2002–03 Scottish Women's Premier League

April 2022 November 2022 Scottish Women's Premier League 2002–03 11 August 2002–May 2003 F.C. Kilmarnock(2nd title overall; 1st SWPL title) Champions League F.C. Kilmarnock 132 2003–04 The 2002–03 Women's Premier League was the opening season of the Scottish Women's Premier League (SWPL) after the Premier Division of the Scottish Women's Football League broke away in 2002. It was the 33rd season of national competitions since the Scottish Women's Cup began in 1970–71. F.C. Kilmarnock Ladies were the defending national champions (2001–02).Schöggl Hans Scotland (Women) - List of Champions https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/scot-womchamp.html RSSSF After a title race with Hibernian, Kilmarnock won the 2003 title. Teams The 12 member clubs of the SWPL in 2002–03 were Club Location Home ground Capacity 2021–22 position Ayr United Annbank New Pebble Park Cove Rangers Aberdeen Allan Park Dundee Dundee Dundee University Sports Ground Giuliano's Gorebridge Newbyres Park Glasgow City Glasgow Glasgow Green 2nd F.C. Hamilton Hamilton SWL division one runners up Hibernian Edinburgh St Marks Park Inver-Ross North Kessock North Kessock Football Park SWL division one champions F.C. Kilmarnock TroonPortland Park 1st Lossiemouth Ladies Burghead Forest Park Raith Rovers Kirkcaldy Dovecoat Park Shettleston Juniors Shettleston Greenfield Park Season overview The early season saw a 0–5 defeat of the former SWFL Premier Division champions, Ayr United Ladies, by their arch-rivals Kilmarnock.Ayrshire produces women's Old Firm: Kilmarnock Ladies crush rivals Ayr United then aim for Europe http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/11915531.ayrshire-produces-womens-old-firm-kilmarnock-ladies-crush-rivals-ayr-united-then-aim-for-europe/ The Herald 23 Sep 2002 https://web.archive.org/web/20220422095938/https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/11915531.ayrshire-produces-womens-old-firm-kilmarnock-ladies-crush-rivals-ayr-united-then-aim-for-europe/ 22 April 2022 22 April 2022 bot: unknown Debbie McWhinnie scored a hat-trick for Glasgow City against Dundee (6–1) and Margaret Staniforth scored five goals for Lossiemouth versus Shettleston (8–2). Kilmarnock, managed by Jim Chapman, were a team including the future Scotland manager Shelley Kerr playing in defence,Michelle Kerr: Biography https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/managers/?mid=99669&lid=10 SFA and Scotland international midfielder Joanne Love. In the New Year, Killie beat a title challenger 3–1 away, Glasgow City, with two goals by Pauline Hamill (19 January).Back To Business In The City [Glasgow City-Kilmarnock] http://www.killiefc.com/FC%20Kilmarnock/02-03%20Match%20Reports/190103-Glasgow%20City%20%28SWPL%29.htm FC Kilmarnock https://web.archive.org/web/20030207093755/http://www.killiefc.com:80/FC%20Kilmarnock/02-03%20Match%20Reports/190103-Glasgow%20City%20(SWPL).htm 7 February 2003 dead Two months later, Killie won 3–2 away at Hibs, and took a decisive lead in the league.Killie Edge Table Top Clash! [Hibs-Killie] http://killiefc.com/FC%20Kilmarnock/02-03%20Match%20Reports/160303-Hibernian%20%28SWPL%29/160303-Hibernian%20%28SWPL%29.htm FC Kilmarnock https://web.archive.org/web/20030410190527/http://killiefc.com:80/FC%20Kilmarnock/02-03%20Match%20Reports/160303-Hibernian%20(SWPL)/160303-Hibernian%20(SWPL).htm 10 April 2003 deadNews http://www.ultrasoft.hostinguk.com/swfa/News.asp SWFA https://web.archive.org/web/20071219121832/http://www.ultrasoft.hostinguk.com/swfa/News.asp 19 December 2007 KILLIE STRIDE AHEAD: Reigning champions Kilmarnock have put themselves in pole position to retain the Scottish Women's Premier League after taking a 3-2 win away to rivals Hibernian on Sunday. dead 22 April 2022 Shettleston were the bottom-placed club near the end of the season – a 1–0 win over Giuliano's was only their second win, before Shettleston recorded a third soon afterwards, 4–2 against Cove Rangers.Kilmarnock women on course for double treble dominance https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/11901754.kilmarnock-women-on-course-for-double-treble-dominance/ The Herald 5 May 2003 https://web.archive.org/web/20190526102820/https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/11901754.kilmarnock-women-on-course-for-double-treble-dominance/ 26 May 2019 22 April 2022 bot: unknown Standings: 1st: F.C. Kilmarnock (champions) 2nd: Hibernian L.F.C.Hibernian Women - Honours https://www.hiberniancommunityfoundation.org.uk/hibernian-women-honours Hibernian Community Foundation 22 April 2022 4 March 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230304062847/https://www.hiberniancommunityfoundation.org.uk/hibernian-women-honours dead (runners-up) (Glasgow City, Cove Rangers and Giuliano's had been in the league's top five in April.FC Kilmarnock - League table (8 April 2003)) thumb|180px|2003 SWPL champion Shelley Kerr at Arsenal, 2014 Hibernian won the 2003 Scottish Women's Cup final and, in 2004, their first league title. 