Gibraltar Women's Football League

Last updated
Gibraltar Women's Football League
CountryGibraltar
Confederation UEFA
Number of teams6
Domestic cup(s) Women's Rock Cup
International cup(s) UEFA Champions League (proposed)
Current champions Lions Gibraltar (6th title)
(2023–24)
Most championships Lions Gibraltar
(6 titles)
Website Official website
Current: 2023–24 Gibraltar Women's Football League

The Gibraltar Women's Football League is the top level amateur women's football championship of Gibraltar. Due to the lack of resources available for women's football, the league has been contested by five teams since 2021, and the league is treated as a development competition. This status means that, as of the 2021 season, clubs are ineligible to enter the UEFA Women's Champions League.

Contents

History

The earliest known record of the competition dates back to 1999, when three teams (Manchester United, Lions and Victoria United) took part. However, the league was seemingly abandoned mid-season with Manchester United top of the table. After that, the league was not held for several years, aside from an edition held in 2003 between five middle schools. The league was revived fully in 2005, with Manchester United winning the title. Aside from 2008 to 2010, and the 2011–12 season, the league has been held every year since with a fluctuating number of teams - generally between 3 and 5, with a high of 8 teams participating in 2007. The Women's Rock Cup was introduced in 2013, generally played in the post-season.

Format

As of the 2021–22 season, teams play each other 3 times. With the league only having development status, players as young as 12 are permitted to play and the league has been known to permit roll-on substitutes. As a result, teams are ineligible to qualify for the UEFA Women's Champions League. Each club is permitted to sign up to 3 overseas players without home-grown player status.

2023–2024 Teams

The 2023–2024 season is set to be played by the following five teams. All matches are played at Victoria Stadium. In 2020 it was announced that Europa Point intended to enter the league for the 2020–2021 season, subject to ratification by the GFA. [1] However, a number of factors including the COVID-19 pandemic meant that they postponed (and eventually abandoned) their plans, while Lincoln Red Imps withdrew their side. Lynx announced their women's team in December 2020. It was announced in March 2021 that a new independent team, Gibraltar Wave, would join the league, initially entering the 2021 futsal league. [2] Manchester 62 subsequently returned to the league in September 2021. In August 2023, it was announced that Hercules FC, who had previously entered the Women's Futsal League, entered the league in affiliation with College 1975. [3]

List of champions

Senior champions of the last year. The years before only school championships or five-a-side tournaments were held. [4]

List of Gibraltar Women's Football League champions
SeasonChampionRunner upNotes
1999Abandoned
2003Bishop Fitzgerald Middle SchoolSt Anne's Middle SchoolPlayed by school teams
2004Not held
2005 Manchester United St Joseph's
2006 Manchester United Wolves
2007St. Joseph's Manchester United
2007–08 Manchester United St Joseph's [5]
2008–09Not held
2009–10Abandoned
2010–11Gibraltar United Manchester United [6]
2011–12Not held
2012–13College Cosmos Manchester United [7]
2013–14 Lions Gibraltar Manchester 62 9-a-side
2014–15 Lions Gibraltar Manchester 62 9-a-side [8]
2015–16 Manchester 62 Lincoln Red Imps9-a-side [9]
2016–17 Lincoln Red Imps Lions Gibraltar [10]
2017–18 Lincoln Red Imps Lions Gibraltar
2018–19Lincoln Red Imps Lions Gibraltar
2019–20Lincoln Red Imps Lions Gibraltar
2020–21 Lions Gibraltar Europa
2021–22 Lions Gibraltar Europa
2022–23 Lions Gibraltar Europa
2023–24 Lions Gibraltar Europa

Note: 2013–14 season was played as a nine-a-side league to encourage more clubs to register a team. [11] 2014–15 and 2015–16 were nine-a-side as well.

Performance by club

Bold indicates club still playing in top division.

