1.
Association football
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Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball. It is played by 250 million players in over 200 countries and dependencies making it the worlds most popular sport, the game is played on a rectangular field with a goal at each end. The object of the game is to score by getting the ball into the opposing goal, players are not allowed to touch the ball with their hands or arms while it is in play, unless they are goalkeepers. Other players mainly use their feet to strike or pass the ball, the team that scores the most goals by the end of the match wins. If the score is level at the end of the game, the Laws of the Game were originally codified in England by The Football Association in 1863. Association football is governed internationally by the International Federation of Association Football, the first written reference to the inflated ball used in the game was in the mid-14th century, Þe heued fro þe body went, Als it were a foteballe. The Online Etymology Dictionary states that the word soccer was split off in 1863, according to Partha Mazumdar, the term soccer originated in England, first appearing in the 1880s as an Oxford -er abbreviation of the word association. Within the English-speaking world, association football is now usually called football in the United Kingdom and mainly soccer in Canada and the United States. People in Australia, Ireland, South Africa and New Zealand use either or both terms, although national associations in Australia and New Zealand now primarily use football for the formal name. According to FIFA, the Chinese competitive game cuju is the earliest form of football for which there is scientific evidence, cuju players could use any part of the body apart from hands and the intent was kicking a ball through an opening into a net. It was remarkably similar to football, though similarities to rugby occurred. During the Han Dynasty, cuju games were standardised and rules were established, phaininda and episkyros were Greek ball games. An image of an episkyros player depicted in low relief on a vase at the National Archaeological Museum of Athens appears on the UEFA European Championship Cup, athenaeus, writing in 228 AD, referenced the Roman ball game harpastum. Phaininda, episkyros and harpastum were played involving hands and violence and they all appear to have resembled rugby football, wrestling and volleyball more than what is recognizable as modern football. As with pre-codified mob football, the antecedent of all football codes. Non-competitive games included kemari in Japan, chuk-guk in Korea and woggabaliri in Australia, Association football in itself does not have a classical history. Notwithstanding any similarities to other games played around the world FIFA have recognised that no historical connection exists with any game played in antiquity outside Europe. The modern rules of football are based on the mid-19th century efforts to standardise the widely varying forms of football played in the public schools of England
2.
Thornliebank
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Thornliebank is a suburban area in East Renfrewshire, in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. Part of the Greater Glasgow conurbation, it is located on the Auldhouse Burn about 6 miles south of Glasgow city centre, the original village was founded in the 18th century and began to develop after the opening of a printworks in 1778, and subsequently other light industry. Despite industrial decline in the 20th century, Thornliebank continued to expand due to extensive public, as of the 2011 Census, the area has a population of 4,051. It is not known when Thornliebank was first settled although it has been ascertained that it did not exist prior to the 18th century, in 1789 it was a little street of cottages but it had grown by 1845, to have a population of 1366. This was largely due to the Crum family, who established, john Crum founded the works in Main Street in 1778 to print locally woven linen. Walter Crum who was in charge by 1819 was a chemist and he replaced spinning and weaving by calico printing with bleaching, turkey red dyeing and beetling. This brought immigrants from Northern Ireland and the New Statistical Account of Scotland described Thornliebank as a flourishing village where, thirty years ago. Walters son Alexander Crum who took over the works was a major philanthropist supporting housing, education. He also provided funds for the club and Thornliebank Parish Church. Alexander Crum was Member of Parliament for Renfrewshire from 1880 to 1885, after his death he was commemorated by the Crum Library which was designed by the Scottish architect Sir Rowand Anderson and formally opened on 20 March 1897. Woodfarm is a district of Thornliebank, next to Rouken Glen Park. The housing is a mix of council-owned property, ex Army-owned houses, older bungalows and villas, Woodfarm Playing Fields sports complex was completed in 2004. The development features a football pitch, three five-a-side football pitches, and a clubhouse with changing rooms. Woodfarm High School, opposite the complex, has use of the pitches on weekdays for physical education classes, while the public has access to the facilities on evenings. According to the 2011 census, the Thornliebank census locality had a resident population of 4,051. Public transport in the area is coordinated by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport, Thornliebank railway station is on the East Kilbride branch of the Glasgow South Western Line. Originally opened by the Busby Railway in 1881, it is served by trains running between Glasgow Central and East Kilbride. Thornliebank has one secondary school, Woodfarm High School in the Woodfarm area
3.
