It’s Building up nicely thanks to sponsorship coup

SCOTTISH Women’s Football chair Vivienne MacLaren believes the game is moving in the right direction after a breakthrough year for women’s football in this country.

SWF, the governing body of the game, announced their first major sponsorship with SSE, followed by the national team qualifying for the Euros.

And this week saw even more positive news as SWF confirmed Scottish Building Society, the world’s oldest financial institution, is to become the first sponsor for their two top senior leagues, SWPL1 and SWPL2. A six-figure sponsorship deal over the next three years will help to ensure continued growth and development at a key time for the sport.

It will also ensure that, for the first time, prize money will be presented to the league winners from 2018. MacLaren said: “It has been an absolutely fantastic year for women’s football in Scotland, with all the great work that’s been going on with the national women’s team, the Under-19s and the Euros.

“This sponsorship deal is the icing on the cake. Everything is moving in the right direction.”

Scottish Building Society boss Mark Thomson said: “We are delighted to be joining forces with SWF to help unlock the potential of the sport and support its future development here in Scotland.” SWPL1 Aberdeen v Stirling Uni (1pm) Spartans v Hamilton (1pm) Rangers v Celtic (2pm) SWPL2 Edinburgh Uni/Hutchie Vale v Hearts (1pm) Buchan v East Fife (2pm) Jeanfield Swifts v Forfar Farmington (4pm) Motherwell v Glasgow Girls (4pm)