Women's Championship
Season2023–24
Matches played69
Goals scored189 (2.74 per match)
Top goalscorerElise Hughes
(13 goals)
Biggest home winCrystal Palace 9–1 Durham
10 September 2023
Biggest away winBlackburn Rovers 0–4 Crystal Palace
1 October 2023
Sheffield United 0–4 Birmingham City
15 October 2023
Highest scoringCrystal Palace 9–1 Durham
10 September 2023
2024–25 →
All statistics correct as of 17 December 2023.

The 2023–24 Women's Championship season (known Barclays Women's Championship for sponsorship reasons) is be the sixth season of the rebranded Women's Championship, the second tier of women's football in England, and the ninth season since the creation of the WSL 2.[1]

In April 2023, The Football Association board announced changes to the Women's Championship, increasing the number of relegation spots in the 2023–24 season to two in order for both FA Women's National League champions (North and South) to win promotion at the end of the season. Previously only one team had been relegated and replaced by the winner of a playoff match between the Northern Premier Division and Southern Premier Division champions. The changes will not impact the structure of the Women's Super League with a one up, one down system. It was though not made clear how the north south structure in the third tier would be impacted, with the possibility of teams being forced to move geographic division in order to maintain balance of numbers.[2]

Teams

Twelve teams will compete in the Championship for the 2023–24 season, the same number as the previous season. Bristol City were promoted to the Women's Super League as 2022–23 Women's Championship winners.[3] They will be replaced by Reading who were relegated on the final day of the 2022–23 Women's Super League season,[4] ending a seven-season stay in the WSL which began in 2016 following the club's promotion as 2015 WSL 2 winners.[5] Coventry United were relegated to the FA Women's National League after four seasons in the second division.[6] They were replaced by the winners of the 2022–23 FA Women's National League playoff, Southern Premier Division winners Watford, who beat Northern champions Nottingham Forest 1–0. They returned after just one season away having been relegated at the end of the 2021–22 season.[7]

TeamLocationGroundCapacity2022–23 season
Birmingham CityBirminghamSt Andrew's29,9022nd
Blackburn RoversBamber BridgeSir Tom Finney Stadium3,00010th
Charlton AthleticCrayfordOakwood1,1804th
Crystal PalaceSuttonGander Green Lane5,0325th
DurhamDurhamMaiden Castle1,7007th
LewesLewesThe Dripping Pan3,0009th
London City LionessesDartfordPrinces Park4,1003rd
ReadingReadingMadejski Stadium24,161WSL, 12th
Sheffield UnitedSheffieldBramall Lane32,0508th
SouthamptonSouthamptonSt Mary's Stadium 32,3846th
SunderlandHetton-le-HoleEppleton CW2,50011th
WatfordRuislipGrosvenor Vale4,085WNL, 1st

Managerial changes

Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of appointment
Reading England Kelly Chambers Resigned 20 June 2023[8] End of season (WSL, 12th) England Liam Gilbert 18 August 2023[9]
London City Lionesses England Nikita Runnacles (interim) End of interim period 4 July 2023 End of season (3rd) Italy Carolina Morace 4 July 2023[10]
Crystal Palace England Mike Lowne (interim) End of interim period 14 July 2023 End of season (5th) England Laura Kaminski 14 July 2023[11]
Blackburn Rovers England Matt Bee (interim) End of interim period 17 July 2023 End of season (10th) England Simon Parker 17 July 2023[12]

Table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Birmingham City 12 7 2 3 23 10 +13 23 Promotion to the WSL[lower-alpha 1]
2 Charlton Athletic 12 6 5 1 17 10 +7 23
3 Sunderland 12 6 4 2 13 9 +4 22
4 Crystal Palace 11 6 3 2 35 15 +20 21
5 Southampton 12 7 0 5 21 15 +6 21
6 Durham 12 5 2 5 12 20 −8 17
7 Blackburn Rovers 10 5 0 5 8 13 −5 15
8 Sheffield United 11 4 2 5 15 16 −1 14
9 London City Lionesses 12 3 3 6 14 21 −7 12
10 Reading 11 2 5 4 10 15 −5 11
11 Lewes 11 2 1 8 7 18 −11 7 Relegation to the National League
12 Watford 12 1 3 8 14 27 −13 6
Updated to match(es) played on 17 December 2023. Source: FA
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
Notes:
  1. ↑ Dependent on obtaining a licence.

