2021–22 Scottish Women's Premier League
{{About|the top division of the competition|the lower division|2021–22 Scottish Women's Premier League 2}}
{{Infobox football league season
|competition=Scottish Women's Premier League 1
|season=2021–22
|winners=Rangers (1st title)
|relegated=
|continentalcup1=Champions League
|continentalcup1 qualifiers=
|matches=135
|total goals=481
|league topscorer=
|biggest home win=Glasgow City 10–1 Aberdeen
Glasgow City 9–0 Spartans
|biggest away win=Hamilton Academical 0–7 Rangers
Partick Thistle 0–7 Celtic
|highest scoring=Glasgow City 10–1 Aberdeen (11 goals)
|longest wins=
|longest unbeaten=Rangers (27 games)
|longest winless=
|longest losses=
|highest attendance=
|lowest attendance=
|average attendance=
|prevseason=2020–21
|nextseason=2022–23
|updated=
}}
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 season was played with 10 teams;{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54501332 |title=SWPL: No relegation this season with top flight to expand to 10 teams |website=BBC Sport |date=12 October 2020 |access-date=12 October 2020}} original participants Forfar Farmington resigned suddenly in August 2021{{cite news |title=Forfar Farmington a sorry casualty of the professional era |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/19514308.alan-campbell-forfar-farmington-sorry-casualty-professional-era/ |work=The Herald |date=15 Aug 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210815085830/https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/19514308.alan-campbell-forfar-farmington-sorry-casualty-professional-era/ |archive-date=15 Aug 2021}} and Partick Thistle were elevated to SWPL 1 to maintain an even number of teams (leaving SWPL 2 one short).
The league season started on 5 September 2021 and ended on 15 May 2022.{{cite web |url=https://www.womenspremierleague.co.uk/news/2021-22-swpl-fixtures-released/ |title=2021/22 SWPL Fixtures released |publisher=Scottish Women's Football |date=20 July 2021 |accessdate=21 September 2021}} The competition was known as the Scottish Building Society Scottish Women's Premier League for sponsorship reasons,{{cite web |url=https://scotwomensfootball.com/swf-statement-league-start-date-announced-with-enhanced-broadcast-deal/ |title=League start date announced [2020] |publisher=SWF |date=29 July 2020 |access-date=29 July 2020}} then as the Park's Motor Group Scottish Women's Premier League from November 2021.{{cite web|last=Diamond|first=Drew|date=22 November 2021|title=Historic new sponsorship deal for Scottish top flight|url=https://herfootballhub.com/historic-new-sponsorship-deal-for-scottish-top-flight/|access-date=22 November 2021|website=Her Football Hub}} Glasgow City were the defending champions of 14 consecutive seasons.
In February 2022, Glasgow City lost 3–1 away to Rangers in a pivotal fixture;{{cite news |title=Rangers on course for first-ever SWPL 1 title after defeating Glasgow City |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/19903799.rangers-course-first-ever-swpl-1-title-defeating-glasgow-city/ |work=The Herald |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220206191820/https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/19903799.rangers-course-first-ever-swpl-1-title-defeating-glasgow-city/ |archive-date=6 Feb 2022}} a 0–0 draw in the reverse fixture on 8 May gave Rangers the SWPL 1 championship, their first Scottish women's title.