Women’s Premiership: The ultimate guide to the new season

2023 finish: 1st in Championship Manager: Alastair Dickson Captain: Helen Parker One to watch: Ellie-Mae Dickson Stadium: Crewe Park

The newcomers to the Women’s Premiership, Lisburn Rangers will play in the top-flight for the first time and they have earned it after sealing five consecutive promotions – astonishingly not losing a single league game in that time.

Rangers have pushed Cliftonville and Glentoran close in cup competitions in previous years and knocked Crusaders out of this year’s League Cup at the semi-final stage.

They have, however, lost two pillars of their young squad which enjoyed so much success in the lower divisions.

Reilly moved to Linfield whilst they also lost once-capped Northern Ireland defender Ella Haughey, who joined Nottingham Forest.

They have managed to pull off a huge coup in adding the experienced goalkeeper Emma Higgins, who has won 87 NI caps, to their squad.

Rangers’ main aim this campaign will be to establish themselves in the league and beat the teams around them, as well as trying to spring a few surprises against the bigger sides.

Erin McGreevy, Lisburn Rangers defender: “We’re all very excited and we can’t wait to get started. This has been a long time coming for us.

“The progression we have made through the NIFWA has been amazing so we can’t wait to get started. It will be a big step up and there will be new challenges for us, but we will learn in every game.”