mistakes. You won’t get away with it in the WSL. Teams will punish you. The intensity and level you have to reach week in, week out will be the biggest difference.

04 Manchester United Women v Lewes FC Women

We upped our level against Everton, West Ham and Brighton, showing we’re more than capable of getting good results when we play top teams. But we need to be at that level every week, which is something we will be working on over the summer.

The players break from 13 May, so there’s the opportunity for them to go home, see family, have a holiday. We’ve got quite a few going away to the World Cup and the Under-19 Euros in Scotland in July. I will be away at the World Cup to cover five games for the BBC, which will also give me the opportunity to do a bit of scouting. I’ll be watching the best emerging young talent from around the world, trying to identify whether anyone fits our philosophy and system at Manchester United.

But before that, we’re excited to be celebrating this historic first season with you today. I am so proud of this squad.

Sometimes when you’re expected to win, it’s difficult to maintain your standards, but they have done that throughout the season.

Every challenge we’ve set them, they’ve met. They have developed so much over the last 10 months on what has been an incredible learning curve for all of us. And to have you there with us every step of the way has been fantastic.

A huge thank you to all of you for the support you’ve provided all year round. It’s been another level to anything I have ever experienced and we want that positivity again next year for what we hope will be another season creating history.

Hopefully we can give you a few more goals to cheer this afternoon. On behalf of the players and staff, thank you for your unbelievable support.

H E A D C OAC H ’ S C O L U M N

I AM SO PROUD OF THIS SQUAD. EVERY CHALLENGE WE’VE SET THEM, THEY’VE MET. AND TO HAVE YOU THERE WITH US EVERY STEP OF THE WAY HAS BEEN FANTASTIC

L AST T I M E AT L E I G H S P O R TS V I L L AG E

BUNDLES OF FUN! Saturday 20 April was a glorious day in more ways than one for the Reds, as the FA Women’s Championship title was confirmed following victory against Crystal Palace in the Easter weekend sunshine. The vast majority of the 2,112 crowd here at Leigh Sports Village stuck around following the full-time whistle, when they got to witness what’s become a customary sight for any trophy winners in the modern age: the hand-holding-team-charge towards the crowd (above) – not that our four-goal hero, Lauren James, along with Charlie Devlin, made it that far! As the fans in the West Stand continued to cheer on the squad, goalkeeper Siobhan Chamberlain showed off her impressive stretching range (top right) as the celebrations continued, with head coach Casey Stoney also getting involved (right). A memorable day, certainly, but just one thing was missing: the presentation of the Championship trophy. We won’t have to wait much longer though, with captain Alex Greenwood to lift Manchester United Women’s first ever piece of silverware after today’s game...

06 Manchester United Women v Lewes FC Women

L AST T I M E AT L E I G H S P O R TS V I L L AG E

Manchester United Women v Lewes FC Women 07

M ATC H R E P O R TS

PILING UP THE POINTS

Thumping wins see Reds race clear at top UNITED WOMEN 7 CRYSTAL PALACE LADIES 0 SAT 20 APR | LEIGH SPORTS VILLAGE | SCORERS: JAMES 9, 83, 85, 90; ARNOT 33, GALTON 35, SIGSWORTH 46 | ATT: 2,112

James hits four as title is wrapped up in style in Leigh Manchester United Women secured the FA Women’s Championship title after a dominant 7-0 victory over Crystal Palace Ladies at Leigh Sports Village three weeks ago.

With promotion to the Women’s Super League achieved three days earlier, against Aston Villa, Casey Stoney made three changes to her team. Katie Zelem and Lauren James returned to the starting XI after missing the Villa match due to suspension, while Aimee Palmer replaced Amy Turner in central defence.

On a balmy afternoon in Leigh, the Reds started on the front foot as Leah Galton spurned an early chance in the fourth minute.

Lizzie Arnot put a delightful ball in from the right, but Galton saw her effort from close range trickle past the post.

Five minutes later though, James got the breakthrough. Arnot dispossessed the visitors deep inside their half before Ella Toone played in James, who had made a run into the box. The teenager turned the Palace defenders inside out before arrowing her shot into the top-left corner to get the title party in full swing.

In a first half that was dominated on all fronts by United, Stoney’s side were relentless in trying to increase the lead. Skipper Alex Greenwood charged out of defence, bypassed the midfield and had a crack at goal which was only partially saved by Palace stopper Lucy Gillett before a defender managed to hook the ball clear.

Soon after the half-hour mark, United struck twice in two minutes.

First, Galton produced a sumptuous low cross from the left that deflected off a Palace player into the path of Arnot, who doubled our lead, before Leah got a goal of her own when she took on a defender and unleashed a beautiful strike from an acute angle.

As Palace looked to snatch a consolation before the break, they were hit on the counter. Arnot kept herself onside and was one-on-one with Gillett, but her audacious chip from outside the box rattled the crossbar as the referee blew for half-time.

After the interval, the 2,112 fans in attendance had to wait just 12 seconds for our fourth. James had the initial shot, which was well blocked, and Toone had a go on the follow-up from just outside the box, which got a touch off Jess Sigsworth on its way into the net.

In the final seven minutes, James sealed her hat-trick, and then went one better. The first was a demonstration of Lauren’s strength, as she shook off the Eagles’ defence and slotted the ball past the keeper, and the next completed her treble when she headed in Charlie Devlin’s cross following a brilliant turn by the substitute.

There was still time for a seventh. After surging forward, James had an initial shot saved but then rounded the keeper and slotted home the rebound, rounding off a history-making week for United Women.

United: Chamberlain; Harris, Palmer, M Turner, Greenwood (c); Arnot (Hanson 60), Zelem, Toone (Green 53), Galton; Sigsworth (Devlin 68), James. Substitutes not used: Ramsey, A Turner, Smith

08 Manchester United Women v Lewes FC Women

Arnot applies the finish to put United two up soon after the half-hour mark

Greenwood gets the better of two opponents

Four-goal hero James is congratulated by her team-mates

M ATC H R E P O R TS

MILLWALL LIONESSES 0 UNITED WOMEN 5 SUN 28 APR | PRINCES PARK | SCORERS: ZELEM 7 (PEN), A TURNER 13, DEVLIN 23, HARRIS 29 (PEN), SIGSWORTH 78 | ATT: 1,920

Two new scorers help United finish off the Lionesses There was no let-up by Manchester United Women against Millwall Lionesses, with the champions of the FA Women’s Championship winning 5-0 in Dartford, Kent.

The penultimate match of the season brought a first start for Emily Ramsey in goal, though the 18-year-old was barely troubled by the hosts. At the other end of the pitch, Amy Turner, captain for the day, and Martha Harris netted their first goals for the club.

United soon got into the stride, Katie Zelem opening the scoring from the penalty spot after just seven minutes. Leah Galton took on Lia Cataldo in the box, the latter lunging in and fouling our number 11. Zelem (below) buried the spot-kick to take her Championship goal tally into double figures for the season.

It was 2-0 six minutes later when Amy Turner nodded in from a typically precise Zelem corner, to get the United coaching staff and substitutes on their feet in celebration. Her defensive partner Millie has already scored twice this season, including the opener against Aston Villa in the recent win that secured promotion, but this was a maiden goal in a United shirt for Amy. Soon after, Lizzie Arnot’s clever work on the right created the opening for the third goal, with just 23 minutes played. The Scot waltzed past the home defence, pulling the ball back for former Millwall attacker Charlie Devlin to score against her former club.

Zelem was a constant threat in a comfortable first half, dictating play, stinging the palms of Lionesses goalkeeper Rhiannon Stewart and firing just over on a couple of occasions.

When referee Lauren Hott pointed to the spot after a foul on Harris in the area after 28 minutes, again by Cataldo, Zelem handed the ball to our popular no.2. Harris stepped up and calmly slotted past Stewart, despite some mind games by the Millwall goalkeeper.

The second half followed the same pattern as the first in all but goals, with relentless United pressure and possession. Millie Turner had two opportunities within a minute of each other, heading over and then into the hands of Stewart, before a fierce shot from Zelem was well blocked.

Jess Sigsworth and Mollie Green replaced Devlin and Toone respectively with just under half-hour to play, and Sigsworth netted her 16th league goal of 2018/19 from a corner in the 78th minute.

