The Scottish football league system is a series of generally connected leagues for Scottish football clubs.
The Scottish system is more complicated than many other national league systems, consisting of several completely separate systems or 'grades' of leagues and clubs. As well as senior football there is junior football, and also amateur football and welfare football.
In senior football in Scotland there is one national league, the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL), which has four divisions. There are also several regional leagues (most notably the Highland Football League and since 2013 the Lowland Football League). From 2014–15, a promotion/relegation play-off between the two regional leagues and the SPFL national league was introduced. [1]
Two clubs based in England play in the senior Scottish system - Berwick Rangers in the Lowland League and Tweedmouth Rangers in the East of Scotland League. A small number of English amateur clubs in the lowest levels of the game, based on or around the Anglo-Scottish border, also compete in Border Amateur Football League for geographical and travel reasons.
Until 2013 Scottish football had no pyramid league system, and as a result it was impossible for clubs in regional leagues to progress into the national leagues, unless a vacancy opened in the Scottish Football League. The final example of this was ahead of the 2008–09 season, where Gretna's demise allowed Annan Athletic to take their place. Overall, the structure of men's football in Scotland was among the most fractured and multi-faceted in Europe, being unique in having a plurality of adult male governing bodies (with Seniors, Juniors, Amateurs and Welfarers - see below). It was not uncommon for a given town or county to have clubs in as many as three or four separate systems.
Moves towards creating a pyramid system began in 2008 under the tenure of Scottish Football Association (SFA) chief executive Gordon Smith, with discussions between the SFA and the regional and junior leagues. [2] On 7 May 2013 Scottish Premier League clubs unanimously agreed on the introduction of a pyramid structure to Scottish football along with the reintroduction of a single governing body for the 42 clubs competing at a national level, a revised financial distribution model, and the possibility of a promotion/relegation play-off between the top two divisions. [3]
The current system has been in place since 2013–14, when the Scottish Professional Football League was formed by a merger of the Scottish Premier League (tier 1) and the Scottish Football League (tiers 2–4). At the same time, the Lowland Football League (tier 5) was founded, and from 2014 to 2021 the leagues below (tier 6) began to be incorporated as each joined the system. For each division, its official name, number of clubs, number of games, and promotion/relegation spots are given:
| Tier | Total Clubs (291) | League(s) / Division(s) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 42 | Scottish Professional Football League | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 12 | Scottish Premiership | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | 10 | Scottish Championship | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | 10 | Scottish League One | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | 10 | Scottish League Two | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 249 | Non-League / Regional Leagues | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | 36 | Highland Football League | Lowland Football League [Note 1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | 82 | North Caledonian League 13 clubs playing 24 games | North of Scotland Football League Premier Division 16 clubs playing 30 games | East of Scotland Football League [Note 2] Premier Division 16 clubs playing 30 games | Midlands Football League [Note 2] Premier Division 10 clubs playing 36 games | South of Scotland Football League [Note 3] 11 clubs playing 20 games | West of Scotland Football League Premier Division [Note 3] 16 clubs playing 30 games | ||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | 57 | North of Scotland Football League Championship 15 clubs playing 28 games | East of Scotland Football League First Division 16 clubs playing 30 games | Midlands Football League First Division 10 clubs playing 36 games | West of Scotland Football League First Division 16 clubs playing 30 games | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 8 | 31 | East of Scotland Football League Second Division 15 clubs playing 28 games | West of Scotland Football League Second Division 16 clubs playing 30 games | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9 | 27 | East of Scotland Football League Third Division 11 clubs playing 30 games | West of Scotland Football League Third Division 16 clubs playing 30 games | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10 | 16 | West of Scotland Football League Fourth Division 16 clubs playing 30 games | |||||||||||||||||||||||
The leagues below level four are classed as "non-league football", meaning they are outside the Scottish Professional Football League and are played on a regional not a national basis. The Lowland League was created in 2013–14 and runs in parallel with the Highland League to form level five on the pyramid. Since 2014–15 the two league winners have played off against each other, with the winner then playing the team finishing 10th in League Two in a promotion/relegation play-off for a place in the SPFL.