RankTeamTitlesLast title
1 Lions Gibraltar 6 2023–24
2Lincoln Red Imps42019–20
Manchester 62 2015–16
4College Cosmos12012–13
Gibraltar United2010–11
St Joseph's2007
Bishop Fitzgerald Middle School2003

Related Research Articles

The Gibraltar Premier Division was a football league established by the Gibraltar Football Association (GFA) in 1905, and the top tier of football in Gibraltar. It originally contained eight member clubs, but it has grown over the years. In 1909 the league was split into two divisions between which clubs can be promoted and relegated at the end of each season. In the 2013–14 season, the Premier Division contained eight clubs with the Second Division containing 12 clubs. For sponsorship reasons it is known as the Argus Insurance Premier Division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Football in Gibraltar</span>

Football has been a popular part of sport in Gibraltar since its introduction by British military personnel in the 19th century. The Gibraltar Football Association, founded in 1895, is one of the ten oldest active football associations in the world.

The 2013–14 Gibraltar Premier Division is the 115th season of the national amateur football league in Gibraltar since its establishment - the highest level of football in Gibraltar. The league was expanded this season, and will be contested by eight clubs, a requirement for entry into UEFA competitions. The season began on October 7, 2013, with Glacis United defeating Lions Gibraltar 3–2. Lincoln are the defending league champions, having sealed their 11th successive title win in 2012–13.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lions Gibraltar F.C.</span> Association football club in Gibraltar

Lions Gibraltar is a professional football club in Gibraltar. They play in the country's top-level league, the Gibraltar National League.

The 2014–15 Gibraltar Cup, also known as the Senior Cup 2014-15, is the 2nd edition of the Gibraltar Premier Cup, a competition for the teams in the Gibraltar Premier Division, the top tier of football in Gibraltar.

The 2017 Rock Cup was a single-leg knockout tournament played by clubs from Gibraltar. This year's version of the Rock Cup was sponsored by Gibtelecom, and was known as the Gibtelecom Rock Cup for sponsorship purposes.

The 2016–17 Gibraltar Women's Football League is the first season of 11-a-side women's football in Gibraltar since the territory joined UEFA in 2013, and FIFA in 2016. The league had been in operation for a number of years previously, but teams were ineligible for entry to the UEFA Women's Champions League as it was only a 9-a-side tournament. Manchester 62 were the reigning champions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018–19 Gibraltar Premier Division</span> Football league season

The 2018–19 Gibraltar Premier Division was the 120th season of the top-tier state football league in Gibraltar, as well as the sixth season since the Gibraltar Football Association joined UEFA in 2013. The league was contested by ten clubs, and began on 13 August 2018.

The Gibraltar Intermediate League is a semi-professional football league administered by the Gibraltar Football Association, launched in June 2018 as a replacement for the Gibraltar Reserves Division and the Under 18 Division in an effort to improve the standards of young Gibraltarian footballers.

The Gibraltar Futsal First Division is the top Gibraltarian futsal league organized by the Gibraltar Football Association (GFA). Since the 2013-14 season, the champion qualifies to enter the preliminary round of the UEFA Futsal Champions League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019–20 Gibraltar National League</span> Football league season

The 2019–20 Gibraltar National League season is the first season of the new Gibraltar National League in Gibraltar, and the 121st season of football on the territory overall. The league was announced in June 2018 when the Gibraltar Football Association decided to merge the Gibraltar Premier Division and Gibraltar Second Division at the conclusion of the 2018–19 season.

The Gibraltar Football League is the only senior tier of association football in Gibraltar, founded in 2019 as the Gibraltar National League after a merger of the Gibraltar Premier Division, which served as the top division of football on the Rock since 1905, and the Gibraltar Second Division, which had existed since 1909. It was announced in August 2019 by the Gibraltar Football Association. The league is supported by the Gibraltar Intermediate League for U23 sides and Hound Dogs.

