Women's football in Scotland explained

Boxwidth:250
Women's football in Scotland
Union:Scottish Women's Football
Country:Scotland
Sport:football
Nationalteam:Women's national team
National List:Scottish Women's Premier League
Scottish Women's Cup
Intl List:Champions League (clubs)
European Championship (national team)
FIFA Women's World Cup (national team)

Women's association football in Scotland has an organised history including the first international women's match in 1881, the president of the British Ladies' Football Club in 1895, Lady Florence Dixie,[1] the Edinburgh–Preston "World Championship" in 1937 and 1939, and the Scottish Women's Cup founded in 1970. The sport is jointly overseen by Scottish Women's Football (originally SWFA),[2] the Scottish Football Association, and Scottish Professional Football League.

Faced with bans and restrictions from the 1920s to the 1970s by organisers of male football competitions,[3] [4] [5] Scottish women's football has had some international success and recently gained some professional clubs. As of 2022, the women's leagues consist of the Scottish Women's Premier League with two divisions, the SWF Championship and League One,[6] the Scottish Women's Football League (formed in 1999) and the Highlands and Islands League.

The Scottish Women's Cup was first played in 1970–71, won by Stewarton Thistle. The Cup is open to all senior teams affiliated to SWF. Clubs of specific leagues enter the SWPL Cup, SWF Championship Cup, SWFL League Cup and Plate, the Highlands and Islands League Cup, the 'Performance' youth league cups, and various youth cups at lower levels.

The Scotland women's national team played its first official game in 1972, competed in the 1979 European championship and played its first game at Hampden Park in 2012.[7] The team qualified for its first Women's World Cup in the 2019 tournament. Scotland's most famous female players include Rose Reilly, Julie Fleeting, Kim Little, and the most-capped player of the national team, Gemma Fay.

History

Church documents recorded women playing football in Carstairs, Lanarkshire, in 1628. A Scotland team played in the world's first recorded women's association football match, an international, in May 1881 at Hibernian Park in Edinburgh,[8] [9] where the Scotland XI won 3–0 against England.[10] The Scottish Football Association has records of a women's match that took place in 1892 (according to a 2005 article).[11] However, the sport was traditionally seen as a working class and male preserve.[4]

Women's football struggled for recognition during this early period. After a period of growth during and after the First World War, including an Anglo-Scottish women's club game at Celtic Park in 1918,[9] men's clubs who were interested in using their grounds for women's football were subsequently denied permission by the Scottish Football Association (SFA) in 1924–25.[9]

Research has shown that clubs such as Rutherglen Ladies played exhibition matches for charity in front of large crowds during the 1920s and '30s.[12] [13] Rutherglen won 2–0 against the famous English women's football team, Dick, Kerr Ladies, in their match at Shawfield Park in September 1923.[12]

Edinburgh Ladies faced Preston Ladies (the successor to Dick, Kerr Ladies), for a British trophy named the Ladies' Football World Championship, on at least two occasions in the 1930s. Preston won in 1937 by a 5–1 score,[14] but the trophy went to Scotland in 1939, when Edinburgh won the title, beating Preston 5–2 in an apparently longer club competition.[15] [16] [17]

The sport continued on an unofficial basis until 1971, when UEFA instructed its members to take control of women's football within their territories. The motion was passed 31–1, but Scotland was the only member to vote against it.[18]

In 1971 the Scottish Women's Football Association (SWFA) was founded and six teams registered for competition: Aberdeen, Edinburgh Dynamos, Westthorn United, Motherwell AEI, Dundee Strikers and Stewarton Thistle. In 1972–73, Westthorn United won the first league title. With Scotland having played their first official international match and Scottish teams reaching the final of the English WFA Cup in 1971, 1972 and 1973, the SFA lifted the ban and recognised the SWFA in August 1974.[19] [9]

The Scottish Women's Football League (SWFL) was formed by the SWFA and clubs in November 1999,[20] from the existing national league. In 2002–03, the SWFL Premier Division broke away to form the Premier League (SWPL).[21] The SWFA was renamed Scottish Women's Football Ltd (SWF) in 2001, and in 2007 was taken over by the SFA.[22]

Champions

The following clubs are known to have won the Scottish Women's FA National League (1972–1999), Scottish Women's Football League championship (1999–2002) and Scottish Women's Premier League (2002–present):

!Year!Team!Notes
1937Edinburgh City Girls[23]

Scottish Women's Football League (1972–1999)

See main article: Scottish Women's Football League.

