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On Wednesday, Bay Collective revealed the recruitment of Van Ginhoven, the English national team's managerial lead working with Sarina Wiegman, taking on the role of director of global women’s football operations. This new multi-club ownership body, featuring Bay FC of San Francisco as its initial addition among its holdings, has previously engaged in bringing in talent from the Football Association.

The hiring this year of Cossington, the well-respected former FA technical director, to the CEO role acted as a clear statement by Bay Collective. She is deeply familiar with the women's game comprehensively and now has gathered a leadership team that possesses extensive knowledge of the evolution of the women's game and laden with experience.

Van Ginhoven becomes the third core member of Wiegman's coaching team to depart in the current year, following Cossington exiting before Euro 2025 and assistant coach, Veurink, leaving to assume the position of head manager of the Dutch national team, however Van Ginhoven's choice came sooner.

Moving on was a shock to the system, yet “My choice was made to exit the national setup some time back”, Van Ginhoven explains. “The terms for four years, similar to Veurink and Wiegman did. When they renewed, I had already said I wasn't sure whether I would. I was already used to the thought that post-Euros I wouldn’t be part of England any more.”

The Euros became a sentimental event as a result. “I recall distinctly, having a conversation with Wiegman where I basically told her about my decision and then we said: ‘We share a single dream, how incredible it would be that we win the Euros?’ In reality, it's rare that hopes materialize often yet, against the odds, it actually happened.”

Dressed in orange, she experiences split allegiances post her tenure working in England, during which she contributed to securing consecutive European championships and worked within the coaching setup when the Netherlands won at Euro 2017.

“The English side will forever have a special place in my heart. Therefore, it will be challenging, especially with the knowledge that the players are scheduled to come for the upcoming fixtures shortly,” she says. “In matches between England and the Netherlands, who do I support? Today I have on orange, but tomorrow it’s white.”

In a speedboat, you can pivot and accelerate swiftly. In a small team like this, that is simple to achieve.

The club was not initially considered when the management specialist determined that it was time for a change, however the pieces fell into place perfectly. Cossington started to bring people in and mutual beliefs were key.

“Virtually from the start we got together we experienced an instant connection,” remarks Van Ginhoven. “You’re immediately on the same level. Our conversations have been thorough on various topics related to developing women's football and the methods we believe are correct.”

The two leaders are among several to relocate from high-profile jobs within European football for a blank sheet of paper across the Atlantic. The Spanish club's technical director for women's football, Patricia González, has been unveiled as the organization's global sporting director.

“I felt strongly drawn in the deep faith regarding the strength of the women’s game,” González comments. “I've been acquainted with Kay Cossington for an extended period; during my tenure at Fifa, she served as England's technical director, and such choices are straightforward knowing you are going to be surrounded by individuals who motivate you.”

The extensive expertise in their team distinguishes them, notes Van Ginhoven, as Bay Collective part of a group fresh club ownership ventures that have started over the past few years. “It's a standout feature of our approach. It’s OK that people do things in different ways, however we strongly feel in incorporating football expertise,” she adds. “The entire leadership have traveled a path within the women's game, for most of our lives.”

As their website states, the ambition of Bay Collective is to support and lead a progressive and sustainable ecosystem of women’s football clubs, built on proven methods for the diverse needs of women in sport. Succeeding in this, with collective agreement, eliminating the need for persuasion for why you would take certain actions, is incredibly freeing.

“I liken it to transitioning from a tanker to a speedboat,” says she. “You are essentially navigating in uncharted waters – that’s a Dutch saying, I'm unsure if it translates well – and it's necessary to trust your individual understanding and experience to choose wisely. You can pivot and accelerate rapidly with a speedboat. In a small team like this, that’s easily done.”

She adds: “Here, we start with a blank slate to build upon. Personally, what we do involves shaping the sport on a much broader level and that white paper permits you to undertake any direction you choose, following the sport's regulations. That is the advantage of what we are building together.”

Their goals are lofty, the management are expressing sentiments players and fans want to hear and it will be fascinating to follow the development of Bay Collective, the club and other teams that may join.

For a flavour of what is to come, 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