East Region Premiership Explained

Folded:2021
Region:SJFA East Region
Teams:30
Divisions:2
Level:1
Pyramid:Scottish Junior Football Association#Organisation and regions
Domest Cup:Scottish Junior Cup
Champions:Lochee United (3rd title)
Most Successful Club:Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic (four titles)
Season:2019–20

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.

From the 2007–08 season, the winners of the league were eligible to enter the senior Scottish Cup at its earliest stage, with Linlithgow Rose being the first champions to take part in the Scottish Cup.

In 2013–14 the East Super League expanded from its original twelve clubs to sixteen as part of a wider league restructuring in the East Region.[1] For the 2018–19 season, league reconstruction reduced the Super League back to twelve teams after 24 Junior clubs from the east region moved to the East of Scotland Football League. Further changes were made to create two regional divisions in the 2019–20 season (declared void prior to completion).

From the 2006–07 season until the 2017–18 season, the Super League relegated into the Premier League, which in turn fed down into the North and South divisions. The mass resignations from 2018 also led to reorganisations in the structure below the top tier.

From the 2021–22 season, the SJFA East Region along with North Caledonian Football Association and the SJFA North Region were incorporated into the Scottish football league system to form a fully-integrated Tier 6 below the Highland League. With all south (Lothian) clubs having already left the SJFA league to join the East of Scotland League (while retaining their membership), it was decided the new single division formed by the remaining north (Tayside) clubs would be named the Midlands Football League, although it would still be administered by the SJFA.

Champions and season summaries

Season[2] WinnersRunners-upRelegatedPromotedChampions' Progressionin Scottish Cup
Hill of Beath HawthornCarnoustie Panmure
Edinburgh United
Dundee Violet
Lochee United
Bo'ness United
Kelty Hearts
N/A
TayportKelty Hearts
Hill of Beath Hawthorn
Dundee North End
Carnoustie Panmure
Camelon Juniors
Thornton Hibs
TayportOakley United
Camelon Juniors
Thornton Hibs
Hill of Beath Hawthorn
Whitburn Juniors
Dundee North End
Tayport (2) Bathgate ThistleGlenrothes
Arniston Rangers
Dundee North End
Oakley United
Camelon Juniors
Kinnoull
Linlithgow Rose (2) Bonnyrigg Rose AthleticBo'ness United
Kinnoull
Glenrothes
Kelty Hearts
4th Round 2007–08
Lochee United (2) Whitburn JuniorsCarnoustie Panmure
Oakley United
Bo'ness United
Forfar West End
3rd Round 2008–09
Camelon JuniorsForfar West End
Tayport
Musselburgh Athletic
Newtongrange Star
1st Round 2009–10
2009–10[3] Linlithgow RoseWhitburn Juniors
Glenrothes
Tayport
Forfar West End
3rd Round 2010–11
Bo'ness United (2) Hill of Beath HawthornTayport
Newtongrange Star
St Andrews United
Carnoustie Panmure
3rd Round 2011–12
Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic (2) Hill of Beath HawthornBathgate Thistle
Forfar West End (in abeyance)
Sauchie Juniors
Broxburn Athletic
3rd Round 2012–13
Linlithgow Rose (3) Bonnyrigg Rose AthleticNo relegation.League expanded to 16 clubsNewtongrange Star
Ballingry Rovers
Tayport
Armadale Thistle
2nd Round 2013–14
Bo'ness United (3) Linlithgow RoseTayport
St Andrews United
Penicuik Athletic
Fauldhouse United
4th Round 2014–15
Bo'ness UnitedArmadale Thistle
Lochee United
Ballingry Rovers (folded)
Tayport
St Andrews United
Broughty Athletic
1st Round 2015–16
Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic (3) Kelty HeartsSauchie Juniors
St Andrews United
Tayport
Jeanfield Swifts
Dundonald Bluebell
Lochee United
4th Round 2016–17
Kelty Hearts (2) Bonnyrigg Rose AthleticMusselburgh Athletic
Fauldhouse United
Sauchie Juniors
Kennoway Star Hearts
Forfar West End
Preliminary round 1 2017–18
Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic (4) Linlithgow RoseNo relegation.League reduced to 12 clubsFauldhouse United
Tayport
Thornton Hibs
Glenrothes
Downfield
Whitburn Juniors
Kirriemuir Thistle
1st Round 2018–19
Lochee United (3) Broughty AthleticNo relegation or promotion, league restructured post-season into North and South sections2nd Round 2019–20
Split into North and South divisions. Season suspended in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, later declared null and void with no champion declared.[4]
2020–21Renamed East Premiership and featured all East Region clubs. Split into North and South divisions. Season began in November 2020 and was suspended in January 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, later declared null and void with no champion declared.[5]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Junior Football – PA Friday June 22. Perthshire Advertiser. 22 June 2012. 23 June 2012.
  2. https://docplayer.net/59023520-Towns-fields-clubs-of-fife.html Towns, Fields and Clubs of Fife
  3. http://www.newtongrangestar.uwclub.net/2010.htm 2009/10
  4. https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/phil-mcguire-bewildered-null-void-21885797 Phil McGuire bewildered by null and void decision that has cost Carnoustie Juniors title despite leading table since day one
  5. Following today’s update from the Scottish Government stating that adult contact training/football will not be allowed until 17th May 2021, the management committee of the Scottish Junior FA have decided to end season 2020/2021 and declare all competitions null & void.. eastregion_sjfa. 1371928138524069890. 16 March 2021. East Region SJFA. en.