!Year!Team!Notes
1972–73Westthorn United[24]
1973–74Motherwell AEINoted in the Dumbarton County Reporters in February 1976 as being unbeaten in over two seasons.
1974–75Motherwell AEI
1975–76Edinburgh DynamosThe East Division winners, defeated West Division winners Motherwell AEI in a decider.
1976–77Unknown
1977–78Unknown
1978–79Unknown
1979–80Motherwell AEI
1980–81Unknown
1981–82Motherwell
1982–83Dundee Strikers
1983–84Allanton Miners' Welfare
1984–85Whitehill
1985–86Unknown
1986–87Dundee Strikers
1987–88Stewarton Thistle Defeated Livingston Thistle in a decider held over until November 1988.
1988–89Unknown
1989–90Unknown
1990–91Inveralmond Thistle
1991–92Inveralmond Thistle
1992–93Hutchison Vale
1993–94Hutchison Vale
1994–95Hutchison Vale
1995–96Cumbernauld United[25]
1996–97Cumbernauld United
1997–98Cumbernauld United[26]
1998–99Cumbernauld United[27] Reported in the press in October 1999 as Scotland's top team when they were briefly renamed Stenhousemuir between October 1999 and February 2001.

SWFL Premier Division (1999–2002)

See main article: Scottish Women's Football League First Division.

!Year!Team!Notes
1999–00Stenhousemuir
2000–01Ayr United[28] [29]
2001–02F.C. Kilmarnock Ladies[30]

Scottish Women's Premier League (2002–present)

See main article: Scottish Women's Premier League.

!Year!Team!Notes
2002–03F.C. Kilmarnock
2003–04Hibernian Ladies
2004–05Glasgow City
2005–06Hibernian Ladies
2006–07Hibernian Ladies
2007–08Glasgow City
2008–09Glasgow City
2009Glasgow City
2010Glasgow City
2011Glasgow City
2012Glasgow City
2013Glasgow City
2014Glasgow City
2015Glasgow City
2016Glasgow City
2017Glasgow City
2018Glasgow City
2019Glasgow City
2020Declared null and void due to coronavirus pandemic.
2020–21Glasgow City
2021–22Rangers
2022–23Glasgow City
2023–24Celtic

League system

In 2016, the Premier League was reduced from 12 to 8 eight teams but expanded to a second level. In 2017, the SWFL 2 changed from 4 to 3 regions. In 2020, clubs in SWFL 1 became members of a new Championship and SWFL 2 became a separate system.

The current (since 2022) pyramid is over 4 tiers, plus leagues outside of the pyramid:

LevelLeague(s) / Division(s)
National Leagues
1Scottish Women's Premier League 1
12 clubs playing 32 games
↓ 1 relegation spot + 1 relegation playoff spot
2Scottish Women's Premier League 2
8 clubs playing 28 games
↑ 1 promotion spot + 1 promotion playoff spot
↓ 1 relegation spot + 1 relegation playoff spot
3Scottish Women's Championship
8 clubs playing TBC games
↑ 1 promotion spot + 1 promotion playoff spot
↓ TBC relegation spots
4Scottish Women's League One
12 clubs playing TBC games
↑ TBC promotion spots
↓ TBC relegation spots
Regional Leagues
5Scottish Women's Football League
SWFL North10 clubs playing 18 games
↑ 1 promotion playoff spot
SWFL East10 clubs playing 18 games
↑ 1 promotion playoff spot
SWFL South9 clubs playing 16 games
↑ 1 promotion playoff spot
SWFL West10 clubs playing 18 games
↑ 1 promotion playoff spot
SWFL Central10 clubs playing 18 games
↑ 1 promotion playoff spot
Highlands and Islands League8 clubs playing 14 games

The team that wins the Premier League title qualifies for the following season's UEFA Champions League, with the runners-up generally also qualifying depending on the nation's coefficient.

