2020–21 Scottish Women's Premier League
The 2020–21 Scottish Women's Premier League was the 20th season of the SWPL, the highest division of women's football in Scotland since 2002. The league season was played in two divisions, SWPL 1 with eight teams and SWPL 2 with 10 teams.[1] Glasgow City were the defending champions, having won the last completed championship in 2019. The league was known as the Scottish Building Society Scottish Women's Premier League for sponsorship reasons.[2]
The previous season, 2020, was interrupted by the coronavirus pandemic and was subsequently declared null and void.[3] Following this cancellation, Scottish Women's Football reverted to the winter-season format last used in 2008–09.[4] The new season started on 18 October 2020 and concluded on 4 July 2021. It had been agreed that there would be no relegation from SWPL 1, and that there would be 10 teams in the top division in 2021–22.[5] The 2020–21 season was interrupted for more than three months by the pandemic; SWPL 1 played no games between January and March.[6][7][8]
Glasgow City won the championship by three points from Celtic, the runners-up.[9] This was Glasgow City's 14th national league title in succession, the most in Scottish senior football history, and five fewer than the world record in women's football at the time, 19, by SFK.[10][11]
Aberdeen won the SWPL 2 title, and won promotion alongside the runners-up, Hamilton Academical.[12][13] Partick Thistle were later added as a third promoted club, after Forfar Farmington withdrew from the SWPL.[14]
Teams
class=notpageimage|
Locations of teams in the 2020–21 SWPL 1
Glasgow
class=notpageimage|
Locations of teams in the 2020–21 SWPL 2SWPL 1
| Team | Location | Head coach | Home ground | Capacity | 2019 position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Celtic | East Kilbride |  Fran Alonso | K-Park Training Academy | 1,000 | 3rd |
| Forfar Farmington | Forfar |  Ryan McConville | Station Park | 6,777 | 7th |
| Glasgow City | Cumbernauld |  Scott Booth | Broadwood Stadium | 8,086 | 1st |
| Heart of Midlothian | Edinburgh | Andy Kirk | Oriam | 1,000 | 1st in SWPL 2 |
| Hibernian | Edinburgh | Dean Gibson | Ainslie Park | 3,000 | 2nd |
| Motherwell | Airdrie | Eddie Wolecki Black | Excelsior Stadium | 10,101 | 6th |
| Rangers | Milngavie | Malky Thomson | Rangers Training Centre | 500 | 4th |
| Spartans | Edinburgh | Debbi McCulloch | Ainslie Park | 3,000 | 5th |
Source: [15]
SWPL 2
| Team | Location | Head coach | Home ground | Capacity | 2019 position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen | Aberdeen | Emma Hunter Stuart Bathgate | Cormack Park | 1st in SWFL 1 North | |
| Boroughmuir Thistle | Edinburgh | Suzy Shepherd | Meggetland Sports Complex | 1,000 | 5th in SWFL 1 South |
| Dundee United | Dundee | Gavin Beith | Regional Performance Centre | 3rd | |
| Glasgow Women | Glasgow | Craig Joyce | New Tinto Park | 6th | |
| Hamilton Academical | Hamilton | Gary Doctor | New Douglas Park | 6,018 | 2nd |
| Kilmarnock | Kilmarnock | Andy Gardner | Rugby Park | 17,889 | 4th |
| Partick Thistle | Glasgow | Brian Graham | Lochinch | 5th | |
| Queen's Park | Glasgow | Mark Kirk | Lesser Hampden | 1,000 | 4th in SWFL 1 South |
| St Johnstone | Perth | Jason McCrindle | McDiarmid Park | 10,696 | 7th |
| Stirling University | Stirling | Craig Beveridge | Gannochy Sports Centre | 1,000 | 8th in SWPL 1 |
Source: [15]
SWPL 1
Football league season
| Season | 2020–21 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Glasgow City |
| Champions League | Glasgow City Celtic |
| Matches played | 84 |
| Goals scored | 344 (4.1 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Lizzie Arnot (16 goals) |
| Biggest home win | Rangers 11–0 Forfar Farmington (25 April 2021) |
| Biggest away win | Heart of Midlothian 0–10 Celtic (1 November 2020) |
| Highest scoring | Rangers 11–0 Forfar Farmington (25 April 2021) |
| Longest winning run | Seven games: Glasgow City |
| Longest unbeaten run | 14 games: Glasgow City |
| Longest winless run | 11 games: Forfar Farmington |
| Longest losing run | 10 games: Forfar Farmington |
← 2020 2021–22 → | |
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Glasgow City (C) | 21 | 18 | 2 | 1 | 77 | 16 | +61 | 56 | Qualification for the Champions League first round |
| 2 | Celtic | 21 | 17 | 2 | 2 | 76 | 12 | +64 | 53 | |
| 3 | Rangers | 21 | 16 | 0 | 5 | 76 | 10 | +66 | 48 | |
| 4 | Hibernian | 21 | 9 | 2 | 10 | 42 | 27 | +15 | 29 | |
| 5 | Spartans | 21 | 9 | 2 | 10 | 29 | 42 | −13 | 29 | |
| 6 | Motherwell | 21 | 4 | 0 | 17 | 18 | 78 | −60 | 12 | |
| 7 | Forfar Farmington | 21 | 3 | 2 | 16 | 17 | 90 | −73 | 11 | Withdrew from SWPL after season |
| 8 | Heart of Midlothian | 21 | 2 | 2 | 17 | 9 | 69 | −60 | 8 |
Source: [16]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(C) Champions
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(C) Champions
Positions by round
Source: [16]
Results
Matches 1 to 14
Source: [16] Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
| Matches 15 to 21
Source: [16] Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
|
SWPL 2
Football league season
| Season | 2020–21 |
|---|---|
| Matches played | 92 |
| Goals scored | 350 (3.8 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Bayley Hutchison (5 goals)[needs update] |
| Biggest home win | Hamilton Academical 8–0 Stirling University (29 November 2020) |
| Biggest away win | Boroughmuir Thistle 0–9 Aberdeen (25 October 2020) |
| Highest scoring | Boroughmuir Thistle 0–9 Aberdeen (25 October 2020) Aberdeen 8–1 St Johnstone (10 November 2020) |
| Longest winning run | Six games: Aberdeen[needs update] |
| Longest unbeaten run | Six games: Aberdeen Dundee United |
| Longest winless run | 11 games: Stirling University |
| Longest losing run | Six games: Stirling University |
← 2020 2021–22 → All statistics correct as of 9 June 2021. | |
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aberdeen | 18 | 16 | 0 | 2 | 76 | 18 | +58 | 48 | Promotion to SWPL 1 |
| 2 | Hamilton Academical | 18 | 12 | 2 | 4 | 49 | 17 | +32 | 38 | |
| 3 | Partick Thistle | 18 | 11 | 2 | 5 | 46 | 22 | +24 | 35 | Later promoted to SWPL 1[14] |
| 4 | Dundee United | 18 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 44 | 30 | +14 | 34 | |
| 5 | St Johnstone | 18 | 8 | 1 | 9 | 33 | 37 | −4 | 25 | |
| 6 | Glasgow Women | 18 | 6 | 2 | 10 | 24 | 37 | −13 | 20 | |
| 7 | Queen's Park | 18 | 4 | 2 | 12 | 18 | 47 | −29 | 14 | |
| 8 | Kilmarnock | 18 | 7 | 1 | 10 | 19 | 34 | −15 | 22 | |
| 9 | Boroughmuir Thistle | 18 | 4 | 3 | 11 | 24 | 44 | −20 | 15 | |
| 10 | Stirling University | 18 | 2 | 3 | 13 | 17 | 64 | −47 | 9 | To SWPL play-offs (cancelled) |
Updated to match(es) played on 9 June 2021. Source: [17]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
Positions by round
| Promotion to 2021–22 SWPL 1 | |
| Qualification for the play-offs |
The table lists the positions of teams after each week of matches. In order to preserve chronological progress, any postponed matches are not included in the round at which they were originally scheduled but added to the full round they were played immediately afterwards. For example, if a match is scheduled for matchday 13, but then postponed and played between days 16 and 17, it will be added to the standings for day 16.
