2020 Scottish Women's Premier League
The 2020 Scottish Women's Premier League, known as the Scottish Building Society Scottish Women's Premier League for sponsorship reasons,[1] was due to be the 19th season of the Scottish Women's Premier League, the highest division of women's association football in Scotland since its inception in 2002. The league was split into two divisions - SWPL 1 with eight teams and SWPL 2 with 10 teams.[2] Glasgow City are the defending champions. Heart of Midlothian joined the SWPL 1 as the promoted club from the 2019 SWPL 2, replacing Stirling University. Aberdeen, Queen's Park and Boroughmuir Thistle joined the SWPL 2 as the promoted clubs from the SWFL. No teams were relegated as the league was expanded from eight teams to 10.[2]
The season started on 21 February 2020 and was scheduled to end in November 2020,[3] but was interrupted by the coronavirus pandemic. In July 2020, the 2020 season was declared null and void. A new season is due to start in October 2020 and end in June 2021, with the league reverting to a winter season format.[4]
Teams
SWPL 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 | Glasgow | Scott Booth | Petershill Park | 1,000 | 1st |
| Heart of Midlothian | Edinburgh | Andy Enwood | Oriam | 1,000 | 1st in SWPL 2 |
| Hibernian | Edinburgh |  Vacant | Ainslie Park | 3,000 | 2nd |
| Motherwell | Motherwell | Eddie Wolecki Black | Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility | 1,000 | 6th |
| Rangers | Milngavie |  Grégory Vignal | Rangers Training Centre | 500 | 4th |
| Spartans | Edinburgh | Debbi McCulloch | Ainslie Park | 3,000 | 5th |
Source: [5]
SWPL 2
| Team | Location | Head coach | Home ground | Capacity | 2019 position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen | Aberdeen | Emma Hunter | Aberdeen Sports Village | 1,000 | 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 | GA Engineering Arena | 1,000 | 3rd |
| Glasgow Women | Glasgow | Craig Joyce | Petershill Park | 1,000 | 6th |
| Hamilton Academical | Hamilton | Gary Doctor | New Douglas Park | 6,018 | 2nd |
| Kilmarnock | Kilmarnock | Andy Gardner | Rugby Park | 17,889 | 4th |
| Partick Thistle | Glasgow | John Doyle | Petershill Park | 1,000 | 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: [5]
SWPL 1
| Season | 2020 |
|---|---|
| Matches played | 4 |
| Goals scored | 8 (2 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Megan Bell (two goals)[6] |
| Biggest home win | Rangers 3–0 Heart of Midlothian (23 February 2020) |
| Biggest away win | Forfar Farmington 0–1 Motherwell (23 February 2020) |
| Highest scoring | Celtic 2–1 Glasgow City (21 February 2020) Rangers 3–0 Heart of Midlothian (23 February 2020) |
← 2019 2020–21 →
All statistics correct as of 23 February 2020. | |
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rangers | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | +3 | 3 | Qualification for the Champions League qualifying round |
| 2 | Celtic | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 3 | |
| 3 | Hibernian | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 3 | |
| 4 | Motherwell | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 3 | |
| 5 | Glasgow City | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 | 0 | |
| 6 | Forfar Farmington | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −1 | 0 | |
| 7 | Spartans | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −1 | 0 | Qualification for the play-offs |
| 8 | Heart of Midlothian | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | −3 | 0 | Relegation to SWPL 2 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
Positions by round
| Champions; Qualification for the 2020–21 Champions League qualifying round | |
| Qualification for the play-offs | |
| Relegation to 2020 SWPL 2 |
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.
Results
Matches 1 to 14
|
Matches 15 to 21
|
SWPL 2
| Season | 2020 |
|---|---|
| Matches played | 5 |
| Goals scored | 27 (5.4 per match) |
| Biggest home win | Hamilton Academical 5–0 Stirling University (23 February 2020) |
| Biggest away win | Queen's Park 2–4 St Johnstone (23 February 2020) |
| Highest scoring | Dundee United 8–4 Boroughmuir Thistle (23 February 2020) |
← 2019 2020–21 →
All statistics correct as of 23 February 2020. | |
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hamilton Academical | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | +5 | 3 | Promotion to SWPL 1 |
| 2 | Dundee United | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 4 | +4 | 3 | Qualification for the play-offs |
| 3 | St Johnstone | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 3 | |
| 4 | Partick Thistle | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 3 | |
| 5 | Kilmarnock | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 6 | Aberdeen | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 7 | Queen's Park | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | −2 | 0 | |
| 8 | Glasgow Women | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | −2 | 0 | Qualification for the play-offs |
| 9 | Boroughmuir Thistle | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 8 | −4 | 0 | Relegation to the Championship |
| 10 | Stirling University | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | −5 | 0 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
Positions by round
| Champions; Promotion to 2021 SWPL 1 | |
| Qualification for the play-offs | |
| Qualification for the play-offs | |
| Relegation to 2021 Championship |
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.
Results
References
- "Scottish women's champions to receive prize money for first time". BBC Sport. 24 August 2017. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
- "New Senior Structure for 2020 and beyond". Scottish Women's Premier League. 19 September 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
- "BBC ALBA to broadcast Celtic v Glasgow City on the opening weekend". Scottish Women's Premier League. 4 February 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
- Lewis, Jane (29 July 2020). "SWPL season declared null and void after one round of games". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
- "Scottish Women's Premier League". Scottish Women's Premier League. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
- "Top Goalscorers". Scottish Women's Premier League. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- "Summary - SWPL1". Soccerway. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- "Summary - SWPL2". Soccerway. Retrieved 23 February 2020.