Welcome to the latest update from the Manchester City Women Official Supporters’ Club.
The 2020/2021 season was certainly a unique season. Being unable to attend games, Zoom watch-a-longs, virtual meetings and everything else virtual too.
I realise that there are many tragic stories around the pandemic and public health and safety must be the foremost concern at all times but at a layer just below those facts, you find people who have basically had their whole lives turned upside down. Friends and family unable to meet up, hobbies and lifestyles that people have lived for years suddenly curtailed, as football fans that has been us.
Our Manchester City Women OSC football family has now been apart for close to 18 months but the community and spirit that we have forged in our group has shone through. The Zoom get togethers have steadily grew and one really pleasant side effect of those events is that we have been able to connect with new members worldwide from the likes of the USA, Brazil and Canada.
On the pitch, another trophy was added in the Vitality Women’s FA Cup and we really did push that fantastic Chelsea side all the way until the very last game in the Barclays FA Women’s Super League. A Wembley win, runners up and UEFA Women’s Champions League football assured yet again is no mean feat, especially when you take into account the pandemic and our change of head coach.
Our merchandise has continued to be in high demand, although it is now also ordered online and I can categorically state that I have never made so many trips to the post office as I have in the last few months. We proudly produced our Yearbook (this year’s is now also in production) and our calendar, plus we celebrated our fifth Anniversary with a specially designed mug, all of which sold out fast. Keeping these staple things available is another step that we feel is keeping us all connected at this time. As usual, all profits will be ploughed into providing travel to our away games as soon as it is safe to do so.
The club themselves helped us to show our support by allowing our flags to be displayed at The Academy Stadium for the duration of the season (anyone fancy volunteering to wash them now?), as well as allowing us our update pages in the digital matchday programmes and official Zoom calls to chat with the club, such as the one with Gareth Taylor and Jill Scott. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the club, the staff, the journalists, our members and all fans everywhere for engaging with us over the last season 12-15 months. It has helped us all to cope with missing what we all love just a little bit better, so I must say a big thank you.
Big news in Manchester is that Jill Scott and her partner have now opened their coffee shop in the south of the city. It is a still a strange experience to get your Americano served up by such a legend, not to mention the vast array of footballers who you see there, far too many to list. Boxx to Boxx is a fantastic experience and should be on all fans’ checklists when you visit our wonderful city.
Another recent headline-maker is our member Anastasia. Many of you will know her from the games and online as Ellie Roebuck’s number one fan. When her mum and dad treated her to a life-size sticker of Ellie for her bedroom wall, she decided to dress as her hero and pose with her. The picture went mad on social media, viral from the very start and over Twitter and Instagram the inspirational image gathered well over 100.000 views. Many stars commented but probably the biggest endorsement of the photo came from tennis legend Billie Jean King, who retweeted the image with the quote ‘If you can see it you can be it!’. Well done Anastasia, completely inspirational.
Wishing you all a restful summer and I hope that we can all get back to doing what we do best supporting our teams next season.
Stay safe,
Dave (Committee member – MCWFC OSC)
Twitter: @MCWFC_OSC
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