Renfrewshire (historic)
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Renfrewshire or the County of Renfrew is a historic county and lieutenancy area in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. The area is known as Greater Renfrewshire to distinguish it from the modern local authority area. For the purposes of government, Renfrewshire is now divided into three council areas called Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire and Inverclyde. The county borders the city of Glasgow and Lanarkshire to the east and Ayrshire to the south, the Firth of Clyde forms its northern boundary, with Dunbartonshire and Argyllshire on the opposing banks. Renfrewshires early history is marked by ancient British and Roman settlement, Renfrewshire can trace its origin to the feudal lands at Strathgryfe granted to Walter Fitzalan, the first High Steward of Scotland. Robert III of Scotland, a descendant of Fitzalan, established the shire of Renfrew-based out of the Royal burgh of Renfrew, during the Industrial Revolution, many of the larger towns became important centres of commerce and manufacturing. The goods produced were chiefly cottons, calicos and silks building on the countys long weaving heritage, other industries such as ship building, distilleries and printworks also contributed to the economy. At this time, Paisley was the largest urban and commercial centre in the county by some margin and this distinction saw the emergence of local government focused in Paisley, rather than the county town of Renfrew. Paisley remains the centre of the Renfrewshire council area today. Parts of the county, such as Govan and Nitshill were incorporated into Glasgow during the early 20th century as the city expanded, Renfrewshire was superseded by the Strathclyde local government region in 1975, until its abolition in 1996. The modern unitary council areas in the county - Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire, Renfrewshires origins lie in the religious authority over the Strathgryfe area granted to Paisley Abbey by Walter Fitzalan. However its history goes further, with ancient Roman and Brythonic heritage. The earliest evidence of activity in the area is traces of an Iron Age fort in the Busby area. When the Romans advanced in the year 80 from the Solway Firth, the territory that would later become Renfrewshire was occupied by the Damnonii, the principal Roman stronghold in the area was at Vanduara. Following the end of Roman rule in Britain in 410, the Cumbrian Britons, with their capital at Dumbarton, during the High Middle Ages, Strathclyde was conquered by the Kingdom of Alba, which in turn developed into the Kingdom of Scotland. In the 12th century, during the reign of David I of Scotland, Walter Fitzalan fled the English county of Shropshire due to The Anarchy between Empress Matilda and Stephen. Walter rallied to the support of the Empress, but when her cause was lost, Walter befriended David I, King of Scots who was an uncle of Matilda, and became, Davids Dapifer or Steward. Accompanied by his brother Simon, Walter came to Scotland about 1136 and fought for Scotland at the Battle of the Standard at Northallerton in 1138 under the command of David Is son, Prince Henry
4.
Cathkin Park
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For the original Cathkin Park ground, see Cathkin Park. Cathkin Park is a park in Glasgow, Scotland. The park is maintained by the parks department, and it is a public place where football is still played. The park contains the site of the second Hampden Park, previously home to the football clubs Queens Park, the original Hampden Park is just to the west, as the course of the original Cathcart Road is now in Queens Park Rec. The park formerly contained a stadium, which had played host to organised football since 1884. It was originally known as Hampden Park and was rented by Queens Park between 1884 and 1903, when Queens Park moved to the third Hampden Park, Third Lanark took over the lease. They renamed it New Cathkin Park (as they had played at another stadium named Cathkin Park just to the east of Dixon Halls on the east side of the Cathcart Road. This is also where the first major Anglo-Scottish club competition, the British League Cup final, took place in 1902, Third Lanarks last match at Cathkin took place on 25 April 1967, when they played out a 3–3 draw against Queen of the South. Jimmy Davidson scored one goal for Queens and Brian McMurdo two, including the last ever senior goal at the Park. The stadium subsequently fell into disrepair and most of the fabric was gradually removed, the remains of the terraces from 3 sides of the ground can be seen in the park. However, a reformed Third Lanark team, which plays in the Greater Glasgow Amateur League, currently plays in the park, as do Hampden AFC, video of the remaining terraces May 2011
5.
Hamilton Academical F.C.
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They were established in 1874 from the school football team at Hamilton Academy and remain the only professional club in British football to have originated from a school team. Hamilton have won the Scottish Challenge Cup twice and have finished runners-up in the Scottish Cup twice, the club currently play their home games at New Douglas Park. Hamilton Academical F. C. was formed in late 1874 by the rector, in the 1970s, Hamilton briefly resigned from the league due to mounting debts. In 1994 the club sold its ground, Douglas Park, to Sainsburys supermarket. During this period the club went through hardships and unpaid players went on strike. As a result, Hamilton was unable to fulfil its fixtures during the 1999–2000 season and was docked 15 points, the club moved into its New Douglas Park stadium in 2001. In 2008, for the first time in 20 years, Accies gained promotion to the top division of Scottish football, in the 2009–10 season, a 3–0 victory against Kilmarnock on 17 April 2010 secured a third straight season in Scotlands top flight, with four games remaining. The Accies stay in the SPL ended in the 2010–11 season, after a hard-fought campaign during the 2013–14 Scottish Championship season, Accies finished in second position on the final day of the season following a 10–2 home victory over Morton. Hamilton lost the first leg 2–0 at New Douglas Park, but two goals in the return leg at Easter Road, including an injury time strike, forced the tie to extra time. Hamilton converted all of their spot-kicks and gained back to the top flight. Neil left the club in January 2015, to take up a position at English club Norwich, the club play their fixtures at New Douglas Park, which was opened in 2001. The pitch is a surface, one of two in the Scottish Premiership alongside Kilmarnock. The stadium has a capacity of 6,018 and is composed of two permanent and one temporary stand. The ground replaced Douglas Park, which was the home of Hamilton from 1888 to 1994, the ground was eventually sold to supermarket chain Sainsburys in 1994, with the proceeds going towards the construction of the new stadium, which lies adjacent to the site of Douglas Park. Between 1994 and 2001 the club had no home and they ground-shared at Cliftonhill and Firhill Stadium. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality, note, Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality, note, Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality, the following is a list of the officially-appointed captains of the Hamilton Academical first-team
6.
