Scottish Women's Football League Second Division Explained

Scottish Women's Football League
Pixels:137
Divisions:1 (1999–2008)
4 (2012–2019)
Teams:10–40
Promotion:Scottish Women's Football League First Division
Levels:3 (1999–2015)
4 (2016–2019)
Domest Cup:Scottish Women's Cup
League Cup:SWFL Second Division Cup
Website:Scottish Women's Football

The Scottish Women's Football League Second Division (SWFL 2) was a division in the Scottish women's football pyramid between 1999 and 2019. The third league tier from 1999 to 2015, it later became the fourth tier. Its top teams won promotion to the SWFL First Division.

The Second Division began as a single national division, but became three regional divisions in 2008–09, the North, East and West. It was further enlarged in 2012 to four divisions. From 2016 to 2019, SWFL 2 had forty clubs in four regional divisions. The champions of each division were eligible to enter play-offs for promotion to the First Division.[1]

In 2020, Scottish Women's Football replaced the First Division with the SWF Championship, and the Second Division took the existing name of the Scottish Women's Football League. The SWFL is now a standalone 'Recreational' league with multiple regional divisions, resembling the former Second Division, but now with no regular promotion or relegation.[2]

History

The Second Division was initially a single national competition,[3] played as a double round-robin.

Champions

National division champions – league level 3:

Regional division champions – league level 3:

SeasonNorth groupWest groupEast groupSouth East groupRef
2010Aberdeen CityPaisley Saints Ladies[7] [8] Hibernian 2000–[9]
2011BuchanKilwinning Sports Club[10] Forfar Farmington
2012StonehavenMurieston UnitedDunfermline AthleticHeart of Midlothian[11]
SeasonNorthWest/South WestEast/CentralSouth EastRef
2013Aberdeen ReservesClaremontJeanfield SwiftsHibernian Development
2014Dee ValeMill UnitedEast FifeBoroughmuir Thistle
2015Dee ValeGlasgow City Development[12] Central Girls AcademyMotherwell[13]

Regional division champions – league level 4:

SeasonNorth/EastWest/South WestWest/CentralSouth East/CentralRef
2016 Granite City[14] Renfrew[15] Partick Thistle[16] Dundee United[17]
2017Deveronvale[18] Morton[19] Blackburn United[20] Bayside[21]
2018Montrose[22] Ayr United[23] Glasgow City B[24] Kelty Hearts[25]
2019Dundee West[26] Morton[27] Bishopton[28] Edinburgh Caledonia[29]

Seasons

1999–2008

In the season 2000–01, Hamilton Athletic finished top of the 10-team national Second Division.[4]

Falkirk Ladies had won promotion from the SWFL Third Division in 1999–2000,[30] and they became the Second Division champions in 2002–03, ahead of Dundee City and Civil Service Strollers.[31] [32] Falkirk sealed the title with late-season wins over St. Johnstone away and Dundee City at Brockville.[33] [34]

In 2005–06, the top teams in the division were champions Buchan Girls, Crichton, Cowdenbeath, Arsenal North 2nd LFC and Thistle LFC.[35] Cowdenbeath won the 2006–07 championship.[6] [36]

2007–08 was the last season of the national SWFL Second Division. The member clubs were:[37]

2008–2012

After the switch to the three regional divisions (North, East and West) in 2008–09, the Second Division's member clubs were:North:

West:

East:

The Scottish women's football divisions used the autumn–spring season calendar until 2008–09. From the season 2009, they switched to a summer schedule (March–November).[39]

The three-division system continued with the new schedule, in the 2010 and 2011 seasons.[40] [41]

Owing to an influx of new clubs, for the 2012 season the Second Division East was split into two separate East and South-East divisions. The East division was now based around Fife and Tayside while the South-East division was centred on Edinburgh and the Lothians.

Hearts, Hibernian 1875, Falkirk FC and a Spartans Reserve team moved from the East division to the South East in 2012. Boroughmuir Thistle, Football Club of Edinburgh, Leith Athletic, Musselburgh Windsor and Seton Ladies were new clubs.[42]

2011 North champions Buchan Ladies were promoted to the First Division while Dundee City and Forfar Farmington Blues transferred to the East. New clubs were a Buchan Ladies Youth side, Turriff United and Dee Ladies, part of the Dee Boys Club set-up.[43]

2013

Member clubs in the 2013 season:

North Division

No clubs accepted promotion from the 2012 North competition, with champions Stonehaven and runners-up Dee Vale competing again in 2013.

Luthermuir were transferred from the Second Division East where they played in 2012. Elgin City were formerly known as Moray Ladies.

