44-672: The Scottish Junior Football Association ( SJFA ) is an affiliated national association of the Scottish Football Association and is the governing body for the junior grade of football in Scotland . The term "junior" refers to the level of football played, not the age of the players. The closest equivalent terminology would be non-League football in England , the difference being that junior football in Scotland
88-448: A haphazard and irregular fashion. Queen's Park , a Glasgow club founded in 1867, took the lead, and following an advertisement in a Glasgow newspaper in 1873, representatives from seven clubs – Queen's Park, Clydesdale , Vale of Leven , Dumbreck , Third Lanark , Eastern and Granville – attended a meeting on 13 March 1873. Furthermore, Kilmarnock sent a letter stating their willingness to join. That day, these eight clubs formed
132-639: A number of its proposals rejected at SJFA meetings, seceded from the SJFA in 1907 but returned a year later. Further disputes occurred in 1922 over "poaching" clubs and, in 1927, the GJFA was instrumental in the Intermediate dispute which split the SJFA for four seasons. The record number of clubs to enter the Junior Cup was 412 in 1922–23. The local associations continued to run their leagues until 1968, when
176-505: A six-man board of directors to oversee the daily operations of the league. The board of directors in turn appoint a Chief Executive. Neil Doncaster became the SPFL's first Chief Executive in July 2013, after beating David Longmuir to the role. The board of directors is composed of eight members, who are elected at the company's annual general meeting. Listed below are the 42 member clubs of
220-412: A system of club licence awards. All SFA member clubs are assessed annually in four areas (ground, first team, youth team, and governance) and, if appropriate, awarded a licence at platinum, gold, silver, bronze or entry level. As of June 2023, only Celtic and Rangers have been awarded a platinum-level licence, while two others ( Hibernian and St Johnstone ) hold gold-level licences. All clubs in
264-765: Is a full national side . The Scottish Football Association organises the Scottish Cup and the Scottish Youth Cup . Although the SFA are not involved in the day-to-day operation of the Scottish Professional Football League or other league competitions, they do appoint referees to officiate the games in these leagues, as well as dealing with player registrations and disciplinary issues. The Scottish Football Association encourages quality of governance in football clubs through
308-758: Is for under-12 players, and will provide them with 800 hours of additional coaching. As of June 2023 , seven performance schools exist: As of June 2023, 124 clubs are full members of the Scottish Football Association, comprising: The Scottish Football Association has affiliated to it the following seven national associations: There are 10 local associations affiliated and the competitions they manage are also listed below: The following six leagues with their affiliated leagues and cups are recognised by The Scottish Football Association: Scottish Professional Football League The Scottish Professional Football League ( SPFL )
352-417: Is located there. The Scottish Football Association is responsible for the operation of the Scotland national football team , the annual Scottish Cup and several other duties important to the functioning of the game in Scotland. Following the formation of Scotland's earliest football clubs in the 1860s, football experienced a rapid growth but there was no formal structure, and matches were often arranged in
396-732: Is the national men's association football league in Scotland . The league was formed in June 2013 following a merger between the Scottish Premier League and the Scottish Football League . As well as operating its league competition, which consists of the top four levels of the Scottish football league system , the SPFL also operates two domestic cup competitions, the Scottish League Cup and
440-661: The North Caledonian League the East of Scotland Football League , the South of Scotland Football League and the West of Scotland Football League . Over time, as various local football associations and leagues — both junior and senior — have risen in strength, or in some cases disappeared completely. Scottish football developed its current pattern with either junior or senior non-leagues taking precedence in various parts of
484-455: The Scotland national football team , the Scottish Football Association is also currently responsible for organising the Scotland national football B team , as well as men's national teams at under-21 , under-19 , under-18 and under-17 levels. There was also a semi-professional team , but this was disbanded in 2008. In women's football, there is the full Scotland women's national football team , under-19 and under-17 teams. In Futsal , there
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#1732780981845528-497: The Scottish Challenge Cup . While the Scottish Cup includes all the teams within the SPFL, the competition is run and organised by the Scottish Football Association . A Scottish football league system was first created in 1890, when the Scottish Football League (SFL) was formed. Traditionally the league had a two divisional structure (Divisions One and Two) between which clubs were promoted and relegated at
