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.
See also: History of Scottish football.
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 12 clubs playing 38 games ↓ 1 relegation spot + 1 relegation playoff spot | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | 10 | Scottish Championship 10 clubs playing 36 games ↑ 1 promotion spot + 3 promotion playoff spots ↓ 1 relegation spot + 1 relegation playoff spot | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | 10 | Scottish League One 10 clubs playing 36 games ↑ 1 promotion spot + 3 promotion playoff spots ↓ 1 relegation spot + 1 relegation playoff spot | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | 10 | Scottish League Two 10 clubs playing 36 games ↑ 1 promotion spot + 3 promotion playoff spots ↓ 1 relegation playoff spot | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 250 | Non-League / Regional Leagues | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | 36 | Highland Football League 18 clubs playing 34 games ↑ 1 promotion playoff spot ↓ 1 relegation playoff spot | Lowland Football League 18 clubs playing 34 games ↑ 1 promotion playoff spot ↓ 1 relegation spot | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | 92 | Midlands Football League20 clubs playing 28 games ↑ 1 promotion playoff spot | North Caledonian League12 clubs playing 22 games ↑ 1 promotion playoff spot | North Region League Premier Division16 clubs playing 30 games ↑ 1 promotion playoff spot ↓ 2 relegation spots + 1 relegation playoff spot | East of Scotland Football League Premier Division16 clubs playing 30 games ↑ 1 promotion playoff spot ↓ 3 relegation spots | South of Scotland Football League12 clubs playing 22 games ↑ 1 promotion playoff spot | West of Scotland Football League Premier Division16 clubs playing 30 games ↑ 1 promotion playoff spot ↓ 3 relegation spots | ||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | 46 | North Region League Championship15 clubs playing 28 games ↑ 2 promotion spots + 3 promotion playoff spots | East of Scotland Football League First Division16 clubs playing 30 games ↑ 3 promotion spots ↓ 3 relegation spots | West of Scotland Football League First Division16 clubs playing 30 games ↑ 3 promotion spots ↓ 3 relegation spots | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 8 | 32 | East of Scotland Football League Second Division15 clubs playing 28 games ↑ 3 promotion spots ↓ 2 relegation spots | West of Scotland Football League Second Division16 clubs playing 30 games ↑ 3 promotion spots ↓ 3 relegation spots | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9 | 27 | East of Scotland Football League Third Division11 clubs playing 30 games ↑ 3 promotion spots | West of Scotland Football League Third Division16 clubs playing 30 games ↑ 3 promotion spots ↓ 3 relegation spots | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10 | 16 | West of Scotland Football League Fourth Division16 clubs playing 30 games ↑ 3 promotion spots | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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 (31 clubs, 2 divisions). Below the Lowland League is the East of Scotland Football League (58 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 2024–25 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.
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 Association60 clubs | 1 | Premier Division14 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 Association37 clubs | 1 | Premier League12 clubs ↓ 2 relegation spots | ||
| 2 | Division 111 clubs ↑ 2 promotion spots ↓ 2 relegation spots | |||
| 3 | Division 214 clubs ↑ 2 promotion spots | |||
| Border Amateur Football League28 clubs | 1 | A League10 clubs ↓ 2 relegation spots + 1 relegation playoff spot | ||
| 2 | B League10 clubs ↑ 2 promotion spots + 1 promotion playoff spot ↓ 3 relegation spots + 1 relegation playoff spot | |||
| 3 | C League8 clubs ↑ 2 promotion spots + 1 promotion playoff spot | |||
| Caledonian Amateur Football League23 clubs | 1 | Premier Division14 clubs ↓ 3 relegation spots | ||
| 2 | First Division9 clubs ↑ 3 promotion spots | |||
| Central Scottish Amateur Football League25 clubs | 1 | Premier Division12 clubs ↓ 2 relegation spots | ||
| 2 | Championship13 clubs ↑ 2 promotion spots | |||
| Greater Glasgow Premier Amateur Football League41 clubs | 1 | Division 112 clubs ↓ 2 relegation spots + 1 relegation playoff spot | ||
| 2 | Division 212 clubs ↑ 2 promotion spots + 1 promotion playoff spot ↓ 2 relegation spots + 1 relegation playoff spot | |||
| 3 | Division 3A9 clubs ↑ 1 promotion spots+ 1 promotion playoff spot | Division 3B8 clubs ↑ 1 promotion spots+ 1 promotion playoff spot | ||
| Kingdom of Fife Amateur Football Association35 clubs | 1 | Premier League12 clubs ↓ 2 relegation spots | ||
| 2 | Championship12 clubs ↑ 2 promotion spots ↓ 2 relegation spots | |||
| 3 | Division 111 clubs ↑ 2 promotion spots | |||
| Lothian & Edinburgh Amateur Football Association (Saturday)49 clubs | 1 | Premier Division12 clubs ↓ TBC relegation spot | ||