The pre-2020 third-tier regional divisions under the Scottish Women's Football League became a separate 'Recreational' setup no longer linked by merit to the 'Performance' levels above (although individual clubs can still apply to join the Championship). Until 2019, reserve and youth squads could compete in the senior pyramid as long as they were not in the same division as the titular club – this was then changed with the introduction of a 'National Performance League' structure for under-16 and under-19 leagues featuring age group teams of the top clubs.

Scottish Women's Cup

See main article: Scottish Women's Cup. The Scottish Women's Cup is the primary national knockout cup competition, is owned and managed by SWF, and is open to all senior teams affiliated with the SWF. The competition was first held in 1970–71.[31]

The winner of the first competition was Stewarton Thistle. They played against the Aberdeen Prima Donnas and won 4–2.[32] [33] Stewarton later became F.C. Kilmarnock, the Cup-winners in 2001 and 2002.

The Cup has been won the most times by Glasgow City (nine times) and Hibernian (eight times).[34] In the 2022 final, Celtic defeated Glasgow City to win the trophy for the first time; Rangers won their first in 2024.

Senior national team

See main article: Scotland women's national football team.

See also: Scotland at the FIFA Women's World Cup.

Scotland's first official match, a 3–2 defeat to England, took place in November 1972. The team was managed by Rab Stewart. The Scottish Women's Football Association was not recognised by the SFA until 1974.[3] [19] The SFA assumed direct responsibility for Scottish women's football in 1998.[4]

