FA Women's National League North

FA Women's National League North
Founded	1991; 34 years ago
Country	England
Number of clubs	12
Level on pyramid	3
Promotion to	Women's Championship
Relegation to	Division One North ; Division One Midlands
Domestic cup(s)	Women's FA Cup
League cup(s)	National League Cup; National League Plate;
Current champions	Nottingham Forest (2nd title) ; (2024–25)
Most championships	Aston Villa (5 titles)
Website	womenscompetitions.thefa.com
	Current: 2024–25 FA Women's National League

The FA Women's National League North is a football league at the third tier of women's football in England. Together with the National League South, the two leagues form the highest division of the National League.

Established in 1991 as the WFA National League Northern Division, before a name change to the FA Premier League Northern Division in 1994, the league, along with the Southern Division, formed the second tier of women's football until 2010. The league champion was promoted to the National Division, while the bottom two teams were originally relegated to the regional leagues, prior to the introduction of the Combination Leagues in 1998. After the introduction of the Women's Super League, the National Division became the second tier, and the Northern and Southern Divisions became the third tier.

In 2014, the fourth tier Combination Leagues became part of the FA Women's Premier League. Rebranded as the Premier Leagues 'Division One', the champions of Division One North and Division One Midlands feed into the Northern Division. The league received its current name and branding in 2018.

History

Originally known as the WFA National League Northern Division, Bronte were the inaugural second level champions.^[1] Liverpool, having won the 2009–10 season, became the last second level champions.^[2] After the introduction of the Women's Super League in 2011, the league became the third level of woman's football. Aston Villa won the 2010–11 season, becoming the first third level champions.^[3]

For the 2014–15 season, the Women's Premier League incorporated the fourth tier Combination Leagues as the Premier League's 'Division One', with Division One North and Division One Midlands feeding into the Northern Division.^[4] Promotion to the second tier was also reintroduced, with the winners of the Northern and Southern Divisions playing each other in a single play-off match at a neutral venue, the winner becoming the overall Women's Premier League/National League champion, and promoted to the WSL 2.^[5]

Prior to the 2018–19 season, the league was renamed as the FA Women's National League North,^[6] part of a complete rebrand of the women's pyramid.^[7] Blackburn Rovers won the inaugural edition of the rebranded league.^[8] Beginning with the 2023–24 season, it was decided that both the Northern and Southern Division champions would be automatically promoted to the Championship.^[9]

Clubs

The following twelve clubs are competing in the 2024–25 season.

Club	Home ground	Position 2023–24
Burnley	Lancashire County Ground, Leyland	2nd
Derby County	Don Amott Arena, Derby	7th
Halifax	Southerns Stadium, Leeds	6th
Hull City	Easy Buy Stadium, North Ferriby	WNL D1 North, 1st
Liverpool Feds	Jericho Lane, Liverpool	8th
Nottingham Forest	The City Ground, Nottingham	3rd
Rugby Borough	Kilsby Lane, Rugby	WNL South, 3rd
Sporting Khalsa	Aspray Arena, Noose Lane, Willenhall	WNL D1 North, 1st
Stoke City	Norton Cricket Club, Stoke-on-Trent	5th
Stourbridge	War Memorial Ground, Stourbridge	10th
West Bromwich Albion	Keys Park, Hednesford	9th
Wolverhampton Wanderers	New Bucks Head, Telford	4th