Below the Highland League is the Midlands League (20 clubs); North Caledonian Football League (12 teams, including one reserve team); and the North of Scotland Football League (31 clubs, 2 divisions). Below the Lowland League is the East of Scotland Football League (58 clubs, including one reserve team, 4 divisions); the South of Scotland Football League (12 clubs, including one reserve team); and the West of Scotland Football League (80 clubs, 5 divisions). At end of season, round robin promotion play-offs take place between the winners of feeder leagues of the Highland and Lowland League respectively (subject to each club meeting licensing criteria) for promotion to tier 5.
At the start of the 2024–25 season, this totalled 291 teams across 20 divisions.
For the 2026–27 season, the Lowland League will split into Lowland League East (fed by East of Scotland and Midlands Football Leagues) and Lowland League West (fed by South of Scotland and West of Scotland Football Leagues). [4]
All clubs in tier 5 and above automatically enter the Scottish Cup , along with clubs in other divisions who are full members of the Scottish Football Association. Up to three non-SFA members can qualify for the Scottish Cup each season by winning the East, South or West leagues, or the East, South and West Cup-Winners Shield. All 42 SPFL clubs compete in the Scottish League Cup , along with the Highland and Lowland champions, and one additional invited team. The Scottish Challenge Cup features 30 SPFL clubs from outside the Premiership, Under 21s teams, and four from the Highland and Lowland leagues.
The SFA South Region Challenge Cup is for all 164 non-league clubs in the Lowland area (excluding reserve or B teams). The SFA North Region Challenge Cup existed between 2007 and 2009. There are also a variety of smaller cup tournaments at league and regional level.
Of late, the Scottish Junior Football Association (SJFA) managed two regions: the SJFA East Region of 19 clubs; and the SJFA North Region of 34 clubs (4 clubs withdrew for 2022–23). This represented a total of 53 teams across 3 divisions. The term 'junior' refers not to the age of the players but the level of football played. [5] [6] [7] These two regions joined the pyramid system at tier 6 below the Highland League in 2021–22.[ citation needed ]
Members of the SJFA, consisting of 114 teams in total from the two regions as well as the East of Scotland League and West of Scotland League (5 teams are in abeyance for 2022–23), participate in the Scottish Junior Cup (now Scottish Communities Cup). Up to three non-SFA members can qualify for the Scottish Cup each season by winning the Midlands League, North Superleague, or the Junior Cup. Banks O' Dee also enter senior tournaments in the Aberdeenshire Cup and Shield, and run an Under-20s team in the Senior development structure (the Aberdeenshire & District League).
In 2020, as part of a long process 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 League. Between 2017 and 2020 more than half of the East Region clubs departed the junior ranks, joining the senior East of Scotland Football League which is also below the Lowland League. The remaining clubs in the East Premiership South made the same move to the East of Scotland League for season 2021–22, and the East Premiership North clubs formed the Midlands League at tier 6 below the Highland League. The North Region also joined the pyramid structure at the same level. [8] The northern leagues at that level entered the pyramid later in July. [9]
In February 2025, the SJFA acknowledged the request of teams participating in the East and North Regions to become autonomous within the Scottish Football Association structure, which would leave the organisation responsible for the Junior Cup only. [10] The Junior Cup has subsequently been rebranded to the Scottish Communities Cup. [11]
Again separate from the above, and generally agreed to lie 'below' the senior and junior levels, are the hundreds of clubs in membership of the Scottish Amateur Football Association which oversees 50 leagues [12] [13] [14] - although this includes Sunday League football and futsal competitions. Prestige centres around the historic Scottish Amateur Cup. A number of Senior and Junior clubs run reserve teams in Amateur football. Student and Police football is also affiliated to the SAFA.
