How the League began.
	The South West Combination Women's Football League was formed in 1998 as part of The Football Association's initiative in Rationalisation of Women's Football, in conjunction with three other Combination Leagues (namely South East, Midland & Northern). These four Combination Leagues, each with twelve teams, reside above the ten Regional Leagues in the country and feed into the Southern & Northern Divisions of the FA Women's Premier League. Clubs are relegated and promoted into the SW Combination via the South West Region and Southern Region Leagues; six clubs each were promoted from these leagues for the inaugural SW Combination season 1998/1999. The founder members were Bath City, Bristol City, Bristol Rovers, Cardiff County (now Cardiff City), Cheltenham (now Cheltenham Town), Denham United, Oxford United, Portsmouth, Saltash Pilgrims (now Plymouth Argyle), Sherborne (now Yeovil Town), Swindon Spitfires and Swindon Town.

	The first season (1998/1999).
	The end of the first season saw League Champions Cardiff County promoted into the Southern Division of the FA Women's Premier League and Swindon Spitfires relegated back into the Southern Region Women's Football League having lost all 22 of their league matches. There was no relegation from the Southern Division of the FA Women's Premier League above - this was to increase the number of teams in the Premier League. The Combination League also welcomed two new additional member clubs, Newport Strikers and Southampton WFC, champions of their respective leagues. The South West Combination Women's Football League's Cup Competition is sponsored by Ambassador Coachworks in Woking, Surrey. In it inaugral season the Ambassador League Cup was won by Swindon Town who beat Cheltenham in the final by 4-0. SWWCL FINAL TABLE 1998/99   Teams Pld Win Dra Los For Aga GD Pts 1  Cardiff County 22 17 2 3 56 18 38 53 2  Bristol Rovers 22 15 4 3 84 28 56 49 3  Swindon Town 22 14 1 7 79 36 43 43 4  Cheltenham 22 13 3 6 50 29 18 42 5  Oxford United 22 11 4 7 53 29 24 37 6  Denham United 22 11 1 10 54 31 23 34 7  Portsmouth 22 9 3 10 47 41 6 30 8  Saltash Pilgrims 22 8 5 9 38 47 -9 29 9  Sherborne (*) 22 8 4 10 48 52 -4 28 10  Bristol City 22 5 3 14 31 57 -26 18 11  Bath City 22 5 2 15 34 76 -42 17 12  Swindon Spitfires 22 0 0 22 6 129 -123 0 Notes : * Points Deducted Cardiff County LFC promoted to Southern Division of The FA Women's Premier League. Swindon Spitfires relegated to Premier Division of the Southern Region Women's Football League. There were no relegations from Southern Division of the FA Women's League this season.

	Season Two (1999/2000).
	The second season saw Newport Strikers take the championship by two points from Bristol Rovers, whilst Bath City and Southampton WFC finished in the relegation zone. Southampton avoided the drop because there was no relegation from the league above. Bath City departed the SW Combination with the unenviable League Record for the "Worst Goal Difference" (-129) and only four points. Clevedon Town and Reading Ladies were promoted from the South West and Southern Region Football Leagues. Swindon Town defended their Ambassadors Cup title by beating Newport Strikers with a singel goal. SWWCL FINAL TABLE 1999/00   Teams Pld Win Dra Los For Aga GD Pts 1  Newport Strikers 22 18 1 3 81 19 62 55 2  Bristol Rovers 22 17 2 3 73 10 63 53 3  Swindon Town 22 15 3 4 70 37 33 48 4  Cheltenham 22 14 1 7 62 34 28 43 5  Saltash Pilgrims 22 11 3 8 64 42 22 36 6  Denham United 22 11 2 9 55 44 11 35 7  Portsmouth 22 8 5 9 43 35 8 29 8  Yeovil Town 22 8 2 12 49 48 1 26 9  Oxford United 22 6 4 12 41 55 -14 22 10  Bristol City 22 6 3 13 41 78 -37 21 11  Southampton WFC (*) 22 3 1 18 28 76 -48 9 12  Bath City 22 1 1 20 14 143 -129 4 Notes : * Point Deducted Newport Strikers LFC promoted to Southern Division of The FA Women's Premier League. Bath City LFC relegated to Premier Division of the Sout West Region Women's Football League. Southampton WFC relegated to Premier Division of the Southern Region Women's Football League. but due to receiving no relegated Clubs into this League from the Southern Division of the FA Women's Premier League, Southampton were offered to remain in the League.

