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.
