2011 FA WSL
{{short description|First season of the top English women's association football league}}
{{EngvarB|date=April 2014}}
{{Infobox football league season
| competition = FA WSL
| image = File:Ellen White and Steph Houghton.JPG
| pixels = 200
| alt =
| caption = Arsenal's Ellen White and Steph Houghton with the trophy
| season = 2011
| winners = Arsenal
1st WSL title
13th English title
| continentalcup1 = Champions League
| continentalcup1 qualifiers = Arsenal
Birmingham City
| matches = 56
| total goals = 142
| league topscorer = Rachel Williams (14)
| biggest home win = Birmingham City 4–0 Bristol Academy
14 April 2011
| biggest away win = Liverpool 0–4 Birmingham City
20 April 2011
| highest scoring = Liverpool 3–3 Everton
14 April 2011
| longest wins = 5 games
Birmingham City
| longest unbeaten = 10 games
Birmingham City
| longest winless = 11 games
Liverpool
| highest attendance = 2,510
Chelsea v Arsenal
| lowest attendance = 120
Liverpool v Doncaster Rovers Belles
| nextseason = 2012
}}
The 2011 FA WSL was the inaugural season of the FA WSL, the top-level women's football league of England. The season began on 13 April 2011 and ended on 28 August 2011.{{cite web|title=WSL fixtures confirmed|url=http://www.thefa.com/Leagues/SuperLeague/NewsAndFeatures/2010/FixtureList1|publisher=The Football Association|access-date=9 February 2011|archive-date=13 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413125432/http://www.thefa.com/Leagues/SuperLeague/NewsAndFeatures/2010/FixtureList1|url-status=live}} The league also took a break between 12 May and mid-July to allow preparation for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup.[http://www.thefa.com/Leagues/SuperLeague/NewsAndFeatures/2010/~/media/Files/PDF/Leagues/Womens%20Super%20League/TheFAWSLQA1210.ashx/TheFAWSLQA1210.pdf thefa.co.uk] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016034035/http://www.thefa.com/Leagues/SuperLeague/NewsAndFeatures/2010/~/media/Files/PDF/Leagues/Womens%20Super%20League/TheFAWSLQA1210.ashx/TheFAWSLQA1210.pdf |date=16 October 2012 }}; FAQ on the FA WSL, No. 23
Arsenal won the competition, their eighth consecutive English title, Birmingham finished second. The second entry to the UEFA Women's Champions League was supposed to be given to the FA Women's Cup winner,{{cite web|title=Arsenal take English WSL title|url=https://www.uefa.com/womenschampionsleague/news/01f4-0e13d98772aa-27ab76502a5b-1000--arsenal-take-english-wsl-title/|publisher=UEFA|access-date=29 August 2011|date=28 August 2011|archive-date=16 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180116095006/http://www.uefa.com/womenschampionsleague/news/newsid=1670072.html|url-status=live}} but on 6 December 2011 it was announced that Birmingham as runners-up were given the spot.{{cite web|title=Champions League For Birmingham City|url=http://www.shekicks.net/news/view/4319|publisher=shekicks.net|access-date=6 December 2011|date=6 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120531075800/http://www.shekicks.net/news/view/4319|archive-date=31 May 2012|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}
Teams
class="wikitable sortable" | |||||
