LONDON — Growing up in the area, Keira Walsh never envisaged Manchester City being a force in women's football. Let alone playing for them and being part of trophy-winning teams.
Walsh broke the deadlock in the 49th Women's FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday and set City on the way to a 3-0 victory over West Ham, completing a domestic double.
It is the sixth trophy in six seasons since the Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth that transformed the City men's team into an English force was pumped into the women's squad.
''As a fan that's when I saw the change,'' Walsh said, referring to Sheikh Mansour's 2008 takeover.