Scottish football league system
The Scottish football league system is a series of generally connected leagues for Scottish football clubs.
The Scottish system is more complicated than many other national league systems, consisting of several completely separate systems or 'grades' of leagues and clubs. As well as senior football there is junior football, and also amateur football and welfare football.
In senior football in Scotland there is one national league, the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL), which has four divisions. There are also several regional leagues (most notably the Highland Football League and since 2013 the Lowland Football League). From 2014–15, a promotion/relegation play-off between the two regional leagues and the SPFL national league was introduced for the first time.[1]
Two clubs based in England play in the senior Scottish system - Berwick Rangers in the Lowland League and Tweedmouth Rangers in the East of Scotland League. A small number of English amateur clubs in the lowest levels of the game, based on or around the Anglo-Scottish border, also compete in Border Amateur Football League for geographical and travel reasons.
Men's system
Until 2013 Scottish football had no pyramid league system, and as a result it was impossible for clubs in regional leagues to progress into the national leagues, unless a vacancy opened in the Scottish Football League. The final example of this was ahead of the 2008–09 season, where Gretna's demise allowed Annan Athletic to take their place. Overall, the structure of men's football in Scotland was among the most fractured and multi-faceted in Europe, being unique in having a plurality of adult male governing bodies (with Seniors, Juniors, Amateurs and Welfarers - see below). It was not uncommon for a given town or county to have clubs in as many as three or four separate systems.
Moves towards creating a pyramid system began in 2008 under the tenure of Scottish Football Association (SFA) chief executive Gordon Smith, with discussions between the SFA and the regional and junior leagues.[2] On 7 May 2013 Scottish Premier League clubs unanimously agreed on the introduction of a pyramid structure to Scottish football along with the reintroduction of a single governing body for the 42 clubs competing at a national level, a revised financial distribution model, and the possibility of a promotion/relegation play-off between the top two divisions.[3]
Senior football
The current system has been in place since 2013–14, when the Scottish Professional Football League was formed by a merger of the Scottish Premier League (tier 1) and the Scottish Football League (tiers 2–4). At the same time, the Lowland Football League (tier 5) was founded, and from 2014 to 2021 the leagues below (tier 6) began to be incorporated as each joined the system. For each division, its official name, number of clubs, number of games, and promotion/relegation spots are given:
| Tier | Total Clubs (292) | League(s) / Division(s) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 42 | Scottish Professional Football League | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 12 |
Scottish Premiership | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | 10 |
Scottish Championship | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | 10 |
Scottish League One | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | 10 |
Scottish League Two | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 250 | Non-League / Regional Leagues | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | 36 |
Highland Football League |
Lowland Football League | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | 92 | Midlands Football League
20 clubs playing 38 games |
North Caledonian League
12 clubs playing 22 games |
North Region League Premier Division 16 clubs playing 30 games |
East of Scotland Football League Premier Division 16 clubs playing 30 games |
South of Scotland Football League
12 clubs playing 22 games |
West of Scotland Football League Premier Division 16 clubs playing 30 games | ||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | 46 | North Region League Championship 14 clubs playing 26 games |
East of Scotland Football League First Division 16 clubs playing 30 games |
West of Scotland Football League First Division 16 clubs playing 30 games | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 8 | 32 | East of Scotland Football League Second Division 16 clubs playing 30 games |
West of Scotland Football League Second Division 16 clubs playing 30 games | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9 | 27 | East of Scotland Football League Third Division 11 clubs playing 30 games |
West of Scotland Football League Third Division 16 clubs playing 30 games | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10 | 16 | West of Scotland Football League Fourth Division 16 clubs playing 30 games | |||||||||||||||||||||||
The leagues below level four are classed as "non-league football", meaning they are outside the Scottish Professional Football League and are played on a regional not a national basis. The Lowland League was created in 2013–14 and runs in parallel with the Highland League to form level five on the pyramid. Since 2014–15 the two league winners have played off against each other, with the winner then playing the team finishing 10th in League Two in a promotion/relegation play-off for a place in the SPFL.