All in all, it was a routine afternoon for the champions, the Reds moving past the 50-point mark ahead of today’s final Championship match and trophy presentation back on home soil.

United: Ramsey; Harris, A Turner (c), M Turner, Smith; Zelem, Galton, Toone (Green 62), James, Arnot (Hanson 76); Devlin (Sigsworth 62). Substitutes not used: Chamberlain, Palmer

Devlin had a goalscoring return to her former club

What a day it was for Amy Turner, who nodded home her first United goal

Harris is mobbed following her well-taken penalty (turn the page for more on that!)

Manchester United Women v Lewes FC Women 09

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MARTHA 1 BIG BEARD 0!

⊲ BEFORE...

AND AFTER!

How one Red paid the penalty when Harris broke her duck One of the more eye-catching banners on display this season among United’s ‘Barmy Army’ has been the one that reads ‘IF MARTHA SCORES... I’LL SHAVE MY BEARD’ – the red, white and black striped flag belonging to Benjamin Brazil, a dedicated Red with some seriously impressive facial hair. Well, until last Wednesday, that is.

For Benjamin, a 31-year-old from Worsley, the words on the banner were a playful promise towards one of his favourite players – a player who, as a defensive-minded full-back, hadn’t scored a single league goal in her senior career, covering seven seasons for Lincoln Ladies, Liverpool and United. Two weeks ago at Millwall, however, and with the Reds already three goals up, Martha made a rare foray forward, and when she was fouled inside the box the ref pointed to the spot. “I saw Katie Zelem grab the ball, but then there was this huge cheer as she passed it to Martha,” recalls Benjamin, who has missed just two games all season. “You know that feeling when everything seems to flash before you in slow motion... that’s what I felt like for the next 30 seconds!”

Sure enough, Martha made no mistake from 12 yards, and when she popped over to the stands at full-time to say hello (or perhaps sorry!) to Benjamin, our no.2 was bearing a gift – an electric beard shaver.

Cue laughter all round from the Reds in the 1,920 crowd, as the penny dropped for Benjamin that he had to stick to his word. Fast-forward three days where, next to the canal close to Old Trafford, off went three years’ worth of facial fuzz. “I’m still getting used to it, but my mum said ‘hallelujah!’ when she saw me,” he laughs. “She thinks I look 10 years younger.”

That might be the end of the beard, but the banner is still to get one last outing – today. “Depending on how busy it is after the

WHO AWAITS IN THE WSL? *Ten point deduction for entering administration

Latest news and changes for next season in the top flight

P

W D L GD Pts

1 Arsenal (C)

19 17 0 2 56 51

2 Man City

19 14 5 0 37 47

3 Birmingham 19 12 1 6 10 37 4 Chelsea

18 10 6 2 23 36

5 Reading

19 8 3 8 4 27

6 Bristol City

20 7 4 9 -17 25

7 West Ham

19 7 2 10 -8 23

8 Liverpool

19 6 1 12 -19 19

9 Brighton

19 3 4 12 -26 13

10 Everton

19 3 3 13 -21 12

11 Yeovil (R)

18 2 1 15 -39 -3*

Armed with a razor, Martha joins Benjamin at Princes Park game with the trophy celebrations, I’m hoping Martha will write a message on it – and then I can officially retire the flag,” he adds.

Benjamin, we salute you, but it’s only right that we give the final word to the Reds’ latest penalty hero. “As I stepped up to take it, I was thinking about two things,” Martha tells us. “One was Casey’s reaction if I missed it, and the other was how close it was until summer... and no one wants a big beard in the summertime!”

FIRST TITLE IN SEVEN YEARS FOR GUNNERS

The country’s most decorated women’s team, Arsenal, were confirmed as league champions two weeks ago, for what is their first WSL triumph since 2012. The Gunners – narrow victors over United in the League Cup semi-finals – are four points clear of Manchester City, with the two teams facing off earlier today in the division’s final round of fixtures. Arsenal’s Vivianne Miedema has been the star of the season – the Dutch forward, who scored both goals against Casey Stoney’s Reds in February, leads the way in the WSL scoring charts, with 22 (and 10 assists) to date. She was also named PFA Player of the Year soon after netting the opener for her team’s title-sealing 4-0 win against Brighton – a game played in front of a new WSL-record crowd of 5,265 at the Amex Stadium.

WHAT’S CHANGING NEXT SEASON?

The ninth WSL campaign will consist of 12 teams – the highest in its history – with Tottenham to join the Reds as the two promoted sides. Both clubs’ inclusion is subject to them meeting FA criteria for the WSL, but it is understood that no problems are expected with their applications. Dropping out of the top division will be Yeovil Town, who will bid for a second-tier licence for 2019/20 and revert to part-time status, following their financial problems this season.

TWO TEAMS INTO EUROPE

Miedema (right of picture) helped Arsenal seal the title away to Brighton

Arsenal and Manchester City will compete in the 2019/20 UEFA Women’s Champions League, both joining in the Round of 32 stage. Arsenal remain the only English side to have won the trophy, in 2007. This season’s final, between Lyon and Barcelona, takes place next Saturday in Budapest. There’s no European football on offer for the winners of England’s two cups, but the Women’s FA Cup final is the most high-profile single fixture in this country, with 43,264 fans attending last weekend’s final between Manchester City and West Ham. City won the game 3-0 – their second cup success of ’18/19, having beaten Arsenal in the League Cup final.

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T H E STO RY O F T H E S E AS O N

JULY 2018

STEP ONE: COMPLETE

APRIL 2019

22 Manchester United Women v Lewes FC Women

T H E STO RY O F T H E S E AS O N

For all the excitement surrounding two extended cup runs, since the first day Casey Stoney’s squad got together last summer, the primary mission has been clear: promotion to the WSL. We recall the story of how they did it in quite thrilling fashion at the very first attempt...

“T

wenty-one strangers”. Last summer, that’s how Casey Stoney described her new-look squad, who we now know as the 2018/19 FA Women’s Championship winners. Only a handful of her charges knew each other, and none could have predicted the journey they were about to go on under their new boss.

With Stoney confirmed as Manchester United Women’s first head coach in June, the former England captain set about recruiting, with an emphasis on youth as well as essential experience, and she already had grand plans before a ball had even been kicked.

“My ultimate aim is to grow this team so that every little girl growing up dreams of playing for Manchester United,” said Casey in her first interview after taking charge. “I want this team to be the most successful team in women’s football.”

In that regard, step one is complete. Promotion has been sealed to the FA Women’s Super League and in some style too, United confirmed as champions ahead of Easter weekend.

The 2018/19 journey didn’t start in the league, though. The eagerly anticipated release of fixtures dealt United a particularly intriguing maiden outing: an away tie at WSL outfit Liverpool in the FA Women’s Continental Tyres League Cup. Full-back Alex Greenwood and keeper Siobhan Chamberlain were among those to have made the switch from Merseyside to Manchester – stepping down a division in the process – adding to the narrative of this first fixture, to be played at Tranmere Rovers’ Prenton Park.

“It was a hard decision [to step down a league] – to some it might have looked like a step back,” admitted Alex, after being named MU Women’s first captain. “But I knew the conversations I’d had with the club, with Casey, and the ambitions of this club are extraordinary. Joining United was the perfect decision.”

The honour of representing the famous badge was not lost on any of the players, every one of them beaming with excitement throughout the team’s first media day – all eager to get going, to show the world what they were made of and write themselves into the history books of Manchester United Football Club.

The long hours on the training pitch in the weeks ahead, along with much off-field team bonding, had all been for that moment when the whistle blew at 2pm on Sunday 19 August – the start of the Reds’ first competitive fixture. A tense, end-to-end contest followed in Birkenhead, although genuine chances

It’s bedlam in Birkenhead after Arnot nets the first goal for Stoney’s side

were few and far between. But when the referee blew that whistle for the final time that day, the visitors in navy were the ones smiling from ear to ear. “It was totally surreal,” says Lizzie Arnot, scorer of United Women’s first ever goal: an 83rd-minute winner from inside the six-yard box following some brilliant wing play from Greenwood. “I still can’t believe it happened. I was lucky to be in the right position and on the end of the great cross from Alex... it came off my shin, but we didn’t care!”

A late shinned winner away to your club’s biggest rivals – starts don’t get much sweeter than that, do they? While the manager wasn’t entirely satisfied with the performance, she was certainly impressed with the attitude she saw. “The girls have put an absolute shift in for six weeks after being thrown together,” said Casey. “So to go out there and dig deep, to show a bit of character, was really pleasing.”

