Sunderland and Watford have both been promoted to the FA Women’s Championship for 2021-22 season as part of an upward movement process within Women’s Football Pyramid.
This decision comes as part of an Upward Club Movement (UCM) process after applications were opened in April 2021, following the early curtailment of Women’s Non League Football in tier 3-6 of overall pyramid with all clubs invited to apply for promotion.
Sunderland and Watford were ultimately the successful applicants of respective National League Northern and Southern Premier Divisions, thereby clinching promotion to the Women’s Championship which will contain 12 teams from next season.
Sunderland’s Sporting Director, Kristjaan Speakman is ‘delighted’ with the promotion and paid tribute to the club’s football and business departments for their collaboration in the application, as well as manager Melanie Copeland and players for their efforts over the last two seasons.
Speakman has also vowed to deliver on the plan and build long-term infrastructure to support both players and staff throughout next season.
Watford Head Coach, Clinton Lancaster meanwhile was ‘pleased’ with the move, commenting: “It’s been a long time coming and the players and staff have had to be patient. We’re absolutely thrilled to have our application accepted, especially after everyone’s hard work over the last few years.”
Wolverhampton Wanderers and Brighouse Town will move up from tier four to tier 3 and play in the FA WNL Northern Premier, likewise for Southampton and Ipswich who will play in the FA WNL Southern Premier next season.
There will be a total of eight promotions from Tier Five to Tier Four as Alnwick Town and FC United of Manchester move up to FAWNL Division One North, whilst Peterborough United and Leek Town are promoted to FA WNL Division One Midlands.
Harlow Town and QPR will both play in FA WNL Division One South East, whilst Bournemouth and Portishead Town have been placed in FA WNL Division One South West.
There will be 15 promotions into Tier Five in total as only AFC Darwen are promoted to North West Regional Premier Division, due to no other clubs applying which meant that there is one vacancy unfilled.
North East Regional Premier Division will have Sunderland West End and Wakefield Trinity in their league for 2021-22 season, after both clubs were awarded upward movement and the same for Tamworth and Stourbridge who are set to play in West Midlands Regional Premier Division.
Lincoln United and Notts County will play in East Midlands Regional Premier Division next season whilst King’s Lynn Town and Millwall Lionesses have been placed in Eastern Regional Premier Division, although Millwall have also had sideway movement to London & South East Regional Premier Division approved too.
Millwall will be joined in London & South East Regional Premier Division by New London Lionesses and Worthing.
Only Abingdon Town have been approved for a move up to Southern Region Premier Division due to the Southern Region League also running a Tier Six division.
South West Regional Premier Division meanwhile have accepted upward moves for AFC St Austell, Sherborne Town and Forest Green Rovers, as a result of running three divisions in Tier Six.
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