Sunderland A.F.C. Women

Infobox Football club
clubname = Sunderland Women


fullname = Sunderland Women' Football Club
nickname = The Black Cats
founded =
ground = Washington
capacity =
chairman = Maurice Alderson
manager = Michael Mulhern | league = Northern Championship
season = 2007-08
position = Northern Championship, 3rd
shirtsupplier = Umbro
shirtsponsors = Boylesport
pattern_la1=_red_stripes|pattern_b1=_whitestripes|pattern_ra1=_red_stripes
leftarm1=FFFFFF|body1=FF0000|rightarm1=FFFFFF|shorts1=000000|socks1=000000
pattern_la2=|pattern_b2=_thindkbluesides|pattern_ra2=
leftarm2=00CCFF|body2=00CCFF|rightarm2=00CCFF|shorts2=000033|socks2=000033

Sunderland AFC Women ("Sunderland W.F.C.", "Sunderland Ladies") 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, County Durham.

The 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. only provides 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 Nott'm 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 almost complete the 2008/09 season begins with high hopes for the Wearsiders who have 6 England youth internationals in their ranks and have recently recruited Full England International Midfielder Kelly McDougall from Everton.

External links

* [http://www.sunderlandwfc.co.uk/ Official site]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/wear/content/articles/2007/01/04/sunderland_womens_fc_feature.shtml Sunderland Women FC on BBC]