It was announced a few days ago and to many it wasn’t a surprise, but NUFC Women have a new Director of Woman’s Football with the arrival of Grace Williams an appointment that has delighted the hierarchy at The Club.
Grace joins the club from Crystal Palace where she held the role of Head of Women’s football since May 2023, helping the Eagles achieve promotion to the Barclays Women’s Super League for the first time.
She started at Watford Women as General Manager for two-and-a-half years and oversaw the Hornets’ promotion to the Championship in the 2020/21 season.
A short spell with FA Wales followed where she supported the restructure of the domestic women’s football pyramid.
Grace then went on to become Operations Manager at Bristol City Women and soon transitioned into the role of General Manager. She was responsible for reshaping their football operation and in her final season there, the Robins secured promotion back into the WSL.
Grace Williams said: “I am extremely proud to be joining Newcastle United Women as the Director of Women’s Football.
“It is clear just how ambitious this club is, and they have a clear vision for success, so it felt like the perfect fit for me.
“I can’t wait to get started and to help build on the really strong foundations that are already here.”
And is Williams having an effect already? It is being widely reported especially from Sky Sports News’ Anton Toloui that United are close to signing a two-time World Cup Winner.
United are apparently edging ever closer to completing arguably the biggest signing of the WSL2 transfer window as they are in talks to sign Morgan Gautrat.
The American midfielder was part of the Orlando Pride squad that won NWSL last season and has also won 88 caps for the USA.
If United pull off such a statement signing then Gautrat, a 32-year-old, would join Jordan Nobbs and Aoife Mannion as big-name signings at Newcastle this summer. In a real statement of intent for the forthcoming WSL2 season.