The 2015–16 season of the FA Women's Premier League is the 24th season of the competition, which began in 1992. Formerly the top flight of women's football in England, this season it sits at the third and fourth levels of the women's football pyramid, below the two divisions of the FA Women's Super League and above the eight regional football leagues.[1]
The league features six regional divisions: the Northern and Southern divisions at level three of the pyramid, and below those Northern Division 1, Midlands Division 1, South East Division 1, and South West Division 1.[1] 72 teams were members of the league at the beginning of the 2015–16 season, divided equally into six divisions of twelve teams.[2] At the end of the season the champions of the Northern and Southern divisions will both qualify for a playoff match against each other which will decide the overall league champion, who subject to meeting league requirements will be promoted to FA WSL 2.[3]
Premier Division
Northern Division
Map showing the locations of the teams in the Northern Division of the FA Women's Premier League
Changes from last season:
- League champions Sheffield were promoted to FA WSL 2.
- Wolverhampton Wanderers were relegated to Midlands Division One.
- Loughborough Foxes and Guiseley Vixens were promoted into the Northern Division from Midlands Division One and Northern Division One respectively.
- Copsewood (Coventry) relocated into the Northern Division from the Southern and were renamed Nuneaton Town.[4]
- Coventry United moved in the opposite direction, relocating from the North to the Southern Division.
League table
Source: The Football Association
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(R) Relegated
Results
Source: The Football Association
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Southern Division
Map showing the locations of the teams in the Southern Division of the FA Women's Premier League
Changes from last season:
- Gillingham and Keynsham Town were relegated to South East and South West Division One respectively.
- Forest Green Rovers and C & K Basildon were promoted from South West and South East Division One.
- Coventry United relocated into the Southern Division from the Northern Division.
- Copsewood (Coventry) renamed themselves Nuneaton Town and relocated to the Northern Division.[4]
League table
Source: The Football Association
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Results
Source: The Football Association
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Championship play-off
The overall FA WPL champion was decided by a play-off match held at Wycombe Wanderers' Adams Park stadium on 29 May 2016,[5] which resulted in a 4–2 victory for Southern Division Brighton & Hove Albion over Northern Division Sporting Club Albion.[6] Brighton won promotion to FA WSL 2 a few days after the match, having met The Football Association's licensing requirements for entry to the Women's Super League.[7]
Division One
Northern Division One
Norton & Stockton Ancients
Map showing the locations of the teams in the Northern Division One of the FA Women's Premier League
The teams competing this season are:[8]
League table
Source: The Football Association
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
- ^ Stockport had three points deducted[9]
Midlands Division One
Peterborough Northern Star
Map showing the locations of the teams in Midlands Division One of the FA Women's Premier League
Changes from last season:
The teams competing this season are:[14]
League table
Source: The Football Association
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
South East Division One
Map showing the locations of the teams in South East Division One of the FA Women's Premier League
Changes from last season:
The teams competing this season are:[19]
League table
Source: The Football Association
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
South West Division One
Map showing the locations of the teams in South West Division One of the FA Women's Premier League
Changes from last season:
The teams competing this season are:[23]
^note Gloucester City and Swindon Spitfires both withdrew from the league during the season. All results involving them were expunged.[24][25]
League table
Source: The Football Association
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (X) Resigned
Results
Source: The Football Association
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
References
- ^ a b "About the FA WPL". The Football Association. Archived from the original on 29 November 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
- ^ "Premier League constitution". Women's Soccer Scene. 22 June 2015. Archived from the original on 16 February 2016. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
- ^ "The FA Women's Premier League Handbook season 2015–16" (PDF). 22 December 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 February 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
- ^ a b "Ryan excited at Nuneaton move". Women's Soccer Scene. 16 July 2015. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
- ^ "FA WPL Finals Venues Announced". She Kicks. 8 March 2016. Archived from the original on 10 March 2016. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
- ^ "Women's Premier League: Brighton beat Sporting Club Albion in play-off". BBC Sport. 29 May 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
- ^ "Brighton & Hove Albion Women promotion to Women's Super League approved". BBC Sport. 2 June 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
- ^ "FA Women's Premier League Northern Division One". The Football Association. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
- ^ "Premier League Midweek Round-Up". She Kicks. 5 May 2016. Archived from the original on 12 August 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
- ^ Richard Rush (19 July 2015). "Loughborough Foxes relishing new challenge". Loughborough Echo. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
- ^ "Latest From Wolves Women". Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club. 27 April 2015. Archived from the original on 5 September 2015. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
- ^ "New Name, New Beginnings!". Birmingham & West Midlands Ladies Football Club. 24 June 2015. Archived from the original on 30 June 2016. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
- ^ a b "Regional Leagues round-up". Women's Soccer Scene. 8 May 2015. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
- ^ "FA Women's Premier League Midlands Division One". Full Time. The Football Association. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
- ^ "Gillingham Ladies part company with Simon Ratcliffe following relegation". Kentish Football. 4 June 2015. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
- ^ "Regional Leagues round-up". Women's Soccer Scene. 17 April 2015. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
- ^ "Carshalton pay for administrative error with their Premier League place". Sent Her Forward. 19 June 2015. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
- ^ Matthew Critchell (19 June 2015). "The man behind the ladies at C&K Basildon". Braintree & Witham Times. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
- ^ "FA Women's Premier League South East Division One". The Football Association. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
- ^ "Maidenhead United Ladies confirm promotion to FA Women's Premier League". Maidenhead United Football Club. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
- ^ "Gloucester City benefit from team effort". Women's Soccer Scene. 24 April 2015. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
- ^ Matthew Edwards (27 June 2015). "Spitfires are aiming to build on World Cup fervour". Swindon Advertiser. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
- ^ "FA Women's Premier League South West Division One". The Football Association. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
- ^ "Gloucester City withdraw from league". Women's Soccer Scene. 15 September 2015. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
- ^ Tom Bassam (19 October 2015). "Spitfires make reluctant withdrawal". Swindon Advertiser. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
External links
- Official website of the FA Women's Premier League
- League results and standings
