Howay the Lasses - NUWFC Land Former Lioness
In between lounging on the beach in Corfu and watching the Lionesses, Mark's been keeping an eye on a hectic summer of transfer activity (a what? - ed.)
The rumours swirling around the NUWFC fan base were confirmed last week, with WSL record appearance holder (208) and 71 cap former Lioness midfielder Jordan Nobbs signing for the Lasses. Nobbs joined two other signings – Jemma Purfield and Molly Pike to help the Lasses achieve promotion from the WSL2 this season.
Nobbs (32), from Teesside, started her career with Sunderland before moving on to Arsenal where she spent 12 years, winning 12 trophies including three league titles and four FA cups. She left Arsenal to join fellow WSL1 team Aston Villa in 2023. With the Lionesses she gained 71 caps making her debut in 2013 but sadly missing out on the Euro ’22 winning squad due to injury. She was part of the ’23 World Cup squad that came runners-up to Spain.
Nobbs takes the #4 shirt left by Amber-Keegan Stobbs (who has joined local rivals Durham) and brings a winning mentality and years of experience to help the Lasses in their promotion aspirations.
Nobbs said: "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. 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 said: "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. She is hungry to achieve success with this club, and we can't wait to work with her."
Jemma Purfield and Molly Pike both arrive on Tyneside from Southampton to join another former Saint – Freya Gregory. Purfield, a defender, has played for Leicester, Bristol and Liverpool in the WSL1 and was Southampton’s captain. Purfield said: "I'm really happy to get the move done. The ambition of the club aligned with my ambition, so I just want to help them get to WSL1. When you look at the project of the club and the journey it's on, especially on the women's side, the only way is up so it's an exciting time to be part of this club."
Head Coach Becky Langley said: "Jemma is an excellent defender who adds versatility to the backline and brings a lot of experience from across the WSL and WSL2. Her leadership qualities standout and she will be a great addition. It clicked the second we spoke; she has the same drive and ambitions and I'm excited to work with her."
Pike, an exciting forward, could have had a hat-trick against the Lasses when they played Southampton away last season. She scored two and hit the cross-bar. Pike has won goal of the season twice (one of which was against Newcastle). Pike started in Chelsea’s Academy, before moving on to Everton, Leicester and Bristol City in WSL1. She scored 13 goals in 49 appearances for the Saints.
Pike said about joining NUWFC: "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."
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."
Aoife Mannion formerly of Man U is at the time of writing our latest signing. The Irish internationa has also played for Man City, Aston Villa and Birmingham. Manager Langley said “Aoife brings a wealth of WSL experience … her ambitions match perfectly with ours”
With these three signings, NUWFC are setting out their stall to achieve promotion this year. There remain seven spaces left in the squad following the dozen departures at the end of June. A sweeper keeper will be sought to give Moan competition, and players with height and pace will be needed to help with set pieces (will the new set piece coach help the Lasses too?) and the physical aspects of the league that they struggled with at the start of last season. Nobbs’ arrival will attract focus to the Lasses and raise their profile at a national level, with her media profile.
Pressure will be on the management to achieve promotion this season and with a full complement of backroom staff now in place, daft results like Charlton and Southampton at home and Sheffield Utd away should hopefully no longer be an issue.
As and when more players arrive, I’ll post updates here.
As for the Euros, the Lionesses progressed through to the knock our stages of the tournament. A 2-1 loss to France caused consternation amongst the fans, but a solid 4-0 victory over the Netherlands restored faith and a 6-1 howking of Wales left the Lionesses finishing second in the group with an ‘easier’ route to the finals, avoiding France, Spain and Germany but facing Sweden in the QFs, who wanted revenge for the result in Euros ’22.
My predictions were OK:
Group A prediction: Norway, Iceland; results: Norway, Switzerland
Group B prediction: Spain. Belgium; results Spain, Italy
Group C prediction: Germany, Sweden; results Sweden, Germany
Group D prediction: France, England; results France, England
The Lionesses were quickly 2-0 down to Sweden and seemingly on the bus hyem, but two even quicker goals from local lass Lucy Bronze and Michelle Agyemang meant it ended 2-2 and went to pens.
Nerves were shredded, pens blazed over the bar or saved; Bronze channelled Stewart Pearce and leathered the ball down the middle and let out a roar heard in Berwick! The last Swedish pen was missed and England were through to face Italy in last night’s equally dramatic semi-final. They certainly seem to be intent on doing it the hard way and will now face winners of the other semi between favourites Spain and Germany.
As ever, enjoy watching the Euros and Howay the Lasses (old and new)!
Mark Stutt