Competitive, local and affordable: New Scottish Women’s Football leagues kick off
The new-look Scottish Women’s Football Championship and League One competitions kick off this Sunday, providing competitive women’s football action in parts of the country not represented in the SWPL.
As the tiers below the SWPL kick off, teams across the Championship and League One are making entry to games affordable or even free in some instances. Greenock Morton, who play in the Championship, have said that a donation to the local foodbank will be accepted for entry to matches.
The eight-team Championship will be competitive as teams vie for promotion to SWPL 2. Sunday will see Renfrew Ladies host Edinburgh’s Hutchison Vale, while Inverness Caledonian Thistle welcome Rossvale, who only narrowly missed out on promotion in last season’s play offs.
Morton are at home to Ayr United and Dryburgh Athletic welcome Livingston to Dundee.
In League One, an Edinburgh derby at Meadowbank ensures the stakes are high from the off, with an agreement between Hibs and FC Edinburgh allowing ticket holders for Hibernian’s home game to catch the FC Edinburgh match against local rivals Edinburgh Caledonia. Elsewhere, Dundee West host Falkirk, Stenhousemuir visit Giffnock SC, Airdrie Ladies play Paisley club Gleniffer Thistle at home, Grampian Ladies travel to St Mirren while fellow northeast club Westdyke make the trip to BSC Glasgow.
Commenting ahead of the opening weekend, Scottish Women’s Football CEO Aileen Campbell said: “This is an exciting time for women’s football, and we saw the SWPL kick off successfully last week. Our new-look Championship and League One offer something a bit different, in that they reach parts of the country other competitions don’t. Both are set to be competitive contests, especially in the Championship where all eight teams will have an eye on the title.
“This Sunday offers fans of women’s football an opportunity for a great day out to watch your local team in competitive action. Our clubs have kept entry prices low and even free in some instances. Greenock Morton’s idea to allow donations to the local foodbank for entry to their match against Ayr United is a fantastic initiative. Meanwhile, offering Hibernian ticket holders a chance to catch the Women’s League One Edinburgh derby at Meadowbank is a great idea which I urge fans to take advantage of.
“Alongside the Biffa SWFL regional leagues, the Highlands and Islands League and the kick-off of the new SHAAP National Academy Programme for young talent, this weekend will demonstrate the breadth of women’s football in Scotland. And as we seek to grow the game, our competitions ensure that women and girls all over Scotland have opportunities to reach the top and that everyone has the chance to watch women’s football near them.”
You can keep up with the Championship and League One on Twitter, on our instagram and TikTok channels, and with longer interviews on our YouTube channel.
