Emerging Talent Centre
Sunderland Girls Football Pathway includes the new FA funded Emerging Talent Centre (ETC).
The Sunderland Emerging Talent Centre (ETC) will be launched for the 2023-24 season, and will be incorporated into our already strong player pathway, beginning at our Wildcats sessions, progressing into our Player Development Programme.
The ETC is part of the FA's new look Women and Girls' Player Pathway to unearth the very best talent in England whilst also making the game more diverse, accessible and inclusive.
Places at the new Sunderland ETC are limited and over the next few months we are asking for expressions of interest.
Offers will be made to players that have shown the appropriate level of performance to be in the ETC.
The Sunderland ETC will run for 30 weeks over the 2023-24 season and will include six matches as well as participating in a festival.
Joining the Sunderland ETC will not affect you playing for a grassroots team.
In fact, we encourage players to play for a grassroots team and the ETC is an additional session where the players receive high-quality training, from UEFA and FA Qualified coaches.
Sunderland AFC Women has applied for a Professional Game Academy (16-21 years) and they will find out the outcome later this month. If successful, we will have a further expression of interest for players who will be aged 16-19 years old next season.
Sunderland Girls ETC Trials for 2023-24 season
Age Groups will be two-year banding: U10, U12, U14, U16 and U18. The age groups listed for the trials are based on next season's 2023-24 age groups.
2023-24 Age Groups:
Under 10 Age Group (For players that will be aged 8 or 9 years old on 31st August)
Under 12 Age Group (For players that will be aged 10 or 11 years old on 31st August)
Under 14 Age Group (For players that will be aged 12 or 13 years old on 31st August)
Under 16 Age Group (For players that will be aged 14 or 15 years old on 31st August)
| Age Group | TRIAL ONE | TRIAL TWO |
| Under 10 |
Monday 5 JuneDownhill Football Hub |
Thursday 8 JuneFord Quarry Football Hub |
| Under 12 | Monday 12 JuneDownhill Football Hub | Thursday 15 JuneFord Quarry Football Hub |
| Under 14 | Monday 19 JuneDownhill Football Hub | Thursday 22 JuneFord Quarry Football Hub |
| Under 16 | Monday 26 JuneDownhill Football Hub | Thursday 29 JuneFord Quarry Football Hub |
All players are expected to attend both trial sessions, with all trials running in the evenings, 5.30 - 8.00pm.
Use the link at the top of the page to REGISTER for Summer 2023 trials.
Closing Date - Sunday 4th June 2023
Teams: Under 9/10, Under 11/12, Under 13/14 and Under 15/16 age groups
Training Nights: TBC
Venues: Beacon of Light, Downhill Football Hub, Ford Quarry Football Hub
Thank you to our player sponsors:
When I was younger I was the only girl of my age playing football and it often became a bit competitive. Playing alongside girls at Sunderland RTC, not only helped me develop as a player but also as an individual too.