July 9 – Manchester City will play their first ever Women’s Super League derby match against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on September.
The season opener sees newly promoted Manchester United in their first season in the WSL’s top tier having won promotion for the second level in their first season as a professional team.
Tickets are priced at £7 for adults with up to three Under-16s permitted to attend free with each adult ticket. Tickets for any additional Under-16s are priced at a reduced rate of £2 each.
This is only the second time City’s women’s team have played in the Etihad Stadium. The last time was way back in May 2014 when City beat Everton 1-0 in the group stages of the Continental Cup.
At the recently completed World Cup in France, England coach Phil Neville was asked if he would like to see the WSL games played at clubs’ main stadia. He responded that of course would but it needed to be part of a full marketing package that clubs supported to fill the stadium. The Manchester derby looks like it is the first big step on that road for the women’s game.
Gavin Makel, Head of Women’s Football at Manchester City said: “Following an exciting summer of women’s football and the Lionesses’ impressive form in France, we wanted to kick off the new season with a bang. Having the Manchester Derby as our home opener was the perfect opportunity to play a game at the Etihad Stadium and welcome our seven Manchester City Lionesses home.
“We are delighted to have our new kit partner PUMA on board to build even more excitement around this historic game.”
Last week, Manchester City and their new kit supplier Puma unveiled the club’s 2019/20 home and away kits and a partnership that aims to go beyond the pitch, including a focus on empowering the women’s game. Puma will be the official presenting partner.
Steph Houghton, Manchester City and England Lionesses captain, said: “Big games like this are the ones you want to be in as a player and every one of us Manchester City players is looking forward to getting on that pitch and giving you all a performance to be proud of.”
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