Below the Highland League is the Midlands League (20 clubs); North Caledonian Football League (12 teams, including one reserve team); and the North Region League (30 clubs, 2 divisions). Below the Lowland League is the East of Scotland Football League (59 clubs, including one reserve team, 4 divisions); the South of Scotland Football League (12 clubs, including one reserve team); and the West of Scotland Football League (80 clubs, 5 divisions). At end of season, round robin promotion play-offs take place between the winners of feeder leagues of the Highland and Lowland League respectively (subject to each club meeting licensing criteria) for promotion to tier 5.
At the start of the 2023–24 season, this totalled 291 teams across 20 divisions.
Cup competitions
All clubs in tier 5 and above automatically enter the Scottish Cup, along with clubs in other divisions who are full members of the Scottish Football Association. Up to three non-SFA members can qualify for the Scottish Cup each season by winning the East, South or West leagues, or the East, South and West Cup-Winners Shield. All 42 SPFL clubs compete in the Scottish League Cup, along with the Highland and Lowland champions, and one of the runners-up. The Scottish Challenge Cup features 30 SPFL clubs from outside the Premiership, Under 21s teams, and four from the Highland and Lowland leagues.
The SFA South Region Challenge Cup is for all 164 non-league clubs in the Lowland area (excluding reserve or B teams). The SFA North Region Challenge Cup existed between 2007 and 2009. There are also a variety of smaller cup tournaments at league and regional level.
Junior football
The Scottish Junior Football Association (SJFA) manages two regions: the SJFA East Region of 19 clubs; and the SJFA North Region of 34 clubs (4 clubs withdrew for 2022–23). This represents a total of 53 teams across 3 divisions. The term 'junior' refers not to the age of the players but the level of football played.[4][5][6] These two regions joined the pyramid system at tier 6 below the Highland League in 2021–22.
Members of the SJFA, consisting of 114 teams in total from the two regions as well as the East of Scotland League and West of Scotland League (5 teams are in abeyance for 2022–23), participate in the Scottish Junior Cup. Up to three non-SFA members can qualify for the Scottish Cup each season by winning the Midlands League, North Superleague, or the Junior Cup. Banks O' Dee also enter senior tournaments in the Aberdeenshire Cup and Shield, and run an Under-20s team in the Senior development structure (the Aberdeenshire & District League).
In 2020, as part of a long process to form an integrated footballing pyramid structure, all 63 West Region Junior clubs decided to depart and join the newly founded West of Scotland Football League, a feeder to the Lowland League. Between 2017 and 2020 more than half of the East Region clubs departed the junior ranks, joining the senior East of Scotland Football League which is also below the Lowland League. The remaining clubs in the East Premiership South made the same move to the East of Scotland League for season 2021–22, and the East Premiership North clubs formed the Midlands League at tier 6 below the Highland League. The North Region also joined the pyramid structure at the same level.[7] The northern leagues at that level entered the pyramid later in July.[8]
Amateur football
Again separate from the above, and generally agreed to lie 'below' the senior and junior levels, are the hundreds of clubs in membership of the Scottish Amateur Football Association which oversees 50 leagues[9][10][11] - although this includes Sunday League football and futsal competitions. Prestige centres around the historic Scottish Amateur Cup. A number of Senior and Junior clubs run reserve teams in Amateur football. Student and Police football is also affiliated to the SAFA.
As of 2022–23 there are 360 teams – in 12 geographic leagues containing a total of 31 league divisions – playing Saturday football under a regular August–May season. In addition there are 137 teams playing in four specialist Saturday Morning leagues (including one for Glasgow Colleges Amateur Football Association) in Dundee and Glasgow, plus 22 teams playing in Strathclyde Evangelical Churches Football League.
There are also 90 teams playing in the Summer Saturday leagues (season 2022), most of which are located in the Highland; 244 teams are in the Sunday League system.
