Barclays was and is the first title sponsor of the Barclays Women’s Super League and Barclays Women’s Championship in England and now becomes the first-ever title sponsor of the Barclays Scottish Women’s Championship and Barclay’s Scottish Women’s League One, the third and fourth tier of women’s football in Scotland.
The leagues represent the bridge between regional grassroots football and the Scottish Women’s Premier League, with the best regional teams promoted to League One and the top two Championship teams provided the opportunity to join the SWPL through the promotion and play-off system.
The leagues also have significant geographic reach, from Queen of the South in Dumfries to Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the Highlands.
The new partnership extends Barclays’ record-breaking support for women’s football into Scotland for the first time, running for three years and underlining the bank’s commitment to football at all levels.
Commenting, Scottish Women’s Football CEO Aileen Campbell said: “Barclays have played such a pivotal role in the growth of the women’s game south of the border, so it is an exciting moment to welcome their backing for SWF’s ongoing development of the pyramid structure in Scotland. The Championship and League One became national leagues to keep up with the astonishing growth in women’s football in Scotland, to help improve the standard of grassroots football and provide a route for clubs to realise their aspirations to play in the Premier Leagues.As a first-ever title sponsor, the support of Barclays will further raise the aspirations and visibility of the women who play in these leagues, with a knock-on benefit for all of women’s football in Scotland.”
Tom Corbett, Head of Sponsorship said: “Barclays has a well-established and purposeful relationship with football spanning over two decades. From the 23-year long relationship with the Premier League to the biggest investment into women’s sport ever by a brand back in 2019 when we became the first title sponsor of what is now the Barclays Women’s Super League. This partnership is another great step forward in strengthening our support of the football pyramid across the UK, and we are excited to work alongside Scottish Women’s Football to help the growth of the women’s game in Scotland.”
Koral Anderson, Head of Transformation for Barclays UK and Scotland Site Lead said: “As one of Scotland’s largest financial services companies, I am proud that Barclays are extending our football sponsorship into Scotland. Based from our flagship campus in Glasgow, we are committed to supporting thriving local communities through access to sport and are excited to play our part in growing gender diversity in the game.”
To mark the start of the new partnership and to preview the new season kicking off on Sunday 11August, representatives from Scottish Women’s Football and Barclays were joined by players from the 23 teams competing in the Barclays Scottish Women’s Championship and Barclay’s Scottish Women’s League One at the iconic new Barclays campus on the banks of the Clyde.