FAWSL 1 2015 - Season Review

   A November finish to the 5th season of football in FAWSL 1, the Continental Cup Final on Sunday marking the end of another exciting and history making season of top flight women's football in England from the FA Women's Super League 1. Time to take a look back at the season on the Supporting Women's Football Blog. 

  Into it's 5th season now the FAWSL has evolved and grown, started to capture the attention of a wider audience, is getting more coverage and attendances at matches are on the rise were certainly given a boost during the summer by England's Lionesses unexpected but wonderful 3rd place finish in Canada at the Women's World Cup with a squad that largely play their football in the FAWSL. More and more players are getting the opportunity to turn professional and devote all of their energies into the sport they love. Still a tiny proportion of the women playing the game, but every pro contract signed is a step in the right direction.

   On to the Season Review, breaking it down club by club, top to bottom to that end we have new CHAMPIONS!

CHELSEA LADIES
Champions - 32 points

   Chelsea Ladies are the FAWSL 1 Champions of 2015. After coming so close and missing out on the final day of 2014, they made no mistake this time around despite the title going down to the final day yet again. Won to bring the title home to cap off a fantastic season from which they had emerged as front runners right from the beginning. Coach Emma Hayes, the only female coach plying her trade in the top flight of women's football in England getting the perfect balance to her squad to deliver over the 14 game season. Having lost a few experienced faces in the close season, notably Japanese international Yuki Ogimi, Hayes did some shred transfer business bringing in replacements, Having lured a few ex Arsenal Ladies favourites to cross London the previous season added another with Niamh Fahey joining the squad in 2015. Gemma Davison another former Arsenal star joined too having spent the past season with Liverpool Ladies. Another player with huge experience to join was Swedish International goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl. Hayes not only went for experience but added young talent with a bundle of potential bringing in Millie Bright from Doncaster Rovers Belles. Fran Kirby would also come in after the World Cup a transfer fee paid to tempt her from the club she loves Reading FC Women. 

Hannah Blundell

   Additions to add to a strong squad and prepared to give young players a chance to shine, Hannah Blundell has arguably been their most consistent performer all season at right back. Drew Spence featured in Chelsea Ladies 1st ever FAWSL match back in 2011 and has had to bide her time, a regular in midfield this season with some strong performances that finally saw her win her 1st senior England cap during the Lionesses recent journey to Asia to play hosts China and Australia in a friendly tournament. Eniola Aluko and Katie Chapman, experience, energy and passion for all to see, their stand out player has been Korean International Ji So-Yun, has had a brilliant season building on an outstanding debut season in the FAWSL 1 the season before. Forming a potent attack with Aluko and Gemma Davison. 

 

Ji So-Yun

 Were the top goal scorers in the league in 2015 finding the back of the net 30 times, whilst at the other end having the meanest defence in the league conceding just 10 goals, Hedvig Lindahl a calm and composed figure behind a well drilled defence. Were hurting after missing out on title on the final day of the season in 2014 losing their final match with the title in their own hands. Looked good right from the off this time around winning their 4 opening league games with 2 draws to leave them top undefeated going into the break for the Women's World Cup. A mini dip after the season resumed in July with 4 league defeats on the spin gave everyone else hope but they went on to finish strongly winning their last 5 matches to bring the title home. Made it a league and cup double as they reached the 1st ever FA Women's Cup final to be played at Wembley Stadium, Ji So Yun the difference, her goal giving them victory over Notts County Ladies.

Manchester City Women

Runners-Up - 30 points

  Like it or not Manchester City Women being parachuted into the top tier of women's football in England last season created alot of extra hype and media interest, were investing heavily in their women's side with a vision to become a dominant force in the game in a short space of time. This type of investment is what many have dreamed of and making players full time professionals is a fantastic thing in itself. Plenty of big name players including several England stars joined at the start of 2014 managed to keep the media spot light off delivering success straight away. Finished 5th in the league on their debut season did however top it off with silverware by lifting the Continental Tyres Cup.

