2020–21 FA Women's Championship

The 2020–21 FA Women's Championship will be 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.

FA Women's Championship
Season2020–21
Matches played76
Goals scored177 (2.33 per match)
Top goalscorer14 goals
Katie Wilkinson (Sheffield United)
All statistics correct as of 31 January 2021.

Teams
Location of clubs for the 2020–21 season

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.[1]

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 winners of both the National League North and South divisions. The season will therefore be contested by eleven teams.

TeamLocationGroundCapacity2019–20 season
Blackburn RoversBamber BridgeSir Tom Finney Stadium3,0007th
Charlton AthleticBexleyThe Oakwood1,18011th
Coventry UnitedCoventryButts Park Arena4,00010th
Crystal PalaceBromleyHayes Lane5,0009th
DurhamDurhamMaiden Castle3rd
Leicester CityQuornFarley Way Stadium1,4006th
LewesLewesThe Dripping Pan3,0008th
LiverpoolBirkenheadPrenton Park16,587WSL, 12th
London BeesCanons ParkThe Hive Stadium5,1765th
London City LionessesDartfordPrinces Park4,1004th
Sheffield UnitedChesterfieldTechnique Stadium10,5042nd

    Managerial changes
    Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of appointment
    London City Lionesses John Bayer (interim)[2] End of interim period 27 May 2020 End of season (4th) Lisa Fallon[2] 27 May 2020
    Sheffield United Carla Ward[3] Mutual separation 7 July 2020 End of season (2nd) Neil Redfearn[4] 28 August 2020
    London City Lionesses Lisa Fallon[5] Personal reasons 9 October 2020 10th Melissa Phillips[6] 9 October 2020
    Liverpool Vicky Jepson[7] Mutual consent 12 January 2021 3rd Amber Whiteley (interim)[7] 12 January 2021

    Table
    Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
    1 Leicester City 13 10 2 1 36 15 +21 32 Promotion to the WSL[lower-alpha 1]
    2 Durham 14 9 5 0 22 9 +13 32
    3 Sheffield United 14 7 4 3 26 10 +16 25
    4 Liverpool 12 6 3 3 20 10 +10 21
    5 London City Lionesses 14 5 4 5 14 11 +3 19
    6 Blackburn Rovers 13 4 4 5 14 17 −3 16
    7 Lewes 12 4 3 5 8 13 −5 15
    8 Crystal Palace 12 3 3 6 15 22 −7 12
    9 London Bees 13 2 2 9 7 26 −19 8
    10 Coventry United 12 2 1 9 13 32 −19 7
    11 Charlton Athletic 11 1 3 7 8 18 −10 6 Relegation to the National League
    First match(es) will be played on 31 January 2021. Source: FA WSL
    Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
    Notes:
    1. Dependent on obtaining a licence.

    Results
    Home \ Away BLB CHA COV CRY DUR LCW LEW LIV LON LCL SHU
    Blackburn Rovers — 0–1 2–3 0–0 3–0 1–0
    Charlton Athletic 1–1 — 2–3 2–2 0–2 0–1 0–1
    Coventry United 0–1 — 3–4 1–9 1–2 3–1 0–3
    Crystal Palace 2–3 3–1 — 0–1 1–4 1–1
    Durham 0–0 1–1 2–0 — 3–0 2–0 1–0 1–0
    Leicester City 3–0 2–2 — 1–0 2–1 3–0 2–1
    Lewes 1–0 2–1 1–0 0–2 1–1 — 2–2 0–2
    Liverpool 4–0 4–0 1–1 1–2 — 1–0
    London Bees 1–0 1–1 1–4 1–2 0–0 1–0 0–3 —
    London City Lionesses 3–0 2–0 0–0 4–1 0–1 0–1 2–1 — 1–4
    Sheffield United 3–3 3–0 3–0 0–1 2–2 0–0 4–0 0–0 —
    Updated to match(es) played on 31 January 2021. Source: FA WSL
    Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

    See also

    References
    1. "WSL fixtures release". BBC. August 1, 2018. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
    2. "Lisa Fallon and Melissa Phillips announced as new London City Lionesses coaching team". London City Lionesses. 27 May 2020.
    3. "Blades manager Carla Ward leaves Sheffield United". www.yorkshirepost.co.uk.
    4. "Neil Redfearn announced as women's head coach". www.sufc.co.uk.
    5. "London City Lionesses Statement: Lisa Fallon stands down". London City Lionesses. 9 October 2020.
    6. "Melissa Phillips appointed new London City Lionesses Head Coach". London City Lionesses. 16 October 2020.
    7. "Jepson leaves Liverpool FC Women by mutual consent". Liverpool FC.
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