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Midweek, Bay Collective disclosed the hiring of Anja van Ginhoven, England's managerial lead working with head coach Sarina Wiegman, taking on the role of overseer of worldwide women's football activities. The new multi-team ownership group, which includes Bay FC of San Francisco as the initial addition within its group, has previously engaged in bringing in talent from the Football Association.

The selection in recent months of Cossington, the well-respected previous technical director at the Football Association, as top executive was a demonstration of ambition by Bay Collective. Cossington knows the women's game inside out and now has put together a leadership team with a deep understanding of women’s football history and laden with practical experience.

She becomes the third central staffer of the manager's inner circle to depart recently, following Cossington exiting before the European Championships and deputy manager, Arjan Veurink, leaving to assume the position of manager of the Netherlands, but Van Ginhoven's choice was made earlier.

Leaving proved to be a jarring experience, yet “I had decided to exit the national setup some time back”, she states. “I had a contract covering four years, just as the assistant and head coach did. Upon their extension, I had already said I wasn't sure whether I would. I had accepted the thought that post-Euros my time with England would end.”

The European Championship became a deeply felt event because of this. “I remember very clearly, vividly, speaking with Wiegman in which I informed her of my choice and we then remarked: ‘There’s just one dream, how incredible it would be that we win the Euros?’ Generally, it's rare that aspirations are realized often yet, absolutely incredibly, ours came true.”

Sitting in an orange T-shirt, she holds dual affections post her tenure in England, where she was part of securing consecutive European championships and was a part of Wiegman’s staff for the Netherlands’ triumph the 2017 Euros.

“The national team will always hold an emotional connection for me. So, it will be difficult, particularly now knowing that the players are scheduled to come for the international camp shortly,” she comments. “When England plays the Netherlands, where do my loyalties lie? Right now I'm in Dutch colors, but tomorrow I'll be in white.”

You can change direction and move quickly in a speedboat. In a small team like this, it's effortless to accomplish.

Bay FC was not part of the equation when the strategic expert was deciding it was time to move on, however everything aligned perfectly. Cossington began assembling the team and common principles were key.

“Virtually from the start we connected we experienced an instant connection,” says she. “You’re immediately on the same level. We have spoken at length about different things concerning growing the sport and our shared vision for the right approach.”

These executives are not alone to uproot themselves from prominent roles within European football for a fresh start across the Atlantic. Atlético Madrid’s technical director for women's football, Patricia González, has been announced as Bay Collective’s worldwide sports director.

“I was very attracted by the firm conviction regarding the strength of the women’s game,” she says. “I'm familiar with Cossington for an extended period; back when I was with Fifa, she was the technical director of England, and it’s easy to make these decisions when you are aware you will have around you colleagues who drive you.”

The profound understanding among their staff makes them unique, explains she, as Bay Collective one of several fresh club ownership ventures to launch over the past few years. “It's a standout feature of our approach. It’s OK that people do things in different ways, but we are firm in our belief in incorporating football expertise,” she says. “The entire leadership have been on a journey within the women's game, probably for the best part of our lives.”

As their website states, the ambition for the collective is to support and lead a forward-thinking and durable system within female football clubs, built on proven methods addressing the different demands of women. Achieving this, with unified understanding, eliminating the need for persuasion for why you would take certain actions, provides great freedom.

“I liken it to transitioning from a tanker to a speedboat,” states she. “You’re basically driving through waters that there are no roadmaps for – that’s a Dutch saying, I'm unsure if it translates well – and you just need to rely on your own knowledge and expertise to choose wisely. Adjusting course and speeding up is possible in a speedboat. In a small team like this, that is simple to achieve.”

She notes: “In this role, we have a completely white sheet of paper to build upon. In my view, our work focuses on impacting football on a wider scale and that blank slate enables you to pursue anything you desire, adhering to football's guidelines. This is the appeal of our joint endeavor.”

Their goals are lofty, those in leading roles are voicing opinions the football community are eager to hear and it will be compelling to monitor the progress of this organization, the team and other teams that may join.

For a flavour of what is to come, what are the key aspects in a high-performance setting? “{It all starts and ends with|Everything begins and concludes with|The foundation and culmination involve