The state of play with one game to go…
The 2024/25 FA WNL season has been another fabulous one with stories galore, and it doesn’t seem possible that we are now just one round of fixtures away from the end of another campaign. Although some leagues are all done and dusted in terms of things to play for, other fights have come right down to the wire, so players will leave everything on the pitch on the final day of the season.
Observing the two tiers as a whole, one positive note for the pyramid is that all eight newly promoted sides coming in to the FAWNL have survived their first season, as well as the four sides promoted from Tier 4 to Tier 3. With just one game to go, here’s your round up of everything that could happen on Sunday afternoon.
Northern Premier Division
Nottingham Forest and Wolverhampton Wanderers have been locked together in a heated title fight all season. Forest remain unbeaten and already have a trophy this season following a 3-1 victory over Stoke City in the FAWNL Cup final, whereas Wolves have one defeat to their name, at the hands of Forest way back in September when the Reds won by six goals to one in Telford. That scoreline is most of the differential in goal difference between the two which has given Forest the significant advantage going into Sunday. They need just a point at home to West Bromwich Albion to secure promotion to the Championship but even if they fail to do that, the goal difference may be enough for them, as it was two years ago.
Back to back wins in March for Halifax has meant that yet again they end the season strongly and have the chance to finish the league in 11th if Stourbridge fail to beat Derby County. Although this is a relegation spot as it stands, that could change if Portsmouth end the season bottom of the Championship.
Fixtures
Burnley v Sporting Khalsa
Hull City v Rugby Borough
Nottingham Forest v West Bromwich Albion
Stoke City v Halifax
Stourbridge v Derby County
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Liverpool Feds
Southern Premier Division
Ipswich Town only need a point from their home game against Cheltenham Town to secure their spot in the Championship next season, a side they beat 7-0 away from home earlier in the year. Truth be told, even a defeat would in all probability still give them the Southern Premier Division title. Hashtag United need to overturn a 36-goal difference deficit to leapfrog the Suffolk side.
It’s at the bottom where the real battle will take place. Billericay Town and Plymouth Argyle are both fighting to stay in the division, and it’s currently Billericay Town who are safe by virtue of their -27 goal difference compared to Plymouth’s -30. As it currently stands, the goals for tiebreaker is also in Billericay’s favour. Billericay Town travel to AFC Wimbledon on Sunday, with Plymouth Argyle making the short trip to Gwalia United in a game that promised for so long to be a survival decider, only for the Welsh side to go on a run of 7 points from 15 to secure safety. An important note to remember is the FAWNL board decision concerning the game between Gwalia United and Billericay Town back in November in which Gwalia were awarded the three points due to Billericay Town’s fielding of an ineligible player. That decision could end up being what relegates Billericay Town come Sunday afternoon.
Fixtures
AFC Wimbledon v Billericay Town
Exeter City v Watford
Gwalia United v Plymouth Argyle
Ipswich Town v Cheltenham Town
Lewes v Milton Keynes Dons
Oxford United v Hashtag United
Division One Midlands
Loughborough Lightning have already gained promotion back to the Northern Premier Division after a 5-0 win away at Sutton Coldfield Town put them over the line, and they will be hoping for a good showing at home to Boldmere St Michaels to go the entire season unbeaten. It was a fascinating title race with Northampton Town, Peterborough United and Leafield Athletic pushing them all the way, but they will have to go again next season.
Lincoln City’s relegation to Tier 5 was confirmed a few weeks ago, but Solihull Moors have now joined them in leaving the FAWNL, barring other relegated teams from above being suitable geographically located for them to be offered a reprieve. It means that after a somewhat nervy season Worcester City have survived their first campaign in Tier 4, as have Lincoln United, who finished 10th and 9th respectively. There’s nothing to play for in Division One Midlands this weekend, but the players will want to go out with a bang.
