North Caledonian Football Association

North Caledonian Football Association

Founded	31 January 1888
Country	Scotland
Divisions	1
Number of teams	12
Level on pyramid	6
Promotion to	Highland Football League
Domestic cup(s)	Scottish Cup (SFA licensed clubs and league winners)
Current champions	Invergordon (7th title) (2023–24)
Most championships	Clachnacuddin reserves (14 titles)
Website	northcaleyfa.co.uk
Current: 2024–25 North Caledonian Football League

The North Caledonian Football Association is a senior football association operating throughout the Highlands and Islands of Scotland and is a recognised body of the Scottish Football Association (SFA) and as such has its senior football competitions officially registered with the SFA.

History

The formation of the Inverness Junior Football Association on 31 January 1888 saw the introduction of the Inverness Junior Cup. After the final in 1888 the association was renamed the North of Scotland Junior Football Association and the competition the North of Scotland Junior Cup.

The Association's league competition was later introduced in 1896 as the "North of Scotland Junior League" with the initial aim of providing a league format for its junior members and predominantly the "2nd XI" teams from senior Highland Football League clubs. Upon its formation these teams mostly came from the Inverness area. By 1906 though, the Association had welcomed several new member teams from outside the Inverness-shire area, specifically Nairn Thistle and Dingwall Victoria United (later re-formed as Ross County) broadening the coverage of the league across the North. Other clubs from across the Highland counties followed suit, with Muir of Ord and Tore United among those to join.

In 1935 the league dropped its junior status, possibly due to the Scottish Junior Football Association's objections to Senior clubs involvement, and became known as the North of Scotland "2nd XI" League (it was also known colloquially as either the Highland Reserve League or Highland Alliance, the latter a nod to the southern reserve league the Scottish Football Alliance). It was recognised as a senior football league with teams eligible to apply for Scottish FA membership.

In 1947–48 season, the league's membership consisted of a record 26 clubs, split into a three-division regional set-up with the top clubs in each section playing off for the Championship. In 1948 it reverted to a single division with a much reduced membership.

By the late 1960s/early 1970s, the Highland League reserve teams which had dominated the league gradually dropped out of contention, with most finding that it was not financially viable to run "2nd XI" or reserve teams at a senior level. At the same time, the league began to see an influx of senior football teams joining from the surrounding counties of Easter Ross, Caithness and Sutherland.

By the 1980s, the league had representation from teams all across the North, including as far as Fort William. In a bid to shake off the "2nd XI" tag (and the inference of being "second best" to the Highland League) the member clubs in the league took the decision to rename the league at the 1984 annual general meeting of the North of Scotland 2nd XI Football Association in Bonar Bridge, where teams voted unanimously to change the name of the association to the North Caledonian Football Association and the name of the league competition to the North Caledonian Football League.

In 2020, it was announced that the North Caledonian League was working with the Highland League and North Region Junior FA to form a sixth tier of the Scottish football league system for the far north of the country, with a view to feeding eligible clubs via promotion into the Highland League. ^[1] It was also announced, along with 4 teams being added to the ranks (2 of which are returning sides) that the league would be temporarily split into two divisions.

In April 2021, it was announced that subject to SFA approval, the North Caledonian League would be joined at Tier 6 by the North Super League and a rebranded Midlands League (the remaining Junior East Region clubs that play in Tayside) to form a fully-integrated tier below the Highland League from the 2021-22 season. ^[2] The leagues at that level entered the Scottish pyramid later in July. ^[3]

In June 2022, it was announced that the winner of the league, no matter whether they were SFA Licensed or not, would qualify directly to the Scottish Cup preliminary round, starting with Invergordon, who won the 2021-22 season. However, it was also confirmed that if an already SFA Licensed team (Golspie Sutherland and Fort William) or a reserve team (Clachnacuddin and Nairn County) were to win the league, the Scottish Cup spot would not pass down to the highest ranked team that would otherwise be eligible. Invergordon became the first team to qualify for the Scottish Cup via this method, however they were beaten 5–1 in their opening game by Newtongrange Star.

Membership

As well as holding membership of the North Caledonian FA, member clubs are also governed by the constitution of the Scottish Football Association, and as such disciplinary and registration matters are handled by the Scottish Football Association. This is a unique situation in that member clubs are not required to be full members of the Scottish Football Association, despite their players holding senior SFA registrations (professional and amateur).

Golspie Sutherland are the only North Caledonian FA member club to hold full membership of the Scottish Football Association and since season 2007–08 they have obtained direct entry to the Scottish Cup. Previously, they were required to enter the Scottish Qualifying Cup (North).

Since 2013, membership has been extended beyond the Highlands to senior clubs in the Islands, with Orkney, Shetland and Lewis & Harris all entering teams.