Scotland
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Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and covers the northern third of the island of Great Britain. It shares a border with England to the south, and is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, with the North Sea to the east. In addition to the mainland, the country is made up of more than 790 islands, including the Northern Isles, the Kingdom of Scotland emerged as an independent sovereign state in the Early Middle Ages and continued to exist until 1707. By inheritance in 1603, James VI, King of Scots, became King of England and King of Ireland, Scotland subsequently entered into a political union with the Kingdom of England on 1 May 1707 to create the new Kingdom of Great Britain. The union also created a new Parliament of Great Britain, which succeeded both the Parliament of Scotland and the Parliament of England. Within Scotland, the monarchy of the United Kingdom has continued to use a variety of styles, titles, the legal system within Scotland has also remained separate from those of England and Wales and Northern Ireland, Scotland constitutes a distinct jurisdiction in both public and private law. Glasgow, Scotlands largest city, was one of the worlds leading industrial cities. Other major urban areas are Aberdeen and Dundee, Scottish waters consist of a large sector of the North Atlantic and the North Sea, containing the largest oil reserves in the European Union. This has given Aberdeen, the third-largest city in Scotland, the title of Europes oil capital, following a referendum in 1997, a Scottish Parliament was re-established, in the form of a devolved unicameral legislature comprising 129 members, having authority over many areas of domestic policy. Scotland is represented in the UK Parliament by 59 MPs and in the European Parliament by 6 MEPs, Scotland is also a member nation of the British–Irish Council, and the British–Irish Parliamentary Assembly. Scotland comes from Scoti, the Latin name for the Gaels, the Late Latin word Scotia was initially used to refer to Ireland. By the 11th century at the latest, Scotia was being used to refer to Scotland north of the River Forth, alongside Albania or Albany, the use of the words Scots and Scotland to encompass all of what is now Scotland became common in the Late Middle Ages. Repeated glaciations, which covered the land mass of modern Scotland. It is believed the first post-glacial groups of hunter-gatherers arrived in Scotland around 12,800 years ago, the groups of settlers began building the first known permanent houses on Scottish soil around 9,500 years ago, and the first villages around 6,000 years ago. The well-preserved village of Skara Brae on the mainland of Orkney dates from this period and it contains the remains of an early Bronze Age ruler laid out on white quartz pebbles and birch bark. It was also discovered for the first time that early Bronze Age people placed flowers in their graves, in the winter of 1850, a severe storm hit Scotland, causing widespread damage and over 200 deaths. In the Bay of Skaill, the storm stripped the earth from a large irregular knoll, when the storm cleared, local villagers found the outline of a village, consisting of a number of small houses without roofs. William Watt of Skaill, the laird, began an amateur excavation of the site, but after uncovering four houses
7.
Scottish Football League
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The Scottish Football League was a league featuring professional and semi-professional football clubs mostly from Scotland. From its foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, after 1998, the SFL represented levels 2 to 4 of the Scottish football league system. In June 2013, the SFL merged with the SPL to form the Scottish Professional Football League, the SFL was associated with a title sponsor from the 1985–86 season. As this sponsor has changed over the years the league was known in turn as the Fine Fare League, B&Q League, Bells Scottish Football League, the SFL also organised two knock-out cup competitions, the Scottish League Cup and the Scottish Challenge Cup. Organised football in Scotland began in 1873 with the formation of the Scottish Football Association, during the next 15 years or so, clubs would play friendly matches, Scottish Cup ties and local cup ties. The Football League, initially containing clubs from the North West and this had been done in response to the professionalisation of football in England in 1885, with the regular diet of league fixtures replacing the haphazard arrangement of friendlies. Many Scottish players, known as the Scotch Professors, moved to the English league clubs to receive the high salaries on offer. This prompted Scottish clubs into thinking about forming their own league, in March 1890, the secretary of Renton wrote to thirteen other clubs inviting them to discuss the organisation of a league. All of the clubs accepted the invitation, except Queens Park and these concerns were to prove well-founded, as six of the founder members would leave the league before 1900. The Scottish Football League was inaugurated on 30 April 1890, the first season of competition, 1890–91, commenced with 11 clubs because St Bernards were not elected. The eleven original clubs in membership were Abercorn, Cambuslang, Celtic, Cowlairs, Dumbarton, Heart of Midlothian, Rangers, Renton, St Mirren, Third Lanark and Vale of Leven. Renton were expelled five games of the 1890–91 season for playing against St Bernards. Renton raised an action against the SFA in the Court of Session and won, in the 1890–91 season, Rangers and Dumbarton were level at the top of the league on 29 points. The teams drew 2–2 in a match, but no further thought had been given to separating teams by another method. Goal average was introduced for the 1921–22 season and replaced by goal difference for the 1971–72 season, the league proved to be highly successful, and in 1893 a Second Division was formed by the inclusion of a number of clubs previously in the Scottish Football Alliance. Promotion was initially based on a ballot of clubs, automatic promotion was not introduced until 1922, in 1923, the League decided to introduce a Third Division. The Western Football League was used as its backbone but the new set-up lasted only three years before it collapsed under heavy financial losses, from 1926 until 1946, the League returned to two divisions. Post-World War II reforms saw the League resume with three divisions, postwar seasons saw the divisions renamed A, B and C with the last section also including reserve sides
8.
