The 2020–21 FA Women's National League was the 30th season of the competition, and the third since a restructure and rebranding of the top four tiers of English football by The Football Association. Starting 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 featured 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 consisted of 71 teams, divided into six divisions of twelve teams apart from Division One South West which contains 11 teams. At the end of the season the winners of the Northern and Southern Premier divisions would have both qualified for a play-off match to decide the overall National League champion. Both teams were due be promoted to the FA Women's Championship.
On 4 January 2021, the National League was suspended due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and national lockdown. On 15 March, all tiers of the National League were curtailed for a second consecutive season. Although there was no promotion and relegation between the tiers, including promotion from tier 3 into tier 2 and relegation from tier 6 into tier 7, an alternative method of upward club movement via application and based on set criteria was suggested in order to support the stability and integrity of the women's football pyramid. All clubs from tiers 3 to 6 were eligible to apply to move into the league immediately one tier above where they currently played with applications marked against a criterion weighted 75% on-field and 25% off-field. As a result, Sunderland and Watford were awarded promotion to the FA Women's Championship ahead of the 2021–22 season.
Premier Division Northern Premier Division
Changes from last season:
Following the curtailment of the 2019–20 season amid the COVID-19 pandemic in June 2020, it was decided there would be no promotion or relegation in the National League.
ClubHome groundPosition 2019–20AFC FyldeMill Farm, Wesham9thBurnleyArbories Memorial Sports Ground, Padiham5thDerby CountyThe Don Amott Arena, Derby2ndHuddersfield TownThe Stafflex Arena, Kirkburton6thHull CityDransfield Stadium, North Ferriby11thLoughborough FoxesLoughborough University Stadium, Loughborough10thMiddlesbroughBedford Terrace, Billingham8thNottingham ForestEastwood CFC, Eastwood3rdSheffieldHome of Football Ground, Dronfield12thStoke CityClayton Wood, Stoke-on-Trent4thSunderlandEppleton Colliery Welfare Ground, Hetton-le-Hole1stWest Bromwich AlbionWalsall Wood, Walsall7th
League table
Southern Premier Division
Changes from last season:
Following the curtailment of the 2019–20 season amid the COVID-19 pandemic in June 2020, it was decided there would be no promotion or relegation in the National League. Chichester City were renamed Chichester & Selsey Ladies after dropping their affiliation to Chichester City F.C. Gillingham L.F.C. were renamed Gillingham W.F.C. after losing their affiliation to Gillingham F.C. during a club restructure Yeovil Town rebranded Yeovil United
ClubHome groundPosition 2019–20Cardiff CityCCB Centre for Sporting Excellence, Ystrad Mynach6thChichester & SelseyThe High Street Ground, Selsey12th (as Chichester City)Crawley WaspsThe New Defence, Horley1stGillinghamMaidstone Road Sports Ground, Chatham9thHounslowHoneycroft, West Drayton11thKeynsham TownThe AJN Stadium, Keynsham10thMK DonsStadium MK, Milton Keynes8thOxford UnitedMarsh Lane, Marston3rdPlymouth ArgyleManadon Sports Hub, Plymouth4thPortsmouthWestleigh Park, Havant7thWatfordCRY Community Stadium, Kings Langley2ndYeovil UnitedHuish Park, Yeovil5th
League table
Division One Division One North
Changes from last season:
Following the curtailment of the 2019–20 season amid the COVID-19 pandemic in June 2020, it was decided there would be no promotion or relegation in the National League. Bolton Wanderers reverted to their original name of Bolton Ladies after dropping their affiliation to Bolton Wanderers F.C.