 

Isobel Christiansen (centre)

The pressure to deliver in their 2nd season was only heightened as more international stars were brought in, Lucy Bronze, Demi Stokes, Nikita Parris (loan), Jennifer Beattie, Sarah Wiltshire, Natasha Harding and Daphne Corboz all joining the club the expectation that the club had enough to challenge for the top 2 places. Has taken just 2 seasons to replace their former squad as bringing in so many new faces means others have to move on, Manchester City Women aren't the only FAWSL side with a high turn over of players like this mind, after all Liverpool Ladies did a similar thing in 2013 and that saw them go from bottom to title winners in just one season. For all the new faces coming in I felt the one position the club needed more than anything else was a midfield foil for Jill Scott. Had a great 1st season for the club, was covering so much ground however you just felt someone alongside her would make Manchester City a force to be reckoned with. With the defenders they'd brought in their captain, Steph Houghton could have easily stepped up into the middle of the park, instead manager Nick Cushing asked Isobel Christiansen to do a job in the centre of the park and she has been a revelation in the position, often the driving force in matches scoring goals too, and getting recognition with a call up to the senior England squad. 

  It's not only the playing squad where the club has made improvement and investment but also in it's playing facilities with a new Academy Stadium for the clubs youth and ladies teams, hosted a full England Women's International friendly too this season an impressive venue for the women to play. 

   As it was the club didn't get off to the best of starts in the league winning just 1 of their 5 opening league matches before the FAWSL broke up for the Women's World Cup drawing 2 more with 2 defeats. As it was these were the only 2 defeats they would suffer as returning to action at the end of June the club had a fantastic 2nd part of the season winning 8 off their last 9 league matches with a draw sandwiched in between, enough to have a shot at gunning down the title on the final day, needing the win coupled with a Chelsea Ladies defeat, did their part, Chelsea weren't in the mood to help them out wanted that title just as much.  Were also 2nd placed as in terms of goals scored 25 in the league and the 2nd best defensive record with 11 conceded in 14 matches. 2nd spot to qualify for Europe and in terms of progress they will be happy.

Arsenal Ladies

3rd - 27 points

  I had tipped Arsenal Ladies to win the title this season. Having been the long term dominant force in women's football in England for the past decade and beyond the FAWSL has changed the map somewhat. Was a much needed shake up, they had little to challenge them unrivalled support from the Arsenal FC. The last two season's have brought a period of transition that I don't think the club was wholly prepared for. With investment encouraged for more of the men's clubs to bring along their women's sides money came in and suddenly Arsenal Ladies wasn't seen as the only place to be.

   Clubs such as Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester City and Notts County could all offer the chance for a player to go full-time and the club lost several of it's 1st team stars to other clubs, despite bringing home the FA Women's Cup in 2014, manager Shelley Kerr left the club and the search was on for a new 1st team coach. Brought in Pedro Martinez Losa towards the end of last season where they finished 4th their lowest ever finish in the FAWSL. With time to assess the squad and bring in new additions they looked very good signings too, defender Jemma Rose and Spanish striker Natalia de Pablos Sanchon from Bristol Academy, Lianne Sanderson returned from a long spell playing oversea's in the USA to rejoin her former club and help to cement her place in England's World Cup squad. Another Spanish international Vicky Losada also coming in. Marta Corredera, Dominique Janssen and goalkeeper Sari Van Veenedaal would also join in the middle of the campaign.

