Scottish Junior Football Association, West Region

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The Scottish Junior Football Association, West Region was one of three regions of the SJFA which organised its own distinct league and cup competitions.

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The SJFA used to be split into six regions, but in 2002 they decided to reform into three (East, North and West) to try to ensure more games between the top clubs and hence increase their revenues. The region covered an area from Girvan in South Ayrshire to Denny in Central Scotland.

In 2020, the region was abolished, as all 63 clubs in the region decided to depart and join the newly-founded West of Scotland Football League. [1] [2]

History

Foundation

Although the West Region was formed by the amalgamation of the Central and Ayrshire regions in 2002, a West of Scotland Junior FA had existed since the end of the Intermediate dispute in 1931 and administered the West of Scotland Cup since that time. The first phase of rationalisation in 1968 saw the Central Junior Football League (based around greater Glasgow and essentially a continuation of the Glasgow Junior Football League from 1895) [3] merge with the even older Lanarkshire Junior Football League (1891) [4] to create the Central region. The Western Junior League became the Ayrshire region, with Neilston Juniors and Dunoon Athletic transferring to the Central region.

Structure

From 2002 to 2018, the league set-up in the region was a combined top division, officially known as the SJFA West of Scotland Region Super League Premier Division (12 teams), with the West of Scotland Region Super League First Division (14 teams) below. There were two district leagues below that provided the First Division with two clubs each at the end of the season. These corresponded to the former two regions that combined to create the new West region: there was a Central District League (with two divisions) and an Ayrshire District League, with the four teams relegated from the First Division assigned to their historic region. Although Ayrshire only had one division, clubs were also promoted between the two divisions of the Central District League.

In 2017 West Region clubs voted to organise all leagues on a regionwide basis and as a result, the Super League Premier Division was rebranded as the West Region Premiership for the 2018–19 season and featured 16 clubs. Clubs were relegated to a rebranded Championship also made up of 16 teams. The Ayrshire and Central district leagues were scrapped and replaced by League One and Two consisting of 16 and 15 teams respectively. [5]

End of an era

In 2020, as part of a long process of negotiation to form an integrated footballing pyramid structure, all 63 West Region Junior clubs decided to depart and join the newly-founded West of Scotland Football League, a feeder to the Lowland Football League. [6] [7]

Member clubs

Towards the end of the 2019–20 campaign, the coronavirus pandemic interrupted the season and caused the West Region leagues to be curtailed, with champions later declared on a 'points per game' basis by the West Region management committee. At that time there were 63 member clubs in the setup.

SJFA West Region Premiership

ClubLocationHome GroundFinishing position 2019–20
Auchinleck Talbot Auchinleck Beechwood Park1st
Beith Juniors Beith Bellsdale Park 6th
Benburb F.C. Glasgow New Tinto Park13th
Clydebank Clydebank Holm Park9th
Cumnock Juniors Cumnock Townhead Park10th
Glenafton Athletic New Cumnock Loch Park4th
Hurlford United Hurlford Blair Park7th
Irvine Meadow Irvine Meadow Park5th
Kilbirnie Ladeside Kilbirnie Valefield Park 8th
Kilwinning Rangers Kilwinning Abbey Park2nd
Kirkintilloch Rob Roy Cumbernauld Guy's Meadow [lower-alpha 1] 16th
Largs Thistle Largs Barrfields Stadium12th
Pollok Glasgow Newlandsfield Park3rd
Rossvale Glasgow New Tinto Park [lower-alpha 2] 11th
Rutherglen Glencairn Rutherglen New Southcroft Park15th
Troon Troon Portland Park 14th
Notes
  1. ↑ Kirkintilloch Rob Roy ground-shared with Cumbernauld United.
  2. ↑ Rossvale ground-shared with Benburb.

