Midlands Football League

Last updated

Midlands Football League
Founded2021
CountryFlag of Scotland.svg  Scotland
Confederation UEFA
Divisions1
Number of teams20
Level on pyramid 6
Promotion to Highland Football League
Domestic cup(s) Scottish Cup (SFA licensed clubs and league winners)
Scottish Junior Cup
North and Tayside Inter-Regional Cup
League cup(s)East Region League Cup
Current champions Dundee North End (1st title)
(2023–24)
Most championships Carnoustie Panmure (2 titles)
Website scottishjuniorfa.com/east-region
Current: 2024–25 Midlands Football League

The Midlands Football League is a junior football league based in the Tayside area of Scotland. The league sits at level 6 on the Scottish football league system, acting as a feeder to the Highland Football League.

Contents

Founded in 2021, the inaugural season was contested by 19 clubs, largely from those who still remained in the SJFA East Region from the previous season. Geographically, the league covers Angus, Perth and Kinross, Dundee and Fife (all East Region clubs based further south already having left the SJFA to join the East of Scotland Football League over the previous five years).

The winners take part in an end-of-season promotion play-off with the SJFA North Superleague and North Caledonian League champions, subject to clubs meeting the required licensing criteria.

History

Background

The Tayside Junior Football League (originally named the Midlands League) had existed in the region since 1969. It was formed as one of the six new regions of the SJFA in part of a wider restructure of Scottish junior football, bringing several local junior leagues from the area together. It operated until 2002 when it merged with the Fife League and the East (Lothians) League to form a new larger East Region. [1]

From 2017, most of the East Region clubs departed the junior ranks to join the senior East of Scotland League which was part of the pyramid with promotion to the Lowland League, including some former Tayside teams from Perthshire. [2] By 2020, there were only 30 teams left in the East Region, which was restructured into two regional leagues of North and South. At the end of the season, all of the South teams (mostly from West Lothian) departed to join the senior ranks, leaving only the North teams (former Tayside Junior members) remaining which went on to join the pyramid system underneath the Highland League.

Formation

On 1 April 2021, the Scottish Junior Football Association stated their aim to establish a Midlands League for the 2021–22 season at Tier 6 of the Scottish football pyramid. [3]

Although there was no official announcement of the league's formation, the SJFA East Region announced the fixtures for the 2021–22 season straight away on 21 June, with 19 clubs shown as league members, Dundee St James and Letham being new clubs in addition to all members of the 2020–21 East Premiership North. [4]

On 5 July 2021, it was announced that subject to SFA approval, the Midlands league would be joined at Tier 6 by the SJFA North Superleague and North Caledonian League to form a fully-integrated level below the Highland League from 2021–22. [5]

Member clubs

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Dundee
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Angus
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Location of teams in 2023–24 Midlands Football League
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Location of teams in 2021–22 Midlands Football League within Angus and Fife
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Location of teams in 2021–22 Midlands Football League within Dundee and Fife
ClubLocationHome GroundCapacitySeatsFloodlit
Arbroath Victoria Arbroath Ogilvy Park [6] 4,0000Yes
Blairgowrie Blairgowrie Davie Park [7] 2,5000No
Brechin Victoria Brechin Victoria Park [8] 600100Yes
Broughty Athletic Dundee Whitton Park [9] 2,5000Yes
Carnoustie Panmure Carnoustie Laing Park [10] 1,5000No
Coupar Angus Coupar Angus Foxhall Park [11] 1,8000Yes
Downfield Dundee Downfield Park [12] 2,50013Yes
Dundee North End Dundee North End Park [13] 2,0000Yes
Dundee St James Dundee Fairfield ParkTBC0No
Dundee Violet Dundee Glenesk Park [14] 2,0000No
East Craigie Dundee Craigie Park [15] 3,3000No
Forfar United Forfar Guthrie Park [16] 2,5000No
Forfar West End Forfar Strathmore Park [17] 2,5000No
Kirriemuir Thistle Kirriemuir Westview Park [18] 2,00032Yes
Letham Perth Seven Acres ParkTBC0Yes
Lochee Harp Dundee Lochee Community Sports HubTBC0Yes
Lochee United Dundee Thomson Park [19] 3,2000Yes
Scone Thistle Scone Farquharson Park [20] 1,0000No
Tayport Tayport Canniepairt [21] 2,0000Yes

Seasons

SeasonChampionsLeague Cup
2021–22 Carnoustie Panmure Lochee United
2022–23 Carnoustie Panmure (2)Carnoustie Panmure
2023–24 Dundee North End Not Played

Cup competitions

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scottish Junior Football Association</span> Scottish sporting body, founded 1886

The Scottish Junior Football Association (SJFA) is an affiliated national association of the Scottish Football Association and is the governing body for the junior grade of football in Scotland. The term "junior" refers to the level of football played, not the age of the players. The closest equivalent terminology would be non-League football in England, the difference being that junior football in Scotland was not similarly integrated into its football league system until 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scottish Junior Football Association, East Region</span> Association football league in Scotland

The Scottish Junior Football Association, East Region is one of two regions of the SJFA, which currently organises the Midlands League and local cup competitions.