ClubHome groundPosition 2019–20BarnsleyBarnsley FC Academy, Barnsley1stBolton LadiesKensite Stadium, Atherton9th (as Bolton Wanderers)Bradford CityPlumpton Park, Bradford12thBrighouse TownThe Yorkshire Payments Stadium, Brighouse3rdChester-le-StreetMoor Park, Chester Moor7thChorleyVictory Park Stadium, Chorley11thDurham CestriaThe Graham Sports Centre, Durham5thLeeds UnitedThorp Arch, Wetherby2ndLiverpool FedsI.M. Marsh Campus, Liverpool4thNewcastle UnitedDruid Park, Newcastle upon Tyne6thNorton & Stockton AncientsNorton Teesside Sports Complex, Stockton-on-Tees8thStockport CountyStockport Sports Village, Stockport10th
League table
Division One Midlands
Changes from last season:
Following the curtailment of the 2019–20 season amid the COVID-19 pandemic in June 2020, it was decided there would be no promotion or relegation in the National League. Birmingham & West Midlands were renamed Boldmere St. Michaels after merging with Boldmere St. Michaels F.C. Leicester United were renamed Holwell Sports after merging with Holwell Sports F.C. The New Saints (TNS) were renamed Wem Town after TNS announced the decision to fold their women's side and the team re-affiliated with Wem Town F.C.
ClubHome groundPosition 2019–20Bedworth UnitedThe Oval, Bedworth3rdBoldmere St. MichaelsTrevor Brown Memorial Ground, Sutton Coldfield2nd (as Birmingham & West Midlands)Burton AlbionThe Lamb Ground, Tamworth12thDoncaster Rovers BellesOxford Street, Rossington10thHolwell SportsWelby Road, Asfordby Hill7th (as Leicester United)Leafield AthleticStockingford Pavilion, Nuneaton9thLincoln CityActive Nation, Yarborough, Lincoln5thLong Eaton UnitedGrange Park, Long Eaton6thSolihull MoorsWest Midland Sports & Social Club, Birmingham11thSporting KhalsaThe Aspray Arena, Willenhall8thWem TownButler Sports Centre, Wem4th (as TNS)Wolverhampton WanderersCKW Stadium, Castlecroft, Wolverhampton1st
League table
Division One South East
Changes from last season:
Following the curtailment of the 2019–20 season amid the COVID-19 pandemic in June 2020, it was decided there would be no promotion or relegation in the National League. AFC Basildon were renamed Hashtag United after merging with Hashtag United F.C.
ClubHome groundPosition 2019–20ActoniansRectory Park, Northolt7thAFC WimbledonWar Memorial Sports Ground, Sutton2ndBillericay TownAGP Arena, Billericay4thCambridge CityThe Ellgia Stadium, Ely11thCambridge UnitedRecreation Way, Mildenhall8thEnfield TownQueen Elizabeth II Stadium, Enfield6thHashtag UnitedPark Lane, Canvey Island3rd (as AFC Basildon)Ipswich TownThe Goldstar Ground, Felixstowe1stKent Football UnitedGlentworth Sports Club, Kent12thLeyton OrientMile End Stadium, Bow, London5thNorwich CityPlantation Park, Blofield9thStevenageHertingfordbury Park, Hertford10th
League table
Division One South West
Changes from last season:
Following the curtailment of the 2019–20 season amid the COVID-19 pandemic in June 2020, it was decided there would be no promotion or relegation in the National League.
ClubHome groundPosition 2019–20BrislingtonBrislington Stadium, Brislington8thBuckland AthleticHomers Heath, Newton Abbot7thCheltenham TownPetersfield Park, Cheltenham4thChesham UnitedThe Meadow, Chesham5thExeter CityClifford Hill Training Ground, 3rdLarkhall AthleticPlain Ham, Larkhall6thMaidenhead UnitedYork Road Stadium, Maidenhead9thPoole TownDorset County F.A. County Ground, Poole10thSouthamptonTestwood Stadium, Totton1stSouthampton WomenGang Warily Recreation Ground, Southampton2ndSwindon TownCinder Lane, Fairford11th
League table
See also 2020–21 FA WSL (tier 1) 2020–21 FA Women's Championship (tier 2)
References
External links Official website of the FA Women's National League