The FA Women's Super League 2012
Formed in 2011, the FA WSL (Women's Super League) is the highest level of women's football in England, sitting above the Women's Premier League (WPL), which now forms the second tier. There is at present no promotion or relegation between the two competitions. The WSL is a semi-professional competition running from April to October (the WPL continues to operate a winter season) and the champions qualify for the UEFA Women's Champions League.
The eight member clubs are all associated with (male) professional clubs and operate under a two-year FA licence, a system that the FA has been unwilling to introduce to the men's game. Plans exist to expand the league to 12 teams over the next four years and integrate into a national pyramid structure by 2014.
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The WSL logo is the property of the FA. All other logos are the property of the respective clubs. Contributors are credited in brackets. The opinions on his page are those of HFK and not contributors.
Formed in 1987, Arsenal Ladies are the most successful team in English women's football, having won 34 major trophies to date, including the 2006-07 Women's Champions League and last year's WSL title. They share Meadow Park with Borehamwood FC and, due to their affiliation with Arsenal FC, occasionally play at the Emirates Stadium.
Formed in 1968, Birmingham City Ladies rapidly established themselves as one of the leading women's sides in England and one of the first to establish an Academy to develop young talent. They finished as runners-up last season and have thus qualified for the UEFA Women's Champions League.
Formed in 1998, the Academy came about through a merger of the Bristol Rovers under 16s girls team and Welsh club Cable-Tel LFC. They adopted their current name in 2005 following significant support from the Bristol Academy of Sport. They play on the Stoke Gifford Campus of Filton College in Bristol.
Since 2004, the club has been run and funded by the Community Dept of Chelsea FC. Their home ground is Wheatsheaf Park in Staines.
Formed in 1969 as the Belle Vue Belles, the team became Doncaster Belles in 1971 and became a dominant force in women's football, winning two doubles in the early 90s. In July 2003 they merged with Doncaster Rovers FC but retained financial and strategic independence. To emphasise the point, their home strip is similar but not identical to that of the men's team.
Formed in 1983 as Hoylake WFC, the club became Everton Ladies in 1995. They won the WPL in 1998 and have appeared in several cup finals. They play at the Arriva Stadium, Crosby, home of the amateur men's side, Marine FC.
Previously Lincoln City Ladies and between 2008-and 2010, OOH Lincoln Ladies under a sponsorship deal, the club adopted their current title on joining the WSL. They share Ashby Avenue with Lincoln United.
Formed in 1989 as Newton LFC, they became Knowsley United WFC in 1991 before affiliating with Liverpool FC in 1994. They currently play in Skelmersdale.