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Scottish Football League

January 01, 1970

The Scottish Football League (SFL) is a defunct league featuring professional and semi-professional football clubs mostly from Scotland.[note 2] From its foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League (SPL) was formed in 1998, the SFL was the top level of football in Scotland. After 1998, the SFL represented levels 2 to 4 of the Scottish football league system. In June 2013, the SFL merged with the SPL to form the Scottish Professional Football League.

Scottish Football League (SFL)
Founded1890
Folded2013
Country Scotland
ConfederationUEFA
Last championsPartick Thistle
(2012–13)
Most championshipsRangers (47 titles)[note 1]

The SFL was associated with a title sponsor from the 1985–86 season. As this sponsor changed over the years the league was known in turn as the Fine Fare League, B&Q League, Bell's Scottish Football League and finally as the Irn-Bru Scottish Football League. The SFL also organised two knock-out cup competitions, the Scottish League Cup and the Scottish Challenge Cup.

History edit

See also: History of Scottish football

Formation edit

Organised football in Scotland began in 1873 with the formation of the Scottish Football Association (SFA).[1] During the next 15 years or so, clubs would play friendly matches, Scottish Cup ties and local cup (e.g. Glasgow Cup or East of Scotland Shield) ties.[1] The Football League, initially containing clubs from the North West and Midlands of England, was formed in 1888.[2] This had been done in response to the professionalisation of football in England in 1885, with the regular diet of league fixtures replacing the haphazard arrangement of friendlies.[2] Many Scottish players, known as the Scotch Professors, moved to the English league clubs to receive the relatively high salaries on offer.[3]

This prompted Scottish clubs into thinking about forming their own league. In March 1890, the secretary of Renton wrote to thirteen other clubs inviting them to discuss the organisation of a league.[3] All of the clubs accepted the invitation, except Queen's Park and Clyde.[4] Amateur club Queen's Park, who were the oldest organised club in Scotland and had played a key role in the development of football, were opposed to the league because it would lead to professionalism and eliminate many of the smaller clubs.[4] These concerns were to prove well-founded, as six of the founder members would leave the league before 1900.[4]

The Scottish Football League (SFL) was inaugurated on 30 April 1890.[5] The first season of competition, 1890–91, commenced with 11 clubs because St Bernard's were not elected.[5] The eleven original clubs in membership were Abercorn, Cambuslang, Celtic, Cowlairs, Dumbarton, Heart of Midlothian, Rangers, Renton, St Mirren, Third Lanark and Vale of Leven.[6] Renton were expelled after five games of the 1890–91 season[7] for playing against St Bernard's, who had been found guilty of concealed professionalism. Renton raised an action against the SFA in the Court of Session and won, which meant that their SFA and SFL memberships were restored.[7]

In the 1890–91 season, Rangers and Dumbarton were level at the top of the league on 29 points.[7] The teams drew 2–2 in a play-off match, but no further thought had been given to separating teams by another method and the championship was shared.[7] Goal average was introduced for the 1921–22 season and replaced by goal difference for the 1971–72 season.[8]

Split into divisions edit

The league proved to be highly successful, and in 1893, a second tier was formed by the inclusion of a number of clubs previously in the Scottish Football Alliance. Promotion was initially based on a ballot of clubs; automatic promotion was not introduced until 1922.

The onset of World War I saw Division Two but not Division One being suspended, not restarting again until 1921 when the Central Football League was absorbed as a new division with automatic promotion.

Note: in contemporary sources the divisions were often referred to as 'First' and 'Second' rather than 'One' and 'Two'; the latter format has been used throughout the site to avoid confusion with the league's First and Second Division, each one tier lower than their predecessor, introduced in the 1970s (see below).

Division Three edit

In 1923, the League decided to introduce a third tier. The Western League was used as its backbone[9] but the new set-up lasted only three years before it collapsed under heavy financial losses. From 1926 until 1946, the League reverted to two divisions with many of the third tier clubs joining the Scottish Football Alliance.[10]

Post-World War II reforms saw the League resume with three divisions, renamed 'A', 'B' and 'C' with the last section also including reserve sides.[11][12] In 1947, league championship trophies were introduced for the first time for the top two divisions, until then only flags had been presented to the winners. The new trophies were engraved with the names of all previous winners. [13]

In 1949, the 'C' Division was expanded to two sections – South-East (North-East from 1950) and South-West. The withdrawal of the reserves from 'C' Division in 1955 saw a return to two divisions with the 5 first teams in Division C being given automatic promotion.[9][14] There were then 18 clubs in Division A and 19 in Division B. In 1956 the divisions were renamed Division 1 and Division 2.

Clydebank were elected to Division Two as the 20th club in 1966, but following the demise of Third Lanark in 1967, Division Two kept operating with just 19 clubs; the situation would not be corrected until the next change of format, which happened in 1975.

This change of structure split the league into three divisions, Premier, First, and Second Divisions. This permitted more frequent fixtures between the top clubs; the expectation was that meant greater revenue for them, and it was hoped it would stimulate greater interest, at a time when attendance at league matches had dropped alarmingly. One year before the restructuring, a new club entered the league, Meadowbank Thistle (which would eventually become Livingston). This three-divisional structure of 38 clubs continued until 1994.

Four-division period and SPL split edit

After a couple of decades, in 1994 the league again reorganised (following an attempted 'Super League' breakaway by the top clubs in 1992)[15] with four divisions of 10 teams, as Highland League clubs Inverness Caledonian Thistle (a merger of two existing clubs in the city) and Ross County were elected to round out the league. At the same time, the SFL adopted the system of three points for a win. In 1998 the Premier Division clubs split from the league to form the Scottish Premier League (SPL).[16] The remaining leagues, of ten clubs each, kept their names and the Premier Division was not reconstituted, leaving First, Second and Third Divisions. Part of the agreement was that the SPL would expand to 12 clubs in 2000. The SFL then took in two new members to replace the two clubs lost to the SPL; Highland League clubs Elgin City and Peterhead were admitted, increasing the total number of clubs in the Scottish football league system to 42.

From 2005, the SFL determined a promotion and relegation place between each division according to playoffs between four clubs.[17] The playoffs were contested between the ninth placed (second bottom) club in the higher division and the second, third and fourth placed clubs in the lower division.[17] It was therefore possible for a team finishing fourth in the Second Division or Third Division to be promoted, rather than the clubs finishing immediately above them in the standings.[17] It was also possible for the ninth placed club to retain their position in the higher division.[17]

Our review of non-financial matters indicate an organisation which is not wholly suited to the modern-day business environment, or the size of the league.

— Pannell Kerr Foster, BBC Sport website

In March 2007, a self-conducted review found the league to be three times more expensive to run than equivalent leagues in England, with a report stating the league structure was "outdated": the report found that the Football Conference had four employees looking after 68 clubs, while the SFL had 14 people running leagues with just 30 clubs.[18]

Merger edit

No clubs were relegated from the bottom end of the Scottish Football League,[17] although there were changes of membership due to clubs going out of business.[19][20][21][22] The Scottish Football Association were keen for a pyramid system to be instituted. SFL First Division clubs wanted to gain a greater share of the media revenue generated by the SPL.[23] In 2013, both the SPL and SFL voted in favour of merging to form the new Scottish Professional Football League.[23] The number of divisions and clubs in each division remained the same, but there were changes to the financial distribution model.[23] The first club to be promoted to the SPFL from the new Lowland League via playoffs was Edinburgh City in 2016 at the expense of East Stirlingshire, while in 2019 Cove Rangers were the first Highland League champions to go up, replacing Berwick Rangers.

Cup competitions edit

Main articles: Scottish League Cup and Scottish Challenge Cup

The Scottish Football League organised two knock-out cup competitions: the Scottish League Cup and the Scottish Challenge Cup. The League Cup was established in 1946, succeeding the wartime Southern League Cup. Unlike the Scottish Cup, organised by the Scottish Football Association, the League Cup was only open to Scottish Football League clubs. Scottish Premier League clubs continued to participate in the League Cup after the top tier clubs broke away in 1998. Until the mid-1990s, the competition winner was eligible to participate in the UEFA Cup, but this was discontinued due to a loss of European places.

