FC United of Manchester (A)
NWWRL Premier Division
Matchday 4

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• Wednesday 27th August 2025
• Broadhurst Park, 310 Lightbowne Road, Moston, M40 0FJ
• 7:30pm kick off
• Spacious car park on site.
• Nearest Metrolink: Newton Heath & Moston (1 mile)
• Pay on the gate. Adults: £5, Concessions: £2. U5s: Free.

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Preview

West Women travel north on Wednesday night to play in-form FC United of Manchester at Broadhurst Park. It is the first of two league meetings between the sides in the space of four days as West then host FCUM on Sunday. 

West fell to a 5-3 defeat at home Bolton Wanderers last time out, but it was a match where West certainly left the pitch with far more reasons to be cheerful than seemed possible when the visitors held a five goal lead on the hour-mark.

Whilst the game was long-gone by that point, West substitute Naomi Lawrence scored three goals to significantly reduce the deficit and show West fans more of the spirit that had been on display in the previous win over Curzon Ashton.

In addition, the afternoon saw Lawrence write herself into West history by being the first player to score a hattrick after being substituted on for either of the club's senior teams.

Wednesday's hosts FCUM have certainly started the season well. They finished one place below West last season but have won two of their opening three games. They began with a 1-0 loss at Poulton Vics but followed that up with two impressive wins over Bolton and then last year's runners-up Darwen. 

West and FCUM did play each other in pre-season and West strolled to a comfortable 4-1 win to kick off their summer schedule. 

FCUM appear to have significantly strengthened their squad since then, however. They have made seven new signings in recent weeks, and perhaps the most notable is goalkeeper Poppy Lyons-Walker; a Welsh international who has signed on dual-registration from Manchester United.

Other additions include former Everton forward Izzy Morris who scored for the second game running in a POTM performance against Darwen, and Yasmin Young, who is on loan from Cheadle Town Stingers and got the second goal against in that match.

Wednesday's game is played at FCUM's Broadhurst Park and your support will be hugely appreciated. If you cannot make the game, we understand that there may be radio commentary as the hosts have indicated that their FCUMRADIO site will be offering live radio commentary for all of their Women's home games in 2025/26.

About FCUM

FC United of Manchester were founded in 2005 and information about their formation and the club's relationship with Manchester United can be read HERE.

FCUM's Women's team competed for the first time in 2012/13. They won the NWWRL Division One South in 2017/18 whilst also retaining the league and county cups having also won them the previous year. They were then promoted from the Premier Division during the Covid seasons by an application process but were relegated in 2023/24 before coming 11th out of 12 last season.

Previous Meetings 

West picked up four points from the two meetings between the sides last season. The points were shared when West and FCUM played out a 2-2 draw on a Summer's evening at Brookburn Road, but West claimed the win at Broadhurst Park when Sophie Bracegirdle smashed in the only goal of the game after Kye Brown's sensational long-range effort could only be parried into Bracegirdle's path.