Team | Location | Ground | Capacity | Avg Att | 2009–10 season |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Arsenal | Borehamwood | Meadow Park | 4,502 | 621 | {{sort|01|Premier League National, 1st}} |
Birmingham City | Stratford-upon-Avon | The DCS Stadium | 1,400 | 544 | {{sort|05|Premier League National, 10th}} |
Bristol Academy | Filton | Stoke Gifford Stadium | 1,500 | 635 | {{sort|06|Premier League National, 12th}} |
Chelsea | Morden | Imperial Fields | 3,500 | 880 | {{sort|03|Premier League National, 3rd}} |
Doncaster Rovers Belles | Doncaster | Keepmoat Stadium | 15,231 | 448 | {{sort|04|Premier League National, 6th}} |
Everton | Crosby | The Arriva Park | 3,185 | 519 | {{sort|02|Premier League National, 2nd}} |
Lincoln Ladies | Lincoln | Sincil Bank/Ashby Avenue | 10,120 | 560 | {{sort|08|Premier League Northern, 2nd}} |
Liverpool | Skelmersdale | West Lancashire College | 2,500 | 466 | {{sort|07|Premier League Northern, 1st}} |
{{location map+ |England |width=300 |caption=Locations of the 2011 Super League teams |places=
{{location map~ |England |lat=51.6578 |long=-0.2723 |label=Arsenal}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=52.19 |long=-1.71 |label=Birmingham City}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=51.5293 |long=-2.5692 |label=Bristol Academy |position=left}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=51.4015 |long=-0.1949 |label=Chelsea}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=53.516 |long=-1.133 |label=Doncaster Rovers Belles |position=top}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=53.4872 |long=-3.0343 |label=Everton|position=left}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=53.2327 |long=-0.5376 |label=Lincoln Ladies |position=right}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=53.5495 |long=-2.7712 |label=Liverpool|position=bottom}}
}}
Sixteen clubs applied for a place in the inaugural season of the league: Arsenal, Barnet, Birmingham City, Bristol Academy, Chelsea, Colchester United, Doncaster Rovers Belles, Everton, Leeds Carnegie, Leicester City, Lincoln Ladies, Liverpool, Millwall Lionesses, Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest and Sunderland.{{cite news |title=Super League's Sixteen Applicants |work=Shekicks |date=7 January 2010 |url=http://www.shekicks.net/news/view/38 |access-date=8 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100324085639/http://www.shekicks.net/news/view/38 |archive-date=24 March 2010 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }} Leeds Carnegie later withdrew their application.{{cite news |title=Leeds Carnegie could fold after ending Super League interest |author=Tony Leighton |newspaper=The Guardian |date=25 January 2010 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/jan/25/leeds-carnegie-fa-super-league |access-date=8 March 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100129081559/http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/jan/25/leeds-carnegie-fa-super-league| archive-date= 29 January 2010 | url-status= live}}
Eight clubs were then picked by the FA from the remaining fifteen applicants: Arsenal, Birmingham City, Bristol Academy, Chelsea, Doncaster Rovers Belles, Everton, Lincoln Ladies, and Liverpool.{{cite web |title=Eight Super League clubs announced |publisher=The Football Association official website |date=22 March 2010 |url=http://www.thefa.com/Leagues/SuperLeague/NewsAndFeatures/2010/WSL-announcement-220310 |access-date=9 February 2011}}
