The 2018–19 FA Women's National League is the 28th season of the competition, and the first since a restructure and rebranding of the top four tiers of English football by The Football Association. Began 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.
The league features six regional divisions: the Northern and Southern divisions at level three of the pyramid, and below those Division One North, Division One Midlands, Division One South East, and Division One South West. The league normally consists of 72 teams, divided equally into six divisions of twelve teams. After two resignations from and one late promotion to the FA Women's Championship, and one withdrawal from Division One, the league started the 2018–19 season with 13 teams in the Northern Division but only 11 in Division One Midlands. At the end of the season the champions of the Northern and Southern divisions will both qualify for a Championship Play Off match against each other which will decide the overall National League Champion. Subject to meeting league requirements both teams will be promoted to the FA Women's Championship. As part of the Football Association's restructure, clubs from the FA Women's Super League and FA Women's Championship were able to enter teams into the Reserve Section.
Premier Division Northern Premier Division
Changes from last season: Leicester City Women was awarded a FA Women's Championship licence through application. Sunderland was demoted from the FA WSL 1 after failing to retain a licence in the top 2 tiers. Doncaster Rovers Belles and Sheffield withdrew from the FA Women's Championship before the season started after initially successfully retaining a Tier 2 licence. West Bromwich Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers were relegated to Division One Midlands. Hull City were promoted into the Northern Division from Northern Division One.
TeamHome ground2017–18 positionBlackburn RoversSir Tom Finney Stadium, Bamber Bridge1stBradford CityPlumpton Park, Bradford8thDerby CountyThe Don Amott Arena, Derby7thDoncaster Rovers BellesOxford Street, Doncaster1st in WSL 2 (relegated)FyldeMill Farm, Wesham5thGuiseley VixensNethermoor Park, Guiseley10thHuddersfield TownThe Stafflex Arena, Kirkburton6thHull CityHull University Sports Ground, Hull1st in Northern Division One (promoted)MiddlesbroughBedford Terrace, Billingham3rdNottingham ForestStokeld Stadium, Carlton9thSheffieldCoach and Horses, Dronfield5th in WSL 2 (relegated)Stoke CityCommunity Drive, Stoke-on-Trent4thSunderlandEppleton Colliery Welfare Ground, Hetton-le-Hole7th in WSL 1 (relegated)
League table
Results
Southern Premier Division
Changes from last season: League champions Charlton Athletic was promoted to FA Women's Championship. West Ham United was awarded a FA Women's Super League licence through application. Lewes was awarded a FA Women's Championship licence through application. Crystal Palace was awarded a FA Women's Championship licence through application after the withdrawal of Sheffield during the closed season. Oxford United and Watford were relegated from the FA WSL 2 after failing to retain a licence for Tier 2. Loughborough Foxes, Plymouth Argyle and Milton Keynes Dons were promoted into the Southern Division from Midlands Division One, South West Division One and South East Division One respectively. Swindon Town was relegated to Division One South West.
TeamHome ground2017–18 positionC & K BasildonThe Frost Hire Stadium, Canvey Island2ndCardiff CityCCB Centre for Sporting Excellence, Ystrad Mynach10thChichester CityOaklands Park, Chichester8thCoventry UnitedButts Park Arena, Coventry4thGillinghamMaidstone Road Sports Ground, Chatham9thLoughborough FoxesLoughborough University Stadium, Loughborough1st in Midlands Division One (promoted)Milton Keynes DonsStadium MK, Milton Keynes1st in South East Division One (promoted)Oxford UnitedMarsh Lane, Marston8th in WSL 2 (relegated)Plymouth ArgyleHaye Road, Plymouth1st in South West Division One (promoted)PortsmouthKendall's Stadium, Portsmouth6thQueens Park RangersHoneycroft, West Drayton, London11thWatfordCRY Community Stadium, Kings Langley10th in WSL 2 (relegated)
League table
Results
Championship play-off The overall FA WNL champion will be decided by a play-off match to be held at the end of the season. Both sides will also earn promotion to the FA Women's Championship subject to meeting licensing requirements.
Division One Division One North
Changes from last season: Hull City was promoted to the Northern Division. Norton & Stockton Ancients was promoted from the North East Regional League. Burnley was promoted from the North West Regional League. Mossley Hill was relegated to the regional leagues.
