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FA Women's Premier League National Division

Association football league in England

FA Women's Premier League National Division

Association football league in England

FieldValue
logoFAWPL Logo.png
pixels132
countryEngland
confedUEFA
founded
folded
divisions1
teams10
relegationNorthern Division
Southern Division
levels1 (1991–2010)
2 (2010–2013)
domest_cupFA Women's Cup
FA Women's Community Shield (2000–2008)
league_cupFA Women's Premier League Cup
confed_cupUEFA Women's Cup (2001–2010)
championsSunderland WFC
season2012–13
most successful clubArsenal
(12 times)
websiteLeague home page

| Southern Division 2 (2010–2013) FA Women's Community Shield (2000–2008) | (12 times) |

The FA Women's Premier League National Division (originally WFA National League Premier Division) was a football division in England. From 1991 until 2010, the National Division functioned as the top league in English women's football. During its final three seasons, the division operated as the second level of the league pyramid from 2010 to 2013. The division was played on a home and away basis, with each team playing each other twice, and points being awarded in the standard football format.

Below the National Division were simultaneously the Northern and Southern divisions and the remainder of the women's football pyramid. The terms Women's Premiership and Ladies' Premiership thus generally referred to the National Division alone. The women's National League Premier Division was conceived as the counterpart to the men's football First Division/Premier League.

Founded in 1991 by the Women's Football Association, the league was taken over and renamed "Premier League" in the season 1994–95 by the Football Association. The first title was won by Doncaster Belles in 1991–92. Arsenal hold the most championships, with 12 won between 1993 and 2010.

The National Division lost its top-league status and several teams when the FA introduced the summer competition Women's Super League (WSL) in 2011, with no further promotions. 2012–13 was the final season for the Women's Premier League National Division, with the last championship won by Sunderland, their third in succession. The division was scrapped at the end of the 2012–13 season, prior to the launch of the FA WSL 2 (now the FA Women's Championship).

History

Arsenal and Everton were the National Division's last winners and runners-up respectively in 2009–10

In its first two seasons, the women's National League operated on the pointscoring system of two points for a win, switching to three points for a win in 1993–94.

In the first season, 1991–92, the division contained eight clubs, increasing to 10 clubs in 1992–93.

Premiership teams also competed in the WFA Cup/FA Women's Cup and the Premier League Cup. The first five League champions all won the League and FA Cup Double. From 2000 until 2008, the Premiership winner competed against the FA Cup winner or League runner-up annually for the FA Women's Community Shield. Until 2010, Premiership winners and runners-up competed in the UEFA Women's Cup/Women's Champions League as well.

For the 2006–07 season, the number of competing teams was increased from 10 to 12, with the promotion of the Northern (Blackburn Rovers) and Southern (Cardiff City) champions and no relegations despite test matches being played.

For the National Division's 2010–11 season, the division was reduced to eight clubs from twelve. Six clubs left to form the WSL, as did the Northern Division champions and runners-up, Liverpool and OOH Lincoln. The six remaining National Division clubs and the Southern Division top two, Barnet and Reading, thus comprised the second-level National Division.

List of seasons

As level 1 division:

:Note: Bold designates teams that won a double with the Women's FA Cup. † Arsenal won a treble with the UEFA Women's Cup in 2007.

YearWinnerRunner upThird placeRelegated
1991–92Doncaster BellesRed Star SouthamptonWimbledonNone (expansion to 10 clubs)
1992–93ArsenalDoncaster BellesKnowsley UnitedMaidstone Tigresses, Bronte
1993–94Doncaster BellesArsenalKnowsley UnitedIpswich Town, Wimbledon
1994–95ArsenalLiverpoolDoncaster BellesRed Star Southampton
1995–96CroydonDoncaster BellesArsenalVilla Aztecs, Wolverhampton Wanderers
1996–97ArsenalDoncaster BellesCroydonSouthampton Saints, Ilkeston Town
1997–98EvertonArsenalDoncaster BellesBarnet, Barry Town
1998–99CroydonArsenalDoncaster BellesBradford City, Ilkeston Town
1999–2000CroydonDoncaster BellesArsenalAston Villa, Reading Royals
2000–01ArsenalDoncaster BellesCharlton AthleticMillwall Lionesses, Liverpool
2001–02ArsenalDoncaster BellesCharlton AthleticBarry Town, Sunderland
2002–03FulhamDoncaster BellesArsenalSouthampton Saints, Brighton & Hove Albion
2003–04ArsenalCharlton AthleticFulhamAston Villa, Tranmere Rovers
2004–05ArsenalCharlton AthleticEvertonLiverpool, Bristol City
2005–06ArsenalEvertonCharlton AthleticNone (expansion to 12 clubs)
2006–07ArsenalEvertonCharlton AthleticSunderland, Fulham
2007–08ArsenalEvertonCharlton AthleticCardiff City, Charlton Athletic
2008–09ArsenalEvertonChelseaLiverpool, Fulham
2009–10ArsenalEvertonChelseaLeague restructured due to FA WSL

As FA level 2 division:

YearWinnerRunner upThird placeRelegated
2010–11SunderlandNottingham ForestReadingBlackburn Rovers, Millwall Lionesses
2011–12SunderlandLeeds UnitedAston VillaNottingham Forest, Reading
2012–13SunderlandWatfordLeeds UnitedLeague restructured due to FA WSL 2

The Women's Premier League name continued at level 3 in 2013–14 after the National Division was scrapped.

Performance by club

ClubWinnersRunners-upWinning years
Arsenal1992–93, 1994–95, 1996–97, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10
Croydon/Charlton Athletic1995–96, 1998–99, 1999–2000
Sunderland2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13
Doncaster Rovers Belles1991–92, 1993–94
Everton1997–98
Fulham2002–03
Liverpool1994–95
Nottingham Forest2010–11
Leeds United2011–12

References

fr:Championnat d'Angleterre de football féminin

References

  1. (17 June 2010). "Premier League Changes". She Kicks.
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