Manchester United apply to join Women’s Super League

The United Trinity – Charlton, Law and Best – in front of Old Trafford. Who will be United’s stars of the future? Photo by Debbie Manley

Manchester United have applied to the FA to reform it’s women’s football team.

If the club are granted permission to establish the team, they will play in the second tier of the Women’s super league.

United are hoping to join a host of teams with the creation of their women’s side.

In the past the club has come in for much criticism. Out of all 20 premier league sides, the red side of Manchester are the only team to not have a senior women’s side.

In a statement released on Wednesday 21 March, executive vice chairman Ed Woodward said: “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.”

United’s Manchester rivals, Manchester City have found some recent success in the Women’s game. Last night they beat Swedish side Linkopings 2-0 in the first leg of their quarter final tie in the Champions league.

Whilst fellow Premier league rivals Chelsea, saw their women’s team run out 2-0 winners against French side Montpellier in their Champions League quarter final.

It’s Chelsea who currently sit atop of the women’s super league division one, with Manchester City just a point behind in second place.

United had disbanded their own women’s side in 2005, and have come in for criticism in recent times for not creating a new one.

The club had been said to be monitoring the situation in August of 2017, and now they have made the steps to establish an all new women’s side.

In January, Phil Neville, former Manchester United player and England Women’s national team manager, was quoted as saying he would be “encouraging them” to make the steps forward.

The FA have received 15 applications to join a revamped WSL next season, where the second division will be renamed the Women’s Championship. There are a total of nine places available.

The United Trinity from the 1960s – Best, Law and Charlton.