Durham Women are set to host three of the biggest names in the game in the Subway Players Cup League Phase!
The Blues will welcome top flight sides Manchester United and Birmingham City to South Shields FC in the competition, as well as facing-off against local rivals Newcastle United on home turf.
The only way you can guarantee your place at all three home fixtures is with a 2026/27 Season Ticket! Get yours HERE, with prices starting at just £30!
Durham will face Manchester United in the competition for the third time, having beaten the Red Devils on penalties the last time the two sides faced-off in this tournament. United will bring their squad packed with international talent – including Lionesses Ella Toone and Jess Park – to the North East.
Birmingham City visit the North East having been promoted to the top flight last season, and the game will see Lily Crosthwaite return to her former club.
And the Blues round-off their home fixtures in the competition against Newcastle United, renewing the North East rivalry.
Our home fixtures will take place as follows:
- Durham vs Manchester United – Wednesday 30th September – 7pm kick-off – South Shields FC
- Durham vs Birmingham City – Wednesday 21st October – 7pm kick-off – South Shields FC
- Durham vs Newcastle United – Sunday 1st November – 12pm kick-off – South Shields FC
If you want to guarantee your spot at any of these big games, you can do so with a 2026/27 Season Ticket! Get yours HERE!
Want to be the first to find out when individual match tickets are available? Register your interest by completing the form below:
Our away fixtures in the competition will see us travel to face Everton, Burnley and Sheffield United.
Those fixtures will take place as follows:
- Burnley vs Durham – Sunday 18th October – 2pm kick-off – Turf Moor
- Everton vs Durham – Wednesday 11th November – 7pm kick-off – Goodison Park
- Sheffield United vs Durham – Sunday 22nd November – 2pm kick-off – Venue TBC
NEW FORMAT
The Subway Players Cup will be split into two stages for 2026/27 – the League Phase, and Knockout Phase.
The League Phase will be played primarily during the UEFA Women’s Champions League match rounds and will replace the previous group phase.
All 23 participating teams will compete together in a single, unified league table, where each club plays three home and three away fixtures against teams in their regionalised section.
In total, there will be 69 fixtures in the League Phase, with these played between September and December with three points for a win. For any game tied after 90 minutes, a penalty shoot- out will take place where the winner receives two points, and the loser is awarded one point.
Following the conclusion of those games, the teams who occupy the top eight positions in the league standings will progress to the Knockout Phase. This will take place from January through to March, with the quarter finals across January 13 and 14, 2027 in the following structure:
- 1st Place v 8th Place (QF1)
- 2nd Place v 7th Place (QF2)
- 3rd Place v 6th Place (QF3)
- 4th Place v 5th Place (QF4)
The winners of those fixtures will then meet in the semi-finals across February 10 and 11, with the higher ranked team from the league phase earning home advantage as follows:
- Winner of QF1 v Winner of QF3
- Winner of QF2 v Winner of QF4
The final will then be played at a to-be-confirmed neutral venue across the weekend of March 13 and 14, 2027.
