Why do you follow women's football?

Demon Barber

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I know this is a broad question, but it might generate some interesting discussion. There are a few related questions here too: did you follow the women's game before United had a team? Were you hooked by the Lionesses success? (yes I know there are Scandinavians and Americans on here too!) Did a particular player get you interested?

For me, I love the whole atmosphere surrounding the women's game. Yes, it is competitive, and there are always going to be rivalries, but for practically every fan it is about the appreciation of the skill involved from whichever side and the feeling of inclusion and togetherness. I love the fact that the women players are inspirational to so many, and excellent role models.

Why did I think of this thread? Well, it was the picture of Malard and Terland together, happy, before their France v Norway game. Imagine, say, Keane and Beckham doing the same!
 
Demon Barber said:
I know this is a broad question, but it might generate some interesting discussion. There are a few related questions here too: did you follow the women's game before United had a team? Were you hooked by the Lionesses success? (yes I know there are Scandinavians and Americans on here too!) Did a particular player get you interested?

For me, I love the whole atmosphere surrounding the women's game. Yes, it is competitive, and there are always going to be rivalries, but for practically every fan it is about the appreciation of the skill involved from whichever side and the feeling of inclusion and togetherness. I love the fact that the women players are inspirational to so many, and excellent role models.

Why did I think of this thread? Well, it was the picture of Malard and Terland together, happy, before their France v Norway game. Imagine, say, Keane and Beckham doing the same!
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Plenty of reasons, but it’s refreshing to follow a sport with less diving and acting, less tribalism, less toxicity, less racism and homophobia.

I also admire the female players for putting in as much effort as men, but without the crazy money.

Apart from those it’s entertaining, United are a part of it, my country reaches the big tournaments consistently, some of the national team players are my good friends etc.
 
Got into it mostly because I have two daughters that play and I also coach a couple girls teams. It’s also ten times more affordable to go see in person here in the states and the stadiums have a really fun environment.
 
It was the pandemic for me. I reacted pretty badly to everything but my sudden WFH shutting down. I was lifted so much by football coming back, watching United (men) one to two times a week gave my life structure that I badly needed to stay sane.

There was an international break in October/November time of 2020. With little interest in international friendlies, I saw somewhere that MUTV were showing the women's Manchester derby. Desperately in need of my United fix I thought "Why not" and sat down to watch it.

I knew going in that our team were massive underdogs. We were brand new, barely established for a year or two at that point, and City very much Champions League participants, if not competitors, like Chelsea and Arsenal. We were 2-0 down at half time, then in the second half Tobin Heath blasted one in with a roar and we were off. Still battling, and late on Kirsty Hanson scrambles and equaliser over the line and it finished 2-2. I fell in love instantly - "That's my United" I said to myself. Never say die, fight to the final whistle. Barely missed a game since!

In 2023 we moved an hour and half further north than we were previously, so I picked a match to go and see. Just one experience of LSV and I signed up for my season ticket! Wound up with a trip to Wembley (boo sucks Chelsea) but again with the never looking back.... Can't see myself not being a season ticket holder now, ever.

In and amongst all that of course, England were doing well, hosted and won the Euros which took me from United fan to women's football fan in general. Though, it is and always still will be United over England, any day of the week!
 
top1whoisman said:
Plenty of reasons, but it’s refreshing to follow a sport with less diving and acting, less tribalism, less toxicity, less racism and homophobia.
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Aside from what I've already posted, all of this makes the match day experience at LSV and all of the away grounds I've been to following the women so much better than the men.
 
Our women's team is actually pretty good and play attractive football. I only tend to watch United, even if I do watch England in tournaments.

Haven't watched too much in the last year or so as we started losing all our best players
 
The simple answers - it’s football. It’s United. It’s 2025.

There are boosts as well: Norway was one of the early world class teams on the national stage, so I watched both men and women with equal fervor while growing up. I played football several times against girls and later women who were better than me at football. Both my daughters played active football with me as a coach, and grew up cheering United. When I realized United’s women’s department was way behind others, it bothered me, and when the Glazers came in and shut it down right when it was about to explode everywhere else, it made me personally mad.

Then seeing how people’s interest and girls playing football forced their hand into reestablishing one, and the fairytale it has been to follow Casey and the new creed rise from nothing to championship level to the Champions League threshold, it’s just been a great ride so far. Looking forward to the future!
 
Thank you all for responding, and I can associate with much of what has been said.

