2023–24 Women's Championship
The 2023–24 Women's Championship season (also known as the Barclays Women's Championship for sponsorship reasons) will be the sixth season of the rebranded Women's Championship, the second tier of women's football in England, and the ninth season since the creation of the WSL 2.[1]
| Season | 2023–24 |
|---|---|
| Matches played | 47 |
| Goals scored | 129 (2.74 per match) |
| Biggest home win | Crystal Palace 9–1 Durham 10 September 2023 |
| Biggest away win | Blackburn Rovers 0–4 Crystal Palace 1 October 2023 Sheffield United 0–4 Birmingham City 15 October 2023 |
| Highest scoring | Crystal Palace 9–1 Durham 10 September 2023 |
← 2022–23 2024–25 →
All statistics correct as of 22 October 2023. | |
In April 2023, The Football Association board announced changes to the Women's Championship, increasing the number of relegation spots in the 2023–24 season to two in order for both FA Women's National League champions (North and South) to win promotion at the end of the season. Previously only one team had been relegated and replaced by the winner of a playoff match between the Northern Premier Division and Southern Premier Division champions. The changes will not impact the structure of the Women's Super League with a one up, one down system.[2]
Teams
Twelve teams will compete in the Championship for the 2023–24 season, the same number as the previous season. Bristol City were promoted to the Women's Super League as 2022–23 Women's Championship winners.[3] They will be replaced by Reading who were relegated on the final day of the 2022–23 Women's Super League season,[4] ending a seven-season stay in the WSL which began in 2016 following the club's promotion as 2015 WSL 2 winners.[5] Coventry United were relegated to the FA Women's National League after four seasons in the second division.[6] They were replaced by the winners of the 2022–23 FA Women's National League playoff, Southern Premier Division winners Watford, who beat Northern champions Nottingham Forest 1–0. They returned after just one season away having been relegated at the end of the 2021–22 season.[7]
| Team | Location | Ground | Capacity | 2022–23 season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham City | Birmingham | St Andrew's | 29,902 | 2nd |
| Blackburn Rovers | Bamber Bridge | Sir Tom Finney Stadium | 3,000 | 10th |
| Charlton Athletic | Crayford | Oakwood | 1,180 | 4th |
| Crystal Palace | Sutton | Gander Green Lane | 5,032 | 5th |
| Durham | Durham | Maiden Castle | 1,700 | 7th |
| Lewes | Lewes | The Dripping Pan | 3,000 | 9th |
| London City Lionesses | Dartford | Princes Park | 4,100 | 3rd |
| Reading | Reading | Madejski Stadium | 24,161 | WSL, 12th |
| Sheffield United | Sheffield | Bramall Lane | 32,050 | 8th |
| Southampton | Southampton | St Mary's Stadium | 32,384 | 6th |
| Sunderland | Hetton-le-Hole | Eppleton CW | 2,500 | 11th |
| Watford | Ruislip | Grosvenor Vale | 4,085 | WNL, 1st |
Managerial changes
| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading |  Kelly Chambers |
Resigned | 20 June 2023[8] | End of season (WSL, 12th) | Liam Gilbert |
18 August 2023[9] |
| London City Lionesses | Nikita Runnacles (interim) |
End of interim period | 4 July 2023 | End of season (3rd) |  Carolina Morace |
4 July 2023[10] |
| Blackburn Rovers | Matt Bee (interim) |
End of interim period | 17 July 2023 | End of season (10th) | Simon Parker |
17 July 2023[11] |
Table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunderland | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 4 | +7 | 18 | Promotion to the WSL[lower-alpha 1] |
| 2 | Southampton | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 15 | 8 | +7 | 15 | |
| 3 | Charlton Athletic | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 11 | 7 | +4 | 15 | |
| 4 | Crystal Palace | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 25 | 8 | +17 | 14 | |
| 5 | Blackburn Rovers | 8 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 10 | −3 | 12 | |
| 6 | Birmingham City | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 14 | 8 | +6 | 11 | |
| 7 | Durham | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 16 | −7 | 11 | |
| 8 | Sheffield United | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 10 | −1 | 10 | |
| 9 | Reading | 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 12 | −4 | 9 | |
| 10 | London City Lionesses | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 15 | −8 | 8 | |
| 11 | Watford | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 10 | 18 | −8 | 4 | Relegation to the National League |
| 12 | Lewes | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 13 | −10 | 4 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
Notes:
- Dependent on obtaining a licence.
Results
References
- "New brand identity". www.thefa.com.
- Rampling, Ali (28 April 2023). "Women's National League gains extra promotion spot from 2023-24". The Athletic.
- "Smith 'excited' as Bristol City return to WSL". BBC Sport.
- "What next for Reading after relegation from WSL?". BBC Sport.
- "Royals crowned champions after 3-2 win away at Aston Villa". www.thefa.com.
- "Coventry United relegated from the Barclays Women's Championship". FAWSL Full-Time. 2 April 2023.
- "Women: Nottingham Forest 0-1 Watford". www.watfordfc.com.
- "Kelly Chambers set to leave the club for pastures new". Reading FC. 20 June 2023.
- "Liam Gilbert takes the reins of Reading FC Women". Reading FC. 18 August 2023.
- "Italian legend Morace appointed head coach of London City Lionesses". FAWSL Full-Time. 4 July 2023.
- "Blackburn Rovers Women appoint Simon Parker as head coach". Lancashire Telegraph.
External links
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