Sunderland WFC 2006-07 Season

11th, Relegated from the National Premier League
League Cup: 1st round, Lincoln City a. 1-2
FA Cup: 4th round: Leeds United h. 1-3

Highlight:
2-0 victory over Doncaster Belles, 4/10/06

Low Spot:
1-0 defeat at Fulham, 4/2/07.

Good:
Stephanie Houghton
Despite playing in a struggling side Houghton forced her way into the England reckoning with her performances and ended up getting a couple of run outs in the right back position.
For her club she was generally used further forward and was the player most likely to find the net.
Her efforts could not prevent relegation but they will doubtless ensure she is one of the summers' hottest properties.
Helen Alderson
Although her teammate Carly Telford was the one finding herself in the England set up during the season Alderson was the woman most likely to be found between the posts for Sunderland and she certainly didn't let anyone down.
There was little respite during a difficult season but Alderson stood up to the barrage well with her bravery and assured handling always evident.

In Brief:
A difficult season was always likely for Sunderland as they had only narrowly avoided relegation the season before and then lost two of their most influential players in Jill Scott and Melanie Reay.
This proved to be the case and the club made a poor start in the league as well as falling victim to Lincoln City in the League Cup.
After beating Doncaster and Fulham and then taking four points off Cardiff they looked well set for safety but a disastrous defeat to Fulham in the return fixture left them vulnerable and Cardiff's late win at Doncaster ultimately sealed their fate.
What the future holds for the Wearsiders is uncertain. The club is certainly capable of unearthing its' fair share of talent, it just seems to struggle to keep hold of it.

Sunderland Womens Football Club began life in 1989 as the Kestrels and were initially only a 5-a-side team.

They quickly developed into an 11-a-side outfit, entering the Yorkshire and Humberside League and winning it in 1990.

In 1991, now known as the Cowgate Kestrels, the club joined the Premier League North.

During the next decade the clubs' nomadic existence was reflected in further name changes, RTM Newcastle Kestrels and Blyth Spartans Kestrels.

In 2000, now Sunderland Womens Football Club, they won the Premier League North and were promoted to the National Premier League.

After two seasons the club were relegated but returned to the top flight of the ladies game in 2005.

Sunderland Womens FC are another club who have suffered the loss of financial support from the mens club and are struggling to survive in the Premier League.

Their most notable player is striker Melanie Reay, the club captain, who is also a cousin of Alan Shearer. (careful with those elbows, Melanie).