 

Jordan Nobbs

 Mustn't forget Arsenal Ladies have always produced good young players and there are plenty with potential coming through with Leah Williamson and Jade Bailey getting plenty of 1st team action in 2015. The main reason I tipped Arsenal Ladies for the title was midfielder Jordan Nobbs a huge talent, the ultimate box to box midfielder full of running and a pretty good strike on her too. As it was she was to pick up an injury away with the England squad that would kept her out of action frustratingly for a large part of the FAWSL season. Would have other players missing for several games throughout the season too. Started well were undefeated going into the mid-season break with 3 wins and 3 draws. A mixed bag after the season resumed 3 home defeats to Liverpool Ladies, Manchester City Women and Chelsea Ladies they won their last 3 league matches to record a 3rd place finish with Nobbs returning late on to show what she could give the side putting in a player of the match performance scoring 2 great goals to help Arsenal Ladies finish with silverware as they lifted the Continental Tyres Cup trophy for the 4th time in 5 seasons this past Sunday. Have to wonder had Nobbs been fit for more of the season would it have closed the 5 point gap from 3rd to 1st? Will never know. Have plans in place to improve the club and squad for next season as they look to compete at the top.

Arsenal Ladies, Continental Tyres Cup winners 2015

AFC Sunderland Ladies

4th - 20 points

  Sunderland Ladies made history in 2015 as they were the 1st ever promoted side to enter FAWSL 1 following their title success winning the newly created FAWSL 2 in 2014. Were very much a surprise package many thinking they would find the step up to the top tier of women's football a step too far. Instead they surprised alot of people including myself with an impressive debut season. They were f course a side used to winning league titles had dominated the FA Women's Premier League North for the 3 seasons since 2011 when the FAWSL was 1st formed winning the title 3 times before winning a spot in the new FAWSL 2 in 2014 were crowned champions to earn the right to compete in the top tier of women's football in 2015. They are used to winning football matches.

 

Beth Mead, leagues top goal scorer with 14 in 2015

Promotion saw a change in management with Carlton Fairweather taking on the role. Didn't look to change much had a winning squad after-all made a couple of close season additions, versatile defender Victoria Williams joining from Doncaster Rovers Belles along side Brooke Chaplin who was surprisingly released by Everton Ladies. Would bring in goalkeeper Hilde Gunn Olsen and Irish star Stephanie Roche later in the season too. A large part of their recent success is star striker Beth Mead, still just 20 years old has been the clubs top scorer ever since she broke into the squad. A few people suggested to me that Sunderland were so reliant on her goals that the bubble would burst as defenders in FAWSL would prove to good. How wrong was that assessment hit the ground running scoring on the opening match against Liverpool Ladies. Would go on to be the top goal scorer in the league with 14 goals and very belated get England recognition. Is a handful for defenders works hard to hustle and pressure them on the ball and make herself available for the counter attack when the organised lines behind her break down an opposition attack. 

  Won as many as they lost in the 6 games before the break with 9 points as the season resumed in July were well placed a purple patch which included a memorable 4-0 home win over eventual champions Chelsea Ladies saw them win 3 on the bounce to join the battle at the top was a question of whether they could maintain it, tailed away at the end with 2 draws before losing their last 3 league matches to finish on 20 points, 4th in the league. Overall a excellent season very much something to build on next term.

Notts County Ladies

5th - 15 points

  A bizarre season in 2015 for Notts County Ladies now in their 2nd season under their new guise having been Lincoln Ladies in the FAWSL previously. The move had seen the club make a core of 1st team players full time professionals as they look to compete with the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City Women for silverware in the league. Had a high player turn over in 2014 following the rebranding had to more or less rebuild the squad brought in some impressive signing's such as England striker Ellen White and Scottish international defender Rachel Corsie. Were to be very unfortunate with injuries during that campaign losing White and captain Sophie Bradley amongst others to the dreaded ACL injury. Bradley has missed the whole of this season too but it's great to hear she is finally getting back to playing again and will be a welcome return for Notts County when she does. Finished 6th in 2014 had the meanest defence in the league just the 8 goals put into the back of their net during the league campaign.