Airdrieonians F.C. (1878)
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Airdrieonians Football Club, more commonly known as Airdrie, were a Scottish professional football team from the town of Airdrie, in the Monklands area of Lanarkshire. During their 124-year existence the Diamonds, as they were nicknamed, the club also competed in four separate Scottish Cup finals, winning the competition in 1924. Airdrieonians were the first club in the Scottish League to fold since 1967, the team was founded in Airdrie, North Lanarkshire in 1878 as Excelsior Football Club, changing its name to Airdrieonians in 1881. It was elected to the Scottish Football League in 1894, the club enjoyed its most successful era in the 1920s, following the signing of Hughie Gallacher from Queen of the South in 1921. Airdrie challenged the dominance of Rangers, as finished in second place in the Scottish League championship four years in a row between 1923 and 1926 and won the Scottish Cup in 1924. Following this victory, in early summer 1925, the club visited Norway and Sweden, translations of local newspaper reports, and some photographs of the tour, are still available. This successful era came to an end after Gallacher and Bob McPhail were sold to Newcastle United, Airdrie spent much of the post war era yo-yoing between the top flight and Second Division. Airdrie entered the first Texaco Cup competition in 1970–71, defeating Nottingham Forest in the first round and that tie was decided by a penalty shootout and Airdrie became the first Scottish club to be involved in that method of deciding a contest. Airdrie reached the Texaco Cup Final in 1972, losing 2–1 on aggregate to Derby County and they also reached the 1975 Scottish Cup Final, losing 3–1 to Celtic. After the leagues were restructured in 1975, a called the Spring Cup was instituted for the teams in the lower divisions. Airdrie won this competition in 1976, but it was discontinued after one season as clubs preferred to play league games instead. MacDonald also guided the Diamonds to two Scottish Cup Finals, the first appearance coming on 9 May 1992 when the club faced Rangers in front of 44,045 strong crowd at Hampden Park. Unfortunately for Airdrie on this however, a goal each from Mark Hateley. Although Airdrie lost in the 1992 Scottish Cup Final they had qualified for the 1992–93 European Cup Winners Cup. Airdrie were drawn against Czech side Sparta Prague in the first round, Airdrie lost 1–0 at Broomfield and 2–1 in Prague, losing 3–1 on aggregate. Kenny Black, who went on to become manager of Airdrie United, scored the only Airdrie goal. Airdrie also reached the 1995 Scottish Cup Final, where they faced the other half of the Old Firm, Airdrie would once again fall at the final hurdle, as they lost 1–0 to a Pierre van Hooijdonk goal. Airdrie also won the Scottish Challenge Cup in 1994–95, Airdrie sold their Broomfield home to Safeway in 1994, but had to groundshare with Clyde at Broadwood Stadium for four years until the Excelsior Stadium was opened
9.
Arthurlie F.C.
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Arthurlie Football Club are a Junior football team based in Barrhead, East Renfrewshire in Scotland. Based at Dunterlie Park, they play in the West of Scotland Super League Premier Division, the club played in the Scottish Football League in two spells,1901 to 1915 and 1923 to 1929. The club was founded in 1874 and played as a league side until 1929. Notable early results include the 4–2 defeat of Celtic in the 1897 Scottish Cup, the club became a founder member of the Scottish Federation League in 1892 and played in the Scottish Football League between 1901 and 1915, achieving modest results in the Second Division. That division ceased operations in 1915, during the First World War and they instead waited until 1923 to apply for membership of the newly created Third Division. Arthurlie immediately won the Third Division championship, and four successful seasons in the Second Division followed. Financial problems forced the club to resign its membership of the league with six games of the 1928–29 season to play, as the club had played all the promotion-chasing clubs, their results were allowed to stand. A club of the same name joined the ranks during the early 1930s. They found success quickly with a Scottish Junior Cup win in 1937 – defeating Kirkintilloch Rob Roy 5–1 in the final, while the criminal courts found midfielder Mark Ross to be innocent of criminal assault, the SJFA punished the club for not co-operating with the enquiry. The club were also fined £3,000, in March 2006 the entire management team resigned and were replaced by former Larkhall Thistle manager Gary Faulds. Faulds re-appointed his Thistle assistant Stevie Moore in the same position, in June 2006 the entire playing staff of Arthurlie left the club, following the management staff out of the door. The most notable departures saw goalkeeper Kris Robertson, defender Gary Wilson, midfielder Zander Ryan and strikers Alan Waddell, the captain of the 2006–07 season was to be former St Mirren, Kilwinning Rangers and Pollok defender Roland Fabiani. Season 2007–08 saw Gary Faulds and his coaching staff resign their position after a string of results in the first half of the season. Mark Cameron and Roland Fabiani were temporarily placed in charge, jimmy McQuade was handed a coaching role at the club with whom he won the Scottish Junior Cup as manager in 1998, thus adding experience to the management team. Roland Fabiani decided to return to playing football, hence the relinquishment of his role as assistant manager to Mark Cameron and he was succeeded by Sammy Johnston. In 2011 Arthurlie won the Evening Times Cup and they also came in second in the league that season behind Irvine Meadow. The team were managed between October 2014 and January 2015 by former Clyde and Raith Rovers defender Craig McEwan, McEwan subsequently left for Glenafton Athletic, and Arthurlie moved to replace him with Bellshills Robert Downs, a former Arthurlie player. Downs was succeeded in January 2016 by Steve Kerrigan, following Kerrigans resignation in December 2016, Chris Mackie was appointed as manager in an interim role until the end of the season
10.