572-534: The Scottish FA and the SFA ; Scottish Gaelic : Comann Ball-coise na h-Alba ) is the governing body of football in Scotland and has the ultimate responsibility for the control and development of football in Scotland . Members of the SFA include clubs in Scotland , affiliated national associations as well as local associations. It was formed in 1873, making it the second oldest national football association in
616-404: The Scottish Professional Football League are required to be licensed at bronze level, Highland Football League , and Lowland Football League are required to be licensed at entry level or above. The Scottish Football Association established a number of performance schools around Scotland in 2012 with the aim of developing footballing talent in young people and at grassroots level. The programme
660-461: The 2015–16 season, Linlithgow Rose became the first junior team to reach the last 16 of the Scottish Cup after beating Forfar Athletic . (see "Juniors in the Scottish Cup"). In 2011, the Scottish Football Association created two new operational boards, Professional and Non-Professional, to provide more focused governance in these differing areas of the game. Junior football is represented on
704-585: The East Region with a single division and the North Region with two divisions. The top division of each region sits at tier 6 of the Scottish football league system , with a play-off enabling promotion to the Highland League for clubs with an SFA licence. There was previously a West Region league system which contained 63 clubs at the end of the 2019–20 season, prior to its members leaving
748-527: The Juniors to join a new West of Scotland Football League in the senior pyramid . 53 of those clubs kept their membership of the SJFA in order to enter the Scottish Junior Cup. A similar move had also greatly reduced the East Region's membership two years earlier when 25 clubs joined the East of Scotland Football League ahead of the 2018–19 season, with a further 20 clubs making the move over
792-497: The Non-Professional Game Board alongside other organisations such as the East of Scotland Football League , South of Scotland Football League and Scottish Amateur Football Association . The term "junior" does not relate to the age of players. Football for young players is generally known as "Youth" (up to Under-19) or "Juvenile" (which is to Under-21 level) football. In the late 19th century, membership of
836-551: The SFA conferred "senior" status on a club and the junior grade developed outside the SFA framework. Today, the senior grade of football in Scotland is played in the Scottish Professional Football League (until 2013 divided into the Scottish Premier League and the Scottish Football League ), as well as the six senior non-leagues: the Highland Football League , the Lowland Football League ,
880-487: The SFA. This new national association acted as an umbrella for these local junior associations, as well as establishing the Scottish Junior Cup, a national cup competition. The first three winners of the Scottish Junior Cup all joined the SFA and stepped up to senior level. Gradually, a number of junior leagues grew in strength — particularly in Glasgow, where leading clubs drew large crowds. The Glasgow Junior FA, having seen
924-2041: The SJFA after moving leagues. East Region (19) Arbroath Victoria, Blairgowrie, Brechin Victoria, Broughty Athletic, Carnoustie Panmure, Coupar Angus, Downfield, Dundee North End, Dundee St. James, Dundee Violet, East Craigie, Forfar United, Forfar West End, Kirriemuir Thistle, Letham, Lochee Harp, Lochee United, Scone Thistle, Tayport North Region (33) Aberdeen East End, Aberdeen University, Banchory St Ternan, Banks O' Dee Juniors, Bridge of Don Thistle, Buchanhaven Hearts, Buckie Rovers, Burghead Thistle, Colony Park, Cruden Bay, Culter, Deveronside, Dufftown, Dyce, Ellon United, Forres Thistle, Fraserburgh United, Glentanar, Hall Russell United, Hermes, Islavale, Longside, Lossiemouth United, Maud, Montrose Roselea, Nairn St Ninian, New Elgin, Newmachar United, Rothie Rovers, Stonehaven, Stoneywood Parkvale, Sunnybank, Whitehills East of Scotland League (8) Armadale Thistle, Bathgate Thistle, Harthill Royal, Livingston United, Pumpherston, Stoneyburn, Syngenta , West Calder United West of Scotland League (52) Ardeer Thistle, Ardrossan Winton Rovers, Arthurlie, Ashfield, Auchinleck Talbot , Beith Juniors, Belshill Athletic, Benburb , Blantyre Victoria, Cambuslang Rangers, Carluke Rovers, Craigmark Burntonians, Cumbernauld United, Cumnock Juniors , Dalry Thistle, Darvel , East Kilbride Thistle, Gartcairn, Glasgow Perthshire, Glasgow United, Glenafton Athletic, Greenock, Hurlford United, Irvine Meadow XI , Irvine Victoria, Johnstone Burgh, Kilbirnie Ladeside, Kilsyth Rangers, Kirkintilloch Rob Roy, Lanark United, Largs Thistle, Larkhall Thistle, Lesmahagow, Lugar Boswell Thistle, Maryhill, Maybole, Muirkirk, Newmains United, Petershill, Rossvale, Royal Albert, Rutherglen Glencairn , St. Anthony's, St. Roch's, Saltcoats Victoria, Shotts Bon Accord, Thorniewood United, Troon, Vale of Clyde, Vale of Leven, Wishaw, Yoker Athletic Note Club with an SFA Licence Currently there are two regional junior league systems:
