Scottish Women's Football (SWF), formerly known as the Scottish Women’s Football Association (SWFA) between 1972 and 2001, is the governing body for

women's association football Women's association football, more commonly known simply as women's football or women's soccer, is a team sport of association football when played by women only. It is played at the professional level in multiple countries and 176 national te ...

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to th ...

. It is an affiliated national association of the

Scottish Football Association The Scottish Football Association (also known as the SFA and the Scottish FA; sco, Scots Fitba Association; Scottish Gaelic: ''Comann Ball-coise na h-Alba'') is the governing body of football in Scotland and has the ultimate responsibility fo ...

(SFA). In its history, it has run or organised the

Scottish Women's Cup The Scottish Women's Cup is the national knockout cup competition for women's football in Scotland. First held in 1970–71, the competition is owned and managed by Scottish Women's Football (SWF), an affiliated body of the Scottish Football Ass ...

, the Scotland women's team,

Scottish Women's Football League The Scottish Women's Football League (SWFL) is a group of women's football divisions in Scotland. The league is owned and managed by Scottish Women's Football (SWF), an affiliated body of the Scottish Football Association (SFA). The league current ...

Scottish Women's Premier League The Scottish Women's Premier League (SWPL) is the highest level of league competition in women's football in Scotland. Its two divisions are SWPL 1 and SWPL 2. The league was formed when the Premier Division of the Scottish Women's Football Leag ...

and other league divisions.

History

Scotland hosted the first organised games of women's football in 1881, and the sport became popular in the 1920s, attracting crowds of thousands. Women's football was banned from English FA grounds in 1921; the Scottish FA did not follow suit although it was not supportive. The leading team

Rutherglen Ladies F.C. Rutherglen Ladies Football Club was one of the earliest known women's association football teams in Scotland. English teams faced strong opposition by the Football Association (FA), who banned the women from using fields and stadiums controlled by ...

played from 1921 to 1939. The SWFA was founded in 1972, when six teams met and decided to form an Association: Aberdeen Prima Donnas, Cambslang Hooverettes, Dundee Strikers, Edinburgh Dynamos, Westthorn United and

Stewarton Thistle Kilmarnock FC Women is a women's football team based in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire that plays in the SWPL 2. Founded as Stewarton Thistle, the club is the oldest women's football team in Scotland and celebrated its 50th anniversary in July 2011. Hi ...

. Initially, the

(SFA) opposed the formation of the SWFA, but in 1974, it recognised the new association. However, the SWFA remained small, with membership in the 1970s peaking at 14 teams. In 1992, it introduced coaching courses, and in 1996 it began organising junior and school football. In 1998, it affiliated to the SFA. The association stated that its purpose was, "To promote, foster and develop, in all its branches without discrimination against any organisation or person for reason of race, religion or politics, the game of Association Football for women/girls" (2003). Among its aims in 2021 was, "A game that realises the needs, wants and unlimited ambitions of its girls and women." This association consists of: *A senior league - including one national league, and divisional leagues. *U13 and U16 leagues in various parts of

. *Development centres open to girls at different age groups nationwide.

References

External links

Official website
Women's football in Scotland Sports organizations established in 1972 1972 establishments in Scotland Scottish Football Association {{footy-org-stub

History

See also

References

External links