The East Junior Football League, also known as the Edinburgh & District Junior League, the Midlothian Junior League and the Lothians Junior League, was a football league competition operated in Edinburgh, the Lothians and Falkirk under the Scottish Junior Football Association. It had fluctuations in membership and territory but had a continuous operation as the top league in the east of Scotland until a merger in 2002; it existed as the Lothians District for a further four years as a second-tier league before the name was discontinued in 2006.
Junior football competitions had been organised in the Edinburgh area since the 1890s, with a Edinburgh & District Junior League formed in 1892 followed by other small groups in each part of the Lothians region surrounding the city; by the 1910s, the Midlothian Junior League[1] emerged as the strongest of these, drawing membership from the many small mining communities which regularly produced skilled players and attracted a loyal local support. The East of Scotland Junior League covering all parts was set up in a 1922 reorganisation, but this was at the same time as the formation of the East of Scotland Football League (EoSFL),[2] an unrelated 'senior' organisation below, and more closely linked to, the professional Scottish Football League. The majority of emerging clubs within Edinburgh and those in the Scottish Borders joined the EoSFL rather than the East Juniors, who were unable to successfully agree on a new format in this lopsided geography, with the predominant Midlothian clubs and those in East Lothian breaking away to form a new Midlothian Junior League in 1928. Those in West Lothian found themselves with little option but to apply for this 'rebel' setup, which retained the Midlothian name until its suspension during World War II. After the war, some teams from the defunct Scottish Junior Football League from further afield joined the setup, and the league was again re-named Edinburgh & District but operated with 'West' and 'Mid & East' divisions whose winners would play off for the championship.
Despite the true footballing strength of the area never being fully recognised due to the enduring split between the Juniors and the EoSFL, the Edinburgh & District Junior League was considered sufficiently strong to form the East Region, one of the six 'regions' across Scotland in a re-organisation of Junior football in 1968, requiring little adjustment to its operations (the West/East divisions remained until 1973). The period following the change was successful for the territory in terms of East member clubs reaching the Scottish Junior Cup final, achieving this 9 times (3 wins) in 15 years, compared with 15 appearances (8 wins) in the previous 42 years. This was followed by another strong spell with 7 finals (3 wins) in the 14 years from 1989.
However, the small-town teams in the region had generally declined with the closure of local heavy industry, and the surviving clubs looked to boost their income by playing more matches against the leading teams in other areas. In 2002 the new East Region Superleague was created in the east of the country in combination with the Fife League and the Tayside League. The East setup was retained as a feeder division to the Superleague as the Lothians District along with the other historic areas until 2006, when they were fully integrated into the East Region; the Lothians section became the South Division below the Super League and a new Premier Division. The pattern of local appearances in the Scottish Cup final continued at a similar rate, with 3 of 8 finalists lifting the trophy over a 12-year period.
Later movement of East clubsedit
In 2018, a large group of East Junior clubs (18 from the old Lothians) joined the East of Scotland (EoSFL) association en masse, aspiring to gain entry to the senior Scottish Professional Football League in future years;[3] This would mean the traditional EoSFL teams and East Juniors could finally be playing together, although with so many teams moving at once, there was not immediate parity, as the new members were placed in a multi-conference system with only one promotion place made available to the Lowland League (where the likes of Spartans had established themselves) and the majority facing some years of battling with their old rivals to make it to the next level. Back in the East Juniors, the remaining teams formed the majority of a new Super League South in 2019 along with those from Fife who had chosen not to switch.
Championsedit
This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (December 2019)
^Winners of playoff between clubs who finished top of 'A' Division and 'B' Division.
^Losers of playoff between clubs who finished top of 'A' Division and 'B' Division.
^Winners of playoff between clubs who finished top of 'West' Division and 'East' Division.
^Losers of playoff between clubs who finished top of 'West' Division and 'East' Division.
^Title was revoked then reinstated after protest and appeal regarding ineligible player.
^ abcdefghijklmnopqrWinners of playoff between clubs who finished top of 'West' Division and 'Mid-East' Division.
^ abcdefghijklmnopqrLosers of playoff between clubs who finished top of 'West' Division and 'Mid-East' Division.
