LET BATTLE COMMENCE! Northern Premier, FAWNL

Whilst many eyes will be on the Women’s Super League (WSL) hoping to catch glimpses of the victorious Lionesses, the hardest fought battles are often found further down the pyramid. Tier 3 of the FA Women’s National League (FAWNL) provides drama, rivalry, and opportunities to spot new talent. Clare McEwen previews the season and gives you a quick start guide to one of the most exciting leagues in the pyramid.

In case Tier 3 is new to you, it’s made up of two divisions: The FA Women’s National League Northern Premier Division and The FA Women’s National League Southern Premier Division. Geographically split, these leagues feature the best 12 teams in each region.

Teams in the Northern Division: 
Burnley, Derby County, Halifax, Hull City, Liverpool Feds, Loughborough Lightning, Middlesbrough, Rugby Borough, Sporting Khalsa, Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion, Wolverhampton Wanderers

Key dates:
Season begins Sunday 17th August.
Season ends Sunday 26th April

FAWNL brings more promotion places

In a normal season, there is only one promotion spot from each division up for grabs. But this is no normal season. 

Next season, 2026/27, the WSL is expanding from 12 to 14 teams. This has an exciting knock-on effect further down the pyramid. For one season only (at a football ground near you), there will be three teams promoted from Tier 3 of the FAWNL. 

This season, as normal, the winner of the Northern and Southern Divisions will be promoted to WSL2. But for 2025/26 only, one extra team will be promoted after a play-off final between the second-placed teams. 

More promotion spots, more to battle for. This is going to be a good one.

FAWNL brings more drama

The FAWNL always provides drama-infused title fights, often going down to the wire. In 2024/25, Nottingham Forest earned promotion to WSL2 after an extremely tightly fought battle with second-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers. Finishing three points apart, they were only separated by a convincing away win for Forest when the two teams met early in the season. The tight margins meant the drama didn’t ease off and, in theory at least, Wolves could still have clinched promotion on the final day of the season.

Wolves will be fancying their chances this season, with two promotion spots up for grabs. Only Forest upset their near flawless season, with just that one loss and four draws. Aside from the blemish of a 1-6 drubbing by Forest, Wolves’ home record was exceptional: 11 wins, scoring 40 goals and only conceding 1. 

Last season’s third placed Stoke City and fourth placed Burnley will also be looking for promotion to WSL2. Burnley have made several statements of intent for the new season, including becoming full-time professionals and hiring the hugely experienced and successful Matt Beard as manager. 

Stoke City have made fantastic progress over the years. In 2023, they became semi-professional and last season they finished third in the Northern Premier Division and reached the FAWNL Cup Final (losing out to Nottingham Forest). With new head coach Sarah Richardson taking over and some strong signings (see below), this feels like a great opportunity for Stoke to get a promotion spot.

Although Wolves, Stoke, and Burnley will all be hoping to scrap for the top spot, they’d do well to keep an eye on last season’s fifth placed team, Rugby Borough. Lee Burch’s team are in the midst of their mission to rebuild the team to a professional outfit and after an excellent 2024/25 will be hoping to push on. With strong home and away records last season, they’ll be a threat to all. They’ll also be hoping for further success in the FA Cup after being rewarded with a fifth-round tie against Liverpool last season. 

At the other end of the table, Stourbridge and Halifax fell well short of the rest of the league in 2024/25. Stourbridge were relegated in bottom place but second to bottom Halifax were given a reprieve and remain in Tier 3. Newcomers Loughborough Lightning and Middlesbrough will hope to carry momentum from last season and get off to a good start at the higher level. 

With four teams finishing within a point of each other in the middle of the table last season, there will be battles at the top, middle, and bottom of the FAWNL Northern Division to keep an eye on.

FAWNL brings more development

Last week, the FAWNL released its new strategy “Where Our Game Grows”, which will develop and grow the game in Tiers 3 and 4 over the next three years. Solid and continued investment will help them meet their four key objectives: 

• improve the environment on and off the pitch
• support individual players, referees, coaches, and staff 
• build visibility, fan engagement, and community
• attract commercial partners to provide sustainability

All will have diversity and inclusion, facilities, female health and wellbeing, safeguarding, and technology and data woven into them to continue to develop the game at this level. As recognised by Sue Hough, the Chair of the FAWNL’s Board, Tiers 3 and 4 are “the connection between the professional game and our grassroots players.”

In other words, the FAWNL is full of drama, talent, and future stars but also where young girls can feel closer to their dreams and fans can get closer to the action.

Three key fixtures to look out for before Christmas:
Sunday 24th August 2pm Wolverhampton Wanderers v Burnley
Sunday 5th October 2pm Wolverhampton v Stoke City
Sunday 2nd November 2pm Stoke v Burnley

Predictions
Winners: Burnley
Runners-up: Stoke City or Wolves
Relegated: Halifax, Middlesbrough