STEPHANIE Bannon is to retire from professional football after an illustrious career spanning 15 years playing for Sunderland Ladies.

The 28-year-old Black Cats captain 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 on Saturday (kick off 3.30 pm).

Bannon joined Sunderland as a 14-year-old and was named captain of the team when she was 18.

In her time playing for the club 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 that time she was also named the WPL 2012-13 Player of the Year.

Bannon said: “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 and it is not one I have just thought about overnight. But now is the right time for me to step aside and enjoy different parts of my life.

“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 at 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.”