The club's bid to join the FA WSL for the initial 2011 season was controversially rejected in favour of the relatively newly formed, but big spending, Manchester City. This decision led to the departure of many star players (3 of whom represented England in the 2015 World Cup) and is thought to have damaged the development of the women's game in the North East for years to come. Despite this they responded by winning the Premier League National Division, which had become the second tier, on three consecutive occasions and also collected the 2011–12 FA Women's Premier League Cup. In 2014 Sunderland were accepted into the second division of a newly expanded FA WSL. They won the league on the final day of the season and were promoted into FA WSL 1 for 2015.
At the end of the 2017–18 season, Sunderland A.F.C. Ladies were unsuccessful with their application for a license in both FA Women's Super League and FA Women's Championship, meaning the Lady Black Cats, were demoted to the FA Women's National League North, for the 2018–19 season. In 2021, the club made a successful application to join the FA Women’s Championship, resulting in their promotion to join the league for the 2021-2022 season.
The club began in 1989 as a five-a-side team called The Kestrels.[8] It played its first match in an informal friendly against Darlington Ladies on 26 July 1989[9] and won the WFA Yorkshire and Humberside League in 1990. Over the next decade, they competed in the Northern PremierasCowgate Kestrels, RTM Newcastle Kestrels and Blyth Spartans Kestrels.[10][11]
In 2000, the club merged with an independent Sunderland Ladies club and the Sunderland A.F.C. men's club to become Sunderland Women's FC after winning promotion to the top tier FA Women's Premier League National Division for the first time.[12][13] The new club was originally financed as part of the established professional Sunderland A.F.C. men's club.
Following financial troubles in 2004, the women's side was forced to become financially independent. Sunderland A.F.C. only provided some kit and the home ground.
In2001–02 Sunderland won one league game all season and were relegated back to the Northern Division.[14] On 10 April 2005, they won promotion from the Northern Divisionaschampions. In the 2005–06 season, they finished 9th in the league (then the penultimate position), but stayed up after tying a promotion/relegation playoff against Southern runners-up Bristol City W.F.C. 5–5 on aggregate.
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 – who only finished 15 points ahead of bottom-of-the-table Crewe Alexandra.
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 ArsenalatPride 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. 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.
The club's bid to join the newly established 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.[16]
Despite the exodus of these players, Sunderland secured the FA Women's National Premier League title with two games to spare, following their victory over Millwall Lionesses on 3 April 2011. They defended the title two further times in 2012 and 2013. In 2013 they were formally integrated into the Sunderland AFC structure.[8]
Sunderland AFC Ladies celebrating after becoming the 2014 champions of the WSL2.
In the 2014 season Sunderland entered the newly created FA WSL 2. On 26 October 2014, they were crowned inaugural champions of the FA WSL 2, beating Millwall Lionesses 4–0 on the final day of the season to finish two points ahead of Doncaster Belles.[17] As a result, Sunderland returned to the top division, taking their place in the 2015 FA WSL 1. Manager Mick Mulhern, who won more silverware for the Sunderland Ladies than all other combined northern football teams (Men and Women), stepped down after 15 years for work-related commitments. He was replaced by former professional Carlton Fairweather.[18]
On 5 January 2017, before the 2017 FA WSL Spring Series, the club announced they switch to part-time players only after three years of having a mix of part-time and full-time players.[19][20][21] On 16 March 2017, Carlton Fairweather was replaced as head coach by his assistant Melanie Reay.[22][23][24] During the Spring Series, she guided the Lady Black Cats to a creditable 5th place finish with her new assistant and former player, Victoria Greenwell. Results in the Spring Series included victories against Yeovil Town and Bristol City WFC and draws against Arsenal W.F.C. and Reading F.C. Women.
After the Spring Series, Sunderland A.F.C. Ladies moved from their home venue at the Eppleton Colliery Welfare Ground to Mariners Park home of South Shields FC. Prior to the start of the 2018–19 season, the team was demoted two divisions from the WSL1 to the FA Women’s National League – Northern Premier Division after a bid to join the FA Women’s Championship was rejected.[25][26][27] After a season at Mariners Park, the Lady Black Cats decided to return to their Hetton-le-Hole home, for their debut season in the FA Women's National League North.
On 8 May 2021, the team applied to join the FA Women's Championship from the Northern Premier Division.[28][29][30] On 2 June 2021, the club announced the FA had accepted this application, resulting in their move into the Women's Championship in the following 2021–22 season.[31][32][33]
Sunderland A.F.C. Women players before the start of a match against Lewes F.C. Women in January 2022.
Prior to the start of the 2022–23 season, the team officially changed its name from Sunderland Association Football Club LadiestoSunderland Association Football Club Women in order to maintain "a contemporary, inclusive outlook as the club further develops into its new era in the women's game".[34][35][1] Before the start of the 2023–24 season, the team moved back to a hybrid model, signing some players on full-time professional contracts.[36][37]
A. ^ The FA Women's Super League was formed in 2010 for the start of the 2011 season, Sunderland Ladies were not chosen to participate in the newly formed top tier of women's football. Although Sunderland Ladies were not relegated from the top tier of Women's football in England in 2010, they found themselves playing in the second tier at the start of their 2011 campaign.
B. ^ The FA Women's Super League was expanded to two divisions in 2014 for the start of that years season with the formation of the FA Women's Super League 2. Sunderland Ladies were one of 10 teams elected to participate in the newly formed second tier of women's football for the start of the 2014 season.
^"Can Grimsby lay claim to a milestone in women's football?". BBC News. 2 February 2012. Archived from the original on 15 August 2023. Retrieved 15 August 2023. Spurred on by England's 1966 World Cup win - and in the context of the political and social upheaval of the 1960s - the Women's Football Association was formed with 44 member clubs in 1969.
Current season
