Background
The Women's Premier League consists of a Northern and Southern division and four Division 1 leagues. There are 72 teams competing in the two divisions of the Women's Premier League. From its foundation in 1992–1993 through until 2012–2013 the league was run in a pyramid format with the FA Women's Premier League National Division at the top, and the Northern and Southern divisions running on an equal basis underneath the National Division. The winners of these leagues each season were promoted to the National Division. The terms Women's Premiership and Ladies Premiership were generally used for the National Division only. The National division had been the top tier of women's football on its foundation, but was demoted after the creation of the FA Women's Super League in 2011.
Following the 2012–2013 season, the National Division was scrapped due to the FA's decision to add a second division to the WSL for the 2014 season (note that the WSL is a summer league, as opposed to the Premier League's winter format). For the 2014/15 season the Premier League was restructured to have a second level, for this the Combination Women's Football Leagues were incorporated to the new Division 1. At level 3 in the pyramid now is the Northern and Southern division, a level below are four groups of Division 1 leagues: Northern, Midlands, South-East and South-West. In addition, the winners of the Northern and Southern Divisions would play each other in a one-off play-off at a neutral venue for an opportunity to be promoted into the WSL, the first instance of promotion between the WPL and the WSL. This play-off was contested between Portsmouth FC Ladies and Sheffield FC Ladies at Stratford FC's ground, with the latter winning through a stoppage time goal. For the 2015/16, there will again be a play-off between the champions of the Southern and Northern Divisions.
The Women's Premier League consists of a Northern and Southern division and four Division 1 leagues. There are 72 teams competing in the two divisions of the Women's Premier League. From its foundation in 1992–1993 through until 2012–2013 the league was run in a pyramid format with the FA Women's Premier League National Division at the top, and the Northern and Southern divisions running on an equal basis underneath the National Division. The winners of these leagues each season were promoted to the National Division. The terms Women's Premiership and Ladies Premiership were generally used for the National Division only. The National division had been the top tier of women's football on its foundation, but was demoted after the creation of the FA Women's Super League in 2011.
Following the 2012–2013 season, the National Division was scrapped due to the FA's decision to add a second division to the WSL for the 2014 season (note that the WSL is a summer league, as opposed to the Premier League's winter format). For the 2014/15 season the Premier League was restructured to have a second level, for this the Combination Women's Football Leagues were incorporated to the new Division 1. At level 3 in the pyramid now is the Northern and Southern division, a level below are four groups of Division 1 leagues: Northern, Midlands, South-East and South-West. In addition, the winners of the Northern and Southern Divisions would play each other in a one-off play-off at a neutral venue for an opportunity to be promoted into the WSL, the first instance of promotion between the WPL and the WSL. This play-off was contested between Portsmouth FC Ladies and Sheffield FC Ladies at Stratford FC's ground, with the latter winning through a stoppage time goal. For the 2015/16, there will again be a play-off between the champions of the Southern and Northern Divisions.
Regional Division Champions
2nd tier to end of 2010-2011 then 3rd tier
Regional Division Champions
Northern Division One
4th tier 2014–2015 Guiseley AFC Vixens 2015–2016 Middlesbrough LFC 2016- 2017 Guiseley Vixens 2017- 2018 Hull City 2018-2019 Burnley 2019-2020 League Abandoned |
Midland Division One
4th tier 2014–2015 Loughborough Foxes 2015–2016 Leicester City WFC 2016- 2017 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2017- 2018 Loughborough Foxes 2018-2019 West Bromwich Albion 2019-2020 League Abandoned |
Southeast Division One
4th tier 2014–2015 C & K Basildon 2015–2016 Crystal Palace 2016- 2017 Gillingham 2017- 2018 Milton Keynes Dons 2018-2019 Crawley Wasps 2019-2020 League Abandoned |
Southwest Division One
4th tier 2014–2015 Forest Green Rovers 2015–2016 Swindon Town 2016- 2017 Chichester City 2017- 2018 Plymouth Argyle 2018-2019 Keynsham Town 2019-2020 Leauge Abandoned |
*Due to the formation of the WSL, Cardiff City and Coventry City were also promoted to the WSL (National Division) after finishing runners-up in their then Southern and Northern Divisions respectively.