As of 2022–23 there are 360 teams – in 12 geographic leagues containing a total of 31 league divisions – playing Saturday football under a regular August–May season. In addition there are 137 teams playing in four specialist Saturday Morning leagues (including one for Glasgow Colleges Amateur Football Association) in Dundee and Glasgow, plus 22 teams playing in Strathclyde Evangelical Churches Football League .
There are also 90 teams playing in the Summer Saturday leagues (season 2022), most of which are located in the Highland; 244 teams are in the Sunday League system.
| Leagues | Divisions | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aberdeenshire Amateur Football Association 60 clubs | 1 | Premier Division 14 clubs ↓ TBC relegation spots | ||
| 2 | Division One (North) 14 clubs ↑ TBC promotion spots ↓ TBC relegation spots | Division One (East) 14 clubs ↑ TBC promotion spots ↓ TBC relegation spots | ||
| 3 | Division Two (North) 9 clubs ↑ TBC promotion spots | Division Two (East) 9 clubs ↑ TBC promotion spots | ||
| Ayrshire Amateur Football Association 37 clubs | 1 | Premier League 12 clubs | ||
| 2 | Division 1 11 clubs ↑ 2 promotion spots ↓ 2 relegation spots | |||
| 3 | Division 2 14 clubs ↑ 2 promotion spots | |||
| Border Amateur Football League 28 clubs | 1 | A League 13 clubs ↓ 2 relegation spots + 1 relegation playoff spot | ||
| 2 | B League 14 Clubs ↑ 2 promotion spots + 1 promotion playoff spot | |||
| Caledonian Amateur Football League 23 clubs | 1 | Premier Division 14 clubs | ||
| 2 | First Division 9 clubs ↑ 3 promotion spots | |||
| Central Scottish Amateur Football League 25 clubs | 1 | Premier Division 12 clubs ↓ 2 relegation spots | ||
| 2 | Championship 13 clubs ↑ 2 promotion spots | |||
| Greater Glasgow Premier Amateur Football League 41 clubs | 1 | Division 1 12 clubs ↓ 2 relegation spots + 1 relegation playoff spot | ||
| 2 | Division 2 12 clubs ↑ 2 promotion spots + 1 promotion playoff spot ↓ 2 relegation spots + 1 relegation playoff spot | |||
| 3 | Division 3A 9 clubs ↑ 1 promotion spots+ 1 promotion playoff spot | Division 3B 8 clubs ↑ 1 promotion spots+ 1 promotion playoff spot | ||
| Kingdom of Fife Amateur Football Association 28 clubs | 1 | Premier League 10 clubs ↓ 2 relegation spots | ||
| 2 | Championship 9 clubs ↑ 2 promotion spots ↓ 2 relegation spots | |||
| 3 | Conference 9 clubs ↑ 2 promotion spots | |||
| Lothian & Edinburgh Amateur Football Association (Saturday) 49 clubs | 1 | Premier Division 12 clubs ↓ TBC relegation spot | ||
| 2 | Championship 12 clubs ↑ TBC promotion spot ↓ TBC relegation spots | |||
| 3 | Division 1 12 clubs ↑ TBC promotion spot ↓ TBC relegation spot | |||
| 2 | Division 2 13 clubs ↑ TBC promotion spot | |||
| Midlands Amateur Football Association 14 clubs | 1 | Premier Division 14 clubs | ||
| Perthshire Amateur Football Association 21 clubs | 1 | Division One 10 clubs ↓ 2 relegation spots | ||
| 2 | Division Two 11 clubs ↑ 2 promotion spots | |||
| Scottish Amateur Football League 16 clubs | 1 | Premier 16 clubs | ||
| Stirling & District Amateur Football Association 11 clubs | 1 | Premier Division 11 clubs ↓ TBC relegation spots | ||
| Dundee Saturday Morning Amateur Football League 39 clubs | 1 | Premier Division 12 clubs ↓ 1 relegation spot + 2 relegation playoff spots | ||
| 2 | 1st Division 12 clubs ↑ 1 promotion spot + 2 promotion playoff spots ↓ 2 relegation spots + 1 relegation playoff spot | |||
| 3 | 2nd Division 15 clubs ↑ 1 promotion spot + 2 promotion playoff spots | |||
| Glasgow Colleges Amateur Football Association 34 clubs | 1 | Premier Division 14 clubs ↓ 2 relegation spots | ||
