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]
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 City | Birmingham | 29,902 | |||
Blackburn Rovers | Bamber Bridge | Sir Tom Finney Stadium | 3,000 | ||
Failand | Robins High Performance Centre | ||||
Charlton Athletic | The Oakwood | 1,180 | |||
Coventry | 4,000 | ||||
5,000 | |||||
1,700 | |||||
Lewes | The Dripping Pan | 3,000 | |||
4,100 | |||||
32,050 | |||||
Southampton | St Mary's Stadium | ||||
2,500 |
Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lewes | Craig Gill (interim) | End of interim period | 12 May 2022[10] | End of season (8th) | 12 May 2022 | ||
Coventry United | Jay Bradford | Resigned | 28 May 2022 | End of season (11th) | Lee Burch | 18 July 2022[11] | |
Sheffield United | Neil Redfearn | Resigned | 25 November 2022[12] | 10th | Zoe Johnson (interim) | 25 November 2022 | |
London City Lionesses | Melissa Phillips | Signed by Angel City FC | 23 January 2023[13] | 1st | Nikita Runnacles (interim) | 23 January 2023 | |
Sheffield United | Zoe Johnson (interim) | End of interim period | 14 February 2023[14] | 11th | Jonathan Morgan | 14 February 2023 | |
Crystal Palace | Dean Davenport | Suspended | 12 March 2023[15] | 6th | Mike Lowne (interim) | 12 March 2023 | |
Blackburn Rovers | Gemma Donnelly | Mutual consent | 4 April 2023[16] | 11th | Matt Bee (interim) | 4 April 2023 |
As of 30 April 2023
Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Melissa Johnson | Charlton Athletic | 12 |
2 | Sarah Ewens | London City Lionesses | 11 |
Shania Hayles | Bristol City | ||
Jade Pennock | Birmingham City | ||
5 | Saffron Jordan | Blackburn Rovers | 10 |
6 | Courtney Sweetman-Kirk | Sheffield United | 9 |
7 | Atlanta Primus | London City Lionesses | 8 |
Emily Scarr | Sunderland | ||
9 | Grace Clinton | Bristol City | 7 |
Mia Enderby | Sheffield United | ||
Rio Hardy | Durham | ||
Katie Wilkinson | Southampton |
Award | Winner | Club | |
---|---|---|---|
Player of the Season | Jade Pennock | Birmingham City | |
Golden Boot | Melissa Johnson | Charlton Athletic | |
Golden Glove | Fran Bentley | Bristol City |