2020–21 Highland Football League Explained

Competition:Breedon Highland League
Season:2020–21
Winners:Brora Rangers
Dates:28 November 2020 – 30 March 2021
Biggest Home Win:
(2 January 2021)
Biggest Away Win:
(19 December 2020)
Highest Scoring:
(2 January 2021)
Matches:16
Total Goals:76
Longest Wins:3 matches:
Brora Rangers & Fraserburgh
Longest Unbeaten:3 matches:
Brora Rangers & Fraserburgh
Longest Winless:3 matches:
Deveronvale & Huntly
Longest Losses:2 matches:
3 teams
Prevseason:2019–20
Nextseason:2021–22

The 2020–21 Highland Football League (known as the Breedon Highland League for sponsorship reasons) was the 118th season of the Highland Football League, and the 7th season as the fifth tier of the Scottish football pyramid system.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the league announced in August 2020 that the season would start in October with a shortened a 16-game schedule (teams playing each other once).[1] In late September, the start date was deferred until at least 28 November because the member clubs said they could not play fixtures without fans.[2] The season started on 28 November, but Forres Mechanics withdrew just beforehand (reducing the schedule to 15 games).[3]

On 11 January 2021 the league was suspended by the Scottish Football Association due to the escalating pandemic situation.[4]

Despite having only completed three fixtures, Brora Rangers were declared champions for the second successive season using a points per game formula. The decision was announced by the Highland League on 30 March 2021.[5] Two teams (Clachnacuddin and Fort William) had only played one game and Strathspey Thistle had not played at all.

Brora Rangers faced the winners of the 2020–21 Lowland Football League (Kelty Hearts) in the Pyramid play-off, losing 6–1 on aggregate.

Teams

Stadia and locations

All grounds are equipped with floodlights as required by league regulations.

TeamLocationStadiumdata-sort-type="number" Capacitydata-sort-type="number" Seats
Brora RangersBroraDudgeon Park4,000200
Buckie ThistleBuckieVictoria Park5,000400
ClachnacuddinInvernessGrant Street Park2,074154
DeveronvaleBanffPrincess Royal Park2,600360
Formartine UnitedPitmeddenNorth Lodge Park2,500300
Fort WilliamFort WilliamClaggan Park4,000400
FraserburghFraserburghBellslea Park3,000480
HuntlyHuntlyChristie Park2,200270
Inverurie Loco WorksInverurieHarlaw Park2,500250
KeithKeithKynoch Park4,000370
LossiemouthLossiemouthGrant Park2,050250
Nairn CountyNairnStation Park2,250250
RothesRothesMackessack Park2,700184
Strathspey ThistleGrantown-on-SpeySeafield Park1,600150
Turriff UnitedTurriffThe Haughs2,135135
Wick AcademyWickHarmsworth Park2,412102

Withdrawn

TeamLocationStadiumdata-sort-type="number" Capacitydata-sort-type="number" Seats
Forres MechanicsForresMosset Park2,700502

League table

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Highland League cuts number of fixtures from 32 to 16 . BBC Sport . 29 August 2020 . 28 September 2020.
  2. Web site: Highland League start delayed by at least six weeks . BBC Sport . 28 September 2020 . 28 September 2020.
  3. Web site: Covid in Scotland: Forres Mechanics take break from league . Donald . Pollock . BBC News . 28 November 2020 . 28 November 2020.
  4. Web site: Scottish FA Board confirms three-week suspension of professional football beneath SPFL Championship Scottish FA. 2021-03-10. www.scottishfa.co.uk.
  5. News: Brora & Kelty Hearts declared champions. BBC Sport .