Manchester on The Rock: Growing the Game in Gibraltar

Maximm Lopez, captain of Manchester 62 – a Gibraltar club founded by Manchester United supporters – describes the state of the women’s game on the Rock. The league is played on a nine-a-side pitch with five teams this season, one more than last, and while opportunities remain limited she expects young girls now joining to increase the number of teams. The squad mixes locals with English and Spanish players living or working in Gibraltar, whose experience from home has helped others grow. Lopez enjoys the weather, the mix of nationalities and ages, and how well players from different clubs get along, but would raise the cap on foreign players per team from three to five and see girls encouraged to play at school. Gibraltar’s admission to international competition, she says, opens doors.