Macclesfield FC Women’s First Team kick-off their 2022/23 campaign on Sunday afternoon, as they face Wythenshawe Amateurs in the First Qualifying Round of the Vitality Women’s FA Cup.
In doing so, they will launch a new era of Women’s Football in Macclesfield as a result of what has been a remarkable transformation over the summer months.
Inspired by the phenomenal success of the Lionesses and our own Women’s First Team who claimed the Cheshire Women’s & Youth Football League – Championship Division title last season, we are committed to playing our part in starting to level the playing field.
As a result of this summer’s incredible achievements, the national narrative on Women’s Football is unquestionably shifting and as a result, we are unwavering in our bid to support every aspect of the game.
For the first time ever, those representing Macclesfield FC Women’s First Team will be paid for their endeavours, receive free training kits, enjoy state-of-the-art PlayerData technology to analyse every aspect of their performance and have all registrations paid for by the Club.
Not only that, we will be providing training sessions here at the Leasing.com Stadium absolutely free of charge and have invested heavily in our coaching provision.
This includes the appointments of Tom Pennie as our dedicated First Team Manager and Francesco Landucci as Head of Women’s Football.
Both of these individuals are passionate and forward-thinking, with a vast amount of experience that will ensure that Women’s Football goes from strength to strength here at Macclesfield FC.
It goes without saying that we want to take our Women’s First Team to the highest level possible and as such, we are committed to attracting the very best players we can.
A number of exciting signings have already been made, but just like with the Men’s First Team – we are constantly looking to improve.
Trials can be requested by emailing Francesco@macclesfieldfc.com if you believe that you are up to the challenge!
In investing so heavily in our Women’s First Team, it is clear that this commitment must also be replicated within the younger age groups that underpin everything we do.
As such, we have extended our Girls Academy in order to provide even more pathways for players to be inspired by.
Our Girls Academy has seen an exponential rise in numbers over the course of the last year and we now are able to boast a wealth of players from Under-8 to Under-16 level – all of whom enjoy PlayerData’s cutting edge technology as standard.
In addition to this, our International Academy continues to attract female student-athletes from around the globe and offers them an incredible opportunity to train like a professional footballer whilst studying for a globally recognised degree qualification at the University of Central Lancashire.
All of our players (no matter what age or what sex they are), are coached within the framework of our meticulously designed philosophy that has already proved to be immensely successful.
We are incredibly proud of what our Women’s First Team have achieved already, but now is the time to launch this new era as we commit to progressing Women’s Football at every level.
Director Robert Smethurst said –
“I believe that all women who compete at this level should be paid and I am proud that Macclesfield FC have become the first Club to do just that.
“We all saw the amazing scenes during the summer and we will be at the forefront of promoting the women’s game.
“It’s so important that everyone supports Women’s Football at every level and I am sure that the Silkmen faithful will come together once more and help us take our Women’s First Team as high as we can.
Director of Football Robbie Savage stated –
“I am passionate in my desire to level the playing field across all areas of football and this is exemplified through my Foundation that continues to be a poignant and humbling offering to the local community.
“Over the summer, the whole nation backed the Lionesses to European glory and there can be no doubt that this will have a widespread impact for generations to come.
“Here at Macclesfield FC, we are committed to furthering Women’s Football at every opportunity and this new era excites me greatly.
“We will be unwavering in our bid to attain the highest status possible for our Women’s First Team and will support this with solid foundations within our Girls Academy.
“In offering all our First Team players such a lucrative and in many respects unprecedented offering at this level of the game, there can be no doubt that we have signaled our intent.
“Paradigms are changing around Women’s Football and Macclesfield FC will be at the forefront of this shift at every level.”
Women’s First Team Manager Tom Pennie commented –
“Like many women’s sports that are seeing rapid expansion and investment, Women’s Football finds itself in the position to take the best bits from the men’s game – but also learn from its mistakes.
“Women’s Football has made amazing strides and I am so humbled to be given this amazing opportunity at Macclesfield FC
“As sport and football in particular continues to evolve, there is an undeniable opportunity to help shape the game and I believe that we can be the start of a positive change here at the Leasing.com Stadium.
“Paying our players at this level is unheard of and when I think about all the other benefits that the players receive, it defies belief.
“I would like to thank the Club for investing their trust in me and look forward to seeing our Women’s First Team enjoy success for many years to come.”
Women’s First Team Captain Charlotte Rowcliffe added –
“There can be no doubt that this is a very exciting time for Women’s Football and I am very proud to lead the Women’s First Team here at Macclesfield FC.
“For too long, Women’s Football has been overlooked at all levels of the game and the amazing success of the Lionesses over the summer has helped to challenge previously held assumptions that were both harmful and factually incorrect.
“The new era that is being implemented here at Macclesfield FC fills me with both excitement and pride in equal measure.
“I am so proud of my Club for investing so heavily in the Women’s game and in doing so, playing our part in starting to level the playing field.”
We cannot wait to see the Women’s First Team evolve – not only this season, but in all those that follow.
This really is an exciting time for the female game at all levels here at Macclesfield FC – to join our incredible journey email Francesco@macclesfieldfc.com.
Come and support our Women’s First Team in the Vitality Women’s FA Cup this Sunday afternoon.
Kick-off against Wythenshawe Amateurs is at 14:00, with entry free of charge.
