List of Scottish Football League clubs explained

The Scottish Football League ("SFL") was established in 1890, initially as an amateur league as professionalism had not been legalised in Scottish football.^[1] In 1893 a Second Division was formed, with the existing single division renamed the First Division. The Second Division was discontinued during the First World War but revived in 1921.^[2] A Third Division was added in 1923 but collapsed three years later as a number of its member clubs found themselves unable to complete their fixtures for financial reasons, with many folding altogether. After the Second World War the divisions were rebranded as Division A and Division B and a Division C was added. This included a mixture of new member clubs and the reserve teams of clubs from the higher divisions, but this division was dropped in 1955.^[3]

A major re-organisation of the SFL in 1975 led to the existing two divisions being split into three smaller divisions, with a new Premier Division at the highest level. This structure remained in place until 1998, when the teams then in the Premier Division broke away to form the Scottish Premier League, which supplanted the Premier Division as the highest level of football in Scotland.^[4] In 2013 the two leagues merged to form the new Scottish Professional Football League, ending the 123-year existence of the SFL.

For the whole history of the SFL, there was no mechanism in place for club(s) at the bottom of the league to be relegated.^[5] A number of clubs who resigned or were expelled from the SFL went on to play in non-league football, either in senior leagues such as the East of Scotland Football League or in leagues governed by the Scottish Junior Football Association (SJFA). Whenever a club left the league (for example, when Gretna was liquidated in 2008), a new club was elected in its place.^[6] This closed-shop system was changed soon after the leagues merged, when a play-off between the bottom-placed SPFL club and the winner of a play-off between the Highland League and Lowland League champions was introduced in 2015. Edinburgh City became the first club to be promoted to the SPFL when they won a playoff against East Stirlingshire in 2016.^[7]

Clubs

The tables show the first and last seasons in which each club competed in the league. Some clubs' membership was intermittent between their first and last seasons. Clubs shown in bold were among the founder members of the league. Where a former club has become defunct, any phoenix club formed as a successor side is noted.

Former member clubs currently playing in the SPFL

width=18%	Club!	width=10%	First SFL season!	width=10%	Last SFL season!	width=7%	Notes
Aberdeen		1997–98	^[8]
Airdrieonians^[9]		2012–13	^[10]
Albion Rovers		2012–13	^[11]
Alloa Athletic		2012–13	^[12]
Annan Athletic		2012–13	^[13]
Arbroath		2012–13	^[14]
Ayr United		2012–13	^[15]
Celtic		1997–98	^[16]
Clyde		2012–13	^[17]
Cowdenbeath		2012–13	^[18]
Dumbarton		2012–13	^[19]
Dundee	1893–94	2011–12	^[20]
Dundee United	1910–11	1997–98	^[21]
Dunfermline Athletic		2012–13	^[22]
East Fife		2012–13	^[23]
Elgin City		2012–13	^[24]
Falkirk		2012–13	^[25]
Forfar Athletic		2012–13	^[26]
Hamilton Academical		2012–13	^[27]
Heart of Midlothian		1997–98	^[28]
Hibernian			^[29]
Inverness Caledonian Thistle			^[30]
Kilmarnock		1997–98	^[31]
Livingston		2012–13	^[32]
Montrose		2012–13	^[33]
Morton		2012–13	^[34]
Motherwell		1997–98	^[35]
Partick Thistle		2012–13	^[36]
Peterhead		2012–13	^[37]
Queen of the South		2012–13	^[38]
Queen's Park		2012–13	^[39]
Raith Rovers		2012–13	^[40]
Rangers		2012–13	^[41]
Ross County		2011–12	^[42]
St Johnstone		2008–09	^[43]
St Mirren	1890–91		^[44]
Stenhousemuir		2012–13	^[45]
Stirling Albion		2012–13	^[46]
Stranraer		2012–13	^[47]

