FAWNL Preview

Whilst the Women's Championship and the WSL, or WSL 1 & 2 if you prefer, are still 3 weeks away from getting their season's underway, for those teams in the FA Women's National League pre-season is finished and it's back to competitive league football this season so here is a short overview of what's happened over the summer in Division One North and the Northern Premier Division.

Northern Premier Division

Middlesbrough left it till the very last day of the season to secure the 2024/25 Division One North title. Starting the day level on points but 1 goal better off than second placed Cheadle Town Stingers, a 0-3 away win to Barnsley was enough to secure the title for Michael Mulhern's side as Cheadle were only able to manage a 2-1 win against bottom side and already relegated AFC Fylde. 

Departing Teeside this summer were former Newcastle United Women goal keeper Laura Wareham who has joined Thornaby FC Women, a great signing for Thornaby, defender Jane Harland, another former Lady Mag who moved from Newcastle to Boro in 2023 and midfielder Sharna Wilkinson, well known to NUW fans for her spectacular FA Cup goal at St. James' Park in 2022. Sharna will still be playing in tier 3 having signed for Stoke City. Georgia "Gallowgate" Gibson's loan spell with Boro expired at the end of the season and, since not being retained by parent club NUW, she has gone on to sign for Chester-le-Street Town. Again,a signing that should really benefit the team with the experience Gibson has, both with NUW and at international level. 

When Boro announced their squad numbers for the upcoming season I found it curious there was no reference to Kacie Elson. Neither the club or the player have made any public comment to say they have parted ways so we'll see what happens. I've always thought she is a talented winger so I hope Kacie is still playing. 

Liv Watt joined Boro this summer after leaving NUW. An experienced versatile defender I think Watt has a lot to offer Boro particularly her experience  playing in a full-time professional set-up with NUW. Also inbound, after finishing 3rd in the Northern Premier Division last season with Stoke City is former NUW forward Erin Nelson joined by another former NUW forward Becky Ferguson, who has signed permanently after a loan spell on Teeside, a player with plenty of potential. Finally Megan Borthwick joins in goal having previously playd for NUW, Sunderland, Durham Cestria and Durham. 

A good transfer window for Boro in my opinion, retaining the core of last season's promotion winning side and making some solid signings, Watt being the stand out signing for me. 

I don't see anyone running away with the title this season like Nottingham Forest did last season. Whilst I'd love to see Boro go straight up, as it would be good for the region, I ee them in a 3 team shoot out for the title with Stoke City and Wolverhampton Wanderers. 

Amongst others joining Wilkinson at Stoke City is central midfielder Holly Deering who has spent 11 years with Manchester United, winning Young Player of the Year in 2023, represented England in the 2023 u17 Euros and received her first u19 call up whilst on loan to Liverpool Feds last season, 3 goals in 21 appearances. Former Stoke City academy keeper Harriet Grimshaw rejoins the club after spending a season on loan at Stourbridge where she won tier 3 Player of the Season. 

Notable signing for Wolves is defender Lyndsey Harkin. A 10 year spell with Nottingham Forest ended with promotion to WSL 2 last season, the former Forest captain hopes to repeat that feat this season across the Midlands. 

Hull City will be hoping the signing of former NUW winger and hometown favourite Sophie Haywood will help them kick on from last season's 8th placed finish. 

Division One North

Going into the opening weekend of the season, last season's second placed team Cheadle Town Stingers who missed out on the title by 6 goals, would arguably be favourites for promotion this season but I've a suspicion this league is going to be wide open with no one team running away with it. 

A lot of focus will be on Blackburn Rovers. Their drop from WSL 2 to tier 4 sees reprieves from relegation for Sheffield United (WSL 2) and Doncaster Rovers Belles (Division One North) as well as a move away from Ewood Park to the Loom Loft Stadium in a ground share arrangement with Clitheroe FC. A historic club sadly with many off the pitch issues, it's unclear at this time how big a squad they have or who is in it. Hopefully they can get themselves back on track this season. 

Five goals in 3 pre-season games for Georgia Gibson with Chester-le-Street Town. One goal in a 3-0 win against Sunderland West End Ladies, a brace in a 2-1 win against Newcastle United Women PGA and another brace in a 3-2 win against South Shields Women. Having won both the tier 4 and tier 3 titles with NUW Gibson brings significant experience to Chester-le-Street Town and could provide the goals to take them to the top of the table. Only other signing, as far as I'm aware, is goal keeper Sophie Miller from Spennymoor Town Ladies. 

Norton & Stockton Ancients last week announced the signing of Elen Valentine who was goalkeeper these past two seasons for NUW Dev's / u21's. Talented shot stopper and vocal keeper, Valentine was voted Player's Player of the Season last season for the Dev's squad. Hopefully she can contribute to an improvement on last season's 11 losses and -13 goal difference. 

Hopefully we will get to see a return to football for Anna Soulsby with Durham Cestria after last season's ACL injury. An exciting winger who was having no trouble finding the back of the net before the injury occurred. The FAWNL Cup has produced an "El Lassico" against Boro at Brandon United FC on 21/08/25. This fixture may come too early in the season but hopefully we will see the baggy top back on the pitch at some point before the end of the season. 

Summary

A lot to look forward to over the next 9 months or so and nice to see almost everyone who departed Newcastle United Women, both last summer and this summer, is still in football. Hopefully Hannah Greenwood, Amy Andrews and particularly Amber Stobbs remaining in WSL 2 don't come back to haunt us. Best of luck to Daisy Burt playing for St. Johns Uni in the US, their season started yesterday with a 1-0 loss to University of Massachusetts. Good luck also to Bridget Galloway heading North of the border to play for Aberdeen and Naomi Bedeau at Oxford United.  

Hopefully another promotion season for Mancunian Unity.