2016–17 FA Women's Premier League Football league season
The 2016–17 season of the FA Women's Premier League is the 25th season of the competition, which began in 1992. 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 and above the eight regional football leagues.[ 1]
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.[ 1] 72 teams were members of the league before the start of the 2016–17 season, divided equally into six divisions of twelve teams. At the end of the season Blackburn Rovers and Tottenham Hotspur , respectively the champions of the Northern and Southern Divisions, qualified for a playoff match against each other which Tottenham Hotspur won 3-0 thus becoming the overall league champion, and winning them promotion to FA WSL 2 .[ 2]
Premier Division
Northern Division
Map showing the locations of the teams in the Northern Division of the FA Women's Premier League
Changes from last season:
Team
Home ground
2015–16 position
Blackburn Rovers
Sir Tom Finney Stadium, Bamber Bridge
3rd
Bradford City
Plumpton Park, Bradford
5th
Derby County
The Don Amott Arena, Derby
7th
Fylde Ladies
Mill Farm, Wesham
2nd
Huddersfield Town
The Stafflex Arena, Kirkburton
8th
Leicester City Womens
Riverside Pavilion, Leicester
1st in Midlands Division One (promoted)
Middlesbrough
Teesdale Park, Thornaby-on-Tees
1st in Northern Division One (promoted)
Newcastle United
Sport Northumbria, Newcastle upon Tyne
9th
Nottingham Forest
Mill Street Playing Fields, Nottingham
6th
Stoke City
Wellbeing Park, Stone
4th
West Bromwich Albion
Dales Lane, Rushall
1st
League table
Source:
The Football Association Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(C) Champions;
(R) Relegated
Notes:
^ Fylde had three points deducted[why? ] [ 7]
Results
Southern Division
Map showing the locations of the teams in the Southern Division of the FA Women's Premier League
Changes from last season:
Team
Home ground
2015–16 position
C & K Basildon
The Frost Financial Stadium, Canvey Island
8th
Cardiff City
CCB Centre for Sporting Excellence , Ystrad Mynach
3rd
Charlton Athletic
Bayliss Avenue, Thamesmead , London
2nd
Coventry United
Park Meadow, Coleshill
4th
Crystal Palace
Hayes Lane, Kent
1st in South East Division One (promoted)
Lewes
The Dripping Pan , Lewes
7th
Portsmouth
Privett Park, Gosport
5th
Queens Park Rangers
Honeycroft, West Drayton , London
9th
Swindon Town
Barrington Park, Shrivenham
1st in South West Division One (promoted)
Tottenham Hotspur
Cheshunt Stadium, Cheshunt
6th
West Ham United
Ship Lane, Aveley
10th
League table
Tottenham celebrating winning the league.
Source:
The Football Association Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(C) Champions;
(O) Play-off winners;
(P) Promoted
Results
Championship play-off
The overall FA WPL champion was decided by a play-off match held at the end of the season. The winner earned promotion to the FA WSL 2 .[ 9]
The two teams lining up before the start of the match
Division One
Northern Division One
Map showing the locations of the teams in the Northern Division One of the FA Women's Premier League
Changes from last season:
Team
Home ground
2015–16 position
Blackpool Wren Rovers
Brews Park, Blackpool
8th
Brighouse Town
The Dual Seal Stadium, Brighouse
1st in North East Regional League (promoted)
Chester-le-Street
Moor Park, Chester Moor
9th
Chorley
Jim Fowler Memorial Fields, Leyland
3rd
Crewe Alexandra
Cumberland Arena, Crewe
1st in North West Regional League (promoted)
Guiseley Vixens
Nethermoor Park , Guiseley
11th in Northern Division (relegated)
Hull City
Hull University Sports Ground, Hull
4th
Leeds
Genix Healthcare Stadium, Garforth
5th
Liverpool Marshall Feds
I.M. Marsh Campus, Liverpool
2nd
Morecambe
Lancaster & Morecambe College, Lancaster
7th
Mossley Hill
Mossley Hill Athletic Club, Liverpool
6th
Tranmere Rovers
Ellesmere Port Sports Village, Ellesmere Port
10th
League table
Source:
The Football Association Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(C) Champions;
(P) Promoted;
(R) Relegated
Notes:
^ Morecambe had three points deducted[why? ] [ 10]
Results
Midlands Division One
Map showing the locations of the teams in Midlands Division One of the FA Women's Premier League
Changes from last season:
Team
Home ground
2015–16 position
Birmingham & West Midlands
Shenley Lane Community Sports Centre, Birmingham
5th
Leicester City L.F.C.