| 2 | Championship12 clubs ↑ TBC promotion spot ↓ TBC relegation spots | |||
| 3 | Division 112 clubs ↑ TBC promotion spot ↓ TBC relegation spot | |||
| 2 | Division 213 clubs ↑ TBC promotion spot | |||
| Midlands Amateur Football Association14 clubs | 1 | Premier Division14 clubs | ||
| Perthshire Amateur Football Association21 clubs | 1 | Division One10 clubs ↓ 2 relegation spots | ||
| 2 | Division Two11 clubs ↑ 2 promotion spots | |||
| Scottish Amateur Football League16 clubs | 1 | Premier16 clubs | ||
| Stirling & District Amateur Football Association11 clubs | 1 | Premier Division11 clubs ↓ TBC relegation spots | ||
| Dundee Saturday Morning Amateur Football League39 clubs | 1 | Premier Division12 clubs ↓ 1 relegation spot + 2 relegation playoff spots | ||
| 2 | 1st Division12 clubs ↑ 1 promotion spot + 2 promotion playoff spots ↓ 2 relegation spots + 1 relegation playoff spot | |||
| 3 | 2nd Division15 clubs ↑ 1 promotion spot + 2 promotion playoff spots | |||
| Glasgow Colleges Amateur Football Association34 clubs | 1 | Premier Division14 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 League64 clubs | 1 | Premier Division14 clubs ↓ TBC relegation spots | ||
| 2 | Championship14 clubs ↑ TBC promotion spots ↓ TBC relegation spots | |||
| 2 | Division 1A14 clubs ↑ TBC promotion spots | Division 1B12 clubs ↑ TBC promotion spots | ||
| Strathclyde Evangelical Churches Football League22 clubs | 1 | Premier Division12 clubs ↓ 1 relegation spot | ||
| 2 | Division 110 clubs ↑ 1 promotion spot | |||
| Leagues | Divisions | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Caithness Amateur Football Association14 clubs | 1 | Division 18 clubs ↓ 1 relegation spot | |
| 2 | Division 26 clubs ↑ 1 promotion spot | ||
| Inverness & District Amateur Football Association26 clubs | 1 | Premier Division8 clubs ↓ 1 relegation spot | |
| 2 | 1st Division8 clubs ↑ 1 promotion spot ↓ 1 relegation spot | ||
| 3 | 2nd Division10 clubs ↑ 1 promotion spot | ||
| Lewis & Harris Amateur League9 clubs | 1 | 9 clubs | |
| North West Sutherland Amateur Football League8 clubs | 1 | 8 clubs | |
| Orkney Amateur Football Association12 clubs | 1 | A League7 clubs ↓ 1 relegation spot | |
| 2 | B League5 clubs ↑ 1 promotion spot | ||
| Shetland Amateur Football Association8 clubs | 1 | Premier League8 clubs | |
| West Highland Amateur Football Association8 clubs | 1 | 8 clubs | |
| Uist & Barra Amateur Football Association6 clubs | 1 | 6 clubs | |
| Leagues | Divisions | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen Sunday Football Association17 clubs | 1 | Premier Division8 clubs ↓ TBC relegation spots | |
| 2 | First Division9 clubs ↑ TBC promotion spots | ||
| Airdrie & Coatbridge Sunday Amateur Football League40 clubs | 1 | Premier Division12 clubs ↓ TBC relegation spots | |
| 2 | Championship Division13 clubs ↑ TBC promotion spots ↓ TBC relegation spots | ||
| 3 | First Division15 clubs ↑ TBC promotion spots | ||
| Ayrshire Sunday Amateur Football Association11 clubs | 1 | Division 111 clubs | |
| Dumfries Sunday Amateur Football League14 clubs | 1 | Premier Division15 clubs | |
| Fife Sunday Amateur Football League16 clubs | 1 | Premier Division6 clubs ↓ 1 relegation spot | |
| 2 | Championship 10 clubs ↑ 2 promotion spots | ||
| Glasgow & District Sunday Championship Amateur Football League43 clubs | 1 | Premiership10 clubs ↓ TBC relegation spots | |
| 2 | Championship12 clubs ↑ TBC promotion spots ↓ TBC relegation spots | ||
| 3 | Division 111 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 Division10 clubs ↓ TBC relegation spots | Premier Division14 clubs | |
| 2 | Championship11 clubs ↑ TBC promotion spots ↓ TBC relegation spots | ||
| 3 | Division 114 clubs ↑ TBC promotion spots | ||
| Football Central Amateur Football League54 clubs | Lanarkshire | – | |
| 1 | Premier Division10 clubs ↓ TBC relegation spots | Premier Division12 clubs ↓ TBC relegation spots | |
| 2 | Championship9 clubs ↑ TBC promotion spots | Championship12 clubs ↑ TBC promotion spots ↓ TBC relegation spots | |
| 3 | First Division11 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 League10 clubs | 1 | West Conference5 clubs | East Conference5 clubs | |
| Forth & Endrick Football League10 clubs | 1 | 10 clubs | ||
| Deeside Welfare Football Association8 clubs | 1 | Mid-Deeside Summer League8 clubs | ||
| Moray & District Welfare Football Association10 clubs | 1 | 10 clubs | ||
| North East Scotland Welfare Football Association20 clubs | 1 | League 1 9 clubs ↓ 2 relegation spots | ||
| 2 | League 2 11 clubs ↑ 2 promotion spots | |||
| Strathspey & Badenoch Welfare Football Association6 clubs | 1 | 6 clubs | ||
| Winter | ||||
| Greenock & District Welfare League16 clubs | 1 | 16 clubs | ||
| Montrose and District Welfare League11 clubs | 1 | 11 clubs | ||
| Warriors Premier League13 clubs | 1 | 13 clubs | ||
The reserve and youth leagues are mostly governed by the relevant adult leagues.
