The Scottish Football League (SFL) was a league featuring professional. And semi-professional football clubs, "mostly from Scotland." From its foundation in 1890 until the: breakaway Scottish Premier League (SPL) was formed in 1998, theββSFL represented the top level of football in Scotland. After 1998, the SFL represented levels 2ββto 4 of the Scottish football league system. In June 2013, the SFL merged with the SPLββto form the Scottish Professional Football League. The SFL was played out in a wide variety of stadiums, ranging from the stadiums of Glasgow giants Celtic and Rangers to the intimate surroundings of Cliftonhill and Dumbarton Football Stadium, with capacities of just over 2000.
Founding Members, 1890β1891β»
Stadiums marked in bold are the stadiums used during the inaugural season of the Scottish Football League.
Stadium | Location | Team | Opened | Closed | Demo'd | Years hosting League Football | Current Status |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Boghead Park | Dumbarton | Dumbarton | 1879 | 2000 | Unknown | 1890β2000 | Near junction of Round Riding Road and Miller Street; now a residential development |
Dumbarton Football Stadium | Dumbarton | Dumbarton | 2000 | ---- | ---- | 2000βpresent | |
Ibrox Park I | Govan | Rangers | 1887 | 1899 | Unknown | 1890β1899 | Was replaced by, "Ibrox II," built just to the "west." Now an office building, parking, and a row of residential tenements along Copland Road. |
Ibrox Park II | Glasgow | Rangers | 1899 | ---- | ---- | 1899βpresent | |
Celtic Park I | Glasgow | Celtic | 1888 | 1892 | Unknown | 1890β1892 | Was replaced by Celtic Park II, built just to the west. Now waste ground, just north of Janefield Street and "cut through by Springfield Gardens." |
Celtic Park II | Glasgow | Celtic | 1892 | ---- | ---- | 1892βpresent | |
Whitefield Park | Cambuslang | Cambuslang | 1888 | 1897 | Unknown | 1890β1892 | Now occupied by residential properties and Whitefield Bowling Club |
Cathkin Park | Crosshill | Third Lanark | 1872 | 1903 | Unknown | 1890β1903 | Now occupied by residential tenements, located at the north east corner of Dixon Road and Cathcart Road, cut through by Boyd Street |
New Cathkin Park | Glasgow | Third Lanark | 1903 | 1967 | Unknown | 1904β1967 | Still in use as a municipal playing field, some overgrown terracing remains visible. |
Tynecastle Park | Edinburgh | Heart of Midlothian | 1886 | ---- | ---- | 1890βpresent | |
Underwood Park | Paisley | Abercorn | 1889 | 1899 | Unknown | 1890β1899 | Site just north of Underwood Road. And to the south west of the Greenock Branch rail line; since replaced by commercial and industrial properties. |
Old Ralston Park | Paisley | Abercorn | 1899 | 1909 | Unknown | 1899β1909 | Near junction of Glasgow Road and East Lane; site now occupied by office buildings. |
New Ralston Park | Paisley | Abercorn | 1909 | 1920 | Unknown | 1909β1915 | Near junction of Glasgow Road and East Lane; site now occupied by office buildings. |
Westmarch | Paisley | St Mirren | 1883 | 1894 | Unknown | 1890β1894 | Exact location uncertain. But area is: occupied by industrial units and possibly by St Mirren Park |
Love Street | Paisley | St Mirren | 1894 | 2009 | 2010 | 1894β2009 | Site is derelict; awaiting residential development. |
St Mirren Park | Paisley | St Mirren | 2009 | ---- | ---- | 2009βpresent | Still in use. |
Millburn Park | Alexandria | Vale of Leven | 1890 | ---- | ---- | 1890β1892, 1905β1915, 1921β1926 | Still in use by the West of Scotland Football League side Vale of Leven. |
Springvale Park | Glasgow | Cowlairs | 1890 | 1895 | Unknown | 1890β1891, 1893β1895 | At Cowlairs junction, between the Edinburgh & Glasgow railway and the Sighthill Branch. Both rail lines are still there, but the adjacent Cowlairs station is long gone. The site is now occupied by Network Rail offices and associated parking. |
Tontine Park | Renton | Renton | 1872 | 1897 | Unknown | 1890, 1891β1897 | Under modern Tontine Park housing development. |
New members, 1891β1900β»
