Amanda Staveley has never been shy in outlining her long-term ambitions for Newcastle United. Hours after the protracted takeover was finally concluded last year, the new co-owner vowed the Magpies would one day lift the Premier League title.
The first steps for the long-term rebuild on Tyneside have already been taken, although there is still major work needed in the coming years. However, perhaps the best sign of this rapid progress was evident at St James' Park on Sunday, despite senior stars such as Bruno Guimaraes and Kieran Trippier being away on World Cup duty.
Newcastle United Women only officially became a part of the club in August, with the fourth-tier side previously just an afterthought. Three months later, the Lady Magpies registered another record St James' Park attendance with a thrilling comeback FA Cup victory over divisional rivals Barnsley.
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It was the women's team's second stadium appearance in the calendar year, having never previously played at the cathedral on the hill. Narrowly missing out on promotion last term has not stopped Becky Langley's side enjoying a meteoric rise in popularity and prominence within the club.
Staveley could not hide her pride with this remarkable growth as she delivered a dressing room speech ahead of kick-off. The financier shrugged off talk of reaching the Women's Super League by a set date, insisting they should instead focus on enjoying their football and inspiring the next generation sat in the stands.
It was a speech which delivered the desired effect, as Newcastle bounced back from conceding an early goal to record a 2-1 win in extraordinary circumstances. Georgia Gibson and substitute Sharna Wilkinson both scored stunning long-range strikes in front of the Gallowgate End in a devastating five-minute spell, turning despair into delight.
Reflecting on Staveley's unexpected matchday involvement, Langley said: "It was a lovely touch to have Amanda in the changing room pre-match. She really speaks from the heart, there's a real genuine passion to support women's football.
"She has said many times she wishes she could have played football as a youngster. I think she wishes she was one of the girls in the dressing room with the black-and-white shirt, able to play on the famous turf at St James'.
"She just empowers us all. When she speaks, you get goosebumps because you know what a fantastic role model and leader she is. She's passionate but also she's incredibly intelligent, and knows how to build a football club. We're seeing that with the men's team, the women's team and the academy."
Staveley's championing of the women's team has gone far beyond providing soundbites and photo opportunities. Charlotte Potts re-signed with Newcastle ahead of the new season, having previously represented the club from 2011 until 2014.
The experienced defender impressed with an assured display as the Lady Magpies refused to grow frustrated, despite their long wait for an equaliser. For Potts, the difference between the club she once knew and the one now allowing the side to shine at St James' Park could not be more stark.
She said: "The fact we're being treated as equals, it's just fantastic. For Amanda to show her support emotionally as well was fantastic, you know that you're valued.
"It was a grassroots environment back then. We were playing at Northumbria University, now we're actually using Newcastle's facilities. The old owners didn't really want to know us.
"It's just great, even knowing that the new owners values are there. It's been a massive shift for the whole city. We were training at the first-team facilities on Friday, and a young lad stopped and waited for all of our signatures. He just didn't care that we were female."
It is now two goals in two appearances at St James' Park for Gibson, with the forward scoring the third in the 4-0 victory over Alnwick Town Ladies in May. The number 10 produced a moment of magic this time around to level the contest, lofting the ball over goalkeeper Serena Clarke from 30 yards.
The transformation at Newcastle is visible at almost all levels, with the men's first-team in the scarcely believable scenario of sitting third in the Premier League at Christmas. But in Staveley, Gibson believes the women's team have a face and a voice to lead a cause which has been bolstered by England's triumph at this year's European Championships.
Gibson said: "Amanda is fantastic, she's so passionate and you can see it every time she talks not just to us, but about us. The drive and determination she's got to get the women's team right to the very top, she's very clear on that and she's also clear it's going to take time.
"The owners are willing to back us and give us the time, and support us throughout. It's important to keep our feet on the ground, we're grateful for what they've done for us and given us.
"Newcastle is a massive footballing city, everyone bleeds black and white throughout the city. Everyone can see how much this means here, and it'll only continue to grow."
The Lady Magpies now have an FA Cup third-round tie to look forward to, although promotion remains the ultimate goal for the season. The post-match message from the Magpies camp was clear and would have been music to Staveley's ears, with Sunday being viewed as an opportunity for now, but with an obligation to provide a 'platform' for the future.
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