The 2017–18 FA Women's Premier League is the 27th season of the competition, which began in 1992. 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.
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. 71 teams were members of the league before the start of the 2017–18 season, divided equally into five divisions of twelve teams, and one division of eleven teams.http://www.shekicks.net/news/view/14648 At the end of the season Blackburn Rovers and Charlton Athletic, respectively the champions of the Northern and Southern divisions, qualified for a championship play-off match against each other which Charlton Athletic won 2–1, thus becoming the overall National League Champion, and winning them promotion to the re-branded FA Women's Championship. As part of the restructuring of the top 4 tiers of women football by The Football Association, West Ham United was awarded promotion to the FA WSL, with Leicester City, Lewes, and Sheffield United awarded promotion to the FA Women's Championship.
Premier Division Northern Premier Division
Changes from last season: Newcastle United was relegated to Northern Division One. Wolverhampton Wanderers and Guiseley Vixens were promoted into the Northern Division from Midlands Division One and Northern Division One respectively.
TeamHome ground2016–17 positionBlackburn RoversSir Tom Finney Stadium, Bamber Bridge1stBradford CityPlumpton Park, Bradford8thDerby CountyThe Don Amott Arena, Derby5thFylde LadiesMill Farm, Wesham7thGuiseley VixensNethermoor Park, Guiseley1st in Northern Division One (promoted)Huddersfield TownThe Stafflex Arena, Kirkburton9thLeicester CityFarley Way Stadium, Quorn3rdMiddlesbrough Teesdale Park, Thornaby-on-Tees2ndNottingham ForestMill Street Playing Fields, Nottingham10thStoke CityCommunity Drive, Stoke-on-Trent4thWest Bromwich AlbionTrevor Brown Memorial Ground, Sutton Coldfield6thWolverhampton WanderersKeys Park, Hednesford1st in Midlands Division One (promoted)
League table
Results
Southern Premier Division
Changes from last season: League champions Tottenham Hotspur was promoted to FA WSL 2. Chichester City and Gillingham were promoted from South West and South East Division One.
TeamHome ground2016–17 positionC & K BasildonThe Frost Financial Stadium, Canvey Island6thCardiff CityCCB Centre for Sporting Excellence, Ystrad Mynach3rdCharlton AthleticBayliss Avenue, Thamesmead, London4thChichester CityOaklands Park, Chichester1st in South West Division One (promoted)Coventry UnitedButts Park Arena, Coventry2ndCrystal PalaceHayes Lane, Kent5thGillinghamK Sports Cobdown, Aylesford1st in South East Division One (promoted)LewesThe Dripping Pan, Lewes7thPortsmouthPrivett Park, Gosport8thQueens Park RangersHoneycroft, West Drayton, London11thSwindon TownCinder Lane, Fairford10thWest Ham UnitedShip Lane, Aveley9th
League table
Results
Championship play-off The overall FA WPL champion was decided by a play-off match held at the end of the season. Charlton Athletic earned promotion to the FA WSL 2, after defeating Blackburn Rovers 2–1.
Division One Division One North
Changes from last season: Guiseley Vixens was promoted to the Northern Division. Newcastle United was relegated from the Northern Division. Barnsley was promoted from the North East Regional League. Bolton Wanderers was promoted from the North West Regional League. Blackpool Wren Rovers and Tranmere Rovers were relegated to the regional leagues. Leeds was renamed Leeds United.