	Season Three (2000/2001).
	Bristol Rovers were the record breaking champions of the 2000/2001 season, finishing the season unbeaten with 20 wins, 62 points and a +70 goal difference. Denham United and Oxford United were relegated, with Oxford failing to win a single game. Two teams joined the SW Combination from the Premier League, Reading Royals and Cardiff City. Newton Abbot were promoted as Champions from the South West Region. The Joint Liason Committee was convened and decided that Chesham United, Champions of the Southern Region should be moved across to the South East Combination League due to their location, ensuring the SW Combination maintained 12 teams. The Ambasador League Cup was taken for the third season in a row by Swindon, again beating Cheltenham in the final, this time 4-2. SWWCL FINAL TABLE 2000/01   Teams Pld Win Dra Los For Aga GD Pts 1  Bristol Rovers 22 20 2 0 75 5 70 62 2  Portsmouth 22 16 2 3 73 10 63 53 3  Swindon Town 22 14 4 4 89 38 51 46 4  Yeovil Town 22 12 5 5 43 27 16 41 5  Bristol City 22 12 4 6 54 33 21 40 6  Clevedon Town 22 8 6 8 38 34 4 30 7  Reading 22 7 4 11 49 59 -10 25 8  Cheltenham Town (*) 22 7 5 10 37 42 -5 24 9  Saltash Pilgrims (*) 22 5 6 11 27 53 -26 19 10  Southampton WFC 22 5 1 16 23 81 -58 16 11  Denham United 22 3 3 16 32 66 -34 12 12  Oxford United 22 0 4 18 19 75 -56 4 Notes : * Points Deducted Bristol Rovers WFC promoted to Southern Division of The FA Women's Premier League. Oxford United WFC relegated to Premier Division of the Southern Region Women's Football League. Denham United LFC relegated to Premier Division of the Southern Region Women's Football League.

	Season Four (2001/2002).
	Bristol City were the League Champions by five points after a competitive season where the top five were in contention at one stage. Portsmouth were yet again runners-up to a Bristol team in consequitive seasons. Despite some top four finishes and good performances over the past three season, Cheltenham Town couldn't prevent their slide down the table and along with Southampton (who set a league record of 10 of Consequitive Defeats) were relegated. The League welcomed Aylesbury United (formerly Berkampstead Town), relegated from the Southern Premier Division. Exeter City and Chesham United were promoted. Three time champions Swindon Town were finally beaten in the Ambasadors League Cup when they went down 4-1 to Cardiff City in the semi-finals. Cardiff went on to lift the cup in style, emphatically beating Newton Abbot 5-0 in the final played at Elmore Football Club in Tiverton. This season's cup matches saw the record biggest win when Clevedon Town beat Southampton 11-2 in the First Round. SWWCL FINAL TABLE 2001/02   Teams Pld Win Dra Los For Aga GD Pts 1  Bristol City 22 17 3 2 86 26 60 54 2  Portsmouth 22 15 4 3 69 22 47 49 3  Reading Royals 22 12 4 6 58 35 23 40 4  Swindon Town 22 11 6 5 73 43 30 39 5  Cardiff City 22 11 4 7 60 38 22 37 6  Yeovil Town 22 10 2 10 42 40 2 32 7  Clevedon Town 22 7 8 7 32 41 -9 29 8  Newton Abbot 22 8 4 10 47 51 -4 28 9  Reading LFC 22 7 3 12 46 59 -13 24 10  Plymouth Argyle 22 7 2 13 33 63 -30 23 11  Cheltenham Town (*) 22 4 1 17 33 79 -46 11 12  Southampton WFC 22 1 3 18 16 98 -82 6 Notes : * 2 Points Deducted. Bristol City promoted to Southern Division of The FA Women's Premier League. Cheltenham Town relegated to Premier Division of the Southern Region Women's Football League. Southampton WFC relegated to Premier Division of the Southern Region Women's Football League.

