Opening fixtures in the FA Women’s National League include Stoke City at the Bet365 Stadium plus big stages for newcomers Bristol Rovers and promoted Exeter City.
The Potters play Nottingham Forest who finished third last season, Northern Premier runners-up Burnley begin at home to newcomers Hull. There is a west midlands clash for Wolves and Stourbridge, Sporting Khalsa’s debut at this level comes at home to Derby, Halifax host Rugby Borough at their new base of Bradford (Park Avenue) FC and Liverpool Feds welcome West Brom.
Southern Premier runners-up last term, Hashtag United host relegated Watford, promoted AFC Wimbledon welcome Lewes back to the third tier at Plough Lane. Oxford United face Ipswich after they finished goal-difference ahead of fifth-placed Town in 2023/24. Exeter City entertain MK Dons, Billericay is the destination for Gwalia United (formerly Cardiff City Ladies), while Cheltenham Town challenge Plymouth Argyle.
Welcome to Ipswich Town, Isabella Fisher. 👋💪
The striker joins on a dual-registration deal from Arsenal and will be available for Sunday’s opening game at Oxford. ⤵️
— Ipswich Town FC Women (@ITFCWomen) August 15, 2024
Lincoln United and Worcester City stepped up to Division 1 Midlands and open away to Notts County (at their new Coronation Park base) and home to Peterborough United respectively. Loughborough Lightning missed out on promotion on goal-difference and go again at Lincoln City’s new ground of Gainsborough Trinity FC. Boldmere are visited by Barnsley Women who moved across from Division 1 North, Leafield have a visit from Northampton, mid-table finishers Solihull and Sutton Coldfield go head-to-head.
Huddersfield and Fylde dropped down to Division 1 North, where first up they face Leeds and promoted Barnsley FC away respectively. Cheadle’s first-ever fourth-tier game comes at runners-up Middlesbrough, Doncaster begin at home to Durham Cestria at the Eco-Power Stadium, while elsewhere it is Stockport v Norton and York City v Chorley.
There are Division 1 South East home debuts for Dulwich Hamlet and Real Bedford, against Norwich City and Ashford Town respectively. QPR’s game has been reversed and will be played at London Bees, Chatham Town commence with home advantage over AFC Sudbury. Mid-table last time round, Cambridge United and Actonians meet, the other fixture sees Chesham play London Seaward.
Ready to get going?
It’s our opening game of the season on Sunday as we host @NorwichCityWFC in the @FAWNL
We’re expecting a big crowd so guarantee your entry and get your tickets today 👉 https://t.co/b4EWFrnnuw#DHFC 💖💙 #Spicy 🌶 pic.twitter.com/zQmzLORHYt
— Dulwich Hamlet FC W (@DHFC_W) August 14, 2024
Bristol Rovers’ bow in Division 1 South West is at the Memorial Stadium against AFC Bournemouth, who narrowly missed out in a promotion decider last season. They are joined in the section by debutants Bournemouth Sports, who host Portishead at Shaftesbury FC. Moneyfields meet Maidenhead, Bridgwater have home advantage over Abingdon United and Keynsham clash with Swindon Town.
Sunday 18 August (2pm)
Northern Premier Division
Burnley v Hull City (Lancashire FA, Leyland)
Halifax v Rugby Borough (Horsfall Stadium)
Liverpool Feds v West Bromwich Albion (Leisure United, Jericho Lane)
Sporting Khalsa v Derby County (Sporting Khalsa FC)
Stoke City v Nottingham Forest (Bet365 Stadium)
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Stourbridge (AFC Telford Utd)
Southern Premier Division
AFC Wimbledon v Lewes (Plough Lane)
Billericay Town v Gwalia United (Billericay Town FC)
Cheltenham Town v Plymouth Argyle (Bishops Cleeve FC)
Exeter City v Milton Keynes Dons (Exeter City FC)
Hashtag United v Watford (Aveley FC)
Oxford United v Ipswich Town (Oxford City FC)
Division 1 Midlands
Boldmere St Michaels v Barnsley Women (Boldmere Community Stadium)
Leafield Athletic v Northampton Town (Castle Vale Stadium)
Lincoln City v Loughborough Lightning (Gainsborough Trinity FC)
Notts County v Lincoln United (Eastwood CFC)
Worcester City v Peterborough United (Sixways Stadium)
Solihull Moors v Sutton Coldfield Town (Studley Sports Centre, 3pm)
Division 1 North
Barnsley FC v AFC Fylde (Barnsley FC)
Doncaster Rovers Belles v Durham Cestria (Doncaster Rovers FC)
Leeds United v Huddersfield Town (Garforth Town AFC)
Middlesbrough v Cheadle Town Stingers (Stockton Town FC)
Stockport County v Norton & Stockton Ancients (Stockport Sports Village)
York City v Chorley (University of York Sports Centre)
Division 1 South East
Cambridge United v Actonians (St Neots Town FC)
Chatham Town v AFC Sudbury (Maidstone Road Sports Ground)
Chesham United v London Seaward (Chesham Utd FC)
Dulwich Hamlet v Norwich City (Dulwich Hamlet FC)
London Bees v Queens Park Rangers (The Hive)
Real Bedford v Ashford Town (McMullen Park)
Division 1 South West
Bournemouth Sports v Portishead Town (Shaftesbury FC)
Bridgwater United v Abingdon United (Bridgwater Utd FC)
Bristol Rovers v AFC Bournemouth (Bristol Rovers FC)
Keynsham Town v Swindon Town (Keynsham Town FC)
Moneyfields v Maidenhead United (John Jenkins Stadium)
Worthing P-P Southampton Women
