Burnley Women v Lazio Women, Pre-season Friendly
Action from Burnley Women’s midweek friendly with and SS Lazio. (Photo: Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images)
The opening day of the 2025-26 FA Women’s National League season features Matt Beard’s Burnley Women up against promoted Middlesbrough.
Twice a WSL-title winner and manager of the season, former Liverpool boss Matt Beard took charge of the Clarets this summer, with a visit from Boro their introduction to the new campaign.
Northern Premier runners-up Wolves go to Liverpool Feds, Loughborough Lightning’s return to the division sees them welcome West Brom.
AFC Bournemouth make their South Premier debut at home to Billericay Town, Real Bedford’s first match at this level is away to AFC Wimbledon, while Hashtag United – second last term – play Plymouth Argyle at Home Park.
Promoted pair Sheffield FC and Kidderminster Harriers clash in Division 1 Midlands, where Northampton Town face Leafield Athletic in a meeting of the sides who finished second and fourth respectively last time.
After dropping out of Barclays WSL2, Blackburn Rovers entertain Cheadle Town at their new home of Clitheroe FC. Division One North returnees Chester le Street Town begin at Norton, while Wythenshawe’s first-ever FA WNL fixture comes at Stockport County.
Norwich City missed out on promotion from Division One South East by two points and now start again with a visit from Actonians, Fulham and Luton Town host Cambridge United and Dulwich Hamlet respectively after stepping back up from the regional leagues.
Ascot United make their Division One South West debut at Bristol Rovers’ Memorial Stadium, Marine Academy Plymouth head to Keynsham Town for the beginning of their own new challenge.
574 Gasheads last time out at the Mem 💙
Help us smash that attendance this opening weekend 👀@Official_BRFC | @FAWNL
— Bristol Rovers Women (@Official_BRWFC) August 13, 2025
Sunday 17 August (2pm)
Northern Premier Division
Burnley v Middlesbrough (Lancashire FA)
Hull City v Halifax (North Ferriby FC)
Liverpool Feds v Wolverhampton Wanderers (Leisure United, Jericho Lane)
Loughborough Lightning v West Bromwich Albion (Holywell Sports Complex)
Rugby Borough v Derby County (Rugby Borough Sports Trust, 3pm)
Stoke City v Sporting Khalsa (Wellbeing Park)
Southern Premier Division
AFC Bournemouth v Billericay Town (Ringwood Town FC)
AFC Wimbledon v Real Bedford (Tooting & Mitcham Utd FC)
Gwalia United v Oxford United (University of South Wales Sports Park)
Cheltenham Town v Exeter City (Bishops Cleeve FC)
Lewes v Watford (Lewes FC)
Plymouth Argyle v Hashtag United (Home Park)
Division One Midlands
Barnsley Women v Worcester City (Steel City Stadium)
Lincoln United v Boldmere St Michaels (Lincoln Utd FC)
Northampton Town v Leafield Athletic (O’Riordan Bond Stadium)
Notts County v Peterborough United (Eastwood CFC)
Sheffield FC v Kidderminster Harriers (Sheffield FC)
Sutton Coldfield Town v Stourbridge (Central Ground)
Division One North
Blackburn Rovers v Cheadle Town Stingers (Clitheroe FC)
Huddersfield Town v Doncaster Rovers Belles (Shelley CFC)
Leeds United v Chorley (Garforth Town AFC)
Norton & Stockton Ancients v Chester le Street Town (Norton Sports Complex)
Stockport County v Wythenshawe (Stockport Sports Village)
York City v Durham Cestria (University of York Sports Complex)
Division One South East
AFC Sudbury v Chatham Town (AFC Sudbury)
Chesham United v London Bees (Chesham Utd FC)
Fulham v Cambridge United (Fulham FC Training Ground)
Luton Town v Dulwich Hamlet (Barton Rovers FC)
Milton Keynes Dons v Queens Park Rangers (Stadium MK)
Norwich City v Actonians (The Nest)
Division One South West
Bournemouth Sports v Abingdon United (Chapel Gate)
Bristol Rovers v Ascot United (The Memorial Stadium)
Keynsham Town v Marine Academy Plymouth (Keynsham Town FC)
Moneyfields v Bridgwater United (John Jenkins Stadium)
Portishead Town v Worthing (Portishead FC)
Swindon Town v Maidenhead United (The County Ground)