^'West' Division winners Bo'ness United refused to play the championship playoff in Midlothian as they had done so and lost the previous season - the league awarded the title to 'Mid-East' Division winners Newtongrange Star without a match being played.
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The East Junior Football League also known as the Edinburgh amp District Junior League the Midlothian Junior League and the Lothians Junior League was a football league competition operated in Edinburgh the Lothians and Falkirk under the Scottish Junior Football Association It had fluctuations in membership and territory but had a continuous operation as the top league in the east of Scotland until a merger in 2002 it existed as the Lothians District for a further four years as a second tier league before the name was discontinued in 2006 Contents 1 History 1 1 Later movement of East clubs 2 Champions 2 1 1922 1968 era 2 2 1968 2002 era 3 List of winners 4 References 5 External linksHistory editJunior football competitions had been organised in the Edinburgh area since the 1890s with a Edinburgh amp District Junior League formed in 1892 followed by other small groups in each part of the Lothians region surrounding the city by the 1910s the Midlothian Junior League 1 emerged as the strongest of these drawing membership from the many small mining communities which regularly produced skilled players and attracted a loyal local support The East of Scotland Junior League covering all parts was set up in a 1922 reorganisation but this was at the same time as the formation of the East of Scotland Football League EoSFL 2 an unrelated senior organisation below and more closely linked to the professional Scottish Football League The majority of emerging clubs within Edinburgh and those in the Scottish Borders joined the EoSFL rather than the East Juniors who were unable to successfully agree on a new format in this lopsided geography with the predominant Midlothian clubs and those in East Lothian breaking away to form a new Midlothian Junior League in 1928 Those in West Lothian found themselves with little option but to apply for this rebel setup which retained the Midlothian name until its suspension during World War II After the war some teams from the defunct Scottish Junior Football League from further afield joined the setup and the league was again re named Edinburgh amp District but operated with West and Mid amp East divisions whose winners would play off for the championship Despite the true footballing strength of the area never being fully recognised due to the enduring split between the Juniors and the EoSFL the Edinburgh amp District Junior League was considered sufficiently strong to form the East Region one of the six regions across Scotland in a re organisation of Junior football in 1968 requiring little adjustment to its operations the West East divisions remained until 1973 The period following the change was successful for the territory in terms of East member clubs reaching the Scottish Junior Cup final achieving this 9 times 3 wins in 15 years compared with 15 appearances 8 wins in the previous 42 years This was followed by another strong spell with 7 finals 3 wins in the 14 years from 1989 However the small town teams in the region had generally declined with the closure of local heavy industry and the surviving clubs looked to boost their income by playing more matches against the leading teams in other areas In 2002 the new East Region Superleague was created in the east of the country in combination with the Fife League and the Tayside League The East setup was retained as a feeder division to the Superleague as the Lothians District along with the other historic areas until 2006 when they were fully integrated into the East Region the Lothians section became the South Division below the Super League and a new Premier Division The pattern of local appearances in the Scottish Cup final continued at a similar rate with 3 of 8 finalists lifting the trophy over a 12 year period Later movement of East clubs edit In 2018 a large group of East Junior clubs 18 from the old Lothians joined the East of Scotland EoSFL association en masse aspiring to gain entry to the senior Scottish Professional