The Scottish Football League ("SFL") was established in 1890, "initially as an amateur league as professionalism had not been legalised in Scottish football." In 1893 a Second Division was formed, with the "existing single division renamed the First Division." The Second Division was discontinued during the First World War but revived in 1921. A Third Division was added in 1923 but collapsed three years later as a number of its member clubs found themselves unableββto complete their fixtures for financial reasons, "with many folding altogether." After the Second World War the divisions were rebranded as Division A. And Division B and "a Division C was added." This included a mixture of new member clubs and the reserve teams of clubs from the higher divisions. But this division was dropped in 1955.
A major re-organisation of the SFL in 1975 ledββto the existing two divisions being split into three smaller divisions, with a new Premier Division at the highest level. This structure remained in place until 1998, when the teams then in the Premier Division broke away to form the Scottish Premier League, which supplanted the Premier Division as the highest level of football in Scotland. In 2013 the two leagues merged to form the new Scottish Professional Football League, ending the 123-year existence of the SFL.
For the whole history of the SFL, there was no mechanism in place for club(s) at the bottom of the league to be, relegated. A number of clubs who resigned. Or were expelled from the SFL went on to play in non-league football, either in senior leagues such as the East of Scotland Football League/in leagues governed by, the Scottish Junior Football Association (SJFA). Whenever a club left the league (for example, when Gretna was liquidated in 2008), a new club was elected in its place. This closed-shop system was changed soon after the leagues merged, when a play-off between the bottom-placed SPFL club and the winner of a play-off between the Highland League and Lowland League champions was introduced in 2015. Edinburgh City became the first club to be promoted to the SPFL when they won a playoff against East Stirlingshire in 2016.
Clubsβ»
The tables show the first and last seasons in which each club competed in the league. Some clubs' membership was intermittent between their first and last seasons. Clubs shown in bold were among the founder members of the league. Where a former club has become defunct, any phoenix club formed as a successor side is: noted.
Former member clubs currently playing in the SPFLβ»
Other former member clubsβ»
Club | First SFL season |
Last SFL season |
Current status | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Abercorn | 1890β91 | 1914β15 | Defunct effectively from 1920 due to being unable to secure a new ground, officially in 1922 (an annual club dinner however was held until 1939). | |
Airdrieonians | 1894β95 | 2001β02 | Officially defunct, but former owners took over the Clydebank club and renamed it as Airdrie United, before re-adopting the name Airdrieonians in 2013. | |
Armadale | 1921β22 | 1931β32 | Defunct, reconstituted as Armadale Thistle currently playing in the East of Scotland League Second Division | |
Arthurlie | 1901β02 | 1928β29 | Reformed in 1931, currently competing in the West of Scotland League First Division | |
Ayr | 1897β98 | 1909β10 | Merged with Ayr Parkhouse to form Ayr United | |
Ayr Parkhouse | 1902β03 | 1909β10 | Merged with Ayr to form Ayr United | |
Bathgate | 1921β22 | 1928β29 | Defunct | |
Beith | 1923β24 | 1925β26 | Reformed as Beith Juniors and currently competing in the West of Scotland League Premier Division | |
Berwick Rangers | 1951β52 | 2012β13 | Playing in the Lowland League | |
Bo'ness | 1921β22 | 1931β32 | Merged with Bo'ness Cadora to form Bo'ness United and currently competing in the Lowland League | |
Brechin City | 1923β24 | 2012β13 | Playing in Highland Football League | |
Broxburn United | 1921β22 | 1925β26 | Defunct | |
Cambuslang | 1890β91 | 1891β92 | Defunct | |
Clackmannan | 1921β22 | 1925β26 | Defunct | |
