Women in Football members roared England's Lionesses to their historic first ever World Cup final at a thrilling watch party at St James’ Park.

Thirty of football's best and brightest filled Newcastle United's Sir Bobby Robson Suite as goals from Ella Toone, Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo fired Sarina Wiegman's side to a 3-1 win over The Matildas at Stadium Australia in Sydney.

Guests were welcomed with a talk from Professor Stacey Pope of Durham University, who gave a fascinating insight into her research on the women’s game.

And Senior Commercial Manager Lisa Pool was delighted to help host Women in Football's first event in the north-east.

"Historically it has been a very strong area for developing talent on the pitch, and if you look, a lot of Lionesses have come from the north-east," she said.

"Newcastle United have hosted us and they have made great strides in terms of women's football.

"Although they play in the third tier they have professionalised their women's team this season, a first in the third tier.

"So Newcastle have got behind their women's team, and we wanted to come here to celebrate that.

"Seeing how hard the women at this event have worked to get the game to where it is today, I am so proud to call them colleagues and carry on the work that they have started.

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"The momentum is going forward but we need more people to push it forward.

"Reaching the World Cup final despite all the injuries shows the depth of talent we have in England."

Ahead of kick-off, Professor Pope discussed her research into the public support for The Lionesses, female fans of Newcastle United from the 1950s to the current day and the changing face of media coverage of women’s football since 2015.

And she believes that watch parties and events like the one at St James’ Park show the women's game is starting to attract the attention it deserves.

"Following the men's team as I have done for many years, the country comes to a standstill," she said.

"It does not matter what time the match is, but we are seeing that with this tournament now.

"Rather than it just being ignored, lots of places are now going to the effort and lots of workplaces are going to the effort of showing the matches.

"There are watch parties like we have had here across the country, and there is that feeling that the country is coming to a standstill.

"That is absolutely vital, firstly it challenges the assumption that nobody is interested in women's sport and that it should not be on the television or radio because nobody cares.

"For a long time, people did not have that coverage, and how can you follow it if it is not reported on, and it is not there in the media."

Newcastle became the first English third-division women’s side to offer professional contracts to their players since Fulham in 2000 earlier this summer.

The Magpies have also attracted average crowds of around 25,000 fans to their handful of matches at St James’ Park.

And the club's head of women's football Su Cumming is proud to represent a club and a region that is putting women's football at the forefront of what they do.

She added: "It is just amazing how the club have taken us in and worked with me and the manager to develop the best club we can.

"We did not anticipate that we would be able to turn professional so quickly but in discussions with my boss and Becky and others, it was the right thing to do to learn how we could transform ourselves into a full-time outfit.

"Events like this are absolutely massive to women's football in the north-east.

"Everyone is enjoying the game and it is a great networking opportunity."