The Scottish Challenge Cup was instituted in 1990, to celebrate the League's centenary.[24] The Challenge Cup was only open to Scottish Football League clubs outside the top division of the Scottish football league system. From 2011, two Highland Football League clubs were allowed to participate each year in the Challenge Cup, to give a round number of 32 clubs participating.[25] Both the League Cup and the Challenge Cup continued under the auspices of the Scottish Professional Football League.

League sponsorship and media rights edit

From 1985, the League accepted sponsorships for its main competition.[26] Below is a list of sponsors and the League's name under their sponsorship:

The League's cup competitions have had different sponsors, with the Scottish League Cup first attracting sponsorship in 1979.[32] The competition was revamped in 1984, adopting a straight knock-out format, when Skol Lager began its sponsorship.[33] The Co-operative Insurance company sponsored the League Cup for 12 seasons, until the 2010–11 competition.[34] It has since been sponsored by the Scottish Government, under the name of the Scottish Communities League Cup.[35] The Scottish Challenge Cup was created by League sponsor B&Q in 1990, but it was cancelled in 1998–99 due to a lack of sponsorship.[36] Since 2008, the Challenge Cup has attracted its own sponsor, with BBC Alba and Ramsdens providing support.[25]

Before 1979, the major source of revenue to Scottish Football League clubs, apart from their attendances, was from the football pools.[37] In the year ended 31 March 1983, the pools generated £1.08 million out of a total of £1.46 million.[38] By 1990, this source of income had been overtaken by revenue from sponsorships and television rights.[37] As of 1990, 75% of these central revenues were split equally between the 38 member clubs, with the remaining 25% allocated according to each club's position in the league ladder.[37] During the 1970s and 1980s, the main terrestrial television companies (STV and BBC Scotland) produced shows (Scotsport and Sportscene respectively) containing highlights of league matches.[39] The revenues from these broadcasts were relatively small, with the companies paying less than £1000 per match in the mid-1970s.[39] BBC Radio Scotland had exclusive rights for live radio coverage of matches at this time,[40] with independent stations such as Radio Clyde providing coverage via score updates and analysis.[41]

The first live television broadcast of a Scottish league match was not until April 1986.[42] Earlier in the 1985–86 season, there had been no television coverage at all due to a dispute between the League and the broadcasters.[42] The birth of satellite broadcaster British Sky Broadcasting (Sky TV) changed the situation significantly.[43] As ITV had an exclusive contract for live coverage of games in the English league, the first match shown on Sky was a Scottish Premier Division match between Rangers and Dundee United in April 1991.[43] A year later, the top division English clubs formed a breakaway Premier League, signing an exclusive television contract with Sky. Live Scottish Premier Division games were shown on STV during the 1990s, but the top division clubs formed the breakaway Scottish Premier League in 1998 and signed an exclusive broadcast contract with Sky.

This left the remaining Scottish Football League clubs without live coverage, although STV continued to show highlights of First Division games in their Football First show. Scots Gaelic channel BBC Alba provided coverage of Scottish Football League games, including the Challenge Cup, from its launch in 2008.[25] Live coverage on English language channels returned to Scottish Football League games in the 2012–13 season, as Sky and ESPN agreed contracts to show Third Division matches involving Rangers.[44][45] These arrangements secured revenues that had been under threat due to the financial collapse of Rangers.[44][45]

Member clubs edit

Main article: List of Scottish Football League clubs

Of the original SFL clubs, Celtic, Heart of Midlothian, St Mirren and Dumbarton are the only clubs today playing in the successor Scottish Professional Football League. Every other club is either defunct or out of the League.

Club First season in SFL Last season in SFL Last national title
Abercorn 1890–91 1914–15 —
Aberdeen 1904–05 1997–98 1984–85
Airdrieonians (1878) 1894–95 2001–02 —
Airdrieonians (2002) 2002–03[46] 2012–13 —
Albion Rovers 1903–04[47] 2012–13 —
Alloa Athletic 1921–22[48] 2012–13 —
Annan Athletic 2008–09[49] 2012–13 —
Arbroath 1921–22[50] 2012–13 —
Armadale 1921–22 1931–32 —
Arthurlie 1901–02 1928–29 —
Ayr 1897–98 1909–10 —
Ayr Parkhouse 1902–03 1909–10 —
Ayr United 1910–11[51] 2012–13 —
Bathgate 1921–22 1928–29 —
Beith 1923–24 1925–26 —
Berwick Rangers 1951–52[52] 2012–13 —
Bo'ness 1921–22 1931–32 —
Brechin City 1923–24[53] 2012–13 —
Broxburn United 1921–22 1925–26 —
Cambuslang 1890–91 1891–92 —
Celtic 1890–91 1997–98 2022–23
Clackmannan 1921–22 1925–26 —
Clyde 1891–92[54] 2012–13 —
Clydebank (1914) 1914–15 1930–31 —
Clydebank 1965–66 2001–02 —
Cowdenbeath 1905–06[55] 2012–13 —
Cowlairs 1890–91 1894–95 —
Dumbarton 1890–91[56] 2012–13 1891–92
Dumbarton Harp 1923–24 1924–25 —
Dundee 1893–94 2011–12 1961–62
Dundee United 1910–11 1997–98 1982–83
Dundee Wanderers 1894–95 1894–95 —
Dunfermline Athletic 1912–13[57] 2012–13 —
Dykehead 1923–24 1925–26 —
East Fife 1921–22[58] 2012–13 —
East Stirlingshire 1900–01[59] 2012–13 —
Edinburgh City (1928) 1931–32 1948–49 —
Elgin City 2000–01[60] 2012–13 —
Falkirk 1902–03[61] 2012–13 —
Forfar Athletic 1921–22[62] 2012–13 —
Galston 1923–24 1925–26 —
Greenock Morton 1893–94[63] 2012–13 —
Gretna 2002–03 2006–07 —
Hamilton Academical 1897–98[64] 2012–13 —
Heart of Midlothian 1890–91 1997–98 1959–60
Helensburgh 1923–24 1925–26 —
Hibernian 1893–94 1998–99 1951–52
Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1994–95 2009–10 —
Johnstone 1912–13 1925–26 —
Kilmarnock 1895–96 1997–98 1964–65
King's Park 1921–22 1938–39 —
Leith Athletic 1891–92 1952–53 —
Linthouse 1895–96 1899–1900 —
Livingston 1995–96[65] 2012–13 —
Lochgelly United 1914–15 1925–26 —
Meadowbank Thistle 1974–75 1994–95 —
Mid-Annandale 1923–24 1925–26 —
Montrose 1923–24[66] 2012–13 —
Motherwell 1893–94 1997–98 1931–32
Nithsdale Wanderers 1923–24 1926–27 —
Northern 1893–94 1893–94 —
Partick Thistle 1893–94[67] 2012–13 —
Peebles Rovers 1923–24 1925–26 —
Peterhead 2000–01[68] 2012–13 —
Port Glasgow Athletic 1893–94 1910–11 —
Queen of the South 1923–24[69] 2012–13 —
Queen's Park 1900–01[70] 2012–13 —
Raith Rovers 1902–03[71] 2012–13 —
Rangers 1890–91[72] 2012–13 2020–21
Renton 1890–91 1897–98 —
Ross County 1994–95 2011–12 —
Royal Albert 1923–24 1925–26 —
St Bernard's 1893–94 1938–39 —
St Johnstone 1897–98 2008–09 —
St Mirren 1890–91 2005–06 —
Solway Star 1923–24 1925–26 —
Stenhousemuir 1921–22[73] 2012–13 —
Stirling Albion 1946–47[74] 2012–13 —
Stranraer 1949–50[75] 2012–13 —
Third Lanark 1890–91 1966–67 1903–04
Thistle 1893–94 1893–94 —
Vale of Leven 1890–91 1925–26 —

Past winners edit

Main articles: List of Scottish football champions, List of winners of the Scottish Championship and predecessors, and List of winners of the Scottish League One and predecessors

When the Scottish Football League was established in 1890, all of the clubs played in just one division. In 1893 the Scottish Football League absorbed many clubs from the Scottish Football Alliance and had enough clubs to form another division. The existing division was renamed Division One and the new division was called Division Two. Nevertheless, promotion and relegation between the top two divisions was not automatic until 1921–22 when Division Two was brought back after a hiatus provoked by World War I which affected only that division; hence some teams of the era winning Division Two twice in a row before being promoted, and some Division Two winners being never promoted at all.

