Sunderland A.F.C. Women
Encyclopedia
Sunderland AFC Women is a women's football club based in Sunderland, North East England
. They play their home games at The Hetton Centre in Hetton-le-Hole
, Tyne and Wear
.
as Cowgate Kestrels, RTM Newcastle Kestrels and Blyth Spartans Kestrels. In 2000 the club merged with Sunderland Ladies to become Sunderland Women's FC and won promotion to the FA Women's Premier League National Division
.
The new club was originally financed as part of the established professional Sunderland A.F.C.
men's club, but following financial troubles in 2004, the women's side was forced to become financially independent. Sunderland A.F.C.
provide the kit and the home ground.
On Sunday April 10, 2005 they won promotion from the Northern Division
as champions. In the 2005/2006 season, they finished 9th in the league (then the penultimate position), but stayed up after tying a promotion/relegation playoff against Southern runner-ups Bristol City W.F.C. 5-5 on aggregate.
On May 6, 2007, with all their games finished and only having 11 points, Sunderland were relegated after Cardiff City
beat Doncaster Rovers 3-2.
In Season 2007/08 Sunderland finished in 3rd position in The Women's Premier League, Northern Division, behind Champions Nottingham Forest
and Lincoln City. The top 3 were almost in a league of their own as Sunderland finished 17 points ahead of 4th placed Newcastle - 15 points behind 4th place were relegated.
With team re-building completed, the 2008/09 season began with high hopes for the Wearsiders who had six England youth internationals in their ranks and had recently recruited full England international midfielder Kelly McDougall
from Everton Ladies
.
On 22 March 2009, Sunderland WFC reached the final of the FA Women's Cup
after beating Chelsea
3-0. Goals from Williams (2) and Gutteridge ensured their place in the final against holders Arsenal
at Pride Park Stadium
, home of Derby County
on 4 May.
In the final, favourites Arsenal beat Sunderland 2-1. Despite dominating possession and creating several chances, Arsenal found it difficult to convert their opportunities, partly due to dogged Sunderland defending and the brilliant goalkeeping of Helen Alderson. Arsenal's Katie Chapman
scored in the first half, their second coming in extended 2nd half injury-time from Kim Little
. However, Sunderland never gave up and scored a consolation goal from Kelly McDougall
just before the final whistle. Lucy Bronze
gave a superb display at right-back, earning herself the Player of the Match Award for the Black Cats.
Sunderland won promotion to the National Premier Division after defeating Preston
4-0 away in the last match of the 2008-09 season.
Back in the top flight, Sunderland exceeded expectations and topped the league for five months. They also handed Arsenal Ladies only their second league defeat in six years. However, the club's bid to join the FA WSL was rejected on commercial and marketing grounds – leading to the departure of star players Lucy Bronze
, Jordan Nobbs
, Lucy Staniforth and Helen Alderson.
Despite the exodus of these players, Sunderland secured the FA Womens' National Premier League title with two games to spare, following their victory over Millwall on 3rd April 2011.
North East England
North East England is one of the nine official regions of England. It covers Northumberland, County Durham, Tyne and Wear, and Teesside . The only cities in the region are Durham, Newcastle upon Tyne and Sunderland...
. They play their home games at The Hetton Centre in Hetton-le-Hole
Hetton-le-Hole
Hetton-le-Hole is a town and civil parish situated in the City of Sunderland in Tyne and Wear, England. It is on the A182 between Houghton-le-Spring and Easington Lane. It is located on the southwest corner of Sunderland on the A182, off A690 close to the A1. It has a population of 14,402 but this...
, Tyne and Wear
Tyne and Wear
Tyne and Wear is a metropolitan county in north east England around the mouths of the Rivers Tyne and Wear. It came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972...
.
History
The club began in 1989 as a five-a-side team called The Kestrels and won the Yorkshire and Humberside League in 1990. Over the next decade they competed in the Northern PremierFA Women's Premier League National Division
The FA Women's Premier League National Division is the second level of the English women's football league pyramid. From 1991 until the introduction of the summer competition FA Women's Super League the National Division functioned as the top league in England. Below it are simultaneously the...
as Cowgate Kestrels, RTM Newcastle Kestrels and Blyth Spartans Kestrels. In 2000 the club merged with Sunderland Ladies to become Sunderland Women's FC and won promotion to the FA Women's Premier League National Division
FA Women's Premier League National Division
The FA Women's Premier League National Division is the second level of the English women's football league pyramid. From 1991 until the introduction of the summer competition FA Women's Super League the National Division functioned as the top league in England. Below it are simultaneously the...
.
The new club was originally financed as part of the established professional Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
men's club, but following financial troubles in 2004, the women's side was forced to become financially independent. Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
provide the kit and the home ground.
On Sunday April 10, 2005 they won promotion from the Northern Division
FA Women's Premier League Northern Division
The FA Women's Premier League Northern Division is a league in the third-level in the women's football pyramid in England, along with the Southern division. These two divisions are below the FA Women's Super League and National Division....
as champions. In the 2005/2006 season, they finished 9th in the league (then the penultimate position), but stayed up after tying a promotion/relegation playoff against Southern runner-ups Bristol City W.F.C. 5-5 on aggregate.
On May 6, 2007, with all their games finished and only having 11 points, Sunderland were relegated after Cardiff City
Cardiff City L.F.C.