| 2 | Division One (A) 10 clubs ↑ 1 promotion spot | Division One (B) 10 clubs ↑ 1 promotion spot | ||
| Saturday Morning Amateur Football League 64 clubs | 1 | Premier Division 14 clubs ↓ TBC relegation spots | ||
| 2 | Championship 14 clubs ↑ TBC promotion spots ↓ TBC relegation spots | |||
| 2 | Division 1A 14 clubs ↑ TBC promotion spots | Division 1B 12 clubs ↑ TBC promotion spots | ||
| Strathclyde Evangelical Churches Football League 22 clubs | 1 | Premier Division 12 clubs ↓ 1 relegation spot | ||
| 2 | Division 1 10 clubs ↑ 1 promotion spot | |||
| Leagues | Divisions | |
|---|---|---|
| Caithness Amateur Football Association 14 clubs | 1 | Division 1 8 clubs ↓ 1 relegation spot |
| 2 | Division 2 6 clubs ↑ 1 promotion spot | |
| Inverness & District Amateur Football Association 26 clubs | 1 | Premier Division 8 clubs ↓ 1 relegation spot |
| 2 | 1st Division 8 clubs ↑ 1 promotion spot ↓ 1 relegation spot | |
| 3 | 2nd Division 10 clubs ↑ 1 promotion spot | |
| Lewis & Harris Amateur League 9 clubs | 1 | 9 clubs |
| North West Sutherland Amateur Football League 8 clubs | 1 | 8 clubs |
| Orkney Amateur Football Association 12 clubs | 1 | A League 7 clubs ↓ 1 relegation spot |
| 2 | B League 5 clubs ↑ 1 promotion spot | |
| Shetland Amateur Football Association 8 clubs | 1 | Premier League 8 clubs |
| West Highland Amateur Football Association 7 clubs | 1 | 7 clubs |
| Uist & Barra Amateur Football Association 6 clubs | 1 | 6 clubs |
| Leagues | Divisions | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen Sunday Football Association 17 clubs | 1 | Premier Division 8 clubs ↓ TBC relegation spots | |
| 2 | First Division 9 clubs ↑ TBC promotion spots | ||
| Airdrie & Coatbridge Sunday Amateur Football League 40 clubs | 1 | Premier Division 12 clubs ↓ TBC relegation spots | |
| 2 | Championship Division 13 clubs ↑ TBC promotion spots ↓ TBC relegation spots | ||
| 3 | First Division 15 clubs ↑ TBC promotion spots | ||
| Angus & Mearns Amateur Football Association 7 clubs | 1 | Division 1 7 clubs | |
| Ayrshire Sunday Amateur Football Association 11 clubs | 1 | Division 1 11 clubs | |
| Dumfries Sunday Amateur Football League 14 clubs | 1 | Premier Division 15 clubs | |
| Fife Sunday Amateur Football League 16 clubs | 1 | Premier Division 6 clubs ↓ 1 relegation spot | |
| 2 | Championship 10 clubs ↑ 2 promotion spots | ||
| Glasgow & District Sunday Championship Amateur Football League 43 clubs | 1 | Premiership 10 clubs ↓ TBC relegation spots | |
| 2 | Championship 12 clubs ↑ TBC promotion spots ↓ TBC relegation spots | ||
| 3 | Division 1 11 clubs ↑ TBC promotion spots ↓ TBC relegation spots | ||
| 4 | Division 2 10 clubs ↓ TBC relegation spots | ||
| Lothians & Edinburgh Amateur Football Association (Sunday) 49 clubs | Mornings | Afternoons | |
| 1 | Premier Division 10 clubs ↓ TBC relegation spots | Premier Division 14 clubs | |
| 2 | Championship 11 clubs ↑ TBC promotion spots ↓ TBC relegation spots | ||
| 3 | Division 1 14 clubs ↑ TBC promotion spots | ||
| Football Central Amateur Football League 54 clubs | Lanarkshire | – | |
| 1 | Premier Division 10 clubs ↓ TBC relegation spots | Premier Division 12 clubs ↓ TBC relegation spots | |
| 2 | Championship 9 clubs ↑ TBC promotion spots | Championship 12 clubs ↑ TBC promotion spots ↓ TBC relegation spots | |
| 3 | First Division 11 clubs ↑ TBC promotion spots | ||
Roughly concurrent with the Scottish Amateur Football Association is the Scottish Welfare Football Association, which has a very low profile nationally. The SWFA was established in the aftermath of World War I, and oversees leagues mainly operating Sunday and summer or midweek football, predominantly in the north of Scotland.
