Welcome to the latest installment of the Gloucester Groundhopper blog.
For this chapter, AFC Finners and I travelled to Manchester to experience the Women's Super League. The match pitted Manchester United Women against Aston Villa Women at the Theatre of Dreams, also known as Old Trafford.
It's All In The Name
Manchester United is known as the Red Devils, but they were originally known as the 'Heathens,' dating back to 1878, when they were known as Newton Heath Football Club. The media dubbed them the "Busby Babes" following Matt Busby's appointment as manager in 1945. However, following the Munich Air Disaster, in which Geoff Bent, Roger Byrne, Eddie Colman, Duncan Edwards, Mark Jones, David Pegg, Tommy Taylor, and Billy Whelan were killed, this nickname was deemed inappropriate. The nickname "Red Devils" comes from a 1930s tour of France by the Salford rugby club. Because their uniforms were red, the French press dubbed them "Les Diables Rouges," which translates to "The Red Devils." Busby used this nickname as the club's nickname because he thought it would be intimidating. In 1970, the club badge was redesigned to include the red devil.
Some Notable People From Manchester:
Mick Hucknall- Singer From Simply Red
Karl Pilkington- TV Presenter
Niamh Blackshaw- Hollyoaks Actress
Caroline Aherne- Comedian
David Lloyd-George- Prime Minister
A History Lesson From AFC Finners
Manchester United
A group of railway workers founded Manchester United in 1878 as Newton Heath LYR Football Club. They competed against other railway teams and were founding members of the Combination League in 1888. They joined the Football Alliance before moving on to the Football League.
They played in the Premier League for two seasons before being relegated to the Second Division. The club was on the verge of bankruptcy in 1902, but captain Harry Stafford convinced a group of businessmen to invest in the club. They changed their name to Manchester United and appointed Ernst Magnall, the club's first great manager, to the hotseat in 1903.
In 1908, they won their first First Division title, and the following year, they won their first FA Cup, defeating Bristol City 1-0 in the final. They won the league again in 1911, but their fortunes quickly deteriorated, with Magnall leaving to become manager of Manchester City.
The club was relegated to the Second Division in the 1920s and spent several years bouncing back and forth between the first and second tiers, and they would not see daylight again until after World War II.
Matt Busby was appointed manager in 1945, and he would forever change the club. Busby had complete control of the first team and led them to high league finishes in the late 1940s before winning the FA Cup in 1948, defeating Blackpool 4-2 in the final. Since the club's last major victory, two world wars had passed.
Busby led them to further success in 1952, when they won their first league title in 41 years, and began to build a great young side known as the "Busby Babes," which included Duncan Edwards, Bobby Charlton, and Tommy Taylor. This team won the league title in both 1956.
Unfortunately, their European adventures would end in tragedy on February 6, 1958, when a plane carrying the players home from Belgrade crashed on the runway in Munich, killing 23 passengers, including 8 of the club's players.
While Busby was in the hospital, Jimmy Murphy helped rebuild the club, and they miraculously reached the FA Cup final, only to lose to Bolton. Busby tried to raise a phoenix from the ashes over the next few years, bringing in new young players like Dennis Law and George Best. When they defeated Leicester in the 1963 FA Cup final, they received their first honour following the Munich Air Disaster. The resurrection was well and truly underway.
They would win more league titles in 1965 and 1967, and their redemption would reach a climax in 1968, when they reached the European Cup final. The match between Manchester United and Benfica ended 1-1 after extra time. Manchester United, on the other hand, ran away with it, winning 4-1 to become the first English European champions. Busby shed tears of joy after avenging his fallen babes.
Busby retired in 1969, and despite a brief return as caretaker, the club's fortunes declined. Surprisingly, they were relegated to the Second Division in 1974 under Tommy Docherty. They quickly recovered and, in 1977, defeated Liverpool in the FA Cup final to deny their rivals a treble.
Manchester United had success in the 1980s with Ron Atkinson, who led them to FA Cup victories in 1983 and 1985, but he could not lead them to a league title, and the length of time since they had won one was causing concern. Atkinson was fired in 1986, and the club appointed another Scot who would become a diety on the red side of Manchester.
Alex Ferguson was appointed manager after his success as manager of Aberdeen. His early years were unsuccessful, and many people were calling for his head. However, in 1990, they reached Wembley Stadium to face Crystal Palace in the FA Cup. The final was dramatic, ending 3-3, but Manchester United won the replay 1-0. It was Alex Ferguson's first trophy for the club, and it was far from his last.