Cardiff City Ladies Football Club is a Welsh women's football club currently playing at the third level in England. The club was founded in 1975 as Llanedeyrn L.F.C. after a local charity match. They play at Cardiff International Sports Stadium, Cardiff....
beat Doncaster Rovers 3-2.
In Season 2007/08 Sunderland finished in 3rd position in The Women's Premier League, Northern Division, behind Champions Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest L.F.C.
Nottingham Forest Ladies Football Club is an English women's football club affiliated with Nottingham Forest F.C.. They were promoted to the Women's Premier League in 2008 after winning the Northern Division and currently play their home matches at Carlton Town's Bill Stokeld Stadium.The first...
and Lincoln City. The top 3 were almost in a league of their own as Sunderland finished 17 points ahead of 4th placed Newcastle - 15 points behind 4th place were relegated.
With team re-building completed, the 2008/09 season began with high hopes for the Wearsiders who had six England youth internationals in their ranks and had recently recruited full England international midfielder Kelly McDougall
Kelly McDougall
Kelly Marie McDougall is an English female international footballer. She plays in midfield for Sunderland Women.-Club career:McDougall joined Everton aged 12, and also played youth football for Knowsley and Rainhill United...
from Everton Ladies
Everton L.F.C.
Everton Ladies Football Club are a semi-professional women's association football team from the city of Liverpool, who compete in the FA WSL. They were runners-up to Arsenal in the 2009–10 Premier League National Division season. They have won the title once in 1998 and the FA Women's Cup on...
.
On 22 March 2009, Sunderland WFC reached the final of the FA Women's Cup
FA Women's Cup
The Football Association Women’s Challenge Cup Competition, commonly referred to as the FA Women's Cup, is the top cup competition for women's football clubs in England – designed as an exact equivalent to the FA Cup created 99 years earlier...
after beating Chelsea
Chelsea L.F.C.
Chelsea Ladies Football Club are a semi-professional English women's football club affiliated with Chelsea F.C.. They have competed in the top tier of women's football in England, the Premier League National Division, since 2005...
3-0. Goals from Williams (2) and Gutteridge ensured their place in the final against holders Arsenal
Arsenal L.F.C.
Arsenal Ladies Football Club are an English women's association football club affiliated with Arsenal F.C.. Founded in 1987, they are the most successful club in English women's football having won 34 major trophies to date; which are 12 FA Women's Premier League titles, 11 FA Women's Cups, ten...
at Pride Park Stadium
Pride Park Stadium
Pride Park Stadium is an all-seater football stadium located on the Pride Park business park on the outskirts of Derby, England. It is the current home of Football League Championship club Derby County, who moved to the stadium from the Baseball Ground upon its opening in 1997...
, home of Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
on 4 May.
In the final, favourites Arsenal beat Sunderland 2-1. Despite dominating possession and creating several chances, Arsenal found it difficult to convert their opportunities, partly due to dogged Sunderland defending and the brilliant goalkeeping of Helen Alderson. Arsenal's Katie Chapman
Katie Chapman
Katie Sarah Chapman is an English footballer who plays for English club Arsenal Ladies in the FA WSL and is a former member of the England women's national team. She primarily plays as a central midfielder, although she has also been deployed in central defence while playing for England. Chapman...
scored in the first half, their second coming in extended 2nd half injury-time from Kim Little
Kim Little
Kim Little is a Scottish female international football midfielder. She currently plays her club football for Arsenal Ladies and has represented Scotland at Senior level. She was born in Aberdeen, Scotland.-Club career:...
. However, Sunderland never gave up and scored a consolation goal from Kelly McDougall
Kelly McDougall
Kelly Marie McDougall is an English female international footballer. She plays in midfield for Sunderland Women.-Club career:McDougall joined Everton aged 12, and also played youth football for Knowsley and Rainhill United...
just before the final whistle. Lucy Bronze
Lucy Bronze
Lucia Roberta "Lucy" Tough Bronze is an English female footballer who plays for Everton Ladies and previously represented North Carolina Tar Heels at college level. She has also represented England at youth level.-Club career:...
gave a superb display at right-back, earning herself the Player of the Match Award for the Black Cats.
Sunderland won promotion to the National Premier Division after defeating Preston
Preston North End W.F.C.
Preston North End W.F.C. are an English women's football club affiliated with Preston North End F.C. and currently playing in the FA Women's Premier League Northern Division.-History:...
4-0 away in the last match of the 2008-09 season.
Back in the top flight, Sunderland exceeded expectations and topped the league for five months. They also handed Arsenal Ladies only their second league defeat in six years. However, the club's bid to join the FA WSL was rejected on commercial and marketing grounds – leading to the departure of star players Lucy Bronze
Lucy Bronze
Lucia Roberta "Lucy" Tough Bronze is an English female footballer who plays for Everton Ladies and previously represented North Carolina Tar Heels at college level. She has also represented England at youth level.-Club career:...
, Jordan Nobbs
Jordan Nobbs
Jordan Nobbs is an English footballer who wears the number eight shirt for Arsenal Ladies. She is a combative, goalscoring central midfielder.-Club career:...
, Lucy Staniforth and Helen Alderson.
Despite the exodus of these players, Sunderland secured the FA Womens' National Premier League title with two games to spare, following their victory over Millwall on 3rd April 2011.