2013 FA WSL
{{short description|Third season of the top English women's association football league}}
{{EngvarB|date=April 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2014}}
{{Infobox football league season
| competition = FA WSL
| season = 2013
| winners = Liverpool (1st title)
| continentalcup1 = Champions League
| continentalcup1 qualifiers =
| matches = 56
| total goals = 177
| league topscorer = Natasha Dowie
| biggest home win = Arsenal 5–0 Everton
| biggest away win = Doncaster Rovers Belles 0–9 Liverpool
| highest scoring = Doncaster Rovers Belles 0–9 Liverpool
| longest wins =
| longest unbeaten =
| longest winless =
| highest attendance =
| lowest attendance =
| prevseason = 2012
| nextseason = 2014
}}
The 2013 FA WSL was the third season of the FA WSL, the top-level women's football league of England. The season began on 14 April and ended on 29 September.
Arsenal were the defending champions, having won their ninth consecutive English title last season. The top two teams qualified for the 2014–15 UEFA Women's Champions League.
The season was the last before the creation of a second division of the WSL. All teams had to reapply for a place in WSL 1 in the next season. Doncaster Belles were the only current WSL team not granted a WSL 1 place, thus they played in the WSL 2 the following season. This decision had already been taken before Doncaster finished the season bottom of the WSL with the lowest points tally, as no relegation to the WSL 2 based on points was scheduled until the WSL 2 had completed its inaugural season to produce a corresponding promotion team. The reason for Doncaster's relegation from WSL 1 was a failed reapplication based on financial criteria, which is an aspect of the WSL the FA monitors very closely since it funds the participating teams and the teams must regularly prove they can match the FA funding. The Belles' place in the top flight the following season was taken by the Manchester City Ladies team from the FA Women's Premier League National Division, but now re-branded as Manchester City Women. Likewise, Lincoln Ladies retained their place in WSL 1 but relocated and re-branded as Notts County Ladies for the following season.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22314500|title=Manchester City to compete in WSL top tier after restructure|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=26 April 2013|date=26 April 2013|archive-date=17 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150617234413/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22314500|url-status=live}}
Teams
The same teams as last season returned, as there was no relegation system in place.
Liverpool, who finished bottom in 2011 and 2012, relocated from Skelmersdale to the Halton Stadium in Widnes prior to the 2013 season as part of an ambitious programme of investment.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21057789|title=WSL: Liverpool Ladies to play at Stobart Stadium|publisher=BBC|access-date=24 March 2013|date=17 January 2013|archive-date=29 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130129212359/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21057789|url-status=live}} Lincoln Ladies left Ashby Avenue to return full-time to Sincil Bank.{{cite news|url=http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/Lincoln-Ladies-deal-play-home-games-Sincil-Bank/story-17781794-detail/story.html#axzz2OSUHW85C|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130505073926/http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/Lincoln-Ladies-deal-play-home-games-Sincil-Bank/story-17781794-detail/story.html#axzz2OSUHW85C|url-status=dead|title=Lincoln Ladies in deal to play home games at Sincil Bank|publisher=Lincolnshire Echo|access-date=24 March 2013|date=7 January 2013|archive-date=5 May 2013}}
| class="wikitable sortable" | |||
