The Wheelchair Football Association’s National League was established for the 2005-06 season, with six teams competing at three weekend events. The WFA has worked with The FA to develop the sport and provide a complete player pathway from grassroots participation to national league competition and international selection.
Now in its 19th season, the National League competition comprises Premiership and Championship divisions, with 24 teams competing over 11 weekends. The national competition structure is supported by six Regional League competitions and a play-off process in which teams are promoted and relegated within the pyramid.
The Premiership is the top division of the National League and comprises twelve competing teams. The league operates on a round-robin format, with each team playing each other twice over the course of the season. The team with the most points at the end of the season is crowned the league champions. The bottom two teams are automatically relegated to the Championship.
The Championship is the second tier of the National League and is also composed of twelve teams. The league operates on the same round-robin format as the Premiership. At the end of the season, the top two teams are automatically promoted to the Premiership. The team that finishes third (3rd) is drawn into a one-game play-off fixture against the team that finishes tenth (10th) in the Premiership; the winner confirms their position in the top tier of National League football for the following season.
In addition to the Premiership and Championship, Regional Leagues provide opportunities for teams to compete at a lower level. These leagues are structured geographically and are designed to give players from all parts of the country the opportunity to play powerchair football at a competitive level.
Currently, all fixtures of our National League are played at the Lee Westwood Sports Centre in Nottingham Trent University’s Clifton Campus.
As of the 2024/25 season, the Premiership will be officially named the 2024/25 Optegra Premiership and the Championship will be known as the 2024/25 Optegra Championship, thanks to the generous sponsorship from Optegra Eye Health Care. This sponsorship underscores Optegra’s commitment to supporting Powerchair Football and enhancing opportunities for players at all levels.
