2023–24 Scottish Women's Premier League
The 2023–24 Scottish Women's Premier League was the 23rd season of the SWPL, the highest division of women's football in Scotland since 2002. Sponsored by ScottishPower, the league was split into two divisions – SWPL 1 with 12 clubs and SWPL 2 with eight clubs. It was the second season of operation under the auspices of the Scottish Professional Football League.[1]
Glasgow City were the defending champions, after winning their 14th title in 16 seasons on a dramatic last matchday of 2022–23 to stay ahead of Celtic and Rangers, both of whom could have finished as champions depending on the results.[2][3] The newcomers to SWPL 1 were Montrose, restoring a representation for the Angus region in the top tier after long-time members Forfar Farmington resigned from the league in 2021.[4] New participants in SWPL 2 were Glasgow Women (relegated from SWPL 1) and Livingston (winners of the 2022–23 SWF Championship).[5] Teams finishing second-bottom in both divisions survived play-offs, Hamilton Academical beating Gartcairn to stay in SWPL 1,[6] and Stirling University keeping their SWPL 2 place with a win over Rossvale.[7]
A 12-club "split" format was used in SWPL 1 in 2023–24, with a double round-robin before the "split",[8] then another double round-robin of the top six and bottom six clubs respectively. The SWPL previously used a "split" format between the 2012 and 2015 seasons. In SWPL 2, the eight clubs simply played each other four times.[8] The top club in SWPL 2 won automatic promotion, the 12th-placed club in SWPL 1 was relegated, and promotion/relegation play-offs took place between the clubs finishing 11th in SWPL 1 and 2nd in SWPL 2, and between the clubs finishing 7th in SWPL 2 and 2nd in the 2023–24 SWF Championship.[8][9] The league season began on 13 August 2023 and ended on 19 May 2024 for both divisions.
The championship was again settled on the final matchday, which Celtic and Rangers started on the same points after pulling ahead of Glasgow City; Celtic's superior goal difference meant they led the table and only had to match Rangers' result to win the title. However, while Rangers quickly took and kept a lead against Partick Thistle, Celtic struggled to break down the Hibernian defence. In the 90th minute, Amy Gallacher scored the only goal of the match at Celtic Park to give her side their first league championship in the women's game.[10] At the bottom of the table, Hamilton were relegated, with Queen's Park coming up from SWPL 2 to replace them. In the lower tier it was also the previous season's play-off survivors who went down this time, Stirling University swapping divisions with Rossvale, the team they overcame a year earlier.
Teams[edit]
SWPL 1[edit]
| Team | Location | Manager | Home ground | Capacity | 2022–23 position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen | Cove Bay | Balmoral Stadium | 2,602 | 9th | |
| Celtic | Airdrie | Excelsior Stadium | 10,101 | 2nd | |
| Dundee United | Dundee | Foundation Park[11] | TBC | 10th | |
| Glasgow City | Springburn | Petershill Park | 1,000 | 1st | |
| Hamilton Academical | Hamilton | New Douglas Park | 6,018 | 11th | |
| Heart of Midlothian | Edinburgh | Oriam | 1,000 | 4th | |
| Hibernian | Edinburgh | Meadowbank Stadium | 1,320 | 5th | |
| Montrose | Montrose | Links Park | 4,936 | 1st (SWPL2) | |
| Motherwell | Motherwell | Alliance Park | 500 | 8th | |
| Partick Thistle | Springburn | Petershill Park | 1,000 | 6th | |
| Rangers | Milngavie | Broadwood Stadium[12] | 8,086 | 2nd | |
| Spartans | Edinburgh | Ainslie Park | 3,000 | 7th |
SWPL 2[edit]
| Team | Location | Manager | Home ground | Capacity | 2022–23 position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boroughmuir Thistle | Edinburgh | Meggetland Sports Complex | 1,000 | 5th | |
| Gartcairn | Airdrie | MTC Park[13] | 300 | 2nd | |
| Glasgow Women | Glasgow | New Tinto Park | 1,000 | 12th (SWPL1) | |
| Kilmarnock | Kilmarnock | Rugby Park | 15,003 | 4th | |
| Livingston | Livingston | Almondvale Stadium | 9,713 | 1st (SWF Championship) | |
| Queen's Park | Glasgow | New Tinto Park | 1,000 | 6th | |
| St Johnstone | Perth | Riverside Stadium | 1,000 | 3rd | |
| Stirling University | Stirling | University of Stirling | 1,000 | 7th |
SWPL 1[edit]
| Season | 2023–24 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Celtic (1st title) |
| Relegated | Hamilton Academical |
| Champions League | Celtic, Rangers |
| Matches played | 168 |
← 2022–23 2024–25 →
All statistics correct as of 18 May 2024. | |
Regular season[edit]
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rangers | 22 | 19 | 3 | 0 | 92 | 10 | +82 | 60 | Qualification for the Top six |
| 2 | Celtic | 22 | 18 | 2 | 2 | 102 | 13 | +89 | 56 | |
| 3 | Glasgow City | 22 | 18 | 2 | 2 | 72 | 13 | +59 | 56 | |
| 4 | Hibernian | 22 | 12 | 3 | 7 | 60 | 32 | +28 | 39 | |
| 5 | Heart of Midlothian | 22 | 13 | 3 | 6 | 58 | 22 | +36 | 42 | |