The Scottish government in 2013 promised to increase funding for the Women's national team.[35] Scotland women's national football team qualified for their first major tournament Euro 2017.[36] The 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup was the first time the Women's team qualified for a world cup.[37]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Brennan . Patrick . The British Ladies' Football Club . Donmouth.
  2. News: How women's football battled for survival . BBC News . 3 June 2005 . 2 August 2012.
  3. News: Scotland women's football team on brink of big time . The Scotsman . 30 March 2014 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220404044959/https://www.scotsman.com/news/scotland-womens-football-team-brink-big-time-1540990 . 4 April 2022.
  4. Attitudes towards women's football in Scottish society . . 63 . Spring 2008 . MacBeth . Jessica . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131212091156/http://www.scottishaffairs.org/backiss/pdfs/sa63/Sa63_Macbeth.pdf . 12 December 2013.
  5. Web site: Macbeth, Jessica Louise . STORRE: Women's football in Scotland : an interpretive analysis . Dspace.stir.ac.uk . 2 August 2012.
  6. Web site: SWF unveil new-look women's league structure . SWF . 3 June 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220603095128/https://scotwomensfootball.com/swf-unveil-new-look-womens-league-structure/ . 3 Jun 2022.
  7. Web site: Scotland Women 1–1 Spain Women . Charlie . Mann . 20 October 2012 . 5 December 2013 . BBC Sport . BBC.
  8. News: No longer the game of two-halves . The Herald . Herald & Times Group . 19 October 2012 . Alan . Campbell.
  9. News: The Honeyballers: Women who fought to play football . BBC News . 26 September 2013 . 5 December 2013.
  10. http://womenofscotland.org.uk/memorials/plaque-first-women-football-internationalists-1881 Plaque to the First Women Football Internationalists 1881
  11. Web site: A Brief History of Women's Football. Scottish Football Association. 18 November 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20050308172042/http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish_football.cfm?curpageid=409. 8 March 2005.
  12. Web site: Women's Football in Interwar Scotland:Sadie Smith and the Legendary Rutherglen Ladies FC Part 2 . Playing Pasts. 4 December 2021. 18 February 2021. Fiona Skillen. Steve Bolton.
  13. https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/in-your-area/lanarkshire/new-exhibition-pay-tribute-rutherglens-25602020.amp New exhibition to pay tribute to Rutherglen's trailblazing female footballers
  14. News: PRESTON WOMEN CONQUER SCOTTISH FOOTBALLERS . Lancashire Evening Post . 9 September 1937 . 7 . registration .
  15. News: Preston Sending Strong Team to Scotland . Lancashire Evening Post . 12 June 1939 . 7 . registration .
  16. News: Harkness . Jack . Scots World Title Lead . Sunday Post . 18 June 1939 . 27 . registration.
  17. News: EDINBURGH LADIES' TEAM SUPREME . Daily Record . 8 July 1939 . 31 . registration.
  18. News: How women's football battled for survival . Patricia . Gregory . BBC Sport . 3 June 2005 . 5 December 2013.
  19. News: Edna Neillis: The forgotten pioneer of women's football . 17 March 2017 . The Scotsman . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220404065126/https://www.scotsman.com/news/edna-neillis-forgotten-pioneer-womens-football-3099786 . 4 April 2022.
  20. Web site: Scottish Women's Football League . SWFA . https://web.archive.org/web/20021129050514/http://www.scottishwomensfootball.com/ . 29 November 2002.
  21. Book: Jonathan Magee, Sheila Scraton, Jayne Caudwell, Katie Liston. Women, Football and Europe: Histories, Equity and Experience. 30 January 2008. Meyer & Meyer Verlag. 3–27. 9781841262253.
  22. News: Women's football: SFA in charge as Celts join up . Glasgow Times . 9 August 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201205140523/https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/12792786.womens-football-sfa-in-charge-as-celts-join-up/ . 5 Dec 2020.
  23. News: Scotland (Women) - List of Champions. RSSSF. 22 November 2017.
  24. News: Turnbull . Simon . How the original Gregory's Girl lived her dream of dreams . . 25 March 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090406085202/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/how-the-original-gregorys-girl-lived-her-dream-of-dreams-441716.html . 6 April 2009 .
  25. News: Come on you reds; Playing the field... the real-life drama behind TV's new female football series.. 31 July 2014. Sunday Mail. Scotland. 15 March 1998.
  26. Web site: Fleet streets ahead of 'em. - Free Online Library. Thefreelibrary.com. 25 May 1998. 7 September 2018.
  27. https://britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000540/19990614/483/0032 Cumbernauld quench thirst for another treble
  28. News: Women's cup final preview . BBC News . 11 May 2001 . 9 April 2017.
  29. Web site: Tables: Leagues: Premier Division . SWFL . https://web.archive.org/web/20010724185119/http://www.swfl.org.uk:80/Leagues.asp?LeagueID=1 . 24 July 2001.
  30. Web site: FC Kilmarnock take next step (FC Kilmarnock - treble winners 2001-02) . Killie FC . https://web.archive.org/web/20041115051029/http://killiefc.com:80/Baz%20Images/FCK%20Next%20steps.gif . 15 Nov 2004 . dead.
  31. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65594966 Women's Scottish Cup: From Prima Donnas and Hooverettes to Hampden
  32. Web site: Stewarton's First Star Remembered. 25 May 2016.
  33. Web site: 2016-08-22 . SFA women's chief says hails good times for Scots - Edinburgh Evening News . 2022-07-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160822100254/https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/sfa-women-s-chief-says-hails-good-times-for-scots-1-3148224 . 22 August 2016 .
  34. Web site: Scotland (Women) - List of Cup Winners. RSSSF.
  35. News: Funding boost for Scotland women . BBC . 28 October 2013.
  36. News: Euro 2017: Scotland's women qualify for first major tournament . BBC . 17 September 2016.
  37. Web site: Scotland Women qualify for World Cup with 2-1 win against Albania. 4 September 2018. 7 September 2018. Bbc.co.uk.