2020–21 FA Women's Championship

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.

FA Women's Championship
Season2020–21
ChampionsLeicester City
RelegatedLondon Bees
Matches played116
Goals scored295 (2.54 per match)
Top goalscorer19 goals
Katie Wilkinson (Sheffield United)
Biggest home winDurham 7–1 Coventry United
(2 May 2021)
Biggest away winCoventry United 1–9 Leicester City
(15 November 2020)
Highest scoringCoventry United 1–9 Leicester City
(15 November 2020)
All statistics correct as of 2 May 2021.

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.[1]

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.[2] 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
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.[3]

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.

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 England John Bayer (interim)[4] End of interim period 27 May 2020 End of season (4th) Republic of Ireland Lisa Fallon[4] 27 May 2020
    Sheffield United England Carla Ward[5] Mutual separation 7 July 2020 End of season (2nd) England Neil Redfearn[6] 28 August 2020
    London City Lionesses Republic of Ireland Lisa Fallon[7] Personal reasons 9 October 2020 10th United States Melissa Phillips[8] 9 October 2020
    Liverpool England Vicky Jepson[9] Mutual consent 12 January 2021 3rd England Amber Whiteley (interim)[9] 12 January 2021
    London Bees England Lee Burch[10] Sacked 10 February 2021 9th England Sian Osmond (interim)[11] 12 February 2021
    Charlton Athletic England Riteesh Mishra[12] Retained coaching role 16 March 2021 9th England Karen Hills[12] 16 March 2021

    Table
    Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
    1 Leicester City (C, P) 20 16 2 2 54 16 +38 50 Promotion to the WSL[lower-alpha 1]
    2 Durham 20 12 6 2 34 15 +19 42
    3 Liverpool 20 11 6 3 37 15 +22 39
    4 Sheffield United 20 11 5 4 37 15 +22 38
    5 Lewes 20 8 4 8 19 22 −3 28
    6 London City Lionesses 20 6 6 8 19 19 0 24
    7 Crystal Palace 20 5 5 10 27 36 −9 20
    8 Charlton Athletic 20 4 7 9 19 29 −10 19
    9 Blackburn Rovers 20 4 6 10 20 31 −11 18
    10 Coventry United 20 5 1 14 21 51 −30 16
    11 London Bees (R) 20 3 2 15 14 52 −38 11 Relegation to the National League
    Source: FA WSL
    Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
    (C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
    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 0–1 2–2 0–2 2–3 0–3 0–0 3–0 1–0 1–2
    Charlton Athletic 1–1 — 2–3 2–2 2–1 0–2 1–1 2–2 3–1 0–1 0–1
    Coventry United 0–1 0–2 — 5–2 3–4 1–9 0–1 1–2 3–1 1–0 0–3
    Crystal Palace 2–3 1–1 3–1 — 0–1 1–4 2–1 0–1 5–0 1–1 0–3
    Durham 0–0 1–1 7–1 2–0 — 0–2 3–0 2–0 1–0 1–0 1–1
    Leicester City 3–0 4–0 2–0 1–0 2–2 — 1–0 2–1 3–0 2–0 2–1
    Lewes 1–0 2–1 1–0 0–2 1–1 1–0 — 2–2 2–1 2–3 0–2
    Liverpool 1–1 4–0 5–0 4–0 1–1 1–2 2–0 — 3–0 2–2 1–0
    London Bees 3–2 1–0 1–1 1–4 1–2 0–7 1–0 0–3 — 0–0 2–4
    London City Lionesses 3–0 0–0 2–0 0–0 0–1 4–1 0–1 0–1 2–1 — 1–4
    Sheffield United 3–3 1–0 3–0 3–0 0–1 2–2 0–0 0–1 4–0 0–0 —
    Source: FA WSL
    Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

    Top goalscorers
    As of 2 May 2021[13]
    Rank Player Team Goals
    1 England Katie Wilkinson Sheffield United 19
    2 England Natasha Flint Leicester City 17
    3 England Beth Hepple Durham 10
    4 England Bianca Baptiste Crystal Palace 8
    5 England Lachante Paul Leicester City 7
    6 England Jess King Charlton Athletic 6
    England Emily Roberts Durham
    8 12 players 5

    Awards

    Annual awards
    Award Winner Club
    Golden boot England Katie Wilkinson Sheffield United
    Golden glove England Megan Borthwick Durham
    England Kirstie Levell Leicester City
    England Fran Kitching Sheffield United
    Player of the season England Katie Wilkinson Sheffield United
    Manager of the season England Jonathan Morgan Leicester City

    See also

    References
    1. "Leicester promoted to WSL for first time". BBC Sport.
    2. "FA Women's Championship report: Charlton Athletic 3–1 London Bees". womenscompetitions.thefa.com.
    3. "WSL fixtures release". BBC. August 1, 2018. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
    4. "Lisa Fallon and Melissa Phillips announced as new London City Lionesses coaching team". London City Lionesses. 27 May 2020.
    5. "Blades manager Carla Ward leaves Sheffield United". www.yorkshirepost.co.uk.
    6. "Neil Redfearn announced as women's head coach". www.sufc.co.uk.
    7. "London City Lionesses Statement: Lisa Fallon stands down". London City Lionesses. 9 October 2020.
    8. "Melissa Phillips appointed new London City Lionesses Head Coach". London City Lionesses. 16 October 2020.
    9. "Jepson leaves Liverpool FC Women by mutual consent". Liverpool FC.
    10. Rowe, Adam (10 February 2021). "Club Statement: Lee Burch". London Bees Official Website.
    11. Rowe, Adam (12 February 2021). "Club Statement: Sian Osmond takes caretaker charge". London Bees Official Website.
    12. Pizzey, Chloe (16 March 2021). "Karen Hills appointed Head Coach of Charlton Athletic Women". Charlton Athletic.
    13. "Women's Championship 2020/2021". Flashscore.
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