Tobin Heath - (@AmarilloMike ) - that is so specific. She only played 8 games for us, but something about it sparked you.

top1whoisman said:
Plenty of reasons, but it’s refreshing to follow a sport with less diving and acting, less tribalism, less toxicity, less racism and homophobia.
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Totally agree. It's not all innocent, of course - I'm thinking of McCabe shoving the ball in Chloe Kelly's face - but there are certainly far fewer yellow and red cards. Has there ever been a straight red?

bgoodall said:
Got into it mostly because I have two daughters that play and I also coach a couple girls teams. It’s also ten times more affordable to go see in person here in the states and the stadiums have a really fun environment.
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Good for you. Your last sentence applies here too. It's a fun day out and affordable.
Glorio said:
Haven't watched too much in the last year or so as we started losing all our best players
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Please watch us. We may have lost good players, but their replacements are as good if not better. They deserve your attention and support.
 
Demon Barber said:
Totally agree. It's not all innocent, of course - I'm thinking of McCabe shoving the ball in Chloe Kelly's face - but there are certainly far fewer yellow and red cards. Has there ever been a straight red?
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Our very own former player Kirsty Hanson got a straight red against us for a studs-to-thigh challenge last season I think! Certainly the rare straight reds tend to be for poorly timed / dangerous challenges rather than fist fights, headbutts and hands to throats like you get in the men's game.
 
Glorio said:
Our women's team is actually pretty good and play attractive football. I only tend to watch United, even if I do watch England in tournaments.

Haven't watched too much in the last year or so as we started losing all our best players
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Got to echo Demon here. Our league position this season plus the cup win last year demonstrate that at the very least we are surviving losing top players. In many respects we have improved upon them (Phallon Tullis-Joyce is an upgrade on Mary Earps and I'll be honest the thing we miss most about Alessia Russo lies in marketing - she was never that much of a pure goalscorer)
 
AmarilloMike said:
Our very own former player Kirsty Hanson got a straight red against us for a studs-to-thigh challenge last season I think! Certainly the rare straight reds tend to be for poorly timed / dangerous challenges rather than fist fights, headbutts and hands to throats like you get in the men's game.
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I totally forgot about that. I was ignoring Toone's rescinded one v Spurs.
 
In my younger days I had a lot of jobs that had weird hours and schedules so I could never commit to getting a season ticket for the games, so I used to go and watch the team train at the Cliff.

I was lucky enough to see the class of 92 lads break into first team training.

Fast forward to 2018/2019 season and I started watching the reserve games at Leigh sports village...and I absolutely hated watching those games in comparison to how it felt watching the old training sessions.

Under the uninterested management of the sulky translator (JM) we played some young players and some 1st teamers playing their way back from serious injuries (Luke Shaw).

The matches were just awful. Lots of lower league clodders just trying to thump our young players. In frustration I decided to go on a different evening and watch the women's team.

What a difference....skill, pace, passing and an inspirational manager in Casey Stoney that would bring on 3 forwards when the team was already 8-0 up.

Watching teams just wilt when she did that totally inspired me to go to as many women's games as I could.

The team spirit, drive and attacking verve was everything the mens team wasn't doing.

It was a little respite from the grimness of the Glazers...until Casey was undermined and felt like she had to leave.
 
Went to the first MU Women's match just as a novelty as it was free for Men's ST holders, kept track of the team from then

But it was more the Lionesses that actually got me watching matches as it was more accessible, not just the Euros win either - even under Phil Neville

I am now coaching grassroots girls football, although ironically this often means I end up missing MU Women due to time clashes
 
buchansleftleg said:
In my younger days I had a lot of jobs that had weird hours and schedules so I could never commit to getting a season ticket for the games, so I used to go and watch the team train at the Cliff.

I was lucky enough to see the class of 92 lads break into first team training.

Fast forward to 2018/2019 season and I started watching the reserve games at Leigh sports village...and I absolutely hated watching those games in comparison to how it felt watching the old training sessions.

Under the uninterested management of the sulky translator (JM) we played some young players and some 1st teamers playing their way back from serious injuries (Luke Shaw).

The matches were just awful. Lots of lower league clodders just trying to thump our young players. In frustration I decided to go on a different evening and watch the women's team.

What a difference....skill, pace, passing and an inspirational manager in Casey Stoney that would bring on 3 forwards when the team was already 8-0 up.

Watching teams just wilt when she did that totally inspired me to go to as many women's games as I could.

The team spirit, drive and attacking verve was everything the mens team wasn't doing.

It was a little respite from the grimness of the Glazers...until Casey was undermined and felt like she had to leave.
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That's a great story. Thank you.

I know this thread is about the women, but I also remember watching Beckham at The Cliff and realising there was something special.

Casey Stoney - yes. One day, maybe, we will get to hear the real story behind all that.
 