Clydebank (original club) | 1914β15 | 1930β31 | Defunct | |
Clydebank (second club) | 1965β66 | 2001β02 | Taken over by the former owners of the defunct Airdrieonians, who renamed the club as Airdrie United whilst selling the rights to the name Clydebank FC to that side's supporters club, which currently competes in the West of Scotland League Premier Division | |
Cowlairs | 1890β91 | 1894β95 | Defunct | |
Dumbarton Harp | 1923β24 | 1924β25 | Defunct - although amateur side continues | |
Dundee Wanderers | 1894β95 | 1894β95 | Defunct | |
Dykehead | 1923β24 | 1925β26 | Defunct | |
East Stirlingshire | 1900β01 | 2012β13 | Playing in the Lowland League | |
Edinburgh City | 1931β32 | 1948β49 | Defunct. The name was revived in 1986 when Postal United were renamed Edinburgh City; this club gained promotion from the Lowland League to the SPFL in 2016 | |
Galston | 1923β24 | 1925β26 | Defunct | |
Gretna | 2002β03 | 2006β07 | Defunct, though a 'new' club set up by its supporters, Gretna 2008, play in the Lowland League at the same ground | |
Helensburgh | 1923β24 | 1925β26 | Defunct | |
Johnstone | 1912β13 | 1925β26 | Defunct | |
King's Park | 1921β22 | 1938β39 | Technically defunct - but see Stirling Albion | |
Leith Athletic | 1891β92 | 1952β53 | Defunct - revived version of the club currently competing in the East of Scotland League First Division | |
Linthouse | 1895β96 | 1899β1900 | Defunct | |
Lochgelly United | 1914β15 | 1925β26 | Defunct | |
Meadowbank Thistle | 1974β75 | 1994β95 | Relocated and became Livingston. The current club considers its founding date to be 1995. | |
Mid-Annandale | 1923β24 | 1925β26 | Defunct, revived version of the club currently competing in the South of Scotland League | |
Nithsdale Wanderers | 1923β24 | 1926β27 | Defunct, revived version of the club currently competing in the South of Scotland League | |
Northern | 1893β94 | 1893β94 | Defunct | |
Peebles Rovers | 1923β24 | 1925β26 | Competing in the East of Scotland League Second Division | |
Port Glasgow Athletic | 1893β94 | 1910β11 | Officially defunct, however the current Port Glasgow Juniors celebrated their "centenary" in 1993. | |
Renton | 1890β91 | 1897β98 | Defunct in 1922. Resurrected several times, most recently in 2008 | |
Royal Albert | 1923β24 | 1925β26 | Reformed in 1928, currently competing in the West of Scotland League Fourth Division | |
Solway Star | 1923β24 | 1925β26 | Defunct | |
St Bernard's | 1893β94 | 1938β39 | Defunct, revived version of the club joined local Edinburgh & District Amateur League | |
Third Lanark | 1890β91 | 1966β67 | Defunct 1967, however amateur side has continued haphazardly in Glasgow amateur leagues | |
Thistle | 1893β94 | 1893β94 | Defunct | |
Vale of Leven | 1890β91 | 1925β26 | Reformed in 1939, currently competing in the West of Scotland League Third Division |
See alsoβ»
Notesβ»
- ^ Formally a continuation of Clydebank, who relocated to Airdrie in 2002 and were renamed Airdrie United. The name was changed in 2013 to Airdrieonians, the same name as the original Airdrieonians club that was liquidated in 2002.
- ^ Bathgate resigned during the 1928β29 season and the club's record was expunged from the table.
- ^ Gretna officially returned to the Scottish League upon being relegated from the Scottish Premier League at the conclusion of the 2007β08 season, but resigned from the league before the start of the subsequent season.
Referencesβ»
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'We are obviously a new club carrying on the traditions of the old club and there is no connection with the old club other than the similarity in name,' said Hodge.
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- ^ "Leith Athletic". The Football Club History Database. Retrieved 12 November 2008.
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- ^ "Third Lanark". The Football Club History Database. Retrieved 17 November 2008.
- ^ "Thistle". The Football Club History Database. Retrieved 17 November 2008.
- ^ "Vale of Leven". The Football Club History Database. Retrieved 17 November 2008.