Tiers 3 and 4 of English women’s football returns to a pitch near you on Sunday 16th August and we finally have those all important opening weekend fixtures!
In this article we’ve focused on the newcomers to each league and their first opponents in their new tier.
Let us know which fixtures you’re looking forward to the most by leaving a comment, drop a follow on our social media for more news from the world of women’s football and of course you can find the full fixture lists for all 6 leagues on the FA WNL social media accounts.
Tier 3 – Northern and Southern Premier Division
Newcomers to the leagues:
– Boldmere St. Michaels
– Huddersfield Town
– Norwich City
– Peterborough United
– Fulham
– Portsmouth (relegated from WSL2)
– Swindon Town
The opening weekend of the 26/27 season features only one battle of the newly promoted in the Northern Premier Division as Norwich City welcome Huddersfield Town.
The Posh women are also on the road to face last season’s third place team, Rugby Borough, while Boldmere St. Michaels start the season at home to Middlesbrough.
Fulham will be looking to continue their unbeaten run into this new tier as they welcome Portsmouth who were relegated from WSL2.
Fellow newcomer Swindon Town will then host Plymouth Argyle who suffered a narrow defeat in the promotion play-offs last season and who are looking to rebuild under new head coach, Matt Green.
Tier 4 – Division 1 North
Newcomers to the league:
– AFC Fylde
– Blackburn Rovers (reprieve)
– Bradford City
– Halifax (relegated)
– Thornaby
AFC Fylde kick off their season at home to fellow newcomers Halifax (who were relegated from the Northern Premier Division) and also hosting on opening day are Blackburn Rovers, who were given a reprieve, as they welcome York City.
Meanwhile Bradford City and Thornaby find themselves on the road for their first Tier 4 fixture to face Chorley and Leeds United respectively.
Tier 4 – Division 1 Midlands
Newcomers to the league:
– Chesterfield
– Lye Town
– Sporting Khalsa (relegated)
– Wythenshawe (moved laterally)
Chesterfield and Lye Town both start their campaigns on the road with the former facing last season’s fourth-placed side Barnsley while the latter travel to Sutton Coldfield Town, another team looking to start strong after dancing with relegation last season.
Sporting Khalsa, on the other hand, get their season underway as hosts to Notts County while Wythenshawe (who unsuccessfully appealed their lateral movement from Division 1 North) begin their campaign on the road with a more than 200 mile round-trip to Northampton Town.
Tier 4 – Division 1 South East
Newcomers to the league:
– Billericay Town (relegated)
– Dartford
– Saltdean United
– Stevenage
Billericay Town start their campaign by hosting Cambridge United on Sunday 16th August. After a disappointing end to the 25/26 season for both teams, this is an opportunity for both teams to re-invent themselves in Tier 4.
Dartford and Saltdean United both get their seasons underway at home this season, first by welcoming last season’s 9th placed side Dulwich Hamlet while United welcoming MK Dons to Hill Park.
Finally, Stevenage take to the road for their first fixture of the 26/27 season and travel to last season’s fourth-placed side, London Bees.
Tier 4 – Division 1 South West
Newcomers to the league:
– Gwalia United (relegated)
– Torquay United
– Wycombe Wanderers
Another battle of the newcomers on the opening weekend of Division 1 South West as Wycombe Wanderers welcome fellow promoted side Torquay United to the 1878 Stadium.
Finally, Gwalia United start their Tier 4 campaign away to Ascot United. The Welsh-based side, who found themselves in a 5-way battle for relegation on the final day of the 25/26 season, are certainly looking to come out fighting once more, making sure all of this season’s stats are in their favour.
With just over a month to go until the new season begins, there is so much to get excited over throughout the football pyramid!
There’s also plenty of time to seek out your local Tier 3 and 4 clubs so you can bring the noise on opening weekend and get behind your community!
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