Wednesday 3 June 2015 19:06, UK
If any further proof were needed that the women’s game is on the up, it comes in the form a unique new partnership between Manchester City Women and Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU).
Over the next four years, players from the university women’s team will be able to take part in City’s coaching sessions, while players from City’s women’s team will visit the university as guest speakers, to share their knowledge.
City Women head coach Nick Cushing believes it’s a fantastic opportunity.
“We’ll be offering our experience and showing them what we do here, hopefully that will help them in working with their players, teams and people, he told Sky Sports News HQ.
“It’s about working together, and showing that there’s real value in women’s football, in furthering it, growing it, and progressing.”
In addition, a group of students from the university’s events management will get the chance to manage a home fixture. Once they’ve spent time behind the scenes watching how things are organised, the running of a game will be turned over to the students.
“We have a wealth of knowledge in football development here, it’s something we are really passionate about – whether that’s the men’s or the women’s game – we take it really seriously,” Cushing added.
”I think MMU have got a real passion for growing and developing people, so it works together really well. The fact that they want to link with us and want to grow this partnership shows the real value in Manchester for women’s football. It shows where it’s coming from and how it’s developing.”
Student Jen Ritson is all smiles as she laces up her boots – she will captain the university women’s team in the new season.
“It’s an excellent opportunity, and a lot of the girls are really encouraged,” she said.
“It’s aspirational for us, because when we come here as a team, it helps us to want to achieve, to win our games. We can see what the girls do in training, and introduce that in to our training. So it pushes us to improve and try to be as good as them.”
And the scheme has the backing of the City players, including Isobel Christiansen.
“It’s an extremely exciting opportunity for the girls from MMU, for the university as a whole and for us as a club,” she said.
“The links we can create are endless, with regards to degree programmes. It will be really exciting to see what can happen from it. Some of the girls will be coming over, watching us train and picking things up. Anything we can speak to them about and help them with their game means it’s only going to help the women’s game.”
The City forward has been at the forefront of the women’s game since the age of 15. Now 23, she’s been involved at international level for seven years, and has seen big changes to the women’s game in recent times.
“Things have grown drastically over the last five years or so,” Christiansen added. “You only need to look as far as the Women’s Super League and how that’s improved over the last four to five seasons, and this year it’s more competitive than ever.
“Even last year you saw the title race went to the last game – I gather the trophy was being driven up and down the M62! So it just goes to show how tight it is now and I think it’s only going to get better. You only have to look at this facility – the City Football Academy – we’re in an extremely privileged place to better ourselves as people and players.”