| Leagues | Divisions | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SPFL Reserve League9 clubs (SPFL Premiership, Championship, League One) | Reserve | 1 | 9 clubs | |||||||
| Lowlands Development League95 clubs | Youth(U20) | 1 | Conference A13 clubs (SPFL League One, League Two, Lowland League) | Conference B14 clubs (Lowland League, EoS League) | Conference C14 clubs (EoS League) | Conference D13 clubs (EoS League, WoS League) | Conference E13 clubs (WoS League) | Conference F14 clubs (WoS League) | Conference G14 clubs (WoS League) | |
| Aberdeenshire and District League11 clubs (Aberdeenshire and District FA) | Youth(U21) | 1 | 11 clubs | |||||||
| North of Scotland FA U20 League4 clubs | Youth(U20) | 1 | 4 clubs | |||||||
| Highland League U1819 clubs | Youth(U18) | 1 | East 8 clubs | North 11 clubs | ||||||
| SFA Club Academy Scotland Elite League9 clubs (CAS Elite Level) | Youth(U11-18) | 1 | U11 | U13 | U14 | U15 | U16 | U18 | ||
| 9 clubs | ||||||||||
| SFA Club Academy Scotland Performance League10 clubs (CAS Performance Level) | Youth(U11-18) | 1 | U11 | U13 | U14 | U15 | U16 | U18 | ||
| 10 clubs | ||||||||||
| SFA Advanced Youth League6 clubs (Advanced Youth Programme) | Youth(U16-18) | 1 | U16 | U18 | ||||||
| 6 clubs | ||||||||||
| Saturday Morning Amateur Football League Development Section15 clubs | Youth | 1 | 15 clubs | |||||||
| Midlands Amateur Football Association Alliance League12 clubs | Reserve | 1 | Championship 12 clubs | |||||||
| Orkney Amateur Football Association Reserve League8 clubs | Reserve | 1 | 8 clubs | |||||||
| Shetland Amateur Football Association Reserve League11 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 12 clubs playing 27 games ↓ 1 relegation spot + 1 relegation playoff spot | |||||
| 2 | Scottish Women's Premier League 2 8 clubs playing 28 games ↑ 1 promotion spot + 1 promotion playoff spot ↓ 1 relegation spot + 1 relegation playoff spot | |||||
| 3 | Scottish Women's Championship 8 clubs playing 28 games ↑ 1 promotion spot + 1 promotion playoff spot | |||||
| 4 | Scottish Women's League One 12 clubs playing 27 games ↑ 2 promotion spots | |||||
| Regional Leagues | ||||||
| 5 | Scottish Women's Football League | |||||
| SWFL North10 clubs playing 18 games ↑ TBC promotion spots | SWFL East11 clubs playing 20 games ↑ TBC promotion spots | SWFL South10 clubs playing 18 games ↑ TBC promotion spots | SWFL West9 clubs playing 16 games ↑ TBC promotion spots | |||
| – | Highlands and Islands League8 clubs playing 14 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 RegionEmma Mitchell League 11 clubs | Sam Kerr League 11 clubs | Fiona Brown League 7 clubsLee 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 RegionJenna Fife League 6 clubs Kirsty Smith League 8 clubs | Joelle Murray League 9 clubs Lizzie Arnot League 10 clubs | Frankie Brown League 12 clubsJoelle 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 clubsChristy 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]