Newcastle United women are set to make a sensational return to St James' Park when they host Barnsley in the second round proper of the FA Cup on Sunday.
Becky Langley's side played their first match at the stadium in May this year; a record 22,000 fans watching on as the Magpies beat fourth-tier Alnwick Town by four goals to nil. And the Lionesses' heroics at the summer's Euros has seen support for the women's team "skyrocket", with more than 25,000 tickets already sold for this weekend's clash.
Sunday also marks the first fixture at St James' Park since the women's team were brought under the ownership of the club. The move is a testament to Newcastle's commitment to growing the women's game, with co-owner Amanda Staveley heavily involved in the development of the women's side.
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"It has been fantastic for the women's team," manager Langley told BBC Sport. "Previously we didn't have the infrastructure in place and now Amanda and the team have come on board, they're really driving women's football at the club.
"There's a lot more professionalism and we're all thriving in that environment."
Newcastle's sporting director Dan Ashworth has outlined a plan for Newcastle to reach the Women's Super League by 2025, meaning the team need to achieve three consecutive promotions. While the team, who play in National League Division One North, is still a part-time outfit, the club's significant backing means the prospect of playing in the top-flight of the women's game is not wholly unrealistic for Langley and her players.
Reflecting on Staveley's role in championing the women's side, Langley said: "Amanda couldn't have made me feel more empowered. She's really confident and really wants me to do well as a female leader.
"She's very keen to make sure that every girl and every woman in Newcastle who wants to play sport or wants to play football has the opportunity to do so. Having that strong female leader at the top of the club is just so important."
And while Langley's side are keen to carve out their own identity in the women's game, the burgeoning sucess of the men's team, who currently sit third in the Premier League table, is a huge source of inspiration for goalkeeper and lifelong Newcastle fan, Grace Donnelly.
"The men's team are doing fantastically well at the minute," she said.
"They have inspired us to hopefully join them at the top tier of women's football as well."
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