Scottish Women's Football League Second Division

Scottish Women's Football League Second Division

Divisions	1 (1999–2008) 4 (2012–2019)
Number of teams	10–40
Level on pyramid	3 (1999–2015) 4 (2016–2019)
Promotion to	Scottish Women's Football League First Division
Domestic cup(s)	Scottish Women's Cup
League cup(s)	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, ^{[1] [2]} 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. ^[3]

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. ^[4]

History

The Second Division was initially a single national competition, ^[5] played as a double round-robin.

Champions

National division champions – league level 3:

• 1999-00: Forfar Farmington ^[6]
• 2000–01: Hamilton Athletic ^[1]
• 2001–02: Hawkcraig United ^[6]
• 2002–03: Falkirk L.F.C. ^{[7] [8]}
• 2003–04: Arsenal North ^[6]
• 2004–05: Inverness City ^[6]
• 2005–06: Buchan ^[6]
• 2006–07: Cowdenbeath ^{[9] [10]}
• 2007–08: Celtic Reserves ^[6]

Regional division champions – league level 3:

• 2008–09:South-West / West: Glasgow City Reserves ^[6]
• 2008–09:South-East / Central Musselburgh Windsor ^[6]

• 2009:South-West / West Troon ^[6]
• 2009:South-East / East / Central Airdrie United ^[6]

Season	North group	West group	East group	South East group	Ref
2010	Aberdeen City	Paisley Saints Ladies [11] [12]	Hibernian 2000	–	[13]
2011	Buchan	Kilwinning Sports Club [14]	Forfar Farmington
2012	Stonehaven	Murieston United	Dunfermline Athletic	Heart of Midlothian [15]

Season	North	West/South West	East/Central	South East	Ref
2013	Aberdeen Reserves	Claremont	Jeanfield Swifts	Hibernian Development
2014	Dee Vale	Mill United	East Fife	Boroughmuir Thistle
2015	Dee Vale	Glasgow City Development [16]	Central Girls Academy	Motherwell	[17]

Regional division champions – league level 4:

Season	North/East	West/South West	West/Central	South East/Central	Ref
2016	Granite City [18]	Renfrew [19]	Partick Thistle [20]	Dundee United [21]
2017	Deveronvale [22]	Morton [23]	Blackburn United [24]	Bayside [25]
2018	Montrose [26]	Ayr United [27]	Glasgow City B [28]	Kelty Hearts [29]
2019	Dundee West [30]	Morton [31]	Bishopton [32]	Edinburgh Caledonia [33]

Seasons

1999–2008

In the season 2000–01, Hamilton Athletic finished top of the 10-team national Second Division. ^[1]

Arthurlie Falkirk GC Wellpark Hamilton Athletic Inverness Caledonian Thistle

Inverurie Utd Livingston Middlefield WSC Preston Whitehill Welfare

Falkirk Ladies had won promotion from the SWFL Third Division in 1999–2000, ^[34] and they became the Second Division champions in 2002–03, ahead of Dundee City and Civil Service Strollers. ^{[35] [36]} Falkirk sealed the title with late-season wins over St. Johnstone away and Dundee City at Brockville. ^{[7] [8]}

In 2005–06, the top teams in the division were champions Buchan Girls, Crichton, Cowdenbeath, Arsenal North 2nd LFC and Thistle LFC. ^[37] Cowdenbeath won the 2006–07 championship. ^{[9] [10]}

2007–08 was the last season of the national SWFL Second Division. The member clubs were: ^[2]

Celtic 'B' Dundee City Dunfermline Athletic East Kilbride Thistle Hamilton Academical 'B'

Kemnay F.C. Kilmarnock [ clarification needed ] Paisley Saints Maryhill Tynecastle

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: Aberdeen University Buchan Dee Vale [38] Aberdeen University Buchan Dons Ladies Dee Vale Dundee City Dundee University Forfar Farmington Lassies Glendale Ladies Kemnay Monifieth SLB Harriers Stonehaven Ladies

West: Airdrie United (replaced Clyde LFC after two matches) Glasgow City Reserves Glasgow Ladies B Glasgow University Hamilton Accies 'B' Linwood Rangers Loudon Maryhill Paisley Saints Team Strathclyde Troon F.C. Kilmarnock withdrew before the season started

