The Scottish Women's Premier League was founded in 2002 and is the highest level of women's football in Scotland. The team that finish top of the Premier League qualify for the UEFA Women's Champions League.
In 2009 the women's game in Scotland changed their league season which now runs from March to November each year.[1]
[edit] Format
From season 2012, the 12 teams in the league will play each other once before the league splits into a top 6 and bottom 6 based on the league positions at that stage. The top 6 then play each other home and away for the Premier League title, while the bottom 6 play each other home and away to avoid being relegated. After the season is complete, the teams which finish in positions 11 and 12 will be relegated to the Scottish Women's First Division. The tie-breakers are
- Points
- Superior goal difference
- Higher number of goals scored
- Higher number of points in matched between tied teams
- Higher number of away goals in matched between tied teams
If still tied there is a deciding game or games.[2]
[edit] 2012 Scottish Women's Premier League
Locations of teams in the 2011 Premier League
Glasgow City are the reigning champions. Aberdeen LFC join the league as 2011 Scottish Women's First Division champions. No further clubs were promoted from the First Division as second placed Hibernian 2000 were ineligible for promotion and third placed Toryglen Ladies folded in the close season. As a result, FC Kilmarnock Ladies were spared from relegation to maintain numbers.
The most regular home ground is shown though many clubs play matches at other venues throughout the season.
[edit] Previous League Champions
Before the Premier League, the top division in women's football was called the Scottish League. Sports Connection sponsored the league from 1997 onwards. This means there was atleast five league championships before the creation of Premier League.[3]
The winners were:
- 1997/98 Cumbernauld United[4]
- 1998/99
- 1999/00 Cumbernauld United
- 2000/01 Ayr United
- 2001/02 FC Kilmarnock Ladies
[edit] Premier League
The former Premier League champions are:[5]
| Season |
Champion |
| 2002/03 |
FC Kilmarnock Ladies |
| 2003/04 |
Hibernian L.F.C. |
| 2004/05 |
Glasgow City F.C. |
| 2005/06 |
Hibernian L.F.C. |
| 2006/07 |
Hibernian L.F.C. |
| 2007/08 |
Glasgow City F.C. |
| 2008/09 |
Glasgow City F.C. |
| 2009 |
Glasgow City F.C. |
| 2010 |
Glasgow City F.C. |
| 2011[6] |
Glasgow City F.C. |
| 2012[7] |
Glasgow City F.C. |
[edit] Record Champions
| Titles |
Team |
| 7 |
Glasgow City F.C. |
| 3 |
Hibernian L.F.C. |
| 1 |
FC Kilmarnock Ladies |
[edit] References
- ^ Leighton, Tony (19 December 2010). "England coach Hope Powell calls for women's game to switch to summer". The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/dec/19/england-hope-powell-womens-football. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
- ^ "Rules for Senior Leagues & League Cups". Scottish FA. 21 April 2010. http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/resources/documents/SWFFiles/Rules&Regulations/Rules%20of%20Senior%20Leagues%20and%20League%20Cups%202010.pdf. Retrieved 5 August 2010.
- ^ "Sports Connection to sponsor Scottish Women's Football League". scottishfa.co.uk. 11 December 1997. http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish_fa_news.cfm?page=1961&newsCategoryID=3&newsID=98. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
- ^ Fleet streets ahead of 'em
- ^ "Scotland (Women) - List of Champions". RSSSF.com. 2010. http://www.rsssf.com/tabless/scot-womchamp.html.
- ^ "Glasgow City clinch Scottish Women's Premier League". BBC. 2 October 2011. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/15144489.stm. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
- ^ "Glasgow City beat Aberdeen as they lift sixth SWPL title". BBC. 28 October 2012. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20117810. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
[edit] External links
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2012 Scottish Women's Premier League
