Nottingham Forest and Ipswich Town gain promotion to Championship | OneFootball

Nottingham Forest and Ipswich Town will play Barclays Women’s Championship football for the first time in 2025/2026 after sealing their respective promotions on the final day of the FA Women’s National League season.

Both sides went into the final day of the season virtually assured of second tier football and the pair went on to rubber stamp their promotions with emphatic victories.

In the Northern Premier Division, Nottingham Forest maintained their three-point advantage over nearest challengers Wolverhampton Wanderers by beating West Bromwich Albion 7-2 at The City Ground. Former Barclays Women’s Championship goal machine Melissa Johnson grabbed the headlines by netting a quadruple in the second half. Charlie Wellings, Sophie Domingo and Holly Manders were also on target for The Tricky Trees.

In the Southern Premier Division, Ipswich Town chalked up an 8-0 victory over Cheltenham Town in Felixstowe. Natasha Thomas netted a hat-trick while Lucy O’Brien, Ella Rutherford, Ruby Seaby, Sophie Peskett and Kaci-Jai Bonwick were also on target for The Tractor Girls. Ipswich Town ended the season six points ahead of Hashtag United who lost 2-0 at Oxford United on the final day.

Nottingham Forest and Ipswich Town will replace Sheffield United in next season’s Barclays Women’s Championship along with filling the void left by Reading’s resignation last summer. The division will run with 12 clubs once again in 2025/2026.