North Region Junior Football League
The North Region Junior Football League is a football league based in the north east of Scotland. The league sits at levels 6–7 on the Scottish football league system, acting as a feeder to the Highland Football League.
| Founded | 2001 |
|---|---|
| Country |  Scotland |
| Number of teams | 30 |
| Level on pyramid | 6–7 |
| Promotion to | Highland League |
| Domestic cup(s) | Scottish Cup (licensed clubs and league winners Scottish Junior Cup |
| Current champions | Culter (8th title) (2022–23) |
| Most championships | Culter (8 titles) |
| Website | SJFA North Region |
| Current: 2023–24 North Region Junior Football League | |
Geographically, the league covers Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and Moray.
The winners take part in an end of season promotion play-off with the Midlands Football League and North Caledonian Football League champions, subject to clubs meeting the required licensing criteria.
From 2018 to 2022, the league consisted of three divisions at Tiers 6 to 8. The 2018 league was essentially a continuation of a two division system which operated from 2003. It was split into two geographical sections at Tier 7 from 2011, with the lower (Tier 8) Division Two disbanded two years later. After five seasons of that setup, a three-division model was restored.
Member clubs for the 2021–22 season
Beginning from the 2013–14 season, the two automatically relegated clubs drop into one of two regional divisions below the North Superleague.[1] In 2016–17 and 2017–18, a play-off was introduced between the third bottom Superleague side and the runners-up in the East and West sections of the North First Division, potentially adding a third relegation place. Subsequently, there has been automatic relegation only in a deregionalised league system.
Membership of the North Region Premier Division is dependent on more stringent ground criteria than the general entry requirements to the North Region and in recent years, both Inverness City (twice), and Grantown were refused promotion to the North Superleague on this basis.[2][3]
Premier Division
| Club | Location | Ground | Finishing position 2018–19[lower-alpha 1] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banchory St Ternan | Banchory | Milton Park | 1st in North First Division |
| Bridge of Don Thistle | Aberdeen | Aberdeen Sports Village | 2nd |
| Colony Park | Inverurie | Colony Park | 9th |
| Culter | Peterculter | Crombie Park | 5th |
| Deveronside | Macduff | Myrus Centre | 2nd in North First Division |
| Dyce Juniors | Dyce | Ian Mair Park | 8th |
| East End | Aberdeen | New Advocates Park | 11th |
| Ellon United | Ellon | The Meadows | 12th |
| Hall Russell United | Bridge of Don | Denmore Park | 10th |
| Hermes | Bridge of Don | Lochside Park | 4th |
| Maud | Maud | Maud Pleasure Park | 6th |
| Montrose Roselea | Montrose | Links Park | 3rd |
| Nairn St Ninian | Nairn | Showfield Park | 7th |
- The 2019–20 season was declared null and void.[4]
Championship
| Club | Location | Home ground | Finishing position 2018–19[5] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen University | Aberdeen | Hillhead Centre | 2nd, Second Division |
| Buchanhaven Hearts | Peterhead | Raemoss Park | 1st, Second Division |
| Dufftown | Dufftown | Westburn Park | 13th, North Superleague |
| Fraserburgh United | Fraserburgh | College Park | 3rd |
| Longside | Longside | Davidson Park | 6th |
| Stonehaven | Stonehaven | Glenury Park | 14th, North Superleague |
| Stoneywood Parkvale | Aberdeen | Clark Commercial Park | 4th |
| Sunnybank | Aberdeen | Heathryfold Park | 5th |
Champions and season summaries
- Using a 'points per game' algorithm applied in other leagues, Banks O' Dee (who were leading the table by a big margin) would have been nominal champions.
North Region League Championship
| Season | Winners | Runner Up | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018–19[5] | Banchory St. Ternan | Deveronside | Fraserburgh Utd |
| 2019–20[9] | Null and void[4][lower-alpha 1] | ||
| 2021–22 | Stonehaven | Stoneywood Parkvale | Dufftown |
| 2022–23 | Sunnybank | Fraserburgh United | Rothie Rovers |
- Using the 'points per game' algorithm applied in other leagues, Aberdeen University would have been nominal champions ahead of Fraserburgh United.
References
- Easton, Richard (9 June 2013). "Clubs agree to league reconstruction". SJFA, North Region. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
- "Inverness City's future under threat". Inverness Courier. 5 May 2011. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
- Easton, Richard. "Superleague play off to take place at Colony Park". North Region SJFA. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
- Clark, Will (2 May 2020). "North junior football season is declared null and void as season over for Nairn St Ninian". Inverness Courier. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
- McBookie.Com First Division Table 18/19, North Region Junior Football League
- McBookie.Com Superleague Table 18/19, North Region Junior Football League
- McBookie.Com Superleague Table 19/20, North Region Junior Football League
- "SEASON 2020/21 ENDED". Scottish Junior FA. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
- McBookie.Com First Division Table 19/20, North Region Junior Football League