A third tier of Scottish league football was first established in the 1923–24 season, but it only lasted for two full seasons due to financial difficulties. A third tier league (called Division C) was reintroduced in 1946–47. Division C, which also included reserve teams of higher division clubs, operated as a national competition for the first three seasons but thereafter it was split into two regional sections. During this period only full-strength clubs (not reserve teams) were promoted if they finished as champions. The two-division tier was abolished after the 1954–55 season.

Since the 1975–76 season there has been a third tier, known as the Second Division. The top tier became the Premier Division and the second tier became known as the First Division. A fourth tier, known as the Third Division, was introduced in 1994. The last major change within the Scottish football league system was in 1998–99, when the Premier Division clubs broke away from the Scottish Football League to form the Scottish Premier League. The remaining Scottish Football League divisions continued as before.

No. Season 1st tier 2nd tier 3rd tier 4th tier
  1. 1890–91 Dumbarton (share)[7]
Rangers (share)[7] 		— — —
  2. 1891–92 Dumbarton
  3. 1892–93 Celtic
  4. 1893–94 Celtic Hibernian
  5. 1894–95 Heart of Midlothian Hibernian
  6. 1895–96 Celtic Abercorn
  7. 1896–97 Heart of Midlothian Partick Thistle
 8. 1897–98 Celtic Kilmarnock
 9. 1898–99 Rangers Kilmarnock
 10. 1899–1900 Rangers Partick Thistle
 11. 1900–01 Rangers St Bernard's
 12. 1901–02 Rangers Port Glasgow Athletic
 13. 1902–03 Hibernian Airdrieonians
 14. 1903–04 Third Lanark Hamilton Academical
 15. 1904–05 Celtic Clyde
 16. 1905–06 Celtic Leith Athletic
 17. 1906–07 Celtic St Bernard's
 18. 1907–08 Celtic Raith Rovers
 19. 1908–09 Celtic Abercorn
 20. 1909–10 Celtic Leith Athletic (share)
Raith Rovers (share)
 21. 1910–11 Rangers Dumbarton
 22. 1911–12 Rangers Ayr United
 23. 1912–13 Rangers Ayr United
 24. 1913–14 Celtic Cowdenbeath
 25. 1914–15 Celtic Cowdenbeath
 26. 1915–16 Celtic —
 27. 1916–17 Celtic
 28. 1917–18 Rangers
 29. 1918–19 Celtic
 30. 1919–20 Rangers
 31. 1920–21 Rangers
 32. 1921–22 Celtic Alloa Athletic
 33. 1922–23 Rangers Queen's Park
 34. 1923–24 Rangers St Johnstone Arthurlie
 35. 1924–25 Rangers Dundee United Nithsdale Wanderers
 36. 1925–26 Celtic Dunfermline Athletic Not awarded[note 3]
 37. 1926–27 Rangers Bo'ness United —
 38. 1927–28 Rangers Ayr United
 39. 1928–29 Rangers Dundee United
 40. 1929–30 Rangers Leith Athletic
 41. 1930–31 Rangers Third Lanark
 42. 1931–32 Motherwell East Stirlingshire
 43. 1932–33 Rangers Hibernian
 44. 1933–34 Rangers Albion Rovers
 45. 1934–35 Rangers Third Lanark
 46. 1935–36 Celtic Falkirk
 47. 1936–37 Rangers Ayr United
 48. 1937–38 Celtic Raith Rovers
 49. 1938–39 Rangers Cowdenbeath
 50. 1939–40 League abandoned after five matches due to the commencement of World War II.
—
 1940–46 League suspended due to World War II.
 51. 1946–47 Rangers Dundee Stirling Albion —
 52. 1947–48 Hibernian East Fife East Stirlingshire
 53. 1948–49 Rangers Raith Rovers Forfar Athletic
 54. 1949–50 Rangers Morton Hibernian A
Clyde A
 55. 1950–51 Hibernian Queen of the South Heart of Midlothian A
Clyde A
 56. 1951–52 Hibernian Clyde Dundee A
Rangers A
 57. 1952–53 Rangers Stirling Albion Aberdeen A
Rangers A
 58. 1953–54 Celtic Motherwell Brechin City
Rangers A
 59. 1954–55 Aberdeen Airdrieonians Aberdeen A
Partick Thistle A
 60. 1955–56 Rangers Queen's Park —
 61. 1956–57 Rangers Clyde
 62. 1957–58 Heart of Midlothian Stirling Albion
 63. 1958–59 Rangers Ayr United
 64. 1959–60 Heart of Midlothian St Johnstone
 65. 1960–61 Rangers Stirling Albion
 66. 1961–62 Dundee Clyde
 67. 1962–63 Rangers St Johnstone
 68. 1963–64 Rangers Morton
 69. 1964–65 Kilmarnock Stirling Albion
 70. 1965–66 Celtic Ayr United
 71. 1966–67 Celtic Morton
 72. 1967–68 Celtic St Mirren
 73. 1968–69 Celtic Motherwell
 74. 1969–70 Celtic Falkirk
 75. 1970–71 Celtic Partick Thistle
 76. 1971–72 Celtic Dumbarton
 77. 1972–73 Celtic Clyde
 78. 1973–74 Celtic Airdrieonians
 79. 1974–75 Rangers Falkirk
 80. 1975–76 Rangers Partick Thistle Clydebank
 81. 1976–77 Celtic St Mirren Stirling Albion
 82. 1977–78 Rangers Morton Clyde
 83. 1978–79 Celtic Dundee Berwick Rangers
 84. 1979–80 Aberdeen Heart of Midlothian Falkirk
 85. 1980–81 Celtic Hibernian Queen's Park
 86. 1981–82 Celtic Motherwell Clyde
 87. 1982–83 Dundee United St Johnstone Brechin City
 88. 1983–84 Aberdeen Morton Forfar Athletic
 89. 1984–85 Aberdeen Motherwell Montrose
 90. 1985–86 Celtic Hamilton Academical Dunfermline Athletic
 91. 1986–87 Rangers Morton Meadowbank Thistle
 92. 1987–88 Celtic Hamilton Academical Ayr United
 93. 1988–89 Rangers Dunfermline Athletic Albion Rovers
 94. 1989–90 Rangers St Johnstone Brechin City
 95. 1990–91 Rangers Falkirk Stirling Albion
 96. 1991–92 Rangers Dundee Dumbarton
 97. 1992–93 Rangers Raith Rovers Clyde
 98. 1993–94 Rangers Falkirk Stranraer
 99. 1994–95 Rangers Raith Rovers Morton Forfar Athletic
100. 1995–96 Rangers Dunfermline Athletic Stirling Albion Livingston
101. 1996–97 Rangers St Johnstone Ayr United Inverness Caledonian Thistle
102. 1997–98 Celtic Dundee Stranraer Alloa Athletic
103. 1998–99 — Hibernian Livingston Ross County
104. 1999–2000 St Mirren Clyde Queen's Park
105. 2000–01 Livingston Partick Thistle Hamilton Academical
106. 2001–02 Partick Thistle Queen of the South Brechin City
107. 2002–03 Falkirk Raith Rovers Morton
108. 2003–04 Inverness Caledonian Thistle Airdrie United Stranraer
109. 2004–05 Falkirk Brechin City Gretna
110. 2005–06 St. Mirren Gretna Cowdenbeath
111. 2006–07 Gretna Morton Berwick Rangers
112. 2007–08 Hamilton Academical Ross County East Fife
113. 2008–09 St Johnstone Raith Rovers Dumbarton
114. 2009–10 Inverness Caledonian Thistle Stirling Albion Livingston
115. 2010–11 Dunfermline Athletic Livingston Arbroath
116. 2011–12 Ross County Cowdenbeath Alloa Athletic
117. 2012–13 Partick Thistle Queen of the South Rangers

