Yesterday club Secretary, Graeme Shields, attended the inaugural Annual General Meeting of the Scottish Women's Premier League and signed the official Participation Agreements on behalf of the club.
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.
The inaugural clubs of the SWPL are:
SWPL1
- Aberdeen FC
- Celtic FC
- Dundee United FC
- Glasgow City FC
- Glasgow Women FC
- Hamilton Academical 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
- Queen’s 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)
Graeme Shields, club secretary, commented: “I was honoured to sign the Participation Agreement on behalf of the Club. I’m sure the new SWPL will bring more exposure to the women’s game in Scotland and attract commercial deals that will allow the women’s game to flourish and grow.”
Charlie Bennett from the Queen’s Park FC Foundation commented: “We are delighted to be part of the new league set up and look forward to taking a part in what is sure to be a much more competitive league next season which can only be good for the game. At Queen’s Park we have huge plans to take the girl’s and women’s game forward and this initiative is an important catalyst for us.”
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.”