2021–22 FA Women's National League

The 2021–22 FA Women's National League is the 30th season of the competition, and the fourth 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.[1]

FA Women's National League
Season2021–22
2022–23 →

The league features six regional divisions: the Northern and Southern Premier divisions at level three of the pyramid, and Division One North, Division One Midlands, Division One South East, and Division One South West at the fourth level. The league consists of 76 teams, divided into six divisions of 13 teams apart from the Southern Premier Division which contains 14 teams, Division One North which contains 12 teams, and Division One South West which contains 11 teams. At the end of the season the winners of the Northern and Southern Premier divisions will qualify for a play-off match to decide the overall National League champion. The winner will be promoted to the FA Women's Championship.

Premier Division

Northern Division

Changes from last season:

  • Following the second consecutive curtailment of the season amid the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2021, it was decided that upward club movement within the women's football pyramid would be done via application. All clubs from tiers 3 to 6 were eligible to apply to move into the league immediately one tier above where they currently played with applications marked against a criterion weighted 75% on-field and 25% off-field.[2]
  • Sunderland were promoted to FA Women's Championship via application.[3]
  • Brighouse Town were promoted from Division One North via application.[4]
  • Wolverhampton Wanderers were promoted from Division One Midlands via application.[5]
  • Loughborough Foxes merged with Loughborough University's performance team to become Loughborough Lightning.[6]

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Derby County 10 8 1 1 24 7 +17 25 Championship playoff
2 Wolverhampton Wanderers 9 7 2 0 18 6 +12 23
3 Fylde 10 7 1 2 24 9 +15 22
4 Huddersfield Town 11 6 2 3 29 15 +14 20
5 Nottingham Forest 10 6 2 2 21 7 +14 20
6 Burnley 11 5 1 5 23 15 +8 16
7 Brighouse Town 9 4 3 2 19 14 +5 15
8 West Bromwich Albion 11 3 4 4 14 18 −4 13
9 Stoke City 10 3 1 6 17 22 −5 10
10 Middlesbrough 10 3 0 7 13 24 −11 9
11 Sheffield F.C. 9 2 0 7 8 26 −18 6 Relegation to FA WNL Division One
12 Loughborough Lightning 10 1 1 8 9 31 −22 4
13 Hull City 10 0 2 8 7 32 −25 2
Updated to match(es) played on 21 November 2021. Source: The Football Association
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored

Southern Division

Changes from last season:

  • Following the second consecutive curtailment of the season amid the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2021, it was decided that upward club movement within the women's football pyramid would be done via application. All clubs from tiers 3 to 6 were eligible to apply to move into the league immediately one tier above where they currently played with applications marked against a criterion weighted 75% on-field and 25% off-field.[2]
  • Watford were promoted to FA Women's Championship via application.[3]
  • London Bees were relegated from FA Women's Championship on sporting merit.
  • Ipswich Town were promoted from Division One South East via application.[7]
  • Southampton F.C. were promoted from Division One South West via application.[8]
  • Yeovil United became Bridgwater United W.F.C. after merging with men's club Bridgwater Town.[9]

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Ipswich Town 11 11 0 0 40 3 +37 33 Championship playoff
2 Southampton F.C. 9 8 0 1 43 3 +40 24
3 Oxford United 10 7 1 2 27 5 +22 22
4 Bridgwater United 10 6 2 2 23 6 +17 20
5 Portsmouth 10 6 1 3 32 12 +20 19
6 Gillingham 11 6 1 4 15 21 −6 19
7 Crawley Wasps 11 6 0 5 20 14 +6 18
8 Cardiff City Ladies 10 4 1 5 13 12 +1 13
9 London Bees 11 4 1 6 20 27 −7 13
10 Keynsham Town 11 4 0 7 13 49 −36 12
11 Chichester & Selsey 10 1 1 8 6 27 −21 4 Relegation to FA WNL Division One
12 Plymouth Argyle 8 1 0 7 7 28 −21 3
13 Milton Keynes Dons 8 0 2 6 6 21 −15 2
14 Hounslow 8 0 0 8 0 37 −37 0
Updated to match(es) played on 21 November 2021. Source: The Football Association
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored

Division One

Division One North

Changes from last season:

  • Following the second consecutive curtailment of the season amid the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2021, it was decided that upward club movement within the women's football pyramid would be done via application. All clubs from tiers 3 to 6 were eligible to apply to move into the league immediately one tier above where they currently played with applications marked against a criterion weighted 75% on-field and 25% off-field.[2]
  • Brighouse Town were promoted to Northern Premier Division via application.[4]
  • Alnwick Town were promoted from North East Regional Women's Football League via application.[2]
  • F.C. United of Manchester were promoted from North West Women's Regional Football League via application.[10]
  • Bolton Ladies folded and withdrew from the league prior to the start of the 2021–22 season.
Club Home ground Position 2020–21
Alnwick Town St James Park, Alnwick NEWRFL, N/A
Barnsley Barnsley FC Academy, Barnsley N/A
Bradford City Plumpton Park, Wrose N/A
Chester-le-Street Moor Park, Chester Moor N/A
Chorley Blainscough Park, Coppull N/A
Durham Cestria The Graham Sports Centre, Durham N/A
F.C. United of Manchester Broadhurst Park, Moston NWWRFL, N/A
Leeds United Ings Lane, Tadcaster N/A
Liverpool Feds Jericho Lane, Liverpool N/A
Newcastle United Druid Park, Woolsington N/A
Norton & Stockton Ancients Station Road, Norton, County Durham N/A
Stockport County Stockport Sports Village, Stockport N/A

