England Championship. Super League 2. Women
The England Women's Championship, known as FA Women's National League Division One, is the second tier of English women's football, where driven clubs battle for promotion to the top-flight Women's Super League (WSL). Featuring teams from across the country, it delivers fast-paced, skillful matches with growing fan engagement, mirroring the surge in women's football popularity.
History and foundation
Evolving from the 1991 Northern and Southern Division One, it unified as Division One post-2018 WSL launch. Highlights include the 2020 pandemic interruption with playoffs; Durham and Nottingham Forest's dominance. Notably, Bristol City earned WSL promotion in 2022, showcasing its role as a talent pipeline.
Tournament format
12 teams compete in a single table, playing 22 matches each (home and away). The champion auto-promotes to WSL; 2nd place joins 3rd/4th in playoffs for the second spot. Bottom two relegate to regional Premier Divisions, emphasizing consistency and end-of-season drama.
Interesting facts
Average goals per match hover at 3.2, favoring attacking play. Top scorers: Becky Wassell (55 for Doncaster Belles), Sophie Barker. Standouts: Chloe Kelly (pre-Manchester City), Ellen White (early career), Lauren Hemp (Bristol). Current stars like Ellen Jones (Liverpool Feds) and Beth Howard (Nottingham Forest) shine brightly.