    SJFA West Region Championship

    ClubLocationHome GroundFinishing position 2019–20
    Arthurlie Barrhead Dunterlie Park 9th
    Blantyre Victoria Blantyre KG Stadium1st=
    Cambuslang Rangers Cambuslang Somervell Park14th
    Craigmark Burntonians Dalmellington Station Park15th
    Cumbernauld United Cumbernauld Guy's Meadow 3rd
    Dalry Thistle Dalry Merksworth Park8th
    Darvel Juniors Darvel Recreation Park1st=
    Gartcairn Juniors Airdrie MTC Park11th
    Irvine Victoria Irvine Victoria Park16th
    Kilsyth Rangers Kilsyth Duncansfield Park7th
    Neilston Juniors Neilston Brig O' Lea Stadium6th
    Petershill Glasgow Petershill Park 13th
    Renfrew Renfrew New Western Park5th
    Shotts Bon Accord Shotts Hannah Park 4th
    St Roch's Glasgow James McGrory Park12th
    Whitletts Victoria Ayr Dam Park10th

    SJFA West Region League One

    ClubLocationHome GroundFinishing position 2019–20
    Ardrossan Winton Rovers Ardrossan Winton Park2nd
    Bellshill Athletic Bellshill Rockburn Park6th
    Carluke Rovers Carluke John Cumming Stadium10th
    East Kilbride Thistle East Kilbride The Showpark15th
    Girvan Girvan Hamilton Park11th
    Glasgow Perthshire Possilpark, Glasgow Keppoch Park8th
    Greenock Juniors Greenock Ravenscraig Stadium 7th
    Kello Rovers Kirkconnel Nithside Park13th
    Lanark United Lanark Moor Park3rd
    Larkhall Thistle Larkhall Gasworks Park9th
    Lesmahagow Lesmahagow Craighead Park5th
    Maryhill Maryhill Lochburn Park 12th
    Port Glasgow Port Glasgow Parklea Community Stadium4th
    Royal Albert Stonehouse Tilework Park16th
    Shettleston Shettleston Greenfield Park1st
    Wishaw Juniors Wishaw Beltane Park14th

    SJFA West Region League Two

    ClubLocationHome GroundFinishing position 2019–20
    Annbank United Annbank New Pebble Park9th
    Ardeer Thistle Stevenston Ardeer Stadium15th
    Ashfield Possilpark, Glasgow Saracen Park3rd
    Forth Wanderers Forth Kingshill Park7th
    Johnstone Burgh Johnstone Keanie Park1st
    Lugar Boswell Thistle Lugar Rosebank Park14th
    Maybole Maybole Ladywell Stadium8th
    Muirkirk Muirkirk Burnside Park2nd
    Newmains United Newmains Victoria Park12th
    Saltcoats Victoria Saltcoats Campbell Park13th
    St Anthony's Cardonald McKenna Park11th
    Thorniewood United Viewpark Robertson Park6th
    Vale of Clyde Tollcross Fullarton Park10th
    Vale of Leven Alexandria Millburn Park4th
    Yoker Athletic Clydebank Holm Park5th

    Cup competitions

    The West Region organised several cup competitions for member clubs:

    Pre-2018 competitions

    Holders

    2018–19 winners unless stated.

