History
Despite being called the Scottish Amateur Football League, the league has never included clubs from across the country. Although, prior to the official formation of the league a SAFL side made at least one visit to Fife for a match. Prior to the Second World War membership stretched across the Scottish Central Belt, with a number of clubs from the East of the country participating. However, following the end of the war membership became concentrated in the West of the country. The SAFL has been successful in embracing a number of clubs from the Argyll area which otherwise might not have regular competition.
At its peak in the early 1980s, the SAFL contained 12 divisions, but for season 2020/21, there will be 3. For more than 20 years, the League was split into a Premier section of three divisions, with two or three further divisions comprising Section One, so named as it preserved the divisions of the original league. But following an SAFA directive during the 2011–12 season, this format has been changed back to one all-in competition, with effect from the start of the 2012–13 season. The three premier divisions are retained, and the lowest two divisions become two sections of equal status, decided by a balloted draw prior to the start of each season. The top two teams from each section will be promoted to Premier 2, which will start the 2012–13 season with 11 clubs, but will have 12 clubs from the start of the following season.
Hall of fame
In March 2013, the League held its inaugural Hall of Fame Dinner, attended by well over 300 guests, at which the following became the first inductees to the SAFL Hall of Fame:
- Alan Bruce (Busby AFC)
- Alan & Russel Davidson (Whitehill FP AFC)
- Eamon Gowen (Nolt Gulch Town)
- Charlie Henderson (Paisley AFC)
- Duncan McAulay (Campbeltown Pupils AFC)
- Keith Millar (Oban Saints)
- Derek Yuille (Rutherglen AFC)
Queen's Park Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Championship, the second tier of the Scottish football pyramid. Queen's Park is the oldest association football club in Scotland, having been founded in 1867, and is the 10th oldest in the world.
The Scottish Amateur Football Association (SAFA) is the organising body for amateur football across Scotland. An affiliate of the Scottish Football Association, the SAFA has in turn 50 regional associations affiliated to it and some 67 different league competitions organised by these associations. There is estimated to be over 35,000 amateur footballers in Scotland, and all of their competitions are co-ordinated at some level by the Scottish Amateur Football Association. The SAFA was formed in 1909 with the purpose of legislating for and fostering the amateur level of football in Scotland.
Third Lanark Athletic Club was a Scottish football club based in Glasgow. Founded in 1872 as an offshoot of the 3rd Lanarkshire Rifle Volunteers, the club was a founder member of the Scottish Football Association (SFA) in 1872 and the Scottish Football League (SFL) in 1890. Third Lanark played in the top division of the SFL for the majority of the club's existence, and won the league championship in 1903–04. The club also won the Scottish Cup twice, in 1889 and 1905. Third Lanark went out of business in 1967, as a result of mismanagement, six years after having finished in third place in the SFL. Third Lanark's former ground, Cathkin Park in Crosshill, is still partially standing and is used for minor league football.
Cathkin Park is a municipal park in Glasgow, Scotland. The park is maintained by the city's parks department, and it is a public place where football is still played. The park contains the site of the second Hampden Park, previously home to the football clubs Queen's Park and Third Lanark. The site of the original Hampden Park is just to the west.
Vale of Leven Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the town of Alexandria, in the Vale of Leven area of West Dunbartonshire. Nicknamed the Vale and formed in 1939, they play at Millburn Park. They play in the West of Scotland League Third Division, the ninth tier of Scottish football.
Rutherglen Glencairn Football Club is a Scottish football club based in Rutherglen, South Lanarkshire, near Glasgow. Nicknamed The Glens and formed in 1896, they play at The Hamish B Allan Stadium.
Leith Athletic Football Club is a football club based in the Leith area of Edinburgh, Scotland. They compete in the East of Scotland Football League, First Division. First team matches are played at Meadowbank Stadium.
The Cartha Queens Park Rugby Football Club is a rugby union side based in Glasgow, Scotland. It was founded in 1974, after the merger of Cartha RFC and Queens Park F.P. They play their home games at Dumbreck. The men's side are currently in Scottish National League Division One, the women's side are currently in the Scottish Womens National One.
Renton Football Club was a football club based in Renton, West Dunbartonshire, Scotland. Formed in 1872, it was a prominent team in the early history of Scottish football, and was one of the teams that featured in the first ever Scottish Cup fixture. It won the competition twice, in 1885 and 1888, and was also runners-up three times. Its 6–1 win against Cambuslang in 1888 is the joint record win in a Scottish Cup final.
Brian McPhee is a Scottish retired footballer who last played for Wishaw Juniors. He had a long career as a striker in the Scottish Football League with several clubs.
Shawfield Amateurs Football Club were a Scottish football team located in the town of Rutherglen that competed in the Scottish Amateur Football League, and also the Scottish Cup in the 1940s and 1950s.
East Kilbride YM Football Club are the oldest and most successful club based in East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire. The club currently have four adult teams competing in the Caledonian, Greater Glasgow Leagues and Central Scottish Over 35s as well as a Saturday Morning Team playing in the Saturday Morning Amateur Football Association. 'The YM' is part of the EK United Community Club alongside East Kilbride YC and East Kilbride Girls. The club also host the most popular Player of the Year and Speakers night in the East Kilbride area and an annual Invitational Tournament.
Cambuslang Hibernian F.C., also known as the Cambuslang Hibs, was a football club based in the town of Cambuslang, Scotland which was founded in 1884 and dissolved in 1908. They competed in regional competitions and the Scottish Cup during the 1880s, and after turning Junior, they won the Scottish Junior Cup in 1896.
The Scotland national amateur football team was the amateur representative team for Scotland at football. It was formed in 1926 and continued until 1974.
The West of Scotland Football League (WoSFL) is a senior football league based in the west of Scotland. The league sits at levels 6–10 on the Scottish football league system, acting as a feeder to the Lowland Football League.
The 2022–23 West of Scotland Football League was the third season of the West of Scotland Football League, with its top division as part of the sixth tier of the Scottish football pyramid system. The season began on 29 July 2022 and ended on 27 May 2023. Darvel were the reigning champions.
Cartvale Football Club was a shortlived football club from Busby, East Renfrewshire that existed from 1878 until 1890. The club regularly competed in the Scottish Cup and reached the semi-finals in 1882.
Pollokshaws Football Club was a Scottish football team, based in Pollokshaws, now part of Glasgow.
'Greenock High School F.P.s A.F.C. is an old boy association football club from Greenock, Renfrewshire.