Ayr F.C.
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Ayr Football Club was a Scottish Football League club from Ayr, Scotland. They were formed in 1879 by a merger of the Ayr Thistle and their initial home ground was Springvale Park, which they left in 1884 to play home fixtures at Beresford Park, which they in turn left in 1888 to move to Somerset Park. Ayr won their first ever game at Somerset Park 3–0 against Aston Villa, Ayr had spent 13 seasons in the Scottish Football League Division Two, with a best finish of third place which they managed on three occasions. They never managed to win promotion above this level, Ayr F. C. merged with fellow league members Ayr Parkhouse in 1910 to form Ayr United. This is the first and oldest example in Scottish football of a merger between two clubs from the same town until the Inverness thistle/Caledonian merger in 1994. The merger came about because it was felt that a club would have better prospects of playing in Division One. Ayr United achieved that status three years after the merger
11.
Ayr Parkhouse F.C.
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Ayr Parkhouse Football Club were a football club from the town of Ayr in Scotland. The club was a member of the Scottish Football League until 1910, Ayr Parkhouse were formed in 1886 and took their name from the Parkhouse farmhouse where the clubs players trained. They initially played their games at Ballantine Drive, before moving to the Ayr Racecourse ground. In 1888 Ayr vacated the better developed Beresford Park, and Ayr Parkhouse moved in, however, Ayr Parkhouse took the decision to remain a faithfully amateur club, only turning professional in 1905. Local success continued, but the rivalry that was built up with Ayr ceased to have an outlet when that club were admitted to membership of the Scottish Football League in 1897. Ayr Parkhouses ambitions were beginning to outgrow their local successes and the early amateur fuelled hostility to membership of the professional Scottish Football League was waning. Their initial season in the league was a disaster and they finished bottom of Division Two and therefore had to reapply for membership, but they declined to do so. After two seasons outwith the league, playing instead in the Scottish Football Combination, Ayr Parkhouse were accepted back into the Second Division in 1906, the club performed without much distinction in the following four seasons. At the end of the 1909–10 season, Ayr and Ayr Parkhouse merged to form Ayr United, Royal blue shirts, royal blue shorts. –1910 Royal blue & white hooped shirts, royal blue shorts. He was Manchester Uniteds first Scotland international, in 1912
12.
Beith F.C.
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Beith Football Club were a football club based at Bellsdale Park in Beith, Scotland. The club were members of the Scottish Football League from 1923 to 1926, the club was initially formed in 1875 and were founder members of the Ayrshire Football Association in 1877, but went into abeyance in 1883 and did not re-emerge fully until 1888. Nicknamed the cabinet makers, they joined the Ayrshire Football League in 1891 and would play in the Scottish Football Combination. Around this time the club featured goalkeeper Hugh McDonald, who later had success at Woolwich Arsenal. They eventually ended up in the Western League, which was incorporated by the Scottish Football League as its new Third Division for the 1923–24 season, Beith lasted the Divisions three seasons, finishing 7th, 13th and 12th, but were not retained by the League. The club joined the Scottish Football Alliance, playing against Galston, Beith won the Scottish Qualifying Cup in 1928 and won the Scottish Qualifying Cup South in 1932,1933 and 1935. When the First Division clubs decided that only their reserve teams could play in their reserve league, the club decided in 1938 to leave the senior ranks and become Beith Juniors. And join the Western League North Division for 1939–40 season, 1875–1882 Gateside Toll 1882–1883 Marshalland 1888–1894 Knockbuckle 1894–1903 James Meadow 1903–1915 Glebe Park 1919 Kersland Field Glengarnock 1920–1938 Bellsdale Park. Scottish Non League publishing Aitken, John, Scottish Non League publishing Aitken, John. The Scottish Junior Football Association 125 years, Scottish Non League publishing Beith Historical Kits
13.
Clydebank F.C.