Scottish Football League XI edit

Main article: Scottish Football League XI

The SFL was the organising body of the Scottish Football League XI, a select side which represented the SFL in matches against other leagues, including the English Football League, the League of Ireland, the Northern Irish league and the Italian Serie A.[76] These matches began in 1892, soon after the foundation of the SFL.[77] Before the Second World War, inter-league matches were only second in importance to Scotland international matches. After the war, however, the inter-league matches became less important as European club football was instituted and clubs withdrew players due to fixture congestion.[78] The last inter-league match was played in 1980, while a Scottish Football League XI was last selected in 1990 for a match against the Scotland national team to mark the centenary of the SFL.[79]

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ The Scottish Football League existed between 1890 and 2013, and did not contain the top division of Scottish league football between 1998 and 2013 (Scottish Premier League). For a complete record of clubs that have won Scottish league championships, see list of Scottish football champions.
  2. ^ One club, Berwick Rangers, is based in the town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, which is located approximately 4 km south of the Anglo-Scottish border.
  3. ^ Helensburgh gained the most points, but no title was awarded as they were the only club to complete their fixtures.

References edit

  1. ^ a b (Bob Crampsey 1990, p. 3)
  2. ^ a b (Bob Crampsey 1990, p. 5)
  3. ^ a b (Bob Crampsey 1990, p. 6)
  4. ^ a b c (Bob Crampsey 1990, p. 7)
  5. ^ a b (Bob Crampsey 1990, p. 13)
  6. ^ How it all Began, Scottish League History
  7. ^ a b c d e f (Bob Crampsey 1990, p. 20)
  8. ^ MacDonald, Paul. "Scottish League formed". BBC Scotland.
  9. ^ a b "Scottish Football League - C Division". Scottish Football Historical Archive. OoCities.org. from the original on Jul 31, 2023.
  10. ^ Scottish Football Alliance (Third version 1919-1938), Scottish Football Historical Archive
  11. ^ Scottish Reserve League Competitions Part 2 1945-1955, Scottish Football Historical Archive 1 November 2020
  12. ^ The C Division – the "other clubs" division, Alan Bell, via Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Transfer Database
  13. ^ "Scottish League Chief Honoured". Dundee Courier. 1 October 1947. p. 3 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  14. ^ Scotland - Final Tables Third Level 1924-2004, RSSSF
  15. ^ Rangers and Hearts owners, Hibs and Aberdeen involved, Celtic wavering - recalling failed Scottish Super League breakaway of 1992, Stephen Halliday, The Scotsman, 20 April 2021
  16. ^ Grahame, Ewing (13 July 2012). "Low in attendance, low in achievement – the SPL's dismal legacy of failure". The Scotsman. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  17. ^ a b c d e "IRN-BRU SFL PLAY-OFFS 2011/12". www.scottishfootballleague.com. Scottish Football League. 30 April 2012. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  18. ^ "Scottish League branded out-dated". BBC Sport. 5 March 2007. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  19. ^ Moffat, Colin (3 June 2008). "The lights go off at Gretna". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
  20. ^ "Airdrie buy Bankies". BBC Sport. 9 July 2002. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
  21. ^ "Annan voted into Scottish League". BBC Sport. 3 July 2008. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  22. ^ "Rangers: Charles Green accepts Division Three vote". BBC Sport. 13 July 2012. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  23. ^ a b c "Scottish Football League clubs vote in favour of a proposed merger with the Scottish Premier League". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  24. ^ "Scottish League Challenge Cup Finals". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. 2009. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  25. ^ a b c "Highland duo enter new Ramsdens Cup". BBC Sport. 6 June 2011. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  26. ^ a b c (Bob Crampsey 1990, p. 218)
  27. ^ Gaunt, Ken (1 October 1997). "Football: Scottish sponsors decide to pull out". The Independent. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  28. ^ "Press Release". www.scottishfootballleague.com. Scottish Football League. 19 August 2005. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  29. ^ a b c "SFL ends search for new sponsor". BBC Sport. 20 July 2007. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  30. ^ "SFL signs £3m sponsorship extension with Irn-Bru". Daily Record. Trinity Mirror. 18 February 2010. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  31. ^ "SFL secures sponsorship extension with Irn-Bru". BBC Sport. 18 February 2010. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  32. ^ (Bob Crampsey 1990, p. 239)
  33. ^ (Bob Crampsey 1990, p. 242)
  34. ^ "Co-operative Insurance end Scottish League Cup deal". BBC Sport. 28 September 2010. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  35. ^ "Scottish Government crime seizures to fund League Cup". BBC Sport. 21 March 2011. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  36. ^ "Preview Forfar Athletic". www.dafc.co.uk. Dunfermline Athletic FC. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  37. ^ a b c (Bob Crampsey 1990, p. 259)
  38. ^ (Bob Crampsey 1990, p. 217)
  39. ^ a b (Bob Crampsey 1990, p. 198)
  40. ^ (Bob Crampsey 1990, p. 202)
  41. ^ (Bob Crampsey 1990, p. 213)
  42. ^ a b "Dens memories reduce former Hearts manager to tears". sport.scotsman.com. Johnston Publishing. 17 February 2006. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  43. ^ a b Viner, Brian (28 January 2011). "Brian Viner: Prehistoric maybe, but I'll miss Gray and Keys". The Independent. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
  44. ^ a b "Sky reveals new SPL TV deal for five years". BBC Sport. 31 July 2012. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
  45. ^ a b "ESPN announces deal to show SPL and Rangers live". BBC Sport. 3 August 2012. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
  46. ^ "Airdrie United". www.fchd.info. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  47. ^ "Albion Rovers". www.fchd.info. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  48. ^ "Alloa Athletic". www.fchd.info. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  49. ^ "Annan Athletic". www.fchd.info. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  50. ^ "Arbroath". www.fchd.info. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  51. ^ "Ayr United". www.fchd.info. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  52. ^ "Berwick Rangers". www.fchd.info. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  53. ^ "Brechin City". www.fchd.info. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  54. ^ "Clyde". www.fchd.info. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  55. ^ "Cowdenbeath". www.fchd.info. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  56. ^ "Dumbarton". www.fchd.info. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  57. ^ "Dunfermline Athletic". www.fchd.info. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  58. ^ "east Fife". www.fchd.info. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  59. ^ "East Stirlingshire". www.fchd.info. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  60. ^ "Elgin City". www.fchd.info. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  61. ^ "Falkirk". www.fchd.info. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  62. ^ "Forfar Athletic". www.fchd.info. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  63. ^ "Morton". www.fchd.info. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  64. ^ "Hamilton Academical". www.fchd.info. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  65. ^ "Livingston". www.fchd.info. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  66. ^ "Montrose". www.fchd.info. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  67. ^ "Partick Thistle". www.fchd.info. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  68. ^ "Peterhead". www.fchd.info. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  69. ^ "Queen of the South". www.fchd.info. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  70. ^ "Queen's Park [glasgow]". www.fchd.info. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  71. ^ "Raith Rovers". www.fchd.info. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  72. ^ "Rangers". www.fchd.info. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  73. ^ "Stenhousemuir". www.fchd.info. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  74. ^ "Stirling Albion". www.fchd.info. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  75. ^ "Stranraer". www.fchd.info. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  76. ^ "Scotland Scores by Team". Londonhearts.com. London Hearts Supporters' Club. Retrieved 26 November 2011.
  77. ^ (Bob Crampsey 1990, p. 245)
  78. ^ (Bob Crampsey 1990, p. 254)
  79. ^ Jim Traynor (18 August 1990). "The Aberdeen connection". The Herald. Newsquest. Retrieved 11 August 2011.
Sources

