Barclays Women’s Championship 2023/24 season kicks off this weekend

Blackburn Rovers and Birmingham City get the new Barclays Women’s Championship campaign underway with a late Saturday afternoon kick-off at Ewood Park.

Birmingham finished strongly last term to take the runners-up spot and begin against a Rovers side under new manager Simon Parker, previously of Lewes and Southampton. Fans will be accommodated in the Jack Walker Family Stand, which could be at capacity with tickets running low.

Watford mark their return to the second tier with a home game against Durham at noon on Sunday. The Hornets pipped Nottingham Forest to promotion in the FAWNL Championship Play-Off.

London City Lionesses – now under Italian legend Carolina Morace – travel in the opposite direction to take on Sunderland.

Charlton Athletic start at The Valley where Sheffield United are the visitors, Southampton travel in land a little to face Lewes in a 4pm kick off.

Crystal Palace – guided by former England U-19 coach Laura Kaminski – entertain relegated Reading at their new base on Gander Green Lane, with ex-Oxford United boss Liam Gilbert in charge of the Royals.

All of the fixtures are available to watch for free on The FA Player.

Saturday 26 August

Blackburn Rovers v Birmingham City (Ewood Park, 5.30pm)

Sunday 27 August

Watford v Durham (Ruislip Manor FC, 12pm)
Sunderland v London City Lionesses (Eppleton Colliery Welfare Ground, 1pm)
Crystal Palace v Reading (Sutton Utd FC, 2pm)
Charlton Athletic v Sheffield United (The Valley, 3pm)
Lewes v Southampton (Lewes FC, 4pm)