Bailes: Title win can be the turning point

Alongside Charlotte Potts at the heart of the United defence, Bailes helped United to keep yet another clean sheet in the 2-0 win at Barnsley Women on the final day, meaning the Magpies pipped Durham Cestria to the championship on goal difference. 

And, a few days on from that triumph, the centre-back admitted she hadn't fully processed the scale of the team's achievement.

"It still hasn't really sunk in yet," she told nufc.co.uk. "The way it unfolded and going to the last game and four goals (between the top two teams) - I think Durham deserve a lot of credit for that.

"Hearing what the girls went through last year with their rivalry with Liverpool Feds and coming in (at the start of the season) it felt like a really good environment of using their experiences last year to benefit us, and we weren't afraid.

"It's really hard to win if you're scared to lose. Right from when I was brought in, we said we wanted to win the league and we were very open with that."

"It's been such a long year and I'm feeling really fulfilled. (Training) three or four nights a week, every week. I think it's the perfect ending."

The ability to overcome the challenges Barnsley threw at them on the day, and the setbacks encountered across the season, is something Bailes was quick to praise, citing the togetherness of Becky Langley's squad as a key strength.

"Everyone in this team, whether they were here before or brought in, they're not afraid to put the team's needs first.

"Obviously, the injuries to Ellen (Packham) and Liv (Watt) happened, and I had the confidence from Becky and the other players that I'd be able to fill that role.

"Learning in front of Grace (Donnelly), alongside Pottsy, Beth (Guy), Shorty (Rachel Lee) - these are players that have played so many times in this league and leagues above and I think trust is the main thing.

"We have a really good relationship on the pitch but I think that stems from how much time we spend in each other's company and with that mutual trust and respect that we knew we'd be fine."

Looking ahead to the future, Bailes believes Sunday's title success is just the beginning for Langley's side, who are striving to progress through the divisions as quickly as they can.

"Just as we were open with our ambitions to win the league, the club have been very open that the end goal is that we want Newcastle United to be at the top, in the WSL (Women's Super League), fighting for trophies at the highest level,” she added.

"This win is probably like a turning point. With the support we've had with the takeover - not just the financial support to make it more professional but the passion and the interest Amanda (Staveley) and Mehrdad (Ghodoussi) and Dan Ashworth have - it's really not a gimmick.

"I think that this is really going to establish football in the North East. We see the amount of fans that come to our games.

"To all the little girls that come and play, we are going to establish a pathway to do that and get to the highest level."

Photograph courtesy of Colin Lock/@Tyneside_NUWFC