2024-25 Sunderland A.F.C. Women season

Sunderland Women
2024–25 season
ChairmanKyril Louis-Dreyfus
Head coachMelanie Reay
StadiumEppleton Colliery Welfare Ground
Women's Championship7th
FA CupQuarter-finals
League CupGroup Stage
Top goalscorerLeague:
Eleanor Dale (8)

All:
Eleanor Dale (13)
Highest home attendance15,387 vs Newcastle United
(Women's Championship)

Lowest home attendance400 vs Charlton Athletic
(Women's Championship)

229 vs Huddersfield Town
(FA Cup)
Average home league attendance2,426
Biggest win7-1 vs Exeter City (Women's FA Cup)
Biggest defeat0–5 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
  • Corbyn ?'
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 −4 045.00
FA Cup 8 December 2024 8 March 2025 Third round Quarter-finals 4 3 0 1 14 4 +10 075.00
League Cup 3 October 2024 11 December 2024 Group stage Group Stage 3 1 0 2 4 6 −2 033.33
Total 27 13 3 11 48 44 +4 048.15

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
Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/womens-super-league-two/table
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

Matchday1234567891011121314151617181920
ResultLLWDLWWWWDWDLLWLLLWW
Position1111888888554366667777
Points0034471013161720212121242424242730
Source:
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
  • Watt 78' (o.g.)
  • Brown  90+4'
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
  • Crompton  30'
  • Dugdale  38'
  • Taylor 45+2'
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
  • Quirk 17'
  • Dent 46'
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
  • Toland  16'
  • Taylor 51'
  • Dahou  72'
  • Crompton  88'
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
  • Brown  65'
Stadium: Hayes Lane
Attendance: 1,055
Referee: Nicoleta Bria
2 March 2025 15 Sunderland 2-0 Durham Sunderland
14:00 GMT
Report
  • Hepple  55'
Stadium: Stadium of Light
Attendance: 1,305
Referee: Joanne Horwood
16 March 2025 16 Portsmouth 2-1 Sunderland Portsmouth
14:00 GMT
  • Rowbotham 52'
  • Hornby 56',  61'
  • Poulter  90+7'
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
  • Robinson 90+3'
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
  • Stuart  48'
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
  • Williams  45+5'  89'
  • Hornby  63'
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
Updated to match(es) played on 3 October 2024. Source: Women's League Cup
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
  • Watson 2'
  • Bewicke  64'
  • Cassap 77'
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

  1. ^ "Sunderland 1-2 Newcastle: New second-tier attendance record set".
  2. ^ "Newcastle 1-0 Sunderland: Hosts beat rivals in front of record crowd".
  3. ^ "Demi Lambourne joins Sunderland". Sunderland AFC. 3 June 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  4. ^ "Eleanor Dale joins Sunderland". Sunderland AFC. 4 July 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  5. ^ "Grace McCatty rejoins the Club". Sunderland AFC. 31 October 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  6. ^ "Signing: Marissa Sheva joins Sunderland". Sunderland AFC. 26 March 2025. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  7. ^ "Midfielder Mollie Rouse Brings Deep Experience from England's Women's National Program". Spokane Zephyr FC. 11 June 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  8. ^ "Claudia Moan signs for Newcastle United Women". Newcastle United FC. 9 July 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  9. ^ "Keira Flannery joins Sunderland on loan". Sunderland AFC. 26 July 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  10. ^ "Jessie Stapleton signs on loan". Sunderland AFC. 1 August 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  11. ^ "Defender Mullen and forward Ejupi to leave Sunderland". WSL Full-Time. 12 June 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  12. ^ "Sunderland defender McCatty to retire". WSL Full-Time. 18 April 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  13. ^ "Defender Mullen and forward Ejupi to leave Sunderland". WSL Full-Time. 12 June 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  14. ^ 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}}
  15. ^ https://www.evertonfc.com/news/2024/august/07/everton-women-pre-season-friendlies-confirmed/