The Women's Premier League (WPL), currently known as the Deloitte Women's Premier League due to sponsorship reasons with audit firm Deloitte, is the top-flight women's football league in Singapore. It is run by Football Association of Singapore (FAS) and features seven amateur teams.
| Organising body | Football Association of Singapore (FAS) |
|---|---|
| Country | Singapore (9 teams) |
| Confederation | AFC |
| Level on pyramid | 1 |
| International cup(s) | AFC Women's Champions League |
| Current champions | Lion City Sailors (3rd title) |
| Most championships | Tampines Rovers / Warriors (4 titles) |
| Website | spl |
| Current: 2024 Women's Premier League | |
History
editThe WPL started in August 2000 in Singapore.[1]
In 2004, in a similar move to S.League, the WPL invited a foreign team to join the league. Guangzhou Sunray Cave from China joined the WPL.[2]
Football Association of Singapore (FAS) announced that the league will be reorganised to form a two-division structure from 2017. The 2017 Women’s Premier League will consist of the teams that finished in the top six positions of 2016 edition, while the new Women’s National League (WNL) will be made up of the teams that finished in the 7th-11th positions, along with any new teams.[3]
Promotion and relegation will be introduced in the new structure. The champions of WNL 2017 will be promoted to WPL 2018, while the last placed team of WPL 2017 will be relegated to WNL 2018. The second-last placed team of the WPL 2017 will play against the first runners-up of WNL 2017 in a playoff. The winner of the playoff will be promoted to WPL 2018.[3]
In 2019, WPL had 10 teams.[4]
During the COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore, WPL was suspended since 2019.[4]
On 28 May 2022, WPL resumed competition and started the 2022 season.[5]
Competition format
editTeams receive three points for a win and one point for a draw. No points are awarded for a loss. Teams are ranked by total points, then goal difference, and then goals scored.
At the end of each season, the club with the most points is crowned league champion. If the points, goal difference, goals scored, and head-to-head results between teams are equal, head-to-head records between the teams are used, followed by a better fair play record.
There is no promotion system in the league but clubs with the least points will be relegated. For three seasons onwards from the 2022 season onwards for three seasons, there will be no relegation to the second-tier Women’s National League.[1]
Clubs
editThe following eight clubs are competing in the league during the 2022 season.[1][6] The majority of the matches will be played at Choa Chu Kang Stadium with the rest being played at Yishun Stadium and Our Tampines Hub.
| Team | Founded |
|---|---|
| Albirex Niigata (S) | 2022 |
| Balestier Khalsa | 2022 |
| Hougang United | 2022 |
| Geylang International | 2023 |
| Lion City Sailors | |
| Still Aerion | 2005 |
| Tampines Rovers | |
| Tanjong Pagar United | |
| Tiong Bahru |
Former clubs
edit- Bishan Arsenal[2]
- Young Women (2004-)[2]
- Redhill Rangers[7]
- Paya Lebar Punggol[8]
- Sengkang Marine[2]
- Sengkang Punggol FC
- Ang Mo Kio Utd[7]
- Middle Rangers
- Eunos Crescent
- GFA Sporting Westlake
- Warriors FC
- Woodlands Wellington
- Police Sports Association[9]
Invited clubs
edit- Guangzhou Sunray Cave (2004-)[2]
- Borussia Zamrud
Players
editThe minimum age of players has been raised from 15 to 16. Exceptions are allowed subjected to club's request and FAS's approval. The foreign player quota increased to four from three per club.[10]
Clubs need to register a minimum of 18 players, with a maximum of 25 players in their squads. Each team will be allowed maximum of nine substitutes per match, reduced from 14 substitutes.[10]
Past champions
edit| Season | Winners | Runners-up | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Tampines Rovers | Singapore American School "A" | [11] |
| 2001 | Tampines Rovers | Home United | [11] |
| 2002 | Tampines Rovers | Home United "A" | [11] |
| 2003 | Tampines Rovers | Home United | [11] |
| 2004 | Guangzhou Sunray Cave | Home United | [11] |
| 2005 | Paya Lebar Punggol | Bishan Arsenal | [11] |
| 2006 | Young Women | Paya Lebar Punggol | [11] |
| 2007 | Bishan Arsenal | Young Women | .[11] |
| 2008 | Young Women | Arion | [11] |
| 2009 | Sengkang Punggol | Middle Rangers "A" | [11] |
| 2010 | Ang Mo Kio | Middle Rangers | [11] |
| 2011 | Borussia Zamrud | Police | [11] |
| 2012 | Tanjong Pagar United | Middle Rangers | [11] |
| 2013 | Middle Rangers | Young Women | [11] |
| 2014 | Eunos Crescent | Police | [11] |
| 2015 | GFA Sporting Westlake | Police | [11] |
| 2016 | Warriors | Arion | [11] |
| 2017 | Warriors | Woodlands Wellington | [11] |
| 2018 | Warriors | Woodlands Wellington | [11] |
| 2019 | Warriors | Home United | [12] |
| 2020 | Cancelled due to Covid-19 Pandemic | [11] | |
| 2021 | |||
| 2022 | Lion City Sailors | Albirex Niigata (S) | [13] |
| 2023 | Lion City Sailors | Albirex Niigata (S) | [14] |
| 2024 | Lion City Sailors | Albirex Niigata (S) | [15] |
Sponsorship
editOn 4 May 2022, Deloitte became the title sponsor for the WPL for three years.[1] The three-year sponsorship deal includes more than $300,000 with the prize money for the champion increased to $25,000.[1]
Broadcasting
editGames are broadcast on Deloitte's youtube page.[16]
External links
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e Auto, Hermes (4 May 2022). "Football: Singapore's Women's Premier League launched, $300,000 title sponsorship with Deloitte". straitstimes.com. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
- ^ a b c d e "Foreign team for FAS women's league". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. 5 July 2004. p. 42. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
- ^ a b "Change to FAS Women's Premier League 2017". 24 December 2016. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
- ^ a b Auto, Hermes (7 January 2022). "Football: Women's game remains on the sidelines in Singapore". straitstimes.com. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
- ^ Auto, Hermes (28 May 2022). "Football: Cameras, fans and goals as Women's Premier League hits reset button | The Straits Times". straitstimes.com. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
- ^ Auto, Hermes (22 July 2022). "Football: JSSL, Tampines Rovers to form team for 2023 Women's Premier League | The Straits Times". straitstimes.com. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
- ^ a b "Young Women clinch Women's Premier League". 9 June 2008.
- ^ "Paya Lebar rule, with help from China". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. 19 September 2005. p. 49. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
- ^ "Deloitte Women's Premier League 2024 set to return on 9 March". FAS. 22 February 2024.
- ^ a b Auto, Hermes (25 May 2022). "Football: Women's Premier League kicks off on Saturday with double-header at Yishun Stadium". straitstimes.com. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t "Women's Premier League returns with first-ever title sponsor". Football Association of Singapore. 4 May 2022.
- ^ "Warriors crowned Women's Premier League 2019 champions". FAS. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
- ^ "Lion City Sailors seal Deloitte Women's Premier League title". FAS. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
- ^ "Lion City Sailors seal second consecutive title in the 2023 WPL season". FAS. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
- ^ "Sailors clinch historic third straight WPL title by one point with final day win". FAS. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
- ^ Auto, Hermes (28 May 2022). "Football: Cameras, fans and goals as Women's Premier League hits reset button". straitstimes.com. Retrieved 30 May 2022.