Linwood Playing Fields, Leicester
8th
Long Eaton United
Grange Park, Long Eaton
1st in East Midlands Regional League (promoted)
Loughborough Foxes
Loughborough University Stadium, Loughborough
12th in Northern Division (relegated)
Loughborough Students
Holywell Park, Loughborough
6th
Radcliffe Olympic
Wharf Lane Recreation Ground, Radcliffe-on-Trent
3rd
Rotherham United
Roundwood Sports Complex, Rotherham
9th
Solihull
Field Lane, Solihull
4th
Sporting Khalsa
Aspray Arena, Willenhall
10th
Steel City Wanderers
Thorncliffe Recreation Ground, Sheffield
7th
The New Saints
Park Hall Stadium, Oswestry
1st in West Midlands Regional League (promoted)
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Keys Park , Hednesford
2nd
League table
Source:
The Football Association Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(C) Champions;
(P) Promoted;
(R) Relegated
Notes:
^ Loughborough Students had one point deducted twice[why? ] [ 11]
Results
South East Division One
Map showing the locations of the teams in South East Division One of the FA Women's Premier League
Changes from last season:
Team
Home ground
2015–16 position
Actonians
Berkeley Fields, Greenford , London
10th
AFC Wimbledon
Borough Sports Ground , Sutton , London
1st in London & South East Regional League (promoted)
Cambridge United
Recreation Way, Mildenhall
6th
Denham United
The Den, Denham
9th
Enfield Town
Queen Elizabeth II Stadium, Enfield
7th
Gillingham
K Sports Cobdown, Aylesford
2nd
Ipswich Town
Dellwood Avenue, Felixstowe
5th
Lowestoft Town
Crown Meadow, Lowestoft
11th
Luton Town
Stockwood Park Athletics Stadium, Luton
4th
Milton Keynes Dons
Willen Road, Newport Pagnell
3rd
Norwich City
Plantation Park, Blofield
8th
Stevenage
Hertingfordbury Park, Hertford
1st in Eastern Region League (promoted)
League table
Source:
The Football Association Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(C) Champions;
(P) Promoted;
(R) Relegated
Results
South West Division One
Map showing the locations of the teams in South West Division One of the FA Women's Premier League
Changes from last season:
Team
Home ground
2015–16 position
Basingstoke
The Ark Cancer Charity Stadium, Basingstoke
1st in Southern Region League (promoted)
Brislington
Ironmould Lane, Brislington
1st in South West Regional League (promoted)
Cheltenham Town
Petersfield Park, Cheltenham
8th
Chichester City
Oaklands Park, Chichester
2nd
Exeter City
Minster Park, Exminster
5th
Keynsham Town
AJN Stadium, Keynsham
3rd
Larkhall Athletic
Plain Ham, Larkhall
4th
Maidenhead United
York Road , Maidenhead
7th
Plymouth Argyle
Haye Road, Plymouth
12th in Southern Division (relegated)
Shanklin [note]
County Ground, Shanklin
9th
Southampton Saints
VT Group Sportsground, Sholing
6th
St Nicholas
Lodge Road, Yate
10th
[note] Shanklin withdrew from the league after playing 18 of 22 matches.[ 13] All results involving Shanklin were expunged.
League table
Source:
The Football Association Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(C) Champions;
(P) Promoted;
(R) Relegated;
(X) Resigned
Results
Reserve Division
Reserve Northern Division
Map showing the locations of the teams in the Reserve Northern Division of the FA Women's Premier League
League table
Source:
The Football Association Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(C) Champions;
(X) Resigned
Notes:
^ Blackburn Rovers had three points deducted[why? ] [ 14]
Results
Reserve Midland Division
Map showing the locations of the teams in Reserve Midland Division One of the FA Women's Premier League
League table
Source:
The Football Association Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(C) Champions
Results
Reserve Southern Division
Map showing the locations of the teams in Reserve Southern Division of the FA Women's Premier League
League table
Source:
The Football Association Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(C) Champions
Results
Tottenham Hotspur Reserve with the league trophy.
References
External links
Seasons
Clubs 2024–25
Associated competitions
League competitions
Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4
Cup competitions