Results

Home \ Away BIR BLB CHA CRY DUR LEW LCL REA SHU SOU SUN WAT
Birmingham City 17 Mar '24 0–1 1–2 3–1 24 Mar '24 28 Jan '24 2–1 21 Apr '24 18 Feb '24 1–1 5–2
Blackburn Rovers 1–0 0–1 0–4 3 Mar '24 TBC[lower-alpha 1] 0–3 TBC[lower-alpha 2] 2–1 24 Mar '24 28 Jan '24 20 Apr '24
Charlton Athletic 31 Apr '24 21 Jan '24 3–2 1–1 4 Feb '24 24 Mar '24 18 Feb '24 1–1 28 Apr '24 1–1 2–3
Crystal Palace 3 Mar '24 18 Feb '24 28 Jan '24 9–1 3–2 6–1 1–1 TBC[lower-alpha 3] 3–4 28 Mar '24 24 Mar '24
Durham 28 Apr '24 2–1 17 Mar '24 31 Mar '24 2–0 1–0 0–2 4 Feb '24 1–0 0–1 28 Jan '24
Lewes 0–0 0–2 0–1 21 Apr '24 21 Jan '24 2–1 28 Jan '24 3 Mar '24 1–4 0–2 17 Mar '24
London City Lionesses 0–1 4 Feb '24 0–2 21 Jan '24 18 Feb '24 28 Apr '24 1–1 31 Mar '24 1–0 17 Mar '24 3–2
Reading 21 Jan '24 31 Mar '24 0–0 1–1 21 Apr '24 1–0 3 Mar '24 1–3 1–4 4 Feb '24 0–0
Sheffield United 0–4 28 Apr '24 2–2 17 Mar '24 0–1 1–0 3–1 24 Mar '24 28 Jan '24 0–1 18 Feb '24
Southampton 1–3 2–0 0–2 4 Feb '24 2–1 31 Mar '24 21 Apr '24 17 Mar '24 2–1 0–1 21 Jan '24
Sunderland 0–3 0–1 21 Apr '24 1–1 24 Mar '24 18 Feb '24 0–0 3–1 21 Jan '24 3 Mar '24 2–1
Watford 4 Feb '24 0–1 3 Mar '24 0–3 1–1 1–2 3–3 28 Apr '24 1–3 0–2 31 Mar '24
Updated to match(es) played on 17 December 2023. Source: Source
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Notes:
  1. ↑ Originally scheduled to be played on 17 December, the Blackburn Rovers match against Lewes was postponed due to Lewes playing in the FA Cup.
  2. ↑ Originally scheduled to be played on 19 November, the Blackburn Rovers match against Reading was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
  3. ↑ Originally scheduled to be played on 30 September, the Crystal Palace match against Sheffield United was postponed due to the passing of Maddy Cusack.

Season statistics

As of 17 December 2023[13]

Top scorers

RankPlayerClubGoals
1 Wales Elise Hughes Crystal Palace 13
2 England Annabel Blanchard Crystal Palace 7
England Isobel Goodwin Sheffield United
3 Wales Kayleigh Green Charlton 5
England Carly Johns Watford

Top assists

RankPlayerClubAssists
1 England Felicity Gibbons Birmingham City 7
2 Republic of Ireland Lucy Quinn Crystal Palace 6
3 England Araya Dennis Crystal Palace 3
England Shanade Hopcroft Crystal Palace
England Megan Hornby Blackburn Rovers
England Abbie Lafayette Watford
England Katie Wilkinson Southampton

Awards

Monthly awards

Month Manager of the Month Player of the Month Goal of the Month Ref.
Manager Club Player Club Player Club
September England Laura Kaminski Crystal Palace England Annabel Blanchard Crystal Palace England Annabel Blanchard (vs. Durham) Crystal Palace [14][15]
October England Melanie Reay Sunderland Republic of Ireland Lucy Quinn Birmingham City England Araya Dennis (vs. Charlton Athletic) Crystal Palace [16][17][18]
November England Karen Hills Charlton Athletic England Gemma Lawley Birmingham City England Shauna Guyatt (vs. Watford) Crystal Palace [19][20][21]

References

  1. ↑ "New brand identity". www.thefa.com.
  2. ↑ Rampling, Ali (28 April 2023). "Women's National League gains extra promotion spot from 2023-24". The Athletic.
  3. ↑ "Smith 'excited' as Bristol City return to WSL". BBC Sport.
  4. ↑ "What next for Reading after relegation from WSL?". BBC Sport.
  5. ↑ "Royals crowned champions after 3-2 win away at Aston Villa". www.thefa.com.
  6. ↑ "Coventry United relegated from the Barclays Women's Championship". FAWSL Full-Time. 2 April 2023.
  7. ↑ "Women: Nottingham Forest 0-1 Watford". www.watfordfc.com.
  8. ↑ "Kelly Chambers set to leave the club for pastures new". Reading FC. 20 June 2023.
  9. ↑ "Liam Gilbert takes the reins of Reading FC Women". Reading FC. 18 August 2023.
  10. ↑ "Italian legend Morace appointed head coach of London City Lionesses". FAWSL Full-Time. 4 July 2023.
  11. ↑ "Palace Women appoint Laura Kaminski as head coach". Crystal Palace F.C. 14 July 2023.
  12. ↑ "Blackburn Rovers Women appoint Simon Parker as head coach". Lancashire Telegraph.
  13. ↑ "Women's Championship Summary". Soccerway. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  14. ↑ "Laura Kaminski named Championship Manager of the Month". Crystal Palace F.C. 13 October 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  15. ↑ "Blanchard wins Women's Championship POTM and GOTM". Crystal Palace F.C. 17 October 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  16. ↑ "Mel Reay wins October Manager of the Month". Sunderland F.C. 10 November 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  17. ↑ "Lucy Quinn wins monthly award". Birmingham City F.C. 7 November 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  18. ↑ "Dennis wins Championship Goal of the Month for Charlton thunderbolt". Crystal Palace F.C. 7 November 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  19. ↑ "Karen Hills named November Manager of the Month". Charlton Athletic F.C. 8 December 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  20. ↑ "Gemma Lawley wins monthly award". Birmingham City F.C. 5 December 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  21. ↑ "Guyatt wins Women's Championship Goal of the Month". Crystal Palace F.C. 7 December 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
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