View source for FA Women's Premier League National Division

{{Short description|Association football league in England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Infobox football league
| logo       = FAWPL Logo.png
| pixels     = 132
| country    = England
| confed     = UEFA
|
| founded    = {{start date and age|1991}}
| folded     = {{end date and age|2013}}
| divisions  = 1
| teams      = 10
| relegation = [[FA Women's Premier League Northern Division|Northern Division]]<br/>[[FA Women's Premier League Southern Division|Southern Division]]
| levels     = 1 (1991–2010)<br />2 (2010–2013)
| domest_cup = [[FA Women's Cup]]<br/>[[FA Women's Community Shield]] (2000–2008)
| league_cup = [[FA Women's Premier League Cup]]
| confed_cup  = [[UEFA Women's Cup]] (2001–2010)
| champions  = [[Sunderland W.F.C.|Sunderland WFC]]
| season     = [[2012–13 FA Women's Premier League|2012–13]]
|
| most successful club = [[Arsenal L.F.C.|Arsenal]]<br />(12 times)
|
| website    = [http://www.thefa.com/Leagues/WomensPremierLeague.aspx League home page]
}}

The '''[[FA Women's Premier League]] National Division''' (originally '''WFA National League Premier Division''') was a football division in England. From [[1991–92 WFA National League Premier Division|1991]] until [[2009–10 FA Women's Premier League|2010]], the National Division functioned as the top league in [[Women's football in England|English women's football]]. During its final three seasons, the division operated as the second level of the league pyramid from [[2010–11 FA Women's Premier League|2010]] to [[2012–13 FA Women's Premier League|2013]]. The division was played on a home and away basis, with each team playing each other twice, and points being awarded in the standard [[Association football|football]] format.

Below the National Division were simultaneously the [[FA Women's Premier League Northern Division|Northern]] and [[FA Women's Premier League Southern Division|Southern]] divisions and the remainder of the women's football pyramid.  The terms ''Women's Premiership'' and ''Ladies' Premiership'' thus generally referred to the National Division alone. The women's National League Premier Division was conceived as the counterpart to the men's football [[Football League First Division|First Division]]/[[Premier League]].

Founded in 1991 by the [[Women's Football Association]], the league was taken over and renamed "Premier League" in the season [[1994–95 FA Women's Premier League|1994–95]] by [[the Football Association]]. The first title was won by [[Doncaster Rovers Belles L.F.C.|Doncaster Belles]] in [[1991–92 WFA National League Premier Division|1991–92]]. Arsenal hold the most championships, with 12 won between [[1992–93 WFA National League Premier Division|1993]] and [[2009–10 FA Women's Premier League|2010]].

The National Division lost its top-league status and several teams when the FA introduced the summer competition [[FA WSL|Women's Super League]] (WSL) in 2011, with no further promotions. [[2012–13 FA Women's Premier League|2012–13]] was the final season for the Women's Premier League National Division, with the last championship won by [[Sunderland A.F.C. Ladies|Sunderland]], their third in succession. The division was scrapped at the end of the 2012–13 season, prior to the launch of the [[FA WSL 2]] (now the FA Women's Championship).

==History==
[[File:Arsenal v Everton 2010 FA Women's Cup Final.JPG|thumb|300px|Arsenal and Everton were the National Division's last winners and runners-up respectively in 2009–10]]
{{Expand section|date=March 2021}}

In its first two seasons, the women's National League operated on the pointscoring system of two points for a win, switching to [[three points for a win]] in [[1993–94 WFA National League Premier Division|1993–94]].

In the first season, [[1991–92 WFA National League Premier Division|1991–92]], the division contained eight clubs, increasing to 10 clubs in [[1992–93 WFA National League Premier Division|1992–93]].

Premiership teams also competed in the [[FA Women's Cup|WFA Cup/FA Women's Cup]] and the [[FA Women's Premier League Cup|Premier League Cup]]. The first five League champions all won the League and FA Cup [[Double (association football)|Double]]. From 2000 until 2008, the Premiership winner competed against the FA Cup winner or League runner-up annually for the [[FA Women's Community Shield]]. Until 2010,{{vague|date=March 2021}} Premiership winners and runners-up competed in the [[UEFA Women's Champions League|UEFA Women's Cup/Women's Champions League]] as well.

