Manchester United to join FA Women’s Championship

Manchester United’s application to establish a professional women’s team has officially been approved by the FA. The team, inventively named Manchester United Women, will make their debut in the FA Women’s Championship, which is the newly-renamed second division. The team will be based at The Cliff, and the new season kicks off in August. Unless the holders of the purse strings at United cheap out of supporting the new women’s team (imagine the ugly press that would generate), the Reds should have the resources to put together a team capable of at least challenging for promotion to the FA Women’s Super League straight away.

Ed Woodward had this to say:

“We will be making some exciting announcements in the coming days and weeks. Starting a professional team from scratch is challenging but rewarding and we will make every effort to provide the support and experience for the new women’s team to be successful and to uphold the fine traditions of our great club.”

United will be joined in the Championship by Aston Villa, Charlton Athletic, Doncaster Rovers Belles, Durham, Leicester City, Lewes FC, London Bees, Millwall Lionesses, Sheffield FC Ladies, Sheffield United Ladies and Tottenham Hotspur.

We know very little about the FAWC (formerly known as FAWSL 2), we’re afraid, but we’re willing to suggest United go the tried and true route of turning the head of whomever is Spurs’ best player and getting her signed on deadline day.

MU Women (please let’s not call them anything as stupid sounding as the Red Devilettes, for the love of God) will have their matches broadcast on MUTV. Let’s hope José Mourinho doesn’t somehow find a way to suck the fun out of them too.