The 2015–16 FA Women's Premier League is the 25th season of the competition, which began in 1992. Formerly the top flight of women's
football
Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...
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
The Women's Super League (WSL), also known as the Barclays Women's Super League for sponsorship reasons, and formerly the FA WSL, is a professional association football league and the highest level of women's football in England. Currently oper ...
and above the eight regional football leagues.
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.
72 teams were members of the league at the beginning of the 2015–16 season, divided equally into six divisions of twelve teams. 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
The Women's Super League 2, also known as Barclays Women's Super League 2 for sponsorship reasons, is a professional football league in England, operated by WSL Football. It is the second-highest division of women's football in England. The div ...
.
Premier Division
Northern Division
Changes from last season:
*League champions
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city in South Yorkshire, England, situated south of Leeds and east of Manchester. The city is the administrative centre of the City of Sheffield. It is historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire and some of its so ...
were promoted to
FA WSL 2
The Women's Super League 2, also known as Barclays Women's Super League 2 for sponsorship reasons, is a professional football league in England, operated by WSL Football. It is the second-highest division of women's football in England. The div ...
.
*
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club ( ), commonly referred to as Wolves, is a professional association football, football club based in Wolverhampton, England. The club competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football league s ...
were relegated to Midlands Division One.
*
Loughborough Foxes and
Guiseley Vixens were promoted into the Northern Division from Midlands Division One and Northern Division One respectively.
*Copsewood (Coventry) relocated into the Northern Division from the Southern and were renamed
Nuneaton Town.
*
Coventry United moved in the opposite direction, relocating from the North to the Southern Division.
League table
Results
Southern Division
Changes from last season:
*
Gillingham and
Keynsham Town were relegated to South East and South West Division One respectively.
*
Forest Green Rovers
Forest Green Rovers Football Club is a professional association football club based in Nailsworth, Gloucestershire, England. The team competes in the National League, the fifth level of the English football league system.
Formed in October 188 ...
and
C & K Basildon were promoted from South West and South East Division One.
*
Coventry United relocated into the Southern Division from the Northern Division.
*Copsewood (Coventry) renamed themselves
Nuneaton Town and relocated to the Northern Division.
League table
Results
Championship play-off
The overall FA WPL champion was decided by a play-off match held at
Wycombe Wanderers
Wycombe Wanderers Football Club () is a professional association football club based in the town of High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England. The team competes in League One, the third level of the English football league system.
Founded in 188 ...
'
Adams Park
Adams Park is a Association football, football stadium in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England. Built in 1990, it is the home ground of the local Wycombe Wanderers F.C., Wycombe Wanderers Football Club in EFL League One, League One, with a c ...
stadium on 29 May 2016, which resulted in a 4–2 victory for Southern Division
Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club, commonly referred to as Brighton, is a professional football club based in Brighton and Hove, East Sussex, England. The club competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football. Their home gr ...
over Northern Division
Sporting Club Albion. Brighton won promotion to
FA WSL 2
The Women's Super League 2, also known as Barclays Women's Super League 2 for sponsorship reasons, is a professional football league in England, operated by WSL Football. It is the second-highest division of women's football in England. The div ...
a few days after the match, having met
The Football Association
The Football Association (the FA) is the Sports governing body, governing body of association football in England and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Bailiwick of Guernsey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. Formed in 1863, it is the oldest footb ...
's licensing requirements for entry to the Women's Super League.
Division One
Northern Division One
The teams competing this season are:
League table
Results
Midlands Division One
Changes from last season:
*
Loughborough Foxes were promoted to the
Northern Division.
*
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club ( ), commonly referred to as Wolves, is a professional association football, football club based in Wolverhampton, England. The club competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football league s ...
were relegated from the
Northern Division.
* Birmingham & West Midlands Police were promoted from the
West Midlands Regional League and changed their name to
Birmingham & West Midlands.
*
Peterborough Northern Star were promoted from the
East Midlands Regional League The East Midlands Regional League was a football league in the East Midlands region of England
England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which ...
.
*
Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town Football Club is a professional association football club based in the town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, England. The team competes in , the third level of the English football league system.
The club was formed in 1897 as Mans ...
and
Curzon Ashton
Curzon Ashton Football Club is an association football club based in Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester, England. Founded in 1963 and nicknamed "The Nash", the club is affiliated to the Manchester Football Association and currently compete ...
were relegated to the regional leagues.
The teams competing this season are:
League table
Results
South East Division One
Changes from last season:
*
Gillingham were relegated from the Southern Division.
*
Lowestoft Town and
Old Actonians were promoted from the
Eastern Region League and the
London & South Eastern League respectively.
*
C&K Basildon were promoted to the
Southern Division.
The teams competing this season are:
League table
Results
South West Division One
Changes from last season:
*
Forest Green Rovers
Forest Green Rovers Football Club is a professional association football club based in Nailsworth, Gloucestershire, England. The team competes in the National League, the fifth level of the English football league system.
Formed in October 188 ...
were promoted to the Southern Division.
*
Keynsham Town were relegated from the Southern Division.
*
Maidenhead United
Maidenhead United Football Club is a semi-professional football club based in Maidenhead, Berkshire, England. Affiliated to the Berks & Bucks FA, they are currently members of the .
The club were established in October 1870 and have played at ...
were promoted from the
Southern Region League.
*
Gloucester City and
Swindon Spitfires were promoted from the
South West Region League.
The teams competing this season are:
Gloucester City and Swindon Spitfires both withdrew from the league during the season. All results involving them were expunged.
League table
Results
References
External links
Official website of the FA Women's Premier LeagueLeague results and standings
{{DEFAULTSORT:2015-16 FA Women's Premier League
FA Women's National League seasons
3
England
England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...