From a peak of over 500 clubs, there were 158 teams in membership in November 2012, [15] down from 238 teams in 2007. [16]
As of Season 2024 (Summer) and 2024–25 (Winter) there were 80 teams in 7 geographic leagues, plus 13 clubs playing in the Warriors Premier League.
| Leagues | Divisions | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | |||
| Forres and Nairn District Welfare Association League 10 clubs | 1 | West Conference 5 clubs | East Conference 5 clubs |
| Forth & Endrick Football League 10 clubs | 1 | 10 clubs | |
| Deeside Welfare Football Association 8 clubs | 1 | Mid-Deeside Summer League 8 clubs | |
| Moray & District Welfare Football Association 10 clubs | 1 | 10 clubs | |
| North East Scotland Welfare Football Association 20 clubs | 1 | League 1 9 clubs ↓ 2 relegation spots | |
| 2 | League 2 11 clubs ↑ 2 promotion spots | ||
| Strathspey & Badenoch Welfare Football Association 6 clubs | 1 | 6 clubs | |
| Winter | |||
| Greenock & District Welfare League 16 clubs | 1 | 16 clubs | |
| Warriors Premier League 13 clubs | 1 | 13 clubs | |
The reserve and youth leagues are mostly governed by the relevant adult leagues.
| Leagues | Divisions | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SPFL Reserve League 9 clubs (SPFL Premiership, Championship, League One) | Reserve | 1 | 9 clubs | |||||||
| Lowlands Development League 95 clubs | Youth (U20) | 1 | Conference A 13 clubs (SPFL League One, League Two, Lowland League) | Conference B 14 clubs (Lowland League, EoS League) | Conference C 14 clubs (EoS League) | Conference D 13 clubs (EoS League, WoS League) | Conference E 13 clubs (WoS League) | Conference F 14 clubs (WoS League) | Conference G 14 clubs (WoS League) | |
| Aberdeenshire and District League 11 clubs (Aberdeenshire and District FA) | Youth (U21) | 1 | 11 clubs | |||||||
| North of Scotland FA U20 League 4 clubs | Youth (U20) | 1 | 4 clubs | |||||||
| Highland League U18 19 clubs | Youth (U18) | 1 | East 8 clubs | North 11 clubs | ||||||
| SFA Club Academy Scotland Elite League 10 clubs (CAS Elite Level) | Youth (U11-19) | 1 | U11 | U12 | U13 | U14 | U15 | U17 | U19 | |
| 10 clubs - Aberdeen, Celtic, Rangers, Hearts, Hibs, Motherwell, Kilmarnock, St. Mirren, Hamilton Academical, Dundee United (NB - For 2025/26, Aberdeen FC are not competing at U19 level [17] and Hamilton Academical FC are not competing at U11-U15 inclusive [18] . Also known as 'Pro-Youth Elite'. These are the youth teams of the associated professional sides. Players are registered as SFA Pro-Youth players, rather than grassroots players and cannot play grassroots football, but can play school football. | ||||||||||
| SFA Club Academy Scotland Performance League 10 clubs (CAS Performance Level) | Youth (U11-19) | 1 | U11 | U12 | U13 | U14 | U15 | U17 | U19 | |
| 10 clubs - Falkirk, St. Johnstone, Ayr United, Dundee, Dunfermline, Greenock Morton, ICT, Partick Thistle, Livingston, Ross County - NB at U17 and U19 level, Performance and Advanced Youth are combined into one league. Performance tier alone applies up to U15. Also known as 'Pro-Youth Performance'. These are the youth teams of the associated professional sides. Players are registered as SFA Pro-Youth players, rather than grassroots players and cannot play grassroots football, but can play school football. | ||||||||||
| SFA Advanced Youth League 9 clubs (Advanced Youth Programme) | Youth (U17-19) | 1 | U17 | U19 | ||||||
