FA Women's National League
Season2022–23
ChampionsWatford
PromotedWatford

The 2022–23 FA Women's National League was the 31st season of the competition, and the fifth since a restructure and rebranding of the top four tiers of English football by The Football Association. Starting in 1991, it was previously known as the FA Women's Premier League. It sat at the third and fourth levels of the women's football pyramid, below the Women's Championship and above the eight regional football leagues.[1]

The league featured 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 consisted of 72 teams, divided into six divisions of 12 each. At the end of the season the winners of the Northern and Southern Premier divisions qualified for a play-off match to decide the overall National League champion which was promoted to the Women's Championship. The bottom two teams from each were relegated to the appropriate fourth tier FA WNL Division One. The winner of each Division One were promoted to the Northern or Southern Premier Division, with the bottom two teams in those leagues relegated to respective regional leagues.[2]

Premier Division

Northern Division

Changes from last season:

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Nottingham Forest (C) 22 17 3 2 81 18 +63 54 Championship play-off
2 Wolverhampton Wanderers 22 17 3 2 61 17 +44 54
3 Burnley 22 16 4 2 66 28 +38 52
4 Derby County 22 11 5 6 50 32 +18 38
5 Brighouse Town 22 8 7 7 28 27 +1 31
6 Huddersfield Town 22 7 5 10 36 43 −7 26
7 AFC Fylde 22 7 5 10 24 54 −30 26
8 West Bromwich Albion 22 7 4 11 28 46 −18 25
9 Liverpool Feds 22 7 3 12 36 45 −9 24
10 Stoke City 22 7 3 12 32 49 −17 24
11 Boldmere St. Michaels (R) 22 5 1 16 27 61 −34 16 Relegation to FA WNL Division One
12 Loughborough Lightning (R) 22 0 3 19 10 59 −49 3
Source: The Football Association
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated

Results

Home \ Away FYL BSM BHT BUR DER HUD LIV LOU NOT STO WBA WOL
AFC Fylde — 2–1 0–0 2–4 0–3 2–0 1–4 2–2 1–2 2–2 1–2 1–4
Boldmere St. Michaels 3–0 — 1–2 2–3 2–2 1–7 1–2 3–0 1–10 1–2 1–2 0–2
Brighouse Town 5–0 2–0 — 1–1 0–1 1–1 2–1 0–0 1–1 1–0 2–0 0–3
Burnley 7–0 5–1 5–1 — 4–1 3–3 2–1 1–0 1–1 1–0 2–2 1–2
Derby County 0–2 6–1 1–1 2–3 — 2–1 1–1 5–0 0–2 5–1 5–0 1–3
Huddersfield Town 0–1 1–2 0–1 1–2 3–3 — 2–0 3–1 0–3 4–3 3–1 0–5
Liverpool Feds 2–2 5–2 5–3 0–7 2–4 0–1 — 2–0 2–4 1–2 2–1 1–1
Loughborough Lightning 0–1 0–2 0–3 1–2 1–2 0–2 0–3 — 2–2 0–3 1–2 0–6
Nottingham Forest 2–0 4–0 3–1 3–0 3–1 3–0 2–0 4–1 — 3–0 5–0 2–4
Stoke City 1–2 1–2 1–0 2–7 1–2 3–3 2–0 3–0 0–5 — 2–3 0–5
West Bromwich Albion 0–0 2–0 1–1 1–2 1–3 1–1 3–1 4–1 0–6 0–1 — 1–3
Wolverhampton Wanderers 0–2 1–0 2–0 1–3 0–0 5–0 2–1 4–0 3–1 2–2 3–1 —
Source: The Football Association
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Southern Division

Changes from last season:

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Watford (C, O, P) 22 17 2 3 65 17 +48 53 Championship play-off
2 Ipswich Town 22 17 2 3 48 11 +37 53
3 Oxford United 22 16 3 3 53 15 +38 51
4 Portsmouth 22 15 2 5 44 20 +24 47
5 Milton Keynes Dons 22 9 3 10 38 42 −4 30
6 Billericay Town 22 8 4 10 37 41 −4 28
7 Gillingham 22 8 4 10 23 29 −6 28
8 Cheltenham Town 22 7 4 11 29 50 −21 25
9 London Bees 22 7 2 13 22 41 −19 23
10 Plymouth Argyle 22 6 1 15 23 45 −22 19
11 Bridgwater United (R) 22 3 5 14 20 43 −23 14 Relegation to FA WNL Division One
12 Crawley Wasps (R) 22 1 4 17 13 61 −48 7
Source: The Football Association
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated

Results

Home \ Away BIL BWU CHL CRA GIL IPS LON MKD OXF PLY POR WAT
Billericay Town — 4–1 0–4 4–1 3–1 0–1 1–2 2–1 1–2 1–1 3–4 0–3
Bridgwater United 1–2 — 3–3 1–1 0–1 0–2 0–1 1–1 0–3 3–0 1–2 0–2
Cheltenham Town 2–1 1–1 — 3–1 0–0 0–2 0–1 2–2 2–1 3–1 0–3 1–3
Crawley Wasps 0–5 1–1 0–1 — 1–1 1–4 0–1 1–6 1–3 2–1 0–3 0–4
Gillingham 1–1 0–2 2–1 1–0 — 0–1 2–1 0–1 0–1 2–0 0–1 0–2
Ipswich Town 1–0 1–0 8–0 3–0 1–2 — 3–0 5–1 1–0 3–0 0–3 1–0
London Bees 1–1 4–0 2–4 1–1 1–2 1–2 — 0–2 1–5 1–2 1–4 0–4
Milton Keynes Dons 6–3 4–1 2–1 3–1 0–2 0–2 2–0 — 0–1 3–1 1–1 0–5
Oxford United 1–1 2–0 5–0 6–1 5–1 1–1 3–0 4–1 — 2–0 2–0 1–1
Plymouth Argyle 0–1 1–0 4–1 2–0 2–1 0–5 1–2 3–0 0–2 — 1–2 2–5
Portsmouth 5–0 2–3 2–0 1–0 2–2 1–0 0–1 4–1 1–2 1–0 — 2–0
Watford 2–3 5–1 6–0 6–0 3–2 1–1 2–0 2–1 2–1 5–1 2–0 —
Source: The Football Association
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Championship play-off

The overall FA Women's National League champion was decided by a play-off match held at the end of the season between the Northern Division and Southern Division winners. The play-off match also earned promotion to the Women's Championship subject to meeting licensing requirements.

Nottingham Forest0–1Watford
Report Wilson 17'
Attendance: 3,007

Division One

Division One North

Changes from last season:

Club Home ground Position 2021–22
Barnsley Wombwell Recreation Ground, Wombwell 9th
Bradford City Plumpton Park, Wrose 7th
Chorley Blainscough Park, Coppull 5th
Durham Cestria The Graham Sports Centre, Durham 3rd
Hull City Haworth Park, Kingston upon Hull WNL North, 12th
Leeds United Ings Lane, Tadcaster 4th
Merseyrail Admiral Park, Toxteth NWWRFL, 1st
Middlesbrough Bedford Terrace, Billingham WNL North, 11th
Newcastle United Druid Park, Woolsington 2nd
Norton & Stockton Ancients Station Road, Norton, County Durham 8th
Stockport County Stockport Sports Village, Stockport 6th
York City Haxby Road Sports Park, York NERWFL, 1st

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Newcastle United (C, P) 22 18 2 2 65 18 +47 56 Promotion to FA WNL Premier Division
2 Durham Cestria 22 18 2 2 55 12 +43 56
3 Stockport County 22 11 4 7 39 23 +16 37
4 Barnsley 22 11 4 7 37 27 +10 37
5 Hull City 22 10 5 7 46 30 +16 35
6 Leeds United 22 11 2 9 41 34 +7 35
7 Norton & Stockton Ancients 22 8 6 8 26 33 −7 30
8 Chorley 22 6 4 12 27 48 −21 22
9 York City 22 6 3 13 32 46 −14 21
10 Middlesbrough 22 6 3 13 23 46 −23 21
11 Bradford City (R) 22 6 0 16 22 48 −26 18 Relegation to regional league level
12 Merseyrail (R) 22 1 5 16 11 59 −48 8
Source: The Football Association
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated

Division One Midlands

Changes from last season:

Club Home ground Position 2021–22
Doncaster Rovers Belles Iqbal Stadium, Moorends 2nd
Leafield Athletic Dickens Heath Sports Club, Solihull 9th
Leek Town Harrison Park, Leek 5th
Lincoln City Moorlands Sports Ground, Lincoln 3rd
Long Eaton United Grange Park, Long Eaton 4th
Northampton Town Larkhall Lane, Harpole EMRWFL, 1st
Peterborough United Mick George Training Academy, Orton 8th
Sheffield F.C. Home of Football Ground, Dronfield WNL North, 13th
Solihull Moors Damson Park, Solihull 7th
Sporting Khalsa Aspray Arena, Willenhall 6th
Stourbridge War Memorial Ground, Stourbridge WMRWFL, 1st
Wem Town Butler Sports Centre, Wem 10th