The 2020 Gibtelecom Rock Cup was a single-leg knockout tournament contested by clubs from Gibraltar. There were thirteen clubs participating in the cup this season. The winner of the competition would have qualified to compete in the 2020–21 Europa League.

The 2020–21 Gibraltar Women's Football League is the fifth season of 11-a-side women's football in Gibraltar since the territory joined UEFA in 2013, and FIFA in 2016. The league had been in operation for a number of years previously, but teams were ineligible for entry to the UEFA Women's Champions League as it was only a 9-a-side tournament. Lincoln Red Imps Women were the reigning champions, but disbanded their women's team in summer 2020.

The 2021 Gibtelecom Rock Cup was a single-leg knockout tournament contested by clubs from Gibraltar, with twelve clubs participating. The winner of the competition qualified to compete in the 2021–22 UEFA Europa Conference League.

The 2021–22 Gibraltar Women's Football League is the sixth season of 11-a-side women's football in Gibraltar since the territory joined UEFA in 2013, and FIFA in 2016. The league had been in operation for a number of years previously, but teams were ineligible for entry to the UEFA Women's Champions League as it was only a 9-a-side tournament. Lions Gibraltar were the reigning champions from the previous season, which had been shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 2021–22 Rock Cup was a single-leg knockout tournament contested by clubs from Gibraltar, with twelve clubs that participated. The winners, Lincoln Red Imps qualified for the 2022–23 UEFA Champions League, due to finishing first in the 2021–22 Gibraltar National League, so the fourth-placed team, Bruno's Magpies qualified for the 2022–23 UEFA Europa Conference League instead.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022–23 Gibraltar Football League</span> Football league season

The 2022–23 Gibraltar Football League season is the fourth season of the Gibraltar Football League in Gibraltar, and the 124th season of football on the territory overall. The league is due to kick off in Autumn 2022. Lincoln Red Imps are the reigning champions, winning their second title in April 2022. Due to the league's fall down the UEFA coefficient rankings, this season only 2 teams will qualify for the UEFA Europa Conference League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023–24 Gibraltar Football League</span> Football league season

The 2023–24 Gibraltar Football League season is the fourth season of the Gibraltar Football League in Gibraltar, and the 124th season of football on the territory overall. The league began on 16 September 2023. Lincoln Red Imps are the reigning champions, winning their third successive title in April 2023. Due to the league's fall down the UEFA coefficient rankings, this season only 2 teams qualify for the UEFA Europa Conference League.

The 2023–24 Gibraltar Women's Football League is the eighth season of 11-a-side women's football in Gibraltar since the territory joined UEFA in 2013, and FIFA in 2016. The league had been in operation for a number of years previously, but often as a 9-a side tournament. Teams are ineligible for entry to the UEFA Women's Champions League as the league is considered a "development" tournament. Lions Gibraltar are the reigning champions from the previous season.

References

  1. ↑ Europa Point make public intention to register women's team next season Gibraltar Chronicle. 22 February 2020. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  2. ↑ New Women's team hoping to start in futsal league Gibraltar Chronicle. 16 March 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  3. ↑ Hercules join GWFL Football Gibraltar. 6 August 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  4. ↑ "Gibraltar - List of Women Champions". RSSSF . Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  5. ↑ "Ladies football in Gibraltar".
  6. ↑ "Gibraltar (Women) 2010/11".
  7. ↑ "Ladies Football: Season ends on high note". Gibraltar Chronicle. Archived from the original on 2014-04-07. Retrieved 2014-03-31.
  8. ↑ "Women's Football League 2015 Results". GFA. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  9. ↑ @Man62FC (May 28, 2016). "Congrats to Manchester 62 FC ladies..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  10. ↑ "CHAMPIONS". lincolnredimpsfc.com. 24 April 2017. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  11. ↑ "Football: Women welcomed back into the game". Gibraltar Chronicle. Archived from the original on 2014-04-07. Retrieved 2014-03-31.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.