“All the girls joke that they ‘wouldn’t mess with Furny on the pitch’,” Newcastle United women’s midfielder Rachel Furness tells Telegraph Sport. “But every time I walk out for Newcastle, my bottom lip wobbles.

“It’s hard to explain what it means to play for a club that I’ve supported all my life and who are now investing in the women’s game.”

The North East has been, as Furness’s puts it, a “hotbed” of women’s footballing talent for a while. Beth Mead and Lucy Bronze both started England’s Euro 2022 final victory, with Jill Scott a substitute.

All spent their early careers at Sunderland, as did Steph Houghton and Jordan Nobbs, who have 192 England caps between them.

That quintet is also linked by another factor: each had to leave the region to fulfil their footballing ambitions.

Sunderland have previously spent time in the Women’s Super League, but Newcastle are yet to. They, along with Sunderland and Durham, are currently in the Women’s Championship and pushing to rectify that.

Newcastle, who have attracted five-figure crowds to St James’ Park, want local talent to fulfil its potential locally and their squad illustrates this.

Two years ago, when they were a part-time fourth-tier outfit, England defender Demi Stokes would have been unobtainable; now she is United’s marquee signing, with her and Furness returning home this summer.

Youngster Katie Barker has never needed to leave the area while the signing of goalkeeper – and reigning Championship Player of the Season and Golden Glove holder – Claudia Moan over from Sunderland is a clear sign of intent.

Telegraph Sport has been to Newcastle to get the inside track from three key figures…

The long-serving manager

The last swigs of coffee are washing down breakfast when 29-year-old manager Becky Langley stands to address an unusually sombre squad.

Following back-to-back promotions, the WSL is just one more jump away and minor bumps have been rare. Sunday’s last-gasp Women’s Championship loss to Durham was only the fourth in 48 league matches. Langley emphasises that the analysis to follow is about “sense-making” not “finger-pointing”.

While all else changes, Langley is the club’s constant. When she took the job in 2019, it was a 10-hour-a-week gig that sat within her role as Northumbria University’s head of women’s football.

Langley would not just take the sessions but plan them, set out cones and wash kit. Now she has a full-time support staff of 13, including experienced assistant Claire Ditchburn.

Prior to Newcastle’s takeover by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, the women’s team operated under the club’s charitable arm. PIF changed that, with the recently departed Amanda Staveley a visible presence at women’s games.

“I do miss her,” Langley admits. “She was an amazing ally and an excellent mentor. Amanda pushing it when she first joined was really important, but the owners, the CEO, and the other senior management have all been fantastic.”

When she found out that her team were turning full-time ahead of the 2023-24 season, Langley, who recently signed a long-term contract, shed a tear.

There were no other professional sides in the National League Northern Premier Division last season, but Newcastle’s success has paved a road Nottingham Forest followed this year.

The player who stayed

Katie Barker suddenly sits up a tad taller on the sofa. “I just knew I was going to score that day – I’ve literally got goosebumps talking about it,” she tells Telegraph Sport.

Barker is recalling the May 2022 afternoon when, with 22,134 spectators present, she became the first woman to score at St James’ Park.

“Driving there with my parents we could see floods of black and white,” she continues. “Young girls in Newcastle tops getting onto buses – I’m thinking, ‘Are they all coming to our game?!’”

Barker, who imitated the one-armed celebration of Alan Shearer, was realising the dream of thousands of local youngsters.

During Barker’s childhood Newcastle did not offer academy football. She was ambivalent to it anyway, perhaps not really seeing a route into the professional game. She played at grass-roots level until joining Sunderland and making her WSL debut as a 16-year-old.

Then, during her Covid-hit freshers’ year at Northumbria University, Barker “re-evaluated what I wanted to do, where I wanted to play”. One alternative was college in America, but “under Becky” is where she wanted to be.

Back then her days involved “tying goals to trees” and the squad bought their own footballs. “Now I’m a full-time professional,” she says. “Being able to say that I play for Newcastle United – it sounds cliche, but it is true – I am so proud.”

The one that came back

“Jacket potatoes – gerrin’,” exclaims Furness when she hears the day’s menu. The squad are in the Kingston Park hospitality suite that trebles up as the team’s canteen, meeting room and relaxation hub.

Furness wears a perma-grin throughout the day, one that shines almost as brightly as the pride with which she wears the Newcastle badge on her chest. Thanks to her dad, Furness’s world is black and white.

Although at 36 her career has reached its twilight, her signing remains a coup. She is Northern Ireland’s record goalscorer, has represented a quintet of WSL clubs, and has won the Championship in recent years with both Bristol City and Liverpool.

Furness has fully embraced her informal mentor role. She bounces around the pool table defeating all who challenge her and when asked if this is part of her passing on experience to the youngsters, she replies with a grin: “Absolutely.”

“She’s got about 22 years on us all!” chimes in Georgia Gibson. Furness, who has spoken eloquently about her mental-health battles, has both a self-awareness and selflessness that should prove invaluable to others.

Furness represented Newcastle a decade-and-a-half ago and played several seasons at Sunderland before heading south to Reading.

On becoming a free agent in the summer: “It was a no-brainer for me to come home. I’ve spoken to Becky about it in the past. I haven’t exactly been quiet in saying I’d love to be part of Newcastle again.

“In Newcastle, Sunderland, Durham, we’ve three very, very good sides in the Championship that want to go places. It’s fantastic for the young girls coming through to not have to leave home.”

Before an afternoon gym session, the team huddle around the “fire pit” – a set of cushions in the corner – and an impromptu chorus of Kumbaya, My Lord breaks out.

After the laughter, it turns serious. On Sunday Newcastle will be backed by 2,500 supporters at Sunderland in the Tyne-Wear derby and performance coach Louise Graham invites the squad to spend the week reflecting on a question: “What is your special ingredient, the one you were missing last Sunday, that you can bring and add it to recipe this week to get the result you deserve?”

Only a win will do. Local pride demands it.