The Professional Footballers' Association has launched a new women's football department to support and grow the game in the UK.

Marie-Christine Bouchier will head up the department as the new Director of Women's Football. This replaces the Player Management Department where Bouchier was an executive. 

Of her new role, Bouchier says: “We now have a dedicated Women’s Football department because the women’s game is growing at such a fast rate, that we want to ensure we have the infrastructure in place to support the developing needs of the players.

"Just as the PFA did historically in the development stages, we want to keep helping to push the game forward, and this department enhances the support system we already have in place for female players.”

In a statement, the PFA write that they have supported women in football as members for twenty years, helping to professionalise the women's game.

They write: "The Women’s Football Department will build on the work we already do to support women’s football, with exciting initiatives already planned to ensure female players’ best interests are voiced."

One key development will be the creation of a women's Professional Football Negotiating Consultative Committee (PFNCC) alongside The FA. This will operate in a similar way to the board that already exists in the men's game where The FA, Premier League, English Football League and the PFA ensure that changes aren't made to player working conditions without their agreement.

The PFA write that they hope this change "will ensure that the PFA remains forward-thinking with regards to development of women’s football and are adapting to our member’s requirements as the game progresses".