Manchester United have announced their intention to create a women’s senior team and have applied to the FA to join the second tier of the Women’s Super League.
Manchester United have been long ridiculed for being perhaps, the only big club in world football to not boast a women’s senior team. But, the long wait looks set to be over, with the club confirming, on their official website, their intent to create a female team and join the second division of the Women’s Super League.
Manchester United have, in fact, submitted an application to the Football Association to allow them to enter their women’s team into the second division of the Women’s Super League.
Unlike the English leagues and their format in the male divisions, the WSL has 10 teams in a division, with the bottom-placed team facing relegation while the top two ensure their participation in the European competitions.
The highest tier of WSL – WSL 1, has the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool competing for the top honours along with other teams such as Birmingham, Reading, Sunderland, Everton, Bristol City and Yeovil.
The WSL 2 currently has Tottenham, Aston Villa and Brighton and Hove Albion along with the likes of Doncaster Rovers, Millwall Lionesses, Durham, Oxford United, Sheffield Football Club, London Bees and Watford.
If the application is accepted, the team would provide a career pathway to the young talents emanating from the ever-giving and highly-successful Girls’ Regional Talent Club, which has already seen 15 of its graduates play international football this season alone. The squad will be based on the club’s historic training centre at The Cliff.
Ed Woodward highlighted their intent of building a brand in women’s football quite similar to the one that is already established in the male division.
“We are pleased to announce that the club intends to establish its first ever professional women’s team and has submitted an application to enter WSL2. The FA has provided excellent support through the process and we believe that launching a team in WSL2 would give many more of our graduates from the Regional Talent Club the chance to establish themselves as first-team players.”
“The Manchester United women’s team must be built in the same image and with the same principles as the men’s first team and offer academy players a clear route to top-level football within the club.”
However, if the application is accepted, it would be interesting to see as to how the FA will incorporate Manchester United’s team in WSL 2 and which team will end up giving way to the Red Devils.
For now, it is a very positive news for women’s football, with Manchester United finally deciding to enter the sphere.