Scottish Junior Football Association, West Region
The Scottish Junior Football Association, West Region is one of three regions of the SJFA which organise their own distinct league and cup competitions. The SJFA used to be split into six regions, but in 2002 they took the decision to reform into three to try to ensure more games between the top clubs and hence increase their revenues. The region currently covers an area from Girvan in South Ayrshire to Denny in Central Scotland.
History
Although the West Region was formed by the amalgamation of the Central and Ayrshire regions in 2002, a West of Scotland Junior FA has existed since the end of the Intermediate dispute in 1931 and administered the West of Scotland Cup since that time. The first phase of rationalisation in 1968 saw the Central Junior League (based around greater Glasgow) merge with the Lanarkshire Junior League to create the Central region. The Western Junior League became the Ayrshire region with Neilston Juniors and Dunoon Athletic transferring to the Central region.
The league set-up in the region is a combined top division, officially known as the SJFA West of Scotland Region Super League Premier Division (12 teams), with the West of Scotland Region Super League First Division (14 teams) below. There are two district leagues that provide the First Division with two clubs each at the end of the season. The District Leagues of Ayrshire and Central below the Super League correspond to the former two regions that combined to create the Western region. There is a Central District League (with two divisions) and an Ayrshire District League. The four teams being relegated from Division One are assigned to their historic region. Although Ayrshire presently only has one division, clubs are also promoted between the two divisions of the Central District League.
West Region clubs voted in 2017 to organise all leagues on a regionwide basis and as a result, the Super League Premier Division was rebranded as the West Region Premiership from 2018 onwards and will consist of sixteen clubs. Clubs will be relegated to a rebranded Championship also consisting of sixteen teams.[1]
Member clubs
There are 63 member clubs of the West Region. The most recent new members are Gartcairn F. A. Juniors who joined for the 2015–16 season.[2] Dunipace F.C. left junior football in 2018 to join the East of Scotland League for season 2018-19.[3]
SJFA West Region Premiership
| Club | Location | Home Ground | Finishing position 2017–18 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auchinleck Talbot | Auchinleck | Beechwood Park | 2nd |
| Beith Juniors | Beith | Bellsdale Park | 1st |
| Cambuslang Rangers | Cambuslang | Somervell Park | 2nd in Super League First Division |
| Clydebank | Clydebank | Lochburn Park1 | 10th |
| Cumnock Juniors | Cumnock | Townhead Park | 9th |
| Glenafton Athletic | New Cumnock | Loch Park | 7th |
| Hurlford United | Hurlford | Blair Park | 8th |
| Irvine Meadow | Irvine | Meadow Park | 5th in Super League First Division |
| Kilbirnie Ladeside | Kilbirnie | Valefield Park | 5th |
| Kilwinning Rangers | Kilwinning | Abbey Park | 4th |
| Kirkintilloch Rob Roy | Cumbernauld | Guy's Meadow 2 | 6th |
| Largs Thistle | Largs | Barrfields Stadium | 3rd in Super League First Division |
| Petershill | Springburn, Glasgow | Petershill Park | 1st in Super League First Division |
| Pollok | Glasgow | Newlandsfield Park | 3rd |
| Renfrew | Renfrew | New Western Park | 4th in Super League First Division |
| Troon | Troon | Portland Park | 6th in Super League First Division |
1Groundsharing with Maryhill FC
2Groundsharing with Cumbernauld United F.C..[4]
SJFA West Region Championship
| Club | Location | Home Ground | Finishing position 2017–18 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arthurlie | Barrhead | Dunterlie Park | 12th in Super League Premier Division |
| Benburb F.C. | Glasgow | New Tinto Park | 3rd in First Division |
| Craigmark Burntonians | Dalmellington | Station Park | 3rd in Ayrshire District League |
| Cumbernauld United | Cumbernauld | Guy's Meadow | 8th |
| Dalry Thistle | Dalry | Merksworth Park | 1st in Ayrshire District League |
| Darvel Juniors | Darvel | Recreation Park | 9th |
| Girvan | Girvan | Hamilton Park | 11th in Super League Premier Division |
| Irvine Victoria | Irvine | Victoria Park | 2nd in Ayrshire District League |
| Kello Rovers | Kirkconnel | Nithside Park | 12th |
| Kilsyth Rangers | Kilsyth | Duncansfield Park | 10th |
| Larkhall Thistle | Larkhall | Gasworks Park | 11th |
| Neilston Juniors | Neilston | Brig O' Lea Stadium | 4th in First Division |
| Rossvale | Bishopbriggs | Huntershill Community Sports Hub | 1st in First Division |
| Rutherglen Glencairn | Rutherglen | Celsius Stadium | 7th |
| St Roch's | Glasgow | James McGrory Park | 2nd in First Division |
| Whitletts Victoria | Ayr | Dam Park | 4th in Ayrshire District League |
SJFA West Region League One
| Club | Location | Home Ground | Finishing position 2017–18 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ardrossan Winton Rovers | Ardrossan | Winton Park | 6th in Ayrshire District League |
| Bellshill Athletic | Bellshill | Rockburn Park | 3rd in Second Division |
| Blantyre Victoria | Blantyre | KG Stadium | 5th |
| East Kilbride Thistle | East Kilbride | The Showpark | 11th |
| Gartcairn Juniors | Airdrie | MTC Park | 2nd in Second Division |
| Glasgow Perthshire | Possilpark, Glasgow | Keppoch Park | 7th |
| Greenock Juniors | Greenock | Ravenscraig Stadium | 12th |
| Lugar Boswell Thistle | Lugar | Rosebank Park | 5th in Ayrshire District League |
| Maryhill | Maryhill | Lochburn Park | 13th in Super League First Division |
| Maybole | Maybole | Ladywell Stadium | 7th in Ayrshire District League |
| Port Glasgow | Port Glasgow | Parklea Community Stadium | 8th |
| Royal Albert | Stonehouse | Tilework Park | 1st in Second Division |
| Shettleston | Shettleston | Greenfield Park | 14th in Super League First Division |
| Shotts Bon Accord | Shotts | Hannah Park | 9th |
| Wishaw Juniors | Wishaw | Beltane Park | 6th |
| Yoker Athletic | Clydebank | Holm Park | 10th |
SJFA West Region League Two
| Club | Location | Home Ground | Finishing position 2017–18 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annbank United | Annbank | New Pebble Park | 11th in Ayrshire District League |
| Ardeer Thistle | Stevenston | Ardeer Stadium | 10th in Ayrshire District League |
| Ashfield | Possilpark, Glasgow | Saracen Park | 5th |
| Carluke Rovers | Carluke | John Cumming Stadium | 10th |
| Forth Wanderers | Forth | Kingshill Park | 13th in First Division |
| Johnstone Burgh | Johnstone | Keanie Park | 9th |
| Lanark United | Lanark | Moor Park | 6th |
| Lesmahagow | Lesmahagow | Craighead Park | 15th in First Division |
| Muirkirk | Muirkirk | Burnside Park | 8th in Ayrshire District League |
| Newmains United | Newmains | Victoria Park | 12th |
| Saltcoats Victoria | Saltcoats | Campbell Park | 9th in Ayrshire District League |
| St Anthony's | Cardonald | McKenna Park | 4th |
| Thorniewood United | Viewpark | Robertson Park | 14th in First Division |
| Vale of Clyde | Tollcross | Fullarton Park | 7th |
| Vale of Leven | Alexandria | Millburn Park | 8th |
Cup competitions
The West Region organise six cup competitions for member clubs:
- The West of Scotland Cup. Known as the New Coin Holdings West of Scotland Cup for sponsorship purposes, this is a knockout tournament for all West Region clubs. The competition originated as the Scottish Intermediate Cup in 1927–28 and was renamed The West of Scotland Cup following the ending of the Intermediate dispute in 1931.[5]
- Central League Cup. Known as the Euroscot Engineering League Cup for sponsorship purposes, this is a knockout tournament for former Central Region clubs in the West Region. It was first played for in 1921–22 when known as the Glasgow Junior League Cup.