East/Central Division

2012 champions Dunfermline Athletic and runners-up East Fife Ladies were promoted to the SWFL First Division, however both clubs entered reserve sides in the Second Division in 2013. East Fife added the suffix Violet after linking up with Cupar Violet GFC.[44]

Raith Rovers were relegated from the 2012 First Division. Falkirk FC were transferred from the South East Division while Stenhousemuir arrived from the West Division. Tayside Ladies, a senior section of Celtic Girls (Tayside), entered for the first time. Arbroath CSC and Monifieth who resigned during the 2012 season did not return.

South East Division

2012 champions Hearts were promoted to the SWFL First Division but entered a development side in the Second Division in 2013. Edinburgh Caledonia, Hutchison Vale Reserves and Murieston United Reds were new clubs.

West/South West Division

2012 champions Murieston United were promoted to the SWFL First Division. Hamilton Caledonian, Irvine Thistle, Kilwinning Development, Mill United and Whitburn joined the league in 2013; EK Galaxy dropped out, while Hamilton Academical Reserves withdrew to play in a new development league.

2017

The following teams played in the SWFL Second Division during the 2017 season.[45] As well as first teams, the SWFL structures also incorporated a number of development or youth teams of other SWPL and SWFL clubs.North:

West:

Central:

East:

2019

Member clubs in the 2019 season:North/East:

Details:[47] South East/Central:

Details:[48] West/Central:

Details:[49] West/South West:

Details:[50]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Regional league winners seal play-off place. SWF News. Scottish Women's Football Association. 27 October 2013. 15 October 2013.
  2. Web site: New Senior Structure for 2020 and beyond . SWPL . 19 September 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200221160309/https://www.womenspremierleague.co.uk/news/new-senior-structure-for-2020-and-beyond/ . 21 February 2020.
  3. Web site: Scottish Women's Football League Division 2 clubs . SWFA . https://web.archive.org/web/20030517030407/http://www.ultrasoft.hostinguk.com/swfa/swfl2.htm . 17 May 2003.
  4. Web site: Tables: Leagues: 2nd Division . SWFL . https://web.archive.org/web/20010724185037/http://www.swfl.org.uk:80/Leagues.asp?LeagueID=3 . 24 July 2001.
  5. Web site: Women's League Competitions. 8 June 2023. sfha.org.uk. Scottish Football Historical Archive. 22 April 2024.
  6. Web site: SWF Notice Board . SFA Football Central . https://web.archive.org/web/20071117034014/http://www.footballcentral.org/sfa/associations/scottish-womens-football/noticeboard/noticeboard_home.cfm . 17 Nov 2007 . 2007 . dead.
  7. News: Paisley Saints win promotion to First Division . Daily Record . 18 Nov 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220419101639/https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/local-sport/paisley-saints-win-promotion-first-2580762 . 19 Apr 2022.
  8. News: Hibs Ladies out to unravel Paisley pattern still further . The Scotsman . 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220419093034/https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/hibs-ladies-out-unravel-paisley-pattern-still-further-1623173 . 19 Apr 2022.
  9. Web site: League Tables (2010 Season) . SFA . https://web.archive.org/web/20110130014844/http://www.scottishfa.co.uk:80/swf/competitions.cfm?page=1602 . 30 Jan 2011 . dead.
  10. News: Airdrie United Ladies win promotion . Daily Record . 26 Oct 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220419101308/https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/local-sport/airdrie-united-ladies-win-promotion-2827587 . 19 Apr 2022 . runner-up position in the Second Division West table behind champions Kilwinning Sports Club.
  11. News: Jambo girls clinch South East title . The Scotsman . 16 Oct 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220419092828/https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/jambo-girls-clinch-south-east-title-1603505 . 19 Apr 2022.
  12. https://twitter.com/ScotWFootball/status/664145417978978304 Scottish Women's Football, Twitter
  13. Web site: League Tables (2015 Season) . SFA . https://web.archive.org/web/20160323192107/http://scottishfa.co.uk/swf/competitions.cfm?page=1602 . 23 Mar 2016 . dead.
  14. https://uk.women.soccerway.com/national/scotland/swfl-2/2016/north/r34713/ SWFL 2 2016 North
  15. https://uk.women.soccerway.com/national/scotland/swfl-2/2016/south-west/r34714/ SWFL 2 2016 South-West
  16. https://uk.women.soccerway.com/national/scotland/swfl-2/2016/central/r34716/ SWFL 2 2016 Central
  17. https://uk.women.soccerway.com/national/scotland/swfl-2/2016/east/r34715/ SWFL 2 2016 East
  18. https://uk.women.soccerway.com/national/scotland/swfl-2/2017/north/r39489/ SWFL 2 2017 North
  19. https://uk.women.soccerway.com/national/scotland/swfl-2/2017/south-west/r39490/ SWFL 2 2017 South-West
  20. https://uk.women.soccerway.com/national/scotland/swfl-2/2017/central/r39487/ SWFL 2 2017 Central
  21. https://uk.women.soccerway.com/national/scotland/swfl-2/2017/east/r39488/ SWFL 2 2017 East
  22. https://uk.women.soccerway.com/national/scotland/swfl-2/2018/north/r44998/ SWFL 2 2018 North
  23. https://uk.women.soccerway.com/national/scotland/swfl-2/2018/west/r44999/ SWFL 2 2018 South-West
  24. https://uk.women.soccerway.com/national/scotland/swfl-2/2018/central/r44996/ SWFL 2 2018 Central
  25. https://uk.women.soccerway.com/national/scotland/swfl-2/2018/east/r44997/ SWFL 2 2018 East
  26. https://uk.women.soccerway.com/national/scotland/swfl-2/2019/west/r50519/ SWFL 2 2019 North
  27. https://uk.women.soccerway.com/national/scotland/swfl-2/2019/north/r50518/ SWFL 2 2019 South-West
  28. https://uk.women.soccerway.com/national/scotland/swfl-2/2019/north/r50518/ SWFL 2 2019 Central
  29. https://uk.women.soccerway.com/national/scotland/swfl-2/2019/central/r50516/ SWFL 2 2019 East
  30. Web site: Senior Ladies . Falkirk Girls FC . https://web.archive.org/web/20010407192949/http://falkirkgirlsfc.com/pages/seniors.htm . 7 Apr 2001 . dead.
  31. Web site: Tables: Leagues: 2nd Division (incomplete) . https://web.archive.org/web/20030418034841/http://www.swfl.org.uk/Leagues.asp?LeagueID=3 . 18 April 2003.
  32. Web site: Fixtures/Results: 2nd Division 2002-03 (incomplete) . SWFL . https://web.archive.org/web/20030418040312/http://www.swfl.org.uk:80/fixtures.asp?LeagueID=3 . 18 Apr 2003 . dead.
  33. Web site: Falkirk promoted! . Falkirk FC . https://web.archive.org/web/20030627142754/http://www.falkirkfc.com:80/content/latestnews_news.asp?storyid=345 . 27 Jun 2003 . dead.
  34. Web site: Ladies clinch title in league decider . Falkirk FC . May 2003 . https://web.archive.org/web/20030627092612/http://www.falkirkfc.com:80/content/latestnews_news.asp?storyid=384 . 27 Jun 2003 . dead.
  35. Web site: SWFL Division 2 - 2005-2006 (incomplete) . SWFA . https://web.archive.org/web/20060104084414/http://www.ultrasoft.hostinguk.com:80/swfa/tables.asp?Competition=SWFL+Division+2 . 4 Jan 2006 . dead.
  36. Web site: SWFL Division 2 - 2006-2007 (incomplete) . SWFA . https://web.archive.org/web/20070310095055/http://www.ultrasoft.hostinguk.com:80/swfa/tables.asp?Competition=SWFL+Division+2 . 10 Mar 2007 . dead.
  37. Web site: League Tables: Scottish Women's Football . Football Central . https://web.archive.org/web/20071011035107/http://www.footballcentral.org/associations/scottish-womens-football/swfl/league-tables.cfm . 11 Oct 2007.
  38. Web site: The South Deeside View: March 2010 . Dee Vale Ladies FC switched home pitch to Corbie Park for the 2009 season. This proved to be a good move as the team won the SWFL North Division 2 League for the first time in their history. .
  39. News: Scottish football season: Should it be moved to the summer? . BBC Sport . 2 May 2013.
  40. Web site: League Tables (2010 Season, incomplete) . SFA . https://web.archive.org/web/20100525102626/http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/swf/competitions.cfm?page=1602 . 25 May 2010 . dead.
  41. Web site: League Tables (2011 Season, incomplete) . SFA . https://web.archive.org/web/20110629010017/http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/swf/competitions.cfm?page=1602 . 29 Jun 2011 . dead.
  42. Web site: League Tables (2012 Season) . SFA . https://web.archive.org/web/20130604215724/http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/swf/competitions.cfm?page=1602 . 4 Jun 2013 . dead.
  43. Web site: The History of Dee Boys Club . Dee Boys Club . 21 January 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130505115256/http://www.deeboysclub.co.uk/club/History . 5 May 2013.
  44. Web site: Introduction . Cupar Soccer Sevens . 15 February 2013.
  45. News: Fixtures, Results & League Tables. 22 November 2017. Scottish Women's Football. en.
  46. Withdrew during the season, results removed
  47. Web site: SWFL - North/East.
  48. Web site: SWFL - Central/South East.
  49. Web site: SWFL Division 2 - West/Central Scottish Women's Football . scotwomensfootball.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20190209124454/https://scotwomensfootball.com/league-competitions/swfl-division-2-west-central/ . 2019-02-09.
  50. Web site: SWFL - West/South West.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Scottish Women's Football League Second Division".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.