Change the Game at Old Trafford

Around 60 guests from a variety of football and business backgrounds gathered at Old Trafford, alongside several members of our women’s team, including Aoife Mannion, Hinata Miyazawa, Kayla Rendell, Keira Barry, Simi Awujo and Lisa Naalsund.

The Adobe Women’s FA Cup trophy, which we will continue our defence of on International Women’s Day this Saturday, was on display as guests arrived.

An inspirational talk by panellists Annie Hale (United's people, transformation & sustainability director), interim head of women's football Matt Johnson, Pernilla Nyberg (Senior VP general manager at Estee Lauder Companies Inc) and hosted by MUTV’s Zarah Connolly, discussed mentorship for women in sport, the impact sport has on mental wellbeing and why now is the perfect time to invest in the game.

Johnson said: “Now is the time to invest because progress has been massive particularly since the Euros, which was a real flagship moment for this country and for the game. But we are seeing the data start to plateau so we’ve got to go again. We want to take it to the next level and change the game.”

Hale said: “I think this is very obviously a huge market opportunity, and we've already been able to see the growth of the women's team from actually something really small, into where we are today, and this is hugely exciting.”

Meanwhile, Nyberg said there was a buzz around their office over the ‘unique’ partnership with Manchester United Women as, together, they look at innovative ways to change the game.

The excitement around the room was palpable after the Q&A, as guests talked about the hotly anticipated Manchester derby set to take place on in early May at Old Trafford, which Johnson hopes will set a new attendance record.

If the reaction of the audience was anything to go by, we wouldn’t be surprised if his wish came true as they talked about the rivalry, jeopardy and the sheer talent that will be on display in that Manchester showdown, taking place on the penultimate weekend of the WSL.