So the women's football pyramid in England becomes a frustum in 2018/19, with the top level, the WSL, closed off for full-time teams only. The new system is
Tier 1 = Women's Super League
-------------------------------------
Tier 2 = Championship
Tier 3 = National League Premier: N/S
Tier 4 = National League Div.1: N/Mids/SE/SW
Tier 5 and below = Regional and county leagues
Chelsea were the dominant force last season, winning both the WSL and the FA Cup in front of a record crowd of over 45 thousand. For me, this is at least a decent counterpoint to the 'closed shop' top flight - the FA Cup in women's football has the status within the game that the men's one did decades ago. The Final is the season's showpiece. The FA WSL title is decided in front of several hundred, rather than tens of thousands and a TV audience in the millions. And the women's FA Cup remains open to all, albeit with the WSL clubs getting more byes, usually.
Chelsea and Man City came unstuck again against Europe's elite in the Champions League (a reminder that the 2018 WCL Final is on Thursday at 1700 btw) though they seem to be closing the gap each season.
It's a big season in the sense that there's a World Cup at the end of it, and with a new manager plus retirements from some senior players there could be some places up for grabs. And it's a big season with the new franchising system coming into play. Man Utd are set to enter a team in the Championship, and the BBC is suggesting that Notts County are set to return as well.
Tier 1 = Women's Super League
-------------------------------------
Tier 2 = Championship
Tier 3 = National League Premier: N/S
Tier 4 = National League Div.1: N/Mids/SE/SW
Tier 5 and below = Regional and county leagues
Chelsea were the dominant force last season, winning both the WSL and the FA Cup in front of a record crowd of over 45 thousand. For me, this is at least a decent counterpoint to the 'closed shop' top flight - the FA Cup in women's football has the status within the game that the men's one did decades ago. The Final is the season's showpiece. The FA WSL title is decided in front of several hundred, rather than tens of thousands and a TV audience in the millions. And the women's FA Cup remains open to all, albeit with the WSL clubs getting more byes, usually.
Chelsea and Man City came unstuck again against Europe's elite in the Champions League (a reminder that the 2018 WCL Final is on Thursday at 1700 btw) though they seem to be closing the gap each season.
It's a big season in the sense that there's a World Cup at the end of it, and with a new manager plus retirements from some senior players there could be some places up for grabs. And it's a big season with the new franchising system coming into play. Man Utd are set to enter a team in the Championship, and the BBC is suggesting that Notts County are set to return as well.
Comment