Glasgow City FC will be part of a revamped SWPL league for season 2022/23. It has been confirmed how the new look two-tier league competition format will look ahead of elite women’s football becoming the responsibility of the Scottish Professional Football League.
The Scottish Women’s Premier League 1 (SWPL1) will become a 12-team division from 2022/23, with the top two clubs from this season’s Scottish Women’s Premier League 2 (SWPL2) being promoted.
The SWPL1 will also introduce a split next season after 22 games, with the top six playing each other once home and away, and the same also happening in the bottom six.
Clubs have also agreed there will be no relegation from the SWPL1 this season, ahead of the new 32- game format, as part of a new era for the women’s game in Scotland.
From season 2022/23, the team finishing bottom of SWPL1 will be automatically relegated and the winner of SWPL2 will gain automatic promotion.
In addition, the club that finishes 11th in SWPL1 will play the team that finishes 2nd in SWPL2 in a single play-off tie, at a neutral venue, to confirm who will take the final position in the SWPL1.
The SWPL2 will become an eight-club division and will feature a continued pyramid structure with the third tier Championship.
The announcment follows on from the news in February that the SPFL would take control of the top two leagues in the women’s game.
Glasgow City Chief Executive Laura Montgomery on the changes:
"The new structure, with more teams, more games, an equal amount of home and away fixtures, along with a top and bottom split half way through the season undoubtedly brings more fairness and excitement to the league as well as increased competition. I am sure the changes will most importantly be very well received by our supporters as well as the players who want to play in as many big games as often as possible."