England Championship Women
Fixtures
| Date | R | Home vs Away | - |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01/19 12:00 | - |
Durham Women vs Charlton Women
|
View |
| 01/19 13:00 | - |
Sheff Utd Women vs Newcastle United Women
|
View |
| 01/19 14:00 | - |
Southampton Women vs Sunderland Women
|
View |
| 01/19 14:00 | - |
Portsmouth Women vs Birmingham Women
|
View |
| 01/19 14:00 | - |
Bristol City Women vs London City Lionesses Women
|
View |
| 01/26 14:00 | - |
Durham Women vs Southampton Women
|
View |
| 01/26 14:00 | - |
Charlton Women vs Sheff Utd Women
|
View |
| 01/26 14:00 | - |
Blackburn Women vs Sunderland Women
|
View |
| 01/26 14:00 | - |
Birmingham Women vs Bristol City Women
|
View |
| 01/26 14:00 | - |
Newcastle United Women vs Portsmouth Women
|
View |
| 02/01 12:00 | - |
Charlton Women vs Blackburn Women
|
View |
| 02/02 13:00 | - |
Sheff Utd Women vs Durham Women
|
View |
Results
| Date | R | Home vs Away | - |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12/15 14:00 | - |
[1] Birmingham Women vs Charlton Women
[8]
|
0-0 |
| 12/15 14:00 | - |
[4] London City Lionesses Women vs Southampton Women
[6]
|
3-1 |
| 12/15 14:00 | - |
[5] Sunderland Women vs Portsmouth Women
[11]
|
2-2 |
| 12/15 12:00 | - |
[3] Bristol City Women vs Durham Women
[2]
|
5-0 |
| 12/14 14:00 | - |
Newcastle United Women vs Blackburn Women
|
PPT. |
| 11/17 14:00 | - |
[7] Newcastle Women vs Southampton Women
[4]
|
1-1 |
| 11/17 14:00 | - |
[10] Blackburn Women vs Portsmouth Women
[11]
|
2-0 |
| 11/17 14:00 | - |
[5] Charlton Women vs Bristol City Women
[5]
|
1-2 |
| 11/17 13:00 | - |
[9] Sheff Utd Women vs Sunderland Women
[8]
|
0-1 |
| 11/17 12:00 | - |
[3] Durham Women vs London City Lionesses Women
[2]
|
3-2 |
| 11/10 14:00 | - |
Bristol City Women vs Newcastle Women
|
2-0 |
| 11/10 14:00 | - |
[2] London City Lionesses Women vs Birmingham Women
[1]
|
1-2 |
Teams
Durham Women
Charlton Women
Sheff Utd Women
London City Lionesses Women
Blackburn Women
Crystal Palace Women
Lewes Women
Sunderland Women
Coventry Women
Birmingham Women
Southampton Women
Bristol City Women
London Bees Women
Watford Women
Leicester Women
Aston Villa Women
Liverpool Women
Tottenham Women
Millwall Women
Reading Women
Portsmouth Women
Newcastle United Women
Sheffield FC Women
Brighton & Hove Albion Women
Oxford Utd Women
Man Utd Women
Doncaster Rovers Women
Yeovil Town Women
Everton Women
Wikipedia - Women's Championship
The Women's Championship, also known as Barclays Women's Championship for sponsorship reasons, is a professional football league in England. Women's Championship is the second-highest division of women's football in England. The division was established in 2014 as the FA Women's Super League 2 (WSL 2).
WSL 2 replaced the previous level 2 division, the FA Women's Premier League (WPL) National Division, which ended after the 2012–13 season. The WPL's last national division champions, Sunderland A.F.C. Women, were not promoted and also became the first winners of WSL 2 in the 2014 season. In addition to Sunderland, other WPL clubs that joined WSL 2 in 2014 were Watford and Aston Villa.
From 2014 to 2016, WSL 2 ran a summer-based season calendar before reverting to the winter season in 2017–18, the same as WSL 1.
