The Women's National League North, currently known as the FA Women's National League North, is a football league at the third tier of women's football in England. Together with the National League South, the two leagues form the highest division of the National League.
Established in 1991 as the WFA National League Northern Division, before a name change to the FA Premier League Northern Division in 1994, the league, along with the Southern Division, formed the second tier of women's football until 2010. The league champion was promoted to the National Division, while the bottom two teams were originally relegated to the regional leagues, prior to the introduction of the Combination Leagues in 1998. After the introduction of the Women's Super League, the National Division became the second tier, and the Northern and Southern Divisions became the third tier.
In 2014, the fourth tier Combination Leagues became part of the FA Women's Premier League. Rebranded as the Premier Leagues 'Division One', the champions of Division One North and Division One Midlands feed into the Northern Division. The league received its current name and branding in 2018.
History Originally known as the WFA National League Northern Division, Bronte were the inaugural second level champions. Liverpool, having won the 2009–10 season, became the last second level champions. After the introduction of the Women's Super League in 2011, the league became the third level of woman's football. Aston Villa won the 2010–11 season, becoming the first third level champions.
For the 2014–15 season, the Women's Premier League incorporated the fourth tier Combination Leagues as the Premier League's 'Division One', with Division One North and Division One Midlands feeding into the Northern Division. Promotion to the second tier was also reintroduced, with the winners of the Northern and Southern Divisions playing each other in a single play-off match at a neutral venue, the winner becoming the overall Women's Premier League/National League champion, and promoted to the WSL 2.
Prior to the 2018–19 season, the league was renamed as the FA Women's National League North, part of a complete rebrand of the women's pyramid. Blackburn Rovers won the inaugural edition of the rebranded league. On 1 May 2022, Division One North club Newcastle United set a new league attendance record of 22,134. The club beat their own record on 16 April 2023, with an attendance of 24,092. Beginning with the 2023–24 season, it was decided that both the Northern and Southern Division champions would be automatically promoted to the Championship.
Clubs The following twelve clubs are competing in the 2025–26 season.
ClubHome groundPosition 2024–25BurnleyLancashire County Ground, LeylandDerby CountyDon Amott Arena, Derby Halifax Clayborn Ground, Cleckheaton Hull City Easy Buy Stadium, North Ferriby Loughborough LightningLoughborough University Stadium, Loughborough Liverpool FedsJericho Lane, LiverpoolMiddlesbroughBishopton Road West, Stockton Rugby Borough Kilsby Lane, Rugby Sporting Khalsa Aspray Arena, Noose Lane, Willenhall Stoke CityNorton Cricket Club, Stoke-on-TrentWest Bromwich AlbionKeys Park, HednesfordWolverhampton WanderersNew Bucks Head, Telford
Results Northern Division SeasonWinnerRunner-upTop scorer(s)Goals Tier 21991–92BronteSheffield Wednesday1992–93Leasowe PacificNottingham Argyle1993–94Wolverhampton WanderersSheffield Wednesday1994–95Villa AztecsCowgate Kestrels1995–96Tranmere RoversHuddersfield Town1996–97Bradford CityAston Villa1997–98Ilkeston TownGarswood Saints Ali Kirk (Ilkeston Town) 251998–99Aston VillaBlyth Spartans Kestrels Lucy Ward (Leeds United) 211999–2000Blyth Spartans KestrelsBangor City Melanie Reay (Blyth Spartans Kestrels) 232000–01Leeds UnitedOldham Curzon Kelly Dean (Oldham Curzon) 272001–02Birmingham CityWolverhampton Wanderers Katy Ward (Birmingham City)2002–03Aston VillaSunderland Kelly Dean (Oldham Curzon) Melanie Reay (Sunderland) 172003–04LiverpoolSunderland Kelly Dean (Oldham Curzon) Melanie Reay (Sunderland) 182004–05SunderlandWolverhampton Wanderers Amy McCann (Wolverhampton Wanderers) 202005–06Blackburn Rovers Liverpool Vicky Abbott (Tranmere Rovers) 212006–07LiverpoolLincoln City Jodie Michalska (Lincoln City) Melanie Reay (Newcastle United) 182007–08Nottingham ForestLincoln City Jodie Michalska (Lincoln City) 272008–09SunderlandLincoln City Jodie Michalska (Lincoln City) 212009–10LiverpoolLincoln City Cheryl Foster (Liverpool) 16 Tier 32010–11Aston VillaCoventry City Natasha Meade (Leicester City) 152011–12Manchester CitySheffield Jodie Michalska (Sheffield) 182012–13SheffieldNottingham Forest Jodie Michalska (Sheffield) 142013–14SheffieldPreston North End Jodie Michalska (Sheffield) 202014–15SheffieldCoventry City Jodie Michalska (Sheffield) 252015–16Sporting Club AlbionPreston North End Emily Heckler (Huddersfield Town) 292016–17Blackburn RoversMiddlesbrough Bianca Owens (Middlesbrough) 202017–18Blackburn RoversLeicester City Rosie Axten (Leicester City) 222018–19Blackburn RoversSunderland Saffron Jordan (Blackburn Rovers) 322019–20Not awarded (COVID-19 pandemic)2020–21Not awarded (COVID-19 pandemic)2021–22Wolverhampton WanderersDerby County Ellie Gilliatt (Derby County) Evie Priestley (Burnley) Faye McCoy (Fylde) 162022–23Nottingham ForestWolverhampton Wanderers Amy Sims (Derby County) 182023–24Newcastle UnitedBurnley Charlotte Greengrass (Huddersfield Town) 132024–25Nottingham ForestWolverhampton Wanderers Charlotte Greengrass (Wolverhampton Wanderers) 212025–26BurnleyWolverhampton Wanderers Amber Hughes (Wolverhampton Wanderers) Millie Ravening (Burnley)19 Notes
Division One Season Division One North Runners-up 2014–15 Guiseley Vixens Liverpool Feds 2015–16 Middlesbrough Liverpool Feds 2016–17 Guiseley Vixens Liverpool Feds 2017–18 Hull City Brighouse Town 2018–19 Burnley Brighouse Town 2019–20Not awarded (COVID-19 pandemic) 2020–21Not awarded (COVID-19 pandemic) 2021–22 Liverpool Feds Newcastle United 2022–23 Newcastle United Durham Cestria2023–24 Hull City Middlesbrough2024–25 Middlesbrough Cheadle Town2025–26Huddersfield TownCheadle Town Season Division One Midlands Runners-up2014–15 Loughborough Foxes Leicester City2015–16 Leicester City Wolverhampton Wanderers2016–17 Wolverhampton Wanderers Loughborough Foxes2017–18 Loughborough Foxes Burton Albion2018–19 West Bromwich Albion Wolverhampton Wanderers2019–20Not awarded (COVID-19 pandemic)2020–21Not awarded (COVID-19 pandemic)2021–22 Boldmere St. Michaels Doncaster Rovers2022–23 Stourbridge Doncaster Rovers2023–24 Sporting Khalsa Loughborough Lightning2024–25 Loughborough Lightning Northampton Town2025–26 Peterborough UnitedBoldmere St. Michaels
See also Women's association football List of women's football teams List of women's football (soccer) competitions
References
External links Official website FA Full-time