The 2019–20 FA Women's National League was the 29th season of the competition, and the second since a restructure and rebranding of the top four tiers of English football by The Football Association. Began in 1992, it was previously known as the FA Women's Premier League. It sits at the third and fourth levels of the women's football pyramid, below the FA Women's Championship 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 Division One North, Division One Midlands, Division One South East, and Division One South West. The league normally consists of 72 teams, divided equally into six divisions of twelve teams. At the end of the season the champions of the Northern and Southern divisions will both qualify for a Championship play-off match against each other which will decide the overall National League Champion. The divisional alignments for the forthcoming season were outlined at the National League's AGM on 16 June 2019.
On 5 June 2020, the season was curtailed and all results were expunged with no promotion or relegation as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Premier Division
Northern Premier Division
Changes from last season:
League champions Blackburn Rovers were promoted to the FA Women's Championship. Doncaster Rovers Belles were relegated to Division One Midlands. Bradford City were relegated to Division One North. Loughborough Foxes were realigned to National League North from the National League South. Burnley were promoted from Division One North. West Bromwich Albion were promoted from Division One Midlands. Guiseley Vixens liquidated following the close of the 2018–19 season.
ClubHome groundPosition in 2018–19AFC FyldeMill Farm, Wesham6thBurnleyArbories Memorial Sports Ground, PadihamPromoted from D1 North (1st)Derby CountyThe Don Amott Arena, Derby3rdHuddersfield TownThe Stafflex Arena, Kirkburton4thHull CityHull University Sports Ground, Hull10thLoughborough FoxesLoughborough University Stadium, LoughboroughRealigned from NL South (7th)MiddlesbroughBedford Terrace, Billingham5thNottingham ForestStokeld Stadium, Carlton9thSheffieldCoach and Horses, Dronfield11thStoke CityCommunity Drive, Stoke-on-Trent7thSunderlandEppleton Colliery Welfare Ground, Hetton-le-Hole2ndWest Bromwich AlbionTrevor Brown Memorial Ground, Sutton ColdfieldPromoted from D1 Midlands (1st)
League table
Results
Southern Premier Division
Changes from last season:
League champions Coventry United were promoted to the FA Women's Championship. C & K Basildon were relegated to Division One South East. Loughborough Foxes were realigned to the National League North from the National League South. Crawley Wasps were promoted from Division One South East. Keynsham Town were promoted from Division One South West. Yeovil Town were relegated from the FA WSL after they were denied an FA Women's Championship license. Queens Park Rangers were renamed Hounslow after losing its affiliation to Queens Park Rangers F.C.
ClubHome groundPosition 2018–19Cardiff CityCCB Centre for Sporting Excellence, Ystrad Mynach2ndChichester CityOaklands Park, Chichester3rdCrawley WaspsTinsley Lane, CrawleyPromoted from D1 South East (1st)GillinghamMaidstone Road Sports Ground, Chatham10thHounslowGreen Lane, Hounslow11th (as QPR)Keynsham TownThe AJN Stadium, KeynshamPromoted from D1 South West (1st)MK DonsStadium MK, Milton Keynes9thOxford UnitedMarsh Lane, Marston4thPlymouth ArgyleHaye Road, Plymouth6thPortsmouthKendall's Stadium, Portsmouth8thWatfordCRY Community Stadium, Kings Langley5thYeovil TownThe Avenue Stadium, DorchesterRelegated from WSL (11th)
League table
Results
Division One Division One North
Changes from last season:
League champions Burnley were promoted to the National League North. Bradford City were relegated from the National League North. Durham Cestria were promoted from the North East Regional Women's Football League Premier Division. Stockport County were promoted from the North West Women's Regional Football League Premier Division. Morecambe and Crewe Alexandra were relegated.
