Out of interest, who watches the ladies team regularly? I’ve never really shown any interest in them. I don’t even know a single players name.
How interesting is it?
I am from sweden and I think Uniteds womens team is very fun to watch. I know all the players just as well as the mens players.
For those living in Manchester, I think much is decided by themselves when it comes to how exciting it will be.
I am going explain why below:
I am a fan of Hammarby in sweden
(where Lotta Oqkvist came from). We have swedens largest attending fan base and also the loudest fans. With aprox 25 000 in average in an arena that takes aprox 32.000.
Hammarbys womens team has an arena with a capacity of around 4000 at max. The womens team used to play in front of about 300 in average throughout the years. But before last season we Hammarby fans decided to fully get behind the ladies team and support the club. The attendance first grew to about 1000, and immediately everybody thought the games were much more exciting because the fans were singing and chanting all games long adding to the experience.
During the season more and more Hammarby fans started to learn all about the players and get to know them after games etc. Throughout the season the hype just grew and more and more fans came to the games. At the end we had 4000 at the last 3 games and the atmosphere was probably better than the mens team ever had, it was insane.
The fans also collected donations to give the ladies a bonus if they advance from the 2nd tier to the 1st tier in sweden, so far the fans have come up with 14 000£ that will be split between the players when we finally advance to the 1st tier :-)
Now I follow Hammarbys ladies team as intensly as the mens team, there is no difference, I know all the players and care just as much for the womens team.
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I think the same would apply to Manchester United. Part of the equation is having fun with your friends at the arena and loving the club, and that can happen regardless if mens or women are playing.
Uniteds womens charmed me completely during the 1st season when they not only won the league but played great football and everybody on the patch always gave 110%. And the girls were so nice and easy to relate to. Pretty much the opposite of the mens team at that point.
Also, the talent level of Uniteds team now is great and will become even better.
Football is not always about just how fast and strong the players are, if you love a club and start liking the players you will care just as much for the ladies team as the mens. And that feeling will just grow with each passing season.
I hope Manchester United fans will take the womens teams to their hearts to such an extent that the womens team will need a new arena to play on, the ladies deserves that! Manchester United fans have the oppurtunity to create something absolutely magical with the ladies team - LETS DO IT
From sweden I will watch the ladies on MUTV and engage as much as I can in social media to help create interest for the team!
I am happy to see new posters finding the womens forum here, it really makes my day!