Saturday Leagues (Winter)
| Leagues | Divisions | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aberdeenshire Amateur Football Association
60 clubs |
1 | Premier Division
14 clubs ↓ TBC relegation spots | ||
| 2 | Division One (North)
14 clubs ↑ TBC promotion spots ↓ TBC relegation spots |
Division One (East)
14 clubs ↑ TBC promotion spots ↓ TBC relegation spots | ||
| 3 | Division Two (North)
9 clubs ↑ TBC promotion spots |
Division Two (East)
9 clubs ↑ TBC promotion spots | ||
| Ayrshire Amateur Football Association
37 clubs |
1 | Premier League
12 clubs | ||
| 2 | Division 1
11 clubs ↑ 2 promotion spots ↓ 2 relegation spots | |||
| 3 | Division 2
14 clubs ↑ 2 promotion spots | |||
| Border Amateur Football League
28 clubs |
1 | A League
10 clubs ↓ 2 relegation spots + 1 relegation playoff spot | ||
| 2 | B League
10 clubs ↑ 2 promotion spots + 1 promotion playoff spot ↓ 3 relegation spots + 1 relegation playoff spot | |||
| 3 | C League
8 clubs ↑ 2 promotion spots + 1 promotion playoff spot | |||
| Caledonian Amateur Football League
23 clubs |
1 | Premier Division
14 clubs | ||
| 2 | First Division
9 clubs ↑ 3 promotion spots | |||
| Central Scottish Amateur Football League
25 clubs |
1 | Premier Division
12 clubs ↓ 2 relegation spots | ||
| 2 | Championship
13 clubs ↑ 2 promotion spots | |||
| Greater Glasgow Premier Amateur Football League
41 clubs |
1 | Division 1
12 clubs ↓ 2 relegation spots + 1 relegation playoff spot | ||
| 2 | Division 2
12 clubs ↑ 2 promotion spots + 1 promotion playoff spot ↓ 2 relegation spots + 1 relegation playoff spot | |||
| 3 | Division 3A
9 clubs ↑ 1 promotion spots+ 1 promotion playoff spot |
Division 3B
8 clubs ↑ 1 promotion spots+ 1 promotion playoff spot | ||
| Kingdom of Fife Amateur Football Association
35 clubs |
1 | Premier League
12 clubs ↓ 2 relegation spots | ||
| 2 | Championship
12 clubs ↑ 2 promotion spots ↓ 2 relegation spots | |||
| 3 | Division 1
11 clubs ↑ 2 promotion spots | |||
| Lothian & Edinburgh Amateur Football Association (Saturday)
49 clubs |
1 | Premier Division
12 clubs ↓ TBC relegation spot | ||
| 2 | Championship
12 clubs ↑ TBC promotion spot ↓ TBC relegation spots | |||
| 3 | Division 1
12 clubs ↑ TBC promotion spot ↓ TBC relegation spot | |||
| 2 | Division 2
13 clubs ↑ TBC promotion spot | |||
| Midlands Amateur Football Association
14 clubs |
1 | Premier Division
14 clubs | ||
| Perthshire Amateur Football Association
21 clubs |
1 | Division One
10 clubs ↓ 2 relegation spots | ||
| 2 | Division Two
11 clubs ↑ 2 promotion spots | |||
| Scottish Amateur Football League
16 clubs |
1 | Premier
16 clubs | ||
| Stirling & District Amateur Football Association
11 clubs |
1 | Premier Division
11 clubs ↓ TBC relegation spots | ||
| Dundee Saturday Morning Amateur Football League
39 clubs |
1 | Premier Division
12 clubs ↓ 1 relegation spot + 2 relegation playoff spots | ||
| 2 | 1st Division
12 clubs ↑ 1 promotion spot + 2 promotion playoff spots ↓ 2 relegation spots + 1 relegation playoff spot | |||
| 3 | 2nd Division
15 clubs ↑ 1 promotion spot + 2 promotion playoff spots | |||
| Glasgow Colleges Amateur Football Association
34 clubs |
1 | Premier Division
14 clubs ↓ 2 relegation spots | ||
| 2 | Division One (A)
10 clubs ↑ 1 promotion spot |
Division One (B)
10 clubs ↑ 1 promotion spot | ||
| Saturday Morning Amateur Football League
64 clubs |
1 | Premier Division
14 clubs ↓ TBC relegation spots | ||
| 2 | Championship
