2024-25 Sunderland A.F.C. Women season
| 2024–25 season | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chairman | Kyril Louis-Dreyfus | |||
| Head coach | Melanie Reay | |||
| Stadium | Eppleton Colliery Welfare Ground | |||
| Women's Championship | 7th | |||
| FA Cup | Quarter-finals | |||
| League Cup | Group Stage | |||
| Top goalscorer | League: Eleanor Dale (8) All: Eleanor Dale (13) | |||
| Highest home attendance | 15,387 vs Newcastle United (Women's Championship) | |||
| Lowest home attendance | 400 vs Charlton Athletic (Women's Championship) 229 vs Huddersfield Town (FA Cup) | |||
| Average home league attendance | 2,426 | |||
| Biggest win | 7-1 vs Exeter City (Women's FA Cup) | |||
| Biggest defeat | 0–5 vs Birmingham City (Women's Championship) | |||
|
| ||||
The 2024–25 season was the 35th season in the history of Sunderland A.F.C. Women and their fourth consecutive season in the Women's Championship. The club participated in the Women's Championship, the Women's FA Cup, and the Women's League Cup.
Despite Sunderland starting the season slowly with only 4 points from their first 5 games, a run of 5 wins and 2 draws from their next 7 put the "Lasses" in contention at the top of the table. However, a slump in form over the final 8 games saw them finish mid-table in 7th.
Sunderland would go on to make the Quarter-finals of the Women's FA Cup for the first time since 2017-18, eventually losing to Manchester United.
The 2024-25 season saw the league return of the Women's Tyne-Wear derby for the first time since the 2008-09 season. The game at the Stadium of Light set a new record crowd for a women's second-tier match with 15,387[1] in attendance. This record was broken again in the reverse fixture with 38,502[2] fans in attendance at St James' Park.
Transfers
In
| Date | Pos. | Player | From | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 July 2024 | GK | Demi Lambourne | Crystal Palace | [3] |
| 4 July 2024 | ST | Eleanor Dale | Everton | [4] |
| 31 October 2024 | CB | Grace McCatty | Unattached (Retired) | [5] |
| 26 March 2025 | CM | Marissa Sheva | Portland Thorns FC | [6] |
Out
| Date | Pos. | Player | To | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 June 2024 | CM | Mollie Rouse | Spokane Zephyr | [7] |
| 1 July 2024 | GK | Claudia Moan | Newcastle United | [8] |
Loaned in
| Date | Pos. | Player | From | Date until | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 July 2024 | CM | Keira Flannery | West Ham United | End of Season | [9] |
| 1 August 2024 | DM | Jessie Stapleton | West Ham United | End of Season | [10] |
Retired / Out of Contract
| Date | Pos. | Player | Subsequent club | Join date | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 July 2024 | FW | Elizabeta Ejupi | Retired | [11] | |
| 1 July 2024 | CB | Grace McCatty | Sunderland | 31 October 2024 | [12] |
| 1 July 2024 | LB | Faye Mullen | Retired | [13] |
Pre-season and friendlies
On 18 July 2024, Sunderland announced their first slate of pre-season fixtures, against Rangers, Hearts, Sheffield United and Blackburn Rovers.[14] A game against Leicester City was later added to this schedule. On 7 August 2024, a further friendly against Everton was confirmed.[15]
Win Draw Loss Fixtures
| 28 July 2024 Friendly | Sunderland | 1-2 | Rangers | Cleadon |
| 14:00 BST |
|
Report | Stadium: Academy of Light Attendance: 0 (Behind-closed-doors) |
| 4 August 2024 Friendly | Hearts | ?-? | Sunderland | Edinburgh |
| Note: While this fixture was announced on 18 July 2024, no details of the match were shared by either club. It is unclear whether this match went ahead. | ||||
| 11 August 2024 Friendly | Sunderland | ?-? | Sheffield United | Cleadon |
| Stadium: Academy of Light Attendance: 0 (Behind-closed-doors) | ||||
| Note: While this fixture was announced on 18 July 2024, no details of the match were shared by either club. It is unclear whether this match went ahead. | ||||