	Season Five (2002/2003).
	Although in the end Portsmouth won the league with a lot to spare, for a long time it was a close run race. Portsmouth were flying right from the start and topped the table at the end of September, but closely followed by Cardiff City and Reading Royals. It was the fierce rivalry between the Cardiff and Reading sides which helped Portsmouth move clear towards the end of the season as Cardiff & Reading took points off each other in their repective home & away matches. Having clinched the title by the middle of May, the final day saw the battle between Reading Royals and Cardiff for second place. Despite both teams winning heavily against Aylesbury United and Reading Ladies respectively, it was Reading Royals who prevailed on goal-difference. Reading Royals also broke the League's record for Most Goals Scored in a Season with 95; beating the previous best of 89 set by Swindon Town (2001). Despite a valiant effort, their lack of experience in depth at this level, Aylesbury United were relegated without a point. But they were seen to develop as the season progressed and achieved their best result a 3-2 defeat against Reading Ladies in April 2003 (a game in which they were winning!). Having finished in 11th place, Reading Ladies were relieved to discover a week before the end of the season that they would not be relegated due to the withdrawal of Barry Town Ladies from the Women's Premier League (Southern Division),causing lack of numbers in the Division above. Due to fixture congestion the Ambassadors Cup was not played this season. Cardiff City and Reading Royals were the SW Combination's furthest representatives in the Women's F.A. Cup. Both reached the fourth round proper where they were narrowly beaten by sides from the National League, Cardiff finally bowing out 2-1 on penalties to Wolverhampton Wanderers while Reading were beaten within the 90mins 3-2 by Aston Villa. The league welcome Rover Oxford and Forest Green Rovers from the Southern & South West Leagues for the new season. SWWCL FINAL TABLE 2002/03   Teams Pld Win Dra Los For Aga GD Pts 1  Portsmouth 22 21 1 0 85 6 +79 64 2  Reading Royals 22 17 3 2 95 19 +76 54 3  Cardiff City 22 17 3 2 87 18 +69 54 4  Plymouth Argyle 22 12 1 9 57 55 +2 37 5  Swindon Town 22 11 3 8 58 54 +4 36 6  Clevedon Town 22 9 3 10 55 37 +18 30 7  Chesham United 22 9 2 11 59 39 +20 29 8  Yeovil Town 22 7 2 13 30 44 -14 23 9  Newton Abbot 22 6 2 14 50 99 -49 20 10  Exeter City 22 5 4 13 39 53 -14 19 11  Reading LFC 22 5 2 15 35 74 -39 17 12  Aylesbury United 22 0 0 22 12 164 -152 0 Notes : Portsmouth promoted to Southern Division of The FA Women's Premier League. Due to no relegated Clubs coming into this League from the Southern Division of the FA Women's Premier League, Reading Ladies avoided relegation. Aylesbury Utd relegated to Premier Division of the Southern Region Women's Football League.

	Season Six (2003/2004).
	This season was neck-and-neck the whole way between Cardiff City and Reading Royals. Both sides had 100% records against all the other sides in the leage so the matches against each other would decide the championship. Cardiff City drew first blood early on in the season when they beat the Royals 3-2 away. However, Reading remained the leaders for their vastly superior goal difference with Cardiff having games-in-hand due to their success in the FA Cup and Welsh Cup. The return fixture was comfortably won again by Cardiff 4-0. This was indeed a record breaking season which saw Cardiff City win all 22 of their league matches and Reading Royals become the first team to score over 100 league goals in a season (137). Cardiff also had a tremendoud run in the Women's FA Cup which saw them beat National League sides to reach the quarter finals of the tournament. They were eventually beaten by Arsenal who went on to lift the cup. The Ambassador Cup was competed this season, the match of the competition was to be Reading Royals vs Cardiff City in the semi-finals, with Cardiff at the time chasing a treble. Cardiff were victims of their own success and had to forfeit the game to their closest rivals as they could not field a team for the mid-week fixture. Reading Royals went on to end their season with some silverware as they beat an ethusiastic Rover Oxford 3-1 in the final. Cardiff City were promoted to the National League Southern Division and Yeovil Town and Exeter City were relegated to the Regional Leagues. Cardiff City Bluebirds were welcomed from the National League following their relegation last season. SWWCL FINAL TABLE 2003/04   Teams Pld Win Dra Los For Aga GD Pts 1  Cardiff City LFC 22 22 0 0 114 9 +105 66 2  Reading Royals 22 20 0 2 137 21 +116 60 3  Chesham United 22 13 3 6 57 41 +16 42 4  Rover Oxford 22 11 2 9 77 62 +15 35 5  Forest Green Rovers 22 8 6 8 66 58 +8 30 6  Clevedon Town 22 8 6 8 33 39 -6 30 7  Plymouth Argyle 22 8 4 10 48 56 -8 28 8  Swindon Town 22 7 4 11 40 73 -33 25 9  Reading Ladies 22 6 3 13 36 91 -55 21 10  Newton Abbot 22 5 3 14 34 80 -46 18 11  Exeter City 22 5 1 16 30 76 -46 16 12  Yeovil Town 22 1 4 17 19 84 -66 7 Notes : Cardiff City Ladies promoted to Southern Division of The FA Women's Premier League. Exeter City & Yeovil Town relegated to Premier Division of the Southern Region Women's Football League.

