Page 20 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.15 2022-23

“It will be a nail-biting short season with everything to play for. Good luck to all the teams.”
With the introduction of new teams, the new leagues have been aligned to be roughly equal
in number of teams. This means the #BiffaSWFL North, West and South each have ten teams and
the Biffa SWFL East has 12 teams.
The development teams of SWPL club East Fife, Championship club Dryburgh Athletic and
League One club Westdyke will be joined in the Biffa SWFL North by Buchan, Dyce, Forfar
Farmington, Glenrothes Strollers, Huntly, Inverurie Locos and Stonehaven.
The Biffa SWFL East will see Livingston and Falkirk development teams joined by
Aberdour, Bonnyrigg Rose, Central Girls, Dunfermline Athletic, Edinburgh South, Edinburgh
University Thistle, Linlithgow Rose, McDermid Ladies, Murieston United and Musselburgh
Windsor.
The Biffa SWFL West has Alloa, Athena Glasgow, Bishopton, Clydebank Ladies,
Cumbernauld Colts, Drumchapel United, Dunipace, Harmony Row and West Park United join
SWPL club Motherwell’s development team.
Championship side Ayr United has a development side in the Biffa SWFL South, alongside
Annan Athletic, Clark Drive, Cumnock Juniors, Dalbeattie Star, FC Flip The Mindset in the south
of Glasgow, Kilwinning, Nithsdale Wanderers, Queen of the South and Stewarton United.
The league commences on January 15th and teams will play each other home and away. The
top-placed team in each SWFL league (not including development sides) will then play each other
in play-off finals, with the top three joining SWF League One next season. One will be relegated
from League One into their local SWFL League.
In League One, the top-placed two sides who meet Championship criteria will be promoted
to the Championship, growing that league to ten teams. There will be no relegation from the
Championship and the end of this season to accommodate the changes.
(scotwomensfootball.com)

Four clubs from Northern Ireland have benefitted from a UEFA financial distribution following
last year’s Women’s Euros. UEFA has announced 221 clubs from 17 national associations have
received payments from a club benefits programme for sides whose players appeared in the
tournament.
It’s the first ever distribution of its kind to women’s teams by European football’s governing
body, which said the programme is a recognition of the important contribution of clubs and their
players to the success of “the best final tournament ever”.
UEFA also said it is a symbol of UEFA's commitment to the development of all facets of
women's football.
Under the programme a total of 130,000 euros has been paid out to clubs within Northern
Ireland. Clubs in England and Scotland who have Northern Ireland senior women’s team players
in their squads also received payments.
Cliftonville received 60,000 euros, while Glentoran’s payment was 40,000 euros. In
addition Crusaders received 20,000 euros and Linfield were entitled to 10,000 euros.
The total amount paid to clubs was calculated according to the number of days that a player
was released for the final tournament. This included 10 preparation days, the total number of days
a player participated in the tournament plus one additional travel day.
For each of its players taking part in the Women's Euro who were part of a squad from 10
days before their first match until their elimination, a club was guaranteed a minimum payment
of €10,000.
Where a player was replaced during the tournament due to injury or registered with a new
club during the tournament period, the club(s) concerned received a pro rata payment. UEFA has
offered payments to clubs that provide players for the men's Euros since 2008 in recognition of
their role in making the tournament possible.
The first similar club benefits programme for the Women's Euros - it was ratified by the
UEFA Executive Committee in September 2021- has provided around €4.5 million for clubs
across Europe.
(irishfa.com)
news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk