England’s Lionesses winning the European Championships has seen a massive increase in interest in the women’s game, both across the country and at a local level - which is extremely pleasing to see. 

Cambridge United FC has responded to this success with some exciting forward-thinking changes. Namely, the integration of the Women’s team into the football club, and the acquisition of a Girls Emerging Talent Centre license for three years. The Football Association is aiming to generate a wider and more diverse talent pool for the women’s game and provide more girls with a pathway into football. These ETCs provide gifted and talented female players the opportunity to develop their ability in a competitive environment, allowing young players the opportunity to reach their potential. Obtaining the license will allow the the U’s four dual age band groups: U10, U12, U14, and U16, which will feed directly into the Cambridge United female footballing pathway.

"A huge amount of work has gone into the ladies’ game over a long period of time"

Cambridge United Girls Programme Manager Charlotte Crisp said “I am delighted that we have received the ETC licence. With our female player pathway successfully growing year on year, this opportunity only strengthens what we can provide to girls who have a talent and passion for the sport”. 

The football club has also recently taken the steps to fully integrate the Women’s side into the club, with a Women’s board created. As part of this new relationship the women’s team will play four of their league matches at the Abbey Stadium this season (see the end of this article for details!). They have also secured their inaugural headline sponsor, Intelligent Membranes, a family-run business that provides construction firms with ‘liquid membranes for five star protection of windows and surfaces’. 

Manager of Cambridge United Ladies team, Darren Marjoram, was asked his thoughts on the integration at the club and said that “it’s amazing, and a huge amount of work has gone into the ladies’ game over a long period of time with people volunteering and not having the luxuries we now have in front of us. It’s a fantastic time to be involved - not just for myself as manager, but everyone involved in the women’s team.

"£5.00 tickets for adults, while Under 18’s and Season ticket holders for Cambridge United go free"

The ETC License will also allow us to have local talented players coming through Cambridge United. For quite a period now that’s not been possible for a lot of reasons, because we could only go so far with our structure, but this means we can now have those talented players in our structure and help develop them and, all being well, push them further than Cambridge United. It’s an exciting time for Women’s football now locally over the next few seasons”.

On the pitch, the team has made a marquee signing - 31-year old Sarah Wiltshire, an attacking-minded player who joins from Watford Ladies and has swathes of top-flight and international experience under her belt. Marjoram describes her signing as a “coup” and says that “already she has fitted seamlessly into the team”. In her last spell at the U's, on loan in 2017, she averaged nearly a goal per game. 

You can see the Cambridge United Women’s team in action at the Abbey in their first league match of the season, versus Norwich City, on Sunday 21/08 at 2pm. After the Lionesses’ victory, Gabby Logan urged those that enjoyed the tournament to attend some women’s league games - “even if you only go to one or two”. And with £5.00 tickets for adults, while Under 18’s and Season ticket holders for Cambridge United go free, following this order should be pretty much irresistible!