Football League in future years 3 This would mean the traditional EoSFL teams and East Juniors could finally be playing together although with so many teams moving at once there was not immediate parity as the new members were placed in a multi conference system with only one promotion place made available to the Lowland League where the likes of Spartans had established themselves and the majority facing some years of battling with their old rivals to make it to the next level Back in the East Juniors the remaining teams formed the majority of a new Super League South in 2019 along with those from Fife who had chosen not to switch Champions editThis list is incomplete you can help by adding missing items December 2019 1922 1968 era edit Key Club also won the Scottish Junior Cup 4 5 doubles in bold Club were also runners up in the Scottish Junior Cup 4 5 Season 6 Winner Runner up Other member in Scottish Cup final 4 5 1922 23 7 Newtongrange Star a b Musselburgh Bruntonians Arniston Rangers1923 24 8 Newtongrange Star c d Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic1924 25 9 Newtongrange Star c e Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic1925 26 10 Newtongrange Star f b Portobello Thistle1926 27 11 Newtongrange Star g Wallyford Bluebell1927 28 12 Dunbar United h Dalkeith Thistle i 1928 29 13 Tranent Juniors j Stoneyburn Juniors k 1929 30 14 Newtongrange Star Tranent Juniors1930 31 15 Tranent Juniors Rosewell Rosedale1931 32 16 Dalkeith Thistle Tranent Juniors1932 33 17 Newtongrange Star l Musselburgh Bruntonians Tranent Juniors1933 34 18 Blackburn Athletic Bo ness Cadora1934 35 19 Stoneyburn Juniors Bo ness Cadora Tranent Juniors1935 36 Bo ness Cadora Arniston Rangers1936 37 20 Tranent Juniors Musselburgh Athletic1937 38 21 Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic Winchburgh Juniors1938 39 22 Stoneyburn Juniors Whitburn Juniors1939 40 23 Armadale Thistle Tranent Juniors1940 41 Armadale Thistle Winchburgh Juniors1941 42 Not played1942 431943 441944 451945 46 24 Fauldhouse United Bo ness United1946 47 25 Bo ness United Whitburn Juniors1947 48 26 Bo ness United Armadale Thistle1948 49 27 Bo ness United Armadale Thistle1949 50 28 Armadale Thistle m Arniston Rangers n 1950 51 29 Newtongrange Star m Camelon Juniors n 1951 52 30 Newtongrange Star m Broxburn Athletic n Camelon Juniors1952 53 31 Armadale Thistle m Newtongrange Star n 1953 54 32 Arniston Rangers m Bo ness United n 1954 55 33 Newtongrange Star o Bo ness United1955 56 34 Dalkeith Thistle m Broxburn Athletic n 1956 57 35 Haddington Athletic m Broxburn Athletic n 1957 58 36 Bo ness United m Ormiston Primrose n Pumpherston1958 59 37 Newtongrange Star m Bo ness United n 1959 60 38 Loanhead Mayflower m West Calder United n 1960 61 39 Dalkeith Thistle m Armadale Thistle n Dunbar United1961 62 40 41 Dunbar United m Whitburn Juniors n 1962 63 42 Sauchie Juniors m Newtongrange Star n 1963 64 43 41 Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic m Whitburn Juniors n 1964 65 44 Linlithgow Rose m Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic n 1965 66 45 Linlithgow Rose m Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic n Whitburn1966 67 46 Linlithgow Rose m Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic n 1967 68 47 Linlithgow Rose m Newtongrange Star n Notes Separate West Section played won by Livingston United a b Separate South Section played won by Gala Hailes Villa a b Separate West Section played won by Linlithgow Rose Separate South Section played won by Vale of Leithen Separate South Section played won by Duns Separate West Sectionplayed won by Vale of Grange Separate West Lothian Junior Lesgue played Winners of playoff between clubs who finished top of A Division and B Division Losers of playoff between clubs who finished top of A Division and B Division Winners of playoff between clubs who finished top of West Division and East Division Losers of playoff between clubs who finished top of West Division and East Division Title was revoked then reinstated after protest and appeal regarding ineligible player a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Winners of playoff between clubs who finished top of West Division and Mid East Division a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Losers