Sale United were the first junior club in the Trafford area to provide facilities for girls only football. It was in 2000 that Stewart Hamer, the club chairman set a target for the club to have a girls only team up and running for the 2001-2002 season.

The very first Sale United U10's Squad

The early days saw just a few girls at Under 10 start training down at Sale’s Crossford Bridge site. Word quickly spread and soon there was a squad of some 13 girls training on a regular basis. League opportunities for girls at that time were very scarce, but after much hard work, Sale were able to enter a team into the boys U10 division of the Timperley and District League.

As might be expected, the girls were well beaten each week. But they enjoyed playing football. The experience of a full season of matches together with coaching from Stewart and Colin Dowdy showed massive improvement in the ability of the girls as individuals and as a team. By the end of the season, although they were still losing matches the scorelines were much more modest. At the end of this season, the Girls football was taken over by the current Girls Section Head Coach, Brendan McPhillips.

During the summer of 2002 we decided to go further afield in search of female opposition. Friendlies were organised against teams such as Witton Albion, from Northwich, and Macclesfield town. These were the only all girl opposition available at the time. Results in the friendlies were very encouraging with the girls now finding their scoring touch which earned them five wins and a draw, with only one game being lost in 7 matches.

U10's and U12's win at Urmston Meadowside Tournament 2003

The 2002-2003 season started with promise. Although a decision had been made not to re-enter the team into the boys league, more local clubs were now running girls teams, and there were rumours of a local league being created.

However, the early promise turned to disappointment. 2 of the assistant coaches of the girls squad left the club and the league didn't happen. The season was a real struggle for survival with one coach managing 3 squads of players at different age groups. Games were almost impossible during this period but the girls remained enthusiastic, carried on training and the season ended on a high note with both the Under 12’s and the Under 10’s winning their respective divisions in the Urmston Meadowside end of season tournament.

In July 2003 the club ran a "Not for Boys" event. This was a 4 week long coaching programme, aimed at girls in the age range 8-14. The objective was to give an opportunity to girls who just wanted to give football a try.

Some of the Players and Coaches at an NFB Event

The event, publicised in local papers, on local radio and in local schools was a huge success, attracting a total of 65 players over the four week long period. Of these players, many had never played football before and certainly not for a club.

Although some of the girls who tried it decided they didn’t like it, the upshot of Not for Boys was that Sale United went into the 2003-2004 season with a squad of around 40 players, and a coaching and assistant complement of 6 people.

U12's Most Improved Team U10's Cheshire League Runners Up

League football locally was still a pipedream. We managed to get an Under 10's team in to the Cheshire League which meant a lot of travelling but it paid off with the team coming runners up in the League in their first year of competition.

In the same season, the South Manchester Girls Football League was founded and short trial leagues were established. Sale United entered a team into the U12's division and after a shaky start finished in 3rd place and received the Most Improved Team Trophy. An Under 9's team was enetered into the U10's league to give them experience of competitive Football for the first time.

Some of our 1st U9's team U14's Urmston Meds R/Up

Our best season so far was rounded off with Sale United winning the U10's trophy in the Urmston Meadowside Tournament (for the second year in succession) and coming runners up in the U14's competition.

For Season 2004 - 2005, the SMGFL started in earnest and Sale United was one of only two clubs to field a team in all age groups. All of the teams have enjoyed a full season of competitive football locally and our success continues. The U14's finished Runners Up in their League, and the U11's were the League Champions in their division.

There was another first this season also. Although the boys teams at Sale United are well used to playing foreign opposition, this year was the first time that Sale United Girls hosted touring sides from outside the UK. There were 2 vistits in April by Bordentown Phoenix FC from Arizona and then from Azalea BK from Gothenburg. Our hope is that next season we will be sending a squad of our own to play on foreign soil.

Sale United and Azalea BK

Sale United and Bordentown Phoenix FC socialise after the match