NEWCASTLE United hope to take another big step towards becoming a major force in the women's game with cup glory this weekend.

Becky Langley's Magpies top the National League Northern Premier Division table and are quickly closing in on a second successive promotion but the focus moves to the Women's National League Cup this weekend, with Newcastle taking on Southern Premier Division high-fliers Hashtag United in the final at Luton Town's Kenilworth Road on Saturday (2.30pm).

Newcastle have enjoyed a rapid rise under the club's Saudi-backed owners - with Amanda Staveley recently describing the progression of the women's side as a key priority - and they went full-time last summer.

That move has paid off and Newcastle look almost certain to be playing Championship football next season, which is just one step below the Women's Super League.

"We’ve not been shy in talking about our long term aim of being in the WSL," said the club's head of women's football Su Cumming.

"I think it’s probably something of an ambition for us, maybe a stretch too far, to say we can be in the same position next year, coming out of the Championship.

"In my mind, if we do make it into the Championship this season, it’s great to be in the inception of this new organisation and all of the things that will bring with it.

"What happens after that, we have to consolidate and learn that standard. We set our stall out to do similar this year but we had a lot more knowledge about the Northern League than we do the Championship. We have good players in our squad who have come from the Championship.

"It’s not one game at a time but it’s about what do we do this season and how do we build on that, that gives us a platform to launch into the future. Our objective is to be well in the WSL by 2030. We’re still sticking with that target."

READ MORE:

The immediate focus is Sunday's final, with Newcastle set to be backed by more than 3,000 fans.

"It’s phenomenal," said Cumming.

"Without the fans we wouldn’t be the team we are and if you watch our girls, you can see they really appreciate that. That’s not put on or for show, that’s real support for everyone who turns up and supports and follows us online. It’s really important that fans come with us on this journey. They’ve been brilliant, amazing."

It's 69 years since Newcastle's men's side have won a trophy and Cumming believes success this weekend would be symbolic.

She said: "Obviously, we won the Division One North last year so we have already experience of winning silverware. But to win what is the equivalent of the EFL Cup in the women's game, it would be fantastic for the club. I think it would be very symbolic for the ownership to see that their investment, their commitment to us as a women's team is recognised by that success.

"It's something that's going to set us up for what comes next. I don't think it would be fair to compare us to the men's success or lack of at the moment. Let’s just hope that we succeed at the weekend and then we've got more to come.

“I think it's a really exciting opportunity for the club and us to showcase just how good we are.

"We've not made it this far in this cup previously and I think getting to a point where we can be seen in a national setting to start off with even more so than our northern status is just fantastic for the players and for all the work that Becky and the team are doing to just to get us where we are at the moment, it's very exciting."