Women's Championship

Last updated

Women's Championship
FA Women's Championship.png
First season2014
CountryEngland
Number of clubs11
Level on pyramid 2
Promotion to Women's Super League
Relegation to National League North
National League South
Domestic cup(s) Women's FA Cup
League cup(s) FA Women's League Cup
Current champions Crystal Palace (1st title)
(2023–24)
Most championships Aston Villa, Sunderland, Reading, Yeovil Town, Doncaster Rovers Belles, Manchester United, Leicester City, Liverpool, Bristol City, Crystal Palace, (1 title each)
Website womensleagues.thefa.com
Current: 2024–25 Women's Championship

The Women's Championship (formerly The FA Women's Championship) is the second-highest division of women's football in England. The division was established in 2014 as the FA Women's Super League 2 (WSL 2).

Contents

WSL 2 replaced the previous level 2 division, the FA Women's Premier League (WPL) National Division, which ended after the 2012–13 season. The WPL's last national division champions, Sunderland A.F.C. Women, were not promoted and also became the first winners of WSL 2 in the 2014 season. In addition to Sunderland, other WPL clubs that joined WSL 2 in 2014 were Watford and Aston Villa.

From 2014 to 2016, WSL 2 ran a summer-based season calendar before reverting to the winter season in 2017–18, the same as WSL 1.

FA WSL 2 was renamed the FA Women's Championship prior to the 2018–19 season. [1] Ahead of the 2022–23 season the top two tiers unveiled a new visual identity, dropping "The FA" from the league names as part of the long term strategy for the leagues to be under new ownership in the future. [2] Having sponsored the first tier since the 2019–20 season, it marked the first season of Barclays as the title partner of the Women's Championship. [3]

In November 2023, all 24 Women's Super League and Women's Championship clubs had unanimously agreed to form a new organisation, named NewCo, to run the women's professional game in England, taking over from the FA.

For the 2023/24 season, changes were made meaning that two clubs would be relegated from the league allowing one team each from National League North and South to be promoted to the Championship rather than having to play a season end playoff. This change resulted in two teams being relegated from the Championship at the end of the season. No changes were made to promotion from the league to the WSL with still only one promotion and one relegation respectively. [4]

For the 2024/25 season, the league was reduced to eleven teams, due to Reading’s withdrawal from the Championship, citing financial issues. [5] The FA confirmed two relegation spots would reduce to one. The league will return to a twelve team league at the beginning of the 2025/26 season. [6]

History

Sunderland AFC Ladies won the FA WSL 2 in 2014 Sunderland AFC Ladies promotion celebration.jpg
Sunderland AFC Ladies won the FA WSL 2 in 2014

For the 2014 season, the FA Women's Super League was expanded to create a second division with nine new teams added and one team being relegated from the WSL 1. WSL 1 remained as eight teams, with one new team inserted, with the WSL 2 having ten teams. [7] [8] [9] [10]

The new WSL 1 licence was awarded to Manchester City in 2014. Doncaster Rovers Belles were relegated to WSL 2, with nine new licences awarded to London Bees, Durham, Aston Villa, Millwall Lionesses, Yeovil Town, Reading, Sunderland, Watford, and Oxford United. [11] Doncaster Belles appealed against their demotion, but were unsuccessful. [12]

In December 2014, the FA WSL announced a two-year plan to expand WSL 1 from an eight to ten-team league. Two teams would be promoted from WSL 2, while one team would be relegated to WSL 2. [13] [14] Also, for the first time, a team would earn promotion to WSL 2 from the Women's Premier League (now National League), effectively connecting the WSL to the rest of the English women's football pyramid. [15]

This left WSL 1 with nine teams and WSL 2 with ten teams for the 2016 season, and with the process repeated the following year, both WSL 1 and WSL 2 consisted of ten teams each for the 2017–18 season. [13] In addition to being able to prove their financial solvency, clubs applying for entry to the WSL had to show they would attract an average of 350 spectators in 2016, increasing to at least 400 in 2017. [16]

FA WSL 2 was renamed the Women's Championship prior to the 2018–19 season. [1]

In May 2020 the Championship season was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [17] In 2022 the league was renamed to simply the Women's Championship, with the FA part being dropped. [18]

In November 2023, it was announced that all 24 Women's Super League and Women's Championship clubs had unanimously agreed to form a new organisation to run the women's professional game in England, taking over from the FA. The organization is called NewCo, and Nikki Doucet has been named CEO. [19] [20]

On 13 October 2024, Sunderland A.F.C. Women and Newcastle United W.F.C. set a new attendance record of 15,387 for the Women's Championship in their first meeting in the league, a Wear–Tyne derby match played at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland. [21] The previous record had been an attendance of 11,137, set in 2022. [22]

Clubs

The following eleven clubs are competing in the 2024–25 season.