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Clydebank Football Club are a Scottish junior football club based in the town of Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire. The current club, formed in 2003, is a member of the West Super League Premier Division, the town has been represented by several previous incarnations in both senior and junior football. The current club can trace their development from Clydebank Juniors F. C. who were founded in 1899. Following chronic financial difficulties, the club were out by Airdrie United and relocated to play in Airdrie under the new identity. A year later, supporters of the version of the club re-established its identity once more. The 1965–2002 incarnation of Clydebank F. C. were the club of that name to represent the town in senior football. The first club was formed in 1888 but never competed at a high level, of more significance was the second Clydebank F. C. formed in 1914 and a Scottish Football League member from then until 1931. The first senior club to represent the town was formed in 1888 and they entered the Scottish Cup several times, making their last appearance in the competition proper in the 1893–94 competition. In addition they were members of the Scottish Federation from 1891 to 1893 and this club folded in 1895, to be resurrected in 1899, with this second incarnation also based at Hamilton Park. They retained their membership of the Scottish Football Association until 1902, the junior club were formed in the village of Duntocher in 1899, under the name of Duntocher F. C. This was as the result of a breakaway from another local junior club and they changed their name to Clydebank Juniors in 1900 on moving to the town itself. They were based at the original Kilbowie Park prior to the construction of a ground in 1939. Around about this time they were one of Scotlands leading junior sides and they also won the West of Scotland Cup in 1949–50 season captained by centre half Joe Gallagher. They were formed in 1914 and immediately elected to the Scottish Football League, after suffering from financial difficulties, they resigned from the SFL and disbanded in 1931. During their time in the league, they were runners-up in Division Two twice, in 1922-23, in 1964 the Steedman brothers, Jack and Charlie, owners of East Stirlingshire F. C. controversially merged their club with Clydebank Juniors. The new club inherited East Stirlingshires place in Division Two, playing matches at Kilbowie. After a year, a challenge by East Stirlingshire supporters led to them resuming their former identity back in Falkirk. The Steedmans elected to remain at Clydebank, establishing a new club at senior level, although in many senses a resumption of Clydebank Juniors, albeit at a different level, they were technically a brand new club
14.
Dundee Wanderers F.C.
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Dundee Wanderers Football Club was a football club based in Dundee, Scotland. They were formed in 1894 as a result of a merger between two clubs, Wanderers and Strathmore. The club was briefly a member of the Scottish Football League, playing in Division Two during the 1894–95 season, in December 1894 the suffered an all-time record SFL defeat, losing 15–1 to Airdrieonians. Their home ground was Clepington Park, Wanderers were formed in 1885 as a breakaway from Dundee Our Boys. In 1894 Wanderers merged with another city club, Strathmore, to form Dundonians and they were successful, but as Dundee F. C. had objected to their name, Dundonians became Dundee Wanderers in June 1894. They spent the 1894–95 season as members of the Second Division, the club lost the tenancy of Clepington Park during the summer of 1894, as a consequence of which they played the first half of their one season as a League club at East Dock Street. In December they returned to Clepington Park, but failed to secure re-election to the Scottish League for season 1895–96 and they became Northern League champions in 1900, but lost the tenancy of Clepington Park again in 1909 to the newly formed Dundee Hibernian. Having secured the tenancy of St Margarets Park in Lochee, the club re-joined the Northern League for season 1911–12, the final national competitive match played by Dundee Wanderers was a Scottish Cup tie at Arbroath on 7 September 1912, which they lost 8–0. The only record of the taking the field again was for a Forfarshire Cup semi-final tie at Dens Park. Wanderers had received a bye into the semi-final, but lost by six goals to one, wanderers/Johnstone Wanderers – 1885–1891 Morgan Park. Strathmore – 1880–1892 Rollos Pier/Logie Park, Dundee Wanderers –1894 East Dock Street Ground. Wanderers/Johnstone Wanderers – 1885–1894 Maroon shirts with blue sash, dark blue shorts. Dundee Wanderers – 1894–1900 Red & white striped shirts, dark blue shorts
15.
Dykehead F.C.
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Dykehead Football Club was a football club based in the Dykehead area of Shotts, playing their home games at Parkside. The club were members of the Scottish Football League Third Division, the early history of the club is somewhat shrouded in mystery, although they were formed in 1880 but did not register with the Scottish Football Association until four years later. The club briefly competed in the Scottish Football Alliance, as well as the Eastern Football League, the Inter County Football League and the Scottish Football Union, which they won in 1912–13. They eventually ended up in the Western League, which was incorporated by the Scottish Football League as its new Third Division for the 1923–24 season, Dykehead lasted the Divisions three seasons, finishing 5th, 12th and 4th, but were not retained by the League. They continued until 1928 when they were wound up and they played their home games at Dykehead Park, Youngston Park, Craigmillar Park and Parkside. Their colours were black and white, players that have played/managed in the Football League or any foreign equivalent to this level. Players that hold a record or have captained the club. Tommy Davidson Ed McLaine Dykehead Historical Kits
16.
Gretna F.C.