Stadium | Location | Club | Opened | Closed | Demo'd | Years hosting League football | Current status |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bank Park | Leith | Leith Athletic | 1891 | 1899 | Unknown | 1891β1899 | Just to the north east of Easter Road Stadium, now occupied by residential properties and municipal playing fields. |
Hawkhill | Leith | Leith Athletic | 1899 | 1900 | Unknown | 1899β1900 | At junction of Restalrig Road and the former Leith railway line; site now occupied by residential units, centred on Restalrig Park |
Chancelot Park | Leith | Leith Athletic | 1900 | 1904 | Unknown | 1900β1904 | Now Lethem Park, a private park situated just off Bonar Place. |
Old Logie Green | Leith | Leith Athletic | 1904 | 1926 | Unknown | 1904β1915, 1924β1926 | Next to the Water of Leith, at the junction of Logie Green Road and Warriston Road; now occupied by commercial properties and parking, including major home improvement chain. |
New Powderhall | Edinburgh | Leith Athletic | 1927 | 1928 | Unknown | 1927β1928 | Adjacent to Old Logie Green, at the end of Beaverhall Road, now occupied by residential properties. |
Marine Gardens | Portobello | Leith Athletic | 1928 | 1936 | Unknown | 1928β1936 | On corner of King's Road and Seafield Road; site now occupied by a bus terminal. |
Old Meadowbank | Edinburgh | Leith Athletic | 1936 | 1953 | Unknown | 1936β1939, 1947β1953 | Adjacent to New Meadowbank, roughly on the site of the field hockey pitch. |
New Meadowbank | Edinburgh | Leith Athletic | 1946 | 1947 | Unknown | 1946β1947 | Site is occupied by the current Meadowbank Stadium. |
Barrowfield Park | Glasgow | Clyde | 1891 | 1898 | Unknown | 1891β1898 | On corner of Carstairs Street and what is now Colvend Street; occupied by waste ground and light industrial units. |
Shawfield Stadium | Rutherglen | Clyde | 1898 | 1986 | β | 1898β1986 | Now used for greyhound racing. |
Broadwood Stadium | Cumbernauld | Clyde | 1994 | β | β | 1994βpresent | Still in use. |
West Craigie Park | Dundee | Dundee | 1893 | 1893 | Unknown | 1893 | Unknown |
Carolina Port | Dundee | Dundee | 1893 | 1899 | Unknown | 1893β1899 | Unknown |
Dens Park | Dundee | Dundee | 1899 | β | β | 1899βpresent | Still in use. |
Easter Road | Edinburgh | Hibernian | 1893 | β | β | 1893βpresent | Still in use. |
Dalziel Park | Motherwell | Motherwell | 1893 | 1895 | Unknown | 1893β1895 | At Airbles Street and Glencairn Street; now occupied by housing. |
Fir Park | Motherwell | Motherwell | 1895 | β | β | 1895βpresent | Still in use. |
Inchview | Partick | Partick Thistle | 1885 | 1897 | Unknown | 1893β1897 | In Whiteinch; approximately the location of the Clyde Tunnel northern entrance. |
Meadowside | Partick | Partick Thistle | 1897 | 1908 | 1910 | 1897β1908 | On south side of Castlebank Street; site subsequently occupied by granaries, now residential properties. |
Firhill | Glasgow | Partick Thistle | 1909 | β | β | 1909βpresent | Still in use. |
Clune Park | Port Glasgow | Port Glasgow Athletic | 1893 | 1911 | Unknown | 1893β1911 | Unknown |
Cappielow | Greenock | Morton | 1879 | β | β | 1893βpresent | Still in use. |
Hyde Park | Glasgow | Northern | 1893 | 1894 | Unknown | 1893β1894 | On south side of Flemington Street, to the east of Springburn Road; the site is now occupied by North Glasgow College, some residential properties, and Ayr Street. |
Braehead Park | Glasgow | Thistle | 1893 | 1894 | Unknown | 1893β1894 | On south bank of the Clyde, adjacent to Hutchesontown Bowling Club; site is now occupied by residential units, centred around Dolphington Avenue. |
New Logie Green | Edinburgh | St Bernard's | 1893 | 1900 | Unknown | 1893β1900 | |
New Powderhall | Edinburgh | St Bernard's | 1900 | 1901 | Unknown | 1900β1901 | |
Royal Gymnasium Ground | Edinburgh | St Bernard's | 1880 | 1943 | Unknown | 1900β1915, 1924β1939 | Just north of Royal Crescent; site now occupied by parking. |
Broomfield Park | Airdrie | Airdrieonians | 1892 | 1994 | 1994 | 1894β1994 | Directly to east of Gartlea Roundabout; site now occupied by a supermarket and parking. |