Rood said:
Went to the first MU Women's match just as a novelty as it was free for Men's ST holders, kept track of the team from then

But it was more the Lionesses that actually got me watching matches as it was more accessible, not just the Euros win either - even under Phil Neville

I am now coaching grassroots girls football, although ironically this often means I end up missing MU Women due to time clashes
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Good for you coaching grassroots girls football.

It's interesting what you say about a Women's match being a novelty. I suppose it was. The Lionesses were not that bad under Phil!

Your last paragraph is important. The scheduling of games conflicts with girls' matches or the times are too late on Sundays.
 
Guess it was mostly to do with the Matilda's being comparatively significantly better than their male counterparts, and then tickets being much cheaper and easier to get. Plus having on of the best players in the world representing us. That pulled a lot of Aussies in, and the media hyping things up as well. Around the same time, United created the women's team which being new and linked to United meant I paid attention to them as well.

Then in more recent years, us hosting the Women's world cup helped gain more traction as well. Saying that much like the men's games, I don't bother to watch other teams play, and only watch games that are on at convenient times. Gone are the days of staying up to 2-3am for kick off.
 
Demon Barber said:
Please watch us. We may have lost good players, but their replacements are as good if not better. They deserve your attention and support.
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I agree there as I do follow the scores and have seen some highlights.
I also think players who weren't showing their full potential have started to blossom, particularly in attacking areas, that said, the fact we kept losing our best players in-the-moment was particularly galling.

I loved Lucia Garcia even if for her first season she wasn't a starter for some odd reason. She became a key part of the team deservedly and next thing, she's off. Battle ... At least wasn't to one of our top rivals and losing Russo to Arsenal was a kick in the teeth.

We've done very well, but football is more than just business for me. You develop connections. It's like if Toon leaves, even if we ultimately improve, it will still feel like we're ripping out part of the soul of the team.
 
Glorio said:
I agree there as I do follow the scores and have seen some highlights.
I also think players who weren't showing their full potential have started to blossom, particularly in attacking areas, that said, the fact we kept losing our best players in-the-moment was particularly galling.

I loved Lucia Garcia even if for her first season she wasn't a starter for some odd reason. She became a key part of the team deservedly and next thing, she's off. Battle ... At least wasn't to one of our top rivals and losing Russo to Arsenal was a kick in the teeth.

We've done very well, but football is more than just business for me. You develop connections. It's like if Toon leaves, even if we ultimately improve, it will still feel like we're ripping out part of the soul of the team.
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I agree with you. It’s exactly losing those two Spaniards that hurt me the most.
 
Apart from seeing the odd international match or cup final on TV (usually hidden behind BBC red button somewhere) I wasn't a regular watcher until United set up their women's team. I watched enough to know how fast the quality was improving though and enough to find it irritating when an England team walked out and the commentators talked about Arsenal, City, Liverpool, Chelsea players etc.

So I was ready to give the brand new United women's team a go, partly on principle, partly out of curiosity. The first Women's match I went to was a United's pre-season friendly - just as we were getting ready to join the Championship. As it turned out it was a United U18 team. What surprised me was that within a few minutes of kickoff I was reacting to them the way I do to United. Up on my feet cheering when they scored, groaning when they missed.

So, off I went to my first match at LSV, bought myself a women's team season ticket (to go with my men's team season ticket) and got hooked. By the end of the season I was open enough to enjoying women's football that I went to the women's world cup finals in France.

Got my big brother (who'd watched the Busby Babes as a teen and had owned a men's team season ticket for decades) hooked as well.

I enjoy the match atmosphere. It's different to the atmosphere at men's games, but no less passionate. I like the fact families can afford to go together.

I've been to a WWC final in France and I was at Wembley when England won the Euros - I've never even got close to seeing those kinds of match in men's football.

I've seen United men win trophies at Wembley and I was just as excited when I saw the women win the WFA Cup last year. It's different, it's not the same as the team or the crowd that I grew up with, but then the same is true of the men's team. I like that I've watched the history of the team as it's being made.
 
Glorio said:
I loved Lucia Garcia even if for her first season she wasn't a starter for some odd reason. She became a key part of the team deservedly and next thing, she's off. Battle ... At least wasn't to one of our top rivals and losing Russo to Arsenal was a kick in the teeth.
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I agree with you about Garcia - that hurt me the most, but I guess we knew we had Clinton coming back. I'll never know why Russo left, but if it was for silverware then she missed out. Batllle was always going to go back to Barca. And Earps, no idea, but I am more than happy with Phallon.
 
@jojojo - thanks for that - very interesting. I'm jealous that you were at Wembley for the Euros final.

I could list the number of grounds I have been to, without any hassle for tickets. It's refreshing.
 
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