| Team ╲ Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Hamilton Academical | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | ||||||
| Partick Thistle | 2 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | ||||||
| Dundee United | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | ||||||
| St Johnstone | 6 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 5 | ||||||
| Glasgow Women | 1 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | ||||||
| Queen's Park | 9 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 | ||||||
| Kilmarnock | 5 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | ||||||
| Boroughmuir Thistle | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | ||||||
| Stirling University | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
Source: [17]
Results
| Home \ Away | ABE | BOR | DUN | GLW | HAM | KIL | PAR | QPA | STJ | STI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen | 4–3 | 3–0 | 5–1 | 8–1 | 7–0 | |||||
| Boroughmuir Thistle | 0–9 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 1–3 | 3–2 | ||||
| Dundee United | 4–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | |||||
| Glasgow Women | 0–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 4–0 | |||||
| Hamilton Academical | 0–1 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 5–0 | 8–0 | |||||
| Kilmarnock | 0–5 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 1–0 | 0–3[a] | 1–2 | 2–1 | |||
| Partick Thistle | 5–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–3 | 2–3 | ||||
| Queen's Park | 0–3 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–3 | 0–3 | |||
| St Johnstone | 0–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 1–3 | 3–0 | ||||
| Stirling University | 0–6 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 1–4 | 1–2 |
Updated to match(es) played on 9 June 2021. Source: [17]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Notes:
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Notes:
Statistics
Scoring
SWPL 1
Source:
| SWPL 2
Source: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hat-tricks
SWPL 1
| No. | Player | For | Against | Date | Score | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zoe Ness | Rangers | Heart of Midlothian | 18 October 2020 | 5–1 | [19] |
| 2 | Kirsty Howat | Glasgow City | Forfar Farmington | 1 November 2020 | 8–1 | [20] |
| 3 | Donna Paterson | Forfar Farmington | Heart of Midlothian | 8 November 2020 | 3–0 | [21] |
SWPL 2
| No. | Player | For | Against | Date | Score | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bayley Hutchison | Aberdeen | Boroughmuir Thistle | 25 October 2020 | 9–0 | [22] |
References
- ^ "New Senior Structure for 2020 and beyond". Scottish Women's Premier League. 19 September 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
- ^ "League start date announced with enhanced broadcast deal". Scottish Women's Football. 29 July 2020. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
- ^ Lewis, Jane (29 July 2020). "SWPL season declared null and void after one round of games". www.bbc.co.uk/sport. BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
- ^ Schöggl, Hans. "Scotland (Women) - List of Champions". RSSSF.
- ^ "SWPL: No relegation this season with top flight to expand to 10 teams". www.bbc.co.uk/sport. BBC Sport. 12 October 2020. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
- ^ "Scottish Leagues 1 & 2 and SWPL 1 can train again but must test for games". BBC Sport. 3 March 2021.
- ^ "Rangers and Glasgow City extend lead on bad afternoon for Celtic, Hearts and Hibs as SWPL1 resumes after shutdown". Scotsman. 4 Apr 2021. Archived from the original on 4 Apr 2021.
- ^ "SWPL 2 fixtures confirmed for the remainder of the 2020/21 season". SWPL. 6 May 2021. Archived from the original on 6 May 2021.
- ^ "Glasgow City see off Rangers and Celtic SWFL title challenge to make it 14 in a row". Daily Record. 6 June 2021. Archived from the original on 6 June 2021.
- ^ Schöggl, Hans. "Bosnia-Hercegovina (Women) List of Champions". RSSSF.
- ^ "Most consecutive titles (female)". Guinness World Records.
- ^ "#SBSSWPL 2: Aberdeen 4-2 Boroughmuir Thistle". SWPL. 5 July 2021. Archived from the original on 5 July 2021.
- ^ "#SBSSWPL 2: Hamilton Academical 3-0 Kilmarnock". SWPL. 5 July 2021. Archived from the original on 5 July 2021.
- ^ a b "Forfar Farmington a sorry casualty of the professional era". The Herald. 15 August 2021. Archived from the original on 15 August 2021.
- ^ a b "Scottish Women's Premier League". Scottish Women's Premier League. Archived from the original on 27 July 2021. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
- ^ a b c d "Summary – SWPL1". Soccerway. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- ^ a b c "Summary – SWPL2". Soccerway. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
- ^ "SWF Statement – Kilmarnock v Hamilton Academical". Scottish Women's Premier League. 4 November 2020. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
- ^ "Rangers 5–1 Hearts". Scottish Women's Premier League. 18 October 2020. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
- ^ "Glasgow City 8–1 Forfar Farmington". Scottish Women's Premier League. 1 November 2020. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
- ^ "Forfar Farmington 3–0 Hearts". Scottish Women's Premier League. 8 November 2020. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
- ^ "Boroughmuir Thistle 0–9 Aberdeen". Scottish Women's Premier League. 25 October 2020. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
External links
- Official website Archived 2022-09-20 at the Wayback Machine
- v
- t
- e
| SWPL 1 | |
|---|---|
| SWPL 2 |
|
- Managers
- Players
- Venues
