2015 FA WSL#Knock-out stage
{{short description|Fifth season of the top English women's association football league}}
{{Infobox football league season
| competition = FA WSL 1
| season = 2015
| winners = Chelsea
(1st WSL title)
| relegated = Bristol Academy
| continentalcup1 = Champions League
| continentalcup1 qualifiers = Chelsea
Manchester City
| league topscorer = Beth Mead (12 goals){{Cite news
|title=Player Stats
|url=http://www.fawsl.com/playerStats.html
|publisher=FA WSL
|access-date=5 October 2015
|archive-date=2 May 2019
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502053313/http://www.fawsl.com/playerStats.html
|url-status=live
}}
| biggest home win = {{nobreak|Manchester City 6–1 Bristol Academy}}{{Cite news |title=Fixtures and Results |url=http://www.fawsl.com/matches.html |publisher=FA WSL |access-date=5 October 2015 |archive-date=8 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190708212523/http://www.fawsl.com/matches.html |url-status=live }}
(27 September 2015)
| biggest away win = {{nobreak|Bristol Academy 0–4 Chelsea}}
(2 April 2015)
{{nobreak|Liverpool 0–4 Chelsea}}
(27 September 2015)
| highest scoring = {{nobreak|Bristol Academy 2–5 Notts County}}
(25 April 2015)
{{nobreak|Manchester City 6–1 Bristol Academy}}
(27 September 2015)
| matches = 56
| total goals = 154
| longest wins = 5 matches
Chelsea
| longest unbeaten = 10 matches
Manchester City
| longest winless = 9 matches
Bristol Academy
| longest losses = 4 matches
Bristol Academy
Liverpool
| highest attendance = 3,180{{cite web |url=https://www.mcfc.co.uk/News/Match-reports/2015/October/Manchester-City-Women-v-Notts-County-Ladies-FA-WSL-match-report |title=City 2 Notts County 1 |publisher=mcfc.co.uk |date=4 October 2015 |access-date=20 December 2015 |archive-date=10 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151210040739/http://www.mcfc.co.uk/News/Match-reports/2015/October/Manchester-City-Women-v-Notts-County-Ladies-FA-WSL-match-report |url-status=dead }}
{{nobreak|Manchester City 2–1 Notts County}}
(4 October 2015)
| prevseason = 2014
| nextseason = 2016
| updated = 5 October 2015
}}
The 2015 FA WSL 1 was the fifth season of the FA WSL, the top-level women's football league of England. The season was played from 25 March to 4 October.{{cite web |url=http://www.thefa.com/news/fawsl/2015/jan/fixtures-new-season-march |title=WSL with BT Sport: 2015 fixtures – Women's |publisher=The FA |date=2015-01-26 |access-date=2015-02-20 |archive-date=2015-02-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150220181241/http://www.thefa.com/news/fawsl/2015/jan/fixtures-new-season-march |url-status=live }}
Liverpool were the defending champions from the 2014 FA WSL. Chelsea became the title winners and together with Manchester City (who finished as runners-up) qualified for the 2016–17 UEFA Women's Champions League.
This was the second season since the WSL 2 was introduced. As part of a two-year expansion plan, the WSL 1 will increase to nine teams for the 2016 season. By the end of the 2015 season two teams (Reading and Doncaster Rovers Belles) were promoted from WSL 2 to WSL 1 and only one team (Bristol Academy) relegated to WSL 2, with one team being promoted from Premier League to WSL 2.
Sunderland earned promotion last season after they won WSL 2 and met off-field licensing requirements. Everton were relegated.
