New report shows surge in popularity for women’s football

'Vital insights'

The Academy of Sport, based within Moray House School of Education and Sport, has released a new study highlighting the growth rate in attendance at women's football matches. The study shows a fifth of clubs in the Scottish Women's Premier League (SWPL) saw an increase in attendance rate at match days between their 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons. It also found that 83% of those surveyed were highly satisfied with their experience at SWPL matches.

The study was based on the results of a survey, which set out to address key areas: 

•    who the fans are

•    what do they want

•    match attendance

•    communication and consumption

•    community and social issues 

Professor Grant Jarvie, Director of The Academy of Sport, commented, "Our intention is to help close the data gap between women’s and men's football so we can give the sports industry in Scotland vital insights into who the SWPL fans are and what they want".

The results show that attitudes and online engagement towards women's football considerably increased between 2021 and 2024.  

Cooperative results

This survey was conducted with cooperation from the Scottish Women's Premier League (SWPL), The Scottish Football Association, and the Scottish Women's Premier League Clubs. Fiona McIntyre, Managing Director, Scottish Women's Premier League, and Ebru Köksal, Chair of Women in Football UK, praised the report, commenting on how this highlights the surge and importance of women's football within sport and how the results give women's football a deserved platform to allow for further growth.

Related information: 

Support for women’s football is booming, a report shows

Link to the report - University of Edinburgh’s Academy of Sport

Academy of Sport - Acadamaidh Spòrs Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann