Unbeaten… unstoppable: inside Burnley Women’s historic 2025-26 season
Burnley have earned their spot in Barclays WSL 2 next season after an incredible 2025-26 campaign saw them finish as champions of the Women’s National League northern Premier Division. Here’s how it played out…
The start of a new era
Burnley started with a bang, declaring Burnley F.C. Women a full-time professional outfit from summer 2025.
The announcement was a statement of intent; Burnley were building a club gunning to compete at the highest level.
They continued to build when, on June 20, they appointed Matt Beard as manager. With experience at Liverpool, Chelsea, West Ham United and Millwall, Beard’s arrival gave the team structure and a strong leader.
A fast yet tumultuous start
August 17 saw the Clarets open their campaign with a commanding 5-0 win over Middlesbrough, a sixth consecutive opening-day victory. Mel Lawley’s brace allowed Burnley to steam towards three points, the perfect debut for new manager Beard.
Yet as momentum began to build, and after 68 days in charge, Beard resigned. His departure came as a shock, but it didn’t stop the project as first-team coach Louise Roberts stepped in as interim manager.
Heartache, momentum and milestones
In September, the club revealed the devastating news that Matt Beard had passed away aged just 47.
In their next match, the cup, Burnley recorded their biggest win of the season, a 13-0 victory against local rivals Blackburn.
By 10 November, defender Naomi Hartley reached 50 appearances for the club, highlighting her dedication and consistency. A week later, the Clarets gained further momentum as they beat Derby County 2-0 at Turf Moor. The symbolic step forward for the women’s side showed the club’s growth, and coincided with Millie Ravening clocking 100 appearances for the club. Burnley finished November with five wins from five.
A showstopping winter run
December under Roberts allowed Burnley to skyrocket to another level. Her impact in the league didn’t go unnoticed when, on 12 December she was named FA WNL Northern Premier Division Manager of the Month for November.
This achievement was swiftly followed up by battering Peterborough 7-0 in the Women’s FA Cup. They were not just winning consistently; they were dominating their opponents.
Facing the elite
On 18 January Burnley’s FA Cup run ended after suffering a defeat at the hands of Manchester United. It wasn’t all bad news, however, as Brenna McPartlan returned from injury after an absence of three months, reinforcing the resilience and strength within the squad.
A New Leader
On 7 February, Burnley appointed former Claret favourite Ross Wallace as manager for the remainder of the season. A sensational 7-0 win over Loughborough Lightning followed to start his tenure with a bang, further highlighting the quality and character within Burnley’s squad.
Records and relentless output
On 22 February, the team marked a huge milestone against West Brom, scoring their 100th goal across all competitions this season. The goal output was impressive, but shortly afterwards, on 4 March, they strengthened further by signing young forward Isabella Fisher.
Clarets then hit Rugby Borough five five without reply at Turf Moor. Millie Chandarana and Charlie Chadwick both hit double figures for assists in March.
Clash of the titans
A defining moment came on 15 March, when Burnley hosted Wolves in a top-of-the-table clash. The result was a performance of champions: controlled; calm; clinical, and decisive. The team were unstoppable in the wind and rain, and claimed a 1-0 win, giving them a four-point lead with four to play.
Champions at last
After another three wins, including a 7-0 rout away at Hull, Burnley claimed the title on 26 April with a strong 3-0 win over Stoke City to be crowned FA NWL Northern Premier Division champions.
Numbers don’t lie
By the end of their campaign Burnley had dominated the league, scoring 121 goals across all competitions, and with Millie Ravening taking the title of league’s top goal scorer. They finished the campaign unbeaten in the league with 20 wins and two draws. Their defence was also a well-oiled machine, with 26 clean sheets across the campaign alongside a meagre 15 goals conceded, just five in the league.
For Matt
It's for Matt,” said Millie Ravening, who scored two of Burnley’s three goals on the last day. “Matt brought everybody in this club together and every player's here because of Matt, so today means so much for everybody and we're just so happy to get it done and for him.”
Where next?
Burnley’s 2025-26 consisted of managerial changes, attacking threats, defensive dominance and a clinical campaign from start to finish. But as this season comes to an end, Burnley now face a new challenge ahead, and their promotion to the Barclays WSL 2 allows the club to see what they’re capable of at a higher level.
Word credit: Isabella Walling
