2015–16 FA Women's Premier League

The 2015–16 season of the FA Women's Premier League is the 24th season of the competition, which began in 1992. Formerly the top flight of women's football in England, this season 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.[1]

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.[1] At the end of the season the champions of the Northern and Southern divisions will both qualify for a playoff match against each other which will decide the overall league champion, who subject to meeting league requirements will be promoted to FA WSL 2.[2]

Teams

A total of 72 teams were members of the FA Women's Premier League at the beginning of the 2015–16 season. They were divided into six divisions of twelve teams, which are given below.[3]

Northern Division

Guiseley Vixens
Loughborough Foxes
Nuneaton Town
Map showing the locations of the teams in the Northern Division of the FA Women's Premier League

Changes from last season:

TeamHome ground2014–15 position
Blackburn RoversAnchor Ground, Darwen3rd
Bradford CityPlumpton Park, Bradford4th
Derby CountyAnderson Electrical Arena, Derby6th
Guiseley VixensNethermoor Park, Guiseley1st in Northern Division One (promoted)
Huddersfield TownStorthes Hall Park, Kirkburton5th
Loughborough FoxesLoughborough University Stadium, Loughborough1st in Midlands Division One (promoted)
Newcastle UnitedSport Northumbria, Newcastle upon Tyne11th
Nottingham ForestGreenwich Avenue, Nottingham9th
Nuneaton TownLiberty Way, Nuneaton8th in Southern Division (swapped divisions with Coventry United)
Preston North EndSir Tom Finney Stadium, Bamber Bridge8th
Sporting Club AlbionThe Grove, Halesowen10th
Stoke CityWellbeing Park, Stone7th

Southern Division

C&K Basildon
Forest Green Rovers
QPR
Map showing the locations of the teams in the Southern Division of the FA Women's Premier League

Changes from last season:

TeamHome ground2014–15 position
Brighton & Hove AlbionCulver Road, Lancing2nd
C&K BasildonThe Prospect Stadium, Canvey Island1st South East Division One (promoted)
Cardiff CityCCB Centre for Sporting Excellence, Ystrad Mynach4th
Charlton AthleticBayliss Avenue, Thamesmead, London3rd
Coventry UnitedThe Oval Ground, Bedworth2nd in Northern Division (swapped divisions with Nuneaton Town)
Forest Green RoversWisloe Road, Cambridge, Gloucestershire1st in South West Division One (promoted)
LewesThe Dripping Pan, Lewes7th
Plymouth ArgyleHaye Road, Plymouth10th
PortsmouthPrivett Park, Gosport1st
Queens Park RangersHoneycroft, West Drayton, London9th
Tottenham HotspurCheshunt Stadium, Cheshunt5th
West Ham UnitedHornchurch Stadium, Upminster, London6th

Northern Division One

Blackpool Wren Rovers
Chester-le-Street
Chorley
Liverpool Marshall Feds
Morecambe
Mossley Hill
Norton & Stockton Ancients
Stockport County
Map showing the locations of the teams in the Northern Division One of the FA Women's Premier League

The teams competing this season are:[5]

TeamHome ground2014–15 position
Blackpool Wren RoversBrews Park, Blackpool
Chester-le-StreetMoor Park, Chester Moor6th
ChorleyJim Fowler Memorial Fields, Leyland5th
Hull CityHamworth Park, Hull
Leeds LadiesWheatley Park, Garforth3rd
Liverpool Marshall FedsI.M. Marsh Campus, Liverpool2nd
MiddlesbroughTeesdale Park, Thornaby-on-Tees4th
MorecambeLancaster & Morecambe College, Lancaster10th
Mossley HillMossley Hill Athletic Club, Liverpool7th
Norton & Stockton AncientsNorton Sports Complex, Norton11th
Stockport CountyStockport Sports Village, Woodley8th
Tranmere RoversCross Lane, Wallasey9th

Midlands Division One

Birmingham & WM
Leafield A.
Leicester City LFC
Loughborough Students
Peterborough Northern Star
Radcliffe Olympic
Solihull
Sporting Khalsa
Steel City Wanderers
Map showing the locations of the teams in Midlands Division One of the FA Women's Premier League

Changes from last season:

The teams competing this season are:[10]

TeamHome ground2014–15 position
Birmingham & West MidlandsShenley Lane Community Sports Centre, Birmingham1st in West Midlands Regional League (promoted)
Leafield AthleticTriplex Sports Club3rd
Leicester City L.F.C.Linwood Playing Fields, Leicester9th
Leicester City W.F.C.Riverside Pavilion, Leicester2nd
Loughborough StudentsHolywell Park, Loughborough5th
Peterborough Northern StarMick George Arena, Peterborough1st in East Midlands Regional League (promoted)
Radcliffe OlympicWharf Lane Recreation Ground, Radcliffe-on-Trent4th
Rotherham UnitedRoundwood Sports Complex, Rotherham6th
SolihullField Lane, Solihull7th
Sporting KhalsaAspray Arena, Willenhall8th
Steel City WanderersPark Road, Worsbrough10th
Wolverhampton WanderersKeys Park, Hednesford12th in Northern Division (relegated)

