'Life-changing': Dan McNamara hails Wolves Women’s historic promotion

Boss Dan McNamara said he had no doubts his Wolves Women side would secure a “life-changing” and historic promotion.

Wolves beat Plymouth Argyle at the Pirelli Stadium in Burton-upon-Trent to seal a first-ever promotion to Women’s Super League 2 and achieve professional league status.

It comes after years of heartbreak, having narrowly missed out on promotion on several occasions, including a play-off defeat four years ago.

Even this season, they lost just one league game but still missed out on the title. McNamara, who has been in charge for eight years, could barely contain his delight at full-time, letting out a huge roar.

“This is life-changing for the girls,” he told the Express and Star.

“Some of them can pack their jobs in now, they can live life as a full-time footballer. What an experience, what an achievement that is.

“You always doubt yourself, don't you? Five years in the third tier now, we've lost the play-off when I wasn't here.

“Then you lose it on goal difference, then you lose it by a point for the next two seasons. Then you hit 61 points this year and don't win it and you think is it just not meant to happen?

“I said on Monday when we came in for training, I said to them five minutes before they came out: ‘we will not lose this game today’.

“I had a feeling. Look, Plymouth came at us, I thought they were excellent, but there was something inside me that just said we weren't losing the game.

“But then Charlotte hits the post and you're thinking is it going to happen again? But, honestly, I knew we weren't going to lose the game.

“I knew it. I felt it. The group deserve it, the staff deserve it.”