Sunderland Ladies

[Owld Feller]

Leaving aside biased opinions, does anyone know the exact reasons that the F.A. used to justify relegating relegating the Ladies by two divisions when their record at the top level was excellent and they've, probably, produced more of the current England Ladies team (four, I think) than any other club.

 

[Bank of England 2]

Leaving aside biased opinions, does anyone know the exact reasons that the F.A. used to justify relegating relegating the Ladies by two divisions when their record at the top level was excellent and they've, probably, produced more of the current England Ladies team (four, I think) than any other club.

I think it was said at the time, that Clubs must be staffed by full-time professionals. We were part-time. So they allowed Yeovil, who finished way below us that season, to remain in the league, while we were demoted. Don't think Yeovil reached double figures in points the following season. So much for being more competitive.

Think we produced more than 4 mate. Of the top of my head, the following have all played for Sunderland, and there may be more.

Steph Houghton
Lucy Bronze
Demi Stokes
Jordan Nobbs
Beth Mead
Jill Scott
Lucy Staniforth

 

[6inarow]

You're right with your post, but you are not fooling anybody when you say that those names are 'off the top of your head'. I think google and wikepedia may have been used for research

 

[The Berk]

Was it not to help Man City get a ladies team promoted.

 

[Bank of England 2]

You're right with your post, but you are not fooling anybody when you say that those names are 'off the top of your head'. I think google and wikepedia may have been used for research

No mate. Used to take my two daughters to watch the lasses at Hetton. We had a great team before the FA stuck their noses in the first time. Rebuilt and had the makings of a steady side, with the likes of Mead, Furness, Chaplin and Bannon, but money was always an issue. To be shafted twice beggars belief.

 

[Gordon Armstrong]

The F.A. have never liked teams in Scotland like us, mind

 

[mojosunderland]

A little bit of truth in all these posts.... As former chairman of the Ladies I hope I can shed some light on the query.
I am proud of the part I played in getting the Ladies into the WSL and the negotiations which followed with SAFC in rebranding Sunderland Women’s Football Club as SAFC Ladies. At this point I took a step back and welcomed the professionals in the running of the club.
The Ladies gained promotion at the first attempt from WSL2 to WSL1 and more than held their own among the so called big teams in the following seasons. However, the FA have their own set of rules and often football can be of secondary importance.
So when the parent club SAFC we’re experiencing difficulties on and off the field, the FA demanded assurances, which unfortunately could not be initially guaranteed by the club at that moment in time. By the time SD and co had stepped in the FA had made their decision to demote SAFC Ladies 2 divisions. At this point most of the team had left for pastures new and the younger girls were asked to step up earlier than expected.....and how well they are doing now. But promotion is not guaranteed as the FA will still require the (Ladies) Club to jump through more hoops and again give certain assurances.

As contributors rightly say the Ladies have a strong history of producing top players...... EIGHT of the current England squad were produced by, and played for, Sunderland Ladies.....

Steph Houghton
Lucy Bronze
Demi Stokes
Jordan Nobbs
Beth Mead
Jill Scott
Lucy Staniforth
Carly Telford

 

[Owld Feller]

A little bit of truth in all these posts.... As former chairman of the Ladies I hope I can shed some light on the query.
I am proud of the part I played in getting the Ladies into the WSL and the negotiations which followed with SAFC in rebranding Sunderland Women’s Football Club as SAFC Ladies. At this point I took a step back and welcomed the professionals in the running of the club.
The Ladies gained promotion at the first attempt from WSL2 to WSL1 and more than held their own among the so called big teams in the following seasons. However, the FA have their own set of rules and often football can be of secondary importance.
So when the parent club SAFC we’re experiencing difficulties on and off the field, the FA demanded assurances, which unfortunately could not be initially guaranteed by the club at that moment in time. By the time SD and co had stepped in the FA had made their decision to demote SAFC Ladies 2 divisions. At this point most of the team had left for pastures new and the younger girls were asked to step up earlier than expected.....and how well they are doing now. But promotion is not guaranteed as the FA will still require the (Ladies) Club to jump through more hoops and again give certain assurances.

As contributors rightly say the Ladies have a strong history of producing top players...... EIGHT of the current England squad were produced by, and played for, Sunderland Ladies.....

Steph Houghton
Lucy Bronze
Demi Stokes
Jordan Nobbs
Beth Mead
Jill Scott
Lucy Staniforth
Carly Telford

Many thanks for that, it was much appreciated.

Regarding the emboldened text, given how popular the ladies game is in the States I can't imagine that FPP will accept any more shenanigans from the FA when (not if) they gain promotion, as is looking highly likely.

Why would they allow the commercial possibilities, presented by an upwardly mobile Sunderland Ladies team, to slip through their fingers?

I couldn't see that happening.

 

[Ozzymac]

Many thanks for that, it was much appreciated.

Regarding the emboldened text, given how popular the ladies game is in the States I can't imagine that FPP will accept any more shenanigans from the FA when (not if) they gain promotion, as is looking highly likely.

Why would they allow the commercial possibilities, presented by an upwardly mobile Sunderland Ladies team, to slip through their fingers?

I couldn't see that happening.

In my opinion the success of the ladies is one of the reasons why FPP were interested in us. 1.7 million women/girls play football in the US and it wouldn't surprise me to see the american college system utilised as a sort of feeder program.

It's probably a lot easier and cheaper to make SAFC ladies successful in Europe than the men's team.

Edit: Just discovered that there are approx 1.3 million women/girls playing in Europe, which makes the US an appealing market

 

[wtdog]

I think it was said at the time, that Clubs must be staffed by full-time professionals. We were part-time. So they allowed Yeovil, who finished way below us that season, to remain in the league, while we were demoted. Don't think Yeovil reached double figures in points the following season. So much for being more competitive.

Think we produced more than 4 mate. Of the top of my head, the following have all played for Sunderland, and there may be more.

Steph Houghton
Lucy Bronze
Demi Stokes
Jordan Nobbs
Beth Mead
Jill Scott
Lucy Staniforth

My wife used to teach Luzy Bronze English...she is available for autographs.

 

[polyphemus]

As I recall, the FA, when faced with an application from Man City to have their Ladies admitted to the League, found a space for them by bouncing Doncaster Belles.

The Belles had been a mainstay of the Ladies game for years, flying the flag while others ignored the ladies game as an irrelevancy.

For us I believe that the main reason, but not the official one, was to make way for a new Man Utd Team.
(When it comes to the Women's Game, I'm a Conspiracy Theorist!!)
At the time though it was claimed that this 'downgrading' would also affect the Ladies Branch of the Academy and reduce their income by some margin.

It's ironic to consider that just when the Ladies Game is taking off, particularly internationally, the FA have downgraded the Club which has recently done most to provide their International Players.

How this might have affected our scouting and training of up and coming youngsters I don't know.
It could well be that youngsters who might otherwise have had decent careers
in the Sport, or even merely had fun, will miss out.

As far as I can tell from the small amount of local press coverage, there's no evidence that other local clubs, Durham Ladies, NUFC or Boro have stepped up to take our place.