   Had the core of a good squad to build on for this season but were to lose a a few key players. Brought in some great additions Laura Bassett, Rachel Williams and Danielle Buet all coming in from Chelsea, Alex Greenwood and Fern Whelan from relegated Everton Ladies with Scottish international Leanne Critchon also joining. Along with Ellen White back to full fitness they had a squad that looked like it would compete in the top half this season. After a slow start to the season a lose and 2 draws won the next 3 didn't really need the break for the World Cup to happen when it did it a great position to push on in the league after the break it was a totally different story in the league won just 1 of their remaining 8 league matches. Lost 6 including the last 3 to finish on 15 points, but a place higher in 5th. Scored more goals 20 in total but defensively let in as many over the season.

Notts County Ladies at this Sunday's Continental Tyres Cup Final

  Makes it all sound all doom and gloom but is far from it Notts County Ladies actually won plenty of matches through out 2015 treated their fans to 2 fantastic cup runs that saw them reach both women's showpiece finals the FA Women's Cup and Continental Tyres Cup. Were one of the 1st ever finalists to walk out onto the Wembley Stadium turf, ended up collecting runners-up medals losing 1-0 to Chelsea Ladies. Lost out too this Sunday against Arsenal Ladies in the Continental Cup Final 3-0 not necessarily reflecting the game and to rub salt into the wounds didn't even get to collect their runners-up medals on the pitch following a mix up. Satisfactory is how manager Rick Passmoor the season need a stable close season keep this group intact build to it and push on.

  Birmingham City Ladies

6th - 13 points

   Were just one win away from winning their maiden FAWSL 1 title last season in a 3 way shoot-out for the trophy but slipped up like Chelsea Ladies to eventually finish 3rd. Have consistently finished in the top half of the FAWSL since it began in 2011. Haven't the biggest budget by any stretch of the imagination but do have a young talented squad that is full of passion and commitment that allows them to punch above their weight. Were hugely disappointed to lose out like they did last term. Managed to keep their squad together during the close season whilst bringing in Freda Ayisi from Arsenal Ladies to bolster their attack. 

   A strong spine with Jo Potter and Jade Moore both now regular squad members fro England whilst at the back Aiofe Mannion had formed a solid defensive partnership with Kerys Harrop. Captain Karen Carney was to miss the start of the season through suspension. Bad news for the club as they were to lose right back Chelsea Weston without a doubt the best in her position in 2014 to a serious knee injury that would keep her out all season. Freda Ayisi got into a fracas with Manchester City Women's goalkeeper Karen Bardsley that saw her sent off and given a 3 match ban not helping thing's whilst Kirsty Linnett would also pick up an injury early on, which presented manager David Parker with a different set of problems having been able to virtually name an unchanged side for much of the previous season. 

Jade Moore starred for Birmingham City Ladies and England in 2015

  D L D L D L was their league form going into the break for the Women's World Cup the draws all 0-0 weren't conceding goals just couldn't get them in themselves. Would only score 7 league goals all season with Carney netting 2. Were in danger of getting pulled into the relegation battle at the bottom a late surge including a 3-0 win against Bristol Academy lifted them clear of danger to eventually clinch 6th spot. No doubt some good results in the group stages of the Continental Cup and reaching the semi-finals helped them towards the end. That squad knows what it can achieve will develop and grow if it can be kept together sure a little more investment would be welcome. 

   

Liverpool Ladies

7th - 13 points

  Well who saw this one coming? Liverpool Ladies last season's title winners their 2nd title success in as many seasons finishing 2nd bottom in 2015. Admittedly their title success last season was out of the blue too even they couldn't have expected to come from 3rd having not been on top all year to win their final match to retain the trophy they had won for the 1st time in 2013 but they capitalised when both Chelsea and Birmingham City Ladies slipped up. Had seen a huge investment and player influx over the past 2 season's with manager Matt beard doing a great job to turn them into title winners having been at the bottom of the league in its first 2 seasons. 

  Saw a few key players to their recent success leave the club for new challenges in 2015, Amanda Da Costa returning to America, Lucy Bronze making the switch to Manchester City Women with Nina Pederson and Gemma Davison also leaving. Had injury problems last season too with German Nicole Rolser and Lucy Staniforth out with ACL injurues long term. Brought in Norwegian internationals, Line Somrsgard and Ingrid Ryland along with defender Satara Murray. Make a high profile signing too bringing in African player of the year Asisat Oshoala the Nigerian international a real coup for the club. 