- Ayrshire Cup. Known as the Ayrshire Weekly Press Cup for sponsorship purposes, this is a knockout tournament for former Ayrshire Region clubs in the West Region. The tournament originated in 1889–90 as the Ayrshire Junior Challenge Cup and was won for the first three seasons by Glenbuck Cherrypickers.[6]
- Central Sectional League Cup. Known as the Exsel Group Sectional League Cup for sponsorship purposes, this tournament is for former Central Region clubs and is the opening competition of the season. Clubs initially compete in eight groups (sections) with the group winners advancing to a knockout competition. Based geographically, the groups comprise the same clubs each season. Matches in the group stages are played under league rules so a player is not cup-tied by turning out for a particular club.
- Ayrshire Sectional League Cup. Known as the Ardagh Glass Sectional League Cup for sponsorship reasons, this tournament is for former Ayrshire Region clubs. Clubs initially compete in four groups (sections) with group winners and runners up advancing to the knockout stages, otherwise the format is the same as that of the Central Sectional League Cup
- Evening Times Champions Cup. This is a knockout tournament played at the end of the season between the winners of the five West Region league competitions during the preceding season. The champions of the Ayrshire District League and Central District Second Division play in a preliminary round tie with the winners of that game joining the other three clubs at the semi-final stage.[7] The Evening Times trophy was first presented in 1896–97 to the winners of the Glasgow Junior League and has been awarded to the winners of various competitions over the years. Between 2003 and 2012, the competition involved all ten league and cup winners in the West Region and was known as the Evening Times Cup Winners Cup.[8]
Current cup holders
- West of Scotland Cup - Hurlford United [9] (2017–18 competition)
- Central League Cup - Pollok [10] (2017–18 competition)
- Ayrshire Cup - Kilwinning Rangers [11] (2017–18 competition)
- Central Sectional League Cup - Clydebank [12] (2017–18 competition)
- Ayrshire Sectional League Cup - Auchinleck Talbot [13] (2017–18 competition)
- Evening Times Champions Cup - Beith Juniors [14] (2017–18 competition)
- Clydesdale Cup - Lesmahagow
Roll of Honour
| Season | West Premiership | West Championship | West League One | West League Two |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018–19 |
References
- ↑ Goldthorp, Craig (13 July 2017). "Junior football overhaul sees merger of Scotland's West and Ayrshire clubs". www.carlukegazette.co.uk. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
- ↑ Paterson, Colin (25 June 2015). "'The hard work starts now': Gartcairn Juniors chairman Robert McCallum ready to get going". Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser. Daily Record. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
- ↑ "The Future - Update". Dunipace FC. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
- ↑ "Full time whistle for historic Adamslie Park". www.kirkintilloch-herald.co.uk. 21 April 2014. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
- ↑ "West of Scotland Junior Cup". Ants History. Retrieved 26 July 2012.
- ↑ McGlone, David; McLure, Bill (1987). The Juniors - 100 Years. Edinburgh: Mainstream. p. 205. ISBN 1-85158-060-3.
- ↑ Jim O'Donnell (26 July 2012). "Champions will battle to become talk of the Times". Evening Times.
- ↑ "Evening Times Competitions". Ants History. Retrieved 26 July 2012.
- ↑ Bark, Stephen (28 June 2018). "Beith lose out on penalties to Hurlford United". Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
- ↑ Driver, Eric (28 June 2018). "Cumbernauld push Pollok all the way in League Cup final". Cumbernald News. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
- ↑ McConnell, Stewart (13 June 2018). "Kilwinning Rangers defeat Largs Thistle to land Ayrshire Weekly Press Cup". Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
- ↑ Robertson, Alan (6 November 2017). "Clydebank dump Pollok to lift Sectional League Cup and skipper insists glory is springboard for season". Daily Record. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
- ↑ Bark, Stephen (13 October 2017). "Next stop Banff in Scottish Cup journey for Glenafton Athletic after Ardagh Cup heartache". Cumnock Chronicle. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
- ↑ McConnell, Stewart (28 June 2017). "Beith Juniors celebrate Champions Cup win after league triumph". Retrieved 21 June 2018.