Women’s football in the northeast is booming, but Durham FC continue to be overlooked
This Sunday sees another Barclays Women’s Championship derby take place in the northeast. This time, it is trailblazing Durham FC who will host Sunderland AFC.
The Wildcats have commenced their season in promising fashion, currently occupying the fourth spot in the league standings after winning four of the five games they have played thus far. The current top three (Birmingham City, London City Lionesses, and Charlton Athletic respectively) have all added a total of 13 points to their tallies at this stage.
It is important to note, though, that the trio have all played six games, whilst as mentioned, Durham have played five. This is because this season, the Championship is made up of eleven teams rather than the usual twelve due to Reading FC’s omission from the competition.
The Lasses, meanwhile, are trailing behind their northeastern rivals in eighth place, after they won one and drew one of their first five matches, losing the other three.
The Magpies have taken flight
The Championship welcomed a footballing giant of northeast England to its ranks this season, after Newcastle United won promotion from the FA Women’s National League North at the end of their dominant 2023/24 crusade.
Heading into round seven of the contest, the newcomers sit sandwiched between their fellow northeastern competitors. The Magpies are sixth in the table, and they secured a statement 2-1 win over Sunderland last weekend in the Championship’s inaugural Tyne-Wear derby.
The closely fought clash took place at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light, drawing a record-breaking Championship crowd of 15,387. This colossal figure highlighted the significance of the Magpies’ introduction to the league, and much conversation has been had about the resurgence of women’s football in England’s northeast, and what clubs like Sunderland and Newcastle are doing to champion it.