Winners

Unless noted, only teams in first were promoted to the WSL.
YearWinnerRunners-upThirdTop scorersGoals
2014 Sunderland Doncaster Rovers Belles Reading Fran Kirby (Reading)24
2015 Reading Doncaster Rovers Belles p Everton Courtney Sweetman-Kirk (Doncaster Rovers Belles)20
2016 Yeovil Town Bristol City p Everton Iniabasi Umotong (Oxford United)
Jo Wilson (London Bees)		13
Spring Series [a] Everton Doncaster Rovers Belles Millwall Lionesses Courtney Sweetman-Kirk (Doncaster Rovers Belles)9
2017–18 Doncaster Rovers Belles r Brighton & Hove Albion p Millwall Lionesses Jessica Sigsworth (Doncaster Rovers Belles)15
2018–19 Manchester United Tottenham Hotspur p Charlton Athletic Jessica Sigsworth (Manchester United)17
2019–20 Aston Villa Sheffield United Durham Katie Wilkinson (Sheffield United)15
2020–21 Leicester City Durham Liverpool Katie Wilkinson (Sheffield United)19
2021–22 Liverpool London City Lionesses Bristol City Abi Harrison (Bristol City)17
2022–23 Bristol City Birmingham City London City Lionesses Melissa Johnson (Charlton Athletic)12
2023–24 Crystal Palace Charlton Athletic Sunderland Elise Hughes (Crystal Palace)16

Notes

p. ^ Second place team was also promoted
r. ^ Withdrew from league and relegated

Notes

  1. ↑ The shortened 2017 edition was known as the Spring Series and ran from February to May 2017.

Related Research Articles

The FA Women's National League, formerly WFA National League and FA Women's Premier League (WPL), is a group of six football divisions which was run by the English Football Association until 2014 when it changed to become an FA branded league run by an independent elected management committee. Originally founded in 1991 by the Women's Football Association, the League included England's top division from 1991 to 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Women's football in England</span> Historical summary of womens football in England

Women's football has been played in England for over a century, sharing a common history with the men's game in the country in which the Laws of the Game were codified.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sunderland A.F.C. Women</span> Football club

Sunderland Association Football Club Women is an English women's football club that plays in the Women's Championship. They play their home games at the Eppleton Colliery Welfare Ground in Hetton-le-Hole, in the City of Sunderland, Tyne and Wear.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reading F.C. Women</span> Football club

Reading Football Club Women is an English women's football club affiliated with Reading FC. The club most recently played in the Women's Championship, the second tier of English women's football. Reading F.C. Women previously played in the FA Women's Premier League National Division after being promoted from the FA Women's Premier League Southern Division, which they were relegated to at the end of the 2011–12 season. They had previously won promotion to the National Division from the Southern Division in 2009–10. They gained entry to an expanded FA WSL in 2014.

Sheffield Football Club Ladies is an English women's football club affiliated with Sheffield F.C. The club won the FA Women's Premier League Northern Division in 2014–15 and the following promotion play-off and is the first club to earn promotion to the FA WSL 2.

The 2014 FA WSL was the fourth season of the FA WSL, the top-level women's football league of England. The season began on 30 March and ended on 12 October.

The 2015 season of the Women's Super League was the fifth season of the FA WSL, the top-level women's football league of England. The season was played from 25 March to 4 October.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Women's Super League</span> Association football league in England

The Women's Super League (WSL), known as the Barclays Women's Super League (BWSL) for sponsorship reasons, is a professional association football league and the highest level of women's football in England. Established in 2010, it is run by the Football Association and features twelve fully professional teams. The league replaced the FA Women's Premier League National Division as the highest level of women's football in England, with eight teams competing in the inaugural 2011 season. In the WSL's first two seasons, there was no relegation from the division.

The 2017–18 FA WSL was the seventh edition of the FA WSL since it was formed in 2010. It was the first season of WSL which ran as a winter league. It started in September 2017 and ended in May 2018, with ten teams competing in both leagues.

The FA WSL Spring Series was an interim edition of the FA WSL between the sixth and seventh full seasons. The Spring Series ran from February to May 2017 to bridge the gap from the 2016 FA WSL season which ran from March to September as a summer tournament, and the 2017–18 season which started in September 2017.

The 2018–19 FA Women's Championship was the first rebranded edition of the FA Women's Championship, the second tier of women's football in England, renamed from the FA WSL 2 which was founded in 2014. The season ran from 8 September 2018 to 12 May 2019.

