Steph Houghton pays tribute to Foundation

Steph Houghton became a household name after captaining England Lionesses to consecutive major tournament semi-finals in 2017 and 2019.

However, the England skipper was already familiar to thousands across the North East, especially those in Sunderland, who had followed her progress with great interest after she kickstarted her career with her hometown club.

Steph joined a Foundation of Light football course during her school holidays and was spotted by a coach from Sunderland AFC and invited for a trial.

“It was during the Easter break,” Steph remembers. “I was scouted and joined the Centre of Excellence, where I was lucky enough to play for my hometown club.”

Steph, who went on to captain Manchester City and has 121 international caps to her name, credits SAFC’s official charity with many of the successes in her career and she’s quick to pay tribute to the career pathway that the Foundation programmes offer.

“The Foundation have played a huge part in everything have done in my career. They allowed me to learn the fundamentals of football, whether that was technical or tactical, but also the importance of having to work hard every day,” she added.

“I’ve so many great memories of my time working with the Foundation and the coaches, I used to get so excited for Monday night training at the Raich Carter Centre or Downhill. “I was so proud to be representing SAFC in tournaments against all the other teams in the country and testing myself against the best in the country. My biggest memory was being put forward to go on a trial for England.”

After retiring in 2024, the 36-year-old is keeping herself busy, she released her autobiography last November; hosts her Crossways podcast with former England and Arsenal striker Ian Wright and has supported a number of charitable organisations.

However, she still keeps a close eye on what’s happening on Wearside, in particular the female football pathway that paved her way at the Foundation of Light.

“I think it’s amazing that girls’ football has grown so much in the last decade. The fact that female scholarship programmes are over subscribed only bodes well for the future of the game and also for Sunderland itself as a club!”

“The North East has always been passionate about football, to have so many players who I had grown up with, who had played for Sunderland competing at the top level is such a proud moment, no doubt the club and coaches too.”