Background
In December 2014, the FA WSL announced a two-year plan to expand WSL 1 from an eight to 10-team league. Two teams will be promoted from WSL 2, while one team will be relegated to WSL 2.{{cite web|url=http://www.fawsl.com/news/fa_wsl_2_promotion_announcement.html|title=FA WSL 2 promotion announcement|publisher=Faws1.com|access-date=18 December 2014|archive-date=20 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180420010456/http://www.fawsl.com/news/fa_wsl_2_promotion_announcement.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30298483|title=BBC Sport – Women's Super League to be expanded from 2015|work=BBC Sport|access-date=18 December 2014|archive-date=4 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141204065923/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30298483|url-status=live}} Also, for the first time, a team from the FA Women's Premier League earned promotion to WSL 2, effectively connecting the WSL to the rest of the English women's football pyramid.{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/32867783 | title=Sheffield FC beat Portsmouth in Women's Premier League play-off | publisher=BBC | date=24 May 2015 | access-date=29 July 2015 | archive-date=24 September 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924223810/http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/32867783 | url-status=live }}
This will leave WSL 1 with nine teams and WSL 2 with 10 teams for the 2016 season, and with the process repeated the following year, both WSL 1 and WSL 2 will have 10 teams each for the 2017 season.
Teams
{{location map+ |England |width=300 |caption=Locations of the 2015 Super League teams |places=
{{location map~ |England |lat=51.6578 |long=-0.2723 |label=
}}{{location map~ |England |lat=52.4386 |long=-1.7572 |label=
}}{{location map~ |England |lat=51.5293 |long=-2.5692 |label=
|position=left}}{{location map~ |England |lat=51.2511 |long=-0.3007 |label=
}}{{location map~ |England |lat=53.4838 |long=-2.2038 |label=
|position=right}}{{location map~ |England |lat=52.9432 |long=-1.1372 |label=
|position=right}}{{location map~ |England |lat=53.365833|long=-2.738333 |label=
|position=left}}{{location map~ |England |lat=54.821664 |long=-1.4555 |label=
|position=right}}}}
| class="wikitable sortable" | ||||
| Team | Location | Ground | Capacity | data-sort-type=number|2014 WSL 1 finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenal | Borehamwood | Meadow Park | style="text-align:center"| 4,502 (1,400 seated) | style="text-align:center"| 4th |
| Birmingham City | Solihull | Damson Park | style="text-align:center"| 3,050 (280 seated) | style="text-align:center"| 3rd |
| Bristol Academy | Filton | Stoke Gifford Stadium | style="text-align:center"| 1,500 | style="text-align:center"| 7th |
| Chelsea | Staines | Wheatsheaf Park | style="text-align:center"| 3,009 (300 seated and 800 covered) | style="text-align:center"| 2nd |
| Manchester City | Manchester | Academy Stadium | style="text-align:center"| 7,000 (5,000 seated) | style="text-align:center"| 5th |
| Liverpool | Widnes | Halton Stadium | style="text-align:center"| 13,350 | style="text-align:center"| 1st |
| Notts County | Nottingham | Meadow Lane | style="text-align:center"| 20,229 | style="text-align:center"| 6th |
| Sunderland | Hetton-le-Hole | Eppleton Colliery Welfare Ground | style="text-align:center"| 2,500 | style="text-align:center"| {{hs|11}}1st (WSL 2) |
{{clear}}
Transfers
{{updated|27 July 2015}}
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
;Arrivals
| class="wikitable sortable collapsible collapsed" style="font-size:95%; text-align: center; width: 90%;" | |||
| colspan="4" style="with:100%; text-align:center;"| Birmingham City | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Player
! Position ! From ! Ref. | |||
