It was a summer of widespread change at Newcastle United with high profile exits and an unfamiliar air of uncertainty on Tyneside. Those changes weren’t simply restricted to the men’s team, with Becky Langley and her women’s side also left to deal with the aftermath of some big-name departures.
Langley’s assistant, Andy Cook, bid farewell to Tyneside to take the Norwich City Women job, while Chris Stygal, the women’s goalkeeping coach, also left Newcastle. Amanda Staveley, a huge champion of the women’s team and game as a whole, left St James’ Park as the club mourned the tragic passing of long-term and much-loved photographer Colin Lock.
Losing Staveley, very much the public face of the 2021 takeover, was a killer blow. She has been at the forefront of key decisions taken at the highest level but despite a vast amount of responsibility with the men’s side, the financier never shied away from helping grow the women’s side too.
Whether it was rousing dressing room speeches, title-winning celebrations on the pitch, or advice and friendship behind the scenes, Staveley played a vital part in the back-to-back promotions for Langley and her team. Now, they enter the second tier hoping to carry on her legacy as they kick on further.
“I think I’ll never shy away from saying that Amanda was unbelievable with myself and the women’s team,” Langley told reporters ahead of this weekend’s season opener with London City Lionesses. “She was a massive advocate for the women’s team. She was a great support to me, and is a great woman, so hopefully we’ll stay lifelong friends with Amanda for everything she’s done for the team.
“Obviously we’ve got to move on positively – and her legacy will live on definitely with the women’s team. I think we understand clubs make decisions and people make decisions for the right reasons and we accept that decision and we’ve just moved on from it, really.
