The Magpies will enter teams in all WPL grades with key personnel from Thornton joining the club to manage the program.

Maitland president Ray Watkins welcomed the move for the 2019 NPL NNSW premiers.

"We see it from the point of view that women's football is the biggest growth team sport in this region and probably Australia," Watkins said.

"As far as Maitland Football goes, we've been in the NPL NNSW for five or six years now and we've made big strides in particular with our senior men's football and now at youth level as well.

"We think we've got the structure and resource base and it's our intention to give women and girls of the Hunter Valley the same opportunities as we give to the men's game. The same program, the same facilities, the same resources."

Maitland invited Thornton's WPL team to train at Cooks Square Park on Tuesday night and the Redbacks will host Mid Coast at the Magpies' ground this Saturday in round 10 of WPL.

"Men's and women's football will be treated equally at Maitland," Watkins said.

"Maitland and our community are very focused on their own teams and we gathered a tremendous amount of support in our FFA Cup run last year where we hosted the Central Coast Mariners at Maitland Sportsground.

"By increasing the profile of the women's game, it will only benefit the club in general throughout the community and corporate sector and just boost the momentum and awareness of the club."

It was also a positive move for Thornton as NNSWF aim for NPL Women's status by 2022. To gain entry into NPLW, clubs must meet certain standards and criteria.

Thornton WPL coach Al Primmer said it would take women's football in the Hunter Valley to the next level.

"It's massive. I think it shows how serious the Hunter Valley are about women's football," Primmer said.

"Thornton have done a great job since they first came into the competition. But this takes the next step forward and probably stamps how serious we are that a premier club is taking it on.

"Professionalism, coaching, I think it takes it all to the next level."

Primmer also hoped the new venture would help keep Hunter Valley talent in the area.

"Thornton have been a development club," Primmer said. "And if you go through every WPL club there would be a number of girls who have come through the Hunter Valley system.

"For some reason they have driven past Thornton to go and play with Newcastle teams, which I understand. But with someone like Maitland taking it on, the club won't accept mediocrity or being second-best.

"Thornton aren't walking away from women's football. By working with the transition to Maitland, we're trying to take women's football in our area to the next level. We'll always be about putting the girls first and this is a great stepping stone."

NPL NNSW clubs Newcastle Olympic and Broadmeadow Magic have both taken on WPL programs this season.

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