Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi joined Newcastle United Women’s first team squad and development team at a celebratory event on Saturday night to commemorate the teams’ superb 2022/23 campaigns.
The evening, which saw players come together with friends, family and staff at the city’s Crowne Plaza hotel, was an opportunity to reflect on a memorable year which culminated in the first team winning the FA Women’s National League Division One North and the development side lifting both the FAWNL Reserve Plate and the Bluefin Sports Insurance Women’s Cup.
The sponsors of the women’s team, Straightline and DFDS, were presented with footballs signed by Newcastle United Women’s players as a thank you for their ongoing support, while Steve Beharall, chief executive officer of Newcastle United Foundation – where Newcastle Women were re-launched in 2017 – also received the same gift.
The event was hosted by Justin Lockwood, with Amanda Staveley among those who handed out awards to first team and development team players.
From Manager’s Player of the Year, selected by Becky Langley and Courtney Vacher for their respective teams, to special recognition of superb achievements throughout the season, plenty of members from each side were rewarded for their performances throughout the term, while some players were also presented with FA Women’s National League divisional awards they had won throughout the season.
As the dust settles on a brilliant 2022/23, here’s who won what on a memorable evening…
Manager’s Player of the Year
Kacie Elson -first team
Amy Hargrave – development team
Players’ Player of the Year
Keira Skelton – first team
Jasmine McQuade – development team
Fans’ Player of the Year
Charlotte Potts
Top goalscorer
Georgia Gibson – first team
Georgina Spraggon – development team
Most Improved Player of the Season
Ebonie Knox
FAWNL Division One North Player of the Season
Bianca Owens
FAWNL Division One North Golden Glove
Grace Donnelly
FAWNL Manager of the Month (March)
Becky Langley
Special recognition of England Under-18s call-up
Daisy Burt
First team manager Langley said: “It was a privilege to have Amanda and Mehrdad at such a special evening and fantastic to see family and friends enjoying the moment with players and staff.
“Kacie has worked relentlessly with me for four years. She’s a great character and a loyal and determined player. She was in the league’s top four goalscorers this season and assisted many goals.
“Her improvement across the last four seasons has been massive, earning her a key role in the squad. Her speed has tortured full-backs in the league and memorable goals included Leeds United Women away and Wolves Women at home.
“Georgia being the club’s top goalscorer was credit to her determination and leadership, Pottsy is outstanding technically and is a passionate person always seeking to be better and make marginal gains, and Keira is a young talent who is consistent and has a bright future ahead. It was a great night.”
Development team manager Vacher added: “Saturday evening was a very special night and it was a pleasure to be a part of.
“I feel privileged that I got to award four deserving players who have all contributed significantly to this season’s success, and I’m so pleased that they were recognised for that at such a great event. It was the perfect way to wrap up a brilliant 2022/23 season.”
