Over the past six months, according to the Foundation, 340 girls have engaged in Kick Sessions. Funded by the Premier League Charitable Fund, these sessions offer professional coaching, after-school clubs, holiday courses and an emerging talent program.
For many young players, these initiatives can be life-changing. Over the last couple of years, women’s football has gained great momentum, spurred on primarily by the Lioness Effect. The squad’s Euro 2022 victory saw not only record-breaking attendance to matches and online viewership, but also an increased demand for opportunities like Kick Sessions. The North East boasts some incredible homegrown talent, with the likes of Lucy Bronze from Berwick-upon-Tweed and Jill Scott hailing from Sunderland. Having made their names at top teams such as Barcelona and Manchester City has had a great influence on local girls, with the top-flight ripple effect having been well and truly felt in Newcastle.
‘The growth has been spearheaded by our trailblazing Lionesses, whose success in the home Euros gave us an unprecedented chance to change the future of the game forever.’
Baroness Sue Campbell, FA’s director of women’s football, in an interview with the BBC in 2024
The initiative is about more than just football. Premier League Kicks was originally launched in 2006, in collaboration with the Metropolitan Police, with the aim of supporting young people at risk of anti-social behaviour and youth violence. Now, it has expanded to empower a new generation of female football players, using football as a tool for confidence-building, teamwork, and personal development.
Despite the surge in women’s football participation, challenges and stigmas remain to dominate the game. For decades, a lack of female role models and media coverage meant few girls saw football as a viable path, however the landscape is changing. With sustained support from Newcastle United’s Foundation and the Premier League to tackle setbacks and stereotypes, the future of women’s football in the North East has a bright future. The message to young girls is clear: follow your dreams, football is for everyone.
The Magpies play their last home game of the season against Birmingham City on the 27th April, but tickets can be purchased next season via the Newcastle Falcons website.