Langley reflects as Newcastle United Women season brought to an end

The Football Association confirmed on Thursday that the FAWNL were among the leagues to have reached a consensus to bring the season to an immediate end, meaning that all results would be expunged and the campaign declared null and void.

The FA are reviewing all options as they seek to complete the Emirates FA Cup - where Newcastle United are due to meet Manchester City in the quarter-finals - as well as the Women's FA Cup, Buildbase FA Trophy and Buildbase FA Vase when it is safe and appropriate to do so, while the Premier League - currently suspended until at least 30th April - remain determined to find ways of resuming the 2019/20 football season when it becomes possible.

But Langley, who took over the reins at Druid Park last August, feels there was little option but to end the Lady Magpies' current campaign in these unprecedented times.

"We were all absolutely gutted that the season was coming to an end - every weekend we look forward to our games, home and away, so it was really disappointing, but my overall reaction is that it's the best thing," she told nufc.co.uk. "I think we probably would have been compromising the players' safety, jumping back into a season further on the down the line without training sessions, without fitness work - jumping into three games a week could have compromised the players' safety, so I think it's the right decision."

While full-time footballers could potentially train for several weeks before resuming their fixture lists at the appropriate time, it is a different story for part-time and amateur teams; Newcastle United Women train twice a week and Langley added: "It's just best to have a clean slate and start hitting the ground running with pre-season leading into next season.

"We finished the season really strongly - we finished mid-table and we think we probably could have finished higher had we played our last games - but there are bigger things going on in the world at the minute and football isn't more important than people's health."

Newcastle United Women are awaiting news on their Bluefin Sport County Cup final against Wallsend BC Ladies, which is due to take place in May, but the league season ended with the team in sixth place - their highest final position since the club was relaunched as part of Newcastle United Foundation three years ago - after a strong second part of the campaign.

Newcastle United Women had lost just one of their last six games before the season was abruptly ended

"The start was quite slow - we had some mixed results - but as the season has progressed and as the girls have started gelling together, and we've got some players back from injury, the young players have started to develop really quickly and I think that's why we've gained the momentum," explained Langley. "Our recent performances have been really positive and I'm really excited for the future moving forward with these players."

Anna Soulsby missed the opening months with a broken ankle before returning in December, and Langley added: "Having Anna back from injury has been a big boost for us. She's an 18-year-old winger and she's really exciting to watch, so I think she's contributed and created goalscoring opportunities in every game she's played.

"And Imogen Longcake, who was actually in the development team last year, has had both exposure to the Newcastle programme and the programme we run at Northumbria University, and I think she's been outstanding from start to finish and keeps on developing every week, so they would be the two stand-outs for me."

This season has been the first of a new partnership between Newcastle United Women and Northumbria University - where Langley is Head of Women's Football - which has seen the university commit to helping Newcastle United Foundation to develop a support network around the women's team.

Winger Anna Soulsby's return to action following an ankle injury gave the team fresh impetus in the second part of the campaign

"I think that's been the biggest strength of the season," said Langley. "Having that link helps us provide the services such as physio, strength and conditioning, video analysis and sports psychology, which have really helped the players grow quickly. A lot of young players who have utilised these support services have improved dramatically.

"The crossover between players has been good; they're getting double the exposure to the coaching and services, but we've also pulled quite a few players across from Northumbria Uni to Newcastle United Women and I think that's only strengthened our squad; for example Brianna (Westrup), who has come from America, Maisie Cole, Kacie (Elson), who has joined from Chester le Street - they're all players from Northumbria, alongside existing players like Ellen Packham and Imogen Longcake, so it's been excellent."

While results have improved over the course of the term - the team has lost just twice in 2020 and scored 11 times in their final three games before the season was brought to an abrupt halt - attendances have also increased and Langley explained: "The bigger crowds we get, the more exciting the atmosphere is around Druid Park where we play and it gives the players a massive boost when there's that home advantage.

"Off the pitch we've done a lot of great stuff this season, and I think we're growing the profile of Newcastle United Women week by week. Hopefully the results on the pitch can keep attracting people to come back and watch us."

Imogen Longcake had an "outstanding" season according to her manager

In the meantime, Langley has joined Newcastle United Foundation staff in volunteering to deliver urgent food supplies to 2,000 children living in some of Newcastle's most deprived neighbourhoods during the current coronavirus crisis. 

This week, the Foundation has supported partner organisation North East mixed multi Academy Trust (NEAT), by helping to deliver food parcels to children who would ordinarily receive free school meals.

"I think things like that are really important," said Langley. "It was really rewarding going out and giving packed lunches to people who need them most, who would normally get free school dinners.

"The girls just want to help where they can. They're really good people as well as good players and they're happy to help with anything, whether that's charity-wise or doing something to keep our fans in the loop. They're all currently doing fitness and strength and conditioning work away from football, so they should be raring to go when they get back.

Becky Langley joined Newcastle United Foundation staff to deliver food parcels to children this week

"I'll definitely be reflecting a lot in terms of how the season's gone. There's lots of positives to take, lots of things to build on. I think one of the things we'll be looking at is around building the support staff we currently have - that's really given the players a big boost.

"We see this season as a building season to go on and finish in the top three of this league, and we'll be aiming for promotion next season."

Photographs courtesy of Colin Lock/@Tyneside_NUWFC