The FA Women's National League
PROMOTION BETWEEN TIERS 2 & 3

The FAWNL is aware that information regarding Season 22/23 promotion & relegation has been publicised on social media following the release of the new 22/23 Season FA Handbook.

To clarify, all leagues in the Women's Pyramid are governed and bound by Pyramid Regulations set by The FA. The FA WNL Management Committee has formally requested via The FA Women's Football Board for regulations relating to promotion and relegation between Tiers 2 and 3 to be changed from the current "one up, one down" format, to "two up, two down" to allow both Tier 3 Champions to be promoted to Tier 2.

At present, only one place is made available through Pyramid Regulations to The FA Women's Championship hence the requirement for The FA WNL Championship Play Off to determine the Overall National League Champion to take this place.

The FA WFB and FA WSL/WC Board and clubs must agree for this regulatory change to take place, however due to the processes involved, any change would not come in to effect until after the conclusion of the 22/23 season at the earliest.

The FA Women's National League strongly supports this change and will continue to work towards it in the best interests of FAWNL clubs and game.

Exeter City Women's Development Team rebranded for 2022-23 season
by David Gribble 

A move into the National League Reserve South West Division will see the team now referred to as ‘Exeter City Women Reserves,’ a switch that will bring a significant advancement to player development for the Women’s Team.

With a highly successful development team established in 2020/2021, a two-year freeze on promotion due to the COVID 19 Pandemic, led to that squad dismantling as players sought opportunities at the higher level their talents warranted. Led to rebuild the team in 2021/2022, Manager Jamie McInnes can now look to a bright future for the team. “This is going to be a real step up for us. It’s going to be quality pitches, quality opposition. The commitment is going to be more than last year, the link between reserve team and first team is going to be a lot closer.” In a division that has featured Portsmouth, Oxford, Lewes, Southampton FC and Bridgwater last season, the advancement in quality will be significant, yet the pathway from the Girls Academy at Exeter College, to the Reserve team and then, hopefully, first team football, will be more representative of the ability of player currently being produced by the Women’s Football structure.

Members of last season’s squad are keen to take on the challenge and are already looking forward to the new season. Robyn Wickens, who has been part of the team for the past two seasons, is keen to progress. “It’s a big opportunity for us as a team and as individuals as well. It is going to give us wider opportunities and a broader look on how we can progress as players.” 

With the team now moving to the Exwick Sports Hub and the vast improvement in facilities that move will represent, McInnes is keen to add to the squad and recruit some of the many talented players that parted from City in the past eighteen months. “We are going to need to bring in more players and we are going to need to bring in quality players.” 

Club Increases Financial Contribution to Exeter City Women

City increase contribution five-fold,
29 July 2022

Exeter City Football Club will make a contribution of £25,000 to the women’s team for the coming season.

This is an increase on the £5,000 per season the women's team previously received from the football club. 

The sum will enable Exeter City Women to develop further and will cover the costs of coach travel to some of the further afield matches, provide investment in training methods and into the reserve team to enable them to play in the national reserve league.

To further show the club’s commitment to the women’s team, the squad will play two fixtures at St James Park, against Bournemouth on October 2 and Portishead on March 12.

Nick Hawker, chair of Exeter City Supporters’ Trust, said: “The club is pleased to be able to contribute this sum to the women’s team. It will support the players with things like travel and will also enable the team to develop further, which in turn, we hope, will enable them to achieve on the pitch. We are serious about women’s football at Exeter City Football Club and we will continue to do more to support this committed and ambitious group of players and staff.

“Logistics have made it challenging for the team to play games at St James Park, but we’re pleased to be able to have two fixtures here in the coming season, which will act as a real showcase for the game. The team’s last match at St James Park attracted more than 1,300 fans, which puts us on a par for attendance with some of the biggest women’s teams in the country.”

Thanks to a partnership with Exeter College, ECFC Women will play their home matches at Exwick Sports Hub this season.

Aaron Wakley, joint manager of Exeter City Women and women and girls’ football lead at Exeter City Community Trust, said the club’s investment would make a significant difference to the team.

“We’re very grateful to the club for this contribution. We have an incredibly committed team and this investment, which will contribute to so many aspects of their experience as an Exeter City player, whether through paying for travel or supporting training, will make a huge difference to them.

“We are lucky to have a number of sponsors who support the team, and it’s important to acknowledge and thank them for their ongoing contributions, as well.”

