Manchester United Women’s new training facility at Carrington won’t just benefit the current iteration of the first-team squad – but generations of players to come from the Girls Academy.

Katie Zelem, Ella Toone, Millie Turner and Gabby George are among the current women’s team players to have progressed through the Girls Academy, which is managed by Manchester United Foundation up to Under-14 level.

Players up to and including the Under-16 age group are based at Eccles Sixth Form College or Leigh Sports Village for matches and training, before Carrington becomes the base for players at open-age level. Now, though, the new facility at Carrington is proving to be an aspirational place for those youngsters progressing through the Academy.

Zelem recently welcomed one of those budding young players to Carrington for an exclusive tour of the facility, which has been in use from the start of the current campaign, as Under-16 goalkeeper Millie got a thorough look around the state-of-the-art building.

Millie, who has been in the Girls Academy since joining the Under-9s, said: “Carrington has a special feeling to it, I’ve been at the club for a long time and it’s a nice feeling to see all the options that it offers us.

“It’s very professional and it gives the players the best place they can be in to succeed as a team and individually.

“It’s good for the younger generation to see what they can achieve. It’s only going to grow and get bigger. It shows how the club is going to progress further and further for the next generations.”

Zelem led an insightful tour of the facilities and proved a relatable figure for Millie, having also progressed from the youth set-up as a youngster.

“It was good to find out her views and her journey through the pathway and how much women’s football has changed.

“Katie has been down to the Academy and met all the girls before, but I’ve not had such an important conversation like that as close as we have today. It’s inclusive and such a proud moment to feel part of this club.”