Newcastle head coach Becky Langley has challenged her side to win promotion to the Women’s Championship to pave the way for other aspiring clubs to join them in turning professional.
The Magpies went full-time last summer – 12 months after head coach Langley had done the same – to become the first tier-three outfit to make the move in England.
They currently sit at the top of the FA Women’s National League Northern Premier Division, nine points clear of Nottingham Forest, who have a game in hand, and 14 better off than Burnley, who have played three fewer, as they chase promotion to the Championship and ultimately the Women’s Super League.
Langley told the PA news agency: “If we let a Burnley or a Forest, who are on a hybrid part-time model, win the league, then other clubs will go, ‘Well actually, you don’t need to go full-time, you can still do it part-time’, so there’s a duty of care for players to actually get them to be full-time players.
“We’ve got to be doing that on the pitch and showing that with results so the likes of a Wolves, a Burnley, a Forest, a Huddersfield, teams who have got good men’s sides, will start investing in the women’s game.”
The trajectory taken by Langley’s team since Amanda Staveley’s consortium assumed control at St James’ Park has been rapidly upwards.
On the night they were handed the keys to the club, Staveley referenced the women’s team as a major focus and an arm of Newcastle which had previously operated under the auspices of its charitable foundation was taken in-house during the summer of 2022.
Significant investment since has helped to fuel successive promotion drives, the latest of which appears to be firmly on course after a recruitment mission which, among others, brought Jamaica international striker Paige Bailey-Gayle to the club from Championship Crystal Palace in January.
Langley said: “Amanda has been absolutely phenomenal, since arriving, for the women’s team, showing her support – and it’s been consistent support.
“They just completely get it and they want the best for the women’s team as well as the men’s and the Academy.”
Much of the financial power behind Staveley’s consortium comes from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which holds an 80 per cent stake in the club, and the human rights of women and the LGBTQ+ community in the Gulf state have been a particular focus for critics since the takeover.
Langley, who has completed her UEFA B and A Licence courses and hopes to join an exclusive band of women in this country who have been invited to study for the Pro Licence, travelled to the Middle East late last year to work with female coaches.
The 28-year-old said: “To see actually so many girls participating in the sessions was fantastic – the quality was really good – and then actually empowering other female coaches out in Saudi was really important as well.
“Newcastle United and the power of having female role models at Newcastle United Women going out and empowering girls and women out in Saudi, I think is only a positive.”
It is not so long since sport and exercise science graduate Langley, then working full-time at Northumbria University, had to coach a squad including police officers and teachers after they had all done a day’s work.
Now fully professional, Langley and her Newcastle side are focusing on Sunday’s FA WNL Cup semi-final clash with Portsmouth at St James’, which is expected to be attended by a crowd in excess of 25,000, and beyond that, securing promotion.
Asked how big the club could be, Langley said: “It’s all going to take time, it’s not going to happen overnight. We can’t jump any steps. But I think it can be one of the best teams in the WSL.”
Real Madrid clinch LaLiga title after Barcelona lose to Girona
Real Madrid have been crowned LaLiga champions for a record-extending 36th time after Barcelona went down to Girona.
Madrid beat Cadiz 3-0 earlier on Saturday, but Carlo Ancelotti's team could still have been caught by Barca.
Yet the Blaugrana's slim hopes were ended when they lost 4-2 to Girona.
That ensured Los Blancos' lead at the top, with four games remaining, is unassailable.
Madrid have won 27 of their 34 league matches so far this season, losing just once.
Ancelotti's focus will now turn to the Champions League, with Madrid to host Bayern Munich in the second leg of their semi-final on Wednesday.
Vinicius Junior's double secured a 2-2 draw in the first leg in Munich.
Burnley 1-4 Newcastle United: Clarets’ survival hopes take a hit as Magpies soar at Turf Moor
Burnley’s hopes of a great escape took a huge blow as they were hammered 4-1 by a rampant Newcastle United at Turf Moor.
Having gone unbeaten in three Premier League matches heading into Saturday’s clash, Burnley had hoped to leapfrog Luton Town – who drew with Everton on Friday – into 18th.
Yet their survival hopes are now dangling by a thread after Newcastle turned on the style – Callum Wilson, Sean Longstaff and Bruno Guimaraes sending Eddie Howe’s side into a three-goal lead by half-time.
