Manchester United W.F.C.

Ratified in 1921, the ban by The Football Association prohibiting women's football from being played at any of its clubs was formally lifted in 1971.[1]

An unofficial team called United Ladies of Manchester was formed circa 1970 by a group of Stretford Enders. They trained at the club's training ground, The Cliff, and arranged matches against other clubs' unofficial women's teams. Matt Busby, manager of the men's team at the time, was reportedly supportive.

Manchester United Supporters Club Ladies began operations in the late 1970s and was unofficially recognised as the club's senior women's team. In their earliest form they were a charity team that played fundraising matches and played its first game in October 1977. In 1979, the team joined the Three Counties League under the auspices of the Women's Football Association and started playing competitively. With the league covering a large area, United's committee campaigned for a local league and in 1982 the Women's FA approved the creation of the Manchester & District League, of which Manchester United Supporters Club Ladies was a founding member and won the first three seasons.[2] In 1989, the combined Manchester & Merseyside League, North West Women's League, and the Three Counties League merged to form the North West Women's Regional Football League. The league was spread across four divisions and included 42 teams. At the same time, the team approached Manchester United F.C. for support and more formal backing. The club agreed and the team was allowed to use the name Manchester United Ladies FC, matches were advertised in the club's programme and the team was allowed to train at The Cliff.[3][4] The team became increasingly competitive throughout the 1990s at various levels of the FA Women's National League up until 2001.[5]

In 2001, the team formed an official partnership with Manchester United. However, the club began to stagnate with a string of successive mid-table finishes in the third division.[4] The team were disbanded four years later, in 2005, shortly after Malcolm Glazer's completed takeover with the new regime deeming the women's team to not be part of the "core business" and unprofitable.[7] A media spokesman for Manchester United also claimed the club wanted to focus on its women's academy instead of its senior team.[6]

Manchester United celebrate winning the Championship title in their inaugural season.

In March 2018, Manchester United announced their intentions to reintroduce a women's football team.[8] Manchester United Women Football Club were founded on 28 May 2018, following the club's successful application to join the newly-formed 2018–19 FA Women's Championship.[9][10] It marked the club's return to women's football after a thirteen-year absence; though the club's academy continued via the Manchester United Foundation, with the likes of Izzy Christiansen and Katie Zelem being produced by United's Centre of Excellence academy.[6][11] Casey Stoney was appointed as the club's first head coach on 8 June,[12] with their inaugural 21-player squad announced just over a month later.

The team's first game back was on 19 August 2018, where they won 1–0 in an away game against Liverpool in the FA Women's League Cup, with Lizzie Arnot scoring their first competitive goal in thirteen years.[13] Three weeks later, their opening Championship encounter ended in a 12–0 victory away to Aston Villa.[14] On 17 April 2019, United secured promotion to the FA Women's Super League following a 5–0 win against the same opposition.[15] They clinched the FA Women's Championship title three days later following a 7–0 win at home to Crystal Palace.[16] In May 2019, Manchester United were named FA Women's Championship Club of the Year at the 2019 FA Women’s Football Awards.[17]

The 2019–20 season was the team's maiden FA WSL campaign. The season opener was a Manchester derby, held at the City of Manchester stadium. Manchester City won the match 1–0 in front of a then league record attendance of 31,213.[18][19] United's first top-flight campaign was ended prematurely after the season was curtailed by the COVID-19 pandemic with the team awarded fourth place on a points per game basis.[20] The last game was a 3–2 victory over Everton on 23 February 2020, with Leah Galton scoring twice and Ella Toone scoring once for Manchester United in the first game played at Everton's new Walton Hall Park stadium.[21] In the FA Cup, Manchester United lost 3–2 to Manchester City in the fourth round, the first time they had lost in the first knockout round of a competition.[22] However, they repeated their best League Cup finish by reaching the semi-finals for the second consecutive year, losing 1–0 to eventual cup winners Chelsea.[23]

Manchester United Women played their first game at Old Trafford, against West Ham United, during the men's March 2021 international break.[24] Manchester United won the game 2–0.[25]

