FA WSL 2
 | |
| Founded | 2014 |
|---|---|
| Country |
 England |
| Number of teams | 10 |
| Level on pyramid | 2 |
| Promotion to | FA WSL 1 |
| Relegation to |
WPL Northern Division WPL Southern Division |
| Domestic cup(s) | FA Women's Cup |
| League cup(s) | FA WSL Cup |
| Current champions |
Everton (1st title) (2017) |
| Most championships |
Reading Sunderland Yeovil Town Everton (1 title each) |
| TV partners | BT Sport |
 2017–18 | |
The Football Association Women's Super League 2 (FA WSL 2) is the second-highest division of women's football in England.
WSL 2 was founded in 2014 and 10 teams compete in it. There is currently no relegation from the WSL 2 to the FA Women's Premier League in place. However, two teams are promoted to the FA WSL 1 per season.[1][2]
The league was played in summer between April and October until the 2016 season. WSL 1 and 2 became winter leagues from 2017–18, playing from September to May.
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.[3][4][5][6] 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.[7] Doncaster Belles appealed against their demotion, but were unsuccessful.[8]
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.[9][1] 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.[10]
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 2017–18 season.[9] 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.[11]
Clubs
| 2016 WSL 2 clubs | |||||||||
| Club | Established | City | Stadium | Capacity* | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aston Villa | 1973 | Tamworth | The Lamb | 4,813 | |||||
| Bristol City | 1998 | Filton | Stoke Gifford Stadium | 1,500 | |||||
| Durham | 2013 | Durham | New Ferens Park | 3,000 | |||||
| Everton | 1983 | Widnes | Halton Stadium | 13,350 | |||||
| London Bees | 1975 | Barnet | The Hive | 5,000 | |||||
| Millwall Lionesses | 1972 | Millwall | The Den | 20,000 | |||||
| Oxford United | 2005 | Oxford | The Armadillo Stadium | 2,000 | |||||
| Sheffield | 2003 | Dronfield | Coaches and Horses | 2,000 | |||||
| Watford | 1970 | Berkhamsted | Broadwater Stadium | 2,000 | |||||
| Yeovil Town | 1990 | Sherborne | Huish Park | 9,565 | |||||
Ten teams were being awarded WSL 2 licences in 2014.[7] 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.[12]
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 |
| 2016 | Yeovil Town | Bristol City | Everton | Iniabasi Umotong (Oxford United) Jo Wilson (London Bees) | 13 |
| 2017[lower-alpha 1] | Everton | Doncaster Rovers Belles | Millwall Lionesses | Courtney Sweetman-Kirk (Doncaster Rovers Belles) | 9 |
- ↑ The 2017 edition was known as the Spring Series, and ran from February to May 2017 to bridge the gap from the 2016 FA WSL season which ran from March to September as a summer tournament, and the 2017–18 season which started in September 2017.
Attendances
In the 2014 season there were 251 fans at a WSL 2 match on average. In 2015 it increased to 341 with thirteen matches reaching attendances of more than 500 spectators.[13]
References
- 1 2 "BBC Sport – Women's Super League to be expanded from 2015". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
- ↑ "Bristol City and Yeovil victories seal place in FA WSL 1". The Football Association. The Football Association.
- ↑ "FA WSL 2014: Applications". thefa.com. Retrieved 27 May 2013.
- ↑ "FA WSL 2014-2018 brochure". thefa.com. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
- ↑ "The FA WSL Club Development Plan". thefa.com. Retrieved 27 May 2013.
- ↑ "Clubs bid for WSL spot". thefa.com. Retrieved 27 May 2013.
- 1 2 "FA Selects Clubs for WSL". WSL. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
- ↑ Baber, Mark. "Doncaster Belles lose appeal over demotion from Women's Super League". Inside World Football. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
- 1 2 "FA WSL 2 promotion announcement". Faws1.com. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
- ↑ "Sheffield FC beat Portsmouth in Women's Premier League play-off". BBC. 24 May 2015. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
- ↑ "Katie Brazier: FA head of women's leagues targets WSL expansion". BBC Sport. 27 July 2015. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
- ↑ "FA to expand WSL in 2016". gloucestershirefa.com. 4 July 2014. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
- ↑ "WSL 2 attendances up 36% in 2015". shekicks.net. 21 October 2015. Retrieved 22 October 2015.