East: Boroughmuir Dunfermline Athletic East Fife Hibernian B Motherwell Murieston United Musselburgh Windsor Spartans B Stenhousemuir Ladies St. Johnstone

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. Aberdeen LFC Development, Aberdeen Aberdeen LFC Reserves Buchan Ladies Youth, Cruden Bay Dee Ladies, Aberdeen Dee Vale, Maryculter Elgin City, Elgin Kemnay, Kemnay Luthermuir Stonehaven, Stonehaven Turriff United, Turriff

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. Dundee City, Dundee Dunfermline 2013, Dunfermline East Fife Violet, Levenmouth Falkirk FC, Falkirk Falkirk LFC Reserves Forfar Farmington Ladies Jeanfield Swifts, Perth Raith Rovers, Kirkcaldy Stenhousemuir, Stenhousemuir Tayside Ladies, Lochee

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. Boroughmuir Thistle Edinburgh Caledonia, Edinburgh FC Edinburgh Ladies, Edinburgh Hearts Development Hibernian Development Hutchison Vale Reserves Leith Athletic, Edinburgh Murieston United Reds, Livingston Musselburgh Windsor, Musselburgh Seton Ladies, Port Seton Spartans Reserves

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. Claremont, East Kilbride Dumfries, Dumfries Glasgow Girls, Glasgow Hamilton Caledonian, Hamilton Irvine Thistle, Irvine Kilwinning Development Mill United, Hamilton Stranraer, Stranraer Viewfield Rovers, Lochwinnoch Whitburn, Whitburn

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: Buchan Youth Buckie Ladies Deveronvale Moray Ladies Ross County Stonehaven Turriff United

West: Ayr United Bishopton Dumbarton United F.C. Kilmarnock 23s Kilwinning Morton Pollok United Queen of the South Rutherglen St Roch's [lower-alpha 1] Stranraer United Glasgow Westerlands B [lower-alpha 1]

Central: Airdrie Blackburn United Broxburn Athletic Colts Cumbernauld Colts Development East Kilbride Girls Glasgow Girls Development Hamilton Academical Development Hawick United Linlithgow Rose Motherwell Development Murieston United Stenhousemuir

East: Bayside Dundee City East Fife Violet Edinburgh Caledonia Edinburgh South Forfar Farmington Ladies Hutchison Vale Development Letham [lower-alpha 1] Montrose Raith Rovers Seton Ladies [lower-alpha 1] Spartans Development

1. Withdrew during the season, results removed

2019

Member clubs in the 2019 season:

North/East: Buchan Youth Dryburgh Athletic Dundee City Dunfermline Athletic U21s East Fife Development Forfar Farmington Women Granite City Ladies Jeanfield Swifts Women Moray Westdyke Thistle Ladies Details: [46]

South East/Central: Airdrie Ladies Blackburn United Development Borders Ladies Edinburgh Caledonia FC Falkirk Lothian Murieston United Musselburgh Windsor Stenhousemuir Stirling University Development Details: [47]

West/Central: Bishopton BSC Glasgow Clyde FC Glasgow Girls U23s Motherwell Development Pollok United Renton Craigandro Ladies St Mirren WFC United Glasgow West Park United Details: [48]

West/South West: Annan Athletic Ladies FC Clark Drive Ladies East Kilbride Thistle Ladies Gleniffer Thistle Kilwinning Mid Annandale Ladies Morton Women Rutherglen Stewarton United Ladies Stranraer Ladies Details: [49]

