Sunderland AFC Ladies has applied to join the FA Womenâs Championship for the 2021-22 season. Following Aprilâs announcement regarding upward movement for clubs participating in tiers 3-6 of the Womenâs Football Pyramid, SAFC Ladies prepared a detailed, innovative and evidence-based application to support its request to return to the second tier. This was submitted to the Football Association earlier this week and it will now be considered by the Womenâs Football Board, with a decision expected to be made by the end of May/beginning of June. Sporting Director Kristjaan Speakman said: âOur strategy is to develop a womenâs programme that fully integrates with our wider football operation and model. It will therefore receive the appropriate support from all of our respective performance domains to ensure it follows the same philosophy and processes as the other teams operating at the Academy of Light. SAFC Ladies are an important part of the clubâs long-term vision and this application clearly states our intent to develop and support Womenâs football within our community.â