There are only a handful of matches left in the Women’s Premier League and with a place in the Women’s Super League on offer, 4 teams will be going all out to earn promotion.
In the Northern division, Coventry City and Sheffield FC are going head to head with Coventry currently 3 points better off having played a game more.
Last season’s Northern champions Sheffield FC have 3 matches left to play and as things stand boast a superior goal difference.
Coventry City won the Southern division last year before being moved to the Northern division and manager Craig Nichols feels his side deserve a shot at the big league.
“To have the opportunity to win the league is testament to how hard everyone has worked. Winning back-to-back titles would be an unbelievable achievement and this year promotion has been our big aim,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sheffield will be hoping to bounce back after losing the FA Women’s Premier League Cup final on penalties to Charlton Athletic.
Charlton also enjoyed a run in the FA Women’s Cup and took Everton Ladies of the WSL 2 to a quarter-final penalty shootout. The Addicks have been pushing for promotion all season but are now mathematically out of the title race, so will remain in the third tier of women’s football for another year.
At the top of the Southern division, Portsmouth FC have their fate in their own hands. With one match left to play, they are 3 points above Brighton and Hove Albion and require just a point against West Ham on the 10th May to win the league.
West Ham recently held 2nd place Brighton to a 2-2 draw and if Portsmouth were to lose, then a win for the south coast side against bottom of the table Keynsham Town would be enough to steal the title as Brighton have a superior goal difference.
The winners of the Northern and Southern division will meet in a promotion playoff on 24 May, with the playoff winner earning a spot in next year’s WSL 2.
Promotion requirements
To earn Women’s Super League status a club must also meet a number of off-the-field requirements set out by the FA:
Financial and business management– including the appointment of a general manager and marketing officer and detailed financial plans.
Commercial sustainability and marketing– including a specific marketing plan demonstrating how specific targets around attendance will be achieved.
Facilities– demonstrating that playing, training, changing, medical, spectator, broadcasting and hospitality facilities are of a certain quality.
Player/youth development– including the appointment of appropriately qualified coaches, physios, doctors, strength and conditioning experts and demonstrating strong partnerships with key agencies that can support player development, such as FA Licenced Centres of Excellence, County Football Associations and universities.
WPL Players to watch
With an incredible 44 goals in 33 games in all competitions, Charlton’s Kit Graham will have certainly registered on club’s radars. Behind Graham in the goal scoring charts is Portsmouth’s Ini Umotong who has scored an impressive 29 times despite only starting 15 matches and featuring as a sub on 10 occasions.
Key to much of Coventry’s success in the Northern Division this year has been the addition of Danielle Selmes from Wolverhampton Wanderers. Selmes grabbed a double to help her new side beat Newcastle United most recently to keep the title within their reach.
Brighton and Hove Albion youngster Deanna Cooper has caught the eye from a very young age. The defender has England caps at Under 15, 17 and 19’s level and was last year’s Player’s Player of the Season.
