Fortuna Hjørring withdrew their reserve team from the third division shortly before the start of the season.[4] In September 2021, it was announced that KoldingQ would merge and become the new women's department of Kolding IF, which occurred at the end of October 2021. Østerbro IF finished on top of their group following the conclusion of the preliminary round, qualifying for a spot in the 1st Division play-off round against the lowest placed teams of the Danish Women's 1st Division, while JAI Fodbold qualified as the second best team in their group, after Kolding IF (reserves) in first place, due to reserve teams being ineligible for promotion.
Summary
The 2021–22 season was inaugurated on Saturday 14 August with two fixtures in the preliminary first round of the east group; Ballerup-Skovlunde Fodbold (BSF) and Østerbro IF, both teams relegated from the second division last season, played at Ballerup Idrætspark, and Solrød FC against BK Fremad Amager, one relegated team from the second-tier versus one promoted team from the Kvindeserien from last season, played at the football ground at Solrød Idrætscenter.[2][5] Ballerup-Skovlunde Fodbold's Sille Kristine Lønstrup scored the first goal of the season, and the new nation-wide third division, in the 6th minute by outplaying the Østerbro IF's goalkeeper.[6][2] Tanya Arngrimsen netted the second and third goal for Ballerup-Skovlunde in the 34th and 66th minutes, while Anne-Sophie Winther Svartstein of Østerbro IF scored the only goal for the away team after 48 minutes of play following a corner kick by Østerbro IF's Pernille Larsen, hence Ballerup-Skovlunde Fodbold secured a victory in the first match.[6] The first round match between Fredensborg BK&IF and FC Damsø at Fredensborg Stadium got postponed to 15 September.[2]
The first two matches of the west group was set for Sunday 15 August 2021, and featured Aarhus 1900 against IF Lyseng at Langenæs Idrætsanlæg (aka Fort Langelæs), both relegated from the second division last season, and the reserve team of KoldingQ versus IK Aalborg Freja at the artificial field on Fynske Bank Arena (aka KoldingQ's stadium).[3][7] The first round match between Vejle BK and the reserve team of Fortuna Hjørring was cancelled. Fortuna Hjørring withdrew their reserve team from the third division shortly before the start of the season, citing economic difficulties having the same number of players on contracts due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Denmark and last minutes reductions to the roster, and was penalized with a DKK 3,000 fine by the Football Disciplinary Board of the Danish FA for having brought discredit to the league tournament and football in general.[4] All of the scheduled league matches for Fortuna Hjørring were expunged from the calendar, reducing the number of teams in group 2 to six.
FC Damsø were compelled to cancel their away match against Østerbro IF on 21 August 2021 at Fælledparken, citing problems fielding a competitive first team for the match and with both goalkeepers being unable to played, which resulted in a DKK 1,500 fine and given a 3–0 loss by the Football Disciplinary Board.[8] The main stadium ground at Vanløse Idrætspark was converted from grass to an artificial turf between 31 May and mid-September 2021, and FC Damsø had their home matches in the match calendar arranged to take place in later rounds, with the inaugural women's league match at the new stadium taking place on 18 September against Allerød FK.[9][2][10] In September 2021, it was announced that KoldingQ would merge and become the women's department of Kolding IF Fodbold with KoldingQ's top-flight team becoming part of the professional branch and the reserve team being attached to the mother club of Kolding IF Fodbold, which occurred at the end of October 2021 – the first third division match under the Kolding IF Women banner was played on 31 October 2021 at the ground in Bramdrupdam.[11][12]
At the conclusion of the preliminary rounds in the fall season, Østerbro IF had finished on top of their group, which qualified the club for a spot in the 1st Division play-off round against the bottom half of the 2021–22 Danish Women's 1st Division, while JAI Fodbold qualified as the second best team in their group.[13][14] The reserves of Kolding IF finished in the top spot in the west group, but were not eligible to partake in the promotion play-off round. The largest victory in the preliminary rounds happened matchday 10, when Østerbro IF secured a 11–1 away win against BK Fremad Amager on 16 October at the artificial field next to the stadium at Sundby Idrætspark, with two players scoring hat-tricks.[2][3][15]
^The last two home games of Ballerup-Skovlunde Fodbold on 30 October against Solrød FC and 13 November against FC Damsø were played at the artificial field at the south end of the sports complex.
^The stadium of Vanløse Idrætspark was converted from natural grass to an artificial field in June–September 2021. The inaugural women's league match at the new field was played on 18 September against Allerød FK.
^Fortuna Hjørring withdrew their reserve team from the league shortly before the start of the season.
^The last match of the fall season on 6 November 2021 against IK Aalborg Freja was played at the newest artificial turf of VB Parken placed on the north side of the building.