January 01, 1970
scottish, football, league, defunct, league, featuring, professional, semi, professional, football, clubs, mostly, from, scotland, note, from, foundation, 1890, until, breakaway, scottish, premier, league, formed, 1998, level, football, scotland, after, 1998, . The Scottish Football League SFL is a defunct league featuring professional and semi professional football clubs mostly from Scotland note 2 From its foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League SPL was formed in 1998 the SFL was the top level of football in Scotland After 1998 the SFL represented levels 2 to 4 of the Scottish football league system In June 2013 the SFL merged with the SPL to form the Scottish Professional Football League Scottish Football League SFL Founded1890Folded2013Country ScotlandConfederationUEFALast championsPartick Thistle 2012 13 Most championshipsRangers 47 titles note 1 The SFL was associated with a title sponsor from the 1985 86 season As this sponsor changed over the years the league was known in turn as the Fine Fare League B amp Q League Bell s Scottish Football League and finally as the Irn Bru Scottish Football League The SFL also organised two knock out cup competitions the Scottish League Cup and the Scottish Challenge Cup Contents 1 History 1 1 Formation 1 2 Split into divisions 1 3 Division Three 1 4 Four division period and SPL split 1 5 Merger 2 Cup competitions 3 League sponsorship and media rights 4 Member clubs 5 Past winners 6 Scottish Football League XI 7 See also 8 Notes 9 ReferencesHistory editSee also History of Scottish football Formation edit Organised football in Scotland began in 1873 with the formation of the Scottish Football Association SFA 1 During the next 15 years or so clubs would play friendly matches Scottish Cup ties and local cup e g Glasgow Cup or East of Scotland Shield ties 1 The Football League initially containing clubs from the North West and Midlands of England was formed in 1888 2 This had been done in response to the professionalisation of football in England in 1885 with the regular diet of league fixtures replacing the haphazard arrangement of friendlies 2 Many Scottish players known as the Scotch Professors moved to the English league clubs to receive the relatively high salaries on offer 3 This prompted Scottish clubs into thinking about forming their own league In March 1890 the secretary of Renton wrote to thirteen other clubs inviting them to discuss the organisation of a league 3 All of the clubs accepted the invitation except Queen s Park and Clyde 4 Amateur club Queen s Park who were the oldest organised club in Scotland and had played a key role in the development of football were opposed to the league because it would lead to professionalism and eliminate many of the smaller clubs 4 These concerns were to prove well founded as six of the founder members would leave the league before 1900 4 The Scottish Football League SFL was inaugurated on 30 April 1890 5 The first season of competition 1890 91 commenced with 11 clubs because St Bernard s were not elected 5 The eleven original clubs in membership were Abercorn Cambuslang Celtic Cowlairs Dumbarton Heart of Midlothian Rangers Renton St Mirren Third Lanark and Vale of Leven 6 Renton were expelled after five games of the 1890 91 season 7 for playing against St Bernard s who had been found guilty of concealed professionalism Renton raised an action against the SFA in the Court of Session and won which meant that their SFA and SFL memberships were restored 7 In the 1890 91 season Rangers and Dumbarton were level at the top of the league on 29 points 7 The teams drew 2 2 in a play off match but no further thought had been given to separating teams by another method and the championship was shared 7 Goal average was introduced for the 1921 22 season and replaced by goal difference for the 1971 72 season 8 Split into divisions edit The league proved to be highly successful and in 1893 a second tier was formed by the inclusion of a number of clubs previously in the Scottish Football Alliance Promotion was initially based on a ballot of clubs automatic promotion was not introduced until 1922 The onset of World War I saw Division Two but not Division One being suspended not restarting again until 1921 when the Central Football League was absorbed as a new division with automatic promotion Note in contemporary sources the divisions were often referred to as First and Second rather than One and Two the latter format has been used throughout the site to avoid confusion with the league s First and Second Division each one tier lower than their predecessor introduced in the 1970s see below Division Three edit In 1923 the League decided to introduce a third tier The Western League was used as its backbone 9 but the new set up lasted only three years before it collapsed under heavy financial losses From 1926 until 1946 the League reverted to two divisions with many of the third tier clubs joining the Scottish Football Alliance 10 Post World War II reforms saw the League resume with three divisions renamed A B and C with the last section also including reserve sides 11 12 In 1947 league championship trophies were introduced for the first time for the top two divisions until then only flags had been presented to the winners The new trophies were engraved with the names of all previous winners 13 In 1949 the C Division was expanded to two sections South East North East from 1950 and South West The withdrawal of the reserves from C Division in 1955 saw a return to two divisions with the 5 first teams in Division C being given automatic promotion 9 14 There were then 18 clubs in Division A and 19 in Division B In 1956 the divisions were renamed Division 1 and Division 2 Clydebank were elected to Division Two as the 20th club in 1966 but following the demise of Third Lanark in 1967 Division Two kept operating with just 19 clubs the situation would not be corrected until the next change of format which happened in 1975 This change of structure split the league into three divisions Premier First and Second Divisions This permitted more frequent fixtures between the top clubs the expectation was that meant greater revenue for them and it was hoped it would stimulate greater interest at a time when attendance at league matches had dropped alarmingly One year before the restructuring a new club entered the league Meadowbank Thistle which would eventually become Livingston This three divisional structure of 38 clubs continued until 1994 Four division period and SPL split edit After a couple of decades in 1994 the league again reorganised following an attempted Super League breakaway by the top clubs in 1992 15 with four divisions of 10 teams as Highland League clubs Inverness Caledonian Thistle a merger of two existing clubs in the city and Ross County were elected to round out the league At the same time the SFL adopted the system of three points for a win In 1998 the Premier Division clubs split from the league to form the Scottish Premier League SPL 16 The remaining leagues of ten clubs each kept their names and the Premier Division was not reconstituted leaving First Second and Third Divisions Part of the agreement was that the SPL would expand to 12 clubs in 2000 The SFL then took in two new members to replace the two clubs lost to the SPL Highland League clubs Elgin City and Peterhead were admitted increasing the total number of clubs in the Scottish football league system to 42 From 2005 the SFL determined a promotion and relegation place between each division according to playoffs between four clubs 17 The playoffs were contested between the ninth placed second bottom club in the higher division and the second third and fourth placed clubs in the lower division 17 It was