For the [[2006–07 FA Women's Premier League|2006–07]] season, the number of competing teams was increased from 10 to 12, with the promotion of the Northern ([[Blackburn Rovers L.F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]]) and Southern (Cardiff City) champions and no relegations despite [[Test match (association football)|test match]]es being played.

For the National Division's 2010–11 season, the division was reduced to eight clubs from twelve. Six clubs left to form the WSL, as did the Northern Division champions and runners-up, [[Liverpool L.F.C.|Liverpool]] and [[OOH Lincoln L.F.C.|OOH Lincoln]]. The six remaining National Division clubs and the Southern Division top two, [[Barnet F.C. Ladies|Barnet]] and [[Reading F.C. Women|Reading]], thus comprised the second-level National Division.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shekicks.net/news/view/1173|title=Premier League Changes|publisher=She Kicks|access-date=17 June 2010|date=17 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724064637/http://www.shekicks.net/news/view/1173|archive-date=24 July 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==List of seasons==
'''As level 1 division:'''

{{See also|List of English women's football champions}}

:''Note: '''Bold''' designates teams that won a [[Double (association football)|double]] with the [[Women's FA Cup]].<br />† [[Arsenal L.F.C.|Arsenal]] won a [[Treble (association football)|treble]] with the [[UEFA Women's Cup]] in 2007.''

