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 as women's football or women's soccer, is the team sport of association football played by women. It is played at the professional level in multiple countries, and about 200 national teams partic ...
in
Scotland
Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...
. It is an affiliated national association of the
Scottish Football Association
The Scottish Football Association (; also known as the Scottish FA and the SFA) is the governing body of football in Scotland and has the ultimate responsibility for the control and development of football in Scotland. Members of the SFA incl ...
(SFA).
In its history, it has run or organised the
Scottish Women's Cup
The Women's Scottish Cup is the national knockout cup competition for women's football in Scotland.
First held in 1970–71 and known as the Scottish Women's FA Cup, the competition was owned and managed by Scottish Women's Football (SWF), an ...
, 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).
Following on from ...
,
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 (previously styled as ''SWPL 1'') and SWPL 2. The league was formed when the Premier Division of th ...
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 Football Association grounds in 1921; the
Scottish Football Association
The Scottish Football Association (; also known as the Scottish FA and the SFA) is the governing body of football in Scotland and has the ultimate responsibility for the control and development of football in Scotland. Members of the SFA incl ...
(SFA) did not follow suit, although it was not supportive. The leading team during this era,
Rutherglen Ladies F.C., existed from 1921 to 1939.
The SWFA was founded in 1972, when six teams met and decided to form an Association: Aberdeen Prima Donnas, Cambuslang Hooverettes, Dundee Strikers,
Edinburgh Dynamos,
Westthorn United and
Stewarton Thistle.
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."
There was a board restructure in 2014 led by Sheila Begbie, then head of women's football at SFA, who was joined by Vivienne MacLaren as media and communications director and Fiona McIntyre as football director. In 2016 MacLaren became chair of the organisation, while Scottish and Southern Energy became the first ever sponsor of the Scottish Women's Cup
The first ever broadcast deal for Scottish Women's Football was signed with BBC Alba in 2018.
In that same year the SWF board rejected all sponsorship from alcohol and gambling sponsors.
Former Scottish Government sports minister
Aileen Campbell was appointed chief executive of Scottish Women's Football in 2021.
Clubs in the
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 (previously styled as ''SWPL 1'') and SWPL 2. The league was formed when the Premier Division of th ...
voted to leave SWF in 2022 and seek greater professionalism under the auspices of the
Scottish Professional Football League
The Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) is the national men's association football league in Scotland. The league was formed in June 2013 following a merger between the Scottish Premier League and the Scottish Football League. As well ...
.
Today Scottish Women's Football consists of:
*The senior women's pyramid in Scotland below the SWPL. This two national leagues, and six senior regional leagues comprising 80 senior women's teams in the 2023/24 season.
*U14, U16 and U18 leagues in various parts of
Scotland
Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...
.
*Multiple cup competitions, both senior and youth.
See also
*
List of women's football clubs in Scotland
*
Scottish Women's Football Annual Awards
*
Scottish Women's Championship
References
External links
Official website
Women's football in Scotland
Sports organizations established in 1972
1972 establishments in Scotland
Scottish Football Association
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