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Midweek, Bay Collective disclosed the recruitment of Van Ginhoven, the English national team's general manager under head coach Sarina Wiegman, taking on the role of overseer of worldwide women's football activities. The new multi-club ownership body, featuring the San Francisco-based Bay FC as its inaugural team among its holdings, has previously engaged in recruiting from the national football governing body.

The selection this year of Kay Cossington, the well-respected ex-technical director for the FA, to the CEO role was a demonstration of ambition from Bay Collective. Cossington knows women’s football inside out and now has gathered an executive team with a deep understanding of the evolution of the women's game and packed with experience.

She marks the third core member of Wiegman’s setup to depart this year, following the chief executive exiting before the European Championships and assistant coach, Veurink, moving on to assume the position of head manager of Holland, but Van Ginhoven's choice arrived more quickly.

Stepping away proved to be a surprising shift, yet “I had decided to leave the FA some time back”, she says. “I had a contract covering four years, just as Arjan and Sarina had. When they renewed, I previously indicated I was uncertain about renewing myself. I was already used to the whole idea that post-Euros my time with England would end.”

The tournament was a sentimental competition because of this. “I remember very clearly, vividly, having a conversation with Wiegman when I disclosed of my choice and after which we agreed: ‘There’s just one dream, what a triumph it would represent to clinch the European title?’ Generally, dreams don't hopes materialize every day but, against the odds, ours came true.”

Sitting in an orange T-shirt, Van Ginhoven has divided loyalties after her time working in England, during which she contributed to securing consecutive European championships and served on the manager's team during the Dutch victory at Euro 2017.

“The national team retains a dear spot in my heart. Therefore, it’s going to be tough, especially with the knowledge that the team are due to arrive for the upcoming fixtures soon,” she says. “When England plays the Netherlands, which side do I back? Today I have on orange, but tomorrow it’s white.”

A speedboat allows for rapid direction changes. With a compact team such as ours, that is simple to achieve.

The club was not in the plans when the organisational wizard was deciding that it was time for a change, but everything aligned perfectly. The chief executive started to bring people in and mutual beliefs proved essential.

“Almost from the very first moment we connected we had that click moment,” says she. “There was immediate understanding. We have spoken at length 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 relocate from well-known positions in Europe's football scene for a fresh start in the United States. Atlético Madrid’s technical director for women's football, González, has been announced as Bay Collective’s global sporting director.

“I was highly interested in the deep faith in the potential of women's football,” she says. “I have known Kay Cossington for a long time; back when I was with Fifa, she held the technical director role for England, and decisions like this come naturally when you are aware you will have around you individuals who motivate you.”

The depth of knowledge in their team makes them unique, says she, with Bay Collective part of a group recent multi-team projects which have emerged lately. “This is a key differentiator for us. Various methods are valid, however we strongly feel in incorporating football expertise,” she adds. “Each of us have traveled a path within the women's game, throughout our careers.”

As their website states, the goal of Bay Collective is to champion and pioneer an advanced and lasting environment of women’s football clubs, built on proven methods for the diverse needs of female athletes. Achieving this, with collective agreement, eliminating the need for persuasion for why you would take certain actions, is hugely liberating.

“I liken it to moving from a large ship to a fast boat,” says she. “You're journeying through waters that there are no roadmaps for – a common Dutch expression, not sure how it comes across – and it's necessary to trust your individual understanding and experience to choose wisely. You can pivot and accelerate rapidly in a speedboat. In a small team like this, it's straightforward to accomplish.”

She continues: “In this role, we start with a blank slate to start with. For me, our work is about influencing the game on a wider scale and that clean start enables you to pursue whatever you want, adhering to football's guidelines. That’s the beauty of our collective project.”

The aspirations are significant, the executives are expressing sentiments players and fans are eager to hear and it will be interesting to observe the evolution of the collective, the club 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