Those divisions operated on the traditional autumn–spring football season calendar until 2009, when they switched to a March–November schedule.

[2] Queen of the South and Elgin City both won promotion to the Premier Division in 1999-00.

East Kilbride won the First Division and promotion in 2002–03, and reached that season's League Cup final.

Queen's Park were the 2006–07 First Division champions and returned to the SWPL[14][15][6] (after the club's previous promotion in 2004 and relegation in 2006[16]).

In 2007–08, the promotion-winners were Dundee United S.C. and Dalkeith Ladies (Boroughmuir Thistle), coached by Pauline MacDonald.

Runners-up Celtic Reserves were ineligible for promotion while third placed Toryglen Ladies folded over the close season.

Buchan Ladies, Kilwinning Sports Club, Airdrie United and Forfar Farmington Reserves were promoted from the regional Second Divisions in 2011.

and 4th-placed Kilwinning SC were subsequently promoted, while the relegated Kilmarnock and Inverness City replaced them in SWFL 1.

Dunfermline Athletic, East Fife, Hearts and Murieston United were promoted from the regional Second Divisions.