See also

• Scottish Women's Football League Second Division Cup

References

1. "Tables: Leagues: 2nd Division". SWFL. Archived from the original on 24 July 2001.
2. "League Tables: Scottish Women's Football". Football Central. Archived from the original on 11 Oct 2007.
3. "Regional league winners seal play-off place". SWF News. Scottish Women's Football Association. 15 October 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
4. "New Senior Structure for 2020 and beyond". SWPL. 19 September 2019. Archived from the original on 21 February 2020.
5. "Scottish Women's Football League Division 2 clubs". SWFA. Archived from the original on 17 May 2003.
6. "Women's League Competitions". sfha.org.uk. Scottish Football Historical Archive. 8 June 2023. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
7. "Falkirk promoted!". Falkirk FC. Archived from the original on 27 Jun 2003.
8. "Ladies clinch title in league decider". Falkirk FC. May 2003. Archived from the original on 27 Jun 2003.
9. "SWF Notice Board". SFA Football Central. 2007. Archived from the original on 17 Nov 2007.
10. "SWFL Division 2 - 2006-2007 (incomplete)". SWFA. Archived from the original on 10 Mar 2007.
11. "Paisley Saints win promotion to First Division". Daily Record. 18 Nov 2010. Archived from the original on 19 Apr 2022.
12. "Hibs Ladies out to unravel Paisley pattern still further". The Scotsman. 2012. Archived from the original on 19 Apr 2022.
13. "League Tables (2010 Season)". SFA. Archived from the original on 30 Jan 2011.
14. "Airdrie United Ladies win promotion". Daily Record. 26 Oct 2011. Archived from the original on 19 Apr 2022. runner-up position in the Second Division West table behind champions Kilwinning Sports Club
15. "Jambo girls clinch South East title". The Scotsman. 16 Oct 2012. Archived from the original on 19 Apr 2022.
16. Scottish Women's Football, Twitter 10 Nov 2015
17. "League Tables (2015 Season)". SFA. Archived from the original on 23 Mar 2016.
18. SWFL 2 | 2016 | North. Soccerway. Retrieved 5 November 2021
19. SWFL 2 | 2016 | South-West. Soccerway. Retrieved 5 November 2021
20. SWFL 2 | 2016 | Central. Soccerway. Retrieved 5 November 2021
21. SWFL 2 | 2016 | East. Soccerway. Retrieved 5 November 2021
22. SWFL 2 | 2017 | North. Soccerway. Retrieved 5 November 2021
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24. SWFL 2 | 2017 | Central. Soccerway. Retrieved 5 November 2021
25. SWFL 2 | 2017 | East. Soccerway. Retrieved 5 November 2021
26. SWFL 2 | 2018 | North. Soccerway. Retrieved 5 November 2021
27. SWFL 2 | 2018 | South-West. Soccerway. Retrieved 5 November 2021
28. SWFL 2 | 2018 | Central. Soccerway. Retrieved 5 November 2021
29. SWFL 2 | 2018 | East. Soccerway. Retrieved 5 November 2021
30. SWFL 2 | 2019 | North. Soccerway. Retrieved 5 November 2021
31. SWFL 2 | 2019 | South-West. Soccerway. Retrieved 5 November 2021
32. SWFL 2 | 2019 | Central. Soccerway. Retrieved 5 November 2021
33. SWFL 2 | 2019 | East. Soccerway. Retrieved 5 November 2021
34. "Senior Ladies". Falkirk Girls FC. Archived from the original on 7 Apr 2001.
35. "Tables: Leagues: 2nd Division (incomplete)". Archived from the original on 18 April 2003.
36. "Fixtures/Results: 2nd Division 2002-03 (incomplete)". SWFL. Archived from the original on 18 Apr 2003.
37. "SWFL Division 2 - 2005-2006 (incomplete)". SWFA. Archived from the original on 4 Jan 2006.
38. "The South Deeside View: March 2010" (PDF). 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. "Scottish football season: Should it be moved to the summer?". BBC Sport. 2 May 2013.
40. "League Tables (2010 Season, incomplete)". SFA. Archived from the original on 25 May 2010.
41. "League Tables (2011 Season, incomplete)". SFA. Archived from the original on 29 Jun 2011.
42. "League Tables (2012 Season)". SFA. Archived from the original on 4 Jun 2013.
43. "The History of Dee Boys Club". Dee Boys Club. 21 January 2012. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013.
44. "Introduction". Cupar Soccer Sevens. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
45. "Fixtures, Results & League Tables". Scottish Women's Football. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
46. "SWFL - North/East".
47. "SWFL - Central/South East".
48. "SWFL Division 2 - West/Central | Scottish Women's Football". scotwomensfootball.com. Archived from the original on 2019-02-09.
49. "SWFL - West/South West".

External links

• Scottish Women's Football
• Scottish Women's League results and tables since 1972 at Scottish Football Historical Results Archive