  With 3 defeats and 2 wins to the start of the season it was an indifferent start going into the break for the Women's World Cup for Matt Beard's side. Injuries were once again going to affect the 2nd half of their season with inspirational captain Fara Williams who had been a star performer for England out in Canada picking up an injury upon her return to action for Liverpool keeping her out until the end of the season along with Oshoala's season coming to an early end. New Zealand international striker Rosie White joined the club whilst Rolser left. Won just 2 league matches in the latter half of the season ending with 4 straight defeats their title well and truly surrendered. Goals have dramatically dried up too 46 scored in 2013 have just 15 in the GF column this time around. 

  Matt Beard announced he was leaving the club at the end of the season for a new challenge coaching in the USA with Boston Breakers, his former assistant Simon Rogers is to take over the managerial duties in 2016 will be interesting to see how the club adapts is a changing picture, Beard saying it could well be dominated by Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal in the future how will Liverpool respond?

Bristol Academy

8th - 8 points

Bristol Academy finish bottom in 2015 with Liverpool Ladies finishing a place above these to were slogging it out for the title in 2013 just 2 seasons just goes to show how dramatically the FAWSL has changed in the 5 years since it's creation. A 2nd placed finish in 2013 had seen Bristol Academy qualify for the Champions League that squad reaching the last eight after a memorable 2-1 aggregate win over Barcelona. After that fantastic result thing's changed drastically at the club having assembled a very good squad it saw a host of high profile departures, Jemma Rose, Corinne Yorston, Natasha Harding, Natalia de Pablos Sanchon, and Laura Del Rio along with Grace McCatty who would depart later to undertake volunteer work in Zambia. Sophie Ingle was named as the new captain following McCatty's departure.  

   

Bristol Academy, captain Sophie Ingle

Half the defence and most of their goals that many departures is always going to have an affect on the dressing room, brought in a few fresh faces Hayley Ladd, Nadia Lawrence  Sharla Passariello, with Scottish international Christie Murray joining from Arsenal Ladies. Was a poor start to the season opening it with 4 straight defeats, manager Dave Edmondson left the club before the mid-season break for the Women's World Cup. Bristol Academy moved pretty quickly to put in a replacement bringing in Scotsman, Willie Kirk. He was able to bring in some new faces brought in Caroline Weir again like Murray at Arsenal Ladies before along with defender Marije Brummel, striker Jade Boho Sayo, Evdokia Popadinova and Hannah Reid. 

   The results didn't improve after the break was a tall order the club looked like it had had the stuffing knocked out of it a win against Notts County Ladies gave them hope as they took on fellow struggler's Birmingham City Ladies at home, lost the game 3-0 were already down when they won only their 2nd league match of the season on the final day at home to Liverpool Ladies an ironic result. A tough season for the club and it's fans always enjoy my trips down to the Stoke Gifford Stadium. Mary Earps was outstanding for Bristol Academy during the season the goalkeeper couldn't have done any more and had every 3 saves a goalkeeper made during a match counted as a goal then Bristol would have won the league.   

My FAWSL 1 Team of the Season

 Several contenders for this one has been a competitive season once again going down the the final day have watched some thrilling matches, some not so thrilling either but it's been fun all the same. Tough to pick a starting 11 but those below have impressed me more than most in 2015.

  No doubt the FAWSL has evolved over the past 5 seasons money and investment has come in clubs have finally given female footballers the chance to turn the sport they love into a profession. Is an ever changing picture will it become dominated by those with the most spending power? You would have to think so until such a time there is enough top quality players to go around. Development squads are part of the FAWSL requirement now too, will they start bearing fruit? Will clubs wait that long? Some will develop talent better than others too will be very interesting to see how the top level of the game unfolds over the next few years.