TeamHome ground2017–18 positionBarnsleyBarnsley FC Academy, Barnsley11thBolton WanderersKensite Stadium, Atherton4thBrighouse TownThe Yorkshire Payments Stadium, Brighouse2ndBurnleyArbories Memorial Sports Ground, Padiham 1st in North West Regional League (promoted)Chester-le-StreetMoor Park, Chester Moor9thChorleyVictory Park Stadium, Chorley6thCrewe AlexandraCumberland Arena, Crewe8thLeeds UnitedLeeds United F.C. Training Ground, Wetherby10thLiverpool FedsI.M. Marsh Campus, Liverpool3rdMorecambeLancaster & Morecambe College, Lancaster7thNewcastle UnitedDruid Park, Newcastle upon Tyne5thNorton & Stockton AncientsNorton Teesside Sports Complex, Stockton-on-Tees1st in North East Regional League (promoted)
League table
Results
Division One Midlands
Changes from last season: Loughborough Foxes was promoted to the Southern Division. Sheffield United was awarded a FA Women's Championship licence through application. West Bromwich Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers were relegated from the Northern Division. Bedworth United was promoted from the West Midlands Regional League. Nettleham was promoted from the East Midlands Regional League. Leicester City Ladies and Rotherham United were relegated to the regional leagues. Radcliffe Olympic withdrew from the league before the season started.
TeamHome ground2017–18 positionBedworth UnitedThe Oval, Bedworth1st in West Midlands Regional League (promoted)Birmingham & West MidlandsCastle Vale Stadium, Birmingham9thBurton AlbionThe Lamb Ground, Tamworth2ndLong Eaton UnitedGrange Park, Long Eaton6thNettlehamMulsanne Park, Nettleham1st in East Midlands Regional League (promoted)SolihullWest Midland Sports & Social Club, Birmingham7thSporting KhalsaThe Aspray Arena, Willenhall8thSteel City WanderersSt George's Park Thorncliffe, Sheffield10thThe New SaintsPark Hall Stadium, Oswestry5thWest Bromwich AlbionTrevor Brown Memorial Ground, Sutton Coldfield12th in Northern Division (relegated)Wolverhampton WanderersQueen Street Stadium, Bilston11th in Northern Division (relegated)
League table
Results
Division One South East
Changes from last season: Milton Keynes Dons was promoted to the Southern Division. Billericay Town was promoted from the Eastern Region League. Crawley Wasps was promoted from the London & South East Regional League. Haringey Borough was relegated to the regional leagues.
TeamHome ground2017–18 positionActoniansRectory Park, Northolt7thAFC WimbledonWar Memorial Sports Ground, Sutton2ndBillericay TownAGP Arena, Billericay1st in Eastern Region League (promoted)Cambridge UnitedRecreation Way, Mildenhall8thCrawley WaspsTinsley Lane, Crawley1st in London & South East Regional League (promoted)Denham UnitedThe Den, Denham9thEnfield TownQueen Elizabeth II Stadium, Enfield10thIpswich TownThe Goldstar Ground, Felixstowe3rdLeyton OrientMile End Stadium, Bow, London4thLuton TownStockwood Park Athletics Stadium, Luton5thNorwich CityPlantation Park, Blofield11thStevenageHertingfordbury Park, Hertford6th
League table
Results
Division One South West
Changes from last season: Plymouth Argyle was promoted to the Southern Division. Swindon Town was relegated from the Southern Division. Chesham United was promoted from the Southern Region League. Buckland Athletic was promoted from the South West Regional League. Basingstoke withdrew from the league during the 2017–18 season.
TeamHome ground2017–18 positionBrislingtonBrislington Stadium, Brislington6thBuckland AthleticHomers Heath, Newton Abbot1st in South West Regional League (promoted)Cheltenham TownPetersfield Park, Cheltenham9thChesham UnitedThe Meadow, Chesham1st in Southern Region League (promoted)Keynsham TownThe AJN Stadium, Keynsham3rdLarkhall AthleticPlain Ham, Larkhall7thMaidenhead UnitedYork Road Stadium, Maidenhead8thPoole TownDorset County F.A. County Ground, Poole5thSouthampton SaintsUniversal Stadium, Sholing4thSouthampton WomenGang Warily Recreation Ground, Southampton2ndSt NicholasLodge Road, Yate10thSwindon TownCinder Lane, Fairford12th in Southern Division (relegated) St Nicholas withdrew from the league after the first weekend without playing a match due to a lack of numbers.
League table
Results
Reserve Division Reserve Northern Division One
Sheffield and Sunderland withdrew their entries before the season started. Hull City was moved from Reserve Northern Division Two to Reserve Northern Division One before the season started after the withdrawal of Sheffield and Sunderland. Bradford City withdrew from the league during winter 2018–19. All results involving Bradford City were expunged.
League table
Results
Reserve Northern Division Two
Bolton Wanderers withdrew their entry at the start of the season. Hull City was moved to Reserve Northern Division Two to Reserve Northern Division One before the season started after the withdrawal of Sheffield and Sunderland. Fylde withdrew from the league during winter 2018–19. All results involving Fylde were expunged.
League table
Results
Reserve Midland Division
The New Saints withdrew their entry before the season started.
League table
Results
Reserve South/South East Division
West Ham United withdrew their entry at the start of the season. Ipswich Town withdrew from the league during autumn 2018. All results involving Ipswich Town were expunged.
League table
Results
Reserve South/South West Division
Poole Town withdrew from the league during autumn 2018. All results involving Poole Town were expunged.
League table
Results
References
External links Official website of the FA Women's National League League results and standings