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This past Wednesday, this new ownership entity announced the recruitment of Anja van Ginhoven, the English national team's managerial lead working with head coach Sarina Wiegman, taking on the role of director of global women’s football operations. This new multi-club ownership body, with Bay FC of San Francisco as the first club in its portfolio, has a history in hiring individuals from the Football Association.

The selection this year of Cossington, the well-respected previous technical director at the Football Association, as the chief executive acted as a signal of intent from Bay Collective. She knows women’s football thoroughly and now has put together a leadership team that possesses extensive knowledge of the evolution of the women's game and laden with experience.

Van Ginhoven marks the third core member of Wiegman’s setup to depart in the current year, following Cossington departing before the Euros and assistant coach, Arjan Veurink, leaving to take up the role of head manager of the Netherlands, however Van Ginhoven's choice arrived more quickly.

Leaving has been a jarring experience, yet “I’d taken my decision to depart the Football Association some time back”, Van Ginhoven says. “My agreement for four years, similar to Veurink and Wiegman had. As they re-signed, I had expressed I was uncertain if I would do the same. I was already used to the thought that after the European Championship I would no longer be involved with the national team.”

The European Championship became a deeply felt tournament due to that. “I remember very clearly, vividly, speaking with the head coach when I disclosed of my choice and then we said: ‘There’s just one dream, how amazing would it be to clinch the European title?’ Generally, it's rare that hopes materialize often however, remarkably, ours came true.”

Wearing a Netherlands-colored shirt, Van Ginhoven has divided loyalties following her stint working in England, during which she contributed to winning back-to-back European titles and served on the coaching setup during the Dutch victory the 2017 Euros.

“The English side will always hold a dear spot in my heart. Therefore, it will be difficult, particularly now knowing that the players are scheduled to come for the international camp in the near future,” she notes. “When England plays the Netherlands, who do I support? I’m wearing orange at the moment, though tomorrow English white.”

You can change direction and move quickly in a speedboat. In a small team like this, that’s easily done.

The club was not part of the equation as the management specialist was deciding that it was time for a change, however the pieces fell into place at the right time. Cossington started to bring people in and mutual beliefs proved essential.

“Virtually from the start we got together we had that click moment,” states she. “We were instantly aligned. We have spoken at length regarding multiple aspects concerning growing the sport and our shared vision for the right approach.”

Cossington and Van Ginhoven are not the only figures to relocate from well-known positions within European football for a fresh start in the United States. The Spanish club's women’s technical director, González, has been announced as the organization's global sporting director.

“I was highly interested in the deep faith regarding the strength of women's football,” she says. “I have known Kay Cossington for a long time; during my tenure at Fifa, she held the technical director role for England, and such choices are straightforward when you are aware you will have around you colleagues who drive you.”

The profound understanding among their staff distinguishes them, says she, for the collective one of several fresh club ownership ventures that have started in recent years. “It's a standout feature of our approach. Different approaches are acceptable, however we strongly feel in incorporating football expertise,” she adds. “Each of us have traveled a path in women’s football, throughout our careers.”

According to their online statement, the goal of Bay Collective is to champion and pioneer a progressive and sustainable ecosystem of women’s football clubs, based on what works to meet the varied requirements of women. Succeeding in this, with collective agreement, with no need to make the case for specific initiatives, is incredibly freeing.

“I compare it with transitioning from a tanker to a speedboat,” says she. “You're journeying through waters that there are no roadmaps for – that’s a Dutch saying, I'm unsure if it translates well – and you just need to rely on your personal insight and skills for making correct choices. You can change direction and move quickly using a speedboat. In a lean group like this, that is simple to achieve.”

González adds: “In this role, we start with a blank slate to start with. For me, our work focuses on impacting football on a much broader level and that white paper permits you to undertake whatever you want, within the rules of the game. That’s the beauty of our joint endeavor.”

Their goals are lofty, the executives are expressing sentiments players and fans want to hear and it will be fascinating to observe the evolution of Bay Collective, the club and future additions to the group.

For a flavour of what is to come, what are the key aspects in a high-performance setting? “{It all starts and ends with|Everything begins and concludes with|The foundation and culmination involve