‘COMING OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE’

That character and togetherness, on show from day one, has been central to everything the Reds have achieved ever since.

A number of the squad live together on the outskirts of Manchester in three team houses: Lizzie Arnot, Kirsty Hanson, Kirsty Smith and Aimee Palmer in one; Martha Harris, Jess Sigsworth and Katie Zelem in another; while Millie Turner, Mollie Green and Charlie Devlin (with the occasional visit from Millie’s family dog, Nala) make up the third.

‘Team United’ – the manager’s choice of phrase for all off-field get-togethers – has also played an important part in bonding the group. Early-morning boxing sessions, dance lessons, a trip to the zoo, completing the assault course from Ninja Warrior – just a few of the outings and challenges the squad (and some of the coaches) have signed up to throughout the season.

“The amount of team-building activities we have done has helped massively,” says Siobhan Chamberlain. “Being able to come out of your comfort zone in front of each other... it’s been great to get to know each other like that, and coming in as a group together made it a lot easier for us to gel.”

As the most experienced member of the squad, Chamberlain has played for a number of WSL clubs, including Chelsea and Arsenal, and she’s been capped 50 times by England. So how has the 2018/19 Championship campaign compared to previous ones for the 35-year-old? “I think this season going into matches, I have felt the most pressure I’ve ever felt, in a weird kind of way,” she admits. “It’s such a different ⊲

Manchester United Women v Lewes FC Women 13

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T H E STO RY O F T H E S E AS O N

pressure going into a game knowing that you are expected to win and that you may not touch the ball as much. It’s a completely different pressure to cope with.”

Cope with it she has, and then some. Chamberlain has conceded just seven goals in the league ahead of today’s final match with Lewes, keeping 19 clean sheets in 27 games overall. She’s made vital saves at key times, including away to Brighton in the FA Cup, when she pushed a penalty to safety to deny the hosts an equaliser.

Although Chamberlain was unable to keep Reading out in the Reds’ first outing here in Leigh, United losing 2-0 in our second League Cup group tie, the team would follow it up with a 10-match unbeaten run in all competitions, finding the net an incredible 43 times in the process. Throughout that spell, Siobhan conceded one goal.

That inaugural home fixture against Reading was attended by 4,835 fans – a record for the competition and more than double that of last year’s final – and although it wasn’t the result most of the crowd would have been hoping for, just being here to cheer on Manchester United Women made it a very special occasion for so many within in the crowd.

“When the announcement was made [that United were going to have a women’s team], I was so excited... another team to follow!” recalls diehard Red Marc Henry, who that day began to meet more like-minded

I DIDN’T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT, BUT KNOWING WHAT I KNOW NOW IT WAS A GREAT DECISION TO FOLLOW THIS TEAM

– MUWFC FAN MARC HENRY

fans, who would come to call themselves the ‘Barmy Army’. A committed group of home-and-away Reds, their unofficial songbook – often handed out before kick-off – has helped create a lively atmosphere, with it containing some cleverly adapted versions of classic United chants.

“I didn’t know what to expect as I had very little knowledge of the women’s game, but knowing what I know now it was a great decision to follow this team,” continues Marc, who along with his match-going wife Deborah has made some new friends for life throughout the season. Much like at the Palace and Villa games here last month, don’t expect Marc and co to stop singing for a single moment this afternoon.

SIGSWORTH’S FIVE-STAR START

The outcome at Villa – if not the staggering scoreline – was a sign of things to come in the Championship

Two weeks after the Reading loss, the start of September signalled our first league fixture – an extraordinary start to life in the Championship as we put 12 past Aston Villa without reply at the Trevor Brown Memorial Ground. Jess Sigsworth scored five that day, with Lauren James and Kirsty Hanson each bagging a brace. Katie Zelem, Mollie Green and Ella Toone also added to the scoreline as the Reds ran riot.

Top scorer heading into today’s final game, with 17 goals, Sigsworth has been a United fan all her life. When the opportunity arose to join the club from Doncaster Belles, it was one she couldn’t turn down, with that five-star league debut kick-starting an impressive campaign for the powerful forward. “It was a dream come true to join this club,” says 24-year-old Jess. “It’s been a really great season and to be top goalscorer at the minute is brilliant. I’m really happy with how the season has gone, both as a team and personally.”

Sigsworth still has strong competition in the top scorer stakes, however. Heading into today’s meeting with Lewes, she sits just one goal ahead of Lauren James and Mollie Green, while Ella Toone is on ⊲

Crowds in excess of 2,000 have come to Leigh on six occasions this season, with another healthy attendance expected this afternoon

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T H E STO RY O F T H E S E AS O N

Victory in the top-of-the-table clash away to Tottenham in March put the Reds within one win of promotion, and two of the title

15. James, on 16 goals, was just 16 when she bagged her first Reds goal that day down at Villa – the first of four eye-catching September displays from the youngest member of the squad, as she picked up the season’s first FA Women’s Championship Player of the Month award.

With her goals coming from 17 starts and nine substitute appearances, James has the best strike rate of any MU Women player; her tally including a number of bewitching solo efforts – as most recently seen against Crystal Palace on a day when she struck four to secure the league title. “Scoring my first hat-trick in senior football was a big moment for me, I felt really proud,” says Lauren of that win. “I have a couple of favourite goals though: away against Brighton as it was an important FA Cup game and it ended up being the winner, and at home against Leicester.

I found myself in space 30 yards out and I just thought I’d go for it and it went in the top corner. That was one of the best goals I’ve scored, especially as it was on my weaker foot.”

Undoubtedly one of the finest teenage talents in the country, James, much like the team she plays for, is at the very start of her journey. Working in a full-time environment for the first time has aided the former Arsenal player’s development, and the guidance she’s had from some of her more experienced team-mates has been

16 Manchester United Women v Lewes FC Women

invaluable. “Working with the older players in the group has really helped me,” adds ‘LJ’, already an England U19 international. “Amy Turner is one player who has supported me massively, helping me deal with the highs and lows throughout the season.”

Three of James’s team-mates would follow her in picking up the division’s Player of the Month award: Mollie Green in November, Ella Toone in February and Katie Zelem in March. Lauren and Charlie Devlin (below, left) were among the nominations for April – the result to which was announced earlier this week.

For Toone and Zelem, both once part of United’s Regional Talent Club, a return to where it all started has been everything they’d hoped for. Kirsty Hanson, Millie Turner and Emily Ramsey were also once part of the RTC, as were Naomi Hartley and Fran Bentley (both loaned out to Sheffield United in the latter half of the season, along with Ebony Salmon).

“It was something I dreamt of when I was little,” says Zelem of finally being able to represent a senior United team. “When I was here before there wasn’t a pathway, but being able to rejoin the club and have a such a successful first season, I couldn’t have asked for more.”

OVERCOMING CHALLENGES

The team’s pathway to silverware this season has had a few diversions along the way, however. Assistant coach Willie Kirk left the club in December to take on

T H E STO RY O F T H E S E AS O N

Top-flight Everton just couldn’t handle the Reds on a morale-boosting night on Merseyside

James and her fellow Reds stood strong against WSL winners Arsenal in the League Cup semi-finals

WE ALWAYS FOCUS ON THE LOSSES MORE THAN THE WINS, BECAUSE YOU LOOK BACK AND THINK ‘WHAT MORE COULD WE HAVE DONE?’ BUT DURHAM WAS A MASSIVE LEARNING CURVE

– MILLIE TURNERC

the manager’s job at Everton, and some rescheduled matches meant the squad had to deal with a rather disjointed fixture schedule (just one league game was played in both October and January) to leave United stuck in second place behind Tottenham for a big chunk of the season.

The first such fixture came in October, when the tragic death of Leicester City chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha the previous day led to our away clash with the Foxes being rightly postponed as the club and wider football family paid their respects.

The Reds’ league trip to Charlton in January was also brought into the spotlight for non-footballing reasons. With just 11 minutes on the clock at The Oakwood, the match was abandoned after a

collision resulted in a rib injury to Addicks’ defender Charlotte Kerr.

With no oxygen on site – for which Charlton were later fined – the medical staff needed to use United’s supply, and once that began to run low the referee abandoned the match following an hour-long delay. Thankfully Kerr was released from hospital the next day, making a return to training the following month.

