How does Amanda Staveley’s sudden departure affect Newcastle United Women?

With the departure of Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi, Newcastle United Women have arguably lost their two biggest supporters from the club’s ownership and leadership.

Since the takeover was completed, Staveley had made it clear that the ambition for Newcastle United to rank amongst the elite clubs of Europe applied not only for the men, but for the women’s team too. Indeed, the rise and progress of Newcastle United Women has been an impressive journey so far, and for Amanda Staveley, a clearly emotional one too.

At the time of the takeover, the women’s team’s place in the club was of low priority and at arm’s length. It had been the decision of the controversial then club sponsors Wonga to sponsor the women’s team that persuaded Mike Ashley to strengthen the club’s commitment by officially making the team part of Newcastle United, albeit under the arm of the Newcastle United Foundation rather than the football operation itself.

Following the takeover, it was announced that Wor Lasses would play at St James’ Park for the first time. A crowd of 22,134 saw the Lady Magpies beat Alnwick Town Ladies 4-0 in what was the highest attendance for an English domestic women’s game that season, despite the fixture taking place in the FA Women’s National League North Division One; the fourth tier of the women’s game. The women were narrowly pipped to promotion by Liverpool Feds that year, but Amanda Staveley’s announcement that the women’s team would be taken in house into the club proper from the beginning of the 2022/23 season and that the players would be semi-professional helped a successful promotion the following year.

Last summer the women turned fully professional and achieved a second promotion on the bounce. The final home game of the season saw a 10-0 demolition of Huddersfield Town Ladies at Kingston Park which recorded its highest attendance of the season for all matches and sports played there. After the game as the medals and trophy was presented, there was hugs all round from Amanda Staveley to each and every one of the players, coaching staff and support team. It seemed like a personal achievement for her.

Amanda Staveley leaves the club with the women’s team still having a long way to go on to reach the top, but with a fully professional team that has already climbed two divisions and are now about to play in the Women’s Championship, the team are well on course to reaching the ambitions that she set out.

Whilst Newcastle’s fanbase has felt rejuvenated since October 2021, for the women it has been inspirational. For over a century, boys across Tyneside have dreamed of pulling on the black and white stripes and playing for Newcastle United. The rise of the women’s team now affords girls on Tyneside that same dream.

So, what happens now that the women’s team’s most visible supporter has now left the club? I see no reason why the rise and ambitious plans for the women’s team will not continue.

Firstly, and from a logical rather than emotional perspective, the women’s game in general has grown so much in importance, popularity and commercially, that it would make no sense not to continue to develop the women’s team.

Secondly, whilst Staveley has now left the club, the rise of the women’s team has given a platform to inspirational figures within the set-up, such as manager Becky Langley, homegrown players such as Georgia Gibson and Katie Barker. Players such as Charlotte Potts, Emma Kelly and Amber-Keegan Stobbs. All are characters who will keep that flame of ambition alive.

The signings that the club has made with the acquisitions of striker Shania Hayles, golden gloves winning goalkeeper Claudia Moan, Lioness fullback Demi Stokes with her wealth of league and cup medals and the return to the club of Northern Ireland international Rachel Furness, suggests that the plans are to attempt a third successive promotion and an aim to reach the WSL at the first time of asking. In his first official interview for the club, Sporting Director Paul Mitchell made clear that the women’s team are of high importance in his role across all arms of Newcastle United’s footballing operations. That was great to hear.

What undoubtedly will be lost with Staveley’s departure is the emotional, personal connection that she clearly had with the players and coaches of the women’s team.