ClubHome groundPosition in 2018–19BarnsleyBarnsley FC Academy, Barnsley4thBolton WanderersKensite Stadium, Atherton8thBradford CityPlumpton Park, BradfordRelegated from NL North (13th)Brighouse TownThe Yorkshire Payments Stadium, Brighouse2ndChester-le-StreetMoor Park, Chester Moor3rdChorleyVictory Park Stadium, Chorley7thDurham CestriaThe Graham Sports Centre, DurhamPromoted from NERWFL Premier Division (1st)Leeds UnitedThorp Arch, Wetherby6thLiverpool FedsI.M. Marsh Campus, Liverpool5thNewcastle UnitedDruid Park, Newcastle upon Tyne9thNorton & Stockton AncientsNorton Teesside Sports Complex, Stockton-on-Tees10thStockport CountyStockport Sports Village, StockportPromoted from NWWRFL Premier Division (1st)
League table
Division One Midlands
Changes from last season:
League champions West Bromwich Albion were promoted to the National League North. Doncaster Rovers Belles were relegated from the National League North. Leafield Athletic were promoted from the West Midlands Regional Women's Football League Premier Division. Leicester United were promoted from the East Midlands Regional Women's Football League Premier Division. Steel City Wanderers were relegated. Nettleham changed their name to Lincoln City
ClubHome groundPosition 2018–19Bedworth UnitedThe Oval, Bedworth5thBirmingham & West MidlandsTrevor Brown Memorial Ground, Sutton Coldfield3rdBurton AlbionThe Lamb Ground, Tamworth9thDoncaster Rovers BellesOxford Street, RossingtonRelegated from NL North (12th)Leafield AthleticStockingford Pavilion, NuneatonPromoted from WMRWFL Premier Division (1st)Leicester UnitedRiverside Pavilion, LeicesterPromoted from EMRWFL Premier Division (1st)Lincoln CityAshby Avenue, Lincoln7th (as Nettleham)Long Eaton UnitedGrange Park, Long Eaton6thSolihull MoorsWest Midland Sports & Social Club, Birmingham10thSporting KhalsaThe Aspray Arena, Willenhall4thThe New Saints (TNS)Park Hall Stadium, Oswestry8thWolverhampton WanderersCKW Stadium, Castlecroft, Wolverhampton2nd
League table
Division One South East
Changes from last season:
League champions Crawley Wasps were promoted to the National League South. AFC Basildon were relegated from the National League South. Cambridge City were promoted from Eastern Region Women's Football League. Kent Football United were promoted from London and South East Women's Regional Football League. Denham United and Luton Town were relegated.
ClubHome groundPosition 2018–19ActoniansRectory Park, Northolt4thAFC BasildonThe Frost Hire Stadium, Canvey IslandRelegated from NL South (12th as C & K Basildon)AFC WimbledonWar Memorial Sports Ground, Sutton6thBillericay TownAGP Arena, Billericay2ndCambridge CityThe Ellgia Stadium, ElyPromoted from ERWFL (1st)Cambridge UnitedRecreation Way, Mildenhall8thEnfield TownQueen Elizabeth II Stadium, Enfield3rdIpswich TownThe Goldstar Ground, Felixstowe7thKent Football UnitedGlentworth Sports Club, KentPromoted from LSEWRFL (1st)Leyton OrientMile End Stadium, Bow, London5thNorwich CityPlantation Park, Blofield10thStevenageHertingfordbury Park, Hertford9th
League table
Division One South West
Changes from last season:
League champions Keynsham Town were promoted to the National League South. Exeter City were promoted from the South West Regional Women's Football League. Southampton were promoted from the Southern Region Women's Football League. St Nicholas withdrew from the league at the start of the 2018–19 season. Southampton Saints disbanded prior to the start of the 2019–20 season.
ClubHome groundPosition 2018–19BrislingtonBrislington Stadium, Brislington7thBuckland AthleticHomers Heath, Newton Abbot3rdCheltenham TownPetersfield Park, Cheltenham4thChesham UnitedThe Meadow, Chesham5thExeter CityClifford Hill Training Ground, Promoted from SWRWFL Premier Division (1st)Larkhall AthleticPlain Ham, Larkhall6thMaidenhead UnitedYork Road Stadium, Maidenhead10thPoole TownDorset County F.A. County Ground, Poole11thSouthamptonTestwood Stadium, TottonPromoted from SRWFL Premier Division (1st)Southampton WomenGang Warily Recreation Ground, Southampton2ndSwindon TownCinder Lane, Fairford9th
League table
References
External links Official website of the FA Women's National League League results and standings