Hamilton Academical WFC can today confirm that in a historic measure for Women’s Football in Scotland, we will join several others in affiliating our Senior 1st Teams with the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) for the 2022/2023 season and beyond.
Following presentations from both Scottish Women’s Football (SWF) and the SPFL on the future of the burgeoning Women’s game, it is of vital importance that the correct people, with the in-depth expertise, lead the top tiers of Women’s Football in Scotland as we enter the Professional era.
After internal discussions between the Hamilton Academical FC and WFC Boards, we regard the SPFL model as the best way forward for our game and have notified both the SPFL and SWF of our intentions.
The SPFL presentations give us great confidence in their existing framework, resources and staffing to support the game as well as a clear vision and plan around commercial revenues. Those commercial revenues are vital for the game to grow and we believe the SPFL already have those key contacts in place and importantly, the expertise to seek new partners in the future.
Their clear distribution model and keenness to include both tiers of the SWPL in the new venture was a key aspect in our decision making.
We understand this will be of disappointment to SWF, but we look forward to continuing to work with them in the future. The Youth game, which SWF look after, is vital in growing the next generation of players and coaches in Scotland.
We will now begin the process of setting up the new Leagues in conjunction with SPFL and our fellow clubs as we move forwards into an exciting future.
Hamilton Academical Football Club and Women’s Football Club