The FA Women’s National League (FA WNL) has released a new three-year strategy, ‘Where Our Game Grows’, which will run between 2025-2028. The strategy is supported with investment from the Premier League and will work on four key strategic priorities to develop the league and improve the wider women’s football pyramid on and off the pitch.

The previous three-year strategy ‘Empowering Success’ has contributed to a 100% increase in average matchday attendances since 2021.

In the next three years, ‘Where Our Game Grows’ will look to build on the successes of the previous strategy, with an overarching vision of championing growth, elevating performance and building identity.

To achieve this vision, four key strategic priorities have been identified:

1. Environment – Elevate the football environment to foster excellence both on and off the pitch. There will be a focus on propelling club standards, protecting and enhancing positive culture and behaviour, and enhancing league delivery.

2. People – Champion progressive pathways, nurture diversity and unlock potential. This will establish a system that supports players, referees, coaches, and club staff in achieving their goals, fosters inclusive and welcoming experiences throughout the WNL, and ensures access to top-quality facilities that enable everyone to thrive.

3. Impact – Build visibility, engage diverse audiences, and leverage the power of community to grow the league’s profile and reach. There will be a focus on raising the profile of the WNL through innovative storytelling, supporting clubs to become the heart of their communities, and educating and influencing key football stakeholders to support the growth and development of the WNL.

4. Commercial – Elevate commercial focus, attract and collaborate with partners and clubs to increase the sustainability of the WNL. This will include driving commercial readiness across the competition, establishing meaningful partnerships across the WNL, and providing tailored club support to promote financial sustainability.

Five threads weave throughout each strategic priority and will be key to the strategy’s overall success across the three years: diversity and inclusion, facilities, female health and wellbeing, safeguarding, and technology and data.

Sue Hough, Chair of the FA Women’s National League Board, said:
“We saw sustained growth throughout the previous strategy but now it’s time to step things up as we look to grow the profile and reach of the league and leverage the commercial opportunities within the women’s game. The Women’s National League is ‘Where Our Game Grows’ – it’s the connection between the professional game and our grassroots players. Over the next three years we will ensure we offer our people, both on and off the pitch, the best environments to enable them and the league to thrive.”

Nick Frith, Head of the Women’s Football Pyramid at The FA, added:
“We are proud to be launching ‘Where our Game Grows’, a new strategy and roadmap that will shape the future of our league. The next three years will be about driving forward a series of initiatives that raise standards on and off the pitch. From enhancing club governance and championing progressive pathways to building partnerships and supporting clubs to unlock new revenue streams, we are focused on building a sustainable, inclusive and innovative league.”

To read the full strategy, visit this link.