South East Division One

Bedford
Cambridge United
Denham United
Ipswich Town
Lowestoft Town
Milton Keynes Dons
Old Actonians
Map showing the locations of the teams in South East Division One of the FA Women's Premier League

Changes from last season:

The teams competing this season are:[15]

TeamHome ground2014–15 position
BedfordWeston Park, Wootton8th
Cambridge UnitedUnwin Sports Ground, Ely7th
Crystal PalaceHayes Lane, Bromley3rd
Denham UnitedThe Middlesex Stadium, Ruislip6th
Enfield TownQueen Elizabeth II Stadium, Enfield5th
GillinghamThe Sports Ground, Chatham11th in Southern Division (relegated)
Ipswich TownHumber Doucy Lane, Rushmere, Ipswich9th
Lowestoft TownCrown Meadow, Lowestoft1st in Eastern Region League (promoted)
Luton TownStockwood Park Athletics Stadium, Luton4th
Milton Keynes DonsWillen Road, Newport Pagnell2nd
Norwich CityPlantation Park, Blofield10th
Old ActoniansBerkeley Fields, Greenford, London1st in London & South Eastern League (promoted)

South West Division One

Cheltenham Town
Chichester City
Gloucester City
Larkhall Athletic
Maidenhead United
Shanklin
St Nicholas
Spitfires
Map showing the locations of the teams in South West Division One of the FA Women's Premier League

Changes from last season:

The teams competing this season are:[19]

TeamHome ground2014–15 position
Cheltenham TownPetersfield Park, Cheltenham8th
Chichester CityOaklands Park, Chichester7th
Exeter CityMinster Park, Exminster2nd
Gloucester City[note]Fairmile Gardens, Longford1st in South West Region League (promoted)
Keynsham TownCrown Field, Keynsham12th in Southern Division (relegated)
Larkhall AthleticPlain Ham, Larkhall5th
Maidenhead UnitedYork Road, Maidenhead1st in Southern Region League (promoted)
ShanklinCounty Ground, Shanklin6th
Southampton SaintsSilverlake Arena, Sholing4th
St NicholasLodge Road, Yate9th
Swindon Spitfires[note]The Elms, Highworth2nd in South West Region League (promoted)
Swindon TownBarrington Park, Shrivenham3rd

^note Gloucester City and Swindon Spitfires both withdrew from the league during the season. All results involving them were expunged.[20][21]

League tables

Northern Division

Table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Preston North End 22 15 4 3 71 20 +51 49 Playoff with Southern Division champion
2 Sporting Club Albion 18 14 1 3 47 20 +27 43
3 Blackburn Rovers 20 12 4 4 36 19 +17 40
4 Stoke City 20 12 2 6 53 27 +26 38
5 Bradford City 20 12 2 6 47 26 +21 38
6 Nottingham Forest 20 11 4 5 36 21 +15 37
7 Derby County 22 9 1 12 37 47 10 28
8 Huddersfield Town 21 7 3 11 46 55 9 24
9 Newcastle United 18 6 0 12 28 50 22 18
10 Nuneaton Town 21 4 2 15 25 65 40 14
11 Guiseley Vixens 21 3 3 15 24 69 45 12 Relegation to FA Women's Premier League Division One regions
12 Loughborough Foxes 21 3 2 16 26 57 31 11
Updated to match(es) played on 4 May 2016. Source: The Football Association
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored

Results

Home ╲ Away BLB BRA DERGUIHUDLOUNEWNOTNUNPNESCASTK
Blackburn Rovers 31 50 42 10 00 20 00 20 21
Bradford City 22 32 51 20 20 30 30 11 12 23 14
Derby County 43 21 21 01 00 10 20 01 04 12 03
Guiseley Vixens 01 15 06 07 32 12 22 11 02
Huddersfield Town 02 05 26 02 70 43 33 31 14 33
Loughborough Foxes 02 12 34 22 12 21 15 63 12 21
Newcastle United 21 31 20 16 27 42 10 61 05 14
Nottingham Forest 21 02 20 30 31 10 40 20 22 30
Nuneaton Town 03 12 14 42 31 42 02 01 23 02
Preston North End 01 21 71 41 60 51 40 22 130 30 03
Sporting Club Albion 40 30 50 00 40 21 20 51 32 31
Stoke City 11 13 51 50 52 20 31 30 12 42

