Long before Sunderland AFC Women existed in name, before the academy became a conveyor belt of international talent and before the club's story was intertwined with the rise of the women's game, there was "Cowgate Kestrels", a small team from Newcastle that was built on community spirit and the sheer love of football -- and the unlikely seed from which one of the most influential women's sides in England would grow.

Before we dive in, it's worth saying clearly that this article hasn't been written to push an agenda, to guilt-trip anyone or to suggest that "real" supporters must attend women's football, as Sunderland AFC is a broad, passionate community, and people support the club in many different ways.