Hearts join inaugural Women's Premier League

The historic meeting saw the creation of SWPL1 with twelve teams (from the previous top tier of ten teams) alongside the creation of SWPL2 with eight teams entering the league.

With 20 teams now confirmed across the two leagues, alongside the appointment of the board directors for the SWPL, this formally concludes the adoption of the professional women’s game into the new format which is designed to grow and promote women’s football across Scotland.

The inaugural clubs of the SWPL are: SWPL1

Aberdeen FC
Celtic FC
Dundee United FC
Glasgow City FC
Glasgow Women FC
Hamilton Academicals FC
Heart of Midlothian FC
Hibernian FC
Motherwell FC
Partick Thistle
Rangers FC
Spartans FC

SWPL2

Boroughmuir Thistle FC
East Fife FC
Gartcairn FC
Kilmarnock FC
Montrose FC
Queens Park FC
St Johnstone FC
Stirling University FC

In addition, the following were elected as directors of the board of the SWPL representing SWPL clubs: Chris Duffy (Celtic FC), Andrew McKinlay (Heart of Midlothian FC), Amy McDonald (Rangers FC), Laura Montgomery (Glasgow City FC) and Zola McGoldrick (Boroughmuir Thistle FC)

Fiona McIntyre, Interim Managing Director of the SWPL, commented: “This is an historic day for Scottish women’s football.

“I am delighted to welcome the first 20 clubs to the new league and to congratulate the first club-appointed directors on their election to the board of the SWPL.

“It is important to recognise all the hard work that has taken place to get us to this
place. Scottish women’s football can now look forward with confidence as a result of that hard work, and the commitment of so many people over so many years.”

To read more about Hearts Women's transition to semi-professionalism, click HERE to read the thoughts of Eva Olid and Joe Savage.