The FA Premier League 2017-18 season kicks off this Sunday, 20th August and features reigning Northern Division champions Blackburn Rovers at home to newly-promoted Wolves.
While Wanderers face a testing start to their first top flight campaign in 3 years, Guiseley’s immediate return takes them to Nottingham Forest. Leicester City Women and Middlesbrough had impressive campaigns after coming up last year and both begin at home, against Bradford and Fylde respectively. Stoke entertain Derby and Huddersfield host West Brom, who suffered a 22-0 friendly defeat to Birmingham City at the weekend.
Chichester’s Southern Division debut comes away at C&K Basildon, while Gillingham are back with a home game against West Ham at Priestfield Stadium (1pm ko). Charlton go up against Lewes, Portsmouth play Cardiff at their new Havant home, Swindon are now based at Fairford Town FC and face a testing visit from Coventry, while QPR have a testing fixture at Crystal Palace.
Matches for Northern Division 1’s two newcomers see Bolton hosting Leeds and Barnsley away at Hull in an all-Yorkshire clash. Relegated Newcastle begin at Brighouse, Liverpool Feds and Chester le Street clash after good runs last term and elsewhere there’s an all North West meeting between Chorley and Mossley.
New to Midlands Division 1, Sheffield United welcome Solihull Moors (formerly Solihull Ladies) and Burton go to Leicester Ladies. Loughborough Foxes, runners-up last season, are home to Birmingham & West Midlands, TNS take on Steel City, Radcliffe Olympic’s game with Sporting Khalsa is off and Rotherham have been given special dispensation by the league to cancel their opening two fixtures, leaving Long Eaton without a game.
In South East Division 1, Haringey’s first ever FAWPL game sees them cross the capital to play Actonians, while Leyton Orient’s adventure starts at Cambridge. There’s a local derby between Luton and Stevenage at the changed venue of Caddington FC, Wimbledon welcome Ipswich to Gander Green Lane, MK Dons’ opener is with Denham and Norwich have Enfield at home.
Southampton Women’s South West Division 1 debut with Larkhall is postponed but Poole travel to Maidenhead for their first taste of football at this level. Plymouth will be looking to go one better than second last term starting at St Nicholas, Brislington battle with Basingstoke and Southampton Saints challenge Cheltenham for the remaining three points up for grabs.
Sunday 20th August (2pm)
FA PREMIER LEAGUE
NORTHERN DIVISION
Blackburn Rovers v Wolverhampton Wanderers (Sir Tom Finney Stadium, Irongate)
Huddersfield Town v West Bromwich Albion (Shelley FC)
Leicester City Women v Bradford City (Riverside Pavilion)
Middlesbrough v Fylde (Teesdale Park)
Nottingham Forest v Guiseley Vixens (Basford United FC, 3pm)
Stoke City v Derby County (Norton United FC)
SOUTHERN DIVISION
C&K Basildon v Chichester City (Canvey Island FC)
Charlton Athletic v Lewes (Sporting Club Thamesmead)
Crystal Palace v Queens Park Rangers (Bromley FC 3G)
Gillingham v West Ham United (Gillingham FC, 1pm)
Portsmouth v Cardiff City LFC (Havant & Waterlooville FC)
Swindon Town v Coventry United (Fairford Town FC)
NORTHERN DIVISION 1
Bolton Wanderers v Leeds United (Atherton Collieries FC)
Chorley v Mossley Hill Athletic (Euxton Villa FC)
Hull City v Barnsley (Hull University Sports Ground)
Liverpool Marshalls Feds v Chester le Street Town (IM Marsh Campus)
Newcastle United v Brighouse Town (Newcastle University)
MIDLANDS DIVISION 1
Leicester City LFC v Burton Albion (Linwood Playing Fields)
Loughborough Foxes v Birmingham & West Midlands (Loughborough University Stadium)
Radcliffe Olympic P-P Sporting Khalsa
Sheffield United v Solihull Moors (Steelphalt, Sheffield United Academy)
The New Saints v Steel City Wanderers (Park Hall Stadium)
SOUTH EAST DIVISION 1
Actonians v Haringey Borough (North Greenford United FC)
AFC Wimbledon v Ipswich Town (Sutton United FC)
Cambridge United v Leyton Orient (Mildenhall Town FC)
Luton Town v Stevenage (Caddington FC)
Milton Keynes Dons v Denham United (Newport Pagnell Town FC)
Norwich City v Enfield Town (Norwich United FC)
SOUTH WEST DIVISION 1
Brislington v Basingstoke Town (Brislington FC)
Maidenhead United v Poole Town (Maidenhead United FC)
Southampton Saints v Cheltenham Town (Sholing FC)
St Nicholas v Plymouth Argyle (Yate Town FC)
