FAWNL: Can Burnley earn promotion from competitive Northern Premier Division? | OneFootball

While the 2023/24 season may have seen the beginning and end of Burnley men’s Premier League run, it’s clear to see more success emerging in the women’s side. The Clarets secured a second place finish in the FA Women’s National League Northern Premier Division.

Now, with all eyes on the 2024/25 Northern Premier Division season, many are assessing whether Burnley can go on to claim the title.

After lifting the Lancashire FA Women’s Senior Cup in both 2022/23 and 2023/24, Burnley are no strangers to winning silverware. However, the key question is whether this success can be translated into their first Northern Premier Division triumph.

Burnley push for title and promotion

Looking back to last season, Burnley’s second place finish was achieved through a consistently strong run, comprising of seven wins and only a singular loss and draw. The Clarets finished with 48 points, but it was not enough to see them triumph over Newcastle United, who secured an 11-point lead by the end of the season. With Newcastle promoted, it’s important to see where other threats lie for Burnley this time round.

Looking at last season’s standings and recent results, it’s clear Nottingham Forest are a main threat to Burnley’s title race. Having finished third last season, the Reds are trouble for any team aiming for league victory this campaign.

A strong pre-season saw Forest secure a victory over former Women’s Super League side Bristol City. They then went on to win their first league game against Stoke City 3-0. After a perfect start to the campaign, Forest are top of the tree with four wins from four and just one goal conceded. These results, alongside new signings like goalkeeper Georgie Ferguson from Birmingham City, show Nottingham Forest are developing in all areas. This kind of recruitment would challenge any side looking to secure promotion from the Northern Premier Division.

Read more: Newly promoted Bristol Rovers prepare for the National League

Forest, Rugby Borough, Burnley and Wolves make up the current top four, with the latter three all on nine points. The trio have won three games and lost one so far as they head into the latest round of fixtures.

Burnley opened their account after running riot in a 9-0 win over Hull City to kick things off. This large margin victory, aided by seven players who made their debut for Burnley during the fixture, suggests that through a combination of new and returning talent, Burnley have the potential to establish themselves as a winning side in the upcoming season.

Their opening triumph was followed up by 3-1 and 5-1 victories against Stourbridge and Stoke City respectively. However, their recent 1-0 defeat to Wolves ended their unbeaten streak. Burnley will take on Nottingham Forest this afternoon in a blockbuster clash early in the season. A win against the current league leaders will be a huge statement from Rebecca Sawiuk and her side in their mission to come out on top at the end of the season.

Ultimately, with multiple sides within the Northern Premier Division investing in new talent and seeking to elevate their standard of play, it should be an exciting season to follow — irrespective of the final victor.

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