2021–22 Scottish Women's Premier League

The 2021–22 Scottish Women's Premier League was the 21st season of the SWPL, the highest division of women's football in Scotland since 2002. The league is split into two divisions – SWPL 1 with 10 teams[1] and SWPL 2 with seven teams, following the resignation of Forfar Farmington in 2021.[2]

Glasgow City were the defending champions of 14 consecutive seasons. City lost a decisive away derby match, 3–1, at Rangers in February 2022;[3] a 0–0 draw in the identical fixture, on 8 May, gave Rangers the SWPL 1 title, its first Scottish women's title.[4] The SWPL 2 champions were Dundee United, 20 points ahead of the runners-up, Glasgow Women, who won promotion with a 3–1 win in the final match[5][6] against third-placed Boroughmuir Thistle.[7][8]

Two clubs were promoted from SWPL 2 and none relegated from SWPL 1 due to league expansion.[9] The league's first promotion/relegation play-off had been planned[10] until the expansion was confirmed in April 2022[9] following the SWPL clubs' majority vote to leave SWF for the SPFL in February.[11]

The league season started on 5 September 2021 and ended on 15 May 2022.[12] The competition was known as the Scottish Building Society Scottish Women's Premier League for sponsorship reasons,[13] then as the Park's Motor Group Scottish Women's Premier League from November 2021.[14]

Teams

SWPL 1
Team Location Head coach Home ground Capacity 2020–21 position
AberdeenCove BayScotland Emma Hunter
Scotland Gavin Beith		Balmoral Stadium2,6021st in SWPL 2
CelticAirdrieSpain Fran AlonsoExcelsior Stadium10,1012nd
Glasgow CitySpringburnRepublic of Ireland Eileen GleesonPetershill Park1,0001st
Hamilton AcademicalHamiltonScotland Gary DoctorNew Douglas Park6,0182nd in SWPL 2
Heart of MidlothianEdinburghScotland Eva OlidOriam1,0008th
HibernianLivingstonScotland Dean GibsonAlmondvale Stadium3,0004th
MotherwellMotherwellScotland Stewart Hall
Scotland Willie Kinniburgh (interim)		Alliance Park5006th
Partick ThistleSpringburnScotland Brian GrahamPetershill Park1,0003rd in SWPL 2
RangersMilngavieScotland Malky ThomsonRangers Training Centre5003rd
SpartansEdinburghScotland Debbi McCullochAinslie Park3,0005th

Source: [15]

SWPL 2
Team Location Head coach Home ground Capacity 2020–21 position
Boroughmuir ThistleEdinburghScotland Suzy ShepherdMeggetland Sports Complex1,0009th
Dundee UnitedDundeeScotland Graeme Hart (interim)Regional Performance Centre4th
Glasgow Girls & WomenGlasgowScotland Craig JoyceNew Tinto Park6th
KilmarnockKilmarnockScotland Andy GardnerRugby Park17,8898th
Queen's ParkGlasgowScotland Mark KirkLesser Hampden1,0007th
St JohnstonePerthScotland Jason McCrindleMcDiarmid Park10,6965th
Stirling UniversityStirlingScotland Craig BeveridgeGannochy Sports Centre1,00010th

Source: [15]

Locations of teams in the SWPL

SWPL 1
Scottish Women's Premier League 1
Season2021–22
ChampionsRangers
Matches played135
Goals scored481 (3.56 per match)
Biggest home winGlasgow City 10–1 Aberdeen
Glasgow City 9–0 Spartans
Biggest away winHamilton Academical 0–7 Rangers
Partick Thistle 0–7 Celtic
Highest scoringGlasgow City 10–1 Aberdeen (11 goals)
Longest unbeaten runRangers (27 games)

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Rangers (C, Q) 27 25 2 0 97 11 +86 77 Qualification for the Champions League first round
2 Glasgow City (Q) 27 22 4 1 89 13 +76 70
3 Celtic 27 19 3 5 85 22 +63 60
4 Hibernian 27 13 4 10 46 32 +14 43
5 Aberdeen 27 9 2 16 39 69 −30 29
6 Spartans 27 6 10 11 28 54 −26 28
7 Motherwell 27 8 3 16 31 75 −44 27
8 Heart of Midlothian 27 6 2 19 20 66 −46 20
9 Partick Thistle 27 4 6 17 29 70 −41 18
10 Hamilton Academical 27 3 4 20 17 69 −52 13
Source: [16]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(C) Champions; (Q) Qualified for the phase indicated


Results

SWPL 2
Scottish Women's Premier League 2
Season2021–22
ChampionsDundee United
PromotedGlasgow Women
Matches played84
Goals scored328 (3.9 per match)
Biggest home winGlasgow Women 8–1 Stirling University
Kilmarnock 7–0 Stirling University
Biggest away winStirling University 0–7 Dundee United
Highest scoringGlasgow Women 8–1 Stirling University (9 goals)
Longest unbeaten runDundee United (21 games)

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Dundee United (C, P) 24 21 2 1 89 21 +68 65 Promotion to SWPL 1
2 Glasgow Women (P) 24 13 6 5 52 30 +22 45
3 Boroughmuir Thistle 24 12 4 8 54 38 +16 40
4 Kilmarnock 24 9 5 10 52 51 +1 32
5 St Johnstone 24 9 5 10 42 46 −4 32
6 Queen's Park 24 4 4 16 26 56 −30 16
7 Stirling University 24 2 2 20 13 86 −73 8
Source: [18]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted

Results

References
  1. "SWPL: No relegation this season with top flight to expand to 10 teams". BBC Sport. 12 October 2020. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  2. "Forfar Farmington a sorry casualty of the professional era". The Herald. 15 Aug 2021. Archived from the original on 15 Aug 2021.
  3. "Rangers on course for first-ever SWPL 1 title after defeating Glasgow City". The Herald. Archived from the original on 6 Feb 2022.
  4. Goodwin, Sophie (8 May 2022). "Aberdeen Women beaten 4-1 by Hibernian in penultimate weekend of SWPL 1". The Press and Journal. Archived from the original on 9 May 2022.
  5. "Glasgow Women promoted in thrilling final day for SWPL - Scottish Women's Football". SWF. Archived from the original on 15 May 2022.
  6. "Match Report: Glasgow Girls & Women FC - Boroughmuir Thistle". SWPL. Archived from the original on 19 May 2022.
  7. "Boroughmuir Thistle boss Suzy Shepherd explains her surprise to see her team in mix for promotion to SWPL1". Scotsman. 22 April 2022. Archived from the original on 23 April 2022.
  8. "Boroughmuir Thistle fall short in quest to secure promotion to SWPL 1". Scotsman. 16 May 2022. Archived from the original on 17 May 2022.
  9. "SWPL top flight expanding to 12 teams for next season". BBC Sport. 1 Apr 2022.
  10. "New Senior Structure for 2020 and beyond". SWPL. 19 Sep 2019. Retrieved 19 Feb 2020.
  11. "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.
  12. "2021/22 SWPL Fixtures released". Scottish Women's Football. 20 July 2021. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  13. "League start date announced [2020]". SWF. 29 July 2020. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  14. Diamond, Drew (22 November 2021). "Historic new sponsorship deal for Scottish top flight". Her Football Hub. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  15. "Scottish Women's Premier League". Scottish Women's Premier League. Archived from the original on 27 July 2021. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  16. "Summary – SWPL1". SWPL Website. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  17. "Summary – SWPL1". Soccerway. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  18. "Summary – SWPL2". Soccerway. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
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