FA WSL 2

FA WSL 2
Country  England
Founded 2014
Number of teams 10
Level on pyramid 2
Promotion to FA WSL 1
Relegation to none
Domestic cup(s) FA Women's Cup
League cup(s) FA WSL Cup
Current champions Reading (1 Title)
(2015)
Most championships Reading, Sunderland (1 Title)
TV partners BT Sport
2016

The Football Association Women's Super League 2 (FA WSL 2) is the second-highest division of women's football in England and was founded in 2014 and 10 teams compete in it. The WSL 2 is played in summer between April and October. As of 2015 there is no relegation from the WSL 2 to the FA Women's Premier League in place. One teams however is promoted to the WSL 1 per season.

History

For the 2014 season the WSL was expanded to create a second division with 9 new teams added and one team being relegated from the WSL 1. WSL 1 remains as 8 teams, with one new team inserted, with the WSL 2 having 10 teams.[1][2][3][4] The new WSL 1 licence was awarded to Manchester City. Doncaster Rovers Belles were relegated to the WSL 2, with nine new licences awarded to: London Bees; Durham; Aston Villa; Millwall Lionesses; Yeovil Town; Reading; Sunderland; Watford; and Oxford United.[5] Doncaster Belles appealed against their demotion, but were unsuccessful.[6]

In December 2014, the FA WSL announced a two-year plan to expand WSL 1 from an eight to 10-team league. Two teams will be promoted from WSL 2, while one team will be relegated to WSL 2.[7][8] Also, for the first time, a team from the FA Women's Premier League earned promotion to WSL 2, effectively connecting the WSL to the rest of the English women's football pyramid.[9]

This will leave WSL 1 with nine teams and WSL 2 with 10 teams for the 2016 season, and with the process repeated the following year, both WSL 1 and WSL 2 will have 10 teams each for the 2017 season.[7] In addition to being able to prove their financial solvency, clubs applying for entry to the WSL must show they will attract an average of 350 spectators in 2016, increasing to at least 400 in 2017.[10]

Clubs

2015 WSL 2 clubs
Club Established City Stadium Capacity*
Aston Villa 1973 Sutton Coldfield Central Ground 2,500
Durham 2013 Durham New Fernes Park 3,000
Doncaster Rovers Belles 1969 Doncaster Keepmoat Stadium 15,000
London Bees 1975 Barnet The Hive 5,000
Everton 1983 Widnes Halton Stadium 13,000
Millwall Lionesses 1972 Millwall The Den 20,000
Oxford United 2005 Oxford The Armadilo Stadium 2,000
Reading 2006 Farnborough The Rushmoor Community Stadium 6,000
Watford 1970 Berkhamsted Broadwater Stadium 2,000
Yeovil Town 1990 Sherborne Raleigh Grove 1,500

Ten teams were being awarded WSL 2 licences in 2014.[5] The WSL 2 is expanding one club in 2016 and 2017, which will be promoted from the FA Women's Premier League provided they meet licensing requirements.[11]

Winners

Year Winner Runners-up Third Top Scorers Goals
2014 Sunderland Doncaster Rovers Belles Reading Fran Kirby (Reading) 24
2015 Reading Doncaster Rovers Belles Everton Courtney Sweetman-Kirk (Doncaster Rovers Belles) 20

Attendances

In the 2014 season there were 251 fans at a WSL 2 match on average. In 2015 it increased to 341.[12]

References

  1. ↑ "FA WSL 2014: Applications". thefa.com. Retrieved 27 May 2013.
  2. ↑ "FA WSL 2014-2018 brochure". thefa.com. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
  3. ↑ "The FA WSL Club Development Plan". thefa.com. Retrieved 27 May 2013.
  4. ↑ "Clubs bid for WSL spot". thefa.com. Retrieved 27 May 2013.
  5. 1 2 "FA Selects Clubs for WSL". WSL. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  6. ↑ Baber, Mark. "Doncaster Belles lose appeal over demotion from Women's Super League". Inside World Football. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  7. 1 2 "FA WSL 2 promotion announcement". Faws1.com. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
  8. ↑ "BBC Sport – Women's Super League to be expanded from 2015". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
  9. ↑ "Sheffield FC beat Portsmouth in Women's Premier League play-off". BBC. 24 May 2015. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
  10. ↑ "Katie Brazier: FA head of women's leagues targets WSL expansion". BBC Sport. 27 July 2015. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
  11. ↑ "FA to expand WSL in 2016". gloucestershirefa.com. 4 July 2014. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  12. ↑ "WSL 2 attendances up 36% in 2015". shekicks.net. 21 October 2015. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
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