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Winner
! Runner up
! Third place
! Relegated
|-
| [[1991–92 WFA National League Premier Division|1991–92]]
| '''[[Doncaster Rovers Belles L.F.C.|Doncaster Belles]]'''
| [[Southampton Saints L.F.C.|Red Star Southampton]]
| [[A.F.C. Wimbledon Ladies|Wimbledon]]
| None (expansion to 10 clubs)
|-
| [[1992–93 WFA National League Premier Division|1992–93]]
| '''[[Arsenal L.F.C.|Arsenal]]'''
| [[Doncaster Rovers Belles L.F.C.|Doncaster Belles]]
| [[Liverpool L.F.C.|Knowsley United]]
| [[Maidstown Town L.F.C.|Maidstone Tigresses]], [[Bronte L.F.C.|Bronte]]
|-
| [[1993–94 WFA National League Premier Division|1993–94]]
| '''[[Doncaster Rovers Belles L.F.C.|Doncaster Belles]]'''
| [[Arsenal L.F.C.|Arsenal]]
| [[Liverpool L.F.C.|Knowsley United]]
| [[Ipswich Town L.F.C.|Ipswich Town]], [[Wimbledon L.F.C.|Wimbledon]]
|-
| [[1994–95 FA Women's Premier League|1994–95]]
| '''[[Arsenal L.F.C.|Arsenal]]'''
| [[Liverpool L.F.C.|Liverpool]]
| [[Doncaster Rovers Belles L.F.C.|Doncaster Belles]]
| [[Southampton Saints L.F.C.|Red Star Southampton]]
|-
| [[1995–96 FA Women's Premier League|1995–96]]
| '''[[Charlton Athletic L.F.C.|Croydon]]'''
| [[Doncaster Rovers Belles L.F.C.|Doncaster Belles]]
| [[Arsenal L.F.C.|Arsenal]]
| [[Aston Villa L.F.C.|Villa Aztecs]], [[Wolverhampton Wanderers L.F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]]
|-
| [[1996–97 FA Women's Premier League|1996–97]]
| [[Arsenal L.F.C.|Arsenal]]
| [[Doncaster Rovers Belles L.F.C.|Doncaster Belles]]
| [[Charlton Athletic L.F.C.|Croydon]]
| [[Southampton Saints L.F.C.|Southampton Saints]], [[Ilkeston Town L.F.C.|Ilkeston Town]]
|-
| [[1997–98 FA Women's Premier League|1997–98]]
| [[Everton L.F.C.|Everton]]
| [[Arsenal L.F.C.|Arsenal]]
| [[Doncaster Rovers Belles L.F.C.|Doncaster Belles]]
| [[Barnet F.C. Ladies|Barnet]], [[Barry Town W.F.C.|Barry Town]]
|-
| [[1998–99 FA Women's Premier League|1998–99]]
| [[Charlton Athletic L.F.C.|Croydon]]
| [[Arsenal L.F.C.|Arsenal]]
| [[Doncaster Rovers Belles L.F.C.|Doncaster Belles]]
|[[Bradford City W.F.C.|Bradford City]], [[Ilkeston Town L.F.C.|Ilkeston Town]]
|-
| [[1999–2000 FA Women's Premier League|1999–2000]]
| '''[[Charlton Athletic L.F.C.|Croydon]]'''
| [[Doncaster Rovers Belles L.F.C.|Doncaster Belles]]
| [[Arsenal L.F.C.|Arsenal]]
| [[Aston Villa L.F.C.|Aston Villa]], [[Reading F.C. Women|Reading Royals]]
|-
| [[2000–01 FA Women's Premier League|2000–01]]
| '''[[Arsenal L.F.C.|Arsenal]]'''
| [[Doncaster Rovers Belles L.F.C.|Doncaster Belles]]
| [[Charlton Athletic L.F.C.|Charlton Athletic]]
| [[Millwall Lionesses L.F.C.|Millwall Lionesses]], [[Liverpool L.F.C.|Liverpool]]
|-
| [[2001–02 FA Women's Premier League|2001–02]]
| [[Arsenal L.F.C.|Arsenal]]
| [[Doncaster Rovers Belles L.F.C.|Doncaster Belles]]
| [[Charlton Athletic L.F.C.|Charlton Athletic]]
| [[Barry Town W.F.C.|Barry Town]], [[Sunderland A.F.C. Women|Sunderland]]
|-
| [[2002–03 FA Women's Premier League|2002–03]]
| '''[[Fulham L.F.C.|Fulham]]'''
| [[Doncaster Rovers Belles L.F.C.|Doncaster Belles]]
| [[Arsenal L.F.C.|Arsenal]]
| [[Southampton Saints W.F.C.|Southampton Saints]], [[Brighton & Hove Albion W.F.C.|Brighton & Hove Albion]]
|-
| [[2003–04 FA Women's Premier League|2003–04]]
| '''[[Arsenal L.F.C.|Arsenal]]'''
| [[Charlton Athletic L.F.C.|Charlton Athletic]]
| [[Fulham L.F.C.|Fulham]]
| [[Aston Villa L.F.C.|Aston Villa]], [[Tranmere Rovers L.F.C.|Tranmere Rovers]]
|-
| [[2004–05 FA Women's Premier League|2004–05]]
| [[Arsenal L.F.C.|Arsenal]]
| [[Charlton Athletic L.F.C.|Charlton Athletic]]
| [[Everton L.F.C.|Everton]]
| [[Liverpool L.F.C.|Liverpool]], [[Bristol City W.F.C. (1990s)|Bristol City]]
|-
| [[2005–06 FA Women's Premier League|2005–06]]
| '''[[Arsenal L.F.C.|Arsenal]]'''
| [[Everton L.F.C.|Everton]]
| [[Charlton Athletic L.F.C.|Charlton Athletic]]
| None (expansion to 12 clubs)
|-
| [[2006–07 FA Women's Premier League|2006–07]]
| '''[[Arsenal L.F.C.|Arsenal]]''' <small>†</small>
| [[Everton L.F.C.|Everton]]
| [[Charlton Athletic L.F.C.|Charlton Athletic]]
| [[Sunderland A.F.C. Women|Sunderland]], [[Fulham L.F.C.|Fulham]]
|-
| [[2007–08 FA Women's Premier League|2007–08]]
| '''[[Arsenal L.F.C.|Arsenal]]'''
| [[Everton L.F.C.|Everton]]
| [[Charlton Athletic L.F.C.|Charlton Athletic]]
| [[Cardiff City L.F.C.|Cardiff City]], [[Charlton Athletic L.F.C.|Charlton Athletic]]
|-
| [[2008–09 FA Women's Premier League|2008–09]]
| '''[[Arsenal L.F.C.|Arsenal]]'''
| [[Everton L.F.C.|Everton]]
| [[Chelsea L.F.C.|Chelsea]]
| [[Liverpool L.F.C.|Liverpool]], [[Fulham L.F.C.|Fulham]]
|-
| [[2009–10 FA Women's Premier League|2009–10]]
| [[Arsenal L.F.C.|Arsenal]]
| [[Everton L.F.C.|Everton]]
| [[Chelsea L.F.C.|Chelsea]]
| ''League restructured due to [[FA WSL]]''
|}