Fixtures
Leafield Athletic v Sutton Coldfield Town
Lincoln United v Barnsley Women’s
Loughborough Lightning v Boldmere St Michaels
Northampton Town v Peterborough United
Notts County v Solihull Moors
Worcester City v Lincoln City
Division One North
In my opinion Division One North was far and away the best league this season from a neutral’s perspective. The battle towards the top had several teams involved and the battle at the bottom was almost impossible to call. Ahead of the final day’s action, both relegation spots have been decided with Doncaster Rovers Belles and AFC Fylde moving to Tier 5 for 25/26, but the fight at the top could easily come down to not just goal difference but also goals scored. Cheadle Town Stingers had led the way for much of the second half of the season but a huge 7-0 win for Middlesbrough against Doncaster Rovers Belles in their penultimate game means that they top the standings by three goals going into Sunday’s final game.
That gives them the advantage of course, however with Cheadle Town Stingers hosting AFC Fylde on Sunday and Middlesbrough away at Barnsley, there could still be another twist in this tale. Middlesbrough have drawn five games away from home this campaign and drew with Barnsley at home earlier in the season, whereas Cheadle Town Stingers were victorious away at AFC Fylde in November. Keep your eye on this one.
Fixtures
Barnsley v Middlesbrough
Cheadle Town Stingers v AFC Fylde
Doncaster Rovers Belles v Huddersfield Town
Durham Cestria v Stockport County
Norton and Stockton Ancients v Chorley
York City v Leeds United
Division One South East
Division One South East is another league where everything has already been decided. Real Bedford’s demolition of London Seaward in their penultimate game has meant they go straight into Tier 3 at the first attempt, a superb achievement. Norwich City pushed them for a lot of the season, but will look back on a winless run between September 22nd and the new year, which resulted in just 4 points from a possible 21, as the reason they didn’t gain promotion this season. Take nothing away from Real Bedford, though they’re unbeaten and thoroughly deserve their prize.
The bottom two are also locked in. It was fairly clear early on this season that it would be a tough year for Ashford Town and London Seaward, who have finished well adrift of the rest. Ashford Town have now secured 11th spot, so may be saved if the geography of other relegated sides goes their way.
Fixtures
Ashford Town v Actonians
Cambridge United v Chatham Town
Chesham United v London Bees
Dulwich Hamlet v Real Bedford
London Seaward v AFC Sudbury
Norwich City v Queens Park Rangers
Division One South West
AFC Bournemouth only just missed out on promotion last season and made no mistake this time around. There are only two blemishes on their record this season, a 4-3 extra time defeat to local rivals Moneyfields in the Determining Round (although losing this game did mean they were able to go on and win the FAWNL Plate), and losing their 100% record with a score draw to Swindon Town in their penultimate game of the campaign. However, they are 13 points clear of Moneyfields in second, who have had a great season themselves, and a truly deserving of their promotion.
At the bottom, it’s been a disappointing campaign for another stalwart of the Women’s game in Southampton Women’s, who have been at the foot of the table for the vast majority of the season, and they will be joined in Tier 5 by Portishead Town after their relegation was confirmed just before Easter.
Fixtures
Abingdon United v Keynsham Town
AFC Bournemouth v Portishead Town
Bristol Rovers v Bournemouth Sports
Maidenhead United v Worthing
Moneyfields v Swindon Town
Still to be determined
As we go into the final day of the season this is what is still to be determined:
Northern Premier Division – Champion
Southern Premier Division – Champion and second relegation spot
Division One North – Champion
How relegation could change
It was announced a few weeks ago that because of Reading withdrawing from the Championship at the start of the season that the side finishing in 11th in the relevant leagues in the FAWNL would be offered a reprieve to relegation. As it currently stands this is the situation:
Sheffield United would be relegated from the Championship and therefore the Southern Premier Division would be one side short, and 11th would be offered a reprieve. This is currently Plymouth Argyle.
Plymouth Argyle could stay in the Southern Premier Division so Division One South West would be a team short. Portishead Town would therefore be offered a reprieve.
