While Guiseley Vixens bounce straight back up into the Northern Division, Wolverhampton Wanderers return after two seasons away.
With Tottenham Hotspur promoted to the WSL, Queens Park Rangers are spared relegation from the Southern Division, to which Chichester City are elevated for the first time and Gillingham rejoin at the second attempt.
With no team coming down to Midlands Division 1, eleventh-placed Rotherham United were reprieved. Burton Albion get a first taste of football at this level after winning the West Midlands League, Sheffield United make the step up as East Midlands champions.
Newcastle United drop into Northern Division 1, where two of their new opponents make their debut at this level. Bolton Wanderers come in after taking the North West title and Barnsley after finishing first in the North East.
The South East Division 1 has no demoted side, so Stevenage were permitted to extend their stay, after finishing next to bottom in their first FAWPL campaign. North and East London provide the two newcomers in Haringey Borough and Leyton Orient.
South West Division 1 will operate with just eleven sides, as Exeter City did not get to avoid the drop. Southampton Women’s FC step up as Southern League winners, while Poole Town took the other place. The Dorset side only finished third behind Marine Academy Plymouth and Yeovil Town Intermediate in the South West League, with the champions ineligible to compete in the FAWPL as they are not a first team.
The new season will kick off on Sunday 20th August.
The Reserve Section Midlands Division adds two to make a dozen, with Burton Albion and Long Eaton United coming aboard.
Fylde have not entered a team into the Northern but numbers still increase by three to eleven, thanks to Bolton Wanderers, Leeds and Sheffield United.
The Southern membership stays at eleven, with Spurs replaced by AFC Wimbledon.
Images – @FA_WPL
