Before the South of Scotland Football League was formed in 1946, there had been previous attempts to introduce league competitions in the Dumfries and Galloway region of Scotland since the 1890s. These early attempts invariably foundered because of the very small townships in the area and a tendency for the clubs to concentrate on the myriad of cup competitions that were in operation.
The various leagues are detailed below.
This league ran in 1892–93. The member clubs were: 5th Kirkcudbrightshire Rifle Volunteers, Queen of the South Wanderers, Mauchline, Cronberry Eglinton, Lugar Boswell, Springbank and Lanemark. The competition was abandoned without being completed.
A Kirkcudbrightshire based league, this competition was formed in 1894–95 by St Cuthbert Wanderers, Barholm Rovers, 6th Galloway Rifle Volunteers, Vale of Fleet and Douglas Wanderers. The first season's competition was once again unfinished.
In 1895–96 St Cuthbert Wanderers, Douglas Wanderers and Barholm Rovers were the sole entrants and finished in that order.
The league's last season, 1896–97, saw Barholm Rovers replaced by the returning 6th Galloway Rifle Volunteers, who duly won the St Cuthbert's Cup.
In 1920–21 this competition is known to have included St Cuthbert Wanderers, Dalbeattie Star, Creetown and Douglas Wanderers.
In 1921, it was renamed the Stewartry Football League, with Vale of Fleet replacing Dalbeattie Star.
Clubs known to have competed in this league are as follows:
| Season | League | Champions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1892–93 | SoS | unfinished | |
| 1894–95 | Stew | unfinished | |
| 1895–96 | Stew | St Cuthbert Wanderers | |
| 1896–97 | Stew | 6th Galloway Rifle Volunteers | |
| 1897–98 | SCos | unfinished | |
| 1910–11 | SCos | unfinished | |
| 1913–14 | Wig | unfinished | |
| 1914–15 | SCos | unfinished | |
| 1920–21 | Kirk | St Cuthbert Wanderers | |
| 1921–22 | Stew | unfinished | |
| 1921–22 | SCos | unfinished | |
| 1922–23 | SCos | Mid-Annandale | |
| 1923–24 | Wig | unfinished | |
| 1924–25 | Wig | unfinished | |
| 1924–25 | SCos | Dalbeattie Star |
Key: SoS - South of Scotland League, Stew - Stewartry League, SCos - Southern Counties League, Wig - Wigtownshire League, Kirk - Kirkcudbrightshire League
In 1927, the Southern Counties Football League was re-formed.
| Season | Champions | |
|---|---|---|
| 1927–28 | unfinished | |
| 1928–29 | St Cuthbert Wanderers | |
| 1929–30 | Dalbeattie Star | |
| 1930–31 | Dalbeattie Star | |
| 1931–32 | Dalbeattie Star | |
| 1932–33 | Dalbeattie Star | |
| 1933–34 | Dalbeattie Star | |
| 1934–35 | St Cuthbert Wanderers | |
| 1935–36 | unfinished | |
| 1936–37 | unfinished |