North East trio ready for big campaign

THE women’s football season finally kicks off this weekend with the North East big three - Newcastle United, Sunderland and Durham - all in action away from home.

- JOHN MIDDLETON

After a tight contest last season, with only London City Lionesses gaining promotion to the WSL, there have been a few changes ahead of this campaign.

The Women's Championship has been re-rebranded back to WSL2, the original name when founded in 2014. With Nottingham Forest and Ipswich's promotion from the WPL Premier League North and South respectively, we're back to a 12-team league. With Blackburn's demotion to the lower leagues, Sheffield United have stayed in tier two, even though they finished bottom last season.