WEEKLY UPDATE: Manchester City Women’s Supporters’ Club #39

Welcome to this week’s update from Manchester City Women’s Official Supporters’ Club.

This weekend has seen us go FA Cup crazy with the girls’ derby match against our red neighbours on Saturday and then our men’s tie against Fulham at The Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

We were once again proud to put on free travel for our members and other Blues to Leigh for the derby, an offer that many took advantage of. Getting people to the games wherever possible is a strong passion of ours and we will always try to facilitate it wherever possible with subsidised and even free travel. The City turnout was healthy even if the overall crowd was disappointing, think even our hosts were expecting more but the passion on show from those there was evident as it always is on derby day.

The team were excellent and deservedly came out on top to progress 3-2 into the next round where we will face Ipswich Town at The Academy Stadium. A rousing round of applause from the whole squad and a clenched fist salute from our departing manager Nick Cushing showed just how important this one was to everybody connected with City.

The derby match was the first leg in a very tough treble for Nick and the team on his last week in charge. This week sees a formidable double header against Arsenal in both the FA Women’s Continental League Cup semi-final on Wednesday and then a huge FA Women’s Super League game at The Academy Stadium next Sunday. I’m sure these games will be debated and then covered on the website but I would like to use this opportunity to highlight a problem affecting fans of women’s football constantly. Our FA Women’s Continental League Cup semi-final tie at Arsenal, along with Manchester United’s tie against Chelsea in the same competition on Wednesday clashes with our men’s Carabao Cup semi-final with our city rivals, which forces fans of both clubs to choose and inevitably, hits the attendances at the women’s games. Again City’s game next Sunday clashes with the men. These are the two most important games of the season so far and many loyal fans will be forced to choose and miss them. We feel that this is an issue that must be addressed by the Women’s game. Nevertheless, we will have fans at all of our games and we will support our teams. We want Nick’s era to end as it has been since the start, successfully. 

This week has also seen City launch it’s #samegoals initiative for a third year . Young girls can send in a video of themselves scoring a goal and receive an exclusive football. Search #samegoals on Twitter or check out City’s website for further details.

Safe travels to all this week and enjoy your football.

Dave (Committee member – MCWFC OSC)

Twitter: @MCWFC_OSC