SUNDERLAND LADIES will kick off their second season in WSL 1 with a home game against newly-promoted Reading.

The Lady Black Cats finished fourth in their inaugural campaign in the top-flight, pushing Arsenal, Manchester City and champions Chelsea all the way for the majority of the season.

Carlton Fairweather’s side will be looking to mount another title push this year, and recently strengthened their squad with the addition of midfielder Lucy Staniforth, who joined from Liverpool, and defender Kylla Sjoman, who moved from Scottish Women’s Premier League side Celtic.

Sunderland will start their 2016 campaign by hosting Reading, who won WSL 2 last season, at the Hetton Centre on Saturday, March 26 (6pm).

Their first away game takes them to Liverpool in late April, with a Manchester City side featuring England captain and former Sunderland defender Steph Houghton due to visit the North-East on Friday, April 29.

Sunderland play their final game on Sunday, November 6 when they host Birmingham City Ladies.

“Preparations are well underway and pre-season training is going well,” said Fairweather. “We are really looking forward to our second FAWSL 1 season, and building on the success of our campaign last season.”

Durham Women will once again compete in WSL 2, and they will begin their campaign with a trip to league newcomers Sheffield FC Ladies on March 23.

London Bees will visit New Ferens Park on Easter Monday, with away games against Oxford United and Aston Villa following before attention switches to the preliminary round of the FA WSL Continental Tyres Cup.

Durham complete their programme with a home game against Millwall Lionesses on November 6.

 

Sunderland Ladies Fixtures: Mar 26 Reading Ladies (h); Apr 23 Liverpool Ladies (a); Apr 29 Manchester City Women (h); May 2 Reading Ladies (a); May 18 Liverpool Ladies (h); May 25 Chelsea Ladies (a); Jun 26 Arsenal Ladies (a); Jun 29 Chelsea Ladies (h); Jul 9 Doncaster Belles (h); Jul 17 Birmingham City Ladies (a); Jul 23 Arsenal (h); Jul 31 Manchester City Women (a); Sep 1 Doncaster Belles (a); Sep 25 Notts County Ladies (a); Oct 29 Notts County Ladies (h); Nov 6 Birmingham City Ladies (h).

 

Durham Women Fixtures: Mar 23 Sheffield FC Ladies (a); Mar 28 London Bees (h); Apr 24 Oxford United Women (a); May 1 Aston Villa Ladies (a); May 19 Sheffield FC Ladies (h); May 22 London Bees (a); Jun 26 Yeovil Town Ladies (h); Jul 10 Aston Villa Ladies (h); Jul 17 Bristol City Women (h); Jul 24 Yeovil Town Ladies (a); Jul 31 Watford Ladies (h); Aug 14 Everton Ladies (a); Aug 28 Oxford United Women (h); Sep 11 Millwall Lionesses (a); Sep 24 Bristol City Women (a); Oct 9 Everton Ladies (h); Oct 30 Watford Ladies (a); Nov 6 Millwall Lionesses (h).