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.
| Country | Gibraltar |
|---|---|
| Confederation | UEFA |
| Number of teams | 6 |
| 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 | |
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]
- Europa
- Gibraltar Wave
- Hercules
- Lions Gibraltar
- Lynx
- Manchester 62
List of champions
Senior champions of the last year. The years before only school championships or five-a-side tournaments were held.[4]
| Season | Champion | Runner up | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Abandoned | ||
| 2003 | Bishop Fitzgerald Middle School | St Anne's Middle School | Played by school teams |
| 2004 | Not held | ||
| 2005 | Manchester United | St Joseph's | |
| 2006 | Manchester United | Wolves | |
| 2007 | St. Joseph's | Manchester United | |
| 2007–08 | Manchester United | St Joseph's | [5] |
| 2008–09 | Not held | ||
| 2009–10 | Abandoned | ||
| 2010–11 | Gibraltar United | Manchester United | [6] |
| 2011–12 | Not held | ||
| 2012–13 | College 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 Imps | 9-a-side[9] |
| 2016–17 | Lincoln Red Imps | Lions Gibraltar[10] | |
| 2017–18 | Lincoln Red Imps | Lions Gibraltar | |
| 2018–19 | Lincoln Red Imps | Lions Gibraltar | |
| 2019–20 | Lincoln 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.
| Rank | Team | Titles | Last title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lions Gibraltar | 6 | 2023–24 |
| 2 | Lincoln Red Imps | 4 | 2019–20 |
| Manchester 62 | 2015–16 | ||
| 4 | College Cosmos | 1 | 2012–13 |
| Gibraltar United | 2010–11 | ||
| St Joseph's | 2007 | ||
| Bishop Fitzgerald Middle School | 2003 |