| 15 August 2024 Friendly | Leicester City | 3–1 | Sunderland | Leicester |
| Report |
|
Stadium: Belvoir Drive Attendance: 0 (Behind-closed-doors) |
| 18 August 2024 Friendly | Sunderland | ?-? | Blackburn Rovers | Cleadon |
| Stadium: Academy of Light Attendance: 0 (Behind-closed-doors) | ||||
| Note: While this fixture was announced on 18 July 2024, no details of the match were shared by either club. It is unclear whether this match went ahead. | ||||
| 25 August 2024 Friendly | Everton | 1–2 | Sunderland | Halewood |
|
Report | Stadium: Finch Farm Attendance: 0 (Behind-closed-doors) |
Competitions
Overall record
| Competition | First match | Last match | Starting round | Final position | Record | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % | |||||
| Women's Championship | 8 September 2024 | 4 May 2025 | Matchday 1 | 7th | 20 | 9 | 3 | 8 | 30 | 34 | −4 | 45.00 |
| FA Cup | 8 December 2024 | 8 March 2025 | Third round | Quarter-finals | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 4 | +10 | 75.00 |
| League Cup | 3 October 2024 | 11 December 2024 | Group stage | Group Stage | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | −2 | 33.33 |
| Total | 27 | 13 | 3 | 11 | 48 | 44 | +4 | 48.15 | ||||
Last updated: 4 May 2025
Source: Competitions
Women's Championship
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Newcastle United | 20 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 38 | 24 | +14 | 34 |
| 6 | Bristol City | 20 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 34 | 24 | +10 | 30 |
| 7 | Sunderland | 20 | 9 | 3 | 8 | 30 | 34 | −4 | 30 |
| 8 | Southampton | 20 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 22 | 25 | −3 | 21 |
| 9 | Portsmouth | 20 | 3 | 4 | 13 | 16 | 48 | −32 | 13 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
Results summary
| Overall | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
| 20 | 9 | 3 | 8 | 30 | 34 | −4 | 30 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 17 | 17 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 13 | 17 | −4 |
Results by matchday
W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss
Matches
| 8 September 2024 1 | Birmingham City | 5-0 | Sunderland | Bordesley |
| 14:00 BST | Report | Stadium: St Andrew's Stadium Attendance: 1,284 Referee: Cheryl Foster |
| 15 September 2024 2 | Sunderland | 0–3 | Southampton | Hetton-le-Hole |
| 14:00 BST | Report | Stadium: Eppleton CW Attendance: 582 Referee: Adewunmi Soneye |
| 29 September 2024 3 | Sunderland | 1-0 | London City | Hetton-le-Hole |
| 14:00 BST | Report |
|
Stadium: Eppleton CW Attendance: 565 Referee: Grace Lowe |
| 6 October 2024 4 | Charlton Athletic | 3-3 | Sunderland | Charlton |
| 14:00 BST | Report | Stadium: The Valley Attendance: 534 Referee: Abby Dearden |
| 13 October 2024 5 | Sunderland | 1–2 | Newcastle United | Sunderland |
| 14:00 BST |
|
Report | Stadium: Stadium of Light Attendance: 15,387 Referee: Phoebe Cross |
| 20 October 2024 6 | Durham | 1-2 | Sunderland | Durham |
| 12:00 BST |
|
Report | Stadium: Maiden Castle Attendance: 1,039 Referee: Jane Simms |
| 3 November 2024 7 | Sunderland | 4–3 | Bristol City | Hetton-le-Hole |
| 14:00 GMT | Report |
|
Stadium: Eppleton CW Attendance: 498 Referee: Lucy May |
| 10 November 2024 8 | Sunderland | 2-1 | Blackburn Rovers | Hetton-le-Hole |
| 14:00 GMT | Report |
|
Stadium: Eppleton CW Attendance: 487 Referee: Magdalena Golba |
| 17 November 2024 9 | Sheffield United | 0-1 | Sunderland | Sheffield |
| 13:00 GMT | Report | Stadium: Bramall Lane Attendance: 761 Referee: Levi Gray |
| 15 December 2024 10 | Sunderland | 2-2 | Portsmouth | Hetton-le-Hole |
| 14:00 GMT | Report |
|
Stadium: Eppleton CW Attendance: 470 Referee: Aimee Keir |
| 19 January 2025 11 | Southampton | 0-2 | Sunderland | Southampton |
| 14:00 GMT |
|
Report | Stadium: St Mary's Stadium Attendance: 7,012 Referee: Laura van Lier |
| 25 January 2025 12 | Blackburn Rovers | 1-1 | Sunderland | Blackburn |
| 17:30 GMT |
|
Report | Stadium: Ewood Park Attendance: 437 Referee: Callum Parke |
| 2 February 2025 13 | Sunderland | 0-1 | Birmingham City | Sunderland |
| 14:00 GMT |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Stadium of Light Attendance: 4,026 Referee: Megan Wilson |
| 16 February 2025 14 | London City | 2-0 | Sunderland | Bromley |
| 14:00 GMT | Report |
|
Stadium: Hayes Lane Attendance: 1,055 Referee: Nicoleta Bria |
| 2 March 2025 15 | Sunderland | 2-0 | Durham | Sunderland |
| 14:00 GMT | Report |
|
Stadium: Stadium of Light Attendance: 1,305 Referee: Joanne Horwood |
| 16 March 2025 16 | Portsmouth | 2-1 | Sunderland | Portsmouth |
| 14:00 GMT |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Fratton Park Attendance: 2,461 Referee: Hannah Gardner |
| 23 March 2025 17 | Newcastle United | 1-0 | Sunderland | Newcastle upon Tyne |
| 14:00 GMT |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: St James' Park Attendance: 38,502 Referee: Sophie Dennington |
| 30 March 2025 18 | Sunderland | 3-4 | Charlton Athletic | Hetton-le-Hole |
| 14:00 BST | Report | Stadium: Eppleton CW Attendance: 400 Referee: Jacob Viera |
| 27 April 2025 19 | Bristol City | 2-3 | Sunderland | Bristol |
| 14:00 BST |
|
Report | Stadium: Ashton Gate Attendance: 2,892 Referee: Jade Wardle |
| 4 May 2025 20 | Sunderland | 2-1 | Sheffield United | Sunderland |
| 14:00 BST | Report |
|
Stadium: Stadium of Light Attendance: 541 Referee: Hannah Gardner |
FA Cup
| 8 December 2024 Third round proper | Sunderland | 4–0 | Huddersfield Town | Hetton-le-Hole |
| 14:00 GMT | Report |
|
Stadium: Eppleton CW Attendance: 229 Referee: Charlotte Jacques-Smith |
| 12 January 2025 Fourth round proper | Exeter City | 1-7 | Sunderland | Newton Abbot |
| 13:00 GMT |
|
Report | Stadium: Coach Road Attendance: 588 Referee: Levi Gray |
| 9 February 2025 Fifth round proper | Portsmouth | 0-2 | Sunderland | Havant |
| 14:00 GMT |
|
Report | Stadium: Westleigh Park Attendance: 424 Referee: Alice Parker |
| 8 March 2025 Quarter-final | Manchester United | 3-1 | Sunderland | Leigh |
| 17:15 GMT |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Leigh Sports Village Attendance: 3,051 Referee: Stacey Fullicks |
League Cup
Group stage
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | WPEN | LPEN | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | DUR | BLB | SUN | SHU | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Durham | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 | +2 | 8 | Advanced to knock-out stage | — | – | – | 1–1 | |
| 2 | Blackburn Rovers | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 5 | +3 | 6 | 1–2 | — | – | 4–2 | ||
| 3 | Sunderland | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | −2 | 3 | 1–2 | 1–3 | — | – | ||
| 4 | Sheffield United | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7 | −3 | 1 | – | – | 1–2 | — |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of wins; 5) Head-to-head record
| 3 October 2024 Group stage | Sheffield United | 1-2 | Sunderland | Alfreton |
| 19:00 BST |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: North Street Attendance: 202 Referee: Lauren Whiteman |
| 24 November 2024 Group stage | Sunderland | 1-3 | Blackburn Rovers | Hetton-le-Hole |
| 14:00 GMT | Report | Stadium: Eppleton CW Attendance: 376 Referee: Lucy May |
| 11 December 2024 Group stage | Sunderland | 1-2 | Durham | Hetton-le-Hole |
| 19:30 GMT | Report |
|
Stadium: Eppleton CW Attendance: 450 Referee: Grace Lowe |
Statistics
Italics indicate a loaned in player.
Appearances
- As of 4 May 2025
Starting appearances are listed first, followed by substitute appearances after the + symbol where applicable.
