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 played with 12 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]
A 12-club "split" format was used in SWPL 1 in 2023–24, with a double round-robin before the "split",[5] 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. The 12th-placed club in SWPL 1 would relegated to be replaced by the SWPL 2 winner, with a promotion/relegation play-off taking place between the clubs finishing 11th in SWPL 1 and 2nd in SWPL 2.[5][6] The league season began on 13 August 2023 and ended on 19 May 2024.
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.[7] Celtic's men's team had also won the 2023–24 Scottish Premiership, and this was the first instance of a club holding both national championships at the same time.[8]
At the bottom of the SWPL 1 table, Hamilton were relegated with Queen's Park coming up to replace them;[9] Dundee United survived by defeating Kilmarnock in the play-off.[10]
Teams
| Team | Location | Manager | Home ground | Capacity | 2022–23 position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen | Cove Bay |  Clinton Lancaster |
Balmoral Stadium | 2,602 | 9th |
| Celtic | Airdrie |  Fran Alonso(to January 2024)  Elena Sadiku(from January 2024)[11] |
Excelsior Stadium | 10,101 | 2nd |
| Dundee United | Dundee |  Graeme Hart(to March 2024) Suzy Shepherd(from March 2024)[12] |
Foundation Park[13] | TBC | 10th |
| Glasgow City | Springburn | Leanne Ross |
Petershill Park | 1,000 | 1st |
| Hamilton Academical | Hamilton | Robert Watson |
New Douglas Park | 6,018 | 11th |
| Heart of Midlothian | Edinburgh | Eva Olid |
Oriam | 1,000 | 4th |
| Hibernian | Edinburgh | Grant Scott |
Meadowbank Stadium | 1,320 | 5th |
| Montrose | Montrose | Craig Feroz |
Links Park | 4,936 | 1st in SWPL 2 |
| Motherwell | Motherwell | Paul Brownlie |
Alliance Park | 500 | 8th |
| Partick Thistle | Springburn | Brian Graham |
Petershill Park | 1,000 | 6th |
| Rangers | Cumbernauld | Jo Potter |
Broadwood Stadium[14] | 8,086 | 2nd |
| Spartans | Edinburgh | Debbi McCulloch (to January 2024) Jack Beesley(from January 2024)[15] |
Ainslie Park | 3,000 | 7th |
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 |
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 |
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[6][10] |
| 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
Monthly awards
| Month | Player of the Month | Club | Ref | Goal of the Month | Club | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August | Amy Gallacher | Celtic | [19] | Mia McAulay | Rangers | [20] |
| September | Kirsty Howat | Rangers | [21] | Keira Chuter | Dundee United | [22] |
| October | Kirsty Howat | Rangers | [23] | Sade Adamolekun | Hearts | [24] |
| November | Rio Hardy | Rangers | [25] | Kit Loferski | Celtic | [26] |
| December | Caitlin Hayes | Celtic | [27] | Rosie Slater | Partick Thistle | [28] |
| January | Rachel Rowe | Rangers | [29] | |||
| February | Emma Thomson | Hamilton Academical | [30] | Chloe Muir | Hamilton Academical | [31] |
| March | Natasha Flint | Celtic | [32] | Rachel Donaldson | Partick Thistle | [33] |
| April | Laura Berry | Motherwell | [34] | Hannah Innes | Aberdeen | [35] |
| May | Amy Gallacher | Celtic | [36] | Lia Tweedie | Hibernian | [37] |
References
- ^ "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.
- ^ a b "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 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
- ^ Scotland is Green and White as Celtic seal men's and women's titles, Celtic FC, 22 May 2024
- ^ Queen's Park secure ScottishPower Women's Premier League 2 title, Scottish Women's Premier League, 14 April 2024
- ^ a b Dundee United come from behind to win SWPL Play-Off, She Kicks, 24 May 2024
- ^ Celtic Women appoint first female manager to replace Fran Alonso, Peter Cassidy, STV News, 12 January 2024
- ^ Dundee United Women appoint Suzy Shepherd as head coach, BBC Sport, 1 March 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.
- ^ Jack Beesley appointed Spartans Women FC First Team Head Coach, Spartans FC Women, 11 January 2024
- ^ "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.
- ^ Gallacher and Kane win first SWPL Player of the Month awards of 2023/24 season, SWPL, 8 September 2023
- ^ Mia McAulay wins first ever SWPL Goal of the Month, supported by Park's Motor Group, SWPL, 4 September 2023
- ^ Kane wins back-to-back SWPL 2 awards as Howat wins SWPL Player of the Month for first time, SWPL, 2 October 2023
- ^ Keira Chuter wins September SWPL Goal of the Month, supported by Park's Motor Group, SWPL, 25 September 2023
- ^ Howat and Kane make history with SWPL Player of the Month wins, SWPL, 7 November 2023
- ^ Olufolasade Adamolekun wins October SWPL Goal of the Month, supported by Park's Motor Group, SWPL, 31 October 2023
- ^ Kane wins fourth SWPL 2 award as Hardy makes it a Rangers treble, SWPL, 8 December 2023
- ^ Kit Loferski wins November SWPL Goal of the Month, supported by Park's Motor Group, SWPL, 6 December 2023
- ^ Hayes and Skelton win SWPL Player of the Month awards for December, SWPL, 11 January 2024
- ^ Rosie Slater wins December and January SWPL Goal of the Month, supported by Park's Motor Group, SWPL, 7 February 2024
- ^ Rowe and McDonald-Nguah pick up first Player of the Month awards for 2024, SWPL, 8 February 2024
- ^ Thomson and Brown win SWPL Player of the Month awards for February, SWPL, 5 March 2024
- ^ Chloe Muir wins February SWPL Goal of the Month, supported by Park's Motor Group, SWPL, 1 March 2024
- ^ Flint and Cowie win SWPL Player of the Month awards for March, SWPL, 12 April 2024
- ^ Rachel Donaldson wins March SWPL Goal of the Month, supported by Park's Motor Group, SWPL, 11 April 2024
- ^ Berry and McCafferty win penultimate SWPL awards, SWPL, 10 April 2024
- ^ Hannah Innes wins April SWPL Goal of the Month, supported by Park's Motor Group, SWPL, 12 April 2024
- ^ Gallacher and Cowie win final Player of the Month awards, SWPL, 31 May 2024
- ^ Lia Tweeide wins May SWPL Goal of the Month, supported by Park's Motor Group, SWPL, 31 May 2024