of playoff between clubs who finished top of West Division and Mid East Division West Division winners Bo ness United refused to play the championship playoff in Midlothian as they had done so and lost the previous season the league awarded the title to Mid East Division winners Newtongrange Star without a match being played 1968 2002 era edit Club also won the Scottish Junior Cup 4 5 doubles in bold Club were also runners up in the Scottish Junior Cup 4 5 Season 6 Winner Runner up a Other member in Scottish Cup final 4 5 1968 69 48 Bo ness United b Newtongrange Star c 1969 70 49 Arniston Rangers b Pumpherston c Penicuik Athletic1970 71 50 Musselburgh Athletic b Broxburn Athletic c Newtongrange Star1971 72 51 41 Arniston Rangers b Whitburn Juniors c Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic1972 73 52 Broxburn Athletic b Musselburgh Athletic c 1973 74 53 Broxburn Athletic Musselburgh Athletic Linlithgow Rose1974 75 Linlithgow Rose Dalkeith Thistle1975 76 54 Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic Arniston Rangers Bo ness United1976 77 Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic Linlithgow Rose1977 78 55 Linlithgow Rose Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic1978 79 56 Penicuik Athletic Camelon Juniors Bo ness United1979 80 57 Camelon Juniors Linlithgow Rose1980 81 58 Penicuik Athletic Arniston Rangers1981 82 59 Linlithgow Rose Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic1982 83 60 Fauldhouse United Tranent Juniors Bo ness United1983 84 61 Linlithgow Rose Broxburn Athletic Bo ness United1984 85 62 Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic Whitburn Juniors1985 86 63 Whitburn Juniors Linlithgow Rose1986 87 64 Whitburn Juniors Newtongrange Star1987 88 65 Linlithgow Rose Whitburn Juniors1988 89 66 67 Whitburn Juniors Linlithgow Rose Ormiston Primrose1989 90 68 Whitburn Juniors Bo ness United1990 91 69 Newtongrange Star Fauldhouse United1991 92 70 Newtongrange Star Bo ness United1992 93 71 Fauldhouse United Whitburn Juniors1993 94 72 Camelon Juniors Newtongrange Star1994 95 73 Camelon Juniors Whitburn Juniors1995 96 74 Whitburn Juniors Arniston Rangers Camelon Juniors1996 97 75 Linlithgow Rose Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic1997 98 76 Whitburn Juniors Linlithgow Rose1998 99 77 Linlithgow Rose Whitburn Juniors1999 2000 78 Linlithgow Rose Newtongrange Star Whitburn Juniors2000 01 79 Whitburn Juniors Linlithgow Rose2001 02 80 Linlithgow Rose Whitburn JuniorsNotes Runners up incomplete a b c d e Winners of playoff between clubs who finished top of West Division and Mid East Division a b c d e Losers of playoff between clubs who finished top of West Division and Mid East Division List of winners editClub 1922 1968 era 1968 2002 era OverallWin R up First win Last win Win R up First win Last win Win R upNewtongrange Star 11 3 1922 23 1958 59 2 4 1990 91 1991 92 13 7Linlithgow Rose 4 0 1964 65 1967 68 9 5 1974 75 2001 02 13 6Whitburn Juniors 0 4 N A 7 7 1985 86 2000 01 7 11Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic 2 5 1937 38 1963 64 3 3 1975 76 1984 85 5 8Bo ness United 4 4 1948 49 1957 58 1 2 1968 69 5 6Armadale Thistle 4 2 1939 40 1952 53 0 0 N A 4 2Arniston Rangers 1 2 1953 54 2 3 1969 70 1971 72 3 5Tranent Juniors 3 3 1928 29 1936 37 0 1 N A 3 4Camelon Juniors 0 1 N A 3 1 1979 80 1994 95 3 2Dalkeith Thistle 3 1 1931 32 1960 61 0 1 N A 3 2Fauldhouse United 1 0 1945 46 2 1 1982 83 1992 93 3 1Broxburn Athletic 0 3 N A 2 2 1972 73 1973 74 2 5Stoneyburn Juniors 2 1 1934 35 1938 39 0 0 N A 2 1Penicuik Athletic 0 0 N A 2 0 1978 79 1980 81 2 0Dunbar United 2 0 1927 28 1961 62 0 0 N A 2 0Musselburgh Athletic 0 3 N A 1 2 1970 71 1 5Bo ness Cadora 1 2 1935 36 0 0 N A 1 2Blackburn Athletic 1 0 1933 34 0 0 N A 1 0Haddington Athletic 1 0 1956 57 0 0 N A 1 0Loanhead Mayflower 1 0 1959 60 0 0 N A 1 0Sauchie Juniors 1 0 1962 63 0 0 N A 1 0Winchburgh Juniors 0 2 N A 0 0 N A 0 2West Calder United 0 1 N A 0 0 N A 0 1Pumpherston 0 0 N A 0 1 N A 0 1Ormiston Primrose 0 1 N A 0 0 N A 0 1Portobello Thistle 0 1 N A 0 0 N A 0 1Rosewell Rosedale 0 1 N A 0 0 N A 0 1Wallyford Bluebell 0 1 N A 0 0 N A 0 1References edit Midlothian Junior Football League 1893 1922 Scottish Football Historical