Women’s football in England has been experiencing an exponential rise in recent years, with the Women’s Super League (WSL) leading the charge as the country’s most followed competition. Yet, it’s not just the top division enjoying this developing popularity – lower leagues are thriving too. In the Women’s Championship, attendances are rising steadily, both home and away – reflecting a growing appetite for the women’s game.
One team in particular has truly stood out against the crowd: Newcastle United Women. They have smashed attendance records in the Championship, putting up the highest numbers by a significant amount. Their fanbase extends far beyond the city and the stadium. With 90,000 Instagram followers – almost triple that of the 2024/25 Championship winners, London City Lionesses, who boast slightly over 31,000; Newcastle United Women’s passionate and loyal fanbase, both in the stands and online, are really setting a trend in the league.
They hosted local rivals, Sunderland, at St James’ Park in March 2025 and set a new attendance record for the league – breaking down barriers with every ticket sold. 38,502 fans showed up to the stadium, and saw their team defeat their local rivals, in a narrow 1-0 victory.
In the weeks leading up to the match, I caught up with Newcastle midfielder, Emily Murphy, to discuss the excitement around the Wear-Tyne derby, and the possibility of a record-breaking game.
Murphy stated: “I’m looking forward to all of them (the remaining games), if we want to get promoted, every game is a must win. The upcoming derby (against Sunderland) and the hype around the game is massive, we’ve sold around 30,000 tickets and it’s being played at the men’s ground… for a Championship club it’s unheard of…
…it doesn’t matter if your men’s, women’s, or academy up here in Newcastle, everyone just loves football.”
Just weeks after our conversation with Murphy, the attendance record was shattered. Eager to witness the scale of support firsthand, I made my way to The Valley, home of Charlton Athletic. Upon arrival, I began casually speaking with fans who had travelled from the Northeast to the nation’s capital – making the journey by whatever means necessary. They came via plane, bus, train, and car, spending hundreds of pounds and travelling countless hours – all to watch their beloved team.
I spent hours in the fan zone outside the stadium, and Murphy’s statement really stuck in my head. ‘Everyone just loves football’. You could tell. The dedication was truly inspiring to watch. I was approached by travelling supporters, Kev and John, and talked to them about the growing attendance.
I asked whether they thought the attendance had risen over the years, and their responses were unanimous.
Kev: “Definitely”.
John: “Yeah, I only started coming at the end of last season and I’m just hooked on it, it’s great. The first game I attended we won 10-0… against Huddersfield“.
The pair exchanged jokes about past victories, or battering’s rather, then, Kev gave a very insightful and honest look into his journey as a travelling fan.
Kev: “I’d been doing that thing for years… I must come to a Lasses game, I must go, and then never did. Then one night I had quit another project, now had a free weekend and the Lasses were at home. Instead of doing what a normal person would do, turning up and buying a ticket, I ordered a season ticket.”
John: “The club is now a fully professional team… it’s nice to see the input and that support from the club.”
It was so refreshing to see and hear that these fans came for the love of the game and nothing else. They didn’t care whether it was the men’s or the women’s side, they support Newcastle through and through.
Kev: “I liked the vibe and atmosphere… it’s very community focused…”
Whilst chatting to these fans, it was evident that there’s a real sense of family and community at these matches, and that the attendance is only on an upward trajectory.
With advancements being made behind the scenes, and within the league system. The FA announced in June 2025, that the Championship will be expanded from 12 teams to 14, adding more competition and games to the league. They also announced that it would be renamed, and recognised as the WSL2 from next season.These changes are helping to bring the women’s game forward, and at a faster rate, particularly with the league expansion.
For thousands of fans, the next season could not come quick enough. However, talking to fans of Newcastle, it should be recognised that progress isn’t just about the fans – it highlights the crucial backing from the club itself, particularly in financial support, helping to create a more level playing field between the men’s and women’s teams.
Newcastle are truly setting the standard in the WSL2 and will be looking to push for promotion this coming season – with help from their passionate and dedicated fans.