Lia Cataldo: 'The women's game has come a really long way'

And the defender - who is hoping to help the Magpies complete an historic league and cup double this season and achieve back-to-back promotions - has always got one eye on inspiring the next generation of footballers.

United's players and staff continue to make strides on and off the pitch and, with the women's game going from strength to strength, the message to young girls who follow the Magpies is 'if you can see it, you can be it'.

Speaking ahead of International Women's Day Cataldo, who signed from Crystal Palace Women last month, told nufc.co.uk: "I feel like the women's game has come a really long way. It's viewed very differently to how it was before and there's a lot more respect around the game.

"It's a really big day for us and I think it's important for women's football and being a role model for the younger generation."

International Women's Day has been recognised globally since 1911 and means a lot of things to women all around the world, but it's probably never been more important in sports than right now.

Newcastle United players and female footballers around the world are continuing to push the game forward and ensure that there are role models in person and on screens - something which wasn't anywhere near as prevalent even a decade ago.

"It's an important thing for me to make sure I interact with the fans," Cataldo explained. "I sign things for them and take pictures with them to show how grateful we are for having them at all the games."

It was tough for players like Cataldo - and other young female footballers - growing up with a lack of women's football on television, so it was great for United's number 99 to have someone special right by her side.

After taking a moment to think, Cataldo could only smile as she discussed her role model growing up.

"An obvious one is my mum," she said. "She is amazing, the perfect mum and I couldn't ask for more if I'm honest. One day I hope to be just like her. I feel like that's my main inspiration.

"In terms of women's football for me, there's been a lot of them. People like Leah Williamson going through the Arsenal ranks to where she is today just shows with the commitment and the drive, it's possible."

While football is the main sport in England, there was a period when girls' youth teams didn't exist, forcing budding female footballers to play on the same team as boys.

That's something a lot of players in the game nowadays have gone through, with the sideline comments and the resulting drive to prove themselves key to where many are right now.

Cataldo is no different, and believes her route into football from a very young age was largely a case of being in the right place at the right time.

"My brother played and he went to training sessions and one evening they needed an extra player," she said. "My dad just said 'oh go on' so I went and joined in and ran about a bit.

"Afterwards, they asked if I played football before and told me I needed to get involved. So I went to a boys' team from there and the rest is history.

"I feel like there's always (comments from the sidelines playing in a boys' team) and I don't know if that will ever change, but it just depends. It never bothered me too much.

"I think it made me want to get even more stuck in and it was good to grow up playing with boys and knowing what that's like. It never bothered me and the comments just drove me on."

Newcastle are not just thriving on the pitch, currently sitting nine points clear at the top of the FA Women's National League Northern Premier Division, but off the field they're also setting the pace for women in leadership.

Head coach Becky Langley has overseen more than 100 United games and is on course to achieve consecutive promotions, Su Cumming heads up the club's entire women's football project while Amanda Staveley was a figurehead for the takeover of Newcastle United back in 2022.

Inspirational figures like them are what International Women's Day is all about, and Cataldo was keen to highlight all the work they do.

"All the names mentioned there show day-in, day-out that they can do it and are doing a really good job of it," she said.

Cataldo is only 23 years old so has her whole career ahead and plans to make plenty more memories in the coming years.

She added: "I've played internationally for England from under-17s to under-19s and went to a Euros with them.

"I've won two Championship titles and can hopefully make it three (league titles) this year. But there are many more achievements planned."