England captain Steph Houghton said yesterday that Manchester City’s inclusive new training complex is another step forward for the women’s game.

Houghton and her fellow Manchester City Women’s players will use exactly the same facilities at the new £200 million City Football Academy (CFA) — which was officially opened yesterday — as Manuel Pellegrini’s first team squad.

In fact, more than 450 players, including the under-seven’s side and the disability squad, will utilise the state-of-the-art base and Houghton is delighted to see such unity of purpose in action.

She said: “It’s a spectacular facility and provides a great opportunity to bring all the club’s teams together under one roof.

“There are exciting times ahead for City and it’s great that the women are part of that and continue to feel part of the Manchester City family.

“The progress of women’s football is a massive deal. It’s important that we have the same facilities as the men and that everyone is together here, from the seven-year-old Academy boys all the way up.

“It’s a special feeling to be part of it.

“We are very lucky to have such massive support from the club and a great pleasure to be involved in something that brings the community together.”

Teammate Izzy Christiansen added: “We have an identity as a club that is instilled through all the teams, male and female.

“We want one brand of football to run through the club that we develop together.”

George Osborne, who used the platform to announce a £50 million five-year government investment in grassroots football, hailed the CFA development as a model example for others to follow.

“I am a strong believer in improving sporting facilities for young people, which is why I am delighted to oversee the opening of the City Football Academy,” he said.

“The partnership between Abu Dhabi United Group and Manchester City Council is a benchmark for public private partnership, driving investment into the north of England and developing projects where business and the community benefit.”