Along with Charlton, Durham provided the biggest threat to the division’s top two, with the Reds’ only league defeat to date coming against the North East club – the 3-1 away loss coming just four days after we’d beaten the Wildcats in the League Cup here in Leigh.

As disappointing as it was to lose our unbeaten league run, that slip up at New Ferens Park would go down as another significant moment in the team’s development, as Player of the Year nominee Millie Turner explains. “The Durham result was tough to take,” says the centre-back.

“We always focus on the losses more than the wins, just because you look back and think ‘what more could we have done?’ But it was a massive learning curve. It really showed the strength of the team when we came back the way we did against Everton in the next game.”

Only 267 fans (comfortably our lowest crowd of the season) were at Southport’s Haig Avenue Stadium to witness that League Cup win on a chilly Thursday night in December, but a number of players regard the 3-0 away victory against the top-flight Toffees as the team’s performance of the season, as the belief came flooding back into the squad following the disappointment of Durham.

As the Reds continued to play catch-up with league fixtures, the following weeks saw Karen Hills’ Tottenham seize the opportunity to top the table, with United dropping to fourth by the time of our first February league game, behind Charlton in second and Durham in third.

February was the month that saw us play more knockout ties than league fixtures, starting with a 2-0 away win against Brighton in United’s first FA Cup tie – our fourth top-flight scalp of the season, following the League Cup successes against Liverpool, Everton and West Ham. The Reds’ eventual exit in both competitions came in nail-biting fashion, but the defeats would provide yet more evidence of the fledgling squad’s ability to stand toe-to-toe with England’s top teams.

“We have a very young team and have just gone and lost 2-1 to Arsenal in a cup semi-final – and actually got stronger as the game went on,” said Stoney post-match as the Reds competed superbly (and nearly nicked a late equaliser) against the eventual WSL champions on their own patch in the League Cup. “I am super, super proud of them.”

As captured by the BT Sports cameras that evening, Stoney’s pride was echoed by those in the stands, who knew the team had given everything. “The away end that night was absolutely brilliant, probably the best away end we’ve had this season,” says the Barmy Army’s Marc Henry of the trip to Borehamwood. “In fact, the Arsenal game really stands out for me this season. A group of us went down on the train and we all had a really good laugh – it was just a great away day.”

Elimination in the FA Cup in mid-March was to be a more stomach-wrenching affair, as a 120th-minute strike for Reading took them through to the semi-finals – the fifth and final goal of a pulsating extra-time period just as penalty kicks were looming at Adams Park.

“The players are gutted,” said the United manager to MUTV after the game, “but we’ll use this experience to fuel the rest of our season, where the league now means everything.”

She wasn’t wrong. Five straight wins followed in the Championship, including a 2-1 win in the rescheduled game at Charlton – a result that finally took the Reds back to the top – followed by the 5-1 demolition of Tottenham to put Stoney’s side on the brink of promotion.

Our entry to the WSL would be confirmed in front of the home fans 18 days later, on a joyous night here in Leigh as Villa were beaten 5-0 – an occasion only bettered by the events of that weekend as 2,112 supporters basked in the sunshine as victory against Crystal Palace took us to the 49-point mark needed to seal the Championship title.

Whatever the future brings for Manchester United Women, everyone connected to this team – from the players, the fans, the coaches and the club staff – will forever look back on the 2018/19 campaign with immense fondness and pride.

Today will see the team’s coronation on the pitch at full-time, the lifting of the FA Women’s Championship trophy being the final magical memory to take away from a brilliant nine months.

Let’s all enjoy the moment – and then bring on the WSL! ⬤

Manchester United Women v Lewes FC Women 17

I N FOG RAPH IC

93 AND COUNTING...

That’s how many Championship goals the Reds have scored in 2018/19 – and here are some other standout statistics from a staggering season NUMBER OF REDS TO HAVE REACH ED

BIGGEST HOME CROWD

DOUBLE FIGURES

GOALS SCORED IN ALL COMPETITIONS

FOR GOALS

v R E A D I N G ( L E A G U E C U P ) – 2 5 / 0 8 / 18

T H AT ’ S A N A V E R A G E O F

3.86 GOALS PER GAME

B E S T W I N N I N G R U N I N A L L C O M P E T I T I O N S I S 6 : 1 4 . 10 . 18 - 0 5 . 1 2 . 18 – A R U N W E C A N E Q U A L T O D A Y

2 G OALS SCO RED IN FIRST MINUTE OF A GAME G R E E N v D U R H A M · L E A G U E C U P · 0 5 / 1 2 / 18 Z E L E M v S H E F F I E L D U T D · C H A M P I O N S H I P · 2 0 / 0 2 / 19

G OALS CO N CED ED I N APRI L AS TH E REDS WO N TH RE E F R O M T H R E E , S C O R I N G 17

GOALS SCORED BY SUBSTITUTES J A M E S L E A D I N G TH E WAY W ITH F O U R

BIGGEST AWAY CROWD

MILLIE TURNER

EACH SCO RED BY A D I FFERENT PLAYER

100% STARTED ALL 28 GAMES TO DATE

OF HAT-TRICKS 4 NUMBER

v L E W E S ( C H A M P I O N S H I P ) 0 2 / 1 2 / 18

18 Manchester United Women v Lewes FC Women

S I G S W O RTH 5 v V I L L A (AWAY) G R E E N 3 v M I L LW A L L ( H O M E ) TO O N E 4 v L E I C E STE R (AWAY) JA M E S 4 v PA L A C E (H O M E)

I N FOG RAPH IC

C A S E Y S T O N E Y H A S U S E D 19 P L A Y E R S T H R O U G H O U T T H E S E A S O N

1 3 H A V E S C O R E D AT L E A S T O N E G O A L

TO P SCO RERS S I G S W O R T H 17 / 16 L E A G U E / 1 L E A G U E C U P G R E E N 16 / 13 L E A G U E / 2 L E A G U E C U P / 1 FA C U P J A M E S 16 / 13 L E A G U E / 2 FA C U P / 1 L E A G U E C U P TO O N E 15 / 14 L E A G U E / 1 FA C U P Z E L E M 1 1 / 10 L E A G U E / 1 L E A G U E C U P )

13

NUMBER OF CONVERTED PENALTIES

ZELEM 4 GREENWOOD 2 TOONE 1 HARRIS 6

BEST SCORING RUN S I G S W O RTH H A S F O U N D TH E N ET I N H E R L A ST F I V E A P P E A R A N C E S I N ALL CO M PETITI O NS – CAN SH E MAKE IT SIX GAM ES TH IS AFTERN O O N?

V

V V

V V

Manchester United Women v Lewes FC Women 19

A L E X G R E E N WO O D I N T E R V I E W

22 Manchester United Women v Lewes FC Women

A L E X G R E E N WO O D I N T E R V I E W

‘EVERYONE’S A LEADER HERE’ She might wear the armband, but Alex Greenwood knows the importance of the entire squad having a voice. Here she talks of “honest conversations and home truths” uniting the Reds, sharing defensive tips with her Premier League-bound partner, and why she could never become a manager...

With the league title in the bag we understand you were given a bit of time off. You must have needed it considering what a busy few months you’ve had with club and country, and with the World Cup just around the corner?

Absolutely, it’s been good to have a little break. It’s been an intense season and, obviously, when we have international breaks, the girls [at United] get their time off. So it’s needed at the moment, and hopefully it works for the better come the World Cup. First and foremost I’ve got to be selected in the squad for France, though.

You missed the Millwall game, but Casey still put out a very strong side that day – it would appear the team still has targets before the end of the season…

I think any team we put out is a strong team. We’ve got great depth in this squad, so any team would have been strong anyway. But yeah, we have goals and one of those is to reach 100 goals now we’ve achieved all our other targets, although that won’t be easy.

Not for the first time this season, Amy Turner wore the armband in your absence at Millwall. Much like yourself, she would seem to have strong leadership skills from the back…

She does. We’ve got some really good leaders in the team and Amy [below] is one of them, and I was buzzing for her to wear the armband and to get a goal as well. We’ve got a team of different personalities, and it’s important everyone has their say and involves themselves. Everyone’s a leader here in different ways – whether that’s vocally, or they might put their arm around the shoulder of people, or give people a text. We’re a very tight group and we’ve got some big characters, some fiery characters, but everyone has their voice.

