The 2016–17 FA Women's Premier League is the 26th 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.
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. 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.
Premier Division Northern Premier Division
Changes from last season: Guiseley Vixens and Loughborough Foxes were relegated to Northern Division One and Midlands Division One respectively. Leicester City and Middlesbrough were promoted into the Northern Division from Midlands Division One and Northern Division One respectively. Preston North End was renamed Fylde after changing its affiliation to AFC Fylde. Sporting Club Albion was renamed West Bromwich Albion. Nuneaton Town withdrew from the league the week before the season started.
TeamHome ground2015–16 positionBlackburn RoversSir Tom Finney Stadium, Bamber Bridge3rdBradford CityPlumpton Park, Bradford5thDerby CountyThe Don Amott Arena, Derby7thFyldeMill Farm, Wesham2ndHuddersfield TownThe Stafflex Arena, Kirkburton8thLeicester CityRiverside Pavilion, Leicester1st in Midlands Division One (promoted)Middlesbrough Teesdale Park, Thornaby-on-Tees1st in Northern Division One (promoted)Newcastle UnitedSport Northumbria, Newcastle upon Tyne9thNottingham ForestMill Street Playing Fields, Nottingham6thStoke CityWellbeing Park, Stone4thWest Bromwich AlbionDales Lane, Rushall1st
League table
Results
Southern Premier Division
Changes from last season: League champions Brighton & Hove Albion was promoted to FA WSL 2. Plymouth Argyle was relegated to South West Division One. Swindon Town and Crystal Palace were promoted from South West and South East Division One. Forest Green Rovers withdrew from the league the week before the season started.
TeamHome ground2015–16 positionC & K BasildonThe Frost Financial Stadium, Canvey Island8thCardiff CityCCB Centre for Sporting Excellence, Ystrad Mynach3rdCharlton AthleticBayliss Avenue, Thamesmead, London2ndCoventry UnitedPark Meadow, Coleshill4thCrystal PalaceHayes Lane, Kent1st in South East Division One (promoted)LewesThe Dripping Pan, Lewes7thPortsmouthPrivett Park, Gosport5thQueens Park RangersHoneycroft, West Drayton, London9thSwindon TownBarrington Park, Shrivenham1st in South West Division One (promoted)Tottenham HotspurCheshunt Stadium, Cheshunt6thWest Ham UnitedShip Lane, Aveley10th
League table
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.
Division One
Division One North
Changes from last season: Middlesbrough was promoted to the Northern Division. Guiseley Vixens was relegated from the Northern Division. Brighouse Town was promoted from the North East Regional League. Crewe Alexandra was promoted from the North West Regional League. Stockport County and Norton & Stockton Ancients were relegated to the regional leagues.
TeamHome ground2015–16 positionBlackpool Wren RoversBrews Park, Blackpool8thBrighouse TownThe Dual Seal Stadium, Brighouse 1st in North East Regional League (promoted)Chester-le-StreetMoor Park, Chester Moor9thChorleyJim Fowler Memorial Fields, Leyland3rdCrewe AlexandraCumberland Arena, Crewe1st in North West Regional League (promoted)Guiseley VixensNethermoor Park, Guiseley11th in Northern Division (relegated)Hull CityHull University Sports Ground, Hull4thLeedsGenix Healthcare Stadium, Garforth5thLiverpool Marshall FedsI.M. Marsh Campus, Liverpool2ndMorecambeLancaster & Morecambe College, Lancaster7thMossley HillMossley Hill Athletic Club, Liverpool6thTranmere RoversEllesmere Port Sports Village, Ellesmere Port10th
League table
Results
Division One Midlands
Changes from last season: Leicester City was promoted to the Northern Division. Loughborough Foxes was relegated from the Northern Division. The New Saints was promoted from the West Midlands Regional League. Long Eaton United was promoted from the East Midlands Regional League. Peterborough Northern Star and Leafield Athletic were relegated to the regional leagues.
TeamHome ground2015–16 positionBirmingham & West MidlandsShenley Lane Community Sports Centre, Birmingham5thLeicester City LadiesLinwood Playing Fields, Leicester8thLong Eaton UnitedGrange Park, Long Eaton1st in East Midlands Regional League (promoted)Loughborough FoxesLoughborough University Stadium, Loughborough12th in Northern Division (relegated)Loughborough StudentsHolywell Park, Loughborough6thRadcliffe OlympicWharf Lane Recreation Ground, Radcliffe-on-Trent3rdRotherham UnitedRoundwood Sports Complex, Rotherham9thSolihullField Lane, Solihull4thSporting KhalsaAspray Arena, Willenhall10thSteel City WanderersThorncliffe Recreation Ground, Sheffield7thThe New SaintsPark Hall Stadium, Oswestry1st in West Midlands Regional League (promoted)Wolverhampton WanderersKeys Park, Hednesford2nd
League table
Results
Division One South East
Changes from last season: Crystal Palace was promoted to the Southern Division. Stevenage was promoted from the Eastern Region League. AFC Wimbledon was promoted from the London & South East Regional League. Bedford was relegated to the regional leagues. Old Actonians was renamed Actonians.
TeamHome ground2015–16 positionActoniansBerkeley Fields, Greenford, London10thAFC WimbledonBorough Sports Ground, Sutton, London 1st in London & South East Regional League (promoted)Cambridge UnitedRecreation Way, Mildenhall6thDenham UnitedThe Den, Denham9thEnfield TownQueen Elizabeth II Stadium, Enfield7thGillinghamK Sports Cobdown, Aylesford2ndIpswich TownDellwood Avenue, Felixstowe5thLowestoft TownCrown Meadow, Lowestoft11thLuton TownStockwood Park Athletics Stadium, Luton4thMilton Keynes DonsWillen Road, Newport Pagnell3rdNorwich CityPlantation Park, Blofield8thStevenageHertingfordbury Park, Hertford 1st in Eastern Region League (promoted)
League table
Results
Division One South West
Changes from last season: Swindon Town was promoted to the Southern Division. Plymouth Argyle was relegated from the Southern Division. Basingstoke was promoted from the Southern Region League. Brislington was promoted from the South West Regional League. Gloucester City and Swindon Spitfires withdrew from the league during the 2015–16 season.
TeamHome ground2015–16 positionBasingstokeThe Ark Cancer Charity Stadium, Basingstoke1st in Southern Region League (promoted)BrislingtonIronmould Lane, Brislington1st in South West Regional League (promoted)Cheltenham TownPetersfield Park, Cheltenham8thChichester CityOaklands Park, Chichester2ndExeter CityMinster Park, Exminster5thKeynsham TownAJN Stadium, Keynsham3rdLarkhall AthleticPlain Ham, Larkhall4thMaidenhead UnitedYork Road, Maidenhead7thPlymouth ArgyleHaye Road, Plymouth12th in Southern Division (relegated)ShanklinCounty Ground, Shanklin9thSouthampton SaintsVT Group Sportsground, Sholing6thSt NicholasLodge Road, Yate10th Shanklin withdrew from the league after playing 18 of 22 matches. All results involving Shanklin were expunged.
League table
Results
Reserve Division Reserve Northern Division
League table
Results
Reserve Midland Division
League table
Results
Reserve Southern Division
League table
Results
References
External links Official website of the FA Women's Premier League League results and standings