The following year, the Red Devils won the European Cup Winner's Cup with a 2-1 victory over Johan Cruyff's Barcelona, thanks to a brace from Mark Hughes. They also won the league cup for the first time in 1992, defeating Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest at Wembley Stadium.
The Premier League title remained elusive for Ferguson at Old Trafford as the newly formed Premier League took shape. But, as football evolved, the Red Devils would soon dominate the league.
They won their first league title in 26 years in 1993, and they did it again in 1994, this time completing the double by defeating Chelsea 4-0 in the FA Cup final. It was the ideal way to remember Matt Busby, who had died earlier that year.
Despite his success, Ferguson sought to rebuild his team, allowing players such as Bryan Robson, Mark Hughes, and Steve Bruce to leave over the next few years, and focusing on young players such as Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, David Beckham, Roy Keane, and the Neville brothers, many of whom were part of the infamous "class of 92."
A sweet volley from Eric Cantona sealed victory over Liverpool in the FA Cup final in 1996, and another league title followed in 1997. The club was at its peak in 1999. After losing the league to Arsenal the previous year, the club recovered. They won their fifth league title with a 2-1 victory over Tottenham on the final day, followed by an FA Cup victory over Newcastle. Two trophies had been completed, but a third was on the way.
In 1999, Manchester United advanced to their second European Cup final, where they would face Bayern Munich at the Nou Camp. Bayern led for the majority of the game, and it appeared as if Ferguson's team would miss out on the trophy.
But it was a season in which the Red Devils had come back from the brink of defeat time and again, and this game would be no exception.
Teddy Sheringham scored in the first minute of added time, and a goal in the dying moments stunned the world, as Manchester United came from behind to become the first, and to date, only English club to win the league, FA Cup, and European Cup in the same season. Ferguson's post-match comments of "football, bloody hell" summed up the victory.
Two more league titles followed to complete the three-peat, with another title coming in 2003, and a young Cristiano Ronaldo assisting in another FA Cup victory in 2004. Over the next three years, they lost the league to Wenger's Arsenal and Mourinho's Chelsea, but in 2007, a new-look team led by Rooney, Ronaldo, Vidic, Ferdinand, and Van Der Sar won the league.
In 2008, they defended their league title and advanced to their first Champions League final in nine years. They faced Chelsea, whom they had defeated on the final day of the season to win the league title. Cristiano Ronaldo put them ahead, but Chelsea equalised, sending the game to penalties. John Terry squandered a chance to score the game-winning goal, and Edwin Van Der Sar saved Nicolas Anelka's penalty to give Manchester United their third European Cup.
They won the league again in 2009 to complete the double, and they also won two consecutive league cups. They would reach two more European Cup finals, losing to Guardiola's Barcelona in 2009 and 2011. They finally dethroned Liverpool in 2011, winning a record 19th Premier League title. They reached 20 in 2013, but it was bittersweet because Alex Ferguson retired after 26 years in charge. He led the club to 13 Premier League titles, and his like will never be seen again in football.
Since Ferguson's departure, the club has struggled, with his replacement, David Moyes, failing to complete his first season. Louis Van Gaal was the club's first post-Ferguson manager to win a trophy, when they won the FA Cup in 2016, but the Dutchman was fired soon after. Jose Mourinho would take his place.
In his first season as manager, the former Chelsea manager led the club to two major titles: the League Cup and the Europa League. The following season, he led them to second place and the FA Cup final, but he was fired later that year.
After that, club legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took over, initially on an interim basis, and led them to a second-place finish and the Europa League final, but he was fired after a poor run of form in late 2021. After a lacklustre tenure under caretaker Ralph Ragnick, the club hired Ajax manager Erik Ten Haag. With the Dutchman's reputation for developing young talent and achieving success, the red side of Manchester hopes he can lead them back to glory.
And here's a fun fact: Manchester United were saved in large part thanks to a St Bernard named Major. The dog belonged to club captain Harry Stafford, who was trying to save the bankrupt club in 1902. Major bolted, and the dog was discovered by John Henry Davies, the owner of a local brewery. Stafford persuaded Davies to invest in the club, and the rest is history, as they say.
Manchester United Women
Manchester United Supporters Club Ladies existed from the 1970s to the early 2000s and were unofficially considered the club's women's team. They formed a partnership with Manchester United in 2001 but were disbanded in 2005 after Malcolm Glazer took over the club and felt the women's side had no business value for the Red Devils.
Manchester United decided to reintroduce a women's team in 2018, and the club joined the FWA Women's Championship. Their first game back was a 1-0 League Cup win over Liverpool, and a few weeks later they defeated Aston Villa 12-0.
