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

SWPL 1

Team Location Manager Home ground Capacity 2022–23 position
Aberdeen Cove Bay England Clinton Lancaster Balmoral Stadium 2,602 9th
Celtic Airdrie Spain Fran Alonso
(to January 2024)
Sweden Elena Sadiku
(from January 2024)[11]		 Excelsior Stadium 10,101 2nd
Dundee United Dundee Scotland Graeme Hart
(to March 2024)
Scotland Suzy Shepherd
(from March 2024)[12]		 Foundation Park[13] TBC 10th
Glasgow City Springburn Scotland Leanne Ross Petershill Park 1,000 1st
Hamilton Academical Hamilton Scotland Robert Watson New Douglas Park 6,018 11th
Heart of Midlothian Edinburgh Spain Eva Olid Oriam 1,000 4th
Hibernian Edinburgh Scotland Grant Scott Meadowbank Stadium 1,320 5th
Montrose Montrose Scotland Craig Feroz Links Park 4,936 1st (SWPL2)
Motherwell Motherwell Scotland Paul Brownlie Alliance Park 500 8th
Partick Thistle Springburn Scotland Brian Graham Petershill Park 1,000 6th
Rangers Cumbernauld England Jo Potter Broadwood Stadium[14] 8,086 2nd
Spartans Edinburgh Scotland Debbi McCulloch
(to January 2024)
Scotland Jack Beesley
(from January 2024)[15]		 Ainslie Park 3,000 7th

SWPL 2

Team Location Manager Home ground Capacity 2022–23 position
Boroughmuir Thistle Edinburgh Scotland Andy Enwood Meggetland Sports Complex 1,000 5th
Gartcairn Airdrie Scotland Billy McCall MTC Park[16] 300 2nd
Glasgow Women Glasgow Scotland Andy Gardner New Tinto Park 1,000 12th (SWPL1)
Kilmarnock Kilmarnock Scotland Jim Chapman Rugby Park 15,003 4th
Livingston Livingston Scotland Mike Ross Almondvale Stadium 9,713 1st (SWF Championship)
Queen's Park Glasgow Scotland Craig Joyce New Tinto Park 1,000 6th
St Johnstone Perth Scotland Kevin Candy Riverside Stadium 1,000 3rd
Stirling University Stirling Scotland Nile Robbins University of Stirling 1,000 7th

SWPL 1

Football league season
SWPL 1
Season2023–24
ChampionsCeltic (1st title)
RelegatedHamilton Academical
Champions LeagueCeltic, Rangers
Matches played168
2024–25 →
All statistics correct as of 18 May 2024.

Regular season

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
Source: [17]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored

Top six

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
Updated to match(es) played on 19 May 2024. Source: [18]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(C) Champions

Bottom six

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
Updated to match(es) played on 19 May 2024. Source: [19]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(R) Relegated

SWPL 2

Football league season
SWPL 2
Season2023–24
ChampionsQueen's Park[20]
PromotedQueen's Park
RelegatedStirling University
Matches played96
2024–25 →
All statistics correct as of 19 May 2024.

League table

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
Updated to match(es) played on 19 May 2024. Source: [21]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated

References

  1. ^ "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.
  2. ^ "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.
  3. ^ Watch SWPL: City dramatically snatch title from Celtic in dying seconds, BBC Sport, 21 May 2023
  4. ^ "Forfar Farmington a sorry casualty of the professional era". The Herald. 15 Aug 2021. Archived from the original on 15 Aug 2021.
  5. ^ Livingston Champions, FC Edinburgh invincible, Westdyke promoted and Dundee West stay up, Scottish Women's Football, 9 May 2023
  6. ^ SWPL1: Hamilton come from behind against Gartcairn to secure top-flight status, BBC Sport, 4 June 2023
  7. ^ Stirling University narrowly win SWPL 2 play-off, SheKicks, 5 June 2023
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ a b c d 23/24 SWPL play-off final details confirmed, Scottish Women's Premier League, 6 May 2024
  10. ^ SWPL finale: Celtic snatch title with 90th-minute winner, BBC Sport, 19 May 2024
  11. ^ Celtic Women appoint first female manager to replace Fran Alonso, Peter Cassidy, STV News, 12 January 2024
  12. ^ Dundee United Women appoint Suzy Shepherd as head coach, BBC Sport, 1 March 2024
  13. ^ "Foundation Park naming and spectator stand opening ceremony". Dundee United Football Club. 17 August 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  14. ^ "Rangers Confirm Broadwood Stadium as Home Venue For 2022/23 SWPL season". Rangers Football Club. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  15. ^ Jack Beesley appointed Spartans Women FC First Team Head Coach, Spartans FC Women, 11 January 2024
  16. ^ "Gartcairn FA". SWF. Archived from the original on 12 Apr 2021. Retrieved 14 Aug 2022.
  17. ^ "Summary – SWPL1 2023/2024 1st Phase". Soccerway. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  18. ^ "Summary – SWPL1 2023/2024 2nd Phase Championship Group". Soccerway. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  19. ^ "Summary – SWPL1 2023/2024 2nd Phase Relegation Group". Soccerway. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  20. ^ Queen’s Park secure ScottishPower Women’s Premier League 2 title, Scottish Women's Premier League, 14 April 2024
  21. ^ "Summary – SWPL2 2023/2024". Soccerway. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
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