| 6 | Partick Thistle | 22 | 12 | 2 | 8 | 35 | 35 | 0 | 38 | |
| 7 | Aberdeen | 22 | 8 | 1 | 13 | 34 | 72 | −38 | 25 | Qualification for the Bottom six |
| 8 | Motherwell | 22 | 6 | 1 | 15 | 30 | 56 | −26 | 19 | |
| 9 | Spartans | 22 | 3 | 4 | 15 | 26 | 57 | −31 | 13 | |
| 10 | Montrose | 22 | 3 | 4 | 15 | 25 | 86 | −61 | 13 | |
| 11 | Dundee United | 22 | 3 | 1 | 18 | 19 | 86 | −67 | 10 | |
| 12 | Hamilton Academical | 22 | 2 | 4 | 16 | 17 | 88 | −71 | 10 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
Top six[edit]
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Celtic (C) | 32 | 26 | 4 | 2 | 126 | 18 | +108 | 82 | Qualification for the Champions League first round |
| 2 | Rangers | 32 | 26 | 4 | 2 | 113 | 18 | +95 | 82 | |
| 3 | Glasgow City | 32 | 23 | 4 | 5 | 89 | 25 | +64 | 73 | |
| 4 | Heart of Midlothian | 32 | 17 | 3 | 12 | 68 | 41 | +27 | 54 | |
| 5 | Hibernian | 32 | 14 | 4 | 14 | 71 | 47 | +24 | 46 | |
| 6 | Partick Thistle | 32 | 13 | 2 | 17 | 42 | 66 | −24 | 41 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(C) Champions
Bottom six[edit]
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Motherwell | 32 | 14 | 3 | 15 | 57 | 66 | −9 | 45 | |
| 8 | Aberdeen | 32 | 12 | 4 | 16 | 57 | 92 | −35 | 40 | |
| 9 | Montrose | 32 | 9 | 6 | 17 | 46 | 101 | −55 | 33 | |
| 10 | Spartans | 32 | 7 | 6 | 19 | 44 | 74 | −30 | 27 | |
| 11 | Dundee United | 32 | 4 | 3 | 25 | 28 | 109 | −81 | 15 | Qualification for the SWPL Play-off Final[9] |
| 12 | Hamilton Academical (R) | 32 | 3 | 5 | 24 | 31 | 115 | −84 | 14 | Relegation to SWPL2 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(R) Relegated
SWPL 2[edit]
| Season | 2023–24 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Queen's Park[17] |
| Promoted | Queen's Park |
| Relegated | Stirling University |
| Matches played | 96 |
← 2022–23 2024–25 →
All statistics correct as of 19 May 2024. | |
League table[edit]
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Queen's Park (C, P) | 28 | 23 | 3 | 2 | 95 | 23 | +72 | 72 | Promotion to SWPL1 |
| 2 | Kilmarnock | 28 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 69 | 38 | +31 | 49 | Qualification for the SWPL Play-off Final[9] |
| 3 | Livingston | 28 | 14 | 5 | 9 | 50 | 42 | +8 | 47 | |
| 4 | Boroughmuir Thistle | 28 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 49 | 31 | +18 | 40 | |
| 5 | St Johnstone | 28 | 10 | 1 | 17 | 57 | 61 | −4 | 31 | |
| 6 | Gartcairn | 28 | 9 | 4 | 15 | 45 | 72 | −27 | 31 | |
| 7 | Glasgow Women | 28 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 31 | 55 | −24 | 26 | Qualification for the SWPL2 Play-off Final[9] |
| 8 | Stirling University (R) | 28 | 5 | 4 | 19 | 21 | 95 | −74 | 19 | Relegation to the SWF Championship |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
References[edit]
- ^ "SWPL to be administered by the SPFL for season 2022/23". Scottish Women's Football. 15 Feb 2022. Archived from the original on 15 Feb 2022.
- ^ "Rangers 0 Glasgow City 1 RECAP as Celtic denied SWFL title by last gasp Lauren Davidson goal". Daily Record. 21 May 2023. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
- ^ Watch SWPL: City dramatically snatch title from Celtic in dying seconds, BBC Sport, 21 May 2023
- ^ "Forfar Farmington a sorry casualty of the professional era". The Herald. 15 Aug 2021. Archived from the original on 15 Aug 2021.
- ^ Livingston Champions, FC Edinburgh invincible, Westdyke promoted and Dundee West stay up, Scottish Women's Football, 9 May 2023
- ^ SWPL1: Hamilton come from behind against Gartcairn to secure top-flight status, BBC Sport, 4 June 2023
- ^ Stirling University narrowly win SWPL 2 play-off, SheKicks, 5 June 2023
- ^ a b c "SWPL announce 12-team top flight plans to mirror mens' [sic] SPFL". Edinburgh News. 1 April 2022. Archived from the original on 2 April 2022.
- ^ a b c d 23/24 SWPL play-off final details confirmed, Scottish Women's Premier League, 6 May 2024
- ^ SWPL finale: Celtic snatch title with 90th-minute winner, BBC Sport, 19 May 2024
- ^ "Foundation Park naming and spectator stand opening ceremony". Dundee United Football Club. 17 August 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
- ^ "Rangers Confirm Broadwood Stadium as Home Venue For 2022/23 SWPL season". Rangers Football Club. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
- ^ "Gartcairn FA". SWF. Archived from the original on 12 Apr 2021. Retrieved 14 Aug 2022.
- ^ "Summary – SWPL1 2023/2024 1st Phase". Soccerway. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
- ^ "Summary – SWPL1 2023/2024 2nd Phase Championship Group". Soccerway. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
- ^ "Summary – SWPL1 2023/2024 2nd Phase Relegation Group". Soccerway. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
- ^ Queen’s Park secure ScottishPower Women’s Premier League 2 title, Scottish Women's Premier League, 14 April 2024
- ^ "Summary – SWPL2 2023/2024". Soccerway. Retrieved 19 May 2024.