Their first season ended on a high note, as they were promoted to the Women's Super League by winning the Championship title, which they did with a 7-0 victory versus Crystal Palace In their first season at the top, they finished fourth.
They defeated West Ham United whne they played at Old Trafford for the first time in March 2021. After a promising start to the season under head coach Marc Skinner, West Ham were defeated 2-0. Skinner, as well as England stars Ella Toone, Alessia Russo, and Mary Earps on their side, they're hoping to win their first major honour soon.
And here's a fun fact: the Red Devils achieved the most points in a single season in the Women's Championship, reaching 55 after winning all but two of their games in their first season back together.
Honours
Manchester United Men
🏆 First Division/Premier League (Winners: 1907–08, 1910–11, 1951–52, 1955–56, 1956–57, 1964–65, 1966–67, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2012–13)
🏆 Second Division (Winners: 1935–36, 1974–75)
🏆 FA Cup (Winners: 1908–09, 1947–48, 1962–63, 1976–77, 1982–83, 1984–85, 1989–90, 1993–94, 1995–96, 1998–99, 2003–04, 2015–16)
🏆 Football League Cup/EFL Cup (Winners: 1991–92, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2016–17)
🏆 FA Charity Shield/FA Community Shield (Winners: 1908, 1911, 1952, 1956, 1957, 1965*, 1967*, 1977*, 1983, 1990*, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016) *Shared
🏆 European Cup/UEFA Champions League (Winners: 1967–68, 1998–99, 2007–08)
🏆 European Cup Winners' Cup (Winners: 1990–91)
🏆 UEFA Europa League (Winners: 2016–17)
🏆 European Super Cup (Winners: 1991)
🏆 Intercontinental Cup (Winners: 1999)
🏆 FIFA Club World Cup (Winners: 2008)
Manchester United Women
🏆 FA Women's Championship (Winners: 2018–19)
Why Manchester United Women Playing At Old Trafford Is An Important Step
Since the England Women's team won the 2022 European Championships, the popularity of the women's game has skyrocketed. Because of the quality on display at the Euros, people have become invested in what was previously an alien concept in the football world.
In 2019, United faced Manchester City in front of marginally more than 31,000 fans at the Etihad Stadium in their first-ever match as a top-flight team. Women's football matches have also taken place at the Emirates Stadium, Villa Park, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Stamford Bridge. Importantly, Manchester United Women will compete at the storied stadium, Old Trafford, when Manchester United hosts Aston Villa in a Women's Super League match.
Exposure, visibility, and accessibility have all been shown to increase interest in and popularity of women's football. The fact that this game is being played at Old Trafford demonstrates the club's ongoing hope to the develop both its women's squad and the women's game in general. The fact that his game will be played in the same arena as the men's game is critical because it will ensure that the team receives attention, which will increase its popularity.
The price of the game is going to attract fans too. To offer fans the opportunity to visit such stadiums for a mere £6 will attract them and ultimately introduce them to the women’s game. That in turn will offer exposure and attract fans that would not normally think to watch a women’s match.
It might be argued by some that women's teams should aim to sell out their smaller home stadiums before taking the field in bigger arenas. However, going to Old Trafford serves the important aim of promoting the team to a far larger audience than usual and introducing them to new people who might not be familiar with them. The Leigh Sports Village, where Manchester United usually plays, offers a good capacity for a game of football but Old Trafford is considerably more conveniently situated for a larger audience because it is closer to Manchester and has excellent access to a solid public transportation system.
As Ray Kinsella once said in the classic film The Field of Dreams: “build it and they will come." Holding the games in familiar and enjoyable venues will only help the women's game gain popularity as long as society recognises that it has equal rights to the men's game. The fact that Manchester United will play at Old Trafford will draw a lot of attention to the team at a time when the men's team is out of the picture.
The first push that fans need to become interested in the women's game is to watch the ladies play at Old Trafford. The same logic applies at City's Etihad Stadium, Arsenal's Emirates Stadium, and Chelsea's Stamford Bridge. The Women's Super League, women's football in general and Manchester United as a team, all benefit greatly from continued exposure, which is still women's football's strongest supporter.
An Interview With Manchester United Women supporter: Ellie Green-Fitzgerald
GG: Could you please tell us a little bit about Manchester United Women? How do they interact? Who is their standout performer?
