10 goals, Amanda Staveley tears, epic scenes and the title as Wor Lasses win it in style!

Shout it from the rooftops and all across the streets of Tyneside and beyond. Newcastle United Women are the 2023/24 FA Women’s National League Northern Premier Division Champions!

The table toppers went into their last home game of the 2023/24 season knowing that a point against second-bottom Huddersfield Town Women would see them take the title and confirm their place in the FA Championship for next season.

But it wasn’t a point they wanted. They wanted a win, all three points and a performance to light up Kingston Park and reward their loyal and faithful fans as well as the new ones they’ve picked up along the way over the last couple of seasons.

They didn’t disappoint and delivered in an almost unbelievable way. A magisterial procession to the crown was confirmed by a ten-star high-octane effort that thrilled the astonishing record-breaking crowd of 7,382 fans. Just look at the post-match scenes below - captured by Newcastle Fans TV - featuring epic celebrations, an emotional Amanda Staveley and plenty of champagne!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LOaz_6nFu0&ab_channel=NewcastleFansTV

It was truly a memorable magical mesmeric moment in the rise and rise of Becky Langley’s Lady Mags as they continue their relentless march towards the FA Women’s Super League which is the aim of everyone at the Club.

Back-to-back promotions secured, inevitably there will be talk about whether they can go for a three-peat and march straight through the Championship. That debate and discussion is for another day. This moment is about savouring the achievements of a superb season that continues the advancing journey.

There is a mantra that goes ‘one game at a time,’ perhaps United’s will be ‘one season at a time?’ Whatever the ramifications of this season and whatever the plans for next season this is a dream of a journey that everyone connected with it wants to be on and hopes it’s never-ending.

There were perhaps even a few nerves before this game. The possibility of clinching their goal in front of the packed terraces of their ‘spiritual’ home may have had a few wondering. But this is Wor Lasses and they showed once again that the decision to go professional and full-time this season reaped the rewards.

Mind you if there were nerves they were soon dissipated when after only 11 seconds, yes 11 SECONDS, Emma Kelly flung herself at Katie Barker’s left wing cross and bulleted a diving header from 8-yards.

Cue the party starting, the sun shining on the righteous and The Lasses moving into overdrive for the next 89 minutes and 49 seconds! A quite dazzling display that no-one could have predicted ensued and the noise and atmosphere just got louder and more joyous with each passing second.

https://twitter.com/NUFCWomen/status/1779840778996453617

Passing being an operative word as NUFC moved the ball one way and then the other and simply tore Huddersfield to shreds. Town themselves had arrived in Toon looking for a win that might have given them a slight chance of avoiding relegation.

But whatever plan they had in place to try and somehow achieve an unlikely result was tossed firmly out of the park from the start and by 22 minutes they were 3 – 0 down and the game and the occasion was just too much for them to cope with.

Beth Lumden notched the second with a low drive on 18 minutes. Kelly netting her second on 22 minutes with a delightful 20-yard chip over the head of the stranded Faye Hazelton. Barker heading superbly home from skipper Amber-Keegan Stobbs cross making it 4 – 0 at the break.

It could have been more in truth. But to take a four-goal advantage into the dressing room at half-time must have even surprised Langley and her coaching staff. Would the second 45 minutes then be an anti-climax was perhaps the thought?

If anyone had that thought they should have known better. Wor Lasses simply marched on and one. Barker with her second and the team’s fifth on 51 minutes with a neat 14-yard finish from Kelly’s lay-off. The sixth came three minutes later. Liv Watt and Lumsden combining beautifully on the right before Watt slipped Lumsden in to crash home an angled drive from inside the six-yard box.

The seventh was exquisite. Substitute Jas McQuade with a 25-yard rocket from fellow substitute Kacie Elson’s inside pass. On 75 minutes it was eight. Charlotte Potts scrambling one home from about a yard out as she got on the end of an Elysia Boddy corner.

Eight minutes from the end and it was 9 – 0. This time Elson was the scorer as her 12-yarder from McQuade’s pull back took a slight deflection as it sailed past the under siege Hazelton and there was still time for a tenth as well.

That came in injury time when two substitutes combined again. Tyler Dodds’ deep right-wing cross from the corner being guide home from inside the six-yard box by United #10 Georgia Gibson who had also come on as a substitute.

Cue the final whistle and manic celebrations followed. The Lasses were presented with their medals on the pitch in front of those ecstatic supporters none of whom had left the ground. Then, the moment! Amber-Keegan Stobbs stepping forward being presented with the trophy and lifting it high.

A truly wonderful day in the annals of Newcastle United Women indeed and a day no-one inside of Kingston Park will ever forget. Remember 7,382 for a game at the third level of Women’s football. Are Geordies mad? They might be but they also know how to back a team.

There were tears, there were cheers and I daresay there were a few beers as well. This has been a truly tremendous season and never has a Championship title been so well planned for, executed and delivered in a style that befits the word ‘Champions!’

Surreally The Lady Mags have still got two games to play this season, away at Halifax Town and then they go to West Bromwich Albion. Knowing Becky Langley and these players they’ll want to finish in a professional manner with two more wins before thoughts really do turn to next season.

https://twitter.com/NUFC/status/1779533590130282584