Newcastle United midfielder Stobbs excited for ‘unreal’ AC Milan test in Sela Cup | OneFootball

Newcastle United midfielder Amber-Keegan Stobbs says that it is an amazing feeling to be playing against AC Milan at this weekend’s Sela Cup.

After facing West Bromwich Albion in a pre-season friendly at St. James’ Park during last season’s Sela Cup, The Magpies’ women’s team will go one step further this year when they face European opposition in the form of Italian giants AC Milan. It will be the first time that Newcastle United will have faced a European opponent as a full-time professional side while the two clubs will contest the first-ever Women’s Sela Cup.

When speaking to WSL Full-Time ahead of the pre-season showpiece, Newcastle United midfielder Stobbs said that facing AC Milan at St. James’ Park is the stuff that dreams are made of.

“We played West Brom in pre-season during the Sela Cup last year but this will be a very different experience,” Stobbs said. “It shows what Newcastle United are trying to do for women’s football. We are playing a team from the top league in Italy and that’s unreal.

“A lot of us haven’t had that opportunity. It gives us a taste of what it might be like playing European or Champions League football. We haven’t had that as a team [before], so that’s really exciting and we are playing at St. James’ Park.

“It’s just a really good weekend for football in the North East. To put us up there with an opponent like AC Milan is just unbelievable, especially after the men’s team were in the Champions League playing them last season.”

Newcastle United’s previous appearances at St. James’ Park have attracted some huge crowds. While Barclays Women’s Super League club Arsenal are very much the ‘gold standard’ in the English game for maintaining big crowds at their main stadium, Stobbs believes that Newcastle United can mirror The Gunners’ success in the stands over time.

She said “Two seasons ago, Newcastle United were in Tier 4 and they had 28,000 people come and watch them. I don’t mean it disrespectfully but if you can get 28,000 for Tier 4 and 24,000 for a pre-season game last year, there’s no doubt with a Geordie backing and the way football is up here that we could be in that position [in the future].

“I just think the Club are doing it steadily and correctly so that it doesn’t spike too early. We are clearly building on the fanbase that we’ve had for ages.

“Getting thousands for our home games last year at Kingston Park; we were ranked quite high up in terms of overall club attendances in England and that was Tier 3. I think we are in the right place for that.”

While the Sela Cup will be a thrilling occasion for Newcastle United, Becky Langley’s side are still almost a month away from kicking-off their adventure in the Barclays Women’s Championship. Stobbs says that The Magpies have their feet firmly stuck to the ground.

She said “We are very process-driven. It’s a football match, it’s an amazing occasion but it’s pre-season. We look at aims and targets and it’s a game to play but we have to remember that it’s in pre-season; we’ve still got a long journey until the league starts.”

Newcastle United’s Women’s Sela Cup fixture against AC Milan kicks-off at 1pm on Saturday afternoon. The game will be followed by the men’s team’s fixture against Stade Brestois at 4pm. Tickets for the day’s action can be purchased by clicking here.