Abbie Richardson has made Newcastle United Women history after signing her first professional contract with the club.
The 18-year-old defender has become the first player to progress through Newcastle’s academy pathway before earning professional terms with the women’s first team.
It is a significant milestone for both Richardson and a Newcastle programme which has continued to develop rapidly since the women’s team became fully professional.
Richardson is also a lifelong Newcastle supporter, making the breakthrough particularly meaningful.
Abbie Richardson signs Newcastle professional deal
Newcastle officially confirmed Richardson’s first professional contract on Wednesday.
The defender was named in a senior matchday squad for the first time against Manchester City in the Women’s League Cup last season before spending much of this summer training alongside Tanya Oxtoby’s first team.
Richardson has since started five matches for Newcastle’s Under-21 side this season.
She also scored the decisive penalty in their PGA Cup victory over Everton last weekend.
Speaking after signing the deal, Richardson described earning professional terms with her childhood club as an “unreal feeling”.
She also credited Oxtoby with helping her development and adaptation to a different defensive role.
Oxtoby has been equally impressed.
The Newcastle manager said Richardson had continued to progress while moving between the Under-21 and senior environments and believes the teenager has an “exciting future” at the club.
Newcastle academy pathway beginning to deliver
Richardson’s contract is significant beyond one individual breakthrough.
Newcastle have spent heavily on building a squad capable of challenging for promotion, but producing players internally will also be important if the women’s programme is to develop sustainably.
The first team have made an outstanding start to the new WSL2 campaign, with three straight victories putting Newcastle top of the division.
That creates a strong environment for younger players attempting to make the step into senior football.
Richardson now has an opportunity to continue training around experienced players while earning competitive minutes with the Under-21s.
Her breakthrough also arrives before an important weekend for Oxtoby’s side.
Newcastle host Leicester City on Sunday in what could provide an early indication of how serious their promotion challenge really is.
For Richardson, the immediate challenge will be continuing the development that has already taken her from Newcastle supporter and academy player to the club’s first women’s academy graduate on professional terms.
For Newcastle, her contract provides tangible evidence that the pathway beneath the senior team is beginning to produce results.
