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Midweek, Bay Collective announced the hiring of Van Ginhoven, England's general manager working with head coach Sarina Wiegman, taking on the role of global women's football operations director. The freshly established multi-club ownership body, which includes San Francisco’s Bay FC as the inaugural team among its holdings, has a history in recruiting from the English FA.

The appointment this year of Cossington, the influential ex-technical director for the FA, as the chief executive was a demonstration of ambition from the collective. Cossington understands the women's game inside out and currently has gathered a leadership team with a deep understanding of the evolution of the women's game and packed with practical experience.

She becomes the third central staffer of Wiegman’s setup to leave in the current year, with Cossington leaving before Euro 2025 and deputy manager, Arjan Veurink, stepping down to take up the role of head coach of Holland, however Van Ginhoven's choice was made earlier.

Stepping away has been a surprising shift, but “I had decided to exit the national setup quite a long time ago”, Van Ginhoven says. “I had a contract for four years, just as the assistant and head coach had. When they renewed, I had expressed I was uncertain if I would do the same. I was already used to the notion that post-Euros my time with England would end.”

The European Championship was a deeply felt event as a result. “I remember very clearly, vividly, speaking with Wiegman in which I informed her of my choice and then we said: ‘Our ultimate aspiration, how incredible it would be if we were to win the European Championship?’ In life, dreams don't hopes materialize often but, remarkably, this one did.”

Sitting in an orange T-shirt, Van Ginhoven experiences split allegiances after her time with the English team, during which she contributed to winning back-to-back European titles and worked within the coaching setup for the Netherlands’ triumph at Euro 2017.

“The national team will forever have a dear spot in my heart. So, it will be difficult, notably since that the team will be arriving for the upcoming fixtures soon,” she comments. “In matches between England and the Netherlands, which side do I back? Right now I'm in Dutch colors, but tomorrow it’s white.”

A speedboat allows for rapid direction changes. In a small team like this, it's effortless to accomplish.

Bay FC was not initially considered as the strategic expert determined that a new chapter was needed, but the opportunity arose perfectly. Cossington started to bring people in and mutual beliefs proved essential.

“Virtually from the start we got together we felt immediate synergy,” remarks Van Ginhoven. “There was immediate understanding. We've discussed extensively regarding multiple aspects related to developing women's football and what we think is the right way.”

Cossington and Van Ginhoven are not alone to make a move from well-known positions in the European game for a blank sheet of paper across the Atlantic. The Spanish club's female football technical lead, González, has been announced as the group's global sporting director.

“I was very attracted in the deep faith regarding the strength of women's football,” she explains. “I've been acquainted with Kay Cossington for many years; 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 depth of knowledge among their staff sets them apart, explains she, for the collective one of several new multi-club initiatives which have emerged in recent years. “That’s one of our unique selling points. It’s OK that people do things in different ways, but we definitely believe in incorporating football expertise,” she says. “Each of us have been on a journey in women’s football, for most of our lives.”

As outlined on their site, the mission of Bay Collective is to support and lead an advanced and lasting environment of women’s football clubs, founded on effective practices for the diverse needs of female athletes. Doing that, with collective agreement, without having to justify actions for specific initiatives, provides great freedom.

“I liken it to moving from a large ship to a fast boat,” states Van Ginhoven. “You’re basically driving through waters that there are no roadmaps for – as we say in the Netherlands, not sure how it comes across – and you just need to rely on your individual understanding and experience for making correct choices. You can change direction and move quickly in a speedboat. In a lean group like this, it's straightforward to accomplish.”

She adds: “Here, we have a completely white sheet of paper to work from. For me, our work is about influencing the game on a wider scale and that clean start permits you to undertake any direction you choose, within the rules of the game. This is the appeal of what we are building together.”

The ambition is high, the executives are voicing opinions the football community hope to hear and it will be fascinating to follow the development of Bay Collective, the team and other teams that may join.

As a preview of upcoming developments, what factors are essential in a high-performance setting? “{It all starts and ends with|Everything begins and concludes with|The foundation and culmination involve