therefore possible for a team finishing fourth in the Second Division or Third Division to be promoted rather than the clubs finishing immediately above them in the standings 17 It was also possible for the ninth placed club to retain their position in the higher division 17 Our review of non financial matters indicate an organisation which is not wholly suited to the modern day business environment or the size of the league Pannell Kerr Foster BBC Sport websiteIn March 2007 a self conducted review found the league to be three times more expensive to run than equivalent leagues in England with a report stating the league structure was outdated the report found that the Football Conference had four employees looking after 68 clubs while the SFL had 14 people running leagues with just 30 clubs 18 Merger edit No clubs were relegated from the bottom end of the Scottish Football League 17 although there were changes of membership due to clubs going out of business 19 20 21 22 The Scottish Football Association were keen for a pyramid system to be instituted SFL First Division clubs wanted to gain a greater share of the media revenue generated by the SPL 23 In 2013 both the SPL and SFL voted in favour of merging to form the new Scottish Professional Football League 23 The number of divisions and clubs in each division remained the same but there were changes to the financial distribution model 23 The first club to be promoted to the SPFL from the new Lowland League via playoffs was Edinburgh City in 2016 at the expense of East Stirlingshire while in 2019 Cove Rangers were the first Highland League champions to go up replacing Berwick Rangers Cup competitions editMain articles Scottish League Cup and Scottish Challenge Cup The Scottish Football League organised two knock out cup competitions the Scottish League Cup and the Scottish Challenge Cup The League Cup was established in 1946 succeeding the wartime Southern League Cup Unlike the Scottish Cup organised by the Scottish Football Association the League Cup was only open to Scottish Football League clubs Scottish Premier League clubs continued to participate in the League Cup after the top tier clubs broke away in 1998 Until the mid 1990s the competition winner was eligible to participate in the UEFA Cup but this was discontinued due to a loss of European places The Scottish Challenge Cup was instituted in 1990 to celebrate the League s centenary 24 The Challenge Cup was only open to Scottish Football League clubs outside the top division of the Scottish football league system From 2011 two Highland Football League clubs were allowed to participate each year in the Challenge Cup to give a round number of 32 clubs participating 25 Both the League Cup and the Challenge Cup continued under the auspices of the Scottish Professional Football League League sponsorship and media rights editFrom 1985 the League accepted sponsorships for its main competition 26 Below is a list of sponsors and the League s name under their sponsorship 1985 1988 Fine Fare Fine Fare League 26 1988 1992 B amp Q B amp Q League 26 1992 1994 No sponsor 1994 1998 Bell s whisky Bell s League 27 1998 1999 No sponsor 1999 2006 Bell s whisky Bell s League 28 29 2006 2007 No sponsor 29 2007 2013 Irn Bru Irn Bru League 29 30 31 The League s cup competitions have had different sponsors with the Scottish League Cup first attracting sponsorship in 1979 32 The competition was revamped in 1984 adopting a straight knock out format when Skol Lager began its sponsorship 33 The Co operative Insurance company sponsored the League Cup for 12 seasons until the 2010 11 competition 34 It has since been sponsored by the Scottish Government under the name of the Scottish Communities League Cup 35 The Scottish Challenge Cup was created by League sponsor B amp Q in 1990 but it was cancelled in 1998 99 due to a lack of sponsorship 36 Since 2008 the Challenge Cup has attracted its own sponsor with BBC Alba and Ramsdens providing support 25 Before 1979 the major source of revenue to Scottish Football League clubs apart from their attendances was from the football pools 37 In the year ended 31 March 1983 the pools generated 1 08 million out of a total of 1 46 million 38 By 1990 this source of income had been overtaken by revenue from sponsorships and television rights 37 As of 1990 75 of these central revenues were split equally between the 38 member clubs with the remaining 25 allocated according to each club s position in the league ladder 37 During the 1970s and 1980s the main terrestrial television companies STV and BBC Scotland produced shows Scotsport and Sportscene respectively containing highlights of league matches 39 The revenues from these broadcasts were relatively small with the companies paying less than 1000 per match in the mid 1970s 39 BBC Radio Scotland had exclusive rights for live radio coverage of matches at this time 40 with independent stations such as Radio Clyde providing coverage via score updates and analysis 41 The first live television broadcast of a Scottish league match was not until April 1986 42 Earlier in the 1985 86 season there had been no television coverage at all due to a dispute between the League and the broadcasters 42 The birth of satellite broadcaster British Sky Broadcasting Sky TV changed the situation significantly 43 As ITV had an exclusive contract for live coverage of games in the English league the first match shown on Sky was a Scottish Premier Division match between Rangers and Dundee United in April 1991 43 A year later the top division English clubs formed a breakaway Premier League signing an exclusive television contract with Sky Live Scottish Premier Division games were shown on STV during the 1990s but the top division clubs formed the breakaway Scottish Premier League in 1998 and signed an exclusive broadcast contract with Sky This left the remaining Scottish Football League clubs without live coverage although STV continued to show highlights of First Division games in their Football First show Scots Gaelic channel BBC Alba provided coverage of Scottish Football League games including the Challenge Cup from its launch in 2008 25 Live coverage on English language channels returned to Scottish Football League games in the 2012 13 season as Sky and ESPN agreed contracts to show Third Division matches involving Rangers 44 45 These arrangements secured revenues that had been under threat due to the financial collapse of Rangers 44 45 Member clubs editMain article List of Scottish Football League clubs Of the original SFL clubs Celtic Heart of Midlothian St Mirren and Dumbarton are the only clubs today playing in the successor Scottish Professional Football League Every other club is either defunct or out of the League Club First season in SFL Last season in SFL Last national title Abercorn 1890 91 1914 15 Aberdeen 1904 05 1997 98 1984 85 Airdrieonians 1878 1894 95 2001 02 Airdrieonians 2002 2002 03 46 2012 13 Albion Rovers 1903 04 47 2012 13 Alloa Athletic 1921 22 48 2012 13 Annan Athletic 2008 09 49 2012 13 Arbroath 1921 22 50 2012 13 Armadale 1921 22 1931 32 Arthurlie 1901 02 1928 29 Ayr 1897 98 1909 10 Ayr Parkhouse 1902 03 1909 10 Ayr United 1910 11 51 2012 13 Bathgate 1921 22 1928 29 Beith 1923 24 1925 26 Berwick Rangers 1951 52 52 2012 13 Bo ness 1921 22 1931 32 Brechin City 1923 24 53 2012 13 Broxburn United 1921 22 1925 26 Cambuslang 1890 91 1891 92 Celtic 1890 91 1997 98 2022 23 Clackmannan 1921 22 1925 26 Clyde 1891 92 54 2012 13 Clydebank 1914 1914 15 1930 31 Clydebank 1965 66 2001 02 Cowdenbeath 1905 06 55 2012 13 Cowlairs 1890 91 1894 95 Dumbarton 1890 91 56 2012 13 1891 92 Dumbarton Harp 1923 24 1924 25 Dundee 1893 94 2011 12 1961 62 Dundee United 1910 11 1997 98 1982 83 Dundee Wanderers 1894 95 1894 95 Dunfermline Athletic 