TeamHome ground2016–17 positionBarnsleyBarnsley F.C. Academy, Barnsley1st in North East Regional League (promoted)Bolton WanderersKensite Stadium, Atherton1st in North West Regional League (promoted)Brighouse TownThe Dual Seal Stadium, Brighouse6thChester-le-StreetMoor Park, Chester Moor4thChorleyJim Fowler Memorial Fields, Leyland5thCrewe AlexandraCumberland Arena, Crewe10thHull CityHull University Sports Ground, Hull3rdLeeds UnitedGenix Healthcare Stadium, Garforth8thLiverpool Marshall FedsI.M. Marsh Campus, Liverpool2ndMorecambeLancaster & Morecambe College, Lancaster7thMossley HillMossley Hill Athletic Club, Liverpool9thNewcastle UnitedNewcastle United Sport Ground 3G, Newcastle upon Tyne11th in Northern Division (relegated)
League table
Results
Division One Midlands
Changes from last season: Wolverhampton Wanderers was promoted to the Northern Division. Burton Albion was promoted from the West Midlands Regional League. Sheffield United was promoted from the East Midlands Regional League. Loughborough Students was relegated to the regional leagues.
TeamHome ground2016–17 positionBirmingham & West MidlandsThe Vale Stadium, Birmingham5thBurton AlbionMarston Road, Stafford1st in West Midlands Regional League (promoted)Leicester City LadiesLinwood Playing Fields, Leicester10thLong Eaton UnitedGrange Park, Long Eaton7thLoughborough FoxesLoughborough University Stadium, Loughborough2ndRadcliffe OlympicWharf Lane Recreation Ground, Radcliffe-on-Trent4thRotherham UnitedRoundwood Sports Complex, Rotherham11thSheffield UnitedSteelphalt Sheffield United Academy, Sheffield1st in East Midlands Regional League (promoted)SolihullWest Midland Sports & Social Club, Birmingham9thSporting KhalsaUniversity of Wolverhampton 3G, Walsall3rdSteel City WanderersThorncliffe Recreation Ground, Sheffield8thThe New SaintsPark Hall Stadium, Oswestry6th
League table
Results
Division One South East
Changes from last season: Gillingham was promoted to the Southern Division. Haringey Borough was promoted from the Eastern Region League. Leyton Orient was promoted from the London & South East Regional League. Lowestoft Town was relegated to the regional leagues.
TeamHome ground2016–17 positionActoniansBerkeley Fields, Greenford, London6thAFC WimbledonBorough Sports Ground, Sutton, London3rdCambridge UnitedRecreation Way, Mildenhall4thDenham UnitedThe Den, Denham8thEnfield TownQueen Elizabeth II Stadium, Enfield7thHaringey BoroughColes Park, Tottenham1st in Eastern Region League (promoted)Ipswich TownDellwood Avenue, Felixstowe9thLeyton OrientMatchroom Stadium, Leyton1st in London & South East Regional League (promoted)Luton TownStockwood Park Athletics Stadium, Luton5thMilton Keynes DonsWillen Road, Newport Pagnell2ndNorwich CityPlantation Park, Blofield10thStevenageHertingfordbury Park, Hertford 11th
League table
Results
Division One South West
Changes from last season: Chichester City was promoted to the Southern Division. Southampton Women was promoted from the Southern Region League. Poole Town was promoted from the South West Regional League. Exeter City was relegated to the regional leagues. Shanklin withdrew from the league during the 2016–17 season.
TeamHome ground2016–17 positionBasingstokeWinklebury Football Complex, Basingstoke9thBrislingtonIronmould Lane, Brislington6thCheltenham TownPetersfield Park, Cheltenham10thKeynsham TownAJN Stadium, Keynsham4thLarkhall AthleticPlain Ham, Larkhall5thMaidenhead UnitedYork Road, Maidenhead7thPlymouth ArgyleHaye Road, Plymouth2ndPoole TownDorset County F.A. County Ground, Poole3rd in South West Regional League (promoted)Southampton SaintsVT Group Sportsground, Sholing3rdSouthampton WomenTestwood Stadium, Southampton1st in Southern Region League (promoted)St NicholasLodge Road, Yate8th Basingstoke withdrew from the league in February 2018. All results involving Basingstoke were expunged.
League table
Results
Reserve Division Reserve Northern Division
League table
Results
Reserve Midland Division
League table
Results
Reserve Southern Division
League table
Results
References
External links Official website of the FA Women's Premier League League results and standings