SuperEight (FA Women’s Super League Q&A)

The FA announced the eight founding clubs of the FA Women’s Super League on 22 March, ahead of a March 2011 launch: Arsenal, Birmingham City, Bristol Academy, Chelsea, Doncaster Rovers Belles, Everton, Lincoln Ladies and Liverpool. She Kicks lists the unsuccessful bidders – Barnet, Colchester United, Leeds Carnegie (withdrawn), Leicester City, Millwall Lionesses, Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest and Sunderland – and notes the anomaly that league leaders Sunderland and cup final hosts Nottingham missed out. A Fudge-It Q&A sets out what is known: clubs were judged on a development plan covering finance, commercial, facilities and playing staff rather than league position; four marquee players per club on GBP20,000-32,000 for eight months; a March-August season with breaks for the 2011 World Cup and 2012 Olympics; no relegation for two years; and a retained Premier League of 8, 10 and 10 clubs beneath.