Member teams have previously included reserve teams of Highland Football League clubs alongside teams from throughout the Highlands and Islands region. ^[4]

Competitions

North Caledonian League

A senior Scottish FA registered competition, the North Caledonian League is an annual league competition which runs from July/August to April, with teams playing each other both home and away with a championship team determined after all games have been played.

Over the years, the North Caledonian League has been characterised by the number of clubs who have used it as a 'stepping-stone' to the professional ranks of Scottish football. Among those to have 'graduated' from the league are Wick Academy and Fort William who left to join the Highland Football League, and much earlier Ross County, who played in the league under their former name of Dingwall Victoria United between 1896 and 1929 before renaming to join the Highland Football League.

The league has also been home in recent years to the reserve teams of Scottish Football League clubs Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Ross County.

Cups

The North Caledonian Cup (also previously referred to as the North of Scotland Reserve Cup or PCT North Cup) was the first competition to be contested under the auspices of the North Caledonian FA during the latter part of the 1887–88 season and it remains part of the season calendar today. Member teams of the North Caledonian FA also compete in the Football Times Cup, which has existed as part of the North Caledonian FA season since the 1920s.

Several other cups have been contested or awarded during the Association's history, each of which are inactive or played for when season time allows:

• Jock Mackay Memorial Cup
• Chic Allan/Port Services Cup
• Morris Newton/SWL Cup
• Ness Cup (revived as the 'Division 2' trophy for the 2020–21 season)

Member clubs

Thurso's home ground, Sir George's Park

Member clubs for 2024–25 season

Team	Location	Ground	Ref.
Alness United	Alness	Dalmore Park	[5]
Bonar Bridge	Bonar Bridge	Migdale Playing Fields	[6]
Bunillidh Thistle	Helmsdale	Couper Park	[7]
Clachnacuddin 'A'	Inverness	Bught Park	[8]
Fort William	Fort William	Claggan Park	[9]
Golspie Sutherland	Golspie	King George V Park	[10]
Halkirk United	Halkirk	Morrison Park	[11]
Invergordon	Invergordon	Recreation Grounds	[12]
Inverness Athletic	North Kessock	Ferry Brae Park	[13]
Orkney	Kirkwall	Kirkwall Grammar School	[14]
St Duthus	Tain	Grant Park	[15]
Thurso	Thurso	Sir George's Park	[16]

Alness United

Golspie Sutherland

Halkirk United

Invergordon

Inverness Athletic

Clachnacuddin 'A'

St Duthus

Thurso

Nairn County 'A'

Loch Ness

Fort William

Bonar Bridge

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Location of teams in 2022–23 North Caledonian Football League

Orkney

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Location of teams in 2022–23 North Caledonian Football League

Recent history

The 2008–09 season saw the league reduced to ten teams following the withdrawal of Dornoch City and Inverness City joining the Junior leagues. Late applicants Tain Thistle took the league membership up to ten teams for the start of the season. Fort William entered a reserve side in the league for season 2009–10 as the first Highland Football League "reserve" side to compete since 1999. Helmsdale based Bunillidh Thistle withdrew whilst Alness United took a year out, and former members Dingwall Thistle returned to complete a ten-team league. Season 2010–11 saw Alness return after a one-year absence whilst Tain Thistle withdrew after two seasons.

Clachnacuddin again entered a reserve side for season 2011–12, whilst Fort William Reserves dropped out due to problems with pitch availability. ^[17] Before the season started, both Bonar Bridge and Invergordon withdrew, leaving just eight teams in the league. The following season 2012–13, Invergordon returned while Balintore and Dingwall Thistle both withdrew from the league.

Invergordon again withdrew from competition for the 2013–14 season, however, the void was filled by a new team from Dornoch in Sutherland United. That same season, a newly formed Shetland team ^[18] and Lewis & Harris both registered for competition in the North Caledonian Cup. The following season, 2014–15, Shetland and Lewis & Harris also competed in the Jock Mackay Cup, while a new team, Orkney, ^[19] was accepted as a member of the league – the first Islands team to be admitted. Invergordon returned a year later following a two-year period of abeyance, however, along with Muir of Ord Rovers, Sutherland United withdrew from the competition after just their second season, taking the number of competing teams down to six for season 2015–16.

The league experienced an upturn in interest from Highland sides in 2016. A total of eight teams registered for league competition in 2016–17, with St Duthus returning to represent Tain ^[20] and a new team Inverness Athletic was also accepted. ^[21] The league grew in numbers again in 2017 with the revival of Bunillidh Thistle after almost ten years absence, and for the 2019–20 season, Bonar Bridge reformed and were admitted to the league.

