What Is 2017 Scottish Women's Premier League

Overview

The 2017 Scottish Women's Premier League (SWPL) marked the 16th season of the top division of women's football in Scotland, organized by the Scottish Women's Football (SWF) and sanctioned by the Scottish Football Association (SFA). The season featured a restructured format with two divisions: SWPL 1 and SWPL 2, aimed at improving competitive balance and development pathways.

This season introduced a new split system after 22 rounds of matches, where the league divided into top and bottom halves to determine champions and relegation. The structure allowed more meaningful fixtures in the latter half of the season and provided clarity in promotion and relegation outcomes.

• Eight teams competed in SWPL 1: Glasgow City, Hibernian, Rangers, Celtic, Spartans, Aberdeen, Hearts, and Stirling University.
• Four teams played in SWPL 2: Forfar Farmington, East Kilbride, Montrose, and Livingston, with the winner earning promotion.
• The season began on February 12, 2017, with matches played weekly through November, accommodating international breaks.
• Glasgow City claimed their 11th consecutive league title, finishing with 58 points from 22 matches in the top six after the split.
• The league adopted a 3-1-0 points system, awarding three points for a win, one for a draw, and zero for a loss, standard across professional leagues.

How It Works

The 2017 SWPL season operated under a revised two-tier system with promotion and relegation between SWPL 1 and SWPL 2, enhancing competitiveness and long-term growth of women's football in Scotland.

• Format: The season started with all teams playing each other three times, totaling 21–22 matches before the league split into top and bottom sections based on standings.
• Split System: After 22 games, SWPL 1 divided into a championship group (top four) and a relegation group (bottom four), each playing five additional fixtures.
• Promotion/Relegation: The winner of SWPL 2 was promoted automatically, while the bottom team in SWPL 1 was relegated—Celtic earned promotion in 2017.
• Championship Decider: The team with the most points in the championship group after the split was crowned SWPL 1 champion, which was Glasgow City.
• Player Eligibility: Teams fielded squads with a mix of full-time and part-time players, with no foreign player caps limiting participation in the league.
• Match Scheduling: Games were typically played on weekends, with some midweek fixtures to accommodate cup competitions and international duty.

Comparison at a Glance

Below is a comparison of the 2017 SWPL 1 final standings before and after the split, showing how the championship and relegation groups were formed.

The split system ensured that teams had meaningful objectives late into the season. While Glasgow City dominated the top tier, the battle for promotion and avoidance of relegation added excitement, particularly with Celtic’s rise and Forfar Farmington’s drop to SWPL 2.

Why It Matters

The 2017 SWPL season was pivotal in shaping the future of women’s football in Scotland, introducing structural changes that improved competition and visibility. These reforms laid the groundwork for greater investment and professionalism in the years that followed.

• The introduction of SWPL 2 created a formal promotion pathway, increasing opportunities for clubs outside the traditional elite.
• Glasgow City’s dominance highlighted both their strength and the need for competitive parity in the league structure.
• Increased media coverage and attendance growth reflected rising public interest in women’s football during this period.
• The season contributed to Scotland’s FIFA Women's World Cup qualifying campaign, with several SWPL players representing the national team.
• Clubs like Celtic and Rangers expanded their women’s programs, signaling a shift toward semi-professional standards.
• The 2017 format served as a model for future seasons, influencing further league expansions and centralization efforts by the SFA.

Overall, the 2017 Scottish Women's Premier League was a transitional yet impactful season that strengthened the foundation for the professionalization of women's football in Scotland, setting benchmarks for performance, structure, and growth.