The whole squad seems incredibly close...

We have a great squad bond. It’s taken hard work though, off the pitch.

We’ve done a lot together away from the field for it to be as good as it is. We’ve had some really honest conversations, some home truths, and we know each other inside-out. Everyone knows each other’s mood every day. But we’ve got a fantastic group. I think every player that comes in or goes away from this club will always remember the bond this team’s got.

How much did you enjoy the celebrations together after the Crystal Palace win?

I loved it. We celebrated, staff and players together. We went into Manchester, had some food, and went out as a team. I think it’s important to do that – to see each other ⊲

Manchester United Women v Lewes FC Women 21

A L E X G R E E N WO O D I N T E R V I E W

Having competed in eight WSL campaigns, for Everton, Notts County and Liverpool, Alex’s experience and versatility has been vital to a young United squad this season

in a different light, and get to know each other differently. I think we deserved to enjoy the moment, and the girls really need to enjoy their summer and some welcome time off. It’s been an intense year, on and off the pitch. People might say, ‘you’ve walked the league’ but this team has worked really hard off the pitch. It’s important that we regroup and be ready for a tough pre-season. I can’t wait for it.

It’s been quite a few weeks for you and your partner [Sheffield United defender Jack O’Connell], with both of you promoted to the top divisions. Do you get to watch each other play often?

I’ve been able to get down to the last couple of games, and it’s been unbelievable. I don’t think it’s quite settled in yet – that we’ve both set out to achieve things and our targets are both coming off. We do review games together. We say how we think we played, and we’re honest with each other all the time. But he has his game and I have mine – he’s a centre-half, I’m a left-back, so we’re slightly different. But he gets forward a lot too. The way Sheffield United play is fantastic – Chris [Wilder] has them set up in a great way – and I’m really proud of Jack.

You’ve changed position a few times this season. Is that something you enjoy challenging yourself with?

FOUR WEEKS TILL FRANCE!

Alex’s World Cup ambitions “Can England win the World Cup? Absolutely. I think it’d be disappointing if you weren’t thinking about winning it – for any team. You enter to win. We’ve still got a bit of work to do at home – physically and mentally – but we know what we need to achieve before we get there, and we’ll make sure we do it. We went to the SheBelieves Cup, against the three best teams in the world, and won it. It’s not to say that’s how it always works out, but we showed what we’re capable of in every game, and the depth in the squad is outstanding. We could play three teams – the standard of training has been unbelievable, and that’s only making us stronger for France.”

22 Manchester United Women v Lewes FC Women

I generally don’t mind. It’s anything for the team, for Casey. I have so much respect for her, I’d play in goal if she asked me to. This year I bring a lot of experience to the team, so that’s meant I was needed in midfield in certain games. In most cases it paid off, really. Then I stepped in at centre-half, when we were missing a player there. I see myself as quite a versatile player, so if I need to do a job, I back myself to do it. But ultimately, I am a left-back and that’s my preferred position.

If you had to pick one performance from the team that stood out above all the others this season, which game would it be?

I have two. Everton away, for me, was one that stands out. We’d just come back out of defeat to Durham, which was a shock for most people. We didn’t deserve to win that game, but we deserved to win the Everton game. We were fantastic. Everything about us – defensively, attacking – we were brilliant. And Arsenal. People can say, ‘but we got beat’, but to go toe-to-toe with the champions – which they are now – and to do what we did… I think we caused them more problems than some teams have this year, and I think it was a good lesson for all of us, to see where we’re at.

Expectation was high in the team from day one, but it’s easy to forget how many of the squad hadn’t played top-flight football, wouldn’t you agree?

Yeah. For some of these girls it was about getting experience, and they’ve had that this season, and it leaves them in good stead for next season, because it’s going to be totally different.

Listen, we were criticised anyway for going into WSL2. That was highlighted a lot and still is now. We think it was the right thing to do, for the team, the players, the build of the club. I had no doubt we’d achieve what we achieved, but obviously it’s about turning up on the day and working hard in training.

Considering how well the team has fared in the cups this season, do you feel like we’ve overachieved at all?

No, I don’t think so. I think I’d have been disappointed if we

A L E X G R E E N WO O D I N T E R V I E W

WHAT’S SO IMPORTANT WITH CASEY IS THAT SHE’S SO HONEST – THAT GOES A LONG WAY WITH FOOTBALL PLAYERS...

I HAVE SO MUCH RESPECT FOR HER, I’D PLAY IN GOAL IF SHE ASKED ME TO

Casey was quick to sign up her former defensive team-mate last summer, with Alex swiftly appointed team captain

Do you fancy becoming a manager one day?

Absolutely not! I couldn’t do what Casey does, no chance.

Yes, I think I’m a leader and I think I can inspire people, but I don’t think I could be a good manager like Casey. I just don’t think I’ve got it in me. I’d like to take a different role than that, really.

Our last meeting with today’s visitors was played in difficult conditions down in Sussex

didn’t achieve what we have, and that’s the high expectations we have.

I think we had the best team in the league, and that’s down to Casey’s recruitment. But I don’t think we overachieved at all. I think we met expectations and targets, and we want to keep pushing the boundaries.

You had to wait a little while for your first goal, but you’re now on five for 2018/19, making it your best season in front of goal. You must be pleased with that from full-back…

I’m quite an attacking left-back, so I’d like to be on the scoresheet more than five, to be honest. Hopefully that improves next season, as well.

Your first goal for the club is always so important, but my favourite is the free-kick at Leicester. I enjoyed that, and it wasn’t from the penalty spot!

Durham remain the only team to have taken any points from us in the league. What do you put it down to in those two games?

I just don’t think we experienced another team like them during the season. It might have shocked us a little bit – they could be quite physical. But that’s their game, and it paid off on two occasions.

Frustrating, absolutely, but, again, it’s all lessons and all learning experiences for this team, including me. Away from home, we got punished for mistakes, and we hadn’t been punished previously. I said to the girls after that game: “I’m actually quite glad that happened, because we can’t get away with the things we’ve done in that game again.” When we go up next year, we can’t make mistakes like that.

We enjoyed seeing Casey remonstrating with the assistant referee in injury-time against Palace, with the team 7-0 up!

To us, it just summed up what a committed manager she is...

Honestly, she’s unbelievable. She’s a fantastic manager and person.

First and foremost, she cares about the person, more than the footballer, but she’s so driven and determined to improve every individual as best she can. But I think what’s so important with Casey is that she’s so honest, and that goes a long way with football players. She’s perfect for the job. I know she’ll recruit right in the summer, and I think the future at the club is fantastic under her.

As Manchester United captain and an established England international, how much have you felt your own profile increase in the last year or so?

The size of the club speaks for itself. Everywhere you go there’s a Manchester United fan, and you’re recognised more and more every time. On the streets of Manchester, it’s all the time! But it’s great, and it shows you the backing we have and the size of the club.

Hopefully the more trophies we win and the more successful we are, the better that becomes, not just for me but for the whole team.

The Lewes away game in December was one of the tighter games of the season, with United winning 2-0 in Sussex. What are your memories of that day down at the Dripping Pan? I remember it well. The pitch was awful, but it was just the time of year really. I think it seemed tighter on the result than it actually was.

Two-nil didn’t really reflect the game. But they’re a good team with a really good manager [Fran Alonso], and are no pushovers. This will be another tough day, but a game we’re more than capable of winning.

The manager has spoken of the possibility of the team playing a game at Old Trafford in the future. As captain, how much does that excite you?

I think it would be massive. It’d be good to get the fans who are week-in, week-out at Old Trafford there to watch us, and it would be a dream come true for a lot of us [as players]. At the moment we have a fantastic fan base and the more numbers we can add to that, the better. Our fan base is like nothing I’ve experienced in my life. They make me speechless, and that’s a hard thing to do! Home and away, they’re there in their numbers. And you know what’s great? The fan base has grown and grown, and that’s been down to them.

What do you make of the chant they have in your honour?

It’s great, isn’t it?! All of the chants are. I find myself singing the songs in the warm-up, myself, when I’m preparing for the game. I’ll be singing the Leah Galton song, or the Katie Zelem song – I sing away with them, you just can’t help but join in!

What do you do away from football to relax?