In 2020, two new clubs, Loch Ness and Scourie joined the league, along with returnees, Nairn County 'A' and Alness United - taking the membership of the league to 13 teams for the first time in over 20 years. For the 2020–21 season, clubs agreed to play in two leagues of six (Bunillidh opted out) during the COVID-19 pandemic as a means of reducing the number of games, with Golspie winning League One, and Alness winning League Two. ^[22] In 2021–22, Scourie folded after losing all 10 of their games the previous season, and Bunillidh again opted out and Invergordon qualified for the Scottish Cup after winning the title. In 2022–23, Fort William and Clachnacuddin Reserves returned to the league after 36 and 10 years, respectively.

In the 2024–25 season, Loch Ness pulled out before the season began and, for the first time since 2020, Bunillidh Thistle returned to the league, with a new side, Inverness Thistle, entering discussions to join the league for the 2025–26 season. ^[23]

Previous champions

Season	Champion
1896–97	Inverness Celtic
1897–98	Inverness Citadel reserves
1898–99	Nelson
1899–1900	Nelson
1900–01	Inverness Thistle reserves
1901–02	Inverness Citadel reserves
1902–03	Inverness Citadel reserves
1903–04	Clachnacuddin reserves
1904–05	Clachnacuddin reserves
1905–06	Nelson
1906–07	Nelson
1907–08	Nelson
1908–09	Nelson
1909–10	Clachnacuddin reserves
1910–11	Inverness Citadel reserves
1911–12	Nelson
1912–13	Nelson
1913–14	Albert
1914–19	League cancelled due to WWI
1919–20	Dingwall Victoria United
1920–21	Nelson
1921–22	Inverness Citadel reserves
1922–23	Caledonian reserves
1923–24	Fortrose & Rosemarkie Union
1924–25	Catch-my-Pal
1925–26	Nelson
1926–27	Clachnacuddin reserves
1927–28	Dingwall Victoria United
1928–29	Inverness Thistle reserves
1929–30	Clachnacuddin reserves
1930–31	Inverness Thistle reserves
1931–32	Clachnacuddin reserves
1932–33	Inverness District Asylum
1933–34	Inverness District Asylum
1934–35	Inverness Thistle reserves
1935–36	Nairn County reserves
1936–37	Clachnacuddin reserves
1937–38	League cancelled
1938–39	Highland Light Infantry
1939–46	League cancelled due to WWII
1946–47	Invergordon
1947–48	League incomplete
1948–49	Caledonian reserves
1949–50	Clachnacuddin reserves
1950–51	Clachnacuddin reserves
1951–52	Caledonian reserves
1952–53	Caledonian reserves
1953–54	Elgin City reserves
1954–55	Nairn County reserves/Buckie Thistle reserves (shared)
1955–56	Clachnacuddin reserves
1956–57	Clachnacuddin reserves
1957–58	Clachnacuddin reserves
1958–59	Inverness Thistle reserves
1959–60	Inverness Thistle reserves
1960–61	League incomplete
1961–62
1962–63	Inverness Thistle reserves
1963–64	Clachnacuddin reserves
1964–65	Avoch Rovers
1965–66	Ross County reserves
1966–67	Brora Rangers reserves
1967–68	Brora Rangers reserves
1968–69	Dingwall Thistle
1969–70	Caledonian reserves
1970–71	Dingwall Thistle
1971–72	Dingwall Thistle
1972–73	Alness United
1973–74	Alness United
1974–75	Golspie Sutherland
1975–76	Golspie Sutherland
1976–77	Invergordon
1977–78	Dingwall Thistle
1978–79	Wick Academy
1979–80	Wick Academy
1980–81	Wick Academy
1981–82	Wick Academy
1982–83	Bunillidh Thistle
1983–84	Muir of Ord Rovers
1984–85	Fort William
1985–86	Muir of Ord Rovers
1986–87	Wick Academy
1987–88	Invergordon
1988–89	Bunillidh Thistle
1989–90	Balintore
1990–91	Balintore
1991–92	Clachnacuddin reserves
1992–93	Golspie Sutherland
1993–94	Halkirk United
1994–95	Inverness Caledonian Thistle reserves
1995–96	Fearn Thistle
1996–97	Ross County reserves
1997–98	Inverness Caledonian Thistle reserves
1998–99	Golspie Sutherland
1999–2000	Thurso
2000–01	Alness United
2001–02	Invergordon
2002–03	Thurso
2003–04	Golspie Sutherland
2004–05	Alness United
2005–06	Balintore
2006–07	Golspie Sutherland
2007–08	Golspie Sutherland
2008–09	Golspie Sutherland
2009–10	Thurso
2010–11	Halkirk United
2011–12	Halkirk United
2012–13	Thurso
2013–14	Halkirk United
2014–15	Golspie Sutherland
2015–16	Halkirk United
2016–17	Invergordon
2017–18	Orkney
2018–19	Golspie Sutherland
2019–20	League incomplete due to COVID-19 Pandemic
2020–21	Golspie Sutherland
2021–22	Invergordon
2022–23	Loch Ness
2023–24	Invergordon

