Fourteen years ago, Manchester United as a corporation decided that women’s football was not profitable. They disbanded the team to avoid taking a loss. Over time, attitudes as well as trends, change. Now, women's football is a potential growth industry and United are back in the game.

Do the Glazers have a conscience or just an understanding that even if the bottom line isn't in the black, participating in women's football generates a wealth of goodwill? Neither would surprise. For better or worse, the corporation now operates a team for the ladies.

Last season

When United renewed its registration, the FA Women’s Super League board allotted the team a spot in the second division. It wasn't where they wanted to be so the board invested in players and a coach that belonged in the top flight. Eighteen victories in 20 matches delivered the Women’s Championship title and the trophy that fans expect from any side wearing the trident-bearing devil over their heart.

This is the star baker turning up to work at Gregg’s factory. Manchester United, backed by the entire business built on the men’s success in the 1990s, subsequent global marketing strategies, crushed the opposition at will. Such occasions took place against Millwall, London Bees as well as Crystal Palace.

The latter in fact has been smeared due to their poor finance surrounding the ladies side. Their own players had to subside operation costs. This is typical from the semi/non-professional game. Like Rangers in the Scottish lower leagues or Juventus in Serie B, the Red Devils served their penance but it was the competition who felt the pain. Comfortably won games with scorelines like 7-0, 8-0 and 9-0 weren't uncommon.

The club used its glamour to attract top-flight quality players, with the promise that they’d be making history as the re-born Manchester United women’s team. They wouldn’t be second-division players for more than a year.

Is it a hard sell? Cynics may yes. Forming a new team with the expectation that the sum of its parts will be as good as expected is understandable. But to a player, it’s hard to refuse. A chance to make some records. No matter you're a professional in a partially semi-pro league; you’re playing for the most recognised club in the world. It’s a no-brainer.

When you think about it, the men's side have been trying the same formula since Sir Alex Ferguson retired albeit against much stiffer opposition and with much less success. Regardless, the fabled transition attracted Siobhan Chamberlain, Martha Harris, Alex Greenwood and Amy Turner, who all moved from Liverpool to play for this new Manchester United side.