Manchester United Women: From Rebirth to FA Cup Glory
Man United Women’s story is still being written, but it's already hitting like a classic. Am I a biased Red Devils fan? Yes.
Disbanded in 2005 because it was deemed "unprofitable" (yes, really), the women’s side was cast aside while rival clubs grew and lifted trophies. For 13 years, fans were left without a women's team to back. But in 2018, the comeback began and it was fierce.
Re-entering the game through the Women’s Championship, the Red Devils made no secret of their ambitions. They weren’t here to make up the numbers — they were here to win. And win they did. Promotion to the Women’s Super League came at the first time of asking. Fast forward just a few seasons and United were not only competing with the giants, they were challenging them.
Take the 2022/23 campaign. A proper title race. We pushed Chelsea all the way, missing out on the WSL trophy by just two points. Heartbreak? Yes, but also proof that we belong at the very top. And then came the breakthrough.
Wembley. FA Cup Final. 2024.
Chelsea dispatched in the semis. Spurs swept aside in the final. Manchester United Women lifted their first ever major trophy in front of a roaring crowd at the national stadium. That wasn’t just a win. That was a statement. Seven years since their revival and already, a piece of silverware to shout about. And with another cup final and Champions League qualification on the horizon, the journey’s far from over.
But it’s not just the club milestones that make us proud, it’s the players. The internationals. The leaders. The icons. From the ever-reliable Phallon Tullis-Joyce between the sticks to the flair of Ella Toone, the grit of Katie Zelem, and the rising star that is Grace Clinton, United have become a serious source of England call-ups and Lionesses magic.
As someone who’s been in the thick of it (as a fan and as someone who worked at the club from 2016 to 2024) it’s emotional. I’ve seen it all. From a time when the women’s side didn’t even exist to witnessing Manchester derbies played at Old Trafford in front of thousands of fans. I’ve seen little kids queuing for shirts with their heroes’ names on the back. Names that weren’t even an option on kits a few years ago.
This is more than a football team. It’s a movement.
And for fans like myself, United Women are the heartbeat of the club right now. They're playing for the badge. They’re giving us something to believe in. They’re doing what Manchester United has always promised: making history.
The journey’s only just begun. But if the past seven years are anything to go by, the next seven will be unforgettable.
Glory, glory Man United. And this time, the women are leading the charge.