It’s tough to get away from football in my house, as you can probably tell! There’s football everywhere, and I have a football family and a lot of friends within football. I love the game. I love analysing the game as well, and watching football, so my down time is probably sitting down at home and watching football, really! I’m being forced to watch Game of Thrones though. I don’t actually want to watch it, but Jack really wanted to. I wouldn’t say I’m enjoying it, either – it’s not my cup of tea, really – but I’m watching it. I’m not really a series person; I just tend to watch football. I enjoy going out for food and coffees and stuff like that, so that’s probably my way of getting away from football, but to be truthful, getting out and doing that is not always as easy as it sounds! ⬤

Manchester United Women v Lewes FC Women 23

H E R E

T O

C R E AT E

MANCHESTER UNITED HOME JERSEY 18/19

ADI1001478 MUFC WOMENS_HOME 18-19_A5_P3.indd 1

08/01/2019 12:18

B E H I N D -T H E - S C E N E S P H OTO S

SAVING SHOTS. TAKING SHOTS

Siobhan Chamberlain’s pre-match pics from Millwall away

Above: Full concentration is required to read the programme Above right: Ella and Lizzie share a joke as they prepare for kick-off Right: Millie’s never been one to miss a photo opportunity!

Far right: “If I kiss my boots for luck, maybe I’ll get to take a penalty one day...”

Below: Katie gets stuck into the kit bag... much to Lauren’s amusement Below right: Kirsty strikes a pose as she gets set for action

Manchester United Women v Lewes FC Women 25

M U F O U N DAT I O N

“HAVING A WOMEN’S TEAM TO LOOK UP TO HAS GIVEN EVERYONE INSPIRATION...”

Emma Fletcher, manager of United’s Regional Talent Club, says the future’s looking very bright for so many junior Reds

Fletcher (inset, right) is immensely proud of what every age group has achieved in ’18/19, with only a penalty shoot-out denying the Under-16s a place in the FA Youth Cup final

It’s been an eventful 2018/19 season throughout United’s Regional Talent Club – what has been your RTC highlight?

The Under-11s winter cup final was a special game to watch. Every single player was a 10/10 that day, whether it was a last-ditch tackle, a Giggs-style run at goal or one of three unbelievable saves from the goalkeeper. The game had everything, and despite going behind early in the tie we ran out 3-2 winners. Seeing the quality that we have across our younger age groups means Manchester United and the RTC will have a very bright future for many years to come.

For all the joys of football there are often disappointments that players learn from. What do you believe have been the low points and where have lessons been learned?

I would say it was seeing how devastated the Under-16 players were after our FA Youth Cup semi-final defeat at Chelsea. They gave absolutely everything, but the game went to a shoot-out, which we unfortunately lost. The RTC staff insisted all players travelled back on the coach together so the players knew how proud we were of every one of them.

Once the team were back in training it was fairly easy to pick them up.

I believe this experience helped drive them to finish the season on a high – they were crowned league champions at the end of April.

What have been the biggest challenges this season?

I’d say one of the biggest challenges has been keeping up with all of the international call-ups. We’ve had a number of players selected for England at U15, 16 & 17 age groups [Ellie Rigby, Keira Barry, Hannah Burke, Eleanor Ashton, Sasha McTiffin, Ellie Kelly, Ella Kinzett, Poppy Lawson, Fran Stables]. We’ve also had a Scotland Under-16 call-up for Niamh Murphy and a Wales Under-17 in Isabella Reidford.

In your opinion which of the current RTC age groups are showing potential for future success in the women’s game?

All of the age groups show signs of potential but our Under-12s could well be the equivalent of a Class of ’92 for the women’s game. They’re honestly that good.

United’s RTC was recently recognised by the FA as being the first club to achieve a Tier 1 plus status. How much effort goes on behind the scenes to achieve that?

26 Manchester United Women v Lewes FC Women

The combined age groups have won 45 matches, drawn seven and lost just six all season

An enormous amount of work is involved from everyone. Vitally, it’s about providing evidence and examples of our work in each area of the RTC. We have been through the FA process a number of times over the past three or four seasons, so for me personally, there are no excuses for not being able to evidence what we do to meet the FA’s high standards and demanding criteria.

It makes me very proud to be a part of this success. The demands of the license criteria and our reporting recognises every single strand of the work we do with our players, on and off the pitch.

In order to prepare the elite players of the future, some age groups play fixtures in local boys’ leagues. How has this worked for the RTC and what has been the impact on the players?

By joining the local leagues the girls are playing at a much faster pace and are required to be much stronger on the ball. They have to think faster, physically they have to work harder to become stronger, and they have to be more resilient. Our Under-12s are doing really well and are second in their boys’ league so it is working. When they go back to playing girl’s RTC teams nobody can get near them!

For the first time in the RTC’s history there is now a clear pathway to a senior women’s team at Manchester United. What influence do you think this has had on the current crop of players coming through the RTC? Having a women’s team to look up to has given everyone inspiration.

Players can now dream of being a professional footballer at the club where they’ve gained their footballing education. It’s amazing to see so many of our former RTC players making it in the women’s game.

It’s also really encouraging to see the current RTC players enjoying match days in Leigh, watching and cheering on their new heroes.

In reality one day it could be any number of them out there.

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G A L L E RY/ Q U I Z

FRED’S FAN ZONE

We end the season with a bumper pick of top fan photos – plus can you answer our shirt number sums?

FANS’ GALLERY

Here is William celebrating promotion after the Villa match, alongside our smiling captain.

Esme is a massive Lizzie Arnot fan, who along with her family has loved watching the Reds charge to the title this season.

Young Bill was thrilled to meet Amy Turner after the Palace match, and he wants to see her score today!

SHIRT SUMS

Hello to Charlie, also pictured here at the Palace game – as sent in by his auntie Amber.

Can you recall their squad numbers to solve these posers?

(Answers at foot of page)

1

Poppy, 10, is an avid Red who was all smiles when she got to meet Casey Stoney at Leigh Sports Village recently.

Jasmine wants to thank Mollie for this pic. “I’m so proud... keep playing for the badge!” she says.

Ella and Alex, here with full-back Martha Harris, love going to the matches and cheering the girls on.

Olivia, 8, travelled with her dad from Scotland for the Palace game. Here she is with Scottish Red Kirsty Smith.

Here is Alannah receiving a super special gift from her idol Millie Turner – a shirt signed by the whole team.

Brilliant!

+ =

2

=

This is Emily with her no.1 player.

She’ll be hoping to get a picture with Jess and the trophy today.

Season ticket holders Marg Cawley, Lucy Cawley and Louise Johnson alongside United’s no.1!

Millie, 6, would like to say a big congratulations to the whole team.

Here she is with her namesake!

Holly (right) with her friend and team-mate Hermione (and Fred) both play for Stockport Dynamoes.

Nathan, aged four, has loved coming with his cousins Leeson, Jessica and Elissa to cheer the Reds on here at LSV.

3

x

= Shirt sums answers: 1. 14; 2. 9; 3. 60

Sophie is 7 and a big United fan. She really enjoys coming to watch MU Women play at LSV.

-

Manchester United Women v Lewes FC Women 29

STONEY’S SQUAD

▲ ▲ ▲

2

MARTHA HARRIS Position Defender DOB 19/8/1994 Nationality English

SIOBHAN CHAMBERLAIN Position Goalkeeper DOB 15/8/1983 Nationality English

13 22

EMILY RAMSEY Position Goalkeeper DOB 16/11/2000 Nationality English

3

ALEX GREENWOOD Position Defender DOB 7/9/1993 Nationality English

FRAN BENTLEY (out on loan) Position Goalkeeper DOB 26/6/2001 Nationality English

4

AMY TURNER Position Defender DOB 4/7/1991 Nationality English

FOCUS ON...

12

NAOMI HARTLEY (out on loan) Position Defender DOB 12/1/2001 Nationality English

▲ ▲ ▲

15

1

20

20

LUCY ROBERTS Position Defender DOB 11/5/2001 Nationality English

Along with team-mate Lizzie Arnot, full-back Kirsty Smith will be hoping to line up for Scotland at the Women’s World Cup next month, in what would be an exciting end to an excellent 2018/19 for United’s no.20. Signed from Hibernian, Smith won domestic cup doubles with the Edinburgh club in 2016 and 2017, her pace and power out wide – as well as her ability to play on either flank or in midfield – making her one of the team’s most influential players.