	Season Seven (2004/2005).
	Reading Royals and Cardiff City Bluebirds were the favourites to challenge for the seventh Combination title. The early runners were Chesham United, however a mid season stutter allowed the Royals and Bluebirds to catch up. The Bluebirds fell behind due to a fixture congestion and Royals built up a healthy lead. Cardiff beat Reading towards the end of the season, but dropped too many points and were unable to match Readings incredible record. Reading Royals won the title with two games to spare and now return to the National League following their relegation in 2000/01. SWWCL Results Grid 2004/05 Note: n/a - means fixture was not played. SWWCL FINAL TABLE 2004/05   Teams Pld Win Dra Los For Aga GD Pts 1  Reading Royals 22 20 1 1 104 18 86 61 2  Cardiff City Bluebirds 21 17 1 3 96 19 77 50 3  Chesham United 22 16 2 4 75 33 42 50 4  Keynsham Town 22 14 1 7 83 48 35 43 5  Clevedon Town 20 10 1 9 46 34 12 31 6  Newton Abbot 22 9 3 10 40 44 -4 30 7  Plymouth Argyle 21 9 1 11 67 60 7 28 8  Oxford City 21 7 3 11 50 78 -28 24 9  Swindon Town 22 7 2 13 49 60 -11 23 10  Forest Green Rovers 22 6 3 13 47 61 -14 21 11  Launton 22 3 0 18 24 130 -106 9 12  Reading Ladies 22 1 2 19 30 126 -96 3 Notes : Cardiff City Bluebirds LFC - Withdrew from the League, therefore Launton Ladies FC avoid relegation. Reading Royals LFC - Promoted to National League Southern Division. Queens Park Rangers LFC - Transferred across from South East Combination Women's FL. Newquay Ladies FC - Promoted from South West Region Women's FL. Luton Town Belles Ladies FC - Promoted from Southern Region Women's FL Reading Ladies FC - Relegated to Southern Region Women's FC.

	Season Eight (2005/2006).
	Report to follow. SWWCL Results Grid 2005/06 Note: n/a - means fixture was not played. SWWCL FINAL TABLE 2005/06   Teams Pld Win Dra Los For Aga GD Pts 1  Keynsham Town 22 19 3 0 90 20 70 60 2  Chesham United 22 17 3 2 88 27 61 54 3  Newquay AFC 22 13 4 5 72 22 50 43 4  Queens Park Rangers 22 12 3 7 44 30 14 39 5  Forest Green Rovers 22 9 5 8 52 38 14 32 6  Plymouth Argyle 22 8 6 8 45 57 -12 30 7  Luton Town 22 7 5 10 45 51 -6 26 8  Newton Abbot 22 7 3 12 41 45 -4 24 9  Swindon Town 22 6 6 10 35 54 -19 24 10  Clevedon Town 22 5 5 12 24 49 -25 20 11  Oxford City 22 5 2 15 36 80 -44 17 12  Launton 22 1 1 20 9 108 -99 4 Notes : To be confirmed.