2022–23 Women's Championship Explained

Competition:Women's Championship
Season:2022–23
Winners:Bristol City
Relegated:Coventry United
League Topscorer:Melissa Johnson
(12 goals)
Biggest Home Win:
Biggest Away Win:






Highest Scoring:
Matches:132
Total Goals:355
Longest Wins:7 matches
Birmingham City
Longest Unbeaten:11 matches
London City Lionesses
Longest Winless:12 matches
Blackburn Rovers
Longest Losses:11 matches
Coventry United
Prevseason:2021–22
Nextseason:2023–24

The 2022–23 Women's Championship season (also known as the Barclays Women's Championship for sponsorship reasons) was the fifth season of the rebranded Women's Championship, the second tier of women's football in England.[1]

Ahead of the season the top two tiers unveiled a new visual identity, dropping "The FA" from the league names as part of the long term strategy for the leagues to be under new ownership in the future.[2] Having sponsored the first tier since the 2019–20 season, it marks the first season of Barclays as the title partner of the Women's Championship.[3]

On 2 April 2023, Coventry United were mathematically confirmed as relegated from the Championship after four seasons in the second division. They sat 10 points adrift from safety with three games remaining.[4] On 23 April 2023, Bristol City were confirmed as champions with one game remaining, holding a four point lead ahead of final day opponents Birmingham City. They earned promotion back to the WSL after two seasons in the Championship.[5]

Teams

Twelve teams will compete in the Championship for the 2022–23 season, the same number as the previous season. Liverpool were promoted to the FA WSL as 2021–22 FA Women's Championship winners.[6] They were replaced by Birmingham City who finished bottom of the FA WSL in the 2021–22 season and were relegated after 20 years in the top flight.[7] Watford were relegated to the FA Women's National League after just one season in the Championship.[8] They were replaced by Southern Premier Division winners Southampton who beat Northern Premier Division winners Wolverhampton Wanderers in the 2021–22 FA Women's National League playoff to earn promotion.[9]

Team Location Ground Capacity data-sort-type="number"2021–22 season
Birmingham CityBirmingham29,902
Blackburn RoversBamber BridgeSir Tom Finney Stadium 3,000
FailandRobins High Performance Centre
Charlton AthleticThe Oakwood 1,180
Coventry4,000
5,000
1,700
LewesThe Dripping Pan3,000
4,100
32,050
SouthamptonSt Mary's Stadium
2,500

Managerial changes

TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming managerDate of appointment
Lewes Craig Gill (interim)End of interim period12 May 2022[10] End of season (8th)12 May 2022
Coventry United Jay BradfordResigned28 May 2022End of season (11th) Lee Burch18 July 2022[11]
Sheffield United Neil RedfearnResigned25 November 2022[12] 10th Zoe Johnson (interim)25 November 2022
London City Lionesses Melissa PhillipsSigned by Angel City FC23 January 2023[13] 1st Nikita Runnacles (interim)23 January 2023
Sheffield United Zoe Johnson (interim)End of interim period14 February 2023[14] 11th Jonathan Morgan14 February 2023
Crystal Palace Dean DavenportSuspended12 March 2023[15] 6th Mike Lowne (interim)12 March 2023
Blackburn Rovers Gemma DonnellyMutual consent4 April 2023[16] 11th Matt Bee (interim)4 April 2023

Table

Top scorers

As of 30 April 2023

RankPlayerClubGoals
1 Melissa JohnsonCharlton Athletic12
2 Sarah EwensLondon City Lionesses11
Shania HaylesBristol City
Jade PennockBirmingham City
5 Saffron JordanBlackburn Rovers10
6 Courtney Sweetman-KirkSheffield United9
7 Atlanta PrimusLondon City Lionesses8
Emily ScarrSunderland
9 Grace ClintonBristol City7
Mia EnderbySheffield United
Rio HardyDurham
Katie WilkinsonSouthampton

Awards

Annual awards

AwardWinnerClub
Player of the Season Jade PennockBirmingham City
Golden Boot Melissa JohnsonCharlton Athletic
Golden Glove Fran BentleyBristol City

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: New brand identity . www.thefa.com.
  2. Web site: Barclays Women's Super League rebranded . www.mancity.com.
  3. Web site: New look for BWSL and BWC . womenscompetitions.thefa.com . 10 June 2022.
  4. Web site: Coventry United relegated from the Barclays Women's Championship . FAWSL Full-Time . 2 April 2023.
  5. Web site: Smith 'excited' as Bristol City return to WSL . BBC Sport.
  6. Web site: LFC Women crowned champions and secure return to WSL . Liverpool FC.
  7. Web site: Birmingham's fall from WSL high-flyers to relegation . BBC Sport.
  8. Web site: Late free kick relegates Golden Girls . Watford Observer.
  9. Web site: Saints win play-off to reach Women's Championship . BBC Sport.
  10. Web site: Lewes appoint Booth as new women's manager . BBC Sport.
  11. Web site: Burch named Coventry United Women manager . BBC Sport.
  12. Web site: Club statement: Neil Redfearn . Sheffield United FC.
  13. Web site: Melissa Phillips departs as London City Lionesses head coach. London City Lionesses. 24 January 2023.
  14. Web site: Jonathan Morgan appointed as Sheffield United Women head coach . Sheffield United FC.
  15. Web site: Davenport suspended in Palace Women investigation . BBC Sport.
  16. Web site: Blackburn Rovers manager leaves after nine years in charge . Lancashire Telegraph.