Latest news with #BeckyLangley
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Kelly: 'I've enjoyed starting fresh this pre-season'
Kelly, who's going into her third season in black and white, has been involved in all of the club's pre-season sessions and camps in Marbella and Munich this summer - a far cry from her frustrating start 12 months ago. Newcastle United Women's number eight was struck down with sesamoiditis - an injury that saw a bone in her foot become worn down - before the previous pre-season began, with the midfielder admitting she may have pushed herself too hard. "I'm feeling really good," Kelly told "It was really hard for me last season, and I felt as though I had no luck whatsoever, but I've enjoyed starting fresh this pre-season. "Everyone always wants to come into pre-season the fittest they can be, which is why we work so hard behind the scenes, but maybe I did a bit too much as I suffered from sesamoiditis. "It showed that I was basically doing too much repetitive running and had worn down the bone inside my foot, and that was a huge setback for me." The former England youth international managed to work her way back to full fitness before the end of 2024 and started United's first two wins in the Women's FA Cup against Middlesbrough Women and Nottingham Forest Women respectively. However, the joy of getting minutes under her belt and being in the starting line-up quickly evapourated following a 'silly tackle', meaning another long road to recovery. "I managed to get myself back fit before Christmas, and I remember having a conversation with Becky (Langley) just before the Forest game," she added. "They were a bit reluctant to play me, but I told them I wanted to be involved to help me get back to full fitness and help the team, but unfortunately I ended up injuring my ankle ligaments. "The injuries were ones I felt as though I couldn't really control; the one against Forest was just a silly tackle. Looking back on the season now, clearly it just wasn't meant to be my season." It's been a summer of change for the Lasses, who've added five new players this summer - Jemma Purfield, Molly Pike, Jordan Nobbs, Aoife Mannion and Małgorzata Grec - as well as going on two training camps abroad, which provided valuable minutes and experience. Testing themselves against the Frauen Bundesliga champions, Bayern Munich Women, was a big moment for Newcastle - but also a nervy one for Kelly, she explained. "It was an amazing feeling (playing for Newcastle once again), but I was quite nervous going into the game because I couldn't remember the last time I played in a competitive match," she said. "The girls we've signed brought an abundance of energy and experience to the group, and they're all excellent characters who I know will improve the group we already had here." With Munich now behind Kelly and her team-mates, all eyes are on the remainder of pre-season - most notably a return to St. James' Park, just over four months since their last outing in front of a 38,502-strong crowd against rivals Sunderland Women. This time, Newcastle will take on Victor Martin's Atlético Madrid Femenino side in the Sela Cup, something which, alongside the help of her team-mates, has kept Kelly motivated and hungry while sitting on the sidelines. "When I was injured, the girls and medical team - who I never thought I'd get to know so well - were who helped me stay positive every day and pushed me through the tough times, but my team-mates have just been amazing with me since last summer," Kelly added. "Playing at St. James' Park was something which always kept me going when I was injured. So to potentially have the opportunity to get back out on the pitch this Saturday is a goosebump moment for me."
BBC News
18-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Former Man Utd defender Mannion joins Newcastle
WSL 2 side Newcastle United have signed Aoife Mannion on a permanent of Ireland defender Mannion, 29, left Manchester United in June following the expiration of her her time with United, Mannion won the Women's FA Cup, coming on as a substitute in the 4-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur in the 2024 final."I'm really looking forward to getting stuck in and trying to hit the ground running," she said."It is clear to everybody the direction this club is going in, it's really exciting to be a part of."Newcastle United manager Becky Langley said the defender, who has 16 Republic of Ireland caps, "brings a wealth of WSL experience".She added: "She is a defender who loves to be on the ball and will be a leader in the backline. She also has exceptional ability defending in one-v-one situations."Her ambitions match perfectly with ours and we are excited to work with her."
BBC News
15-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
WSL record appearance holder Nobbs joins Newcastle
Jordan Nobbs has joined Women's Super League 2 side Newcastle following her release from Aston 32-year-old midfielder has made a record 208 appearances in the Women's Super League (WSL), and has 71 England caps, the last coming in 2023. Nobbs, from north-east England, began her career at Sunderland before moving to Arsenal in 2010 and went on to win three WSL titles and four FA Cups in 12 years with the scored 81 goals in 270 games before joining Villa in January 2023."I think they are a very ambitious club and, speaking to everyone, the goal is to get promoted and push women's football in the north east. I want to be part of that," she told Newcastle's official website."I've always had a winning mentality, and it's the same mentality here - every game is like a cup final. I want to be part of a successful club that push to the next level."Manager Becky Langley added: "Jordan's experience speaks for itself. She knows what it takes to win and has achieved so much in her career, both domestically and internationally, and we are absolutely delighted that she is joining Newcastle United."She has long been one of the best midfielders in the country and she will undoubtedly bring a lot of quality to our squad."Newcastle finished fifth in the Women's Championship, since rebranded as WSL2, last season.
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Newcastle United Women sign Molly Pike
The 24-year-old spent the last two seasons with the Saints making 49 appearances in all competitions. Pike scored 13 times on the South Coast, winning the goal of the season award on two occasions, one of which was for a strike against the Magpies in February. She spent two years with Leicester in the Barclays Women's Super League prior to her move to Southampton, featuring 46 times as the Foxes maintained their position in the top flight. Advertisement Having come through Chelsea's academy, scoring 14 goals in 17 appearances in her last season there, she signed her first professional contract at Everton. On Merseyside she made 19 appearances, before spending the second half of the 2020/21 campaign on loan at Bristol City. The midfielder has also represented England at youth level, most recently featuring 13 times for the Under-23s. On joining the club, Pike said: "I'm super excited! I've heard so much about the club and the city, and I just can't wait to get going. "It was definitely the ambition of the club and the direction in which it's heading, because I want to be a part of that, I want to be able to build a legacy here." Advertisement Manager Becky Langley said: "Molly is fast and dynamic, I love her tenacity to get in behind, and she can play in a number of positions across midfield and in attack. "She knows how to score goals and get assists at this level. She brings good experience from both the WSL and WSL2 and we are really excited to start working with her." This signing is subject to FA approval.
BBC News
27-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
'I'm leaving at a time that is right for me and the club'
Newcastle sporting director Paul Mitchell says "the club is in great hands" as he prepares to leave by mutual consent after less than a year at St James' who joined the Magpies to replace Dan Ashworth in July 2024, will depart at the end of next had reunited with Newcastle CEO Darren Eales, who recruited him at Tottenham in 2014, but Eales will soon step down for health reasons."I'm leaving at a time that is right for me and the club, particularly with Darren Eales - someone who I have worked so closely with in my career - moving on soon," said Mitchell."I'd like to thank everyone at Newcastle United for their support over the last year, including Eddie Howe, Becky Langley, the players, staff, owners and fans. It has been an honour to be part of the club and to work with some incredible people."The club is in great hands on and off the pitch, and is in a fantastic position to continue building."