EG: Hello, my name is Ellie Green, and I am a huge fan of Man United Women. Manchester United Women Football Club is based in the Greater Manchester town of Leigh. They compete in the top tier of women's football, the Women's Super League (WSL). Following their promotion from the Championship at the conclusion of the 2018-2019 season. Last season, Manchester United Women finished fourth, just missing out on Champions League football. Which the fans and, of course, the players desired. All we wanted so far was four wins and four clean sheets for the girls. This is the season we need to break into the top three and compete for a place in the Champions League. Because this is something that the entire group desires. Ella Toone and Alessia Russo of Manchester United Women have just come off a high after winning the Euros in the summer! Coming off the bench, scoring goals and assisting the team in any way I can! And then, returning to club form in the 22/23 season, he wasn't in the best of form at first, but that quickly changed with both scoring bangers! Also, Mary Earps cannot be missed between the sticks! So far, she's been very impressive in keeping the goals at bay and recording clean sheets! However, Manchester United Women have some exciting new players, such as Maya le Tissier, who has already made an impact for the club by scoring goals! Nikita Parris, just to name a few!
GG: The Lionesses' success at the Euros last summer increased the popularity of women's football significantly. How do you think women's football has evolved in recent years?
EG: Since the Lionesses won the European Championship last summer, women's football has changed dramatically....a few years ago, there were such low attendances in the WSL and other women's leagues that it seemed like no one wanted to support, but the real reason was that there was no coverage on television, advertisement, or anything of the sort... For me, it was a lack of coverage! As I have firsthand knowledge! I had no idea Manchester United had a women's team until late last year! And there's a lot of it now! There are advertisements for games, for example, in London! There are advertisements for Manchester United women's games in December at Old Trafford. There is BBC and Sky Sports coverage, which is fantastic to see! Not only is the WSL growing in popularity, but so is the championship, and this is what women's football deserves! And having pundits like Alex Scott and Ian Wright on the show! There is also much better access for women's and girls' football clubs across the country.
GG: How important is it for Manchester United's female players to play at stadiums like Old Trafford?
EG: Oh, it's so crucial... Man United women should play at large stadiums such as Old Trafford so that more fans can come and watch the women's team and see for themselves what they can achieve; this is also where they can be on the biggest stage. It also provides an opportunity for people to easily access the stadium via public transportation, as Leigh can be difficult to reach at times! But there are now coaches to the games! So that's a step forward, but before we can play a lot of games at Old Trafford each season.... What we need to do is fill up Leigh Sports Village and make it a place where teams are afraid of coming and getting beaten. The more bums on seats, the better the support. We already have a "Barmy army" fan base.
GG: Which player is your favourite, and why?
EG: Ella Toone is probably my favourite Manchester United player because I have such a strong bond with her... But I just can't say her because I have such a close relationship with all of the Man United girls and manager, and it's the best feeling in the world! They value my assistance so much that every weekend they hear me loud and proud. And they always come up to me and give me a high five or a big smile and a wave, which makes me happy. I don't have a particular favourite player! They are all my favourites in my opinion. I used to have a favourite, Diane Caldwell, who left Man United Women and is now at Reading Women FC. We still have a great bond, and it is amazing. I adore Manchester United women and would not trade them for anything.
GG: What do you enjoy most about being a football fan?
EG: Going to the game and witnessing history is my favourite aspect... such as England winning the European Championship I saw it happen... I saw Manchester United women's games... and I saw Ireland women win their first ever tournament. These are just a few of the memorable moments, not to mention meeting so many wonderful people! I recently joined miss kick, a HER community. Which has changed my life! Making a lot of new friends.... But most of all, I enjoy meeting my heroes and seeing their smiles. I adore having female footballers to look up to!
GG: How important is it to maintain equality between men's and women's football?
EG: It is critical to keep women's football on par with men's football because... it is where we can see what women are made of! Women's football was banned many years ago! And now look how popular it has become all over the world! It's incredible! Football isn't just a male/female sport! It's a sport for people of all skill levels. We need women's football on this stage so that every little girl who loves football can look up to them and aspire to be just like them. This is why emerging talent clubs are so important: little girls can start at the bottom, just like their heroes, and work their way up! It's incredible to see all of the Premier League teams, the majority of which have a women's team, which is both amazing and much needed.
GG: Do you think Manchester United Women have a chance to win the league this season?
EG: I have a favourable opinion of Man United Women... I'd love to see us win the WSL!! What a fantasy! It will be something special! I believe we can pull it off with the depth we have on the team! If we beat the "top" three teams, I'll be even more confident! But we'd all like to see the Champions League this season! So, Champions League and possibly a cup run!
GG: What are the club's ambitions?