1912 13 57 2012 13 Dykehead 1923 24 1925 26 East Fife 1921 22 58 2012 13 East Stirlingshire 1900 01 59 2012 13 Edinburgh City 1928 1931 32 1948 49 Elgin City 2000 01 60 2012 13 Falkirk 1902 03 61 2012 13 Forfar Athletic 1921 22 62 2012 13 Galston 1923 24 1925 26 Greenock Morton 1893 94 63 2012 13 Gretna 2002 03 2006 07 Hamilton Academical 1897 98 64 2012 13 Heart of Midlothian 1890 91 1997 98 1959 60 Helensburgh 1923 24 1925 26 Hibernian 1893 94 1998 99 1951 52 Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1994 95 2009 10 Johnstone 1912 13 1925 26 Kilmarnock 1895 96 1997 98 1964 65 King s Park 1921 22 1938 39 Leith Athletic 1891 92 1952 53 Linthouse 1895 96 1899 1900 Livingston 1995 96 65 2012 13 Lochgelly United 1914 15 1925 26 Meadowbank Thistle 1974 75 1994 95 Mid Annandale 1923 24 1925 26 Montrose 1923 24 66 2012 13 Motherwell 1893 94 1997 98 1931 32 Nithsdale Wanderers 1923 24 1926 27 Northern 1893 94 1893 94 Partick Thistle 1893 94 67 2012 13 Peebles Rovers 1923 24 1925 26 Peterhead 2000 01 68 2012 13 Port Glasgow Athletic 1893 94 1910 11 Queen of the South 1923 24 69 2012 13 Queen s Park 1900 01 70 2012 13 Raith Rovers 1902 03 71 2012 13 Rangers 1890 91 72 2012 13 2020 21 Renton 1890 91 1897 98 Ross County 1994 95 2011 12 Royal Albert 1923 24 1925 26 St Bernard s 1893 94 1938 39 St Johnstone 1897 98 2008 09 St Mirren 1890 91 2005 06 Solway Star 1923 24 1925 26 Stenhousemuir 1921 22 73 2012 13 Stirling Albion 1946 47 74 2012 13 Stranraer 1949 50 75 2012 13 Third Lanark 1890 91 1966 67 1903 04 Thistle 1893 94 1893 94 Vale of Leven 1890 91 1925 26 Past winners editMain articles List of Scottish football champions List of winners of the Scottish Championship and predecessors and List of winners of the Scottish League One and predecessors When the Scottish Football League was established in 1890 all of the clubs played in just one division In 1893 the Scottish Football League absorbed many clubs from the Scottish Football Alliance and had enough clubs to form another division The existing division was renamed Division One and the new division was called Division Two Nevertheless promotion and relegation between the top two divisions was not automatic until 1921 22 when Division Two was brought back after a hiatus provoked by World War I which affected only that division hence some teams of the era winning Division Two twice in a row before being promoted and some Division Two winners being never promoted at all A third tier of Scottish league football was first established in the 1923 24 season but it only lasted for two full seasons due to financial difficulties A third tier league called Division C was reintroduced in 1946 47 Division C which also included reserve teams of higher division clubs operated as a national competition for the first three seasons but thereafter it was split into two regional sections During this period only full strength clubs not reserve teams were promoted if they finished as champions The two division tier was abolished after the 1954 55 season Since the 1975 76 season there has been a third tier known as the Second Division The top tier became the Premier Division and the second tier became known as the First Division A fourth tier known as the Third Division was introduced in 1994 The last major change within the Scottish football league system was in 1998 99 when the Premier Division clubs broke away from the Scottish Football League to form the Scottish Premier League The remaining Scottish Football League divisions continued as before No Season 1st tier 2nd tier 3rd tier 4th tier 1 1890 91 Dumbarton share 7 Rangers share 7 2 1891 92 Dumbarton 3 1892 93 Celtic 4 1893 94 Celtic Hibernian 5 1894 95 Heart of Midlothian Hibernian 6 1895 96 Celtic Abercorn 7 1896 97 Heart of Midlothian Partick Thistle 8 1897 98 Celtic Kilmarnock 9 1898 99 Rangers Kilmarnock 10 1899 1900 Rangers Partick Thistle 11 1900 01 Rangers St Bernard s 12 1901 02 Rangers Port Glasgow Athletic 13 1902 03 Hibernian Airdrieonians 14 1903 04 Third Lanark Hamilton Academical 15 1904 05 Celtic Clyde 16 1905 06 Celtic Leith Athletic 17 1906 07 Celtic St Bernard s 18 1907 08 Celtic Raith Rovers 19 1908 09 Celtic Abercorn 20 1909 10 Celtic Leith Athletic share Raith Rovers share 21 1910 11 Rangers Dumbarton 22 1911 12 Rangers Ayr United 23 1912 13 Rangers Ayr United 24 1913 14 Celtic Cowdenbeath 25 1914 15 Celtic Cowdenbeath 26 1915 16 Celtic 27 1916 17 Celtic 28 1917 18 Rangers 29 1918 19 Celtic 30 1919 20 Rangers 31 1920 21 Rangers 32 1921 22 Celtic Alloa Athletic 33 1922 23 Rangers Queen s Park 34 1923 24 Rangers St Johnstone Arthurlie 35 1924 25 Rangers Dundee United Nithsdale Wanderers 36 1925 26 Celtic Dunfermline Athletic Not awarded note 3 37 1926 27 Rangers Bo ness United 38 1927 28 Rangers Ayr United 39 1928 29 Rangers Dundee United 40 1929 30 Rangers Leith Athletic 41 1930 31 Rangers Third Lanark 42 1931 32 Motherwell East Stirlingshire 43 1932 33 Rangers Hibernian 44 1933 34 Rangers Albion Rovers 45 1934 35 Rangers Third Lanark 46 1935 36 Celtic Falkirk 47 1936 37 Rangers Ayr United 48 1937 38 Celtic Raith Rovers 49 1938 39 Rangers Cowdenbeath 50 1939 40 League abandoned after five matches due to the commencement of World War II 1940 46 League suspended due to World War II 51 1946 47 Rangers Dundee Stirling Albion 52 1947 48 Hibernian East Fife East Stirlingshire 53 1948 49 Rangers Raith Rovers Forfar Athletic 54 1949 50 Rangers Morton Hibernian A Clyde A 55 1950 51 Hibernian Queen of the South Heart of Midlothian A Clyde A 56 1951 52 Hibernian Clyde Dundee A Rangers A 57 1952 53 Rangers Stirling Albion Aberdeen A Rangers A 58 1953 54 Celtic Motherwell Brechin City Rangers A 59 1954 55 Aberdeen Airdrieonians Aberdeen A Partick Thistle A 60 1955 56 Rangers Queen s Park 61 1956 57 Rangers Clyde 62 1957 58 Heart of Midlothian Stirling Albion 63 1958 59 Rangers Ayr United 64 1959 60 Heart of Midlothian St Johnstone 65 1960 61 Rangers Stirling Albion 66 1961 62 Dundee Clyde 67 1962 63 Rangers St Johnstone 68 1963 64 Rangers Morton 69 1964 65 Kilmarnock Stirling Albion 70 1965 66 Celtic Ayr United 71 1966 67 Celtic Morton 72 1967 68 Celtic St Mirren 73 1968 69 Celtic Motherwell 74 1969 70 Celtic Falkirk 75 1970 71 Celtic Partick Thistle 76 1971 72 Celtic Dumbarton 77 1972 73 Celtic Clyde 78 1973 74 Celtic Airdrieonians 79 1974 75 Rangers Falkirk 80 1975 76 Rangers Partick Thistle Clydebank 81 1976 77 Celtic St Mirren Stirling Albion 82 1977 78 Rangers Morton Clyde 83 1978 79 Celtic Dundee Berwick Rangers 84 1979 80 Aberdeen Heart of Midlothian Falkirk 85 1980 81 Celtic Hibernian Queen s Park 86 1981 82 Celtic Motherwell Clyde 87 1982 83 Dundee United St Johnstone Brechin City 88 1983 84 Aberdeen Morton Forfar Athletic 89 1984 85 Aberdeen Motherwell Montrose 90 1985 86 Celtic Hamilton Academical Dunfermline Athletic 91 1986 87 Rangers Morton Meadowbank Thistle 92 1987 88 Celtic Hamilton Academical Ayr United 93 1988 89 Rangers Dunfermline Athletic Albion Rovers 94 1989 90 Rangers St Johnstone Brechin City 95 1990 91 Rangers Falkirk Stirling Albion 96 1991 92 Rangers Dundee Dumbarton 97 1992 93 Rangers Raith Rovers Clyde 98 1993 94 Rangers Falkirk Stranraer 99 1994 95 Rangers Raith Rovers Morton Forfar Athletic 100 1995 96 Rangers Dunfermline Athletic Stirling Albion Livingston 101 1996 97 Rangers St Johnstone Ayr United Inverness Caledonian Thistle 102 1997 98 Celtic Dundee Stranraer Alloa Athletic 103 1998 99 Hibernian Livingston Ross County 104 1999 2000 St Mirren Clyde Queen s Park 105 2000 01 Livingston Partick Thistle Hamilton Academical 106 2001 02 Partick Thistle Queen of the South Brechin City 107 2002 03 Falkirk Raith Rovers Morton 108 2003 04 Inverness Caledonian Thistle Airdrie United Stranraer 109 2004 05 Falkirk Brechin City Gretna 110 2005 06 St Mirren