Sunderland Association Football Club Women
- Founded: 1989
- Stadium: Eppleton Colliery Welfare Ground, Stadium of Light
- Head Coach: Melanie Reay
- Current League: Women’s Championship (Level Two)
The origins of the Sunderland Women can be traced back to 1989, when a team known as the Cowgate Kestrels and later the Blyth Spartan Kestrels was formed.
The Kestrels merged with the Sunderland Ladies in 2000 after winning promotion to the FA Women’s Premier League National Division.
Sunderland Women have been a part of the Sunderland AFC umbrella for many years, but became financially independent of the men’s side in 2004.
The Mackems have produced some of England’s most talented women’s players over the years, such as Euro 2022 winners Lucy Bronze and Beth Mead.
Jill Scott also played in Sunderland’s illustrious red and white stripes before going on to represent both Everton and Manchester City in the Women’s Super League.
Scott is one of the most recognisable faces in English women’s football, having made over 160 appearances for the Lionesses.
The Mackems women’s team play most of their games at the Eppleton Colliery Welfare Ground and sometimes play at the Stadium of Light, the same venue as the men.
Sunderland Women head coach
The Sunderland Women head coach is Melanie Reay, who served as assistant head coach from 2014-2017 before starting her current role in 2017.
Reay previously served as the England Women Under-23 head coach as well as a women’s football academy head coach at Gateshead College.
In her playing days, the Sunderland Women head coach played as a forward for both the Black Cats and North East rivals Newcastle.
Sunderland Women Honours
The Mackems women’s side currently compete in the Women’s Championship, which is one division below the Women’s Super League.
They finished third in the Championship at the end of a largely successful 2023/24 campaign.
- FA Women’s Premier League National Division Champions: 2010/11, 2011/12, 2012/13
- FA WSL 2 Champions: 2013/14
- FA Women’s Premier League Northern Division Champions: 1999/2000 (As Blyth Spartans Kestrels), 2004/05, 2008/09