Scottish Amateur Football League

Last updated
Scottish Amateur Football League
Scottishafl.png
Founded1901
Folded2023
Country Scotland
Confederation UEFA
DivisionsPremier
Division 1 Championship
Number of clubs23
Level on pyramid3
Promotion to2 up
Relegation to2 Down
Domestic cup(s) Scottish Amateur Cup
West of Scotland Cup/ Jimmy Marshall Trophy / Centenary Cup

The Scottish Amateur Football League (SAFL) was Scotland's oldest football league competition for amateur teams in Scotland, before disbanding in 2023 when it merged with the Central Scottish Amateur League to form the Scottish Premier Amateur League.

Contents

Although the League officially records itself as having been founded in 1909, when Scottish Football League club Queen's Park decided that their fourth team needed regular competition, research published by the Scottish Football Historical Archive confirms that the league was actually founded by six clubs at a meeting at Glasgow University in late June 1901, with Paisley Academicals winning the first championship. Queen's Park were successful in winning the league title in 1909–10, but Edinburgh Civil Service won the league the following year, so Queen's Park decided to enter their third team for the third season of the competition, indicating a high standard of football was played at this level from an early stage.[ citation needed ]

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:

Executive Members 2021-2022

Office Bearers

Divisional Representatives

League Membership 2021-2022

Premier

Division 1 Championship

League winners

YearTier 1Tier 2Tier 3Tier 4Tier 5Tier 6
1994St Patrick'sFernhill VillaOban SaintsCampbeltown BoysBlairbethDunoon AFC
1995St Patrick's Greenock High School Former Pupils Port Glasgow HibsStrathclyde PoliceDunoon AmsWesthill AFC
1996Fernhill VillaTorrance UnitedCampbeltown BoysBusbyGlasgow HarpBishopbriggs AFC
1997St Patrick'sHamilton FPPort Glasgow OBUPollokWesthill AmateursMillerston Thistle
1998Hamilton FPOban SaintsPollokStrathclyde PoliceMillerston ThistleShamrock BC
1999Gourock AthleticCampbeltown PupilsGartcosh UnitedWesthillShamrock BCNo competition
2000Campbeltown PupilsCamphillKilbowie UnionShamrock Boys ClubLeven ValleyNo competition
2001Gartcosh UnitedKilbowie UnionShamrock Boys ClubRothesay BrandaneGlencastle SpartaNo competition
2002St Patrick'sOban SaintsBusbyGlencastle SpartaGlasgow Harp (B)No competition
2003Glasgow HarpBusbyCumbernauld AmsInverclyde East Kilbride YM FC No competition
2004St Patrick'sKings Park RangersInverclydeDunoonSandiefield StarNo competition
2005St Patrick'sKilpatrickEagleshamSandiefield StarLeven ValleyNo competition
2006St Patrick's Cambria AFC InverclydeSt Patricks FP (B)Rosehill StarNo competition
2007 Greenock High School Former Pupils BusbyShawlands FPCastlemilk AmsCarlton YMCA (B)No competition
2008St Patrick'sKilpatrickAikenhead ThistleSt Patricks FP (B)Duncanrig FP (B)No competition
2009St. JosephsCastlemilk AFCThorn AthleticTarbertHaldane UtdNo competition
2010Oban SaintsThorn AthleticRolls Royce EKHaldane UnitedAikenhead Thistle BNo competition
2011Aikenhead ThistlePostal UnitedFinnart AFCGourock Thistle East Kilbride YM FC Alba Thistle
2012Postal UnitedFinnart AFCAlba ThistlePaisleyEast Kilbride FCNo competition
2013Postal UnitedAlba ThistleCampbeltown Pupils AFCEast Kilbride FC
2014Oban Saints AFCCampbeltown Pupils AFCEast Kilbride FCDrumchapel Amateurs ColtsMotherwell Thistle AFC
2015St. Josephs FP AFCEast Kilbride FCDrumchapel Amateur ColtsDumbarton Wanderers
2016East Kilbride FCDrumchapel Amateurs ColtsBridgewater AFCPort Glasgow AFC
2017St Joseph's FPsAlba ThistleArkleston
2018GoldenhillArklestonLochgilphead Red Star
2019St Joseph's FPsCastlemilk BCGlynhill Moorcroft
2020Competition suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic in Scotland
2021Competition suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic in Scotland