Whether it is the chopsticks in the canteen with individually engraved names on for Manchester City\u2019s Japanese players, the bespoke pineapple and mango recovery shakes made for Khadija \u201cBunny\u201d Shaw to satisfy her taste buds or the underwater treadmill allowing players to watch Sky Sports News while in the recovery pool, it is not difficult to understand why the squad say they love their new women\u2019s team headquarters.<\/p>\n
The \u00a310m state-of-the-art building, designed for the first team at the City Football Academy adjacent to their Joie Stadium home ground, has everything from hamstring strength testing kit in the gym to a barista-style coffee machine in the canteen, all aimed at maximising performance for female athletes. Along one corridor is printed: \u201cWe will find a way to win \u2026\u201d \u2013 a mantra repeated by the head coach, Andr\u00e9e Jeglertz, regularly this season. They hope this facility will help make winning a habit.<\/p>\n
The canteen at the new facility housing three chefs to serve the women\u2019s team. Photograph: Manchester City FC<\/p>\n
City\u2019s captain, Alex Greenwood, who will lift the WSL trophy this Saturday, is glowing in her praise for the new site. In the room where she and her teammates watched Arsenal\u2019s draw with Brighton last Wednesday that secured City\u2019s title<\/a> she is asked whether it is the best facility she has seen.<\/p>\n \u201cFor a women\u2019s team specifically, yes, for sure,\u201d Greenwood replies. \u201cObviously, at England we have St George\u2019s Park, which is incredible. At Lyon, we had a facility which was OK. It was good, it met its needs, but nothing comes close to this. I think it\u2019s the best because it\u2019s specifically for us, in every way.<\/p>\n \u201cI also hope this is a shift for women\u2019s football, for other clubs to push their women\u2019s team to have their own facilities. As someone who is massive on growing the game, I really hope other clubs take a look at this and go: \u2018OK, let\u2019s do the same.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Quick GuideCity would ‘love’ to enter team in third tierShow<\/p>\n Manchester City would like to enter an academy team into the Women’s National League, their managing director, Charlotte O\u2019Neill, has said.\u00a0The Football Association has proposed including four Women’s Super League clubs’ academy sides in the third tier from 2027 as part of a restructure of the third and fourth tiers, as revealed by the Guardian in April, and consultations between the FA are key stakeholders are ongoing.<\/p>\n