Updated to games played on 4 May 2016.
Source: The Football Association
1 ^ The home team is listed in the left-hand column.
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Southern division

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Brighton & Hove Albion (Q) 22 17 3 2 58 18 +40 54 Playoff with Northern Division champion
2 Charlton Athletic 22 16 4 2 68 20 +48 52
3 Cardiff City 21 15 2 4 66 25 +41 47
4 Portsmouth 22 14 2 6 61 27 +34 44
5 Coventry United 21 12 5 4 62 18 +44 41
6 Tottenham Hotspur 22 11 1 10 34 30 +4 34
7 Lewes 22 8 1 13 30 42 12 25
8 C & K Basildon 22 7 4 11 38 55 17 25
9 Queens Park Rangers 22 6 3 13 25 45 20 21
10 West Ham United 22 5 4 13 21 60 39 19
11 Forest Green Rovers (R) 22 2 2 18 19 76 57 8 Relegation to FA Women's Premier League Division One regions
12 Plymouth Argyle (R) 22 1 3 18 23 89 66 6
Updated to match(es) played on 1 May 2016. Source: The Football Association
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(Q) Qualified to the phase indicated; (R) Relegated.

Results

Home ╲ Away BHA C&K CARCHACVUFGRLEWPLYPORQPRTOTWHU
Brighton & Hove Albion 61 12 20 21 40 20 30 31 20 41 10
C & K Basildon 16 47 11 00 31 23 21 43 33 14 23
Cardiff City 12 42 31 03 82 50 91 01 71 40 22
Charlton Athletic 00 41 00 11 91 21 51 21 21 10 81
Coventry United 22 21 23 40 50 110 11 30 12 50
Forest Green Rovers 14 01 12 06 13 06 33 03 12 05 10
Lewes 02 21 13 01 04 31 41 02 12 02 22
Plymouth Argyle 04 24 13 16 04 11 13 25 22 24 02
Portsmouth 23 22 21 14 51 30 01 60 30 32 70
Queens Park Rangers 21 10 02 12 05 41 13 12 01 01 31
Tottenham Hotspur 12 01 01 12 00 21 20 30 04 21 21
West Ham United 22 01 02 08 04 03 10 42 15 00 10

Updated to games played on 1 May 2016.
Source: The Football Association
1 ^ The home team is listed in the left-hand column.
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Championship play-off

The overall FA WPL champion will be decided by a play-off match to be held at Wycombe Wanderers' Adams Park stadium on 29 May 2016.[22] The championship-winning team will win promotion to FA WSL 2, subject to them meeting The Football Association's requirements for entry to the Women's Super League.[2]

29 May 2016
Winner of Northern Division v Brighton & Hove Albion (S)

References

  1. 1 2 "About the FA WPL". The Football Association. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  2. 1 2 "The FA Women’s Premier League Handbook season 2015–16" (PDF). 22 December 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  3. "Premier League constitution". Women's Soccer Scene. 22 June 2015. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  4. 1 2 "Ryan excited at Nuneaton move". Women's Soccer Scene. 16 July 2015. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  5. "FA Women's Premier League Northern Division One". The Football Association. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  6. Richard Rush (19 July 2015). "Loughborough Foxes relishing new challenge". Loughborough Echo. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  7. "Latest From Wolves Women". Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club. 27 April 2015. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  8. "New Name, New Beginnings!". Birmingham & West Midlands Ladies Football Club. 24 June 2015. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  9. 1 2 "Regional Leagues round-up". Women's Soccer Scene. 8 May 2015. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  10. "FA Women's Premier League Midlands Division One". Full Time. The Football Association. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  11. "Gillingham Ladies part company with Simon Ratcliffe following relegation". Kentish Football. 4 June 2015. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  12. "Regional Leagues round-up". Women's Soccer Scene. 17 April 2015. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  13. "Carshalton pay for administrative error with their Premier League place". Sent Her Forward. 19 June 2015. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  14. Matthew Critchell (19 June 2015). "The man behind the ladies at C&K Basildon". Braintree & Witham Times. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  15. "FA Women's Premier League South East Division One". The Football Association. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  16. "Maidenhead United Ladies confirm promotion to FA Women's Premier League". Maidenhead United Football Club. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  17. "Gloucester City benefit from team effort". Women's Soccer Scene. 24 April 2015. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  18. Matthew Edwards (27 June 2015). "Spitfires are aiming to build on World Cup fervour". Swindon Advertiser. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  19. "FA Women's Premier League South West Division One". The Football Association. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  20. "Gloucester City withdraw from league". Women's Soccer Scene. 15 September 2015. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  21. Tom Bassam (19 October 2015). "Spitfires make reluctant withdrawal". Swindon Advertiser. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  22. "FA WPL Finals Venues Announced". She Kicks. 8 March 2016. Retrieved 9 March 2016.

External links

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