Alexander Isak atoned for a penalty miss by scoring his 20th league goal of the season early in the second half, with Dara O’Shea grabbing a late consolation for Burnley as the Magpies moved above Manchester United into sixth place.
It was not all plain sailing for Newcastle. Martin Dubravka had to be alert early on to smother an attempt from Jacob Bruun Larsen, before Lorenz Assignon had a penalty appeal turned down after his weaving run was halted by Guimaraes.
Yet Newcastle hit the front after 19 minutes, with Wilson on hand to tap home after Arijanet Muric denied Isak from point-blank range.
Muric made a fantastic stop to deny Tino Livramento, but Burnley’s goalkeeper could do nothing to prevent Newcastle doubling their lead when Jacob Murphy’s cutback was slotted into the bottom corner by Longstaff.
It was game over five minutes before the break – Assignon’s error resulting in Anthony Gordon teeing up Guimaraes for a straightforward finish from just inside the box.
Lyle Foster lashed over at the end of a promising Burnley move as the Clarets searched for a swift response after the break, though their defensive frailties were soon exposed again.
Josh Brownhill foolishly tugged on Gordon’s shirt as the winger drove into Burnley’s box from the left, and referee Anthony Taylor duly pointed to the spot.
Muric made a fine save to thwart Isak, with play eventually continuing after a VAR check for possible encroachment.
Once proceedings did resume, Isak got his goal, coolly firing in after he was picked out by Murphy to complete the rout, with O’Shea heading in late on to reduce the arrears for Burnley.
Wilson going out in style?
It looks as though Wilson’s time at Newcastle could well come to an end after the season, with Howe having suggested the striker will be allowed to leave should the right offer come in.
But handed a rare start alongside Isak, the former Bournemouth man was excellent in leading Newcastle’s line and tormenting Burnley’s defence. He was in the right place at the right time to open the scoring, and also played a crucial role in the visitors’ second, when he held up the play before releasing the onrushing Murphy.
Wilson's goal was his 47th Premier League goal for Newcastle, meaning he is second to only the legendary Alan Shearer (148) when it comes to the Magpies’ goalscorers in the competition.
A mention for Gordon, too. He has become the third Newcastle player to register double figures for both goals and assists in a single Premier League campaign, after Andrew Cole in 1993-94 (34G 13A) and Ruel Fox in 1994-95 (10G 11A).
Relegation beckons?
With Nottingham Forest having claimed a big win over already-relegated Sheffield United, it looks increasingly likely that the three promoted teams are all heading straight back down to the Championship.
Burnley, who face Tottenham and Forest in their final two matches, are two points behind 18th-placed Luton, who themselves are three behind 17th-placed Forest, and Vincent Kompany cut a glum figure on the touchline.
There are no such fears for Newcastle, who host Brighton next before taking on Man United in what looks set to be a pivotal game in the hunt for Europa League qualification.
Pioli focused on Genoa clash as speculation intensifies over Milan exit
Milan's disappointing campaign has put Stefano Pioli under scrutiny but his full concentration remains on a positive end to the season.
The Rossoneri are second in Serie A but 19 points adrift of champions Inter, and their fans suffered witnessing their fierce rivals secure the Scudetto in the recent derby win at San Siro.
That has only increased media reports about Pioli's dismissal once the season ends, with fans also protesting at the situation Milan face.
"My task shouldn't be complicated, there are four games left," Pioli told a press conference before Sunday's home game against Genoa.
"It's true that outside they talk about everything except the games, but not us. We have a great sense of responsibility. Then we'll see what the future is at the end of the season."
Some Italian reports have suggested Pioli could move to Napoli, though the Milan head coach refuted those claims.
"No thoughts, other than the next four games. At the end of the season, I'll meet with Milan and we'll see what to do," Pioli said.
"You've waited a long time, wait a little longer to talk about the future, the work is not done. The reality is I have another year on my contract with Milan and I won't speak to any other club while I'm under contract."
The atmosphere is tense around the club, and Milan ultras have announced they will not support the team against Genoa, remaining in silence without any banners or flags, as a form of protest against the owners.
"Our fans have always been an added value, especially in difficult moments. And I don't forget it," Pioli continued.
"They have taken this position and we respect it, then we have to do everything to win the game."
Milan have a five-point lead over Juventus in third and Genoa are 12th on 42 points, moving out of relegation danger.
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