Scotland hosted the first organised games of women's football in 1881, and the sport became popular in the 1920s, attracting crowds of thousands. Women's football was banned from
English Football Association grounds in 1921; the
Scottish Football Association (SFA) did not follow suit, although it was not supportive. The leading team during this era,
Rutherglen Ladies F.C., existed from 1921 to 1939. The SWFA was founded in 1972, when six teams met and decided to form an Association: Aberdeen Prima Donnas, Cambuslang Hooverettes, Dundee Strikers,
Edinburgh Dynamos,
Westthorn United and
Stewarton Thistle. Initially, the SFA opposed the formation of the SWFA, but in 1974, it recognised the new association. However, the SWFA remained small, with membership in the 1970s peaking at 14 teams. In 1992, it introduced coaching courses, and in 1996 it began organising junior and school football. In 1998, it affiliated to the SFA. Among its aims in 2021 was, "A game that realises the needs, wants and unlimited ambitions of its girls and women." There was a board restructure in 2014 led by Sheila Begbie, then head of women's football at SFA, who was joined by Vivienne MacLaren as media and communications director and Fiona McIntyre as football director. In 2016 MacLaren became chair of the organisation, while Scottish and Southern Energy became the first ever sponsor of the Scottish Women's Cup The first ever broadcast deal for Scottish Women's Football was signed with BBC Alba in 2018. In that same year the SWF board rejected all sponsorship from alcohol and gambling sponsors. Former Scottish Government sports minister
Aileen Campbell was appointed chief executive of Scottish Women's Football in 2021. Clubs in the
Scottish Women's Premier League voted to leave SWF in 2022 and seek greater professionalism under the auspices of the
Scottish Professional Football League. Today Scottish Women's Football consists of: • The senior women's pyramid in Scotland below the SWPL. This two national leagues, and six senior regional leagues comprising 80 senior women's teams in the 2023/24 season. • U14, U16 and U18 leagues in various parts of
Scotland. • Multiple cup competitions, both senior and youth. ==See also==