Maltese First Division (women)

The Maltese First Division is the top level league of women's football in Malta. It is run by the Malta Football Association.

Maltese First Division
Founded1995 (1995)
Country Malta
ConfederationUEFA
Divisions1
Number of teams8
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toSecond Division
Domestic cup(s)Maltese Women's Cup
International cup(s)UEFA Champions League
Current championsBirkirkara (8th title)
(2018–19)
Most championshipsHibernians (12 titles)
WebsiteOfficial website

After several failed attempts in the 1970s and 1980s to create a lasting women's football competition, successful tournaments of San Gwann and Luxol St. Andrews gained enough interest, that the Malta Football Association decided to organize the first ever league in 1995-96.

The most titles were won by Hibernians.

Although the winning team of the league qualifies for a spot in the UEFA Women's Champions League, the spot is not always taken. Malta currently sits at the last spot in the UEFA coefficients women's ranking[1] and the last club to take part was Birkirkara in 2007–08; Birkirkana lost all three games with 1–37 goals. In 09–10 they competed again and ended up with three losses and 1-26 goals.

2017–18 teams
Mgarr
Athleta & Spartans
Tarxien
Location of teams in 2012–13 Maltese Premier Division

The 2017–18 season was played by the following teams.

TeamCityHome ground
BirkirkaraBirkirkaraInfetti Ground
Mosta F.C.MostaCharles Abela Memorial Stadium
Hibernians F.C.PaolaCorridiano Stadium
Gozo F.C.Kerċem, GozoKerċem Stadium
Mgarr UnitedMgarrMgarr Ground
Pembroke AthletaPembrokePembroke Athleta Ground
Ħamrun SpartansHamrunVTS Stadium
Tarxien RainbowsTarxienTony Cassar Sports Ground

Format

Until the 2011–12 season there were eight teams in the league. The teams played each other twice for a total of 14 matches each. After that the champion qualifies to the UEFA Champion's League and the last two places are relegated to the Maltese Seceond Division. Since then the format has changed a lot.

In the 2012–13, after the regular season the top four played a championship group and the bottom placed four teams played the relegation round. Points of the regular season and the second stage were added. In 2013–14 there was just one stage, where seven teams played each other three times. Also there was a title decider match after the top two teams were tied on points. Hibernians won the title over Birkirkara in a penalty shootout.

In 2014–15 there were eleven teams, and again a championship group to which the top six after the regular season qualified.

For 2015–16 the league was reduced to six teams. They play each other four times for a total of 20 matches per team.

List of champions

The season winners are:[2][3]

  • 1995/96: Rabat Ajax
  • 1996/97: Lija Athletic
  • 1997/98: Rabat Ajax
  • 1998/99: Hibernians
  • 1999/2000: Hibernians
  • 2000/01: Hibernians
  • 2001/02: Hibernians
  • 2002/03: Hibernians
  • 2003/04: Hibernians
  • 2004/05: Hibernians
  • 2005/06: Hibernians
  • 2006/07: Birkirkara
  • 2007/08: Hibernians
  • 2008/09: Birkirkara
  • 2009/10: Birkirkara
  • 2010/11: Mosta
  • 2011/12: Birkirkara[4]
  • 2012/13: Birkirkara
  • 2013/14: Hibernians
  • 2014/15: Hibernians
  • 2015/16: Hibernians
  • 2016/17: Birkirkara
  • 2017/18: Birkirkara
  • 2018/19: Birkirkara

Record Champions
Titles Team
12 Hibernians
8 Birkirkara
2 Rabat Ajax
1 Lija Athletic
Mosta

References
  1. https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/competitions/WomenCup/89/50/90/895090_DOWNLOAD.pdf
  2. "Malta - List of Women Champions". RSSSF. Retrieved 8 April 2012.
  3. "Women's football archive". maltafootball.com. Retrieved 8 April 2012.
  4. "Birkirkara crowned BOV Women's First Division champions/". maltafootball.com. 28 March 2012. Retrieved 8 April 2012.


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