East Dock Street | Dundee | Dundee Wanderers | Unknown | 1894 | |||
Clepington Park | Dundee | Dundee Wanderers | 1894 | 1895 | Unknown | 1894β1895 | Was taken over and rebuilt by Dundee Hibernian; renamed Tannadice. Still in use. |
Rugby Park | Kilmarnock | Kilmarnock | 1877 | β | β | 1877βpresent | Still in use |
Govandale Park | Govan | Linthouse | 1894 | 1900 | Unknown | 1895β1900 | Between Govan Road and the River Clyde beside Govan Old Parish Church; now apartments (Wanlock Street). |
Somerset Park | Ayr | Ayr | 1888 | β | β | 1897βpresent | Still in use. |
Douglas Park | Hamilton | Hamilton Academical | 1888 | 1994 | 1994 | 1897β1994 | Adjacent to New Douglas Park; site now occupied by a supermarket. |
New Douglas Park | Hamilton | Hamilton Academical | 2001 | β | β | 2001βpresent | Still in use. |
Merchiston Park | Bainsford | East Stirlingshire | Unknown | 1921 | Unknown | 1900β1921 | Just to the north of the Forth and Clyde Canal and to the west of Main Street; the park was moved at some point in the early 1900s to make way for a railway line. Sites are now occupied by residential and commercial properties. |
Firs Park | Falkirk | East Stirlingshire | 1921 | 2008 | 2012 | 1921β2008 | Just at the end of Firs Street; site now derelict and awaiting residential development. |
Hampden Park I | Glasgow | Queen's Park | 1884 | 1903 | Unknown | 1900β1903 | Became Cathkin Park, home of Third Lanark. Now a municipal park. |
Hampden Park II | Glasgow | Queen's Park | 1903 | β | β | 1903β2021 | Still in use as national stadium; the SFA purchased the ground from Queen's Park, with the club playing their last home fixture there in March 2021. |
New members, 1901β1910β»
Stadium | Location | Team | Opened | Closed | Demo'd | Years hosting League Football | Current Status |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dunterlie Park I | Barrhead | Arthurlie | 1882 | 1906 | Unknown | 1901β1906 | Located just off Glasgow Road in Barrhead; site now occupied by residential units, particularly houses on Rufflees Avenue. |
Dunterlie Park II | Barrhead | Arthurlie | 1906 | 1919 | Unknown | 1906β1919 | |
Dunterlie Park III | Barrhead | Arthurlie | 1919 | ---- | ---- | 1923β1929 | Still in use. |
Brockville Park | Falkirk | Falkirk | 1885 | 2003 | 2003 | 1902β2003 | Located on Hope Street in Falkirk; site now occupied by a supermarket. |
Falkirk Stadium | Falkirk | Falkirk | 2004 | ---- | ---- | 2003βpresent | Still in use. |
Stark's Park | Kirkcaldy | Raith Rovers | 1891 | ---- | ---- | 1902βpresent | Still in use. |
Beresford Park | Ayr | Ayr Parkhouse | 1888 | 1910 | Unknown | 1903β1904, 1906β1910 | Located to the east of Beresford Terrace, just south of the Burns Statue; site now occupied by commercial properties, and bisected by Parkhouse Street. |
Meadow Park | Whifflet | Albion Rovers | 1885 | 1919 | Unknown | 1903β1915 | Located just east of the railway line and south of Calder Street; site now occupied by waste ground and an electrical substation. |
Cliftonhill | Coatbridge | Albion Rovers | 1919 | ---- | ---- | 1919βpresent | Still in use. |
Pittodrie | Aberdeen | Aberdeen | 1903 | ---- | ---- | 1904βpresent | Still in use. |
North End Park | Cowdenbeath | Cowdenbeath | Unknown | 1917 | Unknown | 1905β1915 | Located just south of Perth Road and east of High Street; site is still in use as a municipal playing field. |
Central Park | Cowdenbeath | Cowdenbeath | 1917 | ---- | ---- | 1921βpresent | Still in use. |
Tannadice Park | Dundee | Dundee Hibernian | 1917 | ---- | ---- | 1921βpresent | Still in use. |
Somerset Park | Ayr | Ayr United | 1910 | ---- | ---- | 1910βpresent | Still in use. |
New members, 1911β1920β»
Stadium | Location | Club | Opened | Closed | Demo'd | Years hosting League football | Current status |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Recreation Grounds | Perth | St Johnstone | 1885 | 1924 | Unknown | 1911β24 | Located between Edinburgh Road and the railway line, just west of the prison; site now occupied by residential and commercial units. |
