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No one expected Alnwick Town to be part of any attendance records at the start of the campaign. But on Sunday, 22,134 fans attended the debut of Newcastle United in the fourth division of the women’s team in St James’ Park – the biggest league spectator of the season in English women’s football.
The view of the lively Gallowgate End with a large ‘Howay the lasses’ banner and waving black and white flags was great for the game and will undoubtedly be an unforgettable day for the club. Co-owners Amanda Staveley and Eddie Howe were on the show to show their support.
But despite all the joy of the event, it was also colored by sadness. It serves as a sharp reminder that no northeastern venue will host any match at this year’s summer women’s euro tournament, no shame. The region is a hotbed of talent for the national team, with Lucy Bronze, Jill Scott, Steph Houghton and Demi Stokes among the many players from the area to play for the Lions in the modern age. And yet, when the city’s biggest women’s football show kicks off this summer, no one in the region will be able to watch the match unless they travel elsewhere.
This is evenly due to the lack of enthusiasm of some large Northeast clubs to host the Euro Games when the 2018 host cities were selected. The procedure required that the venues for the submission of tenders be taken into account. Sources said there was a desire to ensure stadiums were full, and Newcastle and Sunderland pitches in particular were considered too big, ahead of the women’s games boom at the end of the 2019 World Cup. of which Wembley and Old Trafford were sold out – it seems to have been a mistake.
It’s also a shame that because of so many Newcastle fans who jumped at the first opportunity to watch their women’s game play at St James ’Park, they had to wait so long for that to happen. And even more to the point that their team was only playing in the fourth level among the amateur teams when that historic moment came with a delay.
Of the current 20 men’s Premier League clubs, only Brentford has a women’s team on a lower pyramid scale than Newcastle, joined in fourth-class by Leeds United and Norwich City. Half of the Premier League clubs have teams in the women’s superleague that make up 10 of the 12 teams in the women’s top level.
It’s not the actresses’ fault – investing in women’s football in Newcastle under Mike Ashley was unfortunate. However, the new regime has committed itself to changing this, and the first signs are encouraging – despite the new owners’ links to the regime with truly appalling results on women’s rights.
The success of Newcastle is another wake-up call for WSL
Staveley recently announced ambitious plans for the team to play in the Women’s Champions League by the 2027/28 season. Such a target will encourage fans, but many in the women’s game find it naive. The club is expected to remain in the fourth standings this summer, allowing them just five seasons to earn three promotions and break into the top three in the women’s super league. It’s not impossible, but due to the limited movement of women’s teams between levels – especially where only one side from the third regional level can qualify for the championship – racing down the ladder is challenging.
Finally, their off-field success on Sunday proved another wake-up call for the WSL, where attendance has yet to reach the huge numbers we saw in matches in the autumn of 2019 following England’s appearance in the World Cup semi-finals. – Final.
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