| Team | Location | Ground | 2012 WSL finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenal | Borehamwood | Meadow Park | 1st |
| Birmingham City | Stratford-upon-Avon | The DCS Stadium | 2nd |
| Bristol Academy | Filton | Stoke Gifford Stadium | 4th |
| Chelsea | Staines | Wheatsheaf Park | 6th |
| Doncaster Rovers Belles | Doncaster | Keepmoat Stadium | 7th |
| Everton | Crosby | The Arriva Stadium | 3rd |
| Lincoln Ladies | Lincoln | Sincil Bank | 5th |
| Liverpool | Widnes | Halton Stadium | 8th |
{{location map+ |England |width=300 |caption=Locations of the 2013 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=51.2511 |long=-0.3007 |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}}
}}
League table
|section=FA WSL
|show_limit=5
|res_col_header=QR
|team1=LIV|name_LIV=Liverpool
|team2=BRI|name_BRI=Bristol Academy
|team3=ARS|name_ARS=Arsenal
|team4=BIR|name_BIR=Birmingham City
|team5=EVE|name_EVE=Everton
|team6=LIN|name_LIN=Lincoln Ladies
|team7=CHE|name_CHE=Chelsea
|team8=DON|name_DON=Doncaster Rovers Belles
|win_LIV=12|draw_LIV=0|loss_LIV=2|gf_LIV=46|ga_LIV=19|status_LIV=C
|win_BRI=10|draw_BRI=1|loss_BRI=3|gf_BRI=30|ga_BRI=20
|win_ARS=10|draw_ARS=3|loss_ARS=1|gf_ARS=31|ga_ARS=11|adjust_points_ARS=-3
|win_BIR=5|draw_BIR=3|loss_BIR=6|gf_BIR=16|ga_BIR=21
|win_EVE=4|draw_EVE=3|loss_EVE=7|gf_EVE=23|ga_EVE=30
|win_LIN=2|draw_LIN=4|loss_LIN=8|gf_LIN=10|ga_LIN=15
|win_CHE=3|draw_CHE=1|loss_CHE=10|gf_CHE=20|ga_CHE=27
|win_DON=1|draw_DON=3|loss_DON=10|gf_DON=9|ga_DON=42
|note_ARS=Arsenal were deducted 3 points for fielding an unregistered player{{cite news|title=FA Charge Arsenal Ladies|url=http://www.fawsl.com/news/fa_charge_arsenal_ladies.html|date=16 September 2013|access-date=16 September 2013|location=London|archive-date=18 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130918075912/http://www.fawsl.com/news/fa_charge_arsenal_ladies.html|url-status=bot: unknown}}
|note_DON=Doncaster Rovers Belles relegated to the Super League Second Division on financial grounds.
|col_CL=green1|text_CL=Qualification to Champions League
|result1=CL|result2=CL
|col_R=red1|text_R=Relegation to FA WSL 2
|result8=R
|class_rules=1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
|update=complete
|source=[http://www.fawsl.com/matches.html FA WSL]
}}
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=2–0
|match_ARS_BRI=0–0
|match_ARS_CHE=2–1
|match_ARS_DON=3–1
|match_ARS_EVE=5–0
|match_ARS_LIV=0–4
|match_ARS_LIN=0–0
|name_BIR=Birmingham City
|match_BIR_ARS=1–3
|match_BIR_BRI=0–2
|match_BIR_CHE=2–1
|match_BIR_DON=1–0
|match_BIR_EVE=2–1
|match_BIR_LIV=2–4
|match_BIR_LIN=1–1
|name_BRI=Bristol Academy
|match_BRI_ARS=2–3
|match_BRI_BIR=1–0
|match_BRI_CHE=2–0
|match_BRI_DON=3–1
|match_BRI_EVE=4–3
|match_BRI_LIV=3–4
|match_BRI_LIN=2–1
|name_CHE=Chelsea
|match_CHE_ARS=0–1
|match_CHE_BIR=1–1
|match_CHE_BRI=1–3
|match_CHE_DON=4–0
|match_CHE_EVE=1–4
|match_CHE_LIV=2–1
|match_CHE_LIN=0–2
|name_DON=Doncaster Rovers Belles
|match_DON_ARS=0–6
|match_DON_BIR=0–3
|match_DON_BRI=3–4
|match_DON_CHE=0–4
|match_DON_EVE=1–1
|match_DON_LIV=0–9
|match_DON_LIN=1–0
|name_EVE=Everton
|match_EVE_ARS=1–2
|match_EVE_BIR=0–0
|match_EVE_BRI=2–3
|match_EVE_CHE=3–2
|match_EVE_DON=2–2
|match_EVE_LIV=1–4
|match_EVE_LIN=1–0
|name_LIV=Liverpool
|match_LIV_ARS=0–3
|match_LIV_BIR=4–1
|match_LIV_BRI=2–0
|match_LIV_CHE=4–3
|match_LIV_DON=2–0
|match_LIV_EVE=4–2
|match_LIV_LIN=3–2
|name_LIN=Lincoln Ladies
|match_LIN_ARS=1–1
|match_LIN_BIR=1–2
|match_LIN_BRI=0–1
|match_LIN_CHE=2–0
|match_LIN_DON=0–0
|match_LIN_EVE=0–2
|match_LIN_LIV=0–1
|update=15 September
|source=[http://www.fawsl.com/matches.html FA WSL results]
}}
Top scorers
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.fawsl.com Official website]
- [https://int.soccerway.com/national/england/wsl/2013/regular-season/ Season] on soccerway.com
{{FA Women's Super League}}
{{2012–13 in English football}}{{2013–14 in English women's football}}