14 clubs ↑ TBC promotion spots ↓ TBC relegation spots | |||
| 2 | Division 1A
14 clubs ↑ TBC promotion spots |
Division 1B
12 clubs ↑ TBC promotion spots | ||
| Strathclyde Evangelical Churches Football League
22 clubs |
1 | Premier Division
12 clubs ↓ 1 relegation spot | ||
| 2 | Division 1
10 clubs ↑ 1 promotion spot | |||
Saturday Leagues (Summer)
| Leagues | Divisions | |
|---|---|---|
| Caithness Amateur Football Association
14 clubs |
1 | Division 1
8 clubs ↓ 1 relegation spot |
| 2 | Division 2
6 clubs ↑ 1 promotion spot | |
| Inverness & District Amateur Football Association
26 clubs |
1 | Premier Division
8 clubs ↓ 1 relegation spot |
| 2 | 1st Division
8 clubs ↑ 1 promotion spot ↓ 1 relegation spot | |
| 3 | 2nd Division
10 clubs ↑ 1 promotion spot | |
| Lewis & Harris Amateur League
9 clubs |
1 | 9 clubs |
| North West Sutherland Amateur Football League
8 clubs |
1 | 8 clubs |
| Orkney Amateur Football Association
12 clubs |
1 | A League
7 clubs ↓ 1 relegation spot |
| 2 | B League
5 clubs ↑ 1 promotion spot | |
| Shetland Amateur Football Association
8 clubs |
1 | Premier League
8 clubs |
| West Highland Amateur Football Association
8 clubs |
1 | 8 clubs |
| Uist & Barra Amateur Football Association
6 clubs |
1 | 6 clubs |
Sunday Leagues
| Leagues | Divisions | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen Sunday Football Association
17 clubs |
1 | Premier Division
8 clubs ↓ TBC relegation spots | |
| 2 | First Division
9 clubs ↑ TBC promotion spots | ||
| Airdrie & Coatbridge Sunday Amateur Football League
40 clubs |
1 | Premier Division
12 clubs ↓ TBC relegation spots | |
| 2 | Championship Division
13 clubs ↑ TBC promotion spots ↓ TBC relegation spots | ||
| 3 | First Division
15 clubs ↑ TBC promotion spots | ||
| Ayrshire Sunday Amateur Football Association
11 clubs |
1 | Division 1
11 clubs | |
| Dumfries Sunday Amateur Football League
14 clubs |
1 | Premier Division
15 clubs | |
| Fife Sunday Amateur Football League
16 clubs |
1 | Premier Division
6 clubs ↓ 1 relegation spot | |
| 2 | Championship
10 clubs ↑ 2 promotion spots | ||
| Glasgow & District Sunday Championship Amateur Football League
43 clubs |
1 | Premiership
10 clubs ↓ TBC relegation spots | |
| 2 | Championship
12 clubs ↑ TBC promotion spots ↓ TBC relegation spots | ||
| 3 | Division 1
11 clubs ↑ TBC promotion spots ↓ TBC relegation spots | ||
| 4 | Division 2
10 clubs ↓ TBC relegation spots | ||
| Lothians & Edinburgh Amateur Football Association (Sunday)
49 clubs |
Mornings | Afternoons | |
| 1 | Premier Division
10 clubs ↓ TBC relegation spots |
Premier Division
14 clubs | |
| 2 | Championship
11 clubs ↑ TBC promotion spots ↓ TBC relegation spots |
||
| 3 | Division 1
14 clubs ↑ TBC promotion spots | ||
| Football Central Amateur Football League
54 clubs |
Lanarkshire | – | |
| 1 | Premier Division
10 clubs ↓ TBC relegation spots |
Premier Division
12 clubs ↓ TBC relegation spots | |
| 2 | Championship
9 clubs ↑ TBC promotion spots |
Championship
12 clubs ↑ TBC promotion spots ↓ TBC relegation spots | |
| 3 | First Division
11 clubs ↑ TBC promotion spots | ||
Welfare football
Roughly concurrent with the Scottish Amateur Football Association is the Scottish Welfare Football Association, which has a very low profile nationally. The SWFA was established in the aftermath of World War I, and oversees leagues mainly operating Sunday and summer or midweek football, predominantly in the north of Scotland.