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Alex Windell | MF | Bristol Academy | {{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30851237 |title=BBC Sport – Alex Windell: Birmingham Ladies sign Bristol Academy midfielder |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=2015-01-16 |access-date=2015-02-20}} |
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Freda Ayisi | FW | Arsenal | {{cite web|url=http://www.birminghamcityladiesfc.co.uk/news/bclfc_sign_freda_ayisi.html|title=Birmingham sign Freda Ayisi|publisher=BirminghamCityLadies.com|date=13 February 2015|access-date=25 July 2015|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304104000/http://www.birminghamcityladiesfc.co.uk/news/bclfc_sign_freda_ayisi.html|url-status=dead}} |
{{col-2}}
;Departures
| class="wikitable sortable collapsible collapsed" style="font-size:95%; text-align: center; width: 90%;" | |||
| colspan="4" style="with:100%; text-align:center;"| Birmingham City | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Player
! Position ! To ! Ref. | |||
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Abbeyleigh Stringer | DF | Aston Villa | {{cite web|url=http://www.birminghamcityladiesfc.co.uk/news/stringer_departs_blues.html|title=Stringer departs Blues|publisher=BirminghamCityLadies|date=8 June 2015|access-date=25 July 2015|archive-date=11 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150811042156/http://www.birminghamcityladiesfc.co.uk/news/stringer_departs_blues.html|url-status=dead}} |
| class="wikitable sortable collapsible collapsed" style="font-size:95%; text-align: center; width: 90%;" | |||
| colspan="4" style="with:100%; text-align:center;"| Sunderland | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Player
! Position ! To ! Ref. | |||
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Helen Alderson | GK | Durham | {{cite web|url=http://www.safc.com/news/ladies/2015/february/keeper-departs-ladies|title=Keeper departs ladies|publisher=Sunderland AFC|date=11 February 2015|access-date=27 July 2015|archive-date=28 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150628145212/http://www.safc.com/news/ladies/2015/february/keeper-departs-ladies|url-status=live}} |
| {{flagicon|ENG}} Natalie Gutteridge | FW | Durham | {{cite web|url=http://sunderland.fawsl.com/news/gutteridge_signs_for_durham_wfc.html|title=Gutteridge signs for Durham WFC|publisher=Sunderland AFC Ladies|date=9 July 2015|access-date=27 July 2015}}{{Dead link|date=April 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} |
{{col-end}}
* Natasha Harding was supposed to join American team Washington Spirit, as she was denied a visa, she joined Manchester City instead.
Table
|section=1
|show_limit=5
|update = complete
|source = [http://www.fawsl.com/stats.html FA WSL]
|show_matches = false
|team1 = CHE |team2 = MCI |team3 = ARS |team4 = SUN |team5 = NTC |team6 = BIR |team7 = LIV |team8 = BRI
|result1 = CL |result2 = CL |result8 = REL
|win_ARS = 8 |draw_ARS = 3 |loss_ARS = 3 |gf_ARS = 21 |ga_ARS = 13
|win_BIR = 3 |draw_BIR = 4 |loss_BIR = 7 |gf_BIR = 7 |ga_BIR = 14
|win_BRI = 2 |draw_BRI = 2 |loss_BRI = 10 |gf_BRI = 12 |ga_BRI = 38 |status_BRI = R
|win_CHE = 10 |draw_CHE = 2 |loss_CHE = 2 |gf_CHE = 30 |ga_CHE = 10 |status_CHE = C
|win_LIV = 4 |draw_LIV = 1 |loss_LIV = 9 |gf_LIV = 15 |ga_LIV = 24
|win_MCI = 9 |draw_MCI = 3 |loss_MCI = 2 |gf_MCI = 25 |ga_MCI = 11
|win_NTC = 4 |draw_NTC = 3 |loss_NTC = 7 |gf_NTC = 20 |ga_NTC = 20
|win_SUN = 6 |draw_SUN = 2 |loss_SUN = 6 |gf_SUN = 24 |ga_SUN = 24
|name_ARS = Arsenal
|name_BIR = Birmingham City
|name_BRI = Bristol Academy
|name_CHE = Chelsea
|name_LIV = Liverpool
|name_MCI = Manchester City
|name_NTC = Notts County
|name_SUN = Sunderland
|class_rules = 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
|res_col_header = QR
