‘Historic’: Newcastle Women become third tier’s only fully professional club

Newcastle United Women have turned professional as they endeavour to climb from the third tier to the Women’s Super League in successive seasons. Becky Langley’s players have just been promoted from the fourth tier but the club’s majority Saudi Arabian owners ultimately want to see the team in the Champions League on an annual basis.

Newcastle are the first English third division women’s side to become fully professional since Fulham in 2000. That proved a short-lived experiment but 23 years on the women’s game has evolved considerably and no one at St James’ Park doubts the depth of ambition being directed towards Langley’s squad.

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The sporting director, Dan Ashworth, took time out from finalising the £50m-plus signing of Italy’s Sandro Tonali from Milan for Eddie Howe’s men’s team to emphasise the importance of a women’s team, who have attracted large crowds, averaging about 25,000, to a handful of games at St James’ Park.

“The success of Newcastle United Women is an integral part of our sporting objectives and we are delighted to support the team’s progress by building a professional model around them,” said Ashworth, who, as the Football Association’s technical director, played an important role in helping establish England’s Lionesses as one of the word’s leading sides.

Langley was suitably delighted. “This is a monumental moment,” she said. “We hope to be a leading light in the movement towards professionalism in the women’s game and inspire women and girls who dream of pursuing a career in football.”

The club say Langley’s players will receive competitive salaries and have access to first-class medical, sports science and training facilities while continuing to play most games at the 10,200-capacity Kingston Park stadium they share with Newcastle Falcons rugby union side and Newcastle United men’s reserves.

Darren Eales, the chief executive, said: “This is an historic moment for our Newcastle United family and for women’s football regionally, nationally and beyond.”