From a peak of over 500 clubs, there were 158 teams in membership in November 2012,[12] down from 238 teams in 2007.[13]
As of Season 2022 (Summer) and 2022–23 (Winter) there are 100 teams in 8 geographic leagues, plus 13 clubs playing in Warriors Premier League.
| Leagues | Divisions | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | |||
| Forres and Nairn District Welfare Association League
10 clubs |
1 | West Conference
5 clubs |
East Conference
5 clubs |
| Forth & Endrick Football League
10 clubs |
1 | 10 clubs | |
| Deeside Welfare Football Association
8 clubs |
1 | Mid-Deeside Summer League
8 clubs | |
| Moray & District Welfare Football Association
10 clubs |
1 | 10 clubs | |
| North East Scotland Welfare Football Association
20 clubs |
1 | League 1
9 clubs ↓ 2 relegation spots | |
| 2 | League 2
11 clubs ↑ 2 promotion spots | ||
| Strathspey & Badenoch Welfare Football Association
6 clubs |
1 | 6 clubs | |
| Winter | |||
| Greenock & District Welfare League
16 clubs |
1 | 16 clubs | |
| Montrose and District Welfare League
11 clubs |
1 | 11 clubs | |
| Warriors Premier League
13 clubs |
1 | 13 clubs | |
Reserve and Youth football
The reserve and youth leagues are mostly governed by the relevant adult leagues.
| Leagues | Divisions | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SPFL Reserve League
9 clubs (SPFL Premiership, Championship, League One) |
Reserve | 1 | 9 clubs | ||||||
| Lowlands Development League
95 clubs |
Youth
(U20) |
1 | Conference A
13 clubs (SPFL League One, League Two, Lowland League) |
Conference B
14 clubs (Lowland League, EoS League) |
Conference C
14 clubs (EoS League) |
Conference D
13 clubs (EoS League, WoS League) |
Conference E
13 clubs (WoS League) |
Conference F
14 clubs (WoS League) |
Conference G
14 clubs (WoS League) |
| Aberdeenshire and District League
11 clubs (Aberdeenshire and District FA) |
Youth
(U21) |
1 | 11 clubs | ||||||
| North of Scotland FA U20 League
4 clubs |
Youth
(U20) |
1 | 4 clubs | ||||||
| Highland League U18
19 clubs |
Youth
(U18) |
1 | East
8 clubs |
North
11 clubs | |||||
| SFA Club Academy Scotland Elite League
9 clubs (CAS Elite Level) |
Youth
(U11-18) |
1 | U11 | U13 | U14 | U15 | U16 | U18 | |
| 9 clubs | |||||||||
| SFA Club Academy Scotland Performance League
10 clubs (CAS Performance Level) |
Youth
(U11-18) |
1 | U11 | U13 | U14 | U15 | U16 | U18 | |
| 10 clubs | |||||||||
| SFA Advanced Youth League
6 clubs (Advanced Youth Programme) |
Youth
(U16-18) |
1 | U16 | U18 | |||||
| 6 clubs | |||||||||
| Saturday Morning Amateur Football League Development Section
15 clubs |
Youth | 1 | 15 clubs | ||||||
| Midlands Amateur Football Association Alliance League
12 clubs |
Reserve | 1 | Championship
12 clubs | ||||||
| Orkney Amateur Football Association Reserve League
8 clubs |
Reserve | 1 | 8 clubs | ||||||
| Shetland Amateur Football Association Reserve League
11 clubs |
Reserve | 1 | 11 clubs | ||||||
Women's system
Senior football
Senior leagues of women's football in Scotland are structured as follows:
| Level | League(s) / Division(s) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Leagues | ||||
| 1 |
Scottish Women's Premier League 1 | |||
| 2 |
Scottish Women's Premier League 2 | |||
| 3 | Scottish Women's Championship 8 clubs playing 28 games | |||
| 4 | Scottish Women's League One 12 clubs playing 27 games | |||
| Regional Leagues (Summer) | ||||
| – | Scottish Women's Football League | Highlands and Islands League
9 clubs playing 16 games | ||
| SWFL Central/South East
