This is why Sunderland Ladies v Middlesbrough Women is taking place at the Stadium of Light

The evening fixture – penciled in for Thursday, October 1 – will be played at the Stadium of Light.

The Lasses usual home – the Eppleton Welfare Collery Ground at Hetton – has not yet been declared ‘Covid safe’ and is unavailable to host matches.

That meant Sunderland Ladies opened their new campaign with a 2-1 home loss to Burnley last Sunday, with the game taking place behind closed doors at the Academy of Light.

But with the pitch at Hetton out of action for the foreseeable, coupled with a lack of floodlights at the Academy of Light, the decision has been made to host the 7:45pm fixture at the Stadium of Light.

However, with Covid-enforced restrictions to daily life on the rise, Sunderland Ladies have confirmed that fans won’t be permitted into the stadium to cheer on their team.