Founded | 1991 |
---|---|
First season | 1991–92 |
Country | England |
Confederation | UEFA (Europe) |
Divisions | 6 Northern Premier Division Southern Premier Division Division One North Division One Midlands Division One South East Division One South West Premier League National Division (1991–2013) |
Level on pyramid | 3–4 (since 2014) |
Promotion to | FA Women's Championship (since 2014–15) |
Relegation to | Regional Leagues |
Domestic cup(s) | Women's FA Cup |
League cup(s) | FA Women's National League Cup, FA Women's National League Plate |
Most championships | Arsenal (12 titles) |
Website | thefa.com/wpl |
Current: Current season (2024–25) |
The FA Women's National League, formerly WFA National League and FA Women's Premier League (WPL), is a group of six football divisions which was run by the English Football Association until 2014 when it changed to become an FA branded league run by an independent elected management committee. Originally founded in 1991 by the Women's Football Association, the League included England's top division from 1991 to 2010.
The League now sits at step 3 and 4 of the women's football pyramid (below the FA Women's Super League and the Women's Championship).
The League's Premier Division/National Division contained England's top women's clubs from 1991–92 until the season 2009–10. During this time, Arsenal Ladies won 12 League titles. Below the National Division was a Northern Division and Southern Division, whose teams could win promotion.
The WPL National Division became the country's level 2 division from 2010–11 to 2012–13 and ended in 2013, replaced at level 2 by FA WSL 2, later renamed the Championship. The Northern Division and Southern Division teams (continuing at level 3) have since played for promotion to this division instead.
The feeder divisions of the Combination Women's Football Leagues (1998–2014) became officially part of the WPL system in 2014 at level 4. From these four divisions (North, Midlands, South East and South West), clubs can win promotion to the level 3 National League North or National League South.