13 clubs playing 24 games |
SWFL West/South West
11 clubs playing 20 games |
SWFL North/East
10 clubs playing 27 games | ||
Youth football
| Scottish Women's Football National Performance League | |||
| U19 | U16 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 clubs | 8 clubs | ||
| Scottish Women's Football Youth Regional League (Summer) | |||
| U18 | U16 | U14 | |
| Central | Cross Region
Emma Mitchell League 11 clubs |
Sam Kerr League 11 clubs | Fiona Brown League 7 clubs
Lee Alexander League 8 clubs Nicola Docherty League 7 clubs |
| West | Leanne Crichton League 13 clubs | Chloe Arthur League 8 clubs
Jen Beattie League 13 clubs | |
| South West | Erin Cuthbert League 11 clubs | Erin Cuthbert League 10 clubs
Lee Alexander League 11 clubs | |
| South East | Cross Region
Jenna Fife League 6 clubs Kirsty Smith League 8 clubs |
Joelle Murray League 9 clubs
Lizzie Arnot League 10 clubs |
Frankie Brown League 12 clubs
Joelle Murray League 10 clubs Lizzie Arnot League 10 clubs |
| East | Caroline Weir League 11 clubs
Abbi Grant League 8 clubs |
Lucy Graham League 9 clubs
Caroline Weir League 9 clubs Lana Clelland League 5 clubs | |
| North | Kim Little League 8 clubs | Kim Little League 13 clubs | Rachel Corsie League 7 clubs
Christy Grimshaw League 7 clubs Rachel McLauchlan League 6 clubs |
Cup competitions
The Scottish Women's Cup is open to all senior teams affiliated with Scottish Women's Football. There are also the Scottish Women's Football League Cup, Scottish Women's Football League Plate, Scottish Women's Championship Cup, and Highlands & Islands League Cup.[14]
References
- "The Rules of the SPFL" (PDF). Scottish Professional Football League. Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 May 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
- "Smith wants pyramid system". sportinglife.com. 2008-06-04. Archived from the original on 2011-06-05. Retrieved 2008-06-04.
- "SPL clubs agree league reform package for next season". BBC Sport. 2013-05-07. Archived from the original on 2013-05-09. Retrieved 2013-05-07.
- The dutiful game: Welcome to the world of junior football in Scotland Archived 2019-12-31 at the Wayback Machine, The Scotsman, 23 May 2010
- The Rise of the Juniors Archived 2022-09-30 at the Wayback Machine, Craig Anderson, In Bed with Maradona, 2 November 2010
- Why Junior football should never grow up Archived 2019-12-17 at the Wayback Machine, Scott Fleming, Nutmeg Magazine, 1 December 2016
- Durent, Jamie. "Talk of north junior football clubs being ready for Highland League promotion plan 'premature'". Press and Journal. Archived from the original on 2021-05-13. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
- "North Region Joins Pyramid At Tier 6". The North Region Junior Football Association. 6 July 2021. Archived from the original on 2 February 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
- "SAFA Winter Saturday". Archived from the original on 2014-10-23. Retrieved 2014-11-11.
- "SAFA Winter Sunday". Archived from the original on 2014-10-23. Retrieved 2014-11-11.
- "SAFA Summer/Highlands". Archived from the original on 2014-11-11. Retrieved 2014-11-11.
- "Scottish Welfare FA Club Directory". 2012-11-12. Archived from the original on 2014-11-11. Retrieved 2014-11-11.
- "Scottish Amateur League - An Ongoing Resume". Archived from the original on 2014-11-11. Retrieved 2014-11-11.
- "Fixtures and Results - Scottish Women's Football". Scottish Women's Football. 2023-03-04. Archived from the original on 2023-03-04. Retrieved 2023-03-04.