The Football Association has approved Sunderland AFC Ladies’ application to join the FA Women’s Championship for the 2021-22 season. The club submitted a comprehensive bid to return to the second tier in May, which was underpinned by a long-term commitment to enhance community engagement and develop the long-standing and highly successful Regional Talent Centre. On the pitch, Mel Reay’s side also recorded the highest points-per-game average over the past two seasons in the FA Women’s National League North. SAFC Ladies won the FA Women's Premier League National Division in 2011, 2012 and 2013 before securing the inaugural FA WSL 2 title in 2014, whilst also lifting the FA Women's Premier League Cup in 2012. The Lasses continue to record a constant presence within the England women's national team set-up, with seven of the Lionesses’ 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup squad previously featuring on Wearside, including captain Steph Houghton and reigning FIFA Women's World Player of the Year Lucy Bronze. SAFC Ladies’ return to the FA Women’s Championship will see the second tier expand to a 12-team format. Sporting Director Kristjaan Speakman said: “We are delighted to have been awarded FA Women’s Championship status and we thank the FA panel for approving our application. This success is a testament to Leann Cowperthwaite, who project managed the submission, and to the collaboration between our football and business operations, who produced a detailed proposal despite facing a quick turnaround. It also represents a tangible reward for Mel and the team for their stellar record over the past 24 months and we now look forward to delivering on our plan and building our infrastructure to support the players and staff during the upcoming campaign.”
Yes, women's super League is top division (man city, Chelsea etc) then the championship is the second tier. (Blackburn, Liverpool, Durham, London city and others) https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/FA_Women's_Championship
Just to say I've zero interest in women's football...but The FA have approved Sunderland Ladies application in next seasons FA Women's Championship. Great news for them and extra proof we've professionals running the club.
With a load of our ex-players. Mollie Lambert and Bridget Galloway only moved last season. Hope we can get the likes of Charlotte Potts back. We've got some good young talent, such as Jess Brown and Neve Herron, but we need to strengthen and I'm sure we will. Absolutely fantastic news, and richly deserved for Mel and her staff.
I still find all this 'applying'' for promotion very bizzare. The fan led review of football should look at all of this. 3pm kick off not for TV, no pints allowed in seats , safe standing, grassroots funding for u7s, u8s etc, not just academies. Etc etc
That's the point I raised on the recent fans survey. If people drank at their seats, it would be much easier to get access to the bars or to get to the bogs.
It's strange how, on a Saturday a person can be classed as an untrusted football lout, but the next day the same person goes to watch the cricket and suddenly is allowed to sup in their seat for 8hrs solid. Its absolutely crazy and stuck in the 70s in terms of how football fans are treated. I can't believe it's legal to treat a section of society so differently in this day and age tbh.
Not only good for SAFC, but in time it should be good for England as well. Until the FA bounced the team down from top to third tier, the SAFC set up had brought through their system almost half of the Englad squad. So when we contracted our set up there was little to fill the gap. Between them, The FA and SAFC happily threw out the baby with the bath water, but at least both parties seem to have put this glaring error right now.
