2011 FA WSL

The 2011 FA WSL was the inaugural season of the FA WSL, the top-level women's football league of England. The season began on 13 April 2011 and ended on 28 August 2011.[1] The league also took a break between 12 May and mid-July to allow preparation for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup.[2]

FA WSL
Arsenal's Ellen White and Steph Houghton with the trophy
Season2011
ChampionsArsenal
Champions LeagueArsenal
Birmingham City
Matches played56
Goals scored142 (2.54 per match)
Top goalscorerRachel Williams (14)
Biggest home winBirmingham City 4–0 Bristol Academy
14 April 2011
Biggest away winLiverpool 0–4 Birmingham City
20 April 2011
Highest scoringLiverpool 3–3 Everton
14 April 2011
Longest winning run5 games
Birmingham City
Longest unbeaten run10 games
Birmingham City
Longest winless run11 games
Liverpool
Highest attendance2,510
Chelsea v Arsenal
Lowest attendance120
Liverpool v Doncaster Rovers Belles
2012 →

Arsenal won the competition, their eighth consecutive English title, Birmingham finished second. The second entry to the UEFA Women's Champions League was supposed to be given to the FA Women's Cup winner,[3] on 6 December 2011 however it was announced that Birmingham as runners-up were given the spot.[4]

Teams
TeamLocationGroundCapacityAvg Att2009–10 season
ArsenalBorehamwoodMeadow Park4,502621Premier League National, 1st
Birmingham CityStratford-upon-AvonThe DCS Stadium1,400544Premier League National, 10th
Bristol AcademyFiltonStoke Gifford Stadium1,500635Premier League National, 12th
ChelseaMordenImperial Fields3,500880Premier League National, 3rd
Doncaster Rovers BellesDoncasterKeepmoat Stadium15,231448Premier League National, 6th
EvertonCrosbyThe Arriva Park3,185519Premier League National, 2nd
Lincoln LadiesLincolnSincil Bank/Ashby Avenue10,120560Premier League Northern, 2nd
LiverpoolSkelmersdaleWest Lancashire College2,500466Premier League Northern, 1st
Locations of the 2011 Super League teams

Sixteen clubs applied for a place in the inaugural season of the league: Arsenal, Barnet, Birmingham City, Bristol Academy, Chelsea, Colchester United, Doncaster Rovers Belles, Everton, Leeds Carnegie, Leicester City, Lincoln Ladies, Liverpool, Millwall Lionesses, Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest and Sunderland.[5] Leeds Carnegie later withdrew their application.[6]

Eight clubs were then picked by the FA from the remaining fifteen applicants: Arsenal, Birmingham City, Bristol Academy, Chelsea, Doncaster Rovers Belles, Everton, Lincoln Ladies, and Liverpool.[7]

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Arsenal (C) 14 10 2 2 29 9 +20 32 2012–13 UEFA Women's Champions League
2 Birmingham City 14 8 5 1 29 13 +16 29
3 Everton 14 7 4 3 19 13 +6 25
4 Lincoln Ladies 14 6 3 5 18 16 +2 21
5 Bristol Academy 14 4 4 6 14 20 −6 16
6 Chelsea 14 4 3 7 14 19 −5 15
7 Doncaster Rovers Belles 14 2 3 9 9 26 −17 9
8 Liverpool 14 1 4 9 10 26 −16 7
Updated to match(es) played on 28 August 2011. Source: FA WSL results
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champion.

Results
Home \ Away ARS BIR BRI CHE DON EVE LIV LIN
Arsenal 1–2 1–0 3–0 3–0 1–0 3–0 4–0
Birmingham City 1–1 4–0 3–2 3–0 2–3 0–0 1–0
Bristol Academy 2–2 2–3 0–0 1–0 0–2 1–1 2–3
Chelsea 0–1 1–1 0–1 2–1 1–3 0–1 1–1
Doncaster Rovers Belles 0–3 2–2 1–2 1–4 0–1 1–0 0–3
Everton 3–1 0–2 0–0 2–0 1–1 1–0 0–2
Liverpool 1–3 0–4 0–2 1–2 1–1 3–3 0–1
Lincoln Ladies 0–2 1–1 3–1 0–1 0–1 0–0 4–2
Updated to match(es) played on 28 August 2011. Source: FA WSL results
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Top scorers
Rank Scorer Club Goals[8]
1 Rachel Williams Birmingham City 14
2 Kim Little Arsenal 8
3 Natasha Dowie Everton 7
4 Ellen White Arsenal 6
5 Rachel Yankey Arsenal 5

League Cup

The inaugural season of the League Cup, named the WSL Continental Cup, was played as a straight knock-out tournament. Arsenal won the Cup with a 4–1 victory over Birmingham. Arsenal also won the League and Women's FA Cup thus winning a treble that season.[9]

 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
4 September – Skelmersdale
 
 
Liverpool0
 
11 September – Borehamwood
 
Arsenal4
 
Arsenal3
 
4 September – Bristol
 
Lincoln Ladies1
 
Bristol Academy1
 
25 September – Burton-on-Trent
 
Lincoln Ladies2
 
Arsenal4
 
4 September – Doncaster
 
Birmingham City1
 
Doncaster Rovers Belles0
 
11 September – Stratford upon Avon
 
Birmingham City4
 
Birmingham City2
 
4 September – Morden
 
Everton1
 
Chelsea0
 
 
Everton4
 

References
  1. "WSL fixtures confirmed". The Football Association. Retrieved 9 February 2011.
  2. thefa.co.uk; FAQ on the FA WSL, No. 23
  3. "Arsenal take English WSL title". UEFA. 28 August 2011. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
  4. "Champions League For Birmingham City". shekicks.net. 6 December 2011. Archived from the original on 31 May 2012. Retrieved 6 December 2011.
  5. "Super League's Sixteen Applicants". Shekicks. 7 January 2010. Archived from the original on 24 March 2010. Retrieved 8 March 2010.
  6. Tony Leighton (25 January 2010). "Leeds Carnegie could fold after ending Super League interest". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 29 January 2010. Retrieved 8 March 2010.
  7. "Eight Super League clubs announced". The Football Association official website. 22 March 2010. Retrieved 9 February 2011.
  8. "2011 Goal scorers". women.soccerway.com.
  9. "Arsenal complete treble with Continental Cup triumph". BBC. 25 September 2011. Retrieved 4 April 2014.

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