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

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.

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)

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

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Date Pos. Player From Ref.
3 July 2024GKEngland Demi LambourneEngland Crystal Palace[3]
4 July 2024STEngland Eleanor DaleEngland Everton[4]
31 October 2024CBEngland Grace McCattyUnattached (Retired)[5]
26 March 2025CMRepublic of Ireland Marissa ShevaUnited States Portland Thorns FC[6]
Date Pos. Player To Ref.
11 June 2024CMEngland Mollie RouseUnited States Spokane Zephyr[7]
1 July 2024GKEngland Claudia MoanEngland Newcastle United[8]

Loaned in

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Date Pos. Player From Date until Ref.
26 July 2024CMEngland Keira FlanneryEngland West Ham UnitedEnd of Season[9]
1 August 2024DMRepublic of Ireland Jessie StapletonEngland West Ham UnitedEnd of Season[10]

Retired / Out of Contract

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Date Pos. Player Subsequent club Join date Ref.
1 July 2024FWKosovo Elizabeta EjupiRetired[11]
1 July 2024CBEngland Grace McCattyEngland Sunderland31 October 2024[12]
1 July 2024LBEngland Faye MullenRetired[13]

Pre-season and friendlies

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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

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Overall record

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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

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League table

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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

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OverallHomeAway
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsWDLGFGAGDWDLGFGAGD
20 9 3 8 30 34  −4 30 5 1 4 17 17  0 4 2 4 13 17  −4

Results by matchday

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Matchday1234567891011121314151617181920
ResultLLWDLWWWWDWDLLWLLLWW
Position1111888888554366667777
Points0034471013161720212121242424242730
Source: [citation needed]
W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

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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

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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

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Group stage

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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
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

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Italics indicate a loaned in player.

Appearances

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As of 4 May 2025

Starting appearances are listed first, followed by substitute appearances after the + symbol where applicable.

No. Pos Nat Player TotalWCFA CupLeague Cup
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
1 GK England ENG Demi Lambourne 2502004010
2 DF Republic of Ireland IRL Jessie Stapleton 232172301+20
4 DF England ENG Amy Goddard 262201411+10
5 DF England ENG Grace McCatty 10000010
6 DF England ENG Louise Griffiths 310+200+1100
7 FW Wales WAL Mary McAteer 21312+422+111+10
8 FW England ENG Emily Scarr 26216+413+111+10
9 FW England ENG Eleanor Dale 1813148251+10
10 MF New Zealand NZL Katie Kitching 266195400+31
11 DF England ENG Jessica Brown 22015+10301+20
12 MF England ENG Emily Cassap 210+100011
14 MF England ENG Natasha Fenton 25218+124020
16 DF England ENG Grace Ede 1309+101020
17 DF England ENG Mary Corbyn 20010+503020
18 MF England ENG Libbi McInnes 2428+1013+1120
19 DF England ENG Megan Beer 1005+201020
20 FW Wales WAL Ellen Jones 1866+632+2320
21 MF Republic of Ireland IRL Marissa Sheva 30300000
22 GK England ENG Megan Borthwick 20000020
23 MF England ENG Jenna Dear 19210+311+311+10
24 MF Republic of Ireland IRL Keira Flannery 1706+401+3030
25 FW England ENG Katy Watson 2254+1131+3032
27 DF Scotland SCO Brianna Westrup 1006+102+1000
54 DF Scotland SCO Ella West 50200030
58 DF England ENG Eva Bewicke 1000000+10
60 FW England ENG Niyah Dunbar 300+10000+20

Goalscorers

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As of 4 May 2025

Rnk No Pos Nat Name WC FA Cup League Cup Total
1 9 FW England Eleanor Dale 8 5 0 13
2 10 MF New Zealand Katie Kitching 5 0 1 6
20 FW Wales Ellen Jones 3 3 0 6
4 25 FW England Katy Watson 3 0 2 5
5 10 FW Wales Mary McAteer 2 1 0 3
6 2 DF Republic of Ireland Jessie Stapleton 2 0 0 2
4 DF England Amy Goddard 1 1 0 2
8 FW England Emily Scarr 1 1 0 2
14 MF England Natasha Fenton 2 0 0 2
18 MF England Libbi McInnes 1 1 0 2
23 MF England Jenna Dear 1 1 0 2
12 6 DF England Louise Griffiths 0 1 0 1
12 MF England Emily Cassap 0 0 1 1
Own goals 1 0 0 1
Total 30 14 4 48

Disciplinary record

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As of 4 May 2025

No. Pos. Nat. Player WC FA Cup League Cup Total
Yellow card Yellow card Yellow-red card Red card Yellow card Yellow card Yellow-red card Red card Yellow card Yellow card Yellow-red card Red card Yellow card Yellow card Yellow-red card Red card
1GKEnglandDemi Lambourne 300000000300
2DFRepublic of IrelandJessie Stapleton 700000110810
4DFEnglandAmy Goddard 300000000300
7FWWalesMary McAteer 100000000100
8FWEnglandEmily Scarr 100000000100
9FWEnglandEleanor Dale 200000100300
10MFNew ZealandKatie Kitching 100000000100
11DFEnglandJessica Brown 400000100500
14MFEnglandNatasha Fenton 800100000900
16DFEnglandGrace Ede 200000000200
18MFEnglandLibbi McInnes 200000000200
19DFEnglandMegan Beer 100000000100
20FWWalesEllen Jones 100000100200
21MFRepublic of IrelandMarissa Sheva 100000000100
23MFEnglandJenna Dear 400100100600
27DFScotlandBrianna Westrup 200000000200
58DFEnglandEva Bewicke 000000100100
Total43002006105110

References

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  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. "SAFC Women: Four pre-season games announced". Sunderland AFC. 17 May 2024. Retrieved 3 October 2025.
  15. "Everton Women Pre-Season Friendlies Confirmed". Everton Football Club. 7 August 2024. Retrieved 26 April 2026.
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