Manchester United’s women’s team will soon be relocated to portable buildings at the Carrington training complex. This move is being made to accommodate the men’s squad while their facilities undergo renovations, disappointing the women’s first-team players.
The Previous Set-Up
Last summer, the club inaugurated a £10 million building that was shared between the women’s and academy teams. This state-of-the-art facility boasted a gym, rehabilitation areas, changing rooms, and even a women’s first-team restaurant with a live cooking area. However, due to the men’s team renovations, the women’s team will have to make do with more basic accommodation in the portable buildings.
According to reports, the portable buildings will be equipped with essential areas such as changing rooms, team meeting rooms, office spaces, and communal areas for the women’s players and staff. Despite the downgrade in facilities, the women’s team will continue to use the same pitches and canteen as before.
The decision to move the women’s team comes as Manchester United begins a £50 million renovation of the men’s first-team building. The work is expected to last the duration of the 2024-25 campaign. While the club has assured that temporary adaptations will be made to the rest of the Carrington site, the women’s team seems to be bearing the brunt of the changes.
Uncertainty Surrounding the Women’s Team
INEOS chairman and United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe recently indicated that plans for the women’s team are still up in the air. This lack of clarity has created further speculation about the future of the women’s side within the club. With one of their star players, Mary Earps, reportedly on the verge of leaving for Paris Saint-Germain after rejecting a contract extension, the women’s team’s future seems uncertain.
The decision to relocate Manchester United’s women’s team to temporary buildings raises questions about the club’s commitment to women’s football. While infrastructure upgrades are necessary, the temporary downgrade in facilities for the women’s team raises concerns about equality within the club. As the men’s team receives a multi-million-pound renovation, the women’s team seems to be left in the shadows. Manchester United must address these disparities to demonstrate their support for women’s football and ensure that the women’s team receives the resources and facilities they deserve.