"Here To Win" The FA: Mancunian Unity Women
For the longest time, there has been a fight for equality within football and the women’s game. Women were banned from playing for 50 years and the game only became fully professional a few years ago.
It has been a calm storm for a while as people like former players Alex Scott and Fara Williams have helped bring light to the injustices through women’s football. It was not until earlier this summer when Manchester City’s Chloe Kelly found the back of the net in extra time during a tense final against arguably England’s biggest rival, Germany, after an earlier goal from Manchester United’s Ella Toone. It caused a buzz so loud that there was finally a spotlight on the game.
With the goals, The Lionesses won Euro’s 2022 after an impressive campaign. The first trophy for the country of any kind since the men won the World Cup in 1966. We were finally able to utter those three words IT’S COMING HOME with actual meaning and context.
Mancunian Unity Women by Michael Siddle
But what does the efforts of 23 women mean for England and women playing football? Ian Wright, former Arsenal and England men’s player, stated during the competition: "If there's no legacy to this, like what we saw with the 2012 Olympics, then what are we doing? Because girls should be able to play,"
“We need more visibility. More job roles. More quality across the sport and that needs to go right from top to bottom. This doesn’t just mean to be a footballer. Referees. Coaches. All different aspects. From the top leagues down to the lower ones”
One local club who are making waves in the Manchester area is Mancunian Unity Women. Founded in 2019, in the last year they have won the treble and won the Greater Manchester Division 1, Greater Manchester Division 1 Cup, and the Greater Manchester Cup, as well as reaching the county cup final. They have become the first team from their level to achieve these milestones.
Phil Burke, founder of the club says: “The pace of development for all our players is clear, we’re incredibly proud of the pathways, experiences and opportunities we are able to provide all of our players”
This upcoming Sunday, Unity will play in the first round of the FA cup against another local team, Alectrio Middleton.
Mancunian Unity Women’s Team
Burke said about playing in such an historic competition: “For me personally, to have started this club in 2019, with nothing but a dream and an empty bank account, a pandemic to then follow, and in 2022 we’re in the most prestigious competition in English football. The feeling of seeing our name below Manchester United Women and Manchester City Women was incredible. But we’re here to win, and hopefully we can put our clubs name on the map through this competition whilst also having the opportunity to win funds that would massively help our cause to build this wonderful club”
He added about playing against a local team: “It’s amazing for the local area that two strong teams meet in this huge competition. A local derby in the FA Cup, what more could you ask for?”
Jess Bamber is the captain of the team and has played football for a long time.
She talked about her career and playing for the team, saying: “It’s not always easy trying to find a club playing at a good level, where the football just flows, so, to be at Unity now it’s a good level to be. We have some tough fixtures coming up, but we’re excited and ready for it”
Both Burke and Bamber both echoed the same sentiments on the Lionesses win.
Barker said: “It’s massive for women/girls now to be a part of this sport. It is going to be so big for the younger generation and they will have so many more opportunities than we did growing up. It’s exciting for the game”
Mancunian Unity Women by Michael Siddle
Burke added: “To our club England winning the Euros was incredibly special. Interest in girls football has been overwhelming as we’ve received many messages about teams from u8s through to our current u16s, our numbers in the womens has doubled, with even more showing interest to begin playing which is so exciting. We also watched the semi final together as a group, the lionesses gave us memories that will last a lifetime”
The Women’s FA cup which starts this weekend, was founded in 1970. The current champions is Chelsea FC and Arsenal FC is the most successful club within the competitions having won it 14 times. Since 2014, the final has been held at Wembley Stadium with a record crowd of 49,094 at this year's final.
Burke said of the FA cup tie: “Everyone who’s been involved with this club somewhere along the way, past and present, we hope to make our first FA Cup appearance a special one for you all”
Mancunian Unity Women play Alectrio Middleton Ladies on Sunday 18th September at 16:15 at Vestacare Stadium, Avro FC, White Bank Road, Oldham, OL8 3JH.
Written by Fran Lever