EG: This season, the club's goal is to finish in the top three! And get into the Champions League. And try to stay in the top three throughout the season! And it's also to keep the community together! Because that is what makes the club so powerful!
GG: Do you think we'll see more female executives enter the male game? If so, who do you believe is most likely to do so?
EG: Yes, I believe so; it is what will be required for equal opportunities. I believe Emma Hayes would be an excellent manager for the England men... because she has the commitment and the right attitude to go all the way and help win trophies, as she has done with Chelsea women.
GG: Why should people come down and cheer on the women's teams?
EG: People should come out to support the women's teams... because it's such a wonderful family-friendly environment! Everyone is so friendly, and everyone speaks to you! Even if you come alone, you will feel at home with everyone else; it is a warm and loving community! And we want to grow the game even more by putting bums on seats in every stadium, creating even better atmospheres at the men's grounds, which will be incredible!
Matchday: Manchester United Women 5-0 Aston Villa Women
On a cold Saturday morning in Cheadle, Manchester, we awoke in a Premier Inn. We decided to make a weekend of it and arrived in Manchester on Friday, visited the National Football Museum, and then walked around the city taking in the sights. The rest of the evening was spent watching Brazil vs. Cameroon and quoting Money Heist. We went straight to the stadium in the morning.
We had reserved a space in the N3 car park, so parking was relatively easy for this game. We went over to see if we could see any of the players when we arrived, but another one of those stewards who has perfected the trick of standing in the way prevented us from doing so.
We then completed our standard ground circuit. There is plenty to see and do around Old Trafford, including statues of Sir Alex Ferguson and the United Trinity. There are also many touching tributes to the Busby Babes, including an Eternal Flame that runs through the Munich Tunnel.
We decided to buy food outside the ground at place that labelled itself as 'Gourmet Burgers.' It is fair to say that the burger were anything but gourmet. They were stone cold, dry as a *insert dry thing here* and didn't even taste nice. In the end, I ended up having to buy food in the ground as well, and I went for the cottage pie, and it was absolutely lush. I would thoroughly recommend it.
The welcome we received was satisfactory. The fans we met were friendly and eager to talk. However, one little demon child had decided to throw a horn into the ground. You could say it's cute that a child is having fun, and you'd be right, but he was so disruptive that he was upsetting children around him, and he'd look around to see if the children behind him were within earshot, then blast the horn at them, which his mother found completely hilarious. Fortunately, the other 99.9% of the fans were fantastic.
The atmosphere was incredible, and you could feel everyone's excitement at being able to watch the women's team play at Old Trafford. There is a marching band that plays a variety of songs throughout the game to keep the atmosphere going, and it was clear that everyone was having a good time. It was fantastic to witness.
Teamsheets
Manchester United Women
Manager: Marc Skinner
Mary Earps
Ona Batlle ⚽️
Hannah Blundell
Ella Toone
Katie Zelem (c) ⚽️
Leah Galton ⚽️
Hayley Ladd
Maya Le Tissier
Millie Turner
Nikita Parris
Alessia Russo ⚽️
Substitutes
Sophie Baggaley
Maria Thorisdottir
Aissatou Tounkara
Vilde Boe Risa
Lucy Staniforth
Lucia Garcia
Adriana Leon
Martha Thomas
Rachel Williams ⚽️
Aston Villa Women
Manager: Carla Ward
Hannah Hampton
Sarah Mayling
Anna Patten
Danielle Turner
Maz Pacheco
Rachel Corsie (c)
Kenza Dali
Laura Blindkilde
Alisha Lehmann
Rachel Daly
Freya Gregory
Substitutes
Anna Leat
Emily Gielnik
Olivia McLoughlin
Isobel Goodwin
Manchester United dominated the early stages of the game, looking to make an impression. Marc Skinner's team took the lead just after the 10-minute mark, thanks to captain Katie Zelem's quick reaction to a loose ball. Leah Galton finished off a fantastic team move that included excellent combination play from Ella Toone and Alessia Russo just before the half-hour mark. At halftime, the score was 2-0.
The Reds began the second half with another great team goal, this time from Ona Batlle, who played in Toone, whose ball across the box was hammered into Hannah Hampton's goal from Russo. Batlle's dazzling performance was capped off with a thunderous strike that struck the crossbar and flew in. And the Spaniard looked set to score United's fifth and final goal of the game, setting up second-half substitute Rachel Williams for a tap in.
Scores On The Doors
Atmosphere: 8/10
Food and Drink: 4/10
Stadium: 8/10
Welcome: 6.5/10
Overall Experience: 8/10
GG
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