League table
|section=FA WSL
|show_limit=5
|res_col_header=Q
|team1=ARS|name_ARS=Arsenal
|team2=BIR|name_BIR=Birmingham City
|team3=EVE|name_EVE=Everton
|team4=LIN|name_LIN=Lincoln Ladies
|team5=BRI|name_BRI=Bristol Academy
|team6=CHE|name_CHE=Chelsea
|team7=DON|name_DON=Doncaster Rovers Belles
|team8=LIV|name_LIV=Liverpool
|win_ARS=10|draw_ARS=2|loss_ARS=2|gf_ARS=29|ga_ARS=9|status_ARS=C
|win_BIR=8|draw_BIR=5|loss_BIR=1|gf_BIR=29|ga_BIR=13
|win_EVE=7|draw_EVE=4|loss_EVE=3|gf_EVE=19|ga_EVE=13
|win_LIN=6|draw_LIN=3|loss_LIN=5|gf_LIN=18|ga_LIN=16
|win_BRI=4|draw_BRI=4|loss_BRI=6|gf_BRI=14|ga_BRI=20
|win_CHE=4|draw_CHE=3|loss_CHE=7|gf_CHE=14|ga_CHE=19
|win_DON=2|draw_DON=3|loss_DON=9|gf_DON=9|ga_DON=26
|win_LIV=1|draw_LIV=4|loss_LIV=9|gf_LIV=10|ga_LIV=26
|col_CL=green1|text_CL=Qualification to Champions League
|result1=CL|result2=CL
|class_rules=1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
|update=complete
|source=[https://web.archive.org/web/20111114122804/http://www.fawsl.com/matches.html FA WSL results]
}}
Results
{{#invoke:sports results|main
|matches_style=FBR|solid_cell=grey
|team1=ARS|team2=BIR|team3=BRI|team4=CHE|team5=DON
|team6=EVE|team7=LIV|team8=LIN
|name_ARS=Arsenal
|match_ARS_BIR=1–2
|match_ARS_BRI=1–0
|match_ARS_CHE=3–0
|match_ARS_DON=3–0
|match_ARS_EVE=1–0
|match_ARS_LIV=3–0
|match_ARS_LIN=4–0
|name_BIR=Birmingham City
|match_BIR_ARS=1–1
|match_BIR_BRI=4–0
|match_BIR_CHE=3–2
|match_BIR_DON=3–0
|match_BIR_EVE=2–3
|match_BIR_LIV=0–0
|match_BIR_LIN=1–0
|name_BRI=Bristol Academy
|match_BRI_ARS=2–2
|match_BRI_BIR=2–3
|match_BRI_CHE=0–0
|match_BRI_DON=1–0
|match_BRI_EVE=0–2
|match_BRI_LIV=1–1
|match_BRI_LIN=2–3
|name_CHE=Chelsea
|match_CHE_ARS=0–1
|match_CHE_BIR=1–1
|match_CHE_BRI=0–1
|match_CHE_DON=2–1
|match_CHE_EVE=1–3
|match_CHE_LIV=0–1
|match_CHE_LIN=1–1
|name_DON=Doncaster Rovers Belles
|match_DON_ARS=0–3
|match_DON_BIR=2–2
|match_DON_BRI=1–2
|match_DON_CHE=1–4
|match_DON_EVE=0–1
|match_DON_LIV=1–0
|match_DON_LIN=0–3
|name_EVE=Everton
|match_EVE_ARS=3–1
|match_EVE_BIR=0–2
|match_EVE_BRI=0–0
|match_EVE_CHE=2–0
|match_EVE_DON=1–1
|match_EVE_LIV=1–0
|match_EVE_LIN=0–2
|name_LIV=Liverpool
|match_LIV_ARS=1–3
|match_LIV_BIR=0–4
|match_LIV_BRI=0–2
|match_LIV_CHE=1–2
|match_LIV_DON=1–1
|match_LIV_EVE=3–3
|match_LIV_LIN=0–1
|name_LIN=Lincoln Ladies
|match_LIN_ARS=0–2
|match_LIN_BIR=1–1
|match_LIN_BRI=3–1
|match_LIN_CHE=0–1
|match_LIN_DON=0–1
|match_LIN_EVE=0–0
|match_LIN_LIV=4–2
|update=28 August 2011
|source=[http://www.fawsl.com/matches.html FA WSL results]
}}
Top scorers
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |
Rank
!Scorer !Club |
---|
|1
|align="left"|{{flagicon|ENG}} Rachel Williams |align="left"|Birmingham City |14 |
2
|align="left"|{{flagicon|SCO}} Kim Little |align="left"|Arsenal |8 |
3
|align="left"|{{flagicon|ENG}} Natasha Dowie |align="left"|Everton |7 |
4
|align="left"|{{flagicon|ENG}} Ellen White |align="left"|Arsenal |6 |
5
|align="left"|{{flagicon|ENG}} Rachel Yankey |align="left"|Arsenal |5 |
References
{{reflist}}
{{FA Women's Super League}}
{{2010–11 in English football}}
{{2011–12 in English football}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2014}}