SWPL In Focus

A five-page preview of the 2018 Scottish Women’s Premier League season, opening at the media launch at Hampden Park where players from all 16 SBS SWPL clubs gathered. With Hibernian and possibly Celtic pushing Glasgow City harder than ever, and Motherwell and St Johnstone taking their local women’s sides in-house, the competitions are expected to be the most hotly contested yet, with prize money now on offer. Scottish Women’s Football Executive Officer Fiona McIntyre explains the restructure from two twelve-team divisions into two leagues of eight, the three-times-each fixture format, new sponsorship from the Scottish Building Society, expanded media coverage and new elite U15 and U19 leagues, and the long-term ambition to move from amateur to semi-professional. Quick Kicks interviews by Catherine Etoe follow with Hayley Lauder, Chloe Logan, Deborah McLeod and Erin Cattanach.