IT was described by Neil Bausor as an "exciting day" for Middlesbrough Football Club and after the affiliation with the women's team was officially announced, new boss Mick Mulhern made absolutely clear the ambition on Teesside: "We want to be in the Super League".

Former long-time Sunderland boss Mulhern - who had a huge influence on the career of Teessider Beth Mead, Jill Scott and Lucy Bronze - has been working as a scout for Newcastle United men's team and didn't envisage himself returning to management in the women's game, but said he couldn't turn down the chance to be involved with Boro.

He was officially unveiled at Rockliffe on Friday as Boro made official their merger with the women's team, who will now operate under the club's umbrella, wear the crest, train at Rockliffe Park and play selected home games at the Riverside Stadium.

Middlesbrough Women currently play in the National League Division One North - the fourth team of the women's game. On the pitch, the aim is to climb the leagues as quickly as possible. But with the club's backing, the bigger picture ambition is to "build a legacy" and tap into the talent in the local area that has produced players such as Mead and Jordan Nobbs in recent years.

Ben Fisher, who has worked tirelessly as chairman of Middlesbrough Women in its previous guise and is now general manager, said: "This is massive. We could only go so far as we were, the club coming on board is huge. It's huge for the team and area and gives everyone the opportunity to wear the shirt.

"It's not just the football team, it's a legacy we're trying to create across Teesside. Every girl and every boy now has the opportunity to play for this great football club.

"Even in my time at the club, we've lost players to WSL clubs, Championship clubs. Beth Mead left Middlesbrough because at that time we couldn't match her ambition. Now, with the club involved, we can hopefully match the ambition of players and they can match our ambition as well."

Boro chief executive Bausor added: "This is an exciting day for Middlesbrough Football Cub and marks the beginning of a new chapter for the club.

"It's been in the pipeline for a while but we're delighted today to now have everything in place to start building our foundations for the future.

"I'd echo some of Ben's comments about giving young girls and boys the opportunity to play for their football club.

"Ben and his team have done a super job but we feel we can help out and take it to the next level. I think we've got hopefully the resource not just financial but around the club with the facilities and the people we've got to help to do that and put the foundations in place to give us something to be proud of, and sit alongside the men's team as focal points in the town and area.

"We will look to do some games at the Riverside, increase the exposure and increase hopefully people's excitement and desire to come and watch the women's game here in Middlesbrough."

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With Mulhern in charge, Middlesbrough Women are in good hands.

During his 15 years in charge of Sunderland, he guided the Wearsiders to the Super League.

He was described by Mead as a "massive building block" in her career and gave Jill Scott her first taste of senior women's football when she was just 14.

He said: "It's a really exciting project. I've been involved in the women's game for a long time.

"Over recent years it's been the men's game I've been involved in, scouting for England. I didn't think there would be another job that would excite me. This put a glint in my eye and I thought maybe I can create something here that I've done elsewhere. "It's really exciting. I wouldn't have come in to this project if I didn't think it was worthwhile and the support of the football club has been immense. That's why I'm here.

"Short term the ambition is to get out of this league as fast as possible really.

"Long term, we want to be in the Super League. That's why I've come back into it. I see this project flying. But it will take a lot of hard work. The foundations with the football club involved, that's it, there are solid foundations there and it's my job with the support of everyone at the club and the players to build, and I think we can do that.

"That's the aim. I'm not here for anything else, it's Super League."

There's understandable excitement within the playing squad - not just about the here and now but what Middlesbrough Women can now go on to achieve in the future.

Jess Dawson, top scorer for Middlesbrough Women last season, said: "This is a massive day for us as players and an exciting time to be part of Middlesbrough Football Club. The facilities and the set-up here are great and I’m just so excited for the opportunities to come.

"It’s one of those pinch-me moments really. We’re all so grateful for the opportunity and there is just so much positivity among the group at the minute."