The Scottish Junior Football Association, North Region is one of the two regions of the Scottish Junior Football Association. Its area covers Grampian and Moray as well as part of the Highland and Angus council areas – from Montrose in the south to Nairn in the west. The North Region features three region-wide divisions, having reverted from the previous setup of two regional divisions below the North Superleague used for five seasons prior to 2018. It replaced the North Junior Football League which had a similar territory and structure. On 5 July 2021, it was announced that the North Region leagues are joined from tier 6 by the North Caledonian League and Midlands League to form a fully-integrated lower tiers below the Highland League from 2021-22.

The Scottish Junior Football East Region Premier League, was the second-highest division of the East Region of the Scottish Junior Football Association between 2006 and 2018.

The Scottish Junior Football East Region Premier League North also known for sponsorship reasons as the McBookie.com East Premier League North, was the second-tier division of the East Region of the Scottish Junior Football Association and sat parallel with the East Region Premier League South.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lochee United F.C.</span> Association football club in Dundee, Scotland

Lochee United Football Club are a Scottish football club based in the Lochee area of Dundee. Formed in 1892, they currently compete in the SJFA Midlands League and play their home games at Thomson Park.

Tayport Football Club are a Scottish football club from Tayport, Fife. Formed in 1947, they play their home games at The Canniepairt. Nicknamed the Port, the club's colours are red, white and black.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Montrose Roselea F.C.</span> Association football club in Angus, Scotland, UK

Montrose Roselea Junior Football Club is a Scottish Junior football club based in the town of Montrose, Angus. It is a member of the Scottish Junior Football Association and currently plays in the North Region Junior Football League Premier Division in the sixth tier of football in Scotland. It will join the Midlands Football League starting from the 2023–24 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arbroath Victoria F.C.</span> Association football club in Angus, Scotland, UK

Arbroath Victoria Football Club are a Scottish Junior football club based in Arbroath. The club competes in the SJFA Midlands League and play their games at Ogilvy Park. They are nicknamed "the Vics".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Downfield F.C.</span> Association football club in Scotland

Downfield Football Club are a Scottish junior football club based in the Downfield area of Dundee. Their home ground is Downfield Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Craigie F.C.</span> Association football club in Scotland

East Craigie Football Club are a Scottish football club based in Dundee. Members of the Scottish Junior Football Association, they currently play in the SJFA Midlands League. The club are one of a number who claim to be the oldest Junior club currently in existence, but are the oldest football club playing in Dundee.

The 2013–14 East Superleague was the 12th season of the East Superleague, the top tier of league competition for SJFA East Region member clubs.

The 2016–17 East Superleague was the 15th season of the East Superleague, the top tier of league competition for SJFA East Region member clubs.

The 2018–19 East Super League was the 17th season of the East Superleague, the top tier of league competition for SJFA East Region member clubs.

The Tayside Junior Football League, originally called the Midlands League, was a football league competition operated in Tayside under the Scottish Junior Football Association which operated as the top league in the territory from 1969 until a merger in 2002; it existed for a further four years as a second-tier league before the name was discontinued in 2006.

The 2020–21 East Premiership was the 19th season of league competition for SJFA East Region member clubs. This was effectively a continuation of the East Superleague but with fewer member clubs in the East Region all teams were in a single tier with no promotion or relegation.

The 2021–22 Midlands Football League was the inaugural season of the Midlands Football League, the sixth tier of the Scottish football pyramid system. The season began with nine games on 17 July 2021.

The 2022–23 Midlands Football League was the second season of the Midlands Football League, part of the sixth tier of the Scottish football pyramid system. Reigning champions Carnoustie Panmure defended their title, taking the championship win on the final day of the season with an 8–1 win over Blairgowrie; they finished three points clear of Broughty Athletic.

The 2023–24 Midlands Football League was the third season of the Midlands Football League, part of the sixth tier of the Scottish football pyramid system. Carnoustie Panmure were the reigning champions for the second season in a row, but could only finish fifth in the table.

The 2024–25 Midlands Football League is the 4th season of the Midlands Football League, part of the sixth tier of the Scottish football pyramid system. Dundee North End are the reigning champions.

References

  1. ↑ "Tayside Region Junior League". Scottish Football Historical Archive. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  2. ↑ McLauchlin, Brian (7 June 2018). "East of Scotland League vote signals exodus of 25 junior clubs". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  3. ↑ "SJFA PYRAMID STATEMENT". Scottish Junior FA. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  4. ↑ "MIDLAND LEAGUE FIXTURES RELEASED". Scottish Junior FA. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  5. ↑ "SCOTTISH FOOTBALL PYRAMID UPDATE".
  6. ↑ Arbroath Victoria, Non League Scotland, Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  7. ↑ Blairgowrie, Non League Scotland, Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  8. ↑ Brechin Victoria, Non League Scotland, Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  9. ↑ Broughty Athletic, Non League Scotland, Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  10. ↑ Carnoustie Panmure, Non League Scotland, Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  11. ↑ Coupar Angus, Non League Scotland, Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  12. ↑ Downfield, Non League Scotland, Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  13. ↑ Dundee North End, Non League Scotland, Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  14. ↑ Dundee Violet, Non League Scotland, Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  15. ↑ East Craigie, Non League Scotland, Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  16. ↑ Forfar United, Non League Scotland, Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  17. ↑ Forfar West End, Non League Scotland, Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  18. ↑ Kirriemuir Thistle, Non League Scotland, Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  19. ↑ Lochee United, Non League Scotland, Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  20. ↑ Scone Thistle, Non League Scotland, Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  21. ↑ Tayport, Non League Scotland, Retrieved 29 July 2021.
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