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This past Wednesday, this new ownership entity announced the hiring of Van Ginhoven, England's managerial lead under Sarina Wiegman, taking on the role of overseer of worldwide women's football activities. This new collective club ownership initiative, featuring Bay FC of San Francisco as its inaugural team in its portfolio, has prior experience in hiring individuals from the English FA.

The appointment earlier this year of Kay Cossington, the well-respected ex-technical director for the FA, to the CEO role was a demonstration of ambition by the collective. She knows female football inside out 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.

She becomes the third central staffer of the manager's inner circle to depart this year, with Cossington exiting before the Euros and the assistant manager, Veurink, moving on to become head manager of the Dutch national team, however her decision arrived more quickly.

Moving on proved to be a surprising shift, yet “My choice was made to leave the FA quite a long time ago”, she explains. “My agreement lasting four years, exactly like Arjan and Sarina did. Upon their extension, I previously indicated I was uncertain whether I would. I was already used to the whole idea that post-Euros I would no longer be involved with the national team.”

The tournament turned into an emotional competition due to that. “It's sharp in my memory, having a conversation with the head coach where I basically told her about my decision and we then remarked: ‘There’s just one dream, how amazing would it be if we were to win the European Championship?’ Generally, it's rare that aspirations are realized every day however, remarkably, this one did.”

Sitting in an orange T-shirt, Van Ginhoven has divided loyalties after her time with the English team, during which she contributed to claiming two Euros in a row and served on Wiegman’s staff for the Netherlands’ triumph in the 2017 European Championship.

“The English side retains an emotional connection for me. Therefore, it’s going to be tough, particularly now knowing that the squad are due to arrive for the international camp soon,” she comments. “In matches between England and the Netherlands, which side do I back? Today I have on orange, though tomorrow English white.”

In a speedboat, you can pivot and accelerate swiftly. In a small team like this, that’s easily done.

Bay FC was not initially considered as the organisational wizard concluded it was time to move on, but the opportunity arose perfectly. Cossington initiated the recruitment and mutual beliefs were crucial.

“Virtually from the start we got together we had that click moment,” says she. “We were instantly aligned. We have spoken at length about different things related to developing women's football and the methods we believe are correct.”

The two leaders are not the only figures to make a move from high-profile jobs in the European game for a fresh start in the United States. The Spanish club's women’s technical director, Patricia González, has been introduced as Bay Collective’s worldwide sports director.

“I was highly interested in the deep faith in the potential within the female sport,” González comments. “I've been acquainted with Kay Cossington for a long time; back when I was with Fifa, she held the technical director role for England, and it’s easy to make these decisions when you know you will have around you colleagues who drive you.”

The profound understanding among their staff makes them unique, explains she, with Bay Collective one of several new multi-club initiatives which have emerged in recent years. “This is a key differentiator for us. Various methods are valid, but we are firm in our belief in having that football knowledge on board,” she adds. “The entire leadership have progressed in women’s football, probably for the best part of our lives.”

As their website states, the mission for the collective is to advocate and innovate an advanced and lasting environment for women's football clubs, founded on effective practices to meet the varied requirements of women in sport. Achieving this, with unified understanding, without having to justify actions regarding certain decisions, is incredibly freeing.

“I compare it with transitioning from a tanker to a speedboat,” remarks she. “You're journeying across unmapped territories – a common Dutch expression, I'm unsure if it translates well – and you just need to rely on your own knowledge and expertise for making correct choices. Adjusting course and speeding up is possible with a speedboat. In a lean group like this, that’s easily done.”

González continues: “Here, we have a completely white sheet of paper to build upon. In my view, what we do is about influencing the game more extensively and that clean start permits you to undertake any direction you choose, within the rules of the game. That’s the beauty of our collective project.”

The ambition is high, the management are voicing opinions athletes and supporters want to hear and it will be fascinating to observe the evolution of Bay Collective, the team and any clubs added to the portfolio.

For a flavour of what is to come, which elements are crucial for a top-level environment? “{It all starts and ends with|Everything begins and concludes with|The foundation and culmination involve