Division One Midlands

Changes from last season:

  • Following the second consecutive curtailment of the season amid the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2021, it was decided that upward club movement within the women's football pyramid would be done via application. All clubs from tiers 3 to 6 were eligible to apply to move into the league immediately one tier above where they currently played with applications marked against a criterion weighted 75% on-field and 25% off-field.[2]
  • Wolverhampton Wanderers were promoted to Southern Premier Division via application.[5]
  • Leek Town were promoted from West Midlands Regional Women's Football League via application.[2]
  • Peterborough United were promoted from East Midlands Regional Women's Football League via application.[11]
Club Home ground Position 2020–21
Bedworth United The Oval, Bedworth N/A
Boldmere St. Michaels Trevor Brown Memorial Ground, Sutton Coldfield N/A
Burton Albion Hillsfield, Rocester N/A
Doncaster Rovers Belles Oxford Street, Rossington N/A
Holwell Sports Welby Road, Asfordby Hill N/A
Leafield Athletic Dickens Heath Sports Club, Solihull N/A
Leek Town Harrison Park, Leek WMRWFL, N/A
Lincoln City Moorlands Sports Ground, Lincoln N/A
Long Eaton United Grange Park, Long Eaton N/A
Peterborough United Mick George Training Academy, Orton EMRWFL, N/A
Solihull Moors Damson Park, Solihull N/A
Sporting Khalsa Aspray Arena, Willenhall N/A
Wem Town Butler Sports Centre, Wem N/A

Division One South East

Changes from last season:

  • Following the second consecutive curtailment of the season amid the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2021, it was decided that upward club movement within the women's football pyramid would be done via application. All clubs from tiers 3 to 6 were eligible to apply to move into the league immediately one tier above where they currently played with applications marked against a criterion weighted 75% on-field and 25% off-field.[2]
  • Ipswich Town were promoted to Southern Premier Division via application.[7]
  • Harlow Town were promoted from Eastern Region Women's Football League via application.[12]
  • Queens Park Rangers were promoted from London and South East Women's Regional Football League via application.[13]
  • Leyton Orient were rebranded London Seaward after Leyton Orient severed ties with the club.[14]
Club Home ground Position 2020–21
Actonians Rectory Park, Northolt N/A
AFC Wimbledon War Memorial Sports Ground, Carshalton N/A
Billericay Town New Lodge, Billericay N/A
Cambridge City The Demcom Stadium, Ely N/A
Cambridge United Rowley Park, St Neots N/A
Enfield Town Queen Elizabeth II Stadium, Enfield N/A
Harlow Town The Harlow Arena, Harlow ERWFL, N/A
Hashtag United Park Lane, Canvey Island N/A
Kent Football United Glentworth Sports Club, Kent N/A
London Seaward Hornchurch Stadium, Upminster N/A (as Leyton Orient)
Norwich City The Nest, Horsford N/A
Queens Park Rangers Powerday Stadium, Perivale LSEWRFL, N/A
Stevenage Hertingfordbury Park, Hertford N/A

Division One South West

Changes from last season:

  • Following the second consecutive curtailment of the season amid the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2021, it was decided that upward club movement within the women's football pyramid would be done via application. All clubs from tiers 3 to 6 were eligible to apply to move into the league immediately one tier above where they currently played with applications marked against a criterion weighted 75% on-field and 25% off-field.[2]
  • Southampton F.C. were promoted to Southern Premier Division via application.[8]
  • Brislington took voluntary relegation to South West Regional Women's Football League.
  • Bournemouth were promoted from Southern Region Women's Football League via application.[15]
  • Portishead Town were promoted from South West Regional Women's Football League via application.[2]
Club Home ground Position 2020–21
Bournemouth Potterne Park, Verwood SRWFL, N/A
Buckland Athletic Homers Heath, Newton Abbot N/A
Cheltenham Town Corinum Stadium, Cirencester N/A
Chesham United The Meadow, Chesham N/A
Exeter City Cullompton Cricket Club, Cullompton N/A
Larkhall Athletic Larkhall Sports Club, Larkhall N/A
Maidenhead United York Road, Maidenhead N/A
Poole Town Dorset County Ground, Poole N/A
Portishead Town Bristol Road, Portishead SWRWFL, N/A
Southampton Women's F.C. Arlebury Park, New Alresford N/A
Swindon Town Cinder Lane, Fairford N/A

See also

References
  1. "Naming of restructured women's league pyramid confirmed". thefa.com. The Football Association. 26 February 2018. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  2. "Upward club movement within the women's football pyramid confirmed for 2021-22". www.thefa.com.
  3. "Sunderland and Watford promoted to FA Women's Championship after successful bids". Sky Sports.
  4. "Brighouse boss backs side to succeed as promotion finally secured". Bradford Telegraph and Argus.
  5. "Wolves Women heading up the leagues". www.wolves.co.uk.
  6. "Loughborough football merger creates new Lightning team". Loughborough University.
  7. "Tractor Girls learn of promotion". Suffolk News.
  8. "Southampton FC Women granted promotion". Southampton FC.
  9. "Football clubs united under new name". Somerset County Gazette.
  10. "FC United's women's team accepted into National League Division One North". www.fc-utd.co.uk.
  11. "Women's Team Secure Deserved Promotion". Peterborough United.
  12. "The Hawks are going up". Harlow Town.
  13. "QPR FC Women are going up". Queens Park Rangers.
  14. "Leyton Orient sever ties with women's team". BBC.
  15. "Women's team promoted to National League". AFC Bournemouth.
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