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Gretna Football Club was a Scottish football club that represented the town of Gretna, Dumfries and Galloway, close to the border between England and Scotland. The club was forced to dissolve in 2008, relying heavily on substantial financial support from Mileson, the club were promoted through the Scottish leagues from the Third Division to the Scottish Premier League in less than five years. The club also reached the 2006 Scottish Cup Final, losing in a penalty shootout to Hearts, the team struggled badly in the SPL and the club were placed in administration after Mileson withdrew his support due to illness. After this demotion, the one remaining offer to buy the club was withdrawn, the club resigned their place in the Scottish Football League on 3 June and were formally liquidated on 8 August. The clubs supporters trust then decided to establish a new club, Gretna 2008, whilst sharing the same fanbase and a similar name, the new club has no legal connection with the original Gretna Football Club. An amateur team called Gretna Green had existed in the town in the 19th century and this left the area without a team until Gretna Football Club was founded in 1946 by servicemen returning from the Second World War. The club initially played in the Dumfries and District Junior League, the following year, the club moved to the Carlisle and District League. This was despite the club being based in Scotland, albeit close to the Anglo–Scottish border. They remained in league for all but one season until 1982. During this period, the featured in the FA Cup. They managed to take Rochdale to a replay in 1991 and gave Bolton Wanderers a scare in 1993 before being beaten, the club saw its future in Scottish football and applied twice to join the Scottish League in 1993 and 1999. To help boost their later application, they played a Rangers XI in a game to raise money for victims of the Lockerbie air disaster, Gretna won 2–1 against a strong team. In 2002, Gretna were elected to the Scottish Football League at the third attempt, the club was soon taken over by Brooks Mileson and with his financial input Gretnas on-field fortunes improved. Gretna won the Division Three, Division Two and Division One titles in successive seasons from 2005 to 2007, during their seasons of successive promotions they scored 297 goals,130 in the 2004–05 season alone. Gretna were also runners-up in the 2006 Scottish Cup, Gretnas 3–0 win in the semi-final against Dundee made them the first team from the third tier of Scottish league football to reach the final. Gretna lost to Heart of Midlothian in the final on penalties after a 1–1 draw, Gretna faced League of Ireland side Derry City in the second qualifying round, but lost 7–3 on aggregate, losing the first leg 5–1 at Fir Park, Motherwell. Gretna had also promoted to the First Division in 2006. Gretna beat Ross County 3–2 with a goal by James Grady
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Johnstone F.C.
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Johnstone Football Club was a football club based at Newfield Park in Johnstone, Renfrewshire in Scotland. The club was a member of the Scottish Football League in two spells between 1912 and 1926, the club was formed in 1878 and initially played at Cartland Bank. After spending time in minor leagues, they joined the Scottish Football Alliance in 1894 after most of its membership had moved to the new Scottish League Division Two, in the same year the club moved to Newfield Park. During this time the club demonstrated its potential in the Scottish Cup by beating Greenock Abstainers 20–0 in a first round tie on 5 September 1891, in subsequent seasons they would play in the North Ayrshire League and, from 1898 until 1905, the Scottish Football Combination. When the league was reduced to a division in 1915, due to World War I. Johnstone returned to the Scottish League when the division was reinstated in 1921. Johnstone were relegated to the new Third Division at the end of the 1924–25 season, when this division was disbanded at the end of the following season, Johnstone returned to the Football Alliance. They remained in this league until 1927 when they were wound up, Navy blue shirts, navy blue shorts, navy blue & white hooped socks. 1880–1896 Navy blue shirts, white shorts, navy blue socks, 1896–1902 Royal blue shirts, white shorts, royal blue socks. 1902–1903 Maroon shirts, white shorts, maroon socks, 1903–1904 Royal blue shirts, white shorts, royal blue socks. 1907–1909 Black & white striped shirts, white shorts, black socks, 1909–1920 Black & gold striped shirts, white shorts, black socks with 2 gold bands on top. 1921–1923 Black & gold striped shirts, black shorts, black socks with 2 gold bands on top, 1923–1927 White shirts with black collar & cuffs, white shorts, black socks with 2 white bands on top
18.
King's Park F.C.
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Kings Park Football Club were a football club who played in the Scottish Football League before the Second World War. Based in Stirling, they joined the League in the 1921–22 season, the club was established in 1875 in the Kings Park area of Stirling, although they did not stay long in this locality. They first entered the Scottish Cup in the 1879–80 season and their best performance in that competition was in 1894–95 when they reached the quarter finals, losing 4–2 to Hearts. Kings Park were founder members of the Scottish Alliance, a rival of sorts of the SFL, in 1891 and they moved between various more minor leagues for several seasons before entering the re-established Central Football League in 1909, retaining their membership of this division until 1921. At this point Kings Park, along with most of their fellow Central league clubs, were invited to join the newly established Second Division of the SFL and their finest season came in 1927–28, when they just missed promotion by one point. Their record victory was in a 12–2 league victory against Forfar Athletic on 2 January 1930, in this game Jim Dyet scored eight of the clubs goals, a feat made all the more remarkable by the fact that it was his debut for the club. Indeed, Dyets feat stands as British record for goals on a debut to this day, the clubs other great goalscorer of the 1930s was Alex Haddow, who hit five consecutive league hat-tricks in January and February 1932. Although overall they failed to make impact on the league. However, they were four winners of the Stirlingshire Cup. Although a middle-ranking Second Division club Kings Park did at times make the headlines and their league game against Dundee Hibernian on 20 October 1923 would be the last game that club would play under that name, they were renamed Dundee United two days later. As a consequence Kings Park held back Clydebanks cut of the gate until the Scottish League intervened, although the issue was resolved it helped to increase support amongst the League administrators for cutting the number of clubs due to their volatile status. When World War II started Kings Park, largely as a consequence of their geographical location, the club was persuaded in 1940 to join a new Midland League for the coming season although local powerhouses Dundee declined to compete and so the league did not happen. As a consequence Managing Director Tom Fergusson put the club on hiatus in what was intended to be a temporary measure, the fortunes of the club were hit further in 1940 when Forthbank was bombed by the Luftwaffe. The club did not play again after this, even though they applied to join the North Eastern League in 1944. Amid allegations of impropriety with regards to payment of guest players. Football in the town did not disappear for long however as they were replaced by Stirling Albion, although they had not played since 1940 Kings Park were not officially wound up until 1953 when the War Office finally settled their claim for the bomb damage. The clubs Forthbank Park was one of a number of stadiums at the time to host animal racing, usually greyhounds, an SFA inspection team deemed that the greyhound track at Forthbank encroached on to the pitch and as such it was removed, along with the source of income. Crowd trouble at a match against St Johnstone in October 1921 led to Kings Park playing a home match against Vale of Leven at Dunblanes Duckburn Park
19.
