Polly Bancroft: 'Power of the Manchester United brand to improve lives is what brought me here'

The appointment of the club's first head of women's football wasn't just a key moment for Manchester United, it was also rather symbolic of the wider women's game's rapidly changing landscape. As Polly Bancroft herself says, sitting down for her first newspaper interview since starting the role in October: “These roles didn't exist when I was at school." Nor did they exist when she started working at the Football Association in a project manager role 10 years ago.

Bancroft, who moved to Manchester United after two years as general manager of Brighton's women's team, has big plans for her new club, but she also recognises the power they can have in the wider game, which is why she says the first thing she did after getting through the door was to start work on a submission to the government's review of women's football – being chaired by England great Karen Carney – on behalf of Manchester United.

“I'm really mindful that women's football shouldn't be a copy and paste of the men’s," Bancroft says. "There's still a long way to go in terms of medical support, really understanding the menstrual cycle and applying nutrition accordingly, making sure that injury prevention is at the forefront, as well as the treatment of injuries. So much historic research and practice has been applied from a male perspective, so that's something that we're really keen to be a game-changer on."

Her role is new for Manchester United – who re-established a senior women's side in 2018 after a 13-year hiatus and have finished fourth in the Women's Super League three years in a row – and she says the potential power of the club's brand to inspire girls locally and globally was a key draw to the job, adding: "My family are from the north, so that helped, but the power that brand has to improve lives and to make a difference was a massive reason for coming.

"I'm very privileged to be the first head of women's football. It's a new era, let's say, but I'm really mindful that there's been an awful lot of work gone on before me being appointed, so I’m respectful of that.”

'We've got a passionate and loud fan base, but we're just really keen to grow it'

Formerly a business development specialist at Europe's governing body Uefa, Bancroft says another of her focuses is to grow the women's team's fanbase, adding: "We're really fortunate that we've got a passionate and loud fan base, but we're just really keen to grow it."

The increasing size of that match-going support was evident earlier in November, when 6,186 turned up for their WSL defeat against Chelsea, which saw Manchester United set a new record for their largest attendance at Leigh Sports Village, the ground they share with rugby league outfit Leigh Centurions, for the second time this season, although the women's team's overall record crowd remains the 20,241 that saw last term's Old Trafford win over Everton.

Marc Skinner's team are back at Old Trafford on Dec 3, where that figure is likely to be beaten, but women's team's longer-term home is up for discussion. Telegraph Sport revealed last December that one of the options on the table for the club was to build a second stadium for their women’s team and academy as part of plans to modernise and potentially expand Old Trafford – so what's the latest situation?

“Facilities and CapEx investment discussions are ongoing, particularly at the training ground and at the stadium," Bancroft says. "The club owns various other land around the region as well, so we’re considering club-wide plans. There are a lot of people in discussion, and there's a massive commitment from the club to get it right. But that won't be a rushed decision. All options are on the table.

"We're happy at Leigh. It’s a great size, the staff there are really good, the playing surface is excellent, so it works on a lot of levels – it’s just the location isn’t ideal. But then if you try and find an alternative, you're compromising on some of those other qualities that Leigh has. So there isn't a perfect solution yet, but we're committed to finding one."

What the team have secured is a long-term deal for their Euros-winning England star Ella Toone, who signed a new, extended contract this month until the summer of 2026.

Bancroft believes the 23-year-old is part of the club's identity, adding: “She's come through our pathway, and that's part of the DNA and part of the United way, is that we invest in youth. We are really proud of Ella. She had a fantastic summer and we’re looking forward to seeing more of the same for United.”

Toone's renewal, though, of course raises the question – how close are the club to seeing some of their other big names being confirmed on longer deals, specifically Spain full-back Ona Batlle and England stars Alessia Russo and Mary Earps?

“We’re having good conversations with Alessia, Mary and Ona’s representatives as well," Bancroft replies. "These things aren’t simple. We're hopeful and positive. We’re still in conversations with both."

Bancroft also says the market in the women's game to sign top players has become increasingly competitive even in the short months since England's Euros victory and believes a careful balance is needed to keep spending "sustainable", adding: “There's been a step change. Certainly since the Euros, we've recognised that change, particularly for those [players] that were at the Euros and especially the Lionesses for winning the competition.

"Part of that is that we recognise it is something for the club to reward, but sometimes the difficulty is the perception versus the reality of women’s football finances. Whilst the wage demands are increasing, we have to be mindful of sustainability at the same time as well. The revenues that are coming into the club from broadcasting or through the FA, just aren't increasing at the same rate as wage demands. We just have to balance that really carefully."

On the pitch, the club had a good start to the campaign in the WSL, winning their first five matches without conceding a goal, prior to their defeat by defending champions Chelsea, and their early run made head coach Skinner October's manager of the month. On that award for the former Orlando Pride and Birmingham City manager, Bancroft reflected: "It's absolutely what he deserves, I'm pleased he's getting recognition. It’s been an excellent start. That said, we're only in November and the season finishes in May, so there’s still a long way to go. The ambition is to try and win every match."

One of the questions frequently put to Skinner is about a timetable for his side breaking the stranglehold of Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City on the WSL's top three spots and consequently Champions League places since 2015. Asked about that target, Bancroft says: “We really want to compete in every competition – we're driven and that [Champions League qualification] would be great, but it doesn't define us. We just keep working every week to progress on previous seasons."

Another test of that progress compared with previous seasons will come on Saturday, when Manchester United travel to the Emirates to face table-topping Arsenal. Whatever happens this season, though, with a head of women's football finally in place, historic change is already taking place off the field.