Archive archived version 2014 East of Scotland Football League Scottish Football Historical Archive archived version 2017 McLauchlin Brian 7 June 2018 East of Scotland League vote signals exodus of 25 junior clubs BBC Sport Retrieved 17 December 2019 a b c d e f Scottish Junior Cup gt Finals 1886 to 1956 Scottish Football Association archive version 2018 Archived from the original on 16 January 2018 Retrieved 11 December 2019 a b c d e f Scottish Junior Cup gt Finals 1957 Present 2009 Scottish Football Association archive version 2018 Archived from the original on 16 January 2018 Retrieved 11 December 2019 a b Timeline Junior East Scottish Football Historical Archive archived version 2017 1922 23 The History of Newtongrange Star 1923 24 The History of Newtongrange Star 1924 25 The History of Newtongrange Star 1925 26 The History of Newtongrange Star 1926 27 The History of Newtongrange Star 1927 28 The History of Newtongrange Star 1928 29 The History of Newtongrange Star 1929 30 The History of Newtongrange Star 1930 31 The History of Newtongrange Star 1931 32 The History of Newtongrange Star 1932 33 The History of Newtongrange Star 1933 34 The History of Newtongrange Star 1934 35 The History of Newtongrange Star 1936 37 The History of Newtongrange Star 1937 38 The History of Newtongrange Star 1938 39 The History of Newtongrange Star 1939 40 The History of Newtongrange Star 1945 46 The History of Newtongrange Star 1946 47 The History of Newtongrange Star 1947 48 The History of Newtongrange Star 1948 49 The History of Newtongrange Star 1949 50 The History of Newtongrange Star 1950 51 The History of Newtongrange Star 1951 52 The History of Newtongrange Star 1952 53 The History of Newtongrange Star 1953 54 The History of Newtongrange Star 1954 55 The History of Newtongrange Star 1955 56 The History of Newtongrange Star 1956 57 The History of Newtongrange Star 1957 58 The History of Newtongrange Star 1958 59 The History of Newtongrange Star 1959 60 The History of Newtongrange Star 1960 61 The History of Newtongrange Star 1961 62 The History of Newtongrange Star a b c Honours Whitburn Junior FC 1962 63 The History of Newtongrange Star 1963 64 The History of Newtongrange Star 1964 65 The History of Newtongrange Star 1965 66 The History of Newtongrange Star 1966 67 The History of Newtongrange Star 1967 68 The History of Newtongrange Star 1968 69 The History of Newtongrange Star 1969 70 The History of Newtongrange Star 1970 71 The History of Newtongrange Star 1971 72 The History of Newtongrange Star 1972 73 The History of Newtongrange Star 1973 74 The History of Newtongrange Star 1975 76 The History of Newtongrange Star 1977 78 The History of Newtongrange Star 1978 79 The History of Newtongrange Star 1979 80 The History of Newtongrange Star 1980 81 The History of Newtongrange Star 1981 82 The History of Newtongrange Star 1982 83 The History of Newtongrange Star 1983 84 The History of Newtongrange Star 1984 85 The History of Newtongrange Star 1985 86 The History of Newtongrange Star 1986 87 The History of Newtongrange Star 1987 88 The History of Newtongrange Star Non League Tables for 1988 1989 NonLeague Matters 1988 89 The History of Newtongrange Star 1989 90 The History of Newtongrange Star 1990 91 The History of Newtongrange Star 1991 92 The History of Newtongrange Star 1992 93 The History of Newtongrange Star 1993 94 The History of Newtongrange Star 1994 95 The History of Newtongrange Star 1995 96 The History of Newtongrange Star 1996 97 The History of Newtongrange Star 1997 98 The History of Newtongrange Star 1998 99 The History of Newtongrange Star 1999 2000 The History of Newtongrange Star 2000 01 The History of Newtongrange Star 2001 02 The History of Newtongrange Star McGlone David McLure Bill 1987 The Juniors 100 Years A Centenary History of Scottish Junior Football Mainstream ISBN 1 85158 060 3 External links editFinal tables spreadsheet at the Scottish Football Historical Archive updated July 2022 Non League Scotland archive version with club progression by season 1990 to 2007 Scottish Junior FA Structure Scottish Junior Football Association Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title East Junior Football League amp oldid 1099773869, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,