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | WC | FA Cup | League Cup | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||
| 1 | GK | ENG | Demi Lambourne | 25 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | IRL | Jessie Stapleton | 23 | 2 | 17 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1+2 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | ENG | Amy Goddard | 26 | 2 | 20 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | ENG | Grace McCatty | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 6 | DF | ENG | Louise Griffiths | 3 | 1 | 0+2 | 0 | 0+1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | FW | WAL | Mary McAteer | 21 | 3 | 12+4 | 2 | 2+1 | 1 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 8 | FW | ENG | Emily Scarr | 26 | 2 | 16+4 | 1 | 3+1 | 1 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | ENG | Eleanor Dale | 18 | 13 | 14 | 8 | 2 | 5 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 10 | MF | NZL | Katie Kitching | 26 | 6 | 19 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0+3 | 1 |
| 11 | DF | ENG | Jessica Brown | 22 | 0 | 15+1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1+2 | 0 |
| 12 | MF | ENG | Emily Cassap | 2 | 1 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 14 | MF | ENG | Natasha Fenton | 25 | 2 | 18+1 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 16 | DF | ENG | Grace Ede | 13 | 0 | 9+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 17 | DF | ENG | Mary Corbyn | 20 | 0 | 10+5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 18 | MF | ENG | Libbi McInnes | 24 | 2 | 8+10 | 1 | 3+1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 19 | DF | ENG | Megan Beer | 10 | 0 | 5+2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 20 | FW | WAL | Ellen Jones | 18 | 6 | 6+6 | 3 | 2+2 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| 21 | MF | IRL | Marissa Sheva | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | GK | ENG | Megan Borthwick | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 23 | MF | ENG | Jenna Dear | 19 | 2 | 10+3 | 1 | 1+3 | 1 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 24 | MF | IRL | Keira Flannery | 17 | 0 | 6+4 | 0 | 1+3 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 25 | FW | ENG | Katy Watson | 22 | 5 | 4+11 | 3 | 1+3 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| 27 | DF | SCO | Brianna Westrup | 10 | 0 | 6+1 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 54 | DF | SCO | Ella West | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 58 | DF | ENG | Eva Bewicke | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 60 | FW | ENG | Niyah Dunbar | 3 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 |
Goalscorers
As of 4 May 2025
| Rnk | No | Pos | Nat | Name | WC | FA Cup | League Cup | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9 | FW | Eleanor Dale | 8 | 5 | 0 | 13 | |
| 2 | 10 | MF | Katie Kitching | 5 | 0 | 1 | 6 | |
| 20 | FW | Ellen Jones | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | ||
| 4 | 25 | FW | Katy Watson | 3 | 0 | 2 | 5 | |
| 5 | 10 | FW | Mary McAteer | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | |
| 6 | 2 | DF | Jessie Stapleton | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| 4 | DF | Amy Goddard | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 8 | FW | Emily Scarr | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 14 | MF | Natasha Fenton | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 18 | MF | Libbi McInnes | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 23 | MF | Jenna Dear | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 12 | 6 | DF | Louise Griffiths | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 12 | MF | Emily Cassap | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Own goals | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||||
| Total | 30 | 14 | 4 | 48 | ||||
Disciplinary record
As of 4 May 2025
| No. | Pos. | Nat. | Player | WC | FA Cup | League Cup | Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GK | Demi Lambourne | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2 | DF | Jessie Stapleton | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 0 | |
| 4 | DF | Amy Goddard | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
| 7 | FW | Mary McAteer | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 8 | FW | Emily Scarr | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 9 | FW | Eleanor Dale | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
| 10 | MF | Katie Kitching | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 11 | DF | Jessica Brown | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | |
| 14 | MF | Natasha Fenton | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | |
| 16 | DF | Grace Ede | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| 18 | MF | Libbi McInnes | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| 19 | DF | Megan Beer | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 20 | FW | Ellen Jones | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| 21 | MF | Marissa Sheva | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 23 | MF | Jenna Dear | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | |
| 27 | DF | Brianna Westrup | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| 58 | DF | Eva Bewicke | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 43 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 51 | 1 | 0 | |||
References
- ^ "Sunderland 1-2 Newcastle: New second-tier attendance record set".
- ^ "Newcastle 1-0 Sunderland: Hosts beat rivals in front of record crowd".
- ^ "Demi Lambourne joins Sunderland". Sunderland AFC. 3 June 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
- ^ "Eleanor Dale joins Sunderland". Sunderland AFC. 4 July 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
- ^ "Grace McCatty rejoins the Club". Sunderland AFC. 31 October 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
- ^ "Signing: Marissa Sheva joins Sunderland". Sunderland AFC. 26 March 2025. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
- ^ "Midfielder Mollie Rouse Brings Deep Experience from England's Women's National Program". Spokane Zephyr FC. 11 June 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
- ^ "Claudia Moan signs for Newcastle United Women". Newcastle United FC. 9 July 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
- ^ "Keira Flannery joins Sunderland on loan". Sunderland AFC. 26 July 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
- ^ "Jessie Stapleton signs on loan". Sunderland AFC. 1 August 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
- ^ "Defender Mullen and forward Ejupi to leave Sunderland". WSL Full-Time. 12 June 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
- ^ "Sunderland defender McCatty to retire". WSL Full-Time. 18 April 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
- ^ "Defender Mullen and forward Ejupi to leave Sunderland". WSL Full-Time. 12 June 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
- ^ https://www.safc.com/news/2024/july/18/safc-women--pre-season-schedule-announced/ |access-date=03 October 2025 |publisher=Sunderland AFC |date=17 May 2024}}
- ^ https://www.evertonfc.com/news/2024/august/07/everton-women-pre-season-friendlies-confirmed/