| 9 clubs - Queen's Park, Kelty Hearts, Queen of the South, Bonnyrigg Rose, Elgin City, Edinburgh City, Airdrie, Alloa, Montrose - NB, these clubs only compete at U17 and U19 levels in a combined league with the ten 'Performance' tier clubs. Also known as 'Pro-Youth Advanced Youth'. These are the youth teams of the associated professional side. Players are registered as SFA Pro-Youth players, rather than grassroots players and cannot play grassroots football, but can play school football. | ||||||||||
| Saturday Morning Amateur Football League Development Section 15 clubs | Youth | 1 | 15 clubs | |||||||
| Midlands Amateur Football Association Alliance League 12 clubs | Reserve | 1 | Championship 12 clubs | |||||||
| Orkney Amateur Football Association Reserve League 8 clubs | Reserve | 1 | 8 clubs | |||||||
| Shetland Amateur Football Association Reserve League 11 clubs | Reserve | 1 | 11 clubs | |||||||
| Scottish Youth Football Association [19] Youth Leagues Governing Body for all Grassroots Youth Football | Grassroots Youth (U6 - U18) | 1 | SYFA Govern all youth grassroots football other than Schools football, which is governed by the Scottish Schools' Football Association. All local youth grassroots bodies are affiliated with the SYFA. Only teams playing within the SFA CAS Pro-Youth structure and School teams sit outwith the jurisdiction of the SYFA. Grassroots youth players are still eligible for school teams. SFA CAS Pro-Youth registered players cannot play in SYFA competitions. The SYFA govern the Scottish Cup for grassroots clubs. Current holders from 24/25 are: Edinburgh South (U13), Syngenta Juveniles Grange (U14), Stirling Albion Junior Academy (U15), Blackburn Utd (U16), Hutchison Vale (U17), Rossvale FC Inter (U18). | |||||||
| Scottish Schools' Football Association [20] Youth Leagues Governing Body for all School Football at National Level | School Football (U13 - U18) | 1 | SSFA govern school football at Secondary school age as well as regional School select football and National School football v the Home Nations. The SSFA operate five main Shield Events (Scottish Cup) at U13, U14, U15, U16 and U18 age groups, as well as two consolation events (Scottish Plate) at U13 and U14 only. Regional select squads compete for National Trophies at U15 and U18 level, and at U18 level, a National Scottish Schools' team compete against the other Home Nations. The winners of the annual U13 Scottish Cup compete in the British Isles Cup the following year, versus the winners from England, Northern Ireland, Wales, Republic of Ireland and a guest school from the host nation of the year. Current Scottish Cup holders from 24/25 are: St. Ninian's High School (Giffnock) (U13), Braidhurst High School (U14), Holy Cross High School (U15), St. Peter the Apostle High School (U16), St. Peter the Apostle High School (U18). Scottish Plate holders are Stewart's Melville College (U13) and Dingwall Academy (U14). Current Regional select holders are Dundee Region at both age groups (U15 and U18). St. Ninian's High School (Giffnock), and a guest school from Scotland will both compete in the 2026 British Isles Cup). A small number of schools across the country are SFA Performance Schools (Hazelhead Academy, St. John's High School, Grange Academy, Holyrood High School, Braidhurst High School, Graeme High School, Broughton High School), whereby players mainly drawn from clubs within the SFA CAS Pro-Youth system can elect to trial for a place as part of the SFA programme. The Performance School element is led by SFA staff and is an SFA programme rather than an SSFA or club endeavour. Trials, which