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This past Wednesday, Bay Collective revealed the hiring of Anja van Ginhoven, England's managerial lead under head coach Sarina Wiegman, taking on the role of overseer of worldwide women's football activities. The freshly established multi-club ownership body, which includes San Francisco’s Bay FC as the first club in its portfolio, has prior experience in recruiting from the national football governing body.

The appointment earlier this year of Kay Cossington, the influential former FA technical director, as the chief executive was a clear statement by Bay Collective. She is deeply familiar with the women's game thoroughly and currently has put together an executive team that possesses extensive knowledge of the evolution of the women's game and filled with professional background.

Van Ginhoven is the third key figure of Wiegman's coaching team to exit this year, following Cossington departing before the European Championships and the assistant manager, Veurink, moving on to assume the position of manager of Holland, but Van Ginhoven's choice was made earlier.

Leaving proved to be a shock to the system, but “My choice was made to depart the Football Association quite a long time ago”, she states. “The terms covering four years, similar to Veurink and Wiegman did. As they re-signed, I had expressed I wasn't sure if I would do the same. I was already used to the thought that after the European Championship I wouldn’t be part of England any more.”

The tournament became an emotional tournament because of this. “I recall distinctly, discussing with the head coach when I disclosed about my decision and then we said: ‘We share a single dream, what a triumph it would represent that we win the Euros?’ In life, it's rare that hopes materialize every day yet, remarkably, ours came true.”

Dressed in orange, Van Ginhoven experiences split allegiances after her time in England, where she was part of securing consecutive European championships and was a part of the manager's team during the Dutch victory in the 2017 European Championship.

“The national team will forever have a dear spot in my heart. So, it’s going to be tough, especially with the knowledge that the players are scheduled to come for the international camp shortly,” she notes. “In matches between England and the Netherlands, who do I support? Right now I'm in Dutch colors, though tomorrow English white.”

A speedboat allows for rapid direction changes. In a small team like this, that’s easily done.

The club was not part of the equation as the management specialist was deciding it was time to move on, but everything aligned at the right time. Cossington started to bring people in and mutual beliefs proved essential.

“Essentially upon meeting we got together we felt immediate synergy,” says she. “We were instantly aligned. Our conversations have been thorough regarding multiple aspects concerning growing the sport and our shared vision for the right approach.”

These executives are among several to relocate from high-profile jobs in the European game for a fresh start in the US. Atlético Madrid’s female football technical lead, González, has been unveiled as the group's worldwide sports director.

“I felt strongly drawn by the firm conviction in the potential of women's football,” she explains. “I've been acquainted with Kay Cossington for an extended period; when I used to work at Fifa, she was the technical director of England, and it’s easy to make these decisions when you know you'll be working alongside people who really inspire you.”

The profound understanding within their group distinguishes them, explains she, as Bay Collective among a number new multi-club initiatives to launch in recent years. “That’s one of our unique selling points. Different approaches are acceptable, but we are firm in our belief in ensuring deep football understanding,” she adds. “All three of us have progressed in female football, probably for the best part of our lives.”

According to their online statement, the goal of Bay Collective is to advocate and innovate a progressive and sustainable ecosystem within female football clubs, built on proven methods for the diverse needs of women in sport. Doing that, with unified understanding, with no need to make the case for specific initiatives, is incredibly freeing.

“I compare it with going from a tanker to a speedboat,” remarks she. “You are essentially navigating through waters that there are no roadmaps for – as we say in the Netherlands, I don’t know if it translates – and you just need to rely on your individual understanding and experience to make the right decision. You can pivot and accelerate rapidly with a speedboat. In a lean group like this, that’s easily done.”

González continues: “With this opportunity, we have a completely white sheet of paper to start with. For me, our mission involves shaping the sport on a wider scale and that blank slate permits you to undertake whatever you want, within the rules of the game. This is the appeal of our collective project.”

The aspirations are significant, those in leading roles are expressing sentiments athletes and supporters want to hear and it will be interesting to follow the development of Bay Collective, the team and other teams that may join.

To get a sense of future plans, what factors are essential for a top-level environment? “{It all starts and ends with|Everything begins and concludes with|The foundation and culmination involve