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 for the first time. [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 (292) | 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 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 250 | Non-League / Regional Leagues | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | 36 | Highland Football League | Lowland Football League | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | 92 | Midlands Football League 20 clubs playing 38 games | North Caledonian League 12 clubs playing 22 games | North Region League Premier Division 16 clubs playing 30 games | East of Scotland Football League Premier Division 16 clubs playing 30 games | South of Scotland Football League 12 clubs playing 22 games | West of Scotland Football League Premier Division 16 clubs playing 30 games | ||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | 46 | North Region League Championship 14 clubs playing 26 games | East of Scotland Football League First Division 16 clubs playing 30 games | West of Scotland Football League First Division 16 clubs playing 30 games | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 8 | 32 | East of Scotland Football League Second Division 16 clubs playing 30 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 Region League (30 clubs, 2 divisions). Below the Lowland League is the East of Scotland Football League (59 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 2023–24 season, this totalled 291 teams across 20 divisions.
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.
The Scottish Junior Football Association (SJFA) manages two regions: the SJFA East Region of 19 clubs; and the SJFA North Region of 34 clubs (4 clubs withdrew for 2022–23). This represents 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. [4] [5] [6] 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. 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. [7] The northern leagues at that level entered the pyramid later in July. [8]
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 [9] [10] [11] - 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 10 clubs ↓ 2 relegation spots + 1 relegation playoff spot | ||
| 2 | B League 10 clubs ↑ 2 promotion spots + 1 promotion playoff spot ↓ 3 relegation spots + 1 relegation playoff spot | |||
| 3 | C League 8 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 35 clubs | 1 | Premier League 12 clubs ↓ 2 relegation spots | ||
| 2 | Championship 12 clubs ↑ 2 promotion spots ↓ 2 relegation spots | |||
| 3 | Division 1 11 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 8 clubs | 1 | 8 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 | ||
| 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, [12] down from 238 teams in 2007. [13]
As of Season 2022 (Summer) and 2022–23 (Winter) there are 100 teams in 8 geographic leagues, plus 13 clubs playing in 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 | |
| Montrose and District Welfare League 11 clubs | 1 | 11 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 9 clubs (CAS Elite Level) | Youth (U11-18) | 1 | U11 | U13 | U14 | U15 | U16 | U18 | |
| 9 clubs | |||||||||
| SFA Club Academy Scotland Performance League 10 clubs (CAS Performance Level) | Youth (U11-18) | 1 | U11 | U13 | U14 | U15 | U16 | U18 | |
| 10 clubs | |||||||||
| SFA Advanced Youth League 6 clubs (Advanced Youth Programme) | Youth (U16-18) | 1 | U16 | U18 | |||||
| 6 clubs | |||||||||
| 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 | ||||||
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(Summer) | ||||
| – | Scottish Women's Football League | Highlands and Islands League 9 clubs playing 16 games | ||
| SWFL Central/South East 13 clubs playing 24 games | SWFL West/South West 11 clubs playing 20 games | SWFL North/East 10 clubs playing 27 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. [14]
The Scottish Highland Football League is a senior football league based in the north of Scotland. The league sits at level 5 on the Scottish football league system, acting as a feeder to the Scottish Professional Football League.
Pollok Football Club is a Scottish football club based in Newlands in the southside of the city of Glasgow. The club competes in the West of Scotland Football League and are one of the biggest football clubs operating in Scottish non-league football, regularly attracting crowds of around 700. Pollok play at Newlandsfield Park and wear black and white stripes. Their traditional rivals are Arthurlie of Barrhead.
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.
The Scottish Junior Football Association (SJFA) is an affiliated national association of the Scottish Football Association and is the governing body for the junior grade of football in Scotland. The term "junior" refers to the level of football played, not the age of the players. The closest equivalent terminology would be non-League football in England, the difference being that junior football in Scotland was not similarly integrated into its football league system until 2021.
The East of Scotland Football League (EoSFL) is a senior football league based in the east and south-east of Scotland. The league sits at levels 6–9 on the Scottish football league system, acting as a feeder to the Lowland Football League.
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.
The Scottish Junior Football Association, East Region is one of two regions of the SJFA, which currently organises the Midlands League and local cup competitions.
Cove Rangers Football Club is a senior Scottish football club currently playing in Scottish League One. They are based in the Cove Bay area of Aberdeen and play their football at Balmoral Stadium, having left their former home at Allan Park in April 2015.
The Scottish Professional Football League Challenge Cup, commonly known as the Scottish League Challenge Cup or Scottish Challenge Cup, and currently known as the SPFL Trust Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an association football knock-out cup competition run by the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL). It is recognised as the third most prestigious knockout trophy in Scottish football, after the Scottish Cup and the Scottish League Cup.
Edinburgh City Football Club is a semi-professional senior Scottish football club which plays in Scottish League One, the third tier of the Scottish Professional Football League. The club play at Meadowbank Stadium, returning to the rebuilt arena in 2022 after five years at Ainslie Park.
The Spartans Football Club are a Scottish football club based in Edinburgh. They were formed in 1951 by ex-players of Edinburgh University and the original intention was the team would be exclusively graduates of the university. However, the club is now open to players of any background. Spartans play at Ainslie Park and wear white shirts, red shorts and white socks.
Association football is one of the national sports of Scotland and the most popular sport in the country. There is a long tradition of "football" games in Orkney, Lewis and southern Scotland, especially the Scottish Borders, although many of these include carrying the ball and passing by hand, and despite bearing the name "football" bear little resemblance to association football.
The Scottish Junior Football Association East Region Premiership, also known for sponsorship reasons as the McBookie.com East Premiership, was the highest division of the East Region of the Scottish Junior Football Association. From its inception in 2002 until 2020, it was known as the SJFA East Region Super League.
Kelty Hearts Football Club is a football club based in the village of Kelty in Fife, Scotland. Formed in 1975 and nicknamed the Hearts, the Maroon Machine and the Jambos, they play their home games at New Central Park. Their home colours are maroon shirts, white shorts and maroon socks, while their away colours are typically all blue.
East Kilbride Football Club is a semi-professional football club based in East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire, Scotland. They are members of the Lowland Football League, in the fifth tier of the Scottish football league system.
The Scottish Lowland Football League is a senior football league based in central and southern Scotland. The league sits at level 5 on the Scottish football league system, acting as a feeder to the Scottish Professional Football League, and is above three regional leagues at level 6.
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 2021–22 North Superleague was the 20th season of the North Superleague, and the 1st season as the sixth tier of the Scottish football pyramid system. This is the top tier of league competition for SJFA North Region member clubs.
The Midlands Football League is a junior football league based in the Tayside area of Scotland. The league sits at level 6 on the Scottish football league system, acting as a feeder to the Highland Football League.