The 2018–19 FA Women's National League is the 27th season of the competition, and the first since a restructure and rebranding of the top four tiers of English football by The Football Association. Began in 1992, it was previously known as the FA Women's Premier League. It sits at the third and fourth levels of the women's football pyramid, below the FA Women's Championship and above the eight regional football leagues.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019–20 FA WSL</span> Ninth season of the top English womens association football league

The 2019–20 FA WSL season was the ninth edition of the FA Women's Super League (WSL) since it was formed in 2010. It was the second season after the rebranding of the four highest levels in English women's football and the twelve teams contesting the season was the greatest number in the league's history to date, following a steady increase from the original eight. It is the first under the new Barclays title sponsorship following a landmark multi-million pound investment.

The 2019–20 FA Women's Championship was the second season of the rebranded FA Women's Championship, the second tier of women's football in England. It was renamed from the FA WSL 2 which was founded in 2014. The season began on 18 August 2019.

The 2020–21 FA Women's Championship was the third season of the rebranded FA Women's Championship, the second tier of women's football in England. It was renamed from the FA WSL 2 which was founded in 2014. The season began on 5 September 2020.

The 2020–21 FA Women's National League was the 29th season of the competition, and the third since a restructure and rebranding of the top four tiers of English football by The Football Association. Starting in 1992, it was previously known as the FA Women's Premier League. It sits at the third and fourth levels of the women's football pyramid, below the FA Women's Championship and above the eight regional football leagues.

The following is a list of records and statistics of the Women's Super League (WSL) — the highest level of women's football in England — since its inception in 2011. Barring total appearances, all statistics do not include the 2017 FA WSL Spring Series, which bridged the gap between the 2016 and 2017–18 season, featuring only 8 games for each team. Many league record team statistics only cover 22 and 14 game seasons, as they have been featured in the league at least more than once.

The 2016 season was Reading's first season in the FA WSL 1, after winning promotion from the FA WSL 2 in 2015.

The 2022–23 Women's Championship season was the fifth season of the rebranded Women's Championship, the second tier of women's football in England.

The 2023–24 Women's Championship season was the sixth season of the rebranded Women's Championship, the second tier of women's football in England, and the ninth season since the creation of the WSL 2.

References

  1. 1 2 FA Women's Championship: New name chosen for England's second tier BBC Sport, 26 February 2018
  2. ↑ "Barclays Women's Super League rebranded". www.mancity.com.
  3. ↑ "New look for BWSL and BWC". womenscompetitions.thefa.com. 10 June 2022.
  4. ↑ "Statement: 2023-24 promotion and relegation".
  5. ↑ "Reading withdraw from Championship". Reading FC. 30 June 2024.
  6. ↑ Veevers, Nick (30 June 2024). "FA and Women's Professional Game statement on Reading FC Women". The FA.
  7. ↑ "FA WSL 2014: Applications". thefa.com. Retrieved 27 May 2013.
  8. ↑ "FA WSL 2014-2018 brochure". thefa.com. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
  9. ↑ "The FA WSL Club Development Plan". thefa.com. Retrieved 27 May 2013.
  10. ↑ "Clubs bid for WSL spot". thefa.com. Retrieved 27 May 2013.
  11. ↑ "FA Selects Clubs for WSL". WSL. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  12. ↑ Baber, Mark. "Doncaster Belles lose appeal over demotion from Women's Super League". Inside World Football. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  13. 1 2 "FA WSL 2 promotion announcement". Faws1.com. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
  14. ↑ "BBC Sport – Women's Super League to be expanded from 2015". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
  15. ↑ "Sheffield FC beat Portsmouth in Women's Premier League play-off". BBC. 24 May 2015. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
  16. ↑ "Katie Brazier: FA head of women's leagues targets WSL expansion". BBC Sport. 27 July 2015. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
  17. ↑ Stonelake, Anthony (15 May 2020). "Women's Super League Season to End". Her Football Hub. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  18. ↑ Reja, Arpan (15 May 2020). "Women's Super League and Women's Championship to be rebranded ahead of 2022/23 season". Sports Mint Media. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  19. ↑ Simmons, Kelly (25 January 2024). "Get the big decisions right and this can be a landmark year for women's football". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  20. ↑ "Nikki Doucet appointed as NewCo CEO". The FA. 28 November 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  21. ↑ Taylor, Louise (13 October 2024). "Newcastle and Sunderland striving to give WSL north-eastern outpost". The Guardian . Archived from the original on 13 October 2024. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  22. ↑ "Women's Championship: Sunderland vs Newcastle to break attendance record". BBC Sport . 11 October 2024. Archived from the original on 13 October 2024. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
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