Location of clubs for the 2024–25 season

Results

Northern Division

Season	Winner	Runner-up
2000–01	Leeds United	Oldham Curzon
2001–02	Birmingham City	Wolverhampton Wanderers
2002–03	Aston Villa	Sunderland
2003–04	Liverpool	Sunderland
2004–05	Sunderland	Wolverhampton Wanderers
2005–06	Blackburn Rovers	Liverpool
2006–07	Liverpool	Lincoln City
2007–08	Nottingham Forest	Lincoln City
2008–09	Sunderland	Lincoln City
2009–10	Liverpool	Lincoln City
Tier 3
2010–11	Aston Villa	Coventry City
2011–12	Manchester City	Sheffield
2012–13	Sheffield F.C.	Nottingham Forest
2013–14	Sheffield	Preston North End
2014–15	Sheffield	Coventry City
2015–16	Sporting Club Albion	Preston North End
2016–17	Blackburn Rovers	Middlesbrough
2017–18	Blackburn Rovers	Leicester City
2018–19	Blackburn Rovers	Sunderland
2019–20	Not awarded (COVID-19 pandemic)
2020–21	Not awarded (COVID-19 pandemic)
2021–22	Wolverhampton Wanderers	Derby County
2022–23	Nottingham Forest	Wolverhampton Wanderers
2023–24	Newcastle United	Burnley
2024–25	Nottingham Forest	Wolverhampton Wanderers

Division One

Season	Division One North	Runners-up	Division One Midlands	Runners-up
2014–15	Guiseley Vixens	Liverpool Feds	Loughborough Foxes	Leicester City
2015–16	Middlesbrough	Liverpool Feds	Leicester City	Wolverhampton Wanderers
2016–17	Guiseley Vixens	Liverpool Feds	Wolverhampton Wanderers	Loughborough Foxes
2017–18	Hull City	Brighouse Town	Loughborough Foxes	Burton Albion
2018–19	Burnley	Brighouse Town	West Bromwich Albion	Wolverhampton Wanderers
2019–20	Not awarded (COVID-19 pandemic)
2020–21	Not awarded (COVID-19 pandemic)
2021–22	Liverpool Feds	Newcastle United	Boldmere St. Michaels	Doncaster Rovers
2022–23	Newcastle United	Durham Cestria	Stourbridge	Doncaster Rovers
2023–24	Hull City	Middlesbrough	Sporting Khalsa	Loughborough Lightning
2024–25	Middlesbrough	Cheadle Town	Loughborough Lightning	Northampton Town

References

^ "1991–1992". The Owl Football Historian. Archived from the original on 23 October 2012. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
^ "Look back to 2009–10 FA Women's Premier League season that preceded the WSL". She Kicks. 17 April 2020. Archived from the original on 27 March 2023. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
^ "2010/11 Northern Division table". The Football Association. Archived from the original on 23 June 2011. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
^ "An introduction to the FA Women's Premier League". The Football Association. 13 August 2014. Archived from the original on 22 September 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
^ "New FA WPL ready to kick-off with promotion prize". The Football Association. 12 August 2014. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
^ "FA Women's Championship: New name chosen for England's second tier". BBC Sport. 26 February 2018. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
^ "New Brand Identity for FA Woman's Leagues". The Football Association. 6 June 2018. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
^ "Blackburn Rovers defeat Coventry to secure place in FA Woman's Championship". The Football Association. 18 May 2019. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
^ "Statement: 2023–24 promotion and relegation". The Football Association. 28 April 2023. Archived from the original on 30 May 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2025.

External links

[1] "1991–1992". The Owl Football Historian. Archived from the original on 23 October 2012. Retrieved 16 June 2023.

[2] "Look back to 2009–10 FA Women's Premier League season that preceded the WSL". She Kicks. 17 April 2020. Archived from the original on 27 March 2023. Retrieved 27 April 2025.

[3] "2010/11 Northern Division table". The Football Association. Archived from the original on 23 June 2011. Retrieved 17 June 2023.

[4] "An introduction to the FA Women's Premier League". The Football Association. 13 August 2014. Archived from the original on 22 September 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2020.

[5] "New FA WPL ready to kick-off with promotion prize". The Football Association. 12 August 2014. Retrieved 24 April 2025.

[6] "FA Women's Championship: New name chosen for England's second tier". BBC Sport. 26 February 2018. Retrieved 16 June 2023.

[7] "New Brand Identity for FA Woman's Leagues". The Football Association. 6 June 2018. Retrieved 16 June 2023.

[8] "Blackburn Rovers defeat Coventry to secure place in FA Woman's Championship". The Football Association. 18 May 2019. Retrieved 16 June 2023.

[9] "Statement: 2023–24 promotion and relegation". The Football Association. 28 April 2023. Archived from the original on 30 May 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2025.

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