{{cite news |last1=Goodwin |first1=Sophie |title=Aberdeen Women beaten 4-1 by Hibernian in penultimate weekend of SWPL 1 |url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/sport/football/aberdeen-fc/4266854/aberdeen-women-beaten-4-1-by-hibernian-in-penultimate-weekend-of-swpl-1/ |work=The Press and Journal |date=8 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220509011531/https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/sport/football/aberdeen-fc/4266854/aberdeen-women-beaten-4-1-by-hibernian-in-penultimate-weekend-of-swpl-1/ |archive-date=9 May 2022}} The Gers finished seven points ahead of Glasgow City and only dropped four points, via two draws against the deposed champions, defeating all other opponents three times for an unbeaten season. They also qualified for the UEFA Women's Champions League for the first time.[https://www.rangersnews.uk/club-news/rangers-end-14-years-of-glasgow-city-dominance-with-historic-swpl-title-win/ Rangers end 14 years of Glasgow City dominance with historic SWPL title win], Rangers News, 8 May 2022
No clubs were relegated from SWPL 1 and two promoted from SWPL 2 due to divisional expansion to 12 teams for the 2022–23 season.{{cite news |title=SWPL top flight expanding to 12 teams for next season |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/60952229 |work=BBC Sport |date=1 Apr 2022}} The league's first promotion/relegation play-off had been planned{{cite web|url=https://www.womenspremierleague.co.uk/news/new-senior-structure-for-2020-and-beyond/ |publisher=SWPL |date=19 Sep 2019 |access-date=19 Feb 2020 |title=New Senior Structure for 2020 and beyond}} until the expansion was confirmed in April 2022 following the SWPL clubs' majority vote to leave SWF for the SPFL in February.{{cite web |title=SWPL to be administered by the SPFL for season 2022/23 |url=https://scotwomensfootball.com/swpl-to-be-administered-by-the-spfl-for-season-2022-23/ |website=Scottish Women's Football |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220215131138/https://scotwomensfootball.com/swpl-to-be-administered-by-the-spfl-for-season-2022-23/ |archive-date=15 Feb 2022 |date=15 Feb 2022}}
Teams
| class="wikitable sortable" | |||||
| Team
! Location ! Head coach ! Home ground ! Capacity ! data-sort-type="number"|2020–21 position | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen | Cove Bay | {{flagicon|SCO}} Emma Hunter {{flagicon|SCO}} Gavin Beith | Balmoral Stadium | 2,602 | align=center |{{ntsh|9}}1st in SWPL 2 |
| Celtic | Airdrie | {{flagicon|ESP}} Fran Alonso | Excelsior Stadium | 10,101 | align=center | 2nd |
| Glasgow City | Springburn | {{flagicon|IRL}} Eileen Gleeson | Petershill Park | 1,000 | align="center" | 1st |
| Hamilton Academical | Hamilton | {{flagicon|SCO}} Gary Doctor | New Douglas Park | 6,018 | align=center | {{ntsh|10}}2nd in SWPL 2 |
| Heart of Midlothian | Edinburgh | {{flagicon|ESP}} Eva Olid | Oriam | 1,000 | align=center | 8th |
| Hibernian | Livingston | {{flagicon|SCO}} Dean Gibson | Almondvale Stadium | 3,000 | align=center | 4th |
| Motherwell | Motherwell | {{flagicon|SCO}} Stewart Hall {{flagicon|SCO}} Willie Kinniburgh (interim) | Alliance Park | 500 | align=center | 6th |
| Partick Thistle | Springburn | {{flagicon|SCO}} Brian Graham | Petershill Park | 1,000 | align=center | {{ntsh|11}}3rd in SWPL 2 |
| Rangers | Milngavie | {{flagicon|SCO}} Malky Thomson | Rangers Training Centre | 500 | align=center | 3rd |
| Spartans | Edinburgh | {{flagicon|SCO}} Debbi McCulloch | Ainslie Park | 3,000 | align=center | 5th |
{{Location map+ |Scotland Central Belt|width=600 |float=center |caption=Locations of teams in the SWPL
|places=
{{Location map~ |Scotland Central Belt |lat=57.161721 |long=-2.092061 |position=left |label=Aberdeen}}
