And so it begins. When the news came that Wor Lasses were to become a full-time outfit despite being in the third tier of Women’s football it wasn’t a huge shock. A surprise? Yes, but only a small one.
Its clear that the NUFC owners and hierarchy have massive plans to make the WHOLE of the NUFC footballing family a huge player in the global game and have very much signalled their intentions.
Champions League football is only the start and the ambitious transfer and building plans are spreading across the Club. We’ve already seen some stellar signings for The Academy and a complete re-work of the coaching staff in that department.
It was therefore inevitable that this would spread across the whole Club and influences the NUFC Women’s side. Not necessarily on the coaching side as Head Coach Becky Langley and her assistant Lloyd Miller certainly deserve a chance to move The Lasses forward.
But, when I saw the retained list only contained 16 players and that several starters were not on that list, it gave me the realisation that perhaps NUFC Women were going to go big-time before the original planned or should that be rumoured time.
Like all of you following the Men’s first team and it’s coming and goings I waited with anticipation as to what may happen with Wor Lasses. I even speculated that the Championship sides and squads of Sunderland and Durham were not safe from plunder.
Now, we have the following from The Sunderland Echo.
“Sunderland have been handed a double blow with first-team stars Neve Herron and Emma Kelly set to depart the club this summer.
The Echo understands that Kelly, 26, will join Newcastle United after the club announced it was to go full-time under the stewardship of Becky Langley. Sunderland Women are not yet operating on a wholly full-time basis.
Kelly will join former Sunderland players Charlotte Potts, Katie Barker, Georgia Gibson and Olivia Watt as the Tynesiders look to make their mark. Sources have also told The Echo that former Black Cats striker Bridget Galloway, 23, will make the move to join the Magpies this summer too.”
As I say. “And So It Begins.” Both have shown themselves to be well capable of playing at the Championship level which is one above where Wor Lasses will be playing next season.
Both would be excellent signings and a real statement of intent from NUFC Women as to where they want to go and how quickly they want to get there. Exciting times indeed across the whole of the NUFC landscape for sure.
Good to see consistency in approach by NUFC to develop/ invest in all teams in the club.
The use of ‘Lady Mags’ tho’ 🫣can’t say why but it made me a bit queasy
Can we stick to the lasses ??
GoWest!Mag(Quote)