|col_CL = green1 |text_CL = Qualification to Champions League
|col_REL = red1 |text_REL = Relegation to FA WSL 2
}}
Results
{{#invoke:sports results|main
|matches_style=FBR|solid_cell=grey
|team1=ARS|team2=BIR|team3=BRI|team4=CHE|team5=LIV
|team6=MCI|team7=NTC|team8=SUN
|name_ARS=Arsenal
|match_ARS_BIR=1–0
|match_ARS_BRI=2–0
|match_ARS_CHE=0–2
|match_ARS_LIV=1–3
|match_ARS_MCI=2–3
|match_ARS_NTC=2–1
|match_ARS_SUN=4–1
|name_BIR=Birmingham City
|match_BIR_ARS=0–1
|match_BIR_BRI=0–0
|match_BIR_CHE=0–1
|match_BIR_LIV=1–0
|match_BIR_MCI=0–0
|match_BIR_NTC=0–0
|match_BIR_SUN=1–1
|name_BRI=Bristol Academy
|match_BRI_ARS=1–1
|match_BRI_BIR=0–3
|match_BRI_CHE=0–4
|match_BRI_LIV=4–2
|match_BRI_MCI=0–3
|match_BRI_NTC=2–5
|match_BRI_SUN=1–4
|name_CHE=Chelsea
|match_CHE_ARS=0–0
|match_CHE_BIR=4–0
|match_CHE_BRI=4–1
|match_CHE_LIV=1–0
|match_CHE_MCI=1–2
|match_CHE_NTC=2–1
|match_CHE_SUN=4–0
|name_LIV=Liverpool
|match_LIV_ARS=0–2
|match_LIV_BIR=2–1
|match_LIV_BRI=2–0
|match_LIV_CHE=0–4
|match_LIV_MCI=2–1
|match_LIV_NTC=1–2
|match_LIV_SUN=1–2
|name_MCI=Manchester City
|match_MCI_ARS=0–1
|match_MCI_BIR=1–0
|match_MCI_BRI=6–1
|match_MCI_CHE=1–1
|match_MCI_LIV=2–0
|match_MCI_NTC=2–1
|match_MCI_SUN=1–0
|name_NTC=Notts County
|match_NTC_ARS=1–1
|match_NTC_BIR=0–1
|match_NTC_BRI=0–1
|match_NTC_CHE=1–2
|match_NTC_LIV=1–0
|match_NTC_MCI=2–2
|match_NTC_SUN=4–2
|name_SUN=Sunderland
|match_SUN_ARS=1–3
|match_SUN_BIR=3–0
|match_SUN_BRI=2–1
|match_SUN_CHE=4–0
|match_SUN_LIV=2–2
|match_SUN_MCI=0–1
|match_SUN_NTC=2–1
|update=4 October 2015
|source=[http://www.fawsl.com/matches.html FA WSL]
}}
Top goalscorers
{{updated|5 October 2015}}{{cite web|title=2015 goal scorers|url=http://www.fawsl.com/playerStats.html;jsessionid=E91EE05EB8A720E9FB5234309570AD74|publisher=FA WSL}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |
| Rank
!Player !Team !Goals |
|---|
| 1
|align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Beth Mead |align=left|Sunderland | 12 |
| rowspan=2|2
|align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Jess Clarke |align=left|Notts County |rowspan=2|7 |
| align=left|{{flagicon|SPA}} Natalia Pablos
|align=left|Arsenal |
| rowspan=6|4
|align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Eniola Aluko |align=left|Chelsea |rowspan=6|6 |
| align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Isobel Christiansen
|align=left|Manchester City |
| align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Gemma Davison
|align=left|Chelsea |
| align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Toni Duggan
|align=left|Manchester City |
| align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Chioma Ubogagu
|align=left|Arsenal |
| align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Rachel Williams
|align=left|Notts County |
| rowspan=2|10
|align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Karen Carney |align=left|Birmingham City |rowspan=2|5 |
| align=left|{{flagicon|KOR}} Ji So-yun
|align=left|Chelsea |
See Also
References
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
External links
- [http://www.fawsl.com Official website]
- [http://uk.women.soccerway.com/national/england/wsl/2015/regular-season/r30536/ WSL Season] at soccerway.com
- [http://uk.women.soccerway.com/national/england/wsl-2/2015/regular-season/r30537/ WSL 2 Season] at soccerway.com
- [http://uk.women.soccerway.com/national/england/wsl-cup/2015/group-stage/r30946/ League Cup] at soccerway.com
{{FA Women's Super League}}
{{2014–15 in English women's football}}
{{2015–16 in English women's football}}
{{2014–15 in European women's football (UEFA)}}
{{2015–16 in European women's football (UEFA)}}
Category:Women's Super League seasons
Category:2015–16 in European women's association football leagues
Category:2014–15 in European women's association football leagues