Season Preview: SWPL Returns for Exciting New Campaign
The men’s SPFL has been up and running for over a fortnight, already serving up drama, upsets, and moments of brilliance. Now it’s the women’s turn. This Sunday, the Scottish Women’s Premier League roars back into action. Last season ended with a shock as Hibs snatched the title at Ibrox on the final day, breaking the Glasgow stranglehold. The question now: can they defend it, or will a familiar heavyweight reclaim the throne? Here’s how the 12 contenders shape up ahead of the new campaign. Aberdeen Scott Booth begins his first full season in charge with quiet optimism. Last term, the Dons finished 8th, but showed real progress after picking up an impressive 20 points post-split. The target now is to break into the top six. Consistency will be crucial; a sluggish start last season left them playing catch-up, and they’ll need to start taking points off the league’s big guns. Still in their developmental phase, Aberdeen look like a side with the tools to grow into a top team in the women’s game, but it needs to kick off this year. Celtic From treble contenders to finishing 4th and empty-handed, last season was a bitter disappointment for the Hoops. Elena Sadiku’s absence during pre-season, working at the Women’s Euros until late July, raised eyebrows, especially given the squad upheaval. Caitlin Hayes will be a big miss, but new arrivals Lisa Robertson and Claire Walsh are solid additions. Celtic’s mission remains unchanged: win silverware and mount a sustained title push. But with a thinner squad, delayed recruitment, and the Glasgow rivalry intensifying with added pressure from Edinburgh, the pressure is immense. This is a defining season for Sadiku; anything short of the league trophy will be seen as failure. Glasgow City Once the undisputed powerhouse of Scottish women’s football, City have now gone two seasons without silverware. Last term, they finished runners-up in both league and Scottish Cup, three points shy of the title. Defensively, they claimed the best record in the league, but a lack of end product cost them. Fix that, and they’re right back in the fight. Leanne Ross has the experience and the squad depth to mount a serious challenge, but the margins at the top have never been finer. Hamilton The Accies are back in SWPL 1 and determined to survive. With one of the smallest budgets in the league, realism rules: stay up, and it’s a success. Robert Watson’s side has a young core, and remaining at New Douglas Park should help keep local support strong, with the men’s team controversially moving to Broadwood Stadium in Cumbernauld. Survival will depend on taking points from fellow strugglers and avoiding heavy defeats against the top sides. A scrap awaits, but Hamilton sides have been underestimated before. Hearts Eva Olid’s side were one of last season’s surprise packages, finishing 5th, briefly flirting with a title challenge, and even upsetting some of the big hitters, including a 3-1 win over Celtic. Strong at home and defensively solid, they’ve become a tough nut to crack. Losing Emma Brownlie is a blow, but retaining Olid, despite Scotland job links, is a major boost. Hearts still trail their Edinburgh rivals, but could this season see the Jambos take that next step forward? Hibernian Champions for the first time since 2007, Hibs start their title defence in unfamiliar territory: as the team to beat. Last year’s success was built on a solid defence and the prolific Kathleen McGovern, who bagged 25 goals in 28 games in Grant Scott’s 4-2-3-1 system. This time, the challenge is twofold: handling the pressure of expectation and navigating Champions League qualifiers in a packed August. The title race could hinge on how they juggle both. Can they go again, or will the hangover from their title triumph prove too much to handle? Montrose Montrose produced one of last season’s great escapes, from 14 points pre-split to 23 points from the final 30 available, hauling themselves to safety. Manager Craig Feroz, who almost walked away, has stayed on to lead another survival push. The survival formula is clear: nick something against the top six when possible, but dominate at the bottom. Motherwell Sixth place and a first-ever top-half finish made 2024/25 a landmark year for Motherwell. But several heavy defeats against the top sides show that the gap remains vast. Matching last season’s heroics will be tough, but if they can rediscover early-season form, another push for the top six is attainable. Partick Thistle It’s the dawn of a new era at Thistle. Brian Graham, the architect of their rise, has departed after five years, replaced by David Elliot. Lia Tweedie’s arrival from Hibs adds firepower, but losing Graham’s leadership will test the club’s resilience. Without the man who led the club to two top-six finishes, the transition could be tough, but the Jags should have enough to remain clear of trouble. Rangers The summer has been turbulent at Ibrox. Jo Potter’s departure for Crystal Palace rewarded Leanne Crichton with a first managerial job late into pre-season. Key players, Chelsea Cornet, Kirsty Maclean and Rio Hardy have all departed for England, but golden boot winner Katie Wilkinson, who scored over a goal per game last season, remains. The attack is lethal, but defensive frailty and final-day collapses have cost Rangers two titles in the past three years, both at Ibrox. Back-to-back cup doubles are impressive, but the league is the one they crave. With Ibrox now their regular home, this season is about proving they can handle the pressure under the brightest lights. The title race looks as open as it has for years. Hibs have the target on their back, City are hungry, Celtic are desperate to rebound, and Rangers are out to exorcise final-day demons. Below them, Hearts could bloody noses, Motherwell and Aberdeen will eye the top six, and the fight for survival promises its drama. Scottish women’s football is back, and more exciting than ever.
