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Bailey-Gayle: 'I'm proud to be part of a team and a city that has that support'
Written by Joseph Nelson
Paige Bailey-Gayle made history on Wednesday as she became the first-ever Jamaican to join Newcastle United Women.
Arriving from Crystal Palace Women alongside Eagles teammate Lia Cataldo, the 22-year-old is hoping to help Becky Langley's side achieve promotion from the FA Women's National League Northern Premier Division this season.
And after completing her move to the Magpies, the Jamaica international spoke about her ambitions, how it feels to move up north, and what she hopes to add to the Magpies' set-up.
"It's a homely feel and a family feel at this club," she told nufc.co.uk.
"I have felt welcome since I visited and now I am training with the girls. It is a really good atmosphere and I am really happy."
Bailey-Gayle moved to Tyneside at the same time as defender Cataldo, something that she believes will help her settle in at the club.
"It makes it a lot easier moving so far away from home with someone who I have played with for years," explained the forward.
"It is just good to have a friend with you - we have accomplished good stuff together."
In the summer of 2023, Bailey-Gayle represented her country at the FIFA Women's World Cup.
Her experience on the international stage, as well as in club football, is something she hopes to bring into the United dressing room.
"Hopefully my experiences can help the team, and (my teammates') experiences from different leagues and playing teams that I haven’t played often, they can give me advice.
"Hopefully, we can mesh them together and it works out well and we push the team to promotion.
"I'm not someone who looks too far forward as it can cloud what is happening right now. It is a process and I just want to take it one step at a time.
"Hopefully the club gets to where it wants to be and I get to where I want to be. Who knows what is going to happen in the future - the furthest I have looked is towards promotion, and hopefully we get that."
The attacker will no doubt receive a typically warm welcome from the Newcastle United Women fanbase, and the chance to play in front of them is something Bailey-Gayle is relishing.
"Of course, in the women's game, the support is growing, but when I was told that in tier three they are getting 20,000 when they played at St. James' Park, that is massive," she said.
"I think that is really good for the club and the city and the girls that have that support behind them.
"I'm proud to be part of a team and a city that has that support."
"Hopefully the club gets to where it wants to be and I get to where I want to be. Who knows what is going to happen in the future - the furthest I have looked is towards promotion, and hopefully we get that."