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#1732780981845968-437: The SJFA instituted major reforms. This first phase of regionalisation removed the need for the many local associations, replacing them instead with six regional committees. These six regions — Ayrshire, Central, East, Fife, Tayside and North — still exist, to a certain extent, as divisions in the national league structure and as operators of certain cup competitions. The last major league reform took place in 2002, with
1012-469: The SPFL for the 2024–25 season. The SPFL retained the promotion/relegation play-off format between Scottish Football League divisions introduced in 2005, whilst adding a play-off tournament to the Premiership, then later a play-off between League Two and the Highland Football League and Lowland Football League in the 2014–15 season. Clubs in bold are those who were promoted from
1056-472: The SPFL would continue to seek sponsorship for the league and the Scottish League Cup . After two seasons without a main sponsor, a two-year agreement was reached with bookmaker Ladbrokes in May 2015. This was later extended until June 2020. After a year without a title sponsor, the SPFL reached a five-year deal with used car marketplace company Cinch . In October 2023 Cinch exercised its right to walk away from
1100-408: The Scottish Football Association, and resolved that: The clubs here represented form themselves into an association for the promotion of football according to the rules of The Football Association and that the clubs connected with this association subscribe for a challenge cup to be played for annually, the committee to propose the laws of the competition. The following eight football clubs founded
1144-492: The Scottish Football Association: The chief executive of the Scottish Football Association oversees the development of football in Scotland and the administration of disciplinary matters, and is also responsible for the general organisation of the national side. One of the most prominent roles of the chief executive is to hire and dismiss Scotland national football team managers . As well as
1188-481: The country with some occasional overlap. Nowadays, membership of the SJFA automatically confers on a club registered membership of the SFA; however, junior and senior non-league clubs still play in separate competitions. Despite the lesser media coverage the juniors get, many of the club sides are fairly popular, and some of the bigger games (such as the local derbies between Arthurlie and Pollok , and Cumnock Juniors vs. Auchinleck Talbot ) can attract attendances in
1232-458: The deal after three years. William Hill took over as sponsors from the 2024–25 season. The SPFL inherited media rights arrangements with Sky Sports and BT Sport . It emerged in May 2014 that the SPFL had repaid part of the agreed contract due to the additional costs incurred by the broadcasters in covering Rangers matches at lower division grounds. In September 2015, the SPFL announced that it had extended its agreements with Sky and BT to
1276-410: The end of each season. By the mid-1970s, this organisation was perceived to be stagnant, and it was decided to split into a three divisional structure: Premier Division (formerly Division One), First Division (formerly Division Two) and a newly added Second Division . This system came into force for the 1975–76 season. This setup continued until the 1994–95 season when a four divisional structure
1320-488: The end of the 2019–20 season on "improved terms". In 2018, it was announced that Sky Sports would take over exclusive live rights for the Premiership from the 2020–21 season. On 2 November 2013 the SPFL agreed a £20 million deal with sports media rights firm MP & Silva to show games internationally, but this agreement was rescinded in August 2018 when MP & Silva defaulted on its payments. In February 2022,
1364-568: The game and to negotiate its contracts with sponsors and broadcasters. SFL revenues had been divided proportionally between clubs in all four divisions. The SPL clubs retained all of its commercial revenues, except for an annual payment to the SFL and a parachute payment to any relegated clubs. Scottish football began to think about changing its structures again in the late 2000s, as Scottish clubs and national teams were struggling in international competition and revenues were being greatly outgrown by
Scottish Junior Football Association - Misplaced Pages Continue
1408-461: The lower to the higher tier. One of the reasons given for the merger of the SPL and SFL was the belief that it would help to attract title sponsorship to Scottish league football; contracts between the SPL and Clydesdale Bank and the SFL and Irn-Bru expired in 2013. In October 2013, the SPFL announced a partnership with Irn-Bru, making it the league's official soft drink. Neil Doncaster stated that