On 12 May 2021, Manchester United announced that Casey Stoney would stand down from her role as head coach at the end of the season.[26] On 29 July 2021, Marc Skinner was announced as the new head coach on a two-year contract, with the option for a further year.[27] Skinner confirmed in March 2023 that the 12-month extension option was triggered, keeping him at the club until 2024.[28] Later that season the team reached a major cup final for the first time, losing 1–0 to Chelsea in the 2023 Women's FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium.[29] After finishing as runners-up in the WSL, the team qualified for the UEFA Women's Champions League for the first time ahead of the 2023–24 season season. United were drawn against Paris Saint-Germain in the second qualifying round and earned a 1–1 draw at home before a 3–1 defeat in the second leg ended the debut European campaign.[30]

Manchester United in February 2019 before a match against Arsenal

As of 15 September 2023[36][37][38]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 3 DF  ENG Gabby George 4 DF  ENG Maya Le Tissier 5 DF  IRL Aoife Mannion 6 DF  ENG Hannah Blundell 7 FW  ENG Ella Toone 8 MF  ESP Irene Guerrero 9 FW  FRA Melvine Malard (on loan from Lyon)[39] 10 MF  ENG Katie Zelem (captain) 11 FW  ENG Leah Galton 12 MF  WAL Hayley Ladd 14 DF  CAN Jayde Riviere 15 DF  WAL Gemma Evans

No. Pos. Nation Player 16 MF  NOR Lisa Naalsund 17 FW  ESP Lucía García 20 MF  JPN Hinata Miyazawa 21 DF  ENG Millie Turner 22 FW  ENG Nikita Parris 23 FW  BRA Geyse 25 DF  ENG Evie Rabjohn 27 GK  ENG Mary Earps 28 FW  ENG Rachel Williams 34 MF  SCO Emma Watson 91 GK  USA Phallon Tullis-Joyce

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 26 MF  ENG Grace Clinton (at Tottenham Hotspur)[40]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 35 DF  ENG Sasha McTiffin 38 DF  ENG Jessica Simpson 39 GK  WAL Safia Middleton-Patel 49 FW  WAL Olivia Francis 52 MF  ENG Holly Deering 53 GK  ENG Jennifer Handy 61 MF  ENG Tamira Livingston 63 GK  ENG Kacey Bolton-Woollam 65 DF  ENG Olivia Moulton

No. Pos. Nation Player — DF  ENG Amaris Ince — MF  IRL Layla Proctor — FW  UAE Fay Al-Qaimi — MF  WAL Mayzee Davies — DF  ENG Zaiba Ishaque — DF  ENG Ruby Johnson — MF  ENG Anna Fletcher — FW  ENG Megan Sofield

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 36 FW  ENG Alyssa Aherne (at Everton until 30 June 2024)[52] 37 FW  ENG Keira Barry (at Crystal Palace until 30 June 2024)[53] 42 DF  WAL Bella Reidford (dual registration with Burnley until 30 June 2024)[54] 43 FW  ENG Eleanor Ashton (dual registration with Derby County until 30 June 2024)[55]

• FA WSL Academy League National Champions: 1
  • 2021–22[56]
• FA WSL Academy League Northern Division: 1
  • 2021–22[57]
• FA WSL Academy Cup: 1
  • 2021–22[58]

The following is a list of academy players who have made senior team appearances. Bold indicates the player is still at the club.

• Carrie Jones
• Ella Toone
• Emily Ramsey
• Fran Bentley
• Gabby George
• Karna Solskjær
• Katie Zelem
• Kirsty Hanson
• Millie Turner
• Naomi Hartley
• Rebecca May
• Tara Bourne

As of 30 June 2023.

Position	Staff
Manager	Marc Skinner
Assistant Coach	Charlotte Healy
Goalkeeping coach	Ian Willcock[59]
Strength & conditioning coach	Tommy Munday

Information correct as of 22 October 2023. Only competitive matches are counted.

List of Manchester United W.F.C. managers

Image	Name	Nationality	From	To	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	Win%[nb 1]	Honours	Notes
	Casey Stoney	England	8 June 2018	16 May 2021	77	52	6	19	213	60	067.53	1 Championship title	[12][61]
	Marc Skinner	England	29 July 2021	present	67	42	15	10	150	64	062.69		[62]