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Stourbridge (C, P) 22 17 3 2 86 16 +70 54 Promotion to FA WNL Premier Division
2 Doncaster Rovers Belles 22 13 3 6 45 22 +23 42
3 Sporting Khalsa 22 12 3 7 62 33 +29 39
4 Peterborough United 22 12 3 7 48 30 +18 39
5 Northampton Town 22 11 3 8 45 26 +19 36
6 Lincoln City 22 9 3 10 73 54 +19 30
7 Solihull Moors 22 8 6 8 43 29 +14 30
8 Sheffield F.C. 21 8 4 9 46 28 +18 28
9 Leafield Athletic 22 8 4 10 45 47 −2 28
10 Leek Town 22 7 6 9 38 49 −11 27
11 Wem Town (R) 21 5 2 14 31 58 −27 17 Relegation to regional league level
12 Long Eaton United (R) 22 1 0 21 12 182 −170 3
Updated to match(es) played on 7 May 2023. Source: The Football Association
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated

Division One South East

Changes from last season:

Club Home ground Position 2021–22
Actonians Rectory Park, Northolt 5th
AFC Wimbledon Plough Lane, Wimbledon 3rd
Ashford Town Robert Parker Stadium, Stanwell LSEWRFL, 1st
Cambridge City The Demcom Stadium, Ely 7th
Cambridge United Rowley Park, St Neots 9th
Chesham United The Meadow, Chesham WNL D1 South West, 5th
Hashtag United Parkside, Aveley 2nd
Hounslow Rectory Meadow, Hanworth WNL South, 14th
London Seaward Hornchurch Stadium, Upminster 6th
Norwich City The Nest, Horsford 8th
Queens Park Rangers Powerday Stadium, Perivale 4th
Wymondham Town Kings Head Meadow, Wymondham ERWFL, 1st

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Hashtag United (C, P) 18 16 1 1 77 14 +63 49 Promotion to FA WNL Premier Division
2 AFC Wimbledon 18 14 3 1 45 13 +32 45
3 Actonians 18 10 2 6 52 26 +26 32
4 Norwich City 18 9 3 6 32 34 −2 30
5 London Seaward 18 8 5 5 34 31 +3 29
6 Ashford Town 18 7 2 9 34 41 −7 23
7 Queens Park Rangers 18 6 4 8 31 36 −5 22
8 Cambridge United 18 3 5 10 30 45 −15 14
9 Cambridge City 18 2 1 15 17 50 −33 7
10 Chesham United 18 2 0 16 17 79 −62 6
11 Hounslow (W) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Withdrew from league
12 Wymondham Town (W) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Source: The Football Association
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (W) Withdrew from the league

Division One South West

Changes from last season:

Club Home ground Position 2021–22
AFC Bournemouth Potterne Park, Verwood 2nd
AFC St Austell Poltair Park, St Austell SWRWFL, 1st
Cardiff City Ladies CCB Centre for Sporting Excellence, Ystrad Mynach WNL South, 11th
Exeter City Cullompton Cricket Club, Cullompton 3rd
Keynsham Town Crown Field, Keynsham WNL South, 13th
Larkhall Athletic Larkhall Sports Club, Larkhall 9th
Maidenhead United York Road, Maidenhead 6th
Moneyfields Moneyfields Sports Ground, Portsmouth SRWFL, 1st
Portishead Town Bristol Road, Portishead 8th
Selsey The High Street Ground, Selsey WNL South, 12th
Southampton Women's Arlebury Park, New Alresford 4th
Swindon Town Cinder Lane, Fairford 7th

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Cardiff City Ladies (C, P) 22 19 1 2 86 13 +73 58 Promotion to FA WNL Premier Division
2 Exeter City 22 19 1 2 83 18 +65 58
3 Moneyfields 21 13 5 3 53 27 +26 44
4 AFC Bournemouth 22 13 4 5 59 21 +38 43
5 Southampton Women's 22 13 3 6 50 31 +19 42
6 Swindon Town 22 8 4 10 35 48 −13 28
7 Portishead Town 22 8 1 13 32 63 −31 25
8 Selsey 22 7 1 14 34 37 −3 22
9 Keynsham Town 22 7 1 14 36 64 −28 22
10 Maidenhead United 21 6 3 12 25 42 −17 21
11 Larkhall Athletic (R) 21 4 0 17 19 62 −43 12 Relegation to regional league level
12 AFC St Austell (R) 21 1 0 20 27 113 −86 3
Updated to match(es) played on 7 May 2023. Source: The Football Association
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Women's league restructure". The Football Association.
  2. ↑ "FA Women's National League strategy 2022-25". The Football Association.
  3. ↑ Cox, Lewis. "Wem Town are handed relegation reprieve". www.shropshirestar.com.
  4. ↑ "Fleet announce women's and girls' teams for new season". Ebbsfleet United Football Club.
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