Manchester United Women’s manager Marc Skinner has called for more away ends to be seen in the Women’s Super League. He described seeing his players charging toward the away fans’ section after edging a five-goal thriller against Arsenal as electrifying. Skinner is currently preparing his team to return to Old Trafford for the first time this season when we host Aston Villa in the league.
He has said he is keen to see more away fans sections be allocated at Women’s Super League grounds. Nearly 40,000 tickets have been brought for the Manchester derby in over a week’s time. A large number of United fans have purchased their tickets after Manchester City gave us a fully allocated away section of 3,000 that you see in the men’s game that has been purchased directly from United rather than having to go through City.
Celebrating Together
The Red Devils were the first team to win against Arsenal at the Emirates and Marc Skinner was nothing but full of praise for the United fans that traveled down to support the team.
“Our fans are super noisy wherever they are. But having them all compacted into a certain area where they’re all together celebrating, that’s what football is all about isn’t it? I watched the game (against Arsenal at the Emirates) back and when I saw all the players when we scored that third goal running towards our fans, that was the electrifying moment. The goal going in is part of the process, but the celebration together (with the fans) was the biggest moment for us, so I would absolutely recommend it (having away sections).”
“I was asked a question after the game and I didn’t reflect on it until we went away because you’re caught in the moment. I felt it was magnificent, when I reflect on it, watch the game back and see all the players when we scored that third goal running to our fans. That was the electrifying moment.
“The goal going in is part of the process, but the celebration together was the biggest moment for us. I would absolutely recommend it. As our game grows, more and more teams will have those amounts of fans and it will be a real great space for everyone to be in. It was a great energy and really something special.”
Marc Skinner (Manchester United Women’s Manager) speaking via MUTV
Forward Nikita Parris has said of our supporters that they act as their “twelfth man” in the game.
“The support has been unbelievable. They follow us home and away and you can hear them over most home fans. Long may that continue. We want to make the fans happy and we want to bring trophies to this club and we need them as a twelfth man.”
Manchester United Women’s Forward Nikita Parris speaking via MUTV
Dedicated Away Sections
United and Chelsea fans have longed campaigned for away ends to become a requirement in the WSL. Originally, our game against Arsenal was not going to have a dedicated away section. News of this went viral on social media and former Gunners player Ian Wright got involved and said he would help and speak with the club to make this happen. Arsenal then granted this which enabled all the United fans to sit together at the Emirates.
United played against Leicester City at the King Power Stadium back in October. However, for whatever reason, there was no away section which meant us fans had to sit/stand amongst Leicester fans. This is where a disservice is being done to women’s football to think that rival fans would want to rub shoulders with each other during the game. The Manchester United Women’s Supports Club or also known as the Barmy Army likes to stand and sing songs about the players and our club.
For that particular game and other previous games that have had no dedicated away sections, the supporters club are having to organise their own away ends. We also have to purchase tickets directly from that club as they cannot be purchased through United instead.
Football Thrives on Tribalism
The media can build up rivalries between the clubs but that doesn’t necessarily translate in the stands when it is very difficult to start chanting “what do we think of Leicester” when the opposition fans are sitting in their Leicester shirts next to you.
There are more eyes than ever on the Women’s Super League especially after England won the Women’s Euros in the summer. In addition, we have the Sky and BBC broadcasting WSL games that can be watched by millions. The Women’s Super League is still growing. Football thrives on tribalism. Having an away allocation for visiting fans is a simple one but not doing so is restricting how much the WSL can grow.