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This past Wednesday, this new ownership entity revealed the recruitment of Anja van Ginhoven, England's general manager under head coach Sarina Wiegman, to serve as their global women's football operations director. The new multi-club ownership body, which includes the San Francisco-based Bay FC as the first club within its group, has a history in bringing in talent from the Football Association.

The appointment in recent months of Cossington, the well-respected ex-technical director for the FA, to the CEO role acted as a clear statement from the collective. Cossington is deeply familiar with the women's game thoroughly and currently she has assembled a management group with a deep understanding of the history of women's football and laden with professional background.

She becomes the third key figure of the manager's inner circle to leave this year, with Cossington exiting prior to Euro 2025 and deputy manager, Veurink, stepping down to take up the role of manager of the Netherlands, but her move was made earlier.

Leaving proved to be a shock to the system, but “I had decided to leave the FA well in advance”, she states. “The terms lasting four years, exactly like Arjan and Sarina had. As they re-signed, I previously indicated I didn’t know if I would do the same. I had grown accustomed to the whole idea that after the European Championship I wouldn’t be part of England any more.”

The Euros was an emotional tournament because of this. “It's sharp in my memory, speaking with Sarina in which I informed her regarding my plans and we then remarked: ‘Our ultimate aspiration, how amazing would it be that we win the Euros?’ Generally, it's rare that dreams come true often but, against the odds, ours came true.”

Wearing a Netherlands-colored shirt, Van Ginhoven has divided loyalties after her time working in England, during which she contributed to securing consecutive European championships and was a part of the manager's team for the Netherlands’ triumph the 2017 Euros.

“The national team will forever have an emotional connection for me. Therefore, it’s going to be tough, especially with the knowledge that the squad are due to arrive for national team duty in the near future,” she comments. “In matches between England and the Netherlands, which side do I back? Right now I'm in Dutch colors, though tomorrow English white.”

A speedboat allows for rapid direction changes. With a compact team such as ours, it's effortless to accomplish.

The club was not part of the equation as the strategic expert was deciding that a new chapter was needed, however the opportunity arose perfectly. Cossington initiated the recruitment and their shared values proved essential.

“Virtually from the start we got together we experienced an instant connection,” remarks Van Ginhoven. “We were instantly aligned. Our conversations have been thorough regarding multiple aspects related to developing women's football and the methods we believe are correct.”

The two leaders are among several to uproot themselves from well-known positions in Europe's football scene for a blank sheet of paper in the US. Atlético Madrid’s women’s technical director, Patricia González, has been unveiled as the group's global sporting director.

“I was highly interested to that strong belief of the power of the women’s game,” González explains. “I've been acquainted with Kay Cossington for many years; when I used to work at Fifa, she served as England's technical director, and decisions like this come naturally knowing you'll be working alongside people who really inspire you.”

The profound understanding within their group distinguishes them, says Van Ginhoven, for the collective among a number fresh club ownership ventures that have started in recent years. “That’s one of our unique selling points. Various methods are valid, however we strongly feel in ensuring deep football understanding,” she says. “Each of us have traveled a path in women’s football, for most of our lives.”

As their website states, the goal of Bay Collective is to advocate and innovate a forward-thinking and durable system within female football clubs, built on proven methods to meet the varied requirements of women in sport. Achieving this, with everyone on the same page, without having to justify actions for specific initiatives, is incredibly freeing.

“I liken it to moving from a large ship to a fast boat,” remarks she. “You’re basically driving across unmapped territories – a common Dutch expression, I don’t know if it translates – and it's necessary to trust your individual understanding and experience to choose wisely. You can change direction and move quickly with a speedboat. In a small team like this, that’s easily done.”

She continues: “In this role, we begin with a clean canvas to start with. In my view, our work involves shaping the sport on a wider scale and that white paper permits you to undertake anything you desire, adhering to football's guidelines. This is the appeal of our joint endeavor.”

Their goals are lofty, the management are voicing opinions athletes and supporters are eager to hear and it will be interesting to monitor the progress of Bay Collective, Bay FC 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