Smith’s versatility has continued to benefit her since moving south of the border: although she started the season on the right, she’s filled in for Alex Greenwood on the opposite side whenever the skipper’s been deployed elsewhere. While the 25-year-old Scot has yet to get on the scoresheet in her 22 United appearances to date, her precise balls into the opposition box have so often led to a goal, while she possesses the necessary speed and nous to retreat to her defensive position in no time.

30 Manchester United Women v Lewes FC Women

KIRSTY SMITH Position Defender DOB 6/1/1994 Nationality Scottish

P L AY E R P R O F I L E S

21

MILLIE TURNER Position Defender DOB 7/7/1996 Nationality English

14

CHARLIE DEVLIN Position Midfielder DOB 23/2/1998 Nationality English

11

LEAH GALTON Position Forward DOB 24/5/1994 Nationality English

6

AIMEE PALMER Position Midfielder DOB 25/7/2000 Nationality English

16

LAUREN JAMES Position Midfielder/forward DOB 29/9/2001 Nationality English

17

LIZZIE ARNOT Position Forward DOB 1/3/1996 Nationality Scottish

8

MOLLIE GREEN Position Midfielder/forward DOB 4/8/1997 Nationality English

7

ELLA TOONE Position Forward DOB 2/9/1999 Nationality English

18

KIRSTY HANSON Position Forward DOB 17/4/1998 Nationality Scottish

10

KATIE ZELEM Position Midfielder DOB 20/1/1996 Nationality English

9

JESS SIGSWORTH Position Forward DOB 13/10/1994 Nationality English

19

EBONY SALMON (out on loan) Position Forward DOB 27/1/2001 Nationality English

Manchester United Women v Lewes FC Women 31

H E R E

T O

C R E AT E

MANCHESTER UNITED AWAY JERSEY 18/19

ADI1001478 MUFC WOMENS_AWAY 18-19_A5 AD_P3.indd 1

08/01/2019 12:21

TH E OPPOSITION

THE VISITORS

Having established themselves at this level, the Rookettes are eyeing further progress under their knowledgeable new boss

A

Pictures: James Boyes

warded Championship status on the very same day as Manchester United last summer, the East Sussex outfit have endured a testing but ultimately positive first season in the second tier of the women’s game.

Long-standing manager John Donoghue – who had led Lewes since 2014 – departed in November, after a dramatic 5-0 defeat to Durham that saw all the Wildcats’ goals arrive in a calamitous opening 35 minutes, and Lewes wasted little time in responding decisively.

‘Despite some good early results, recent form has indicated that a fresh impetus is now needed for the team to achieve its potential in this league,’ ran the official statement that followed Donoghue’s departure, and highly respected first-team coach Fran Alonso has steadied the ship impressively in the months since the regime change.

They currently lie ninth, which Alonso correctly asserts is “not bad in our first season at this level” and, as their first meeting with Casey Stoney’s team in December indicates, rarely give up points without a real fight.

There was a loss to Sheffield United in their most recent outing – Lewes’s final home match of the season at the Dripping Pan – but the Blades are arguably the form team in the entire division, with it being their sixth consecutive victory.

The ‘Rookettes’ have delivered some good results of their own in recent weeks. They impressively came from 2-0 down to rescue a point away at Aston Villa, thanks to the second of two goals from New Zealand international forward Katie Rood, who joined on loan from Bristol City in January after a spell in Italy with Juventus.

That performance followed a dogged showing against top-half Durham, who only just scraped past Lewes by the single goal, and successive wins at home to Millwall and away to Crystal Palace, with clean sheets kept in both games.

Lewes are also one of the few sides in the Championship to have largely quelled the riotous attacking potency of United’s title-winners. In the aforementioned meeting before Christmas, the Rookettes kept the Reds at bay until the second period, when Mollie Green’s goal finally

Alonso’s Lewes were too good for Millwall in the Rookettes’ most recent league win, with Jessica King and Charlotte Owen getting the goals

TH E M A N A G E R: Fran Alonso As far as pedigree goes, job candidates seldom come much stronger than Alonso. The Spaniard was assistant to Mauricio Pochettino at Southampton and Ronald Koeman at Everton, and has over 15 years of coaching experience.

His desire is to transform Lewes into a side that fulfils its potential, displaying an attractive, possession-based brand of football. The club’s head of football, Stuart Fuller, revealed: “When we met Fran, we knew this was someone who had all the attributes and passion we’ll need to take this team to the top.”

O N E TO WATC H: K atie McInt yre The heartbeat of the Lewes team, the club captain – known as ‘Macca’ personifies the spirit of the East Sussex side. The former midfielder turned centre-back is both destroyer and creator, and provides pinpoint dead-ball accuracy from corners and free-kicks. Calm under pressure, the skipper is also known to bag herself a goal or two per season, too.

McIntyre consistently leads the way when it comes to Player of the Match awards and has just won the coveted fans’ Player of the Season award for 2018/19. broke the deadlock. The score remained at 1-0 until the final 10 minutes, when Lewes keeper Faye Baker managed to repel a penalty kick from Alex Greenwood, only to see Ella Toone to fire the rebound home.

Their obduracy made an impression on the visiting Reds. “It was difficult – I think Lewes played well,” said Stoney post-match. “They made it hard for us and we found it difficult to break them down.”

That is likely to be the challenge again today, as United go in search of an 18th Championship victory of the 2018/19 campaign, while Lewes go in search of a sixth win of their inaugural season in the second tier.

With their defence marshalled by the leadership of Kate McIntyre (see above), and the talented Rood up front, Alonso’s side might just possess the blend of resilience and creativity required to capitalise on any complacency on the part of their champion hosts. Their top scorer Rebecca Carter (eight goals) is an injury concern for today, however.

Whatever the result, Lewes will finish ninth this season, but Alonso says “there are no limits for this club” in the years to come.

Manchester United Women v Lewes FC Women 33

S E AS O N STAT I ST I C S

DATE

August

OPPOSITION

KO

CT Sun 19 Liverpool CT Sat 25 Reading

VEN RES

ATT

STARTING LINE-UP

2pm 12pm

A H

1-0 0-2

829 4,835

Chamberlain Smith Chamberlain Smith

A Turner A Turner

M Turner M Turner

Greenwood Greenwood

Green Green

3pm 7pm 2pm 12pm

A H A H

12-0 3-0 5-0 0-0

1,165 2,003 642 2,244

Chamberlain Chamberlain Chamberlain Chamberlain

A Turner A Turner A Turner A Turner

M Turner M Turner M Turner 1 M Turner

Smith Greenwood Greenwood Greenwood

Zelem 1 Zelem 1 Palmer Zelem

LG Sun 14 Charlton Athletic 12pm H

3-0

2,349

Chamberlain Smith

A Turner

M Turner

Greenwood

Green

September LG LG LG LG

Sun 9 Thu 20 Sun 23 Sun 30

Aston Villa Sheffield United London Bees Durham

Harris Harris Smith Harris

October November LG Sun 4 Tottenham Hotspur LG Sun 18 Crystal Palace LG Sun 25 Millwall Lionesses

12pm 2pm 12pm

H A H

4-1 5-0 8-0

2,367 975 1,467

Chamberlain Harris A Turner Chamberlain Harris A Turner Chamberlain Smith A Turner

M Turner M Turner M Turner

Greenwood Greenwood 1• Greenwood 1•

Palmer Green 2 Green 3

Lewes Durham Durham Everton

2pm 7pm 12pm 7pm

A H A A

2-0 1-0 1-3 3-0

1,958 686 912 267

Chamberlain Chamberlain Chamberlain Chamberlain

Smith Harris Smith Harris

Hartley A Turner A Turner A Turner

M Turner M Turner M Turner M Turner

Greenwood Greenwood Greenwood Smith

Zelem Zelem Zelem Zelem 1

London Bees West Ham United (QF)

