Sunderland Women break attendance record but lose derby to Newcastle United

Sunderland Women smashed a Championship record on Sunday 13 October but were unable to get past fierce rivals Newcastle United at the Stadium of Light.

The Lasses were beaten 2-1 by their neighbours on Wearside despite Emily Scarr's consolation goal, in a match which attracted a divisional record crowd of 15,387 [X, 13 October].

Mel Reay's side sit eighth of the 11 clubs in the Women's Championship, while Newcastle stay sixth.

Sunderland Women attendance shows amazing progress

The supporters of both sides deserve immense credit for their backing at the Stadium of Light, making for a carnival atmosphere never-before-seen at a Sunderland Women's game.

The matches at Eppleton have a local family feel, but the derby showed itself to be what it is, a professional football rivalry.

Reay's Sunderland team are filled with players with Tyneside roots, and the same applied to the visitors - Newcastle's keeper Claudia Moan is a Mackem local and came through the ranks to play many first-team games for the Lasses before her controversial summer switch.

Significant progress has been shown from the last attempt at a high-profile Stadium of Light clash that was imposed for the Lasses, as part of a "double header" with the men's team in 2022 when under 1,000 fans remained in the ground to watch the girls' game.

Despite the derby defeat, things are moving well in the bigger picture with new signings impressing and a growing youth system, but last season's promotion challenge has now set a bar.

In other Sunderland news, Kristjaan Speakman makes an admission on Regis Le Bris.

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