Can the Manchester United Women’s team break into the top three?
After an impressive first season in Women's Super League Manchester United Women will be looking to push on and challenge for a Champions League position in just their third year as a newly reformed team.
The United team winning the Women’s Championship and securing promotion in their first season. Flickr / James Boyes
After an impressive first season in Women’s Super League, Manchester United Women will be looking to push on and challenge for a Champions League position in just their third year as a newly reformed team.
Last season, their first season in the WSL and their second season as a newly re-formed club, the Manchester United Women’s team managed to break into the top four, losing just five times in the league and winning half of their games.
There was still a clear gap between themselves and the elusive top three, however, as Casey Stoney’s team finished thirteen points behind Arsenal, with Manchester City and Chelsea ahead of them in second and first, respectively. The London team, who did not lose a game in the league, took the top spot ahead of City after the final league table was decided on a points-per-game basis due to the suspension of the season.
Arsenal, City and Chelsea have dominated the Women’s Super League in recent years, with the teams retaining the top three positions since 2015 and all three having won at least one title in that period.
To have a chance of improving on their fourth place finish, and grabbing one of the two Champions League spots, United will have to improve their results against the top three.
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Manchester United manager Casey Stoney. Wikimedia Commons / James Boyes
United lost all the games they managed to play against the League’s top three before the season was suspended, although they did beat local rivals Manchester City in the Continental Cup back in October.
The opening fixture of the 2020/21 season, however, saw United rescue a draw against reigning Champions Chelsea, with the game finishing 1-1.
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The game also saw an appearance from Pernille Harder, who signed for Chelsea this summer for a reported world record fee for a female player.
While United do not currently find themselves in the position to attract the same calibre of player as Chelsea and other successful teams––Stoney herself says that she and the club are committed to building the team at their own pace––they have made six signings this month in an attempt to push on in their development.
The summer singings include English internationals Lucy Staniforth and Alessia Russo.
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The club will also be joined by the experienced and two-time World Cup winners Tobin Heath and Christen Press, who won managed to get their hands on the trophy with the United States back in 2015 and 2019.
Heath will bring the more experience to the Manchester team, having won 168 caps for her country and two National Women’s Soccer League titles with the Portland Thorns. She was also shortlisted for the Women’s Ballon D’or in 2019.
Press, however, has previously played in Europe and managed to reach the Champions League Final with Swedish team Tyresö FF back in 2014.
The two Americans are not the only additions to the WSL from across the Atlantic, as this summer also saw World Cup winners Sam Mewis and Rose Lavelle join Manchester City and, what is likely to be the most high profile deal in the history of the WSL, World Cup Winner and US co-captain Alex Morgan sign for Tottenham on loan.
This summer has shown England to be an attractive location for some of the best and most high-profile talent in women’s football, but it remains to be seen if the fledging Manchester United can keep up with those around them and pose a challenge to the veterans of the league who stand ahead of them.
After a convincing 5-2 win against Birmingham in their second game of the season, next up for United is Brighton on the 4th of October.
Sport
Nathan Aspinall urges PDPA to improve mental health support within the sport
Danny Jones
Local sports personality Nathan Aspinall has urged the Professional Darts Players Association (PDPA) to provide better mental health support moving forward.
It’s not the first time ‘The Asp’ has called for more awareness and provision when it comes to player welfare and mental wellbeing, specifically, which remains a prevailing societal problem in general.
The Greater Manchester native has opened up about his own struggles many times in the past and has made a public plea for the PDPA to intervene and offer more help.
Speaking at the 2026 PDC World Darts Championships after his opening round victory, the 34-year-old instead chose to focus on more important issues than his strong start.
As you can see, Aspinall began by stating that “the PDPA now need to step in and help these guys because there’s a lot of guys suffering.”
Having long been an champion for male mental health, in particular – supporting the local Healthy Minds practices in his hometown of Stockport, for instance – he’s been one of the outspoken player on the subject for some time.
Noting that there are at least “two or three people” he refused to name, his message was simple: “There’s a lot of fantastic dart players in our sport, but it’ll be a shame to see so many of them go because of mental health”
The 2019 UK Open and 2023 World Matchplay winner has battled with multiple obstacles, including an ocular condition known as bilateral traumatic Brown’s syndrome, as well bursitis, which causes inflammation around key joints.
But it’s not necessarly injuries and the physical side of things that have been his biggest concern.
𝗛𝗢𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗨𝗽 𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗲𝘁
"I really do not care anymore.
"I do everything I can to be a good sportsman and you still get s**t. So you know what? I don't care. Say what you want." pic.twitter.com/mCBjQ6kvyj
One of the biggest and most recurring challenges for him has been ‘dartitis’, which many players within the discipline wrestle with the more their careers progress.
Aspinall has confessed to suffering almost chronic panic attacks due to the mental blocks (also commonly known as ‘the yips’) brought about by the intense pressure of playing on stage/live on TV.
With that in mind, it’s great to see him not only back on form and pulling impressive performance such as his ‘big fish’ finish on Friday night, but continuing to draw more attention to the underlying mental health crisis, especially among men. Well played, Nath.
You can watch his post-match interview in full down below.
Featured Images — Sandro Halank (via Wikimedia Commons)/Live Darts (screenshot via YouTube)
Sport
Be part of the biggest Great Manchester Run ever
Danny Jones
Runners and regular Mancs alike, start lacing up your trainers and sorting safety pins early, because the Great Manchester Run is back for 2026, and you can be part of it.
With sign-ups flying and bibs selling out fast, we really recommend getting a move on and booking your place now to make sure you’re part of what is, without fail, not just one of the most exciting dates on the local sporting calendar, but always a great day for the city in general.
Returning for its 23rd edition and fourth year being backed by principal sponsors, AJ Bell, we can assure it’ll be as well-attended as ever.
In fact, judging by the numbers already and the increasing crowds of spectators every year, this is looking on course to be the biggest Great Manchester Run to date.
The only question is, are you going to help make it the BEST yet by joining the thousands of others already finding the perfect spot to hang their shiny new medal?
Half-marathon, 10k, junior and mini races
As ever, the Great MCR Run isn’t just limited to one event: there are multiple distances, routes and age groups that can race the route in and around the city centre.
Whether you’re a seasoned runner looking to get in a PB, looking to box off your first half, love a 10, or you’re a youngster looking to get in on the action and soak up some of that glory on the day
So, whether you’re a seasoned runner looking to get in a PB, looking to box off your first half, love a 10, or you’re a youngster looking to get in on the action and soak up some of that glory on the day, there really is fun for all ages.
In all seriousness, even watching the massive metropolitan event stood next to the roads with homemade signs promises plenty of atmosphere, but with fancy dress galore, various different activations in the middle of the city, there’s not a chance you’ll get bored.
Even in the years we’ve missed out on running it ourselves (it sold well in advance last year, for instance), the pure buzz we got from joining countless other Mancs cheering from the pavement is enough to keep us coming back time and time again.
All that being said, if you’re looking to sort the perfect Christmas present for a runner, or simply need more reason to give yourself the kick up the backside you’ve been waiting for and just put your name down, this is it.
Besides the full annual marathon in April, running events simply don’t get bigger in this region than this one, so don’t miss out.
Sign up for the 2026 Great Manchester Run right HERE.
Kate Jackson -
14th September 2020 
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