The 2020–21 FA Women's Championship was the third season of the rebranded FA Women's Championship, the second tier of women's football in England. It was renamed from the FA WSL 2 which was founded in 2014. The season began on 5 September 2020.
On 4 April 2021, Leicester City clinched the league title with a 2–0 win over London City Lionesses, their twelfth consecutive league victory dating back to 4–1 defeat at the hands of the same opposition on 1 November 2020. The result earned Leicester their first ever promotion to the top-flight FA WSL.
On the same day, London Bees' defeat away at Charlton Athletic coupled with a win for Coventry United against Blackburn Rovers sealed London Bees' relegation to the National League. It marked the first time since the 2012–13 FA Women's Premier League a club had been relegated from the second-tier on sporting merit.
Teams
Twelve teams were originally scheduled to compete in the Championship for the 2020–21 season, an increase of one team from the previous season. This was a planned progression of the restructuring of the English women's game, a move prompted to provide for a fully professional Women's Super League (WSL) starting with the 2018–19 season. Membership of both the first and second tier is subject to a license, based on a series of off-the-field criteria.
However, while the movement between the WSL and Championship was honoured with Aston Villa earning promotion and Liverpool taking their place, there was no relegation or promotion between the Championship and National League after the seasons from tier three and below were null and voided and results had been expunged. One team was scheduled to be relegated and replaced by the two winners of both the National League North and South divisions. At the time the season was curtailed, Charlton Athletic were declared bottom of the Championship on a points-per-game with Sunderland and Crawley Wasps leading the National League Premier Divisions prior to the cancellation. Without that movement between the second and third tiers, the season was again contested by eleven teams.
Team Location Ground Capacity 2019–20 season Blackburn Rovers Bamber Bridge Sir Tom Finney Stadium 3,000 Charlton Athletic Bexley The Oakwood 1,180 Coventry United Coventry Butts Park Arena 4,000 Crystal Palace Bromley Hayes Lane 5,000 Durham Durham Maiden Castle Leicester City Quorn Farley Way Stadium 1,400 Lewes Lewes The Dripping Pan 3,000 Liverpool Birkenhead Prenton Park 16,587 London Bees Canons Park The Hive Stadium 5,176 London City Lionesses Dartford Princes Park 4,100 Sheffield United Chesterfield Technique Stadium 10,504
Managerial changes TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming managerDate of appointmentLondon City Lionesses John Bayer (interim)End of interim period27 May 2020End of season (4th) Lisa Fallon27 May 2020Sheffield United Carla WardMutual separation7 July 2020End of season (2nd) Neil Redfearn28 August 2020London City Lionesses Lisa FallonPersonal reasons9 October 202010th Melissa Phillips9 October 2020Liverpool Vicky JepsonMutual consent12 January 20213rd Amber Whiteley (interim)12 January 2021London Bees Lee BurchSacked10 February 20219th Sian Osmond (interim)12 February 2021Charlton Athletic Riteesh MishraRetained coaching role16 March 20219th Karen Hills16 March 2021
Table
Results
Top goalscorers
RankPlayerTeamGoals1 Katie WilkinsonSheffield United192 Natasha FlintLeicester City173 Beth HeppleDurham104 Bianca BaptisteCrystal Palace85 Lachante PaulLeicester City76 Jess KingCharlton Athletic6 Emily RobertsDurham812 players5
Awards Annual awards Award Winner ClubGolden boot Katie WilkinsonSheffield UnitedGolden glove Megan BorthwickDurham Kirstie LevellLeicester City Fran KitchingSheffield UnitedPlayer of the season Katie WilkinsonSheffield UnitedManager of the season Jonathan MorganLeicester City
See also 2020–21 FA Women's League Cup 2020–21 FA WSL (tier 1) 2020–21 FA Women's National League (tier 3 & 4)
References
External links Official website