'''As FA level 2 division:'''

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Winner
! Runner up
! Third place
! Relegated
|-
| [[2010–11 FA Women's Premier League|2010–11]]
| [[Sunderland A.F.C. Women|Sunderland]]
| [[Nottingham Forest L.F.C.|Nottingham Forest]]
| [[Reading F.C. Women|Reading]]
| [[Blackburn Rovers L.F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]], [[Millwall Lionesses L.F.C.|Millwall Lionesses]]
|-
| [[2011–12 FA Women's Premier League|2011–12]]
| [[Sunderland A.F.C. Women|Sunderland]]
| [[Leeds United L.F.C.|Leeds United]]
| [[Aston Villa L.F.C.|Aston Villa]]
| [[Nottingham Forest L.F.C.|Nottingham Forest]], [[Reading F.C. Women|Reading]]
|-
| [[2012–13 FA Women's Premier League|2012–13]]
| [[Sunderland A.F.C. Women|Sunderland]]
| [[Watford L.F.C.|Watford]]
| [[Leeds United L.F.C.|Leeds United]]
| ''League restructured due to [[FA WSL 2]]''
|}

The Women's Premier League name continued at level 3 in [[2013–14 FA Women's Premier League|2013–14]] after the National Division was scrapped.

==Performance by club==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Club
! Winners
! Runners-up
! Winning years
|-
| [[Arsenal L.F.C.|Arsenal]]
| {{center|12}}
| {{center|3}}
| 1992–93, 1994–95, 1996–97, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10
|-
| [[Charlton Athletic W.F.C.|Croydon/<wbr />Charlton Athletic]]
| {{center|3}}
| {{center|2}}
| 1995–96, 1998–99, 1999–2000
|-
| [[Sunderland A.F.C. Women|Sunderland]]
| {{center|3}}
| {{center|0}}
| 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13
|-
| [[Doncaster Rovers Belles L.F.C.|Doncaster Rovers Belles]]
| {{center|2}}
| {{center|7}}
| 1991–92, 1993–94
|-
| [[Everton L.F.C.|Everton]]
| {{center|1}}
| {{center|5}}
| 1997–98
|-
| [[Fulham L.F.C.|Fulham]]
| {{center|1}}
| {{center|0}}
| 2002–03
|-
| [[Liverpool L.F.C.|Liverpool]]
| {{center|0}}
| {{center|1}}
| 1994–95
|-
| [[Nottingham Forest L.F.C.|Nottingham Forest]]
| {{center|0}}
| {{center|1}}
| 2010–11
|-
| [[Leeds United L.F.C.|Leeds United]]
| {{center|0}}
| {{center|1}}
| 2011–12
|}

==See also==
*[[Women's football (soccer)]]
*[[List of women's football teams]]
*[[List of women's football (soccer) competitions]]

==External links==
*[http://www.thefa.com/Womens/ The FA Women's Page]
*[http://www.femalesoccer.net femaleSOCCER.net – Girls and women's football including Premier League]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{FA Women's Premier League}}
{{Women's football in England}}
{{UEFA women's leagues}}

[[Category:FA Women's National League|1]]
[[Category:Defunct women's football leagues in England|1]]
[[Category:Defunct top-level women's association football leagues in Europe|Eng]]

[[fr:Championnat d'Angleterre de football féminin]]