• First Team Results 

Final Table 

Appearances and Goals 

Jamie McInnes, said on the 2nd September 2023 "Preseason friendlies and training complete, Looking forward to testing ourselves in the prestigious FA Women’s National League (Reserve SW Division) this season. The squad is in a good place"

• Second Team Results 

Final Table 

Season Review 

Exeter City Women can look back on the 2022/23 season with a considerable amount of pride, despite the disappointment of missing out on the South West Division One title on goal difference.

After a third placed finish in 2021/22, the management team of Abbie Britton and Aaron Wakley made few changes in the summer months. Becky Dandridge was one significant addition to the squad, whilst key performers from the previous campaign all committed to another year in red and white.

As the Lionesses' gained national attention for the Women’s game, City endured a nightmare pre-season. Several scheduled fixtures saw the opposition pull out at late notice, leaving the Grecians with only two games of preparation as they faced Swansea City and Bridgwater United.  Initially, that lack of readiness did not seem to be a factor with City hitting Keynsham Town for seven on the opening weekend with Sarah Stacey notching a hat trick. A Becky Dandridge goal claimed a hard-fought point at Moneyfields before a second half comeback at home to St Austell earned a second home win.

Another comeback in a disjointed performance at Southampton Women’s FC saw Stacey slotting home the winner in injury time, which began to underline that City’s lack of game time over the summer months was beginning to show. A humbling at Cardiff City Ladies a week later highlighted a stark difference, as City struggled to piece together a performance against a rampant Dragons side. Dandridge limping off with what would prove a season ending broken foot rounding off a terrible afternoon in South Wales.

Despite the rocky start, Britton and Wakley made two significant additions to the squad. Jenna Markham and Chloe Gilroy both arrived from Bridgwater United to add strong competition and energy to the forward options.

Eight successive wins followed, with City finding their rhythm and defensive shape into the autumn months. Markham struck her first two goals in red and white as AFC Bournemouth were dispatched in front of a crowd of 2,621 at St James Park. Connie Pengelly hit five in a resounding win in the FA Cup First Round at Saltash United, whilst the Grecians were comfortable winners over Torquay United in the Devon County Cup after an initial early scare, Abbi Bond saving an Ellie Bishop penalty.

November saw Southern Premier side London Bees dispatched at the Exwick Hub in a League Cup second round tie, before AFC Bournemouth would be beaten in Devon once more in the FA Cup Second Round.

With City now gaining momentum for the season, the run into Christmas would see a moment of uncertainty. A surprise defeat to Portishead Town in the FA Cup was hugely disappointing, a much-improved performance against MK Dons the following week deserved better, but missed chances and defensive errors favored the Dons as they won by two goals to nil to progress in the League Cup.

The unexpected departure of the previous season's top goalscorer Connie Pengelly was followed by a labored win over Larkhall Athletic at the Hub, the Christmas break appeared to be coming at the right moment for City. With Cardiff five points clear at the turn of the year, the title race was looking set to be a one-horse race.

The Grecians would return from the festive break knowing the importance of the early months of the year. Moneyfields were beaten at the Sports Hub before a thumping victory over Southampton Women’s FC set up a chance to get back in the title race with the visit of Cardiff. Goals from Emily Toogood and new signing Ishbel Zuurmond gave the Grecians all three points and a chance to put pressure on the relentless Dragons for the final third of the season.

A fortunate late victory over Selsey followed, Mollie Taylor and Toogood scoring in injury time for ten player City after Jaydee Seaman had seen red. However, it would be late heartbreak the week after, Molly Gladwell slotting home an injury time winner for AFC Bournemouth to take any title hopes out of the hands of the Grecians.

An astonishing run of eight successive league wins followed, thirty-nine goals scored with only two conceded. Another record-breaking crowd at St James Park were treated to a Sarah Stacey hat trick during the run of wins, her season’s tally coming in at twenty-nine from twenty-one league fixtures.

Such a finale to the season would surely have seen promotion on an ordinary season, but this was no ordinary season and Cardiff City matched the Grecians all the way to take the title with a goal difference of plus eight.

Devon County Cup victory over Plymouth Argyle helped ease the disappointment, Markham putting City ahead before a late penalty from the Pilgrim’s Rosie Train levelled the tie. After last season’s penalty heartbreak, it was a better outcome this year, Mollie Taylor converting the decisive penalty.

A truly remarkable season only eclipsed by an equally impressive Cardiff team. With attendances increasing by 143%, over 8,500 people attending games, a record points total, over one hundred goals scored in all competitions and Sarah Stacey claiming the Golden Boot by some distance, it is hard to see what more Britton and Wakley’s side could have done.

A restful Summer and a few quality additions heading to the Hub should make for another strong season in 2023/24. Whilst the final day disappointment may have been a frustrating end to the season, on and off the pitch, the momentum for this team continues to grow