Leith Athletic F.C.
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Leith Athletic Football Club is a football club based in the Leith area of Edinburgh, Scotland. They are members of the East of Scotland Football League, First team matches are played at Meadowbank 3G, an artificial pitch which is part of the Meadowbank Stadium complex. The present club considers itself to be a continuation of the original Leith Athletic F. C. which was founded in 1887 and they played in the Scottish Football League in four different spells between 1897 and 1953, but went out of business in 1955. The name was revived at local level in 1996. In 2008, Leith Athletic returned to football when they amalgamated with Edinburgh Athletic. Leith Athletic were founded in 1887 in the Port of Leith, in 1891, Leith replaced Glasgow side Cowlairs in the Scottish Football League. After a reasonable start, Leith had to apply for re-election in 1894 and 1895 and they received only three votes in the latter year and were relegated to the Second Division. Leith fared rather better in the flight, finishing second in 1896,1897 and 1899. In 1905, having failed again in the end of 1905 season voting, Leith Athletic were wound up, in 1891, Robert Clements and Mathew McQueen played for Scotland against Ireland in Glasgow, McQueen having played a year earlier against Wales at Underwood Park in Paisley. Geordie Anderson, James Blessington and Robert Laing would represent the Scottish Football League against the Scottish Alliance League, john Blessington was transferred to Celtic in June 1893 for £20, and would gain four caps for Scotland against England and Ireland. Now playing as Leith F. C. the team won the Scottish Second Division championship in 1906. Despite this triumph, they failed to be elected to the First Division, as runners-up Clyde, Leith and Raith Rovers finished level on points and were declared joint champions in 1910. Raith were promoted, but it appears that Leith did not contest the elections, the 1912–13 season saw Leith finish in last position and won re-election to stay in the league. They survived until the competition was suspended in 1915 and they joined the Eastern League, Leith closed down for the duration of the First World War in 1916. When the club was reformed in 1919, the old name of Leith Athletic was revived, after playing for one season in the Scottish Alliance, Leith were admitted to the Third Division in 1924. Leith won the Third Division championship in 1926, but failed to win election to the Second Division, the club were eliminated on the chairman’s casting vote in the third ballot. It was becoming apparent that the two most prominent Edinburgh clubs, Heart of Midlothian and Hibernian were blocking attempts by Leith to progress. The abolition of the Third Division meant that Leith had to rejoin the Scottish Alliance, the clubs fortunes improved and they won the Second Division championship in 1930 and promotion to the First Division
20.
Lochgelly United F.C.
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Lochgelly United Football Club were a football club based in Lochgelly, Scotland. Nicknamed the Happylanders, the club were members of the Scottish Football League between 1914 and 1926, the club was formed in 1890 by the merger of two local clubs, Lochgelly Athletic and Fifeshire Hibernian, and initially played at Schools Park. They spent their time variously in the Northern and Central leagues, in 1901 the club moved to Reids Park, where they remained until 1910, when they moved again, to Recreation Park. They were admitted to the Scottish Football League Second Division in 1914 and they continued in the Eastern and Central Leagues and returned to the Second Division when it was reinstated in 1921. However the club suffered a season in 1923–24, setting two unwanted records for the old Second Division – most defeats in a season and fewest league goals in a season. The Happylanders home form that season had been noted for low scores with the club, however, in one match, played against Kings Park on 16 February 1924, the club lost 8–3, half the total of all the others put together. They were relegated to the new Third Division in 1924 and and they remained in this league until 1928 when they were wound up. Players that have played/managed in the top two divisions of the Scottish Football League or any equivalent to this level. Players that hold a record or have captained the club. James Haldane Lochgelly United Historical Kits
21.
Mid-Annandale F.C.
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Mid-Annandale Football Club, nicknamed The Mids, are a football club from the town of Lockerbie in the Dumfries and Galloway area of Scotland. They play in the South of Scotland Football League, the history of organised football in Lockerbie goes back to 1877, with the formation of the original Mid-Annandale F. C. In 1921, the Mids joined the Southern Counties Football League and they won the title that season, and retained the trophy the following season. An invitation to join the new Third Division of the Scottish Football League was accepted in 1923, although they were eventually accepted into the Scottish Alliance League, the glory days were long gone. The club eventually quit their Kintail Park ground and used various school playing fields for the rest of their career, despite a run of success in the Charity Cup during the early-30s, the club folded in 1936. Mid-Annandale play their fixtures at New King Edward Park, which re-opened mid-way through the 2014–15 season, prior to this, the club were sharing with Annan Athletic at their Galabank ground. During their time in the Scottish Football League they played at Kintail Park, the teams strip colours are yellow and black
22.
Nithsdale Wanderers F.C.
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Nithsdale Wanderers Football Club are a senior football club based in Sanquhar in the Dumfries and Galloway area of