The 28-year-old Black Cats’ captain now wants to focus on her life outside of the game and her career as a PE teacher. She will play her final game for the club at the end of the WSL 1 Spring Series against Reading at Hetton (Eppleton CW) this coming Saturday (kick off 3.30 pm).
Highly regarded as a club legend, Stephanie joined Sunderland AFC as a 14 year-old and was named captain of the team when she was 18. She led the side to an FA Cup Final in 2009 against Arsenal, three consecutive National Premier League titles and a promotion to the FAWSL 1, during which time she was also named the WPL 2012-13 Player of the Year.
Bannon told sunderland.fawsl.com: Having played for Sunderland for almost 15 years, I am sure you will understand it has not been an easy decision for me to make [retiring] and not one I have just thought about overnight. But this is the right time for me to step aside and enjoy different parts of my life now. Football is very intense and takes up a lot of nights and weekends and while I have loved each and every season with Sunderland, I feel the time is right for me to have some time off and spend time with my family and friends.
“It’s been a massive commitment and very difficult at times to do both teaching and football to the high standard that is expected and I will now be focusing solely on my teaching career. I have made some amazing friends and memories that will last a life time and of course, I will continue to support both the women and men’s teams going forward. Sunderland is in my blood, and I guess they say, the hardest decision is sometimes the right one – all good times have to come to an end.”
General Manager for Sunderland AFC Ladies, Sonia Kulkami said: “On behalf of everyone at Sunderland AFC, I’d like to thank Steph for the commitment she has shown Sunderland Ladies over so many years.
“What she has achieved both as a player and person in her time here is phenomenal, and the club has benefited enormously from the leadership and dedication she has shown. She will be sorely missed by everyone associated with Sunderland AFC.”