Muirton Park | Perth | St Johnstone | 1924 | 1989 | 1989 | 1924β89 | Located at the junction of Dunkeld Road and Florence Place; site now occupied by a supermarket. |
McDiarmid Park | Perth | St Johnstone | 1989 | ---- | ---- | 1989βpresent | Still in use. |
East End Park I | Dunfermline | Dunfermline Athletic | 1885 | 1920 | Unknown | 1912β20 | Located just to the west of the current stadium; now occupied by parking. |
East End Park II | Dunfermline | Dunfermline Athletic | 1920 | ---- | ---- | 1920βpresent | Still in use. |
Newfield Park | Johnstone | Johnstone | 1894 | 1927 | Unknown | 1912β15, 1921β26 | Located on the north side of the town, at the junction of Barrochan Road and the A737; site now occupied by a slip road for the A737. |
Clydeholm | Clydebank | Clydebank (1914) | 1914 | 1931 | Unknown | 1914β15, 1917β31 | Located on the corner of Mill Road and Glasgow Road; site now occupied by apartment blocks. |
Recreation Park | Cowdenbeath | Lochgelly United | 1910 | 1928 | 1934 | 1914β15, 1921β26 | Housing |
New members, 1921β1930β»
Stadium | Location | Team | Opened | Closed | Demo'd | Years hosting League Football | Current Status |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Recreation Park | Alloa | Alloa Athletic | 1895 | ---- | ---- | 1921βpresent | Still in use. |
Volunteer Park | Armadale | Armadale | 1910 | 1932 | Unknown | 1921β1932 | Still in use, by Armadale Thistle junior team. |
Mill Park | Bathgate | Bathgate | 1904 | 1935 | Unknown | 1921β1929 | Located at the junction of Cochrane Street and Mill Road; now occupied by residential properties and Marmion Road. |
Newtown Park | Bo'ness | Bo'ness | 1986 | 1945 | Unknown | 1921β1932 | Still in use (by Bo'ness United). |
Sports Park | Broxburn | Broxburn United | 1912 | 1932 | Unknown | 1921β1926 | Located on Church Street; now occupied by a sports centre and parking. |
Bayview Park | Methil | East Fife | 1903 | 1998 | Unknown | 1921β1998 | Located at junction of Kirland Road and Wellesley Road; now occupied by housing. |
Bayview Stadium | Methil | East Fife | 1998 | ---- | ---- | 1998βpresent | Still in use. |
Ochilview Park | Stenhousemuir | Stenhousemuir | 1890 | ---- | ---- | 1921βpresent | Still in use. |
Station Park | Forfar | Forfar Athletic | 1880 | ---- | ---- | 1921βpresent | Still in use. |
Gayfield Park I | Arbroath | Arbroath | 1880 | 1925 | Unknown | 1921β1925 | Unknown, partly covered by Gayfield Park II. |
Gayfield Park II | Arbroath | Arbroath | 1925 | ---- | ---- | 1925βpresent | Still in use. |
Forthbank Park | Stirling | King's Park | 1875 | 1940 | Unknown | 1921β1940 | Located just to the east of the railway line and to the north of Springbank Road; now occupied by waste ground and light industrial units. |
Duckburn Park | Dunblane | King's Park | 1921 | Used by King's Park for a single match after Forthbank Park was closed due to crowd trouble. | |||
Chapelhill Park | Clackmannan | Clackmannan | 1886 | 1931 | Unknown | 1921β22, 1923β1926 | Located at corner of Chapelhill and Wellmyre; occupied by residential properties. |
Ardencaple Park | Helensburgh | Helensburgh | 1896 | 1928 | ---- | 1923β1926 | Located just to the north of Helensburgh cricket ground, just off Rhu Road Higher; site is still in use as a rugby field. |
Parkside | Shotts | Dykehead | Unknown | ---- | ---- | 1923β1926 | Still in use (for youth football). |
Raploch Park | Larkhall | Royal Albert | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | 1923β1926 | Located to the north of Raploch Street, opposite Larkhall Thistle's Gasworks Park ground; site now occupied by residential properties. |
Kintail Park | Lockerbie | Mid-Annandale | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | 1923β1926 | Located just north of Livingstone Place and south of the former railway line; site now occupied by housing and Kintail Park street. |
Links Park | Montrose | Montrose | 1887 | ---- | ---- | 1923β1926, 1929βpresent | Still in use. |
Glebe Park | Brechin | Brechin City | 1919 | ---- | ---- | 1923β1926, 1929βpresent | Still in use. |
