About The FA Women’s National League
The FA Women’s National League is where ambition, community and opportunity come together.
Home to 72 clubs across six divisions, the League forms Tiers 3 and 4 of the women’s football pyramid in England. From established clubs with proud histories to ambitious teams building for the future, the competition provides a national platform for players, coaches, volunteers and supporters across the country.
Every weekend, dedicated fans come together to support their local clubs, discover emerging talent and experience competitive women’s football at the heart of their communities.
Where our game grows
The FA Women’s National League plays an important role in connecting the professional and grassroots game.
The Northern Premier Division and Southern Premier Division form Tier 3 of the women’s football pyramid, sitting directly below Barclays Women’s Super League 2.
Tier 4 is made up of four regional divisions:
- Division One North
- Division One Midlands
- Division One South East
- Division One South West
Together, these six divisions create a competitive national league structure, providing clubs with opportunities to develop, progress and compete for promotion.
The League is supported by investment from the Premier League as part of a shared commitment to strengthening Tiers 3 and 4 and supporting the continued growth of women’s football.
Our history
The competition was established by the Women’s Football Association as the WFA National League in 1991.
Doncaster Belles became the League’s first champions during the inaugural 1991/92 season, beginning a rich history featuring some of the most influential clubs, players and managers in the women’s game.
The competition was adopted by The Football Association during the 1993/94 season and became The FA Women’s Premier League. It was renamed The FA Women’s National League in 2014.
For its first 20 years, the League represented the highest level of women’s football in England. Its national top division was supported by two regional divisions and a League Cup competition.
During a period when much of the women’s game remained amateur, the League provided an increasingly competitive platform for talented players while helping to build audiences, media coverage and commercial interest.
Following the launch of the Women’s Super League in 2011, the competition took on a new position within the women’s football pyramid. Today, The FA Women’s National League remains an important national stage for clubs and players, as well as a pathway towards the professional game.
The FA Women’s National League Cup
The FA Women’s National League Cup brings clubs together from across the League in a national competition.
First played during the League’s inaugural 1991/92 season, the Cup has evolved alongside the structure of women’s football. Arsenal became the competition’s first winners, while Barnet were the first club to win the Cup after teams from the top flight no longer participated.
The competition gives clubs the opportunity to face opponents from different divisions, create memorable cup runs and compete for national silverware.
The FA Women’s National League Plate
The FA Women’s National League Plate was introduced during the 2014/15 season, originally as The FA Women’s Premier League Plate.
The competition provides clubs with an additional opportunity to compete for a national trophy as part of the wider League Cup format.
The Cup and Plate competitions have continued to evolve, with recent formats using group and knockout stages to create more competitive fixtures for participating clubs.
More than 90 minutes
The FA Women’s National League is about more than the action on the pitch.
Its clubs are rooted in communities across England and are supported by passionate fans, volunteers, coaches, partners and local organisations. Together, they create welcoming matchdays, develop the next generation and give more people the opportunity to experience women’s football.
The League is proud to celebrate the different identities, histories and communities of its clubs while working collectively to grow the game.
From the first champions, Doncaster Belles, through Arsenal’s period of dominance and into today’s thriving six-division competition, The FA Women’s National League has played an important role in the history and development of women’s football.
It continues to provide a place where clubs can grow, players can progress and supporters can feel part of the game.
Follow The FA Women’s National League
Explore the latest FA Women’s National League fixtures, results and league tables, and find out more about the clubs competing across Tiers 3 and 4 of women’s football in England.