Other former member clubs

width=18%	Club!	width=10%	First SFL season!	width=10%	Last SFL season!	width=57%	Current status!	width=7%	Notes
Abercorn			Defunct effectively from 1920 due to being unable to secure a new ground, officially in 1922 (an annual club dinner however was held until 1939).	^[48]
Airdrieonians			Officially defunct, but former owners took over the Clydebank club and renamed it as Airdrie United, before re-adopting the name Airdrieonians in 2013.	^[49] ^[50]
Armadale			Defunct, reconstituted as Armadale Thistle currently playing in the	^[51]
Arthurlie			Reformed in 1931, currently competing in the	^[52] ^[53] ^[54]
Ayr				^[55] ^[56]
Ayr Parkhouse			Merged with Ayr to form Ayr United	^[57]
Bathgate		1928–29^[58]	Defunct	^[59]
Beith			Reformed as Beith Juniors and currently competing in the	^[60] ^[61]
Berwick Rangers		2012–13	Playing in the	^[62]
Bo'ness			Merged with Bo'ness Cadora to form Bo'ness United and currently competing in the	^[63] ^[64]
Brechin City		2012–13	Playing in Highland Football League	^[65]
Broxburn United			Defunct	^[66]
Cambuslang		1891–92	Defunct	^[67]
Clackmannan		1925–26	Defunct	^[68]
Clydebank (original club)			Defunct	^[69]
Clydebank (second club)			Taken over by the former owners of the defunct Airdrieonians, who renamed the club as Airdrie United whilst selling the rights to the name Clydebank FC to that side's supporters club, which currently competes in the	^[70]
Cowlairs		1894–95	Defunct	^[71]
Dumbarton Harp		1924–25	Defunct - although amateur side continues	^[72]
Dundee Wanderers		1894–95	Defunct	^[73]
Dykehead		1925–26	Defunct	^[74]
East Stirlingshire		2012–13	Playing in the	^[75]
Edinburgh City		1948–49	Defunct. The name was revived in 1986 when Postal United were renamed Edinburgh City; this club gained promotion from the Lowland League to the SPFL in 2016	^[76] ^[77]
Galston			Defunct	^[78]
Gretna		2006–07^[79]	Defunct, though a 'new' club set up by its supporters, Gretna 2008, play in the at the same ground	^[80] ^[81]
Helensburgh		1925–26	Defunct	^[82]
Johnstone		1925–26	Defunct	^[83]
King's Park		1938–39		^[84]
Leith Athletic		1952–53	Defunct - revived version of the club currently competing in the	^[85]
Linthouse		1899–1900	Defunct	^[86]
Lochgelly United		1925–26	Defunct	^[87]
Meadowbank Thistle		1994–95	Relocated and became Livingston. The current club considers its founding date to be 1995.	^[88] ^[89]
Mid-Annandale			Defunct, revived version of the club currently competing in the	^[90] ^[91]
Nithsdale Wanderers			Defunct, revived version of the club currently competing in the	^[92]
Northern		1893–94	Defunct	^[93]
Peebles Rovers		1925–26	Competing in the	^[94] ^[95]
Port Glasgow Athletic			Officially defunct, however the current Port Glasgow Juniors celebrated their "centenary" in 1993.	^[96]
Renton			Defunct in 1922. Resurrected several times, most recently in 2008	^[97]
Royal Albert		1925–26	Reformed in 1928, currently competing in the	^[98]
Solway Star			Defunct	^[99]
St Bernard's			Defunct, revived version of the club joined local Edinburgh & District Amateur League	^[100]
Third Lanark			Defunct 1967, however amateur side has continued haphazardly in Glasgow amateur leagues	^[101]
Thistle			Defunct	^[102]
Vale of Leven		1925–26	Reformed in 1939, currently competing in the	^[103]

See also

• List of Scottish Professional Football League clubs
• Timeline of Scottish football