Club performance

As of end of season 2023–24

Club	Winners	Season(s)
Clachnacuddin reserves	14	1903–04, 1904–05, 1909–10, 1926–27, 1929–30, 1931–32, 1936–37, 1949–50, 1950–51, 1955–56, 1956–57, 1957–58, 1963–64, 1991–92
Golspie Sutherland	11	1974–75, 1975–76, 1992–93, 1998–99, 2003–04, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2014–15, 2018–19, 2020–21
Nelson FC	10	1898–99, 1899–1900, 1905–06, 1906–07, 1907–08, 1908–09, 1911–12, 1912–13, 1920–21, 1925–26
Invergordon	7	1946–47, 1976–77, 1987–88, 2001–02, 2016–17, 2021–22, 2023–24
Inverness Thistle reserves	7	1900–01, 1928–29, 1930–31, 1934–35, 1958–59, 1959–60, 1962–63
Caledonian reserves	5	1948–49, 1951–52, 1952–53, 1969–70
Halkirk United	5	1993–94, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2013–14, 2015–16
Inverness Citadel reserves	5	1897–98, 1901–02, 1902–03, 1910–11, 1921–22
Wick Academy	5	1978–79, 1979–80, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1986–87
Alness United	4	1972–73, 1973–74, 2000–01, 2004–05
Dingwall Thistle	4	1968–69, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1977–78
Thurso	4	1999–2000, 2002–03, 2009–10, 2012–13
Balintore	3	1989–90, 1990–91, 2005–06
Brora Rangers reserves	2	1966–67, 1967–68
Bunillidh Thistle	2	1982–83, 1988–89
Dingwall Victoria United	2	1919–20, 1927–28
Inverness Caledonian Thistle reserves	2	1994–95, 1997–98
Inverness District Asylum FC	2	1932–33, 1933–34
Muir of Ord Rovers	2	1983–84, 1985–86
Nairn County reserves	2	1935–36, 1954–55*
Ross County reserves	2	1965–66, 1996–97
Albert FC	1	1913–14
Avoch Rovers	1	1964–65
Buckie Thistle reserves	1	1954–55*
Catch-my-Pal FC	1	1924–25
Elgin City reserves	1	1953–54
Fearn Thistle	1	1995–96
Fort William	1	1984–85
Fortrose Union	1	1923–24
Highland Light Infantry FC	1	1938–39
Inverness Celtic	1	1896–97
Loch Ness	1	2022–23
Orkney	1	2017–18

* - Shared title

BOLD indicates the team is currently playing within the NCFA

Italics indicates the team is defunct or merged with another team that does not play in the NCFA

References

1. Clark, Will (8 April 2020). "Highland League could see promotion and relegation". John O'Groat Journal.
2. Law, Danny. "Relegation play-offs look set to be introduced to the Highland League from next season". Press and Journal. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
3. "North Region Joins Pyramid At Tier 6". The North Region Junior Football Association. 6 July 2021.
4. "Reserve Football - an overview". Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
5. "Alness United F.C." North Caledonian F.A. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
6. "Bonar Bridge F.C." North Caledonian F.A. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
7. "Bunillidh Thistle F.C." North Caledonian F.A. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
8. "Clachnacuddin 'A' F.C." North Caledonian F.A. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
9. "Fort William F.C." North Caledonian F.A. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
10. "Golspie Sutherland F.C." North Caledonian F.A. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
11. "Halkirk United F.C." North Caledonian F.A. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
12. "Invergordon F.C." North Caledonian F.A. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
13. "Inverness Athletic F.C." North Caledonian F.A. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
14. "Orkney F.C." North Caledonian F.A. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
15. "St. Duthus F.C." North Caledonian F.A. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
16. "Thurso F.C." North Caledonian F.A. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
17. Clach back in North Caledonian League Highland News, Retrieved 23 July 2011.
18. "Shetland Squad : Shetland Football". www.shetlandfootball.co.uk. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
19. "Ball rolling on Orkney FC". The Orcadian Online. 2 August 2012. Retrieved 8 June 2016.^{[ permanent dead link ]}
20. "St Duthus accepted into the North Caledonian FA | St Duthus Football Club - Tain, Highland, Scotland". www.stduthusfc.co.uk. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
21. "North Caledonian FA - Latest News". www.leaguewebsite.co.uk. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
22. Association, North Caledonian Football. "NCFA AGM - new members and league structure | Latest News - North Caledonian Football Association, Scotland". northcaleyfa.co.uk. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
23. "Talks take place about bringing Inverness Thistle back to senior football". Inverness Courier. 12 June 2024. Retrieved 27 June 2024.

External links

• Official website
• North Caledonian Football Association on Twitter
• North Caledonian Football Association on Facebook
• Scottish Football Historical Archive
• Non League Scotland