Thistle progress to League Cup last eight after seeing off Ayr
Partick Thistle 2- 0 Ayr United O’Reilly (41′) Chalmers (45′) Two late first-half goals ensured victory for Partick Thistle, as they swept aside Ayr United in the Premier Sports Cup Round of 16. The two sides met for the first time since Brian Graham’s dramatic late winner in the Premiership playoffs after both teams had successfully navigated their respective Premier Sports Cup group stage. Partick Thistle dominated large portions of the first half. Logan Chalmers’ clever through ball found Letsosa on the left side of the box, but David Mitchell gathered the resultant cross. Chalmers picked up another nice position in the same area soon after, but could not trouble the Ayr goalie. Tony Watt ‘s clever header released Aiden Fitzpatrick, who beat a defender and arrowed a left-footed off the post. Thistle had a goal disallowed in 12 minutes when Watt’s header was clawed out by David Mitchell, Fitzpatrick scored the rebound, but the game was brought back for an earlier incident. Ayr United scored 14 goals across their four group games but hardly threatened Clarke’s goal in the opening 45 minutes. Partick continued to create chances, with Watt finding space in the box after positive play from Letsosa, but the former Motherwell striker couldn’t sort his feet in the box and his tame strike was easily gathered. Thistle deservedly took the lead on 41 minutes as Chalmers’ deep cross was met in the air by Daniel O’Reilly, who headed back across goal past Mitchell to the delight of the home support. The Chalmers show continued on the stroke of halftime, picking up a positive area on the right edge of the box, he unleashed a low strike that arrowed into the bottom corner. It was a positive first half for Mark Wilson’s side, who looked set to gain another scalp over their Ayrshire rivals. Scott Brown demanded a response at halftime, but unfortunately for the former Celtic captain, the second began much like the first had ended, as the Jags swept forward in numbers to create numerous openings. Cam Reading came closest but his low strike was straight at Mitchell. Aiden Fitzpatrick had a golden chance to make it three, after Thistle had pinched possession, then Tony Watt played the winger in on goal., but dragged his shot inches wide. Partick Thistle were yet to register a victory in the Scottish Championship this season, but showed signs that they could once again challenge for the playoff positions. McPherson, Chalmers, Letsosa, Fitzpatrick, and Watt had all linked well during the game, and should have put the game beyond Ayr on many occasions. Ben Stanway had the next chance after 84 minutes, his drilled strike was palmed away by David Mitchell, who had endured a busy afternoon, ending with victory for the home side. Partick Thistle: Clarke McPherson (Logan 66’) Ashcroft O’Reilly Reading Stanway Crawford Chalmers Letsosa (Falconer 85’) Fitzpatrick (Lawless 73’) Watt (Samuel 73’) Bookings: Crawford 78’ Ayr United: Mitchell Watret McAllister Want (Main 19’) Dick Thomas Bannigan Ure Bonnar (Hastie 46’) McKenzie Oakley Bookings: Mitchell 40’ Bannigan 45+1’ Ure 55’ Thomas 71’ Attendance: 3,124