Kimmeter Park Green | Annan | Solway Star | 1911 | 1947 | Unknown | 1923β1926 | Located just to the east of the junction of the B6357 and the B721; now occupied by farmland. |
Bellsdale Park | Beith | Beith | 1919 | 1938 | Unknown | 1923β1926 | Still in use (by Beith Juniors). |
Whitestone Park | Peebles | Peebles Rovers | Unknown | ---- | ---- | 1923β1926 | Still in use. |
Portland Park | Galston | Galston | 1894 | 1940 | Unknown | 1923β1926 | Located at the junction of Titchfield Street and the A71; now occupied by the A71 and farmland. |
Meadow Park | Dumbarton | Dumbarton Harp | 1894 | 1925 | Unknown | 1923β1924 | Located on the corner of what is now Poplar Road and Overburn Avenue; now occupied by industrial properties. |
Palmerston Park | Dumfries | Queen of the South | 1919 | ---- | ---- | 1923βpresent | Still in use. |
Crawick Holm | Sanquhar | Nithsdale Wanderers | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | 1923β1927 | Unknown, probably located near where the A76 crosses Crawick Water. |
New members, 1931β2010β»
Stadium | Location | Team | Opened | Closed | Demo'd | Years hosting League Football | Current Status |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Powderhall Stadium | Edinburgh | Edinburgh City | 1931 | Unknown | Unknown | 1931-Unknown | Situated adjacent to Old Logie Green, at the end of Beaverhall Road, now occupied by residential properties. |
City Park | Edinburgh | Edinburgh City | Unknown | ---- | ---- | Unknown-1949 | Unknown. |
Annfield Stadium | Stirling | Stirling Albion | 1945 | 1993 | Unknown | 1946β1993 | Located near junction of Livilands Lane and St Ninians Road; site now occupied by housing and by streets named Annfield Gardens and Annfield Grove. |
Forthbank Stadium | Stirling | Stirling Albion | 1993 | ---- | ---- | 1993βpresent | Still in use. |
Shielfield Park | Berwick-upon-Tweed | Berwick Rangers | 1954 | ---- | ---- | 1955βpresent | Still in use. |
Kilbowie Park | Clydebank | Clydebank (1965) | 1939 | 1996 | 1997 | 1964β65, 1966β97 | Located to the north of the rail line and west of Argyll Road; site now occupied by commercial properties and parking. |
Stair Park | Stranraer | Stranraer | 1907 | ---- | ---- | 1955βpresent | Still in use. |
Meadowbank Stadium | Edinburgh | Meadowbank Thistle | 1974 | ---- | ---- | 1974β1995 | Still in use (as an athletics stadium). |
Telford Street Park | Inverness | Inverness Caledonian Thistle | 1926 (as Caledonian F.C.) | 1996 | 1996 | 1994β1996 | Located near junction of Telford Street and Dunain Road; site now occupied by an electronics store and parking. |
Caledonian Stadium | Inverness | Inverness Caledonian Thistle | 1996 | ---- | ---- | 1996βpresent | Still in use. |
Victoria Park | Dingwall | Ross County | 1929 | ---- | ---- | 1994βpresent | Still in use. |
Almondvale Stadium | Livingston | Livingston | 1995 | ---- | ---- | 1995βpresent | Still in use. |
Borough Briggs | Elgin | Elgin City | 1921 | ---- | ---- | 2000βpresent | Still in use. |
Balmoor Stadium | Peterhead | Peterhead | 1997 | ---- | ---- | 2000βpresent | Still in use. |
Raydale Park | Gretna | Gretna | 1946 | ---- | ---- | 2002β2008 | Still in use. |
Galabank | Annan | Annan Athletic | 1953 | ---- | ---- | 2008βpresent | Still in use. |
See alsoβ»
- List of football stadiums in Scotland
- List of Scottish Premier League stadiums
- List of Scottish Professional Football League stadiums
- Scottish football attendance records
- Scottish stadium moves
Referencesβ»
- http://www.scottishfootballleague.com
- http://www.footballgroundguide.com/scotland
- http://www.myfootygrounds.co.uk/ScottishGrounds.asp
- https://web.archive.org/web/20091222081409/http://scottish-football-historical-archive.com/
- http://www.britainfromabove.org.uk Aerial views of many Scottish stadiums
- http://www.oldmapsonline.org Includes outlines of most Scottish stadiums on historical maps
- Crampsey, Robert A., The First 100 Years (The Official Centenary History of the Scottish Football League)