Gretna Cowdenbeath 111 2006 07 Gretna Morton Berwick Rangers 112 2007 08 Hamilton Academical Ross County East Fife 113 2008 09 St Johnstone Raith Rovers Dumbarton 114 2009 10 Inverness Caledonian Thistle Stirling Albion Livingston 115 2010 11 Dunfermline Athletic Livingston Arbroath 116 2011 12 Ross County Cowdenbeath Alloa Athletic 117 2012 13 Partick Thistle Queen of the South RangersScottish Football League XI editMain article Scottish Football League XI The SFL was the organising body of the Scottish Football League XI a select side which represented the SFL in matches against other leagues including the English Football League the League of Ireland the Northern Irish league and the Italian Serie A 76 These matches began in 1892 soon after the foundation of the SFL 77 Before the Second World War inter league matches were only second in importance to Scotland international matches After the war however the inter league matches became less important as European club football was instituted and clubs withdrew players due to fixture congestion 78 The last inter league match was played in 1980 while a Scottish Football League XI was last selected in 1990 for a match against the Scotland national team to mark the centenary of the SFL 79 See also editList of footballers in Scotland by number of league appearances also includes successor league systems List of footballers in Scotland by number of league goals also includes successor league systems List of Scottish Football League stadiums Scottish Women s Football LeagueNotes edit The Scottish Football League existed between 1890 and 2013 and did not contain the top division of Scottish league football between 1998 and 2013 Scottish Premier League For a complete record of clubs that have won Scottish league championships see list of Scottish football champions One club Berwick Rangers is based in the town of Berwick upon Tweed which is located approximately 4 km south of the Anglo Scottish border Helensburgh gained the most points but no title was awarded as they were the only club to complete their fixtures References edit a b Bob Crampsey 1990 p 3 a b Bob Crampsey 1990 p 5 a b Bob Crampsey 1990 p 6 a b c Bob Crampsey 1990 p 7 a b Bob Crampsey 1990 p 13 How it all Began Scottish League History a b c d e f Bob Crampsey 1990 p 20 MacDonald Paul Scottish League formed BBC Scotland a b Scottish Football League C Division Scottish Football Historical Archive OoCities org Archived from the original on Jul 31 2023 Scottish Football Alliance Third version 1919 1938 Scottish Football Historical Archive Scottish Reserve League Competitions Part 2 1945 1955 Scottish Football Historical Archive 1 November 2020 The C Division the other clubs division Alan Bell via Post War English amp Scottish Football League A Z Player s Transfer Database Scottish League Chief Honoured Dundee Courier 1 October 1947 p 3 via British Newspaper Archive Scotland Final Tables Third Level 1924 2004 RSSSF Rangers and Hearts owners Hibs and Aberdeen involved Celtic wavering recalling failed Scottish Super League breakaway of 1992 Stephen Halliday The Scotsman 20 April 2021 Grahame Ewing 13 July 2012 Low in attendance low in achievement the SPL s dismal legacy of failure The Scotsman Retrieved 1 December 2021 a b c d e IRN BRU SFL PLAY OFFS 2011 12 www scottishfootballleague com Scottish Football League 30 April 2012 Retrieved 22 December 2012 Scottish League branded out dated BBC Sport 5 March 2007 Retrieved 22 December 2012 Moffat Colin 3 June 2008 The lights go off at Gretna BBC Sport Retrieved 8 July 2012 Airdrie buy Bankies BBC Sport 9 July 2002 Retrieved 8 July 2012 Annan voted into Scottish League BBC Sport 3 July 2008 Retrieved 22 December 2012 Rangers Charles Green accepts Division Three vote BBC Sport 13 July 2012 Retrieved 22 December 2012 a b c Scottish Football League clubs vote in favour of a proposed merger with the Scottish Premier League BBC Sport Retrieved 10 December 2013 Scottish League Challenge Cup Finals Rec Sport Soccer Statistics Foundation 2009 Retrieved 22 December 2012 a b c Highland duo enter new Ramsdens Cup BBC Sport 6 June 2011 Retrieved 22 December 2012 a b c Bob Crampsey 1990 p 218 Gaunt Ken 1 October 1997 Football Scottish sponsors decide to pull out The Independent Retrieved 25 December 2012 Press Release www scottishfootballleague com Scottish Football League 19 August 2005 Retrieved 25 December 2012 a b c SFL ends search for new sponsor BBC Sport 20 July 2007 Retrieved 25 December 2012 SFL signs 3m sponsorship extension with Irn Bru Daily Record Trinity Mirror 18 February 2010 Retrieved 25 December 2012 SFL secures sponsorship extension with Irn Bru BBC Sport 18 February 2010 Retrieved 25 December 2012 Bob Crampsey 1990 p 239 Bob Crampsey 1990 p 242 Co operative Insurance end Scottish League Cup deal BBC Sport 28 September 2010 Retrieved 25 December 2012 Scottish Government crime seizures to fund League Cup BBC Sport 21 March 2011 Retrieved 25 December 2012 Preview Forfar Athletic www dafc co uk Dunfermline Athletic FC Retrieved 25 December 2012 a b c Bob Crampsey 1990 p 259 Bob Crampsey 1990 p 217 a b Bob Crampsey 1990 p 198 Bob Crampsey 1990 p 202 Bob Crampsey 1990 p 213 a b Dens memories reduce former Hearts manager to tears sport scotsman com Johnston Publishing 17 February 2006 Retrieved 30 December 2012 a b Viner Brian 28 January 2011 Brian Viner Prehistoric maybe but I ll miss Gray and Keys The Independent Retrieved 28 December 2012 a b Sky reveals new SPL TV deal for five years BBC Sport 31 July 2012 Retrieved 28 December 2012 a b ESPN announces deal to show SPL and Rangers live BBC Sport 3 August 2012 Retrieved 28 December 2012 Airdrie United www fchd info Retrieved 8 December 2012 Albion Rovers www fchd info Retrieved 8 December 2012 Alloa Athletic www fchd info Retrieved 8 December 2012 Annan Athletic www fchd info Retrieved 8 December 2012 Arbroath www fchd info Retrieved 8 December 2012 Ayr United www fchd info Retrieved 8 December 2012 Berwick Rangers www fchd info Retrieved 8 December 2012 Brechin City www fchd info Retrieved 8 December 2012 Clyde www fchd info Retrieved 8 December 2012 Cowdenbeath www fchd info Retrieved 8 December 2012 Dumbarton www fchd info Retrieved 8 December 2012 Dunfermline Athletic www fchd info Retrieved 8 December 2012 east Fife www fchd info Retrieved 8 December 2012 East Stirlingshire www fchd info Retrieved 8 December 2012 Elgin City www fchd info Retrieved 8 December 2012 Falkirk www fchd info Retrieved 8 December 2012 Forfar Athletic www fchd info Retrieved 8 December 2012 Morton www fchd info Retrieved 8 December 2012 Hamilton Academical www fchd info Retrieved 8 December 2012 Livingston www fchd info Retrieved 8 December 2012 Montrose www fchd info Retrieved 8 December 2012 Partick Thistle www fchd info Retrieved 8 December 2012 Peterhead www fchd info Retrieved 8 December 2012 Queen of the South www fchd info Retrieved 8 December 2012 Queen s Park glasgow www fchd info Retrieved 8 December 2012 Raith Rovers www fchd info Retrieved 8 December 2012 Rangers www fchd info Retrieved 8 December 2012 Stenhousemuir www fchd info Retrieved 8 December 2012 Stirling Albion www fchd info Retrieved 8 December 2012 Stranraer www fchd info Retrieved 8 December 2012 Scotland Scores by Team Londonhearts com London Hearts Supporters Club Retrieved 26 November 2011 Bob Crampsey 1990 p 245 Bob Crampsey 1990 p 254 Jim Traynor 18 August 1990 The Aberdeen connection The Herald Newsquest Retrieved 11 August 2011 Sources Bob Crampsey 1990 The First 100 Years Scottish Football League ISBN 0 9516433 0 4 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Scottish Football League amp oldid 1222890426, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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