FA WSL 2 was renamed the FA Women's Championship prior to the 2018–19 season. Ahead of the 2022–23 season the top two tiers unveiled a new visual identity, dropping "The FA" from the league names as part of the long term strategy for the leagues to be under new ownership in the future. Having sponsored the first tier since the 2019–20 season, it marked the first season of Barclays as the title partner of the Women's Championship.
In November 2023, all 24 Women's Super League and Women's Championship clubs had unanimously agreed to form a new organisation, named NewCo, to run the women's professional game in England, taking over from the FA.
For the 2023/24 season, changes were made meaning that two clubs would be relegated from the league allowing one team each from National League North and South to be promoted to the Championship rather than having to play a season end playoff. This change resulted in two teams being relegated from the Championship at the end of the season. No changes were made to promotion from the league to the WSL with still only one promotion and one relegation respectively.
For the 2024/25 season, the league was reduced to eleven teams, due to Reading’s withdrawal from the Championship, citing financial issues. The FA confirmed two relegation spots would reduce to one. The league will return to a twelve team league at the beginning of the 2025/26 season.
History
For the 2014 season, the FA Women's Super League was expanded to create a second division with nine new teams added and one team being relegated from the WSL 1. WSL 1 remained as eight teams, with one new team inserted, with the WSL 2 having ten teams.
The new WSL 1 licence was awarded to Manchester City in 2014. Doncaster Rovers Belles were relegated to WSL 2, with nine new licences awarded to London Bees, Durham, Aston Villa, Millwall Lionesses, Yeovil Town, Reading, Sunderland, Watford, and Oxford United. Doncaster Belles appealed against their demotion, but were unsuccessful.
In December 2014, the FA WSL announced a two-year plan to expand WSL 1 from an eight to ten-team league. Two teams would be promoted from WSL 2, while one team would be relegated to WSL 2. Also, for the first time, a team would earn promotion to WSL 2 from the Women's Premier League (now National League), effectively connecting the WSL to the rest of the English women's football pyramid.
This left WSL 1 with nine teams and WSL 2 with ten teams for the 2016 season, and with the process repeated the following year, both WSL 1 and WSL 2 consisted of ten teams each for the 2017–18 season. In addition to being able to prove their financial solvency, clubs applying for entry to the WSL had to show they would attract an average of 350 spectators in 2016, increasing to at least 400 in 2017.
FA WSL 2 was renamed the Women's Championship prior to the 2018–19 season.
In May 2020 the Championship season was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022 the league was renamed to simply the Women's Championship, with the FA part being dropped.
In November 2023, it was announced that all 24 Women's Super League and Women's Championship clubs had unanimously agreed to form a new organisation to run the women's professional game in England, taking over from the FA. The organization is called NewCo, and Nikki Doucet has been named CEO.
On 13 October 2024, Sunderland A.F.C. Women and Newcastle United W.F.C. set a new attendance record of 15,387 for the Women's Championship in their first meeting in the league, a Wear–Tyne derby match played at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland. The previous record had been an attendance of 11,137, set in 2022.
The England Championship Women is a premier football tournament that showcases the incredible talent and competitive spirit of women's soccer across the nation. As the second tier of women's football in England, this championship serves as a vital platform for clubs and players aspiring to reach the top levels of the sport, including the FA Women's Super League.
Each season, the tournament features a diverse array of teams from various regions, all vying for promotion and the coveted title of champions. The competition is characterized by its fast-paced matches, skillful play, and passionate fan support, making it a thrilling experience for spectators both in the stadiums and at home.
The England Championship Women not only highlights the athletic prowess of its players but also emphasizes the growth and development of women's football in the UK. With a focus on fostering young talent and promoting inclusivity, the tournament plays a crucial role in elevating the profile of women's sports.
Throughout the season, teams engage in a rigorous schedule of matches, battling it out for points in a league format that culminates in an exciting climax. The top teams earn the opportunity for promotion to the FA Women's Super League, while others strive to secure their place for another season in this competitive environment.
Fans can expect to witness thrilling rivalries, emerging stars, and unforgettable moments as the England Championship Women continues to inspire the next generation of female athletes. Join us in celebrating the passion, dedication, and excellence of women's soccer in England!