occur once only at P7 into S1, are also open to grassroots players, but the vast majority of places go to those within the Pro-Youth system who have elected to apply. Many pro-youth players do not apply for places, and attend their catchment schools. Where a school is a Performance School, they are permitted to play three SFA Performance non-catchment pupils in their school teams at each age bracket. They can only play additional SFA Performance pupils where those pupils are otherwise a natural catchment pupil of the school. In addition, a number of professional clubs have formal links with schools in their area, whereby their players attend a specific local school and receive additional training during the school day from club staff. Celtic (St. Ninian's High, Kirkintilloch), Dundee Utd (Baldragon High School), Dundee (St. John's High School) and Rangers (Boclair Academy) all have arrangements in place with specific schools. There are no formal rules preventing those schools from playing pupils in SSFA competitions, which is different to the rules in place for Performance schools. Of the current Scottish Cup holders, only Braidhurst High (U14) are either a performance school or a club linked school. U13 holders, St. Ninian's High School (Giffnock), are not to be confused with Celtic's partner school, which is St. Ninian's High School (Kirkintilloch). | |||||||
Senior leagues of women's football in Scotland are structured as follows:
| Level | League(s) / Division(s) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Leagues | |||||
| 1 | Scottish Women's Premier League 1 | ||||
| 2 | Scottish Women's Premier League 2 | ||||
| 3 | Scottish Women's Championship 8 clubs playing 28 games | ||||
| 4 | Scottish Women's League One 12 clubs playing 27 games | ||||
| Regional Leagues | |||||
| 5 | Scottish Women's Football League | ||||
| SWFL North 10 clubs playing 18 games | SWFL East 11 clubs playing 20 games | SWFL South 10 clubs playing 18 games | SWFL West 9 clubs playing 16 games | ||
| – | Highlands and Islands League 8 clubs playing 14 games | ||||
| Scottish Women's Football National Performance League | |||
| U19 | U16 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 clubs | 8 clubs | ||
| Scottish Women's Football Youth Regional League(Summer) | |||
| U18 | U16 | U14 | |
| Central | Cross Region Emma Mitchell League 11 clubs | Sam Kerr League 11 clubs | Fiona Brown League 7 clubs Lee Alexander League 8 clubs Nicola Docherty League 7 clubs |
| West | Leanne Crichton League 13 clubs | Chloe Arthur League 8 clubs Jen Beattie League 13 clubs | |
| South West | Erin Cuthbert League 11 clubs | Erin Cuthbert League 10 clubs Lee Alexander League 11 clubs | |
| South East | Cross Region Jenna Fife League 6 clubs Kirsty Smith League 8 clubs | Joelle Murray League 9 clubs Lizzie Arnot League 10 clubs | Frankie Brown League 12 clubs Joelle Murray League 10 clubs Lizzie Arnot League 10 clubs |
| East | Caroline Weir League 11 clubs Abbi Grant League 8 clubs | Lucy Graham League 9 clubs Caroline Weir League 9 clubs Lana Clelland League 5 clubs | |
| North | Kim Little League 8 clubs | Kim Little League 13 clubs | Rachel Corsie League 7 clubs Christy Grimshaw League 7 clubs Rachel McLauchlan League 6 clubs |
The Scottish Women's Cup is open to all senior teams affiliated with Scottish Women's Football. There are also the Scottish Women's Football League Cup, Scottish Women's Football League Plate, Scottish Women's Championship Cup, and Highlands & Islands League Cup. [21]
