Manchester City Women

Manchester City Ladies Football Club was established in 1988 by Manchester City Community Officer Neil Mather, who also happened to be the club’s first manager. City only played friendlies their first season, but joined the North West Women’s Regional Football League the very next season to officially become one of the first women’s teams associated with a professional men’s team.

City secured their first promotion following their second season in tier two. However, due to lack of financial support, they found themselves relegated in 1997 and after the men’s team was relegated from the Premier League the next year the financial situation for the women’s team went from bad to worse. The lack of financial support led to postponement of games due to poor stadium conditions, and there were even talks of merging the club with Stockport County Ladies. 

The late 90s and early 2000s were a time of growth for the club, where players were brought in to strengthen the roster, resulting in a promotion in 1998. This would start a period of success for City and they would go on to secure another promotion in 2000 to send them to the Northern Combination Women’s Football League. They won the Northern Combination the next year and joined the WFA National League.

In 2010 the FA announced the creation of the Women’s Super League, and while City missed out on being a member during 2010, they secured a spot several years later when the Super League was expanded into a two tiered system with 18 teams. 2014 was an important year for the club as they had a minor rebrand to Manchester City Women’s FC and defeated Arsenal in the 2014 FA WSL Cup Final. From 2016 to 2020 City were a dominant force in the league, winning the Super League in 2016, two FA Cups, and an additional two FC WSL Cups.

Last season, they finished second in the league, behind five-time winners Chelsea, on goal differential. This qualified them for the 2024-25 Women’s Champions League.

2023-24 SEASON: 2nd in Women’s Super League, Women’s FA Cup quarterfinals Women’s League Cup semifinals.

2024-25 SEASON: Women’s Super League (since 2014), Women’s Champions League.

Similar to the men’s team, City’s biggest rivalry is with Manchester United. What is interesting about this rivalry is that until 2018, Manchester United did not have an established women’s team in the WSL so no rivalry existed at all. Since then, Man City have won 6 to Man United’s 3, with 4 draws.

When we were there, they didn’t sing Blue Moon before the game, like at the men’s games.

Since 2014, City has played at the Academy Stadium on the Etihad Campus in Manchester. Man City Women share the ground with the men’s Elite Development Squad and other senior academy teams. It has an official capacity of 7,000 and it has on three occasions set an attendance record for the WSL.

TOURS: City does offer a campus tour that includes the training facilities, but it doesn’t seem to include this particular stadium.

GETTING THERE: It’s the same as for a men’s game: Take the MetroLink to Etihad Campus!

PUBS: There’s nothing around the ground but plenty in town.

GRUB: Same as above.

AROUND TOWN: Check our Manchester United and Manchester City listings for suggestions in and around Manchester.