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On Wednesday, this new ownership entity disclosed the recruitment of Anja van Ginhoven, the English national team's managerial lead working with head coach Sarina Wiegman, taking on the role of overseer of worldwide women's football activities. This freshly established multi-team ownership group, which includes the San Francisco-based Bay FC as its initial addition within its group, has a history in recruiting from the English FA.

The appointment in recent months of Cossington, the influential ex-technical director for the FA, to the CEO role acted as a clear statement by this organization. She understands the women's game thoroughly and now she has assembled an executive team with profound insight of the evolution of the women's game and filled with experience.

Van Ginhoven becomes the third core member of Wiegman’s setup to exit recently, following the chief executive leaving prior to the Euros and deputy manager, Arjan Veurink, leaving to assume the position of head coach of Holland, however her move came sooner.

Stepping away proved to be a shock to the system, but “I’d taken my decision to exit the national setup some time back”, Van Ginhoven says. “The terms lasting four years, exactly like Arjan and Sarina had. As they re-signed, I had already said I was uncertain if I would do the same. I had grown accustomed to the whole idea that following the tournament I would no longer be involved with the national team.”

The European Championship turned into a sentimental tournament because of this. “I recall distinctly, having a conversation with Wiegman where I basically told her of my choice and after which we agreed: ‘There’s just one dream, how amazing would it be if we were to win the European Championship?’ In life, it's rare that aspirations are realized often however, against the odds, it actually happened.”

Sitting in an orange T-shirt, she holds dual affections after her time in England, where she was part of claiming two Euros in a row and was a part of the coaching setup during the Dutch victory the 2017 Euros.

“The English side retains a special place in my heart. Therefore, it’s going to be tough, especially with the knowledge that the players are scheduled to come for the international camp soon,” she says. “In matches between England and the Netherlands, who do I support? Right now I'm in Dutch colors, but tomorrow it’s white.”

In a speedboat, you can pivot and accelerate swiftly. In a lean group like this one, that’s easily done.

Bay FC was not initially considered when the organisational wizard was deciding 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 met we felt immediate synergy,” states Van Ginhoven. “There was immediate understanding. Our conversations have been thorough on various topics related to developing women's football and our shared vision for the right approach.”

These executives are not the only figures to uproot themselves from well-known positions in the European game for a fresh start in the United States. Atlético Madrid’s technical director for women's football, González, has been announced as the group's new global sporting director.

“I was highly interested to that strong belief in the potential of women's football,” González comments. “I'm familiar with Cossington for a long time; back when I was with Fifa, she held the technical director role for England, and it’s easy to make these decisions when you are aware you are going to be surrounded by people who really inspire you.”

The profound understanding among their staff distinguishes them, notes Van Ginhoven, with Bay Collective part of a group new multi-club initiatives which have emerged lately. “That’s one of our unique selling points. Various methods are valid, but we are firm in our belief in incorporating football expertise,” she states. “The entire leadership have traveled a path in female football, for most of our lives.”

As outlined on their site, the mission for the collective is to support and lead an advanced and lasting environment for women's football clubs, founded on effective practices to meet the varied requirements of women. Achieving this, with unified understanding, without having to justify actions for specific initiatives, provides great freedom.

“I equate it to moving from a large ship to a fast boat,” says she. “You're journeying through waters that there are no roadmaps for – as we say in the Netherlands, I'm unsure if it translates well – and you must depend on your personal insight and skills for making correct choices. Adjusting course and speeding up is possible using a speedboat. In a small team like this, that’s easily done.”

González notes: “Here, we begin with a clean canvas to build upon. For me, our work focuses on impacting football on a much broader level and that clean start permits you to undertake anything you desire, within the rules of the game. This is the appeal of our collective project.”

The ambition is high, the management are saying the things the football community want to hear and it will be compelling to observe the evolution of Bay Collective, the team and any clubs added to the portfolio.

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