The2013 FA WSL was the third season of theFA WSL, the top-level women'sfootball 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 2014–15UEFA 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 theManchester City Ladies team from theFA Women's Premier League National Division, but now re-branded asManchester City Women. Likewise, Lincoln retained their place in WSL 1 but relocated and re-branded asNotts County Ladies for the following season.[1]
The same teams as last season returned, as there was no relegation system in place.
Liverpool, who finished bottom in 2011 and 2012, relocated fromSkelmersdale to theHalton Stadium inWidnes prior to the 2013 season as part of an ambitious programme of investment.[2] Lincoln leftAshby Avenue to return full-time toSincil Bank.[3]
^"FA Charge Arsenal Ladies". London. 16 September 2013. Archived from the original on 18 September 2013. Retrieved16 September 2013.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
^"2013 Goal scorers". women.soccerway.com.Archived from the original on 16 March 2013. Retrieved20 February 2018.
^"the stats". fawsl.com.Archived from the original on 2 May 2019. Retrieved1 March 2013.
