Sunderland Women are delighted to confirm that the Club’s request for an FA Professional Game Academy has been granted.
The new team - consisting of players from ages 16-21 - will compete against other academies from the Women’s Super League and the Women’s Championship.
The Lasses’ academy framework will now fully integrate the Club’s historic Regional Talent Centre, which will become Sunderland AFC Women’s Academy. A pathway from Under-10 to Under-23 will support the first team and give players a clear route from a young age through to professional football.
The team will predominantly play on Wednesday afternoons, and will combine careers and education with football.
Sunderland Women’s academy has a long standing within the women’s game, producing a host of England internationals including Jill Scott, Steph Houghton, Lucy Bronze and Jordan Nobbs. In the current first-team, Neve Herron, Katy Watson, Grace Ede, Jessica brown, Abby Towers and Libbi McInnes have all represented the Lionesses at youth level.
The Club’s youth sides have enjoyed a successful season. The Regional Talent Centre’s Under-16 side beat Charlton 3-1 in the FA Youth Girls’ Plate Cup Final.
Domonic Bylett’s Under-23 side are on the verge of winning the Durham FA Women’s League One title, unbeaten in their 18 games so far.
General Manager Alex Clark said: “We are delighted to be awarded a Professional Game Academy for season 2023-2024. This will allow us to grow our pathway further and allow young players in the region under 21 to play against fellow players of a similar age against fellow professional clubs.
“This is a further exciting development for the club as we launch our first team hybrid model for next season, in our first steps to fully professionalising our pathway.”
We are actively taking submissions to join the Academy - click here to fill out an expression of interest form now.
For more details regarding the new pathway, please email safcwomen@safc.com.