A Big Year For… Sunderland’s Steph Bannon: Ready To Go

Sunderland captain Steph Bannon, who combines teaching with playing, explains why re-signing was never in doubt after leading the Black Cats to fourth in their first WSL 1 season. She dismisses talk of second season syndrome, accepting that opponents now take Sunderland seriously and that new signings give the side a plan B. She welcomes Lucy Staniforth back to the club and praises striker Beth Mead as both a deadly finisher and a grounded team-mate, insisting she gives her no favours in training. Eight seasons into the captaincy she says her job is to lead and inspire, and she jokes about the family competition with her brother Chris, who kept goal for North Shields in their 2015 FA Vase final win at Wembley.