Notes

1. Book: Davies, Hunter . Boots, Balls and Haircuts: An Illustrated History of Football from Then to Now . 1-84403-261-2 . 2003 . Cassell Illustrated . 39.
2. Web site: Scotland – List of 2nd Level Champions. 9 May 2008. RSSSF. 8 May 2008.
3. Web site: Scotland – List of 3rd Level Champions. 9 May 2008. RSSSF. 18 April 2008.
4. Web site: History. Scottish Premier League. 5 March 2008. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20070202041829/http://www.scotprem.premiumtv.co.uk/page/History/0%2C%2C10002%2C00.html. 2 February 2007.
5. Web site: Ups and downs. BBC. 19 May 2008. 18 May 2008.
6. Web site: Annan voted into Scottish league . 3 July 2008 . 18 May 2018 . BBC Sport.
7. Web site: East Stirlingshire 0 - 1 Edinburgh City . BBC Sport . 14 May 2016 . 18 May 2018 . Brian . McLauchlin.
8. Web site: Aberdeen. The Football Club History Database. 12 November 2008.
9. Formally a continuation of Clydebank, who relocated to Airdrie in 2002 and were renamed Airdrie United. The name was changed in 2013 to Airdrieonians, the same name as the original Airdrieonians club that was liquidated in 2002.
10. Web site: Airdrie United. The Football Club History Database. 22 August 2013.
11. Web site: Albion Rovers. The Football Club History Database. 21 August 2013.
12. Web site: Alloa Athletic. The Football Club History Database. 21 August 2013.
13. Web site: Annan Athletic. The Football Club History Database. 21 August 2013.
14. Web site: Arbroath. The Football Club History Database. 21 August 2013.
15. Web site: Ayr United. The Football Club History Database. 21 August 2013.
16. Web site: Celtic. The Football Club History Database. 12 November 2008.
17. Web site: Clyde. The Football Club History Database. 22 August 2013.
18. Web site: Cowdenbeath. The Football Club History Database. 22 August 2013.
19. Web site: Dumbarton. The Football Club History Database. 22 August 2013.
20. Web site: Dundee. The Football Club History Database. 29 July 2012.
21. Web site: League tables: Dundee United. Soccerbase. 4 June 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20070210175713/http://www.soccerbase.com/league2.sd?teamid=740. 10 February 2007. dead.
22. Web site: Dunfermline Athletic. The Football Club History Database. 22 August 2013.
23. Web site: East Fife. The Football Club History Database. 23 August 2013.
24. Web site: Elgin City. The Football Club History Database. 23 August 2013.
25. Web site: Falkirk. The Football Club History Database. 23 August 2013.
26. Web site: Forfar Athletic. The Football Club History Database. 23 August 2013.
27. Web site: Hamilton Academical. The Football Club History Database. 23 August 2013.
28. Web site: League tables: Hearts. Soccerbase. 4 June 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20090425013800/http://www.soccerbase.com/league2.sd?teamid=1289. 25 April 2009. dead.
29. Web site: League tables: Hibernian. Soccerbase. 4 June 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20070210212433/http://www.soccerbase.com/league2.sd?teamid=1227. 10 February 2007. dead.
30. Web site: League tables: Inverness Caledonian Thistle. Soccerbase. 4 June 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20070210123121/http://www.soccerbase.com/league2.sd?teamid=482. 10 February 2007. dead.
31. Web site: League tables: Kilmarnock. Soccerbase. 4 June 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20070210175151/http://www.soccerbase.com/league2.sd?teamid=1455. 10 February 2007. dead.
32. Web site: Livingston. The Football Club History Database. 22 August 2013.
33. Web site: Montrose. The Football Club History Database. 22 August 2013.
34. Web site: Morton. The Football Club History Database. 22 August 2013.
35. Web site: League tables: Motherwell. Soccerbase. 4 June 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20070210175131/http://www.soccerbase.com/league2.sd?teamid=1734. 10 February 2007. dead.
36. Web site: Partick Thistle. The Football Club History Database. 23 August 2013.
37. Web site: Peterhead. The Football Club History Database. 23 August 2013.
38. Web site: Queen of the South. The Football Club History Database. 23 August 2013.
39. Web site: Queen's Park [Glasgow]]. The Football Club History Database. 23 August 2013.
40. Web site: Raith Rovers. The Football Club History Database. 23 August 2013.
41. Web site: Rangers. The Football Club History Database. 22 August 2013.
42. Web site: Ross County. The Football Club History Database. 22 August 2013.
43. Web site: League tables: Hamilton Academical. Soccerbase. 4 June 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20090904181334/http://www.soccerbase.com/league2.sd?teamid=1187. 4 September 2009. dead.
44. Web site: League tables: St Mirren. Soccerbase. 4 June 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20090905024341/http://www.soccerbase.com/league2.sd?teamid=2475. 5 September 2009. dead.
45. Web site: Stenhousemuir. The Football Club History Database. 23 August 2013.
46. Web site: Stirling Albion. The Football Club History Database. 23 August 2013.
47. Web site: Stranraer. The Football Club History Database. 22 August 2013.
48. Web site: Abercorn. The Football Club History Database. 12 November 2008.
49. Web site: Airdrieonians. The Football Club History Database. 12 November 2008.