2003 was Kilmarnock's last Scottish championship trophy. After Chapman's departure,Clark Ginny WOMEN'S FOOTBALL: Shel makes boss plea. https://www.thefreelibrary.com/WOMEN%27S+FOOTBALL%3A+Shel+makes+boss+plea.-a0123984883 Daily Record 3 November 2004 the Kilmarnock team later won their third SWPL Cup in four years, but they were relegated in 2012; they won SWFL 1 South (and promotion to SWPL 2) in 2017. Inver-Ross L.F.C. was formed in 2001 "as an amalgamation of Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC and Ross County to encourage young women and girls into football".Clubs, Scottish Women's Premier League (2002—03) SWFA http://www.ultrasoft.hostinguk.com/swfa/Clubs.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20030516035011/http://www.ultrasoft.hostinguk.com/swfa/Clubs.htm 16 May 2003 dead Inver-Ross was renamed Ross County L.F.C. in season 2003–04.Clubs, Scottish Women's Premier League (2003—04) SWFA http://www.ultrasoft.hostinguk.com/swfa/Clubs.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20031031063612/http://www.ultrasoft.hostinguk.com:80/swfa/Clubs.htm 31 October 2003 dead The formation of the SWPL division in 2002 came only three years after the previous league reconstruction, in 1999, which had formed the Scottish Women's Football League, run by its 46 clubs and the SWFA.SWFL - About us (2000) http://www.swfl.org.uk/about.htm SWFL https://web.archive.org/web/20010414082311/http://www.swfl.org.uk:80/about.htm 14 April 2001 dead In 2001–02, top Scottish clubs were losing players to the United States, Iceland, and Sweden, including Julie Fleeting, Denise Brolly (both Ayr United), Darlene Campbell (Kilmarnock),First Scot Fleeting to USA http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/scotland/2039349.stm BBC Sport 11 June 2002Scottish women's league kicks off http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/scotland/2183986.stm BBC Sport 9 August 2002 Nicky Grant and Michelle Barr (both Stenhousemuir).Darryl Broadfoot Spirit of adventure for Scottish striker Julie Fleeting https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/11958236.spirit-of-adventure-for-scottish-striker-julie-fleeting-has-been-head-hunted-to-play-in-california-reports-darryl-broadfoot/ The Herald 21 Jun 2002 https://web.archive.org/web/20220422221208/https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/11958236.spirit-of-adventure-for-scottish-striker-julie-fleeting-has-been-head-hunted-to-play-in-california-reports-darryl-broadfoot/ 22 April 2022 Also, the English FA was planning a professional women's league in 2003–04, which did not materialise. The SWFA's Maureen McGonigle said in 2002: "Hopefully it [SWPL] will create much more media interest. It is the only way we are going to get sponsorship." According to Kilmarnock manager Chapman, "The structure is now in place but we need investment, whether it's government or local business sponsorships, to help it grow." Journalist Lorraine Mawhinney asked, "Women's football is recognised as one of the world's fastest-growing sports, so why is it still a mystery to the sports pages and programmes?", adding that newspapers had agreed to carry SWPL results.Mawhinney Lorraine The goal is to make it to the top https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/11954006.the-goal-is-to-make-it-to-the-top-the-new-scottish-womens-premier-league-will-kick-off-at-the-weekend-lorraine-mawhinney-says-that-all-the-girls-need-now-is-serious-sponsors/ The Herald 6 Aug 2002 https://web.archive.org/web/20220422072753/https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/11954006.the-goal-is-to-make-it-to-the-top-the-new-scottish-womens-premier-league-will-kick-off-at-the-weekend-lorraine-mawhinney-says-that-all-the-girls-need-now-is-serious-sponsors/ 22 April 2022 However, those same results disappeared from the SWFL's own website in 2002, replaced by blank pages, when the breakaway league started.Premier Table, Fixtures/Results SWFL, September 2002 References External links SWFA match reports, April 2003: Hibs–Lossiemouth; Killie–Cove F.C. Kilmarnock results; League table (8 April 2003) Premier Category:2002–03 in European women's association football leagues Category:Scottish Women's Premier League seasons