{{Location map~ |Scotland Central Belt |lat=55.8612 |long=-3.959 |position=top |label=Celtic}}
{{Location map~ |Scotland Central Belt |lat=55.97 |long=-3.2 |position=right |label=Edinburgh}}
{{Location map~ |Scotland Central Belt |lat=55.860916 |long=-4.251433|position=left |label=Glasgow}}
{{Location map~ |Scotland Central Belt |lat=55.782156 |long=-4.058503 |position=left|label=Hamilton}}
{{Location map~ |Scotland Central Belt |lat=55.8861 |long=-3.5219 |position=top |label=Hibernian}}
{{Location map~ |Scotland Central Belt |lat=55.7975 |long=-4.023056 |label=Motherwell |position=right}}
{{Location map~ |Scotland Central Belt |lat=55.933 |long=-4.305 |position=top |label=Rangers}}
{{Location map~ |Scotland Central Belt |mark=TransparentPlaceholder.png |marksize=1 |lat= 57.1 |long=-4.85 |label_size=90 |label=
{{nowrap|Glasgow teams:}}
{{nowrap|Glasgow City
}}
{{Location map~ |Scotland Central Belt |mark=TransparentPlaceholder.png |marksize=1 |lat= 55.65 |long=-2.5 |label_size=90 |label=
{{nowrap|Edinburgh teams:}}
Spartans}}
}}
League table
|section=SWPL1
|update=complete
|team1=RAN |team2=GLA |team3=CEL |team4=HIB |team5=ABE |team6=SPA |team7=MOT |team8=HOM |team9=PTW |team10=HAW
|result1=CL3 |result2=CL3
|win_ABE=9 |draw_ABE=2 |loss_ABE=16|gf_ABE=39|ga_ABE=69|status_ABE=
|win_CEL=19|draw_CEL=3 |loss_CEL=5 |gf_CEL=85|ga_CEL=22|status_CEL=
|win_GLA=22|draw_GLA=4 |loss_GLA=1 |gf_GLA=89|ga_GLA=13|status_GLA=Q
|win_HAW=3 |draw_HAW=4 |loss_HAW=20|gf_HAW=17|ga_HAW=69|status_HAW=
|win_HOM=6 |draw_HOM=2 |loss_HOM=19|gf_HOM=20|ga_HOM=66|status_HOM=
|win_HIB=13|draw_HIB=4 |loss_HIB=10|gf_HIB=46|ga_HIB=32|status_HIB=
|win_MOT=8 |draw_MOT=3 |loss_MOT=16|gf_MOT=31|ga_MOT=75|status_MOT=
|win_PTW=4 |draw_PTW=6 |loss_PTW=17|gf_PTW=29|ga_PTW=70|status_PTW=
|win_RAN=25|draw_RAN=2 |loss_RAN=0 |gf_RAN=97|ga_RAN=11 |status_RAN=C,Q
|win_SPA=6 |draw_SPA=10|loss_SPA=11 |gf_SPA=28|ga_SPA=54|status_SPA=
|name_ABE=Aberdeen
|name_CEL=Celtic
|name_GLA=Glasgow City
|name_HAW=Hamilton Academical
|name_HOM=Heart of Midlothian
|name_HIB=Hibernian
|name_MOT=Motherwell
|name_PTW=Partick Thistle
|name_RAN=Rangers
|name_SPA=Spartans
|class_rules=1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
|res_col_header=QR
|col_CL3=green1 |text_CL3=Qualification for the Champions League first round
}}
Results
{{col-begin|width=auto}}
{{col-break}}
=Matches 1 to 18=
{{#invoke:sports results|main
|matches_style=FBR|solid_cell=grey
|team1=ABE|team2=CEL|team3=GLA|team4=HAW|team5=HOM|team6=HIB|team7=MOT|team8=PTW|team9=RAN|team10=SPA
|name_ABE=Aberdeen
|match_ABE_CEL=2–4
|match_ABE_GLA=0–5
|match_ABE_HAW=1–0
|match_ABE_HOM=2–3
|match_ABE_HIB=1–0
|match_ABE_MOT=5–1
|match_ABE_PTW=4–2
|match_ABE_RAN=0–2
|match_ABE_SPA=2–3
|name_CEL=Celtic
|match_CEL_ABE=3–1
|match_CEL_GLA=2–2
|match_CEL_HAW=3–0
|match_CEL_HOM=2–0
|match_CEL_HIB=2–1
|match_CEL_MOT=7–0
|match_CEL_PTW=6–0
|match_CEL_RAN=0–1
|match_CEL_SPA=2–2
|name_GLA=Glasgow City
|match_GLA_ABE=10–1
|match_GLA_CEL=2–0
|match_GLA_HAW=1–0
|match_GLA_HOM=2–0
|match_GLA_HIB=2–1
|match_GLA_MOT=6–0
|match_GLA_PTW=3–1
|match_GLA_RAN=1–1
|match_GLA_SPA=9–0
|name_HAW=Hamilton Academical
|match_HAW_ABE=1–2
|match_HAW_CEL=0–6
|match_HAW_GLA=1–3
|match_HAW_HOM=0–1
|match_HAW_HIB=0–1
|match_HAW_MOT=1–2
|match_HAW_PTW=0–1
|match_HAW_RAN=0–7
|match_HAW_SPA=2–2
|name_HOM=Heart of Midlothian
|match_HOM_ABE=0–4
|match_HOM_CEL=0–3
|match_HOM_GLA=0–2
|match_HOM_HAW=1–2
|match_HOM_HIB=1–3
|match_HOM_MOT=1–0
|match_HOM_PTW=2–4
|match_HOM_RAN=0–3
|match_HOM_SPA=1–1
|name_HIB=Hibernian