50. Web site: Airdrie United given green light. BBC. 1 July 2002. 4 June 2008.
51. Web site: Armadale. The Football Club History Database. 12 November 2008.
52. Web site: Stagecoach West of Scotland League. Scottish Junior Football Association. 4 June 2008. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20080423034015/http://www.footballcentral.org/sfa/associations/scottish-junior-football-association/west/league_tables.cfm. 23 April 2008.
53. Web site: Arthurlie. The Football Club History Database. 12 November 2008.
54. Web site: All-time Scottish Football Club Directory 1829-2009. Scottish Football Historical Archive . 13 November 2018 .
55. Web site: Ayr. The Football Club History Database. 12 November 2008.
56. Web site: History of Ayr United F.C.. https://archive.today/20130419143104/http://www.ayrunitedfc.co.uk/index.asp?p=history_utd01. dead. 19 April 2013. Ayr United F.C.. 4 June 2008.
57. Web site: Ayr Parkhouse. The Football Club History Database. 12 November 2008.
58. Bathgate resigned during the 1928–29 season and the club's record was expunged from the table.
59. Web site: Bathgate. The Football Club History Database. 12 November 2008.
60. Web site: Beith FC – Information. Beith Juniors F.C.. 4 June 2008.
61. Web site: Beith. The Football Club History Database. 12 November 2008.
62. Web site: Berwick Rangers. The Football Club History Database. 22 August 2013.
63. Web site: Bo'ness. The Football Club History Database. 12 November 2008.
64. Web site: Bo'ness. Historical Football Kits. 4 June 2008.
65. Web site: Brechin City. The Football Club History Database. 22 August 2013.
66. Web site: Broxburn United. The Football Club History Database. 12 November 2008.
67. Web site: Cambuslang. The Football Club History Database. 12 November 2008.
68. Web site: Clackmannan. The Football Club History Database. 12 November 2008.
69. Web site: Clydebank. The Football Club History Database. 12 November 2008.
70. Web site: Clydebank. The Football Club History Database. 12 November 2008.
71. Web site: Cowlairs. The Football Club History Database. 12 November 2008.
72. Web site: Dumbarton Harp. The Football Club History Database. 12 November 2008.
73. Web site: Dundee Wanderers. The Football Club History Database. 12 November 2008.
74. Web site: Dykehead. The Football Club History Database. 12 November 2008.
75. Web site: East Stirlingshire. The Football Club History Database. 23 August 2013.
76. Web site: Edinburgh City. The Football Club History Database. 12 November 2008.
77. Web site: A Brief History . Edinburgh City F.C. . 4 June 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080418042654/http://www.edinburghcityfc.com/ecfc/abriefhistory.html . 18 April 2008 . dead .
78. Web site: Galston. The Football Club History Database. 12 November 2008.
79. Gretna officially returned to the Scottish League upon being relegated from the Scottish Premier League at the conclusion of the 2007–08 season, but resigned from the league before the start of the subsequent season.
80. Web site: Gretna. The Football Club History Database. 12 November 2008.
81. News: Gretna given place in the East of Scotland League . The Scotsman . 11 July 2008 . 'We are obviously a new club carrying on the traditions of the old club and there is no connection with the old club other than the similarity in name,' said Hodge..
82. Web site: Helensburgh. The Football Club History Database. 12 November 2008.
83. Web site: Johnstone. The Football Club History Database. 12 November 2008.
84. Web site: King's Park. The Football Club History Database. 12 November 2008.
85. Web site: Leith Athletic. The Football Club History Database. 12 November 2008.
86. Web site: Linthouse. The Football Club History Database. 12 November 2008.
87. Web site: Lochgelly United. The Football Club History Database. 12 November 2008.
88. Web site: League tables: Meadowbank Thistle. Soccerbase. 4 June 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20050313193720/http://www.soccerbase.com/league2.sd?teamid=1705. 13 March 2005. dead.
89. Web site: One Livi . Livingston F.C. . 9 June 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080514013805/http://www.livingstonfc.co.uk/onelivi.php . 14 May 2008 . dead .
90. Web site: Sanny saying goodbye. The Galloway Gazette. 4 June 2008. 23 April 2008.
91. Web site: Mid-Annandale. The Football Club History Database. 17 November 2008.
92. Web site: Nithsdale Wanderers. The Football Club History Database. 17 November 2008.
93. Web site: Northern. The Football Club History Database. 17 November 2008.
94. Web site: Peebles Rovers. The Football Club History Database. 17 November 2008.
95. Web site: Peebles Rovers. Historical Football Kits. 4 June 2008.
96. Web site: Port Glasgow Athletic. The Football Club History Database. 17 November 2008.
97. Web site: Renton. The Football Club History Database. 17 November 2008.
98. Web site: Royal Albert. The Football Club History Database. 17 November 2008.
99. Web site: Solway Star. The Football Club History Database. 17 November 2008.
100. Web site: St Bernard's. The Football Club History Database. 17 November 2008.
101. Web site: Third Lanark. The Football Club History Database. 17 November 2008.
102. Web site: Thistle. The Football Club History Database. 17 November 2008.
103. Web site: Vale of Leven. The Football Club History Database. 17 November 2008.