^IK Aalborg Freja's final last home game at Frejaparken against Aarhus 1900 on 13 November 2021 was played at the artificial field north of the regular home ground.
^ abThree home games, the last of the fall season, were played at the sports facility of Frederiksbjerg's artificial turf, namely the matches against JAI Fodbold (24 October), Vejle BK (31 October) and Kolding IF (7 November).
^ abcBSF signed Per Agerholm as replacement for Torben Frost Clausen ahead of the 16 October game against Fredensborg BK&IF. Mikkel Bjerregaard Årosin was appointed the new head coach effective 1 January 2022.
^ abcThomas Koudal was replaced by Kenneth Pedersen as first team coach around the start of the season. Following Kenneth Pedersen's resignation on 31 December 2021, Nicklas Albech was appointed as the new head coach for Fredensborg BK&IF.
^ abThe coaching duo of Christina Balleby and Kim Petersen shared the role and responsibilities of head and assistant coach evenly during the season.
^ abAssistant coach Kjeld Samuelsen was presented as the new head coach for Fredensborg BK&IF on 7 September 2021, replacing Martin Krüger, who remained in the club as sports director for the women's department.
^ abJesper Adsersen signed as the new head coach for the reserve team of Kolding IF on 1 January 2022, replacing Jan-Erik Simmelhag.
^ abRasmus Skovby took over as head coach on 1 January 2022 for the remaining part of the season following resignation of Jens Niklas Martin Berglid (July 2018 until 31 December 2021).
^ abSøren Peter Hansen resigned his position as head coach effective from 31 December 2021. Jørgen "Tand" Sørensen took over as head coach on 1 January 2022.
Every team were scheduled to play two games against the other teams, at home and away, totaling 12 and 10 games each respectively. Teams received three points for a win and one point for a draw. If two or more teams were tied on points, places were determined by goal difference.[51] The team with the most points at the end of the preliminary round, who do not have the status as a reserve team, qualify to play in the promotion round against the lowest placed teams of the second division, while the remaining teams continued to the 2nd Division play-off round.
Source: [13][52] Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Play-off (played on neutral ground if determining teams for different rounds or promotion/relegation spots)[51]
Source: [14][52][4] Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Play-off (played on neutral ground if determining teams for different rounds or promotion/relegation spots)[51] Notes:
^KoldingQ was merged into Kolding IF in late October 2021, playing their first match under the Kolding IF Women banner on 31 October 2021. Reserve teams are ineligible for promotion.
Source: [52][3] Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
‡: KoldingQ was merged into Kolding IF in late October 2021, playing their last three league matches of the fall season under the Kolding IF Women banner.
2nd Division play-off round
League table
Every team in the 2nd Division play-off round were scheduled to play two games against the other teams, at home and away, totaling 10 and 8 games each respectively. Teams received three points for a win and one point for a draw. If two or more teams were tied on points, places were determined by goal difference.[51] The two teams with the fewest points in each group 1 (for the 2021–22 season, it is the lowest placed team in group 2) would be relegated to the 2022–23 Danish Women's Series. The teams are awarded starting points based on their placing at the conclusion of the preliminary rounds; second place gets five points, third place gets four points, fourth place gets three points, fifth place gets two points, sixth place gets one point and seventh place gets zero points, and the goal score is reset.[51] The team with the most points in each group qualify to the 2nd Division championship final.[51]
Updated to match(es) played on 1 January 2022. Source: [53][54] Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Play-off (played on neutral ground if determining teams for different rounds or promotion/relegation spots)[51]
Updated to match(es) played on 1 January 2022. Source: [55][54] Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Play-off (played on neutral ground if determining teams for different rounds or promotion/relegation spots)[51]
Updated to match(es) played on 1 January 2022. Source: [23][54] Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Championship final
After the conclusion of the 2nd Division play-off rounds of the tournament, the winners of the two groups partake in a final to determine the overall winner of the third-tier.[51] In even years, the rules stipulate that the final is played the home ground of the west group winner, while the east group winner get the home advantage in odd years. If the match ends in a draw, the match will be decided in accordance with the rules for the final of the Danish Women's Cup.[51][57]
^ abChristoffersen, Elo (15 August 2021). "Uafgjort mod Aalborg Freja" (in Danish). Fodbold: Kolding Netavis. Archived from the original on 15 January 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
^ abKamper, Anders (22 November 2021). "Træner stopper i Solrød FC" (in Danish). Solrød: sn.dk. Sjællandske Medier. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
^Christoffersen, Elo (5 September 2021). "Storsejr i 2. division" (in Danish). Kolding Netavis. Archived from the original on 15 January 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2022.