After something of a roller-coaster of a season, sadly, it wasn't meant to be for the lasses as their promotion dreams were dashed after losing 1-0 at home to Charlton Athletic on Sunday. To be even typing a sentence of that nature shows that, if we're absolutely honest, this season has massively exceeded all expectations.
With Crystal Palace winning at Lewes, they are all but up due to a hugely superior goal difference over Charlton. If Sunderland can win next week at Palace, a tough ask I realise, then they will secure second place should the Addicks fail to beat Southampton. That in itself, would be a massive achievement. The fact that there are no playoffs and only one promotion place up for grabs is a bit of a bone of contention for me and really needs looking at by the powers that be, but that is a debate for another time.
The players and staff warrant an enormous amount of credit for the way they have gone about their business during this campaign. It may not feel like it now, but it will make Mel Reay and this group much stronger when going into next season. The squad doesn't need major surgery, just a few additions to add strength in depth, and if those signings prove to be good ones, then Sunderland really can go on and win promotion to the Super League at the climax of the 2024/25 season. The league itself will look strong, with Bristol City looking likely to be relegated and there will of course be two derbies with Durham. Charlton and Southampton will be forces once again, and then there's the small matter of another North-East team that will be plying their trade in the second tier. I can't quite think who that might be, can you?
In the end, promotion has proved one step too far, but that does not mean that this season has been a failure. Far from it. The recruitment of players has been a fantastic plus for the club, and when we couple that with the hybrid model that has been implemented with a lot of players going full time, the fruits of that are plain to see. Claudia Moan is arguably the best keeper in the league and is a popular pick for Sunderland's player of the season. Tash Fenton would get my vote. She rarely puts a foot wrong and has been a key player for the lasses this season. Jenna Dear and Mary McAteer have been great additions and Emily Scarr's progression is there for all to see. In terms of the depth of the squad, that may well have hindered Sunderland at times this season, but the flip side of that is there are a batch of very talented young players waiting in the wings to try and force their way into a regular starting spot. Marry that nucleus together with three or four established players and Sunderland will certainly be there or thereabouts for promotion again next season. What the lasses have achieved this season will only naturally, raise expectations.
The end of the season also marks the end of Grace McCatty's football career as the 34 year old has taken the decision to retire from the game after spending six seasons on Wearside, making 111 appearances for the lasses in that time. Speaking to safc.com just prior to Sunday's game against Charlton, when announcing the decision, Grace said:
"It's not been an easy decision. I was saying to the girls that I joined my first football team in 1994, if you had told me back then what I know now and the experiences I'd gone through, I couldn't have asked for more in my career.
The first time I spoke to Mel about coming to Sunderland, I said I wanted to play a part in getting the club back to where it belongs. Here we are six years later so close to achieving that and I feel like it's a good time to go out.
I'm proud of what I have achieved and while it's hard to say goodbye, I think it's time for the next chapter."
Whatever Grace chooses to do after hanging up her boots, I'm sure it goes without saying that everyone connected to SAFC wishes her all the very best for the future.