1452-586: The neighbouring English Premier League. A review, led by former First Minister of Scotland Henry McLeish , was conducted by the Scottish Football Association and its report was published in December 2010. McLeish recommended that Scottish football should have a single league body and that the top flight should be reduced to 10 clubs. The proposal to change the top flight numbers did not proceed because of opposition from four SPL clubs, with only two needed to block any change of that nature. Talks continued about
1496-597: The next three years. 19 clubs playing 36 games ↑ 1 promotion playoff spot to Highland League 14 clubs playing 26 games ↑ 1 promotion playoff spot to Highland League ↓ 2 relegation spots 16 clubs playing 30 games ↑ 4 promotion spots 1945–1951 1912–1922 1922–1929 1926–1929 1892–1897 1897–1898 1929–1941 1945–1968 1968–2002 2002–2021 1904–1922 1892–1922 1904–1922 1893–1915 1913–1919 1919–1921 1921–1968 1968–2002 1919–1921 1908–1922 Scottish Football Association The Scottish Football Association (also known as
1540-545: The proposed league merger. A proposal for a merged league body with a 12–12–18 structure was advanced in April 2013. This plan failed when two SPL clubs ( Ross County and St Mirren ) voted against. The SPL clubs unanimously agreed a revised merger plan a few weeks later, which would retain the same league structure and redistribute more revenues to second tier clubs. The SFL submitted a counter-proposal allowing for more revenues to be given to third and fourth tier clubs, but this
1584-403: The six regions "merging" to create a three-pronged regional league setup consisting of East, North, and West regions (see "Organisation and regions"). Since the 2007–08 season , up to four Junior sides have been able to qualify for the Scottish Cup . The four teams are the three Superleague winners ( West , East and North ) and the Scottish Junior Cup winners, all from the previous season. In
1628-591: The thousands. Crowds were far bigger in the past (76,000 for the Junior Cup Final in 1951, with nearly 90,000 watching the semi-finals (including a replay) compared to the level of support attracted now. The SJFA has 112 member clubs, comprising: East Region (19 clubs), North Region (33 clubs) in SJFA-administered leagues, as well as 52 West of Scotland League and 8 East of Scotland League teams who have retained their membership or rejoined
1672-825: The world. It is not to be confused with the Scottish Football Union , which is the name that the SRU was known by until the 1920s. The Scottish Football Association is a member of both UEFA and FIFA and holds a permanent seat on the International Football Association Board (IFAB) which is responsible for the Laws of the Game . It is based at Hampden Park in Glasgow. In addition, the Scottish Football Museum
1716-515: Was an earlier Scottish Junior FA, which was founded in Glasgow in October 1880. This body also ran a Scottish Junior Cup competition during 1880–81 season but appears to have disbanded at the end of that season. The SJFA was formed in Glasgow on 2 October 1886 and the first season's Junior Cup saw 39 clubs take part. Junior football had existed since the early 1880s, initially as separate local associations across Scotland for clubs not in membership of
1760-425: Was criticised by Alex Anderson of When Saturday Comes as bringing further uncertainty to Scottish football, holding the belief that the semi-professional clubs in the lower divisions will be put into a future regional structure. The SPFL is operated as a corporation and is owned by the 42 member clubs. Each club is a shareholder, with each having a vote on issues such as rule changes and contracts. The clubs elect
1804-631: Was introduced, along with a new Third Division , with all four divisions consisting of ten clubs. On 8 September 1997, the Premier Division clubs decided to split from the Scottish Football League and form the Scottish Premier League (SPL), following the example of the English Premier League . This decision was fuelled by a desire by the top clubs in Scotland to control more of the revenue generated by
Scottish Junior Football Association - Misplaced Pages Continue
1848-438: Was not similarly integrated into its football league system until 2021. Founded in 1886, the SJFA is responsible for disciplinary matters within the grade, certain player registration procedures and organising the annual Scottish Junior Cup . Other league and cup competitions are organised by regional committees. The association headquarters are at Hampden Park , Glasgow , which is Scotland's national football stadium . There
1892-482: Was rejected by the SPL, who stuck with the plan agreed by their clubs. An indicative vote of SFL clubs in May suggested that the SPL plan would be formally rejected. Some of the First Division (second tier) clubs threatened to break away from the SFL and form an "SPL2" (SPL second division). The SPL suggested it would welcome the First Division clubs if they decided to leave the SFL. A formal vote of SFL clubs
1936-406: Was taken on 12 June. 23 clubs voted in favour, one more than was needed for the proposal to succeed. The merger was formally agreed on 28 June and football was first played under the new structure in the 2013–14 season. On 24 July 2013 the names of the four SPFL divisions were announced – Scottish Premiership , Scottish Championship , Scottish League One and Scottish League Two . The merger
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