|match_HIB_ABE=1–0
|match_HIB_CEL=1–1
|match_HIB_GLA=0–3
|match_HIB_HAW=2–2
|match_HIB_HOM=3–0
|match_HIB_MOT=1–0
|match_HIB_PTW=1–0
|match_HIB_RAN=0–1
|match_HIB_SPA=3–0
|name_MOT=Motherwell
|match_MOT_ABE=4–3
|match_MOT_CEL=0–4
|match_MOT_GLA=1–5
|match_MOT_HAW=3–0
|match_MOT_HOM=2–0
|match_MOT_HIB=0–4
|match_MOT_PTW=2–2
|match_MOT_RAN=0–1
|match_MOT_SPA=3–0
|name_PTW=Partick Thistle
|match_PTW_ABE=0–2
|match_PTW_CEL=0–7
|match_PTW_GLA=0–2
|match_PTW_HAW=2–2
|match_PTW_HOM=2–3
|match_PTW_HIB=3–2
|match_PTW_MOT=3–2
|match_PTW_RAN=0–1
|match_PTW_SPA=2–2
|name_RAN=Rangers
|match_RAN_ABE=8–0
|match_RAN_CEL=3–0
|match_RAN_GLA=3–1
|match_RAN_HAW=4–0
|match_RAN_HOM=6–0
|match_RAN_HIB=2–1
|match_RAN_MOT=5–0
|match_RAN_PTW=7–1
|match_RAN_SPA=6–1
|name_SPA=Spartans
|match_SPA_ABE=0–0
|match_SPA_CEL=0–2
|match_SPA_GLA=0–4
|match_SPA_HAW=1–0
|match_SPA_HOM=3–1
|match_SPA_HIB=0–0
|match_SPA_MOT=0–0
|match_SPA_PTW=0–0
|match_SPA_RAN=2–5
|update=complete
}}
{{col-break|gap=1em}}
=Matches 19 to 27=
{{#invoke:sports results|main
|matches_style=FBR|solid_cell=grey
|team1=ABE|team2=CEL|team3=GLA|team4=HAW|team5=HOM|team6=HIB|team7=MOT|team8=PTW|team9=RAN|team10=SPA
|name_ABE=Aberdeen
|match_ABE_CEL=0–3
|match_ABE_GLA=null
|match_ABE_HAW=2–1
|match_ABE_HOM=0–1
|match_ABE_HIB=null
|match_ABE_MOT=null
|match_ABE_PTW=null
|match_ABE_RAN=null
|match_ABE_SPA=1–1
|name_CEL=Celtic
|match_CEL_ABE=null
|match_CEL_GLA=null
|match_CEL_HAW=null
|match_CEL_HOM=5–0
|match_CEL_HIB=4–0
|match_CEL_MOT=6–1
|match_CEL_PTW=null
|match_CEL_RAN=1–3
|match_CEL_SPA=null
|name_GLA=Glasgow City
|match_GLA_ABE=4–1
|match_GLA_CEL=2–1
|match_GLA_HAW=6–0
|match_GLA_HOM=null
|match_GLA_HIB=null
|match_GLA_MOT=6–0
|match_GLA_PTW=2–0
|match_GLA_RAN=null
|match_GLA_SPA=null
|name_HAW=Hamilton Academical
|match_HAW_ABE=null
|match_HAW_CEL=0–6
|match_HAW_GLA=null
|match_HAW_HOM=null
|match_HAW_HIB=0–4
|match_HAW_MOT=null
|match_HAW_PTW=null
|match_HAW_RAN=0–4
|match_HAW_SPA=1–2
|name_HOM=Heart of Midlothian
|match_HOM_ABE=null
|match_HOM_CEL=null
|match_HOM_GLA=0–2
|match_HOM_HAW=1–1
|match_HOM_HIB=null
|match_HOM_MOT=null
|match_HOM_PTW=3–0
|match_HOM_RAN=0–5
|match_HOM_SPA=null
|name_HIB=Hibernian
|match_HIB_ABE=4–1
|match_HIB_CEL=null
|match_HIB_GLA=0–0
|match_HIB_HAW=null
|match_HIB_HOM=4–1
|match_HIB_MOT=7–1
|match_HIB_PTW=null
|match_HIB_RAN=null
|match_HIB_SPA=null
|name_MOT=Motherwell
|match_MOT_ABE=3–2
|match_MOT_CEL=null
|match_MOT_GLA=null
|match_MOT_HAW=0–1
|match_MOT_HOM=1–0
|match_MOT_HIB=null
|match_MOT_PTW=3–3
|match_MOT_RAN=1–2
|match_MOT_SPA=null
|name_PTW=Partick Thistle
|match_PTW_ABE=1–2
|match_PTW_CEL=0–2
|match_PTW_GLA=null
|match_PTW_HAW=1–2
|match_PTW_HOM=null
|match_PTW_HIB=0–2
|match_PTW_MOT=null
|match_PTW_RAN=null
|match_PTW_SPA=0–0
|name_RAN=Rangers
|match_RAN_ABE=4–0
|match_RAN_CEL=null
|match_RAN_GLA=0–0
|match_RAN_HAW=null
|match_RAN_HOM=null
|match_RAN_HIB=5–0
|match_RAN_MOT=null
|match_RAN_PTW=6–1
|match_RAN_SPA=2–1
|name_SPA=Spartans
|match_SPA_ABE=null
|match_SPA_CEL=1–3
|match_SPA_GLA=0–4
|match_SPA_HAW=null
|match_SPA_HOM=4–0
|match_SPA_HIB=2–0
|match_SPA_MOT=0–1
|match_SPA_PTW=null
|match_SPA_RAN=null
|update=complete
}}
{{col-end}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.womenspremierleague.co.uk/ Official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920173313/https://www.womenspremierleague.co.uk/ |date=2022-09-20 }}
{{Scottish Women's Premier League}}
{{2021–22 in Scottish football}}
{{2021–22 in European women's football (UEFA)}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Scottish Women's Premier League, 2021}}