2pm 7pm

H H

9-0 2-0 x

1,889 1,029

Chamberlain Harris Chamberlain Harris

M Turner A Turner

Greenwood M Turner

Smith Smith

Zelem 1 Zelem

Chamberlain Chamberlain Chamberlain Chamberlain Chamberlain

Harris Harris Smith Harris Harris

A Turner A Turner A Turner Palmer A Turner

M Turner M Turner M Turner M Turner M Turner

Greenwood Smith Greenwood 1 Smith Greenwood

Zelem Zelem Zelem Greenwoo Zelem 1

Harris Harris Harris Smith

A Turner A Turner Palmer A Turner

M Turner M Turner M Turner M Turner

Smith Greenwood 1 • Greenwood Greenwood

Green 1 Green Zelem 1 Zelem 2

A Turner Palmer A Turner 1

M Turner 1 Smith M Turner Greenwood M Turner Smith

December LG CT LG CT

Sun 2 Wed 5 Sun 9 Thu 13

January LG Sun 6 CT Wed 9

February FA CT LG FA LG

Sun 3 Thu 7 Wed 13 Sun 17 Wed 20

Brighton (R4) Arsenal (SF) Leicester City London Bees (R5) Sheffield United

12.30pm A 2-0 764 7.30pm A 1-2 1,836 7.45pm A 7-0 x 824 2pm H 3-0 838 7pm A 4-0 1,008

March LG Sun 10 FA Sun 17 LG Sun 24 LG Sun 31

Leicester City Reading (QF) Charlton Athletic Tottenham Hotspur

12pm 2pm 2pm 2pm

H A A A

6-1 2-3*x 2-1 5-1

1,554 951 732 1,607

Chamberlain C hamberlain Chamberlain Chamberlain

7pm 12pm 2pm

H H A

5-0 7-0 5-0

1,401 2,112 1,920

Chamberlain Harris Chamberlain Harris Ramsey Harris 1•

April LG Wed 17 Aston Villa LG Sat 20 Crystal Palace LG Sun 28 Millwall Lionesses

May Lewes

5.30pm H

P

W D L GD Pts

1 UNITED (C) 19 17 1 1 86 52 2 Tottenham (P) 19 14 1 4 15 43 3 Durham

19 11 6 2 23 39

4 Charlton

19 12 2 5 24 38

5 Sheffield Utd 19 10 1 8 -2 31 6 Aston Villa

19 6 7 6 -9 25

7 Leicester City 19 6 3 10 -13 21 8 London Bees 20 7 0 13 -25 21 9 Lewes

19 5 2 12 -19 17

10 Crystal Palace 19 11 Millwall

3

1 15 -30 10

19 1 2 16 -50 5

34 Manchester United Women v Lewes FC Women

KEY TO STATS: LG – FA Women’s Championship;

CT – FA Continental Tyres League Cup; FA – Women’s FA Cup Scorers Bold • Penalty x Own goal *after extra-time Sent off First sub Second sub Third sub

LEAG U E C U P, G R O U P TWO N O RTH

FA WOM E N’S CHAM PIONSH I P

LG Sat 11

P W D L GD Pts

1 UNITED 4

3 0

1

3

9

2 Reading 4 2 1 1 4 7

-------------------------------------

3 Everton 4

2 0

2

-1

6

4 Durham 4

1 1

2

-3

4

5 Liverpool 4

0

2* 2

-3

4

* Liverpool awarded two bonus points – one for each penalty shoot-out victory following a draw

Green Arnot 1 Zelem 1•

S E AS O N STAT I ST I C S

SUBSTITUTES USED

STAY UP

TO SPEED

WITH MU WOMEN!

wood wood

Green Green

Zelem Zelem

James James

Arnot 1 Arnot

Sigsworth Sigsworth

Hanson Hanson

Toone Palmer

Galton Galton

Devlin Toone

wood wood wood

Zelem 1 • Zelem 1 • Palmer Zelem

Devlin Green Zelem Toone

James 2 James Green 2 James

Galton Toone Arnot Arnot

Sigsworth 5 Sigsworth James 1 Sigsworth

Hanson 2 Hanson 1 Hanson Hanson

Green 1 Arnot 1 Sigsworth Galton

Toone 1 Palmer Toone 1 Devlin

Palmer Devlin Hartley Smith

wood

Green

Zelem 1

Palmer

Hanson

Sigsworth 1 Arnot 1

Toone

Harris

Devlin

wood wood 1• wood 1•

Palmer Green 2 Green 3

Zelem Zelem Zelem 1

Toone Devlin James 1

Hanson Arnot 2 Hanson

Sigsworth 2 James 1 Toone Hanson Sigsworth 1 Arnot

Galton Sigsworth Toone 1

Green Smith Bentley

Devlin 1 James Palmer

wood wood wood

Zelem Zelem Zelem Zelem 1

Green 1 Green 1 Green Green

Palmer James Toone 1 Greenwood

Toone 1 Hanson Hanson Sigsworth

Sigsworth Sigsworth Devlin James 1

Devlin Toone Sigsworth Hanson

Galton Arnot James Toone

James Devlin

Galton –

Zelem 1• Zelem

Green 1 Green

Toone 2 Greenwood

Arnot 1 James

Devlin 2 Hanson Sigsworth 1 Arnot

Palmer Hanson

Hartley Toone

James 2 –

wood

Zelem Zelem Zelem Greenwood Zelem 1

Green Green 1 Green Green 1 Green 1

Toone Hanson Greenwood Sigsworth Toone 4 • Hanson 1 Toone 1 Sigsworth Toone 1 • Sigsworth

Sigsworth James Sigsworth Devlin 1 James 1

Devlin Galton Galton Arnot Galton

James 2 Hanson Devlin James Hanson

Galton Toone Arnot Ramsey Palmer

Arnot Arnot James Hanson Arnot

wood 1 • ood wood

Green 1 Green Zelem 1• Zelem 2 •

James 1 Zelem Green Green 1

Toone 1 Toone Toone Toone

Sigsworth 2 Sigsworth James Devlin

Galton Hanson Galton Galton 1

Devlin James Devlin James

Greenwood Smith Arnot Arnot

– – Smith Harris

Green Arnot 1 Zelem 1•

Toone 1 Zelem Galton

Greenwood 1• Arnot Toone Galton 1 Toone James

Sigsworth 1 Sigsworth 1 Arnot

Galton James 4 Devlin 1

Hanson Green Green

Palmer Hanson Sigsworth 1

Devlin 1 Devlin Hanson

wood

wood 1

ood

Hanson 1 Galton Sigsworth 1 Sigsworth 1

APPEARAN C E S / G OALS (ALL C O M PS)

Apps

Goals

Lizzie Arnot Fran Bentley Siobhan Chamberlain Charlie Devlin

15 (8) 0 (1) 27 8 (12)

7 0 0 6

Leah Galton Mollie Green Alex Greenwood Kirsty Hanson Martha Harris

13 (7) 23 (4) 25 (1) 17 (8) 19 (2)

3 16 5 5 1

Arnot Galton Arnot Galton 1

Naomi Hartley Lauren James

Apps

Goals

1 (2) 17 (9)

0 16

Aimee Palmer Emily Ramsey

7 (7) 1 (1)

0 0

Jess Sigsworth Kirsty Smith Ella Toone Amy Turner Millie Turner

23 (4) 18 (4) 18 (10) 23 28

17 0 15 1 2

25

11

Katie Zelem

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Manchester United Women v Lewes FC Women 35

MANCHESTER UNITED ­WOMEN

Siobhan CHAMBERLAIN (GK) Martha HARRIS Alex GREENWOOD Amy TURNER Aimee PALMER Ella TOONE Mollie GREEN Jess SIGSWORTH Katie ZELEM Leah GALTON Emily RAMSEY (GK) Charlie DEVLIN Lucy ROBERTS Lauren JAMES Lizzie ARNOT Kirsty HANSON Kirsty SMITH Millie TURNER

1 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 10 11 13 14 15 16 17 18 20 21

LEWES FC WOMEN

1 3 4 5 6 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 22 30

Faye BAKER (GK) Sophie PERRY Katie McINTYRE Amy TAYLOR Shannon MOLONEY Leeta RUTHERFORD Rebecca CARTER Charlotte OWEN Avilla BERGIN Charley BOSWELL Nina WILSON (GK) Sarah KEMPSON Rachel PANTING Samantha QUAYLE Kellie LARKIN Rosie PAYE Danielle LANE Sophie O’ROURKE Katie ROOD Jessica KING

MATCH OFFICIALS Referee: Yasmin Saeed Assistant referees: Greg Nixon, Cristiana Hattersley

FA WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP, SATURDAY 11 MAY 2019, KICK-OFF 5.30pm OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME, 2018/19 SEASON, VOL 1 ISSUE 14