    Roll of Honour

    SeasonWest Super League
    Premier Division     		West Super League
    First Division     		Ayrshire District League Central District League
    First Division     		Central District League
    Second Division
    2002–03 Pollok Arthurlie Lugar Boswell Thistle Kilsyth Rangers St Anthony's
    2003–04 Kilwinning Rangers Bellshill Athletic Maybole Cambuslang Rangers Clydebank
    2004–05 Pollok (2) Kilsyth Rangers Largs Thistle Vale of Clyde Lanark United
    2005–06 Auchinleck Talbot Neilston Juniors Irvine Meadow Lesmahagow Blantyre Victoria
    2006–07 Pollok (3) Irvine Meadow Kilbirnie Ladeside Kirkintilloch Rob Roy Ashfield
    2007–08 Pollok (4) Kirkintilloch Rob Roy Hurlford United Port Glasgow Vale of Leven
    2008–09 Irvine Meadow Largs Thistle Dalry Thistle Rutherglen Glencairn Blantyre Victoria
    2009–10 Beith Juniors Rutherglen Glencairn Hurlford United Cumbernauld United Johnstone Burgh
    2010–11 Irvine Meadow (2) Ashfield Ardrossan Winton Rovers Kilsyth Rangers Yoker Athletic
    2011–12 Irvine Meadow (3) Glenafton Athletic Maybole Glasgow Perthshire Carluke Rovers
    2012–13 Auchinleck Talbot (2) Hurlford United Kilwinning Rangers Greenock Juniors Cambuslang Rangers
    2013–14 Auchinleck Talbot (3) Troon Irvine Victoria Neilston Juniors Blantyre Victoria
    2014–15 Auchinleck Talbot (4) Pollok Ardrossan Winton Rovers Blantyre Victoria Rossvale
    2015–16 Auchinleck Talbot (5) Cumnock Juniors Girvan Renfrew Forth Wanderers
    2016–17 Glenafton Athletic Girvan Darvel Juniors Cambuslang Rangers Glasgow Perthshire
    2017–18 Beith Juniors (2) Petershill Dalry Thistle Rossvale Royal Albert
    Season West Premiership West Championship West League One West League Two
    2018–19 Auchinleck Talbot (6) Rutherglen Glencairn Gartcairn Juniors Lanark United
    2019–20 [lower-alpha 1] Auchinleck Talbot (7) Blantyre Victoria /
    Darvel (shared)    		 Shettleston Johnstone Burgh
    1. ↑ Season suspended in March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Champions calculated using 'points per game' algorithm, announced on 21 April. [18] [19]

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    References

    1. ↑ Pirie, Mark (15 April 2020). "Lanarkshire juniors exodus confirmed as ALL clubs revealed as part of West of Scotland League". Daily Record. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
    2. ↑ Junior clubs in the west are about to get the best of both worlds, The Scotsman, 19 April 2020
    3. ↑ "Glasgow Junior League (overview)". Scottish Football Historical Archive. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
    4. ↑ "Lanarkshire Junior League". Scottish Football Historical Archive. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
    5. ↑ Goldthorp, Craig (13 July 2017). "Junior football overhaul sees merger of Scotland's West and Ayrshire clubs". www.carlukegazette.co.uk. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
    6. ↑ Pirie, Mark (15 April 2020). "Lanarkshire juniors exodus confirmed as ALL clubs revealed as part of West of Scotland League". Daily Record. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
    7. ↑ Junior clubs in the west are about to get the best of both worlds, The Scotsman, 19 April 2020
    8. ↑ "West of Scotland Junior Cup". Ants History. Retrieved 26 July 2012.
    9. ↑ Jim O'Donnell (26 July 2012). "Champions will battle to become talk of the Times". Evening Times .
    10. ↑ "Evening Times Competitions". Ants History. Retrieved 26 July 2012.
    11. ↑ McGlone, David; McLure, Bill (1987). The Juniors - 100 Years. Edinburgh: Mainstream. p. 205. ISBN   1-85158-060-3.
    12. ↑ Bark, Stephen (28 June 2018). "Beith lose out on penalties to Hurlford United". Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
    13. ↑ McConnell, Stewart (28 June 2017). "Beith Juniors celebrate Champions Cup win after league triumph" . Retrieved 21 June 2018.
    14. ↑ Driver, Eric (28 June 2018). "Cumbernauld push Pollok all the way in League Cup final". Cumbernald News. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
    15. ↑ McConnell, Stewart (13 June 2018). "Kilwinning Rangers defeat Largs Thistle to land Ayrshire Weekly Press Cup". Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
    16. ↑ Robertson, Alan (6 November 2017). "Clydebank dump Pollok to lift Sectional League Cup and skipper insists glory is springboard for season". Daily Record. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
    17. ↑ Bark, Stephen (13 October 2017). "Next stop Banff in Scottish Cup journey for Glenafton Athletic after Ardagh Cup heartache". Cumnock Chronicle. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
    18. ↑ Auchinleck Talbot awarded Scottish junior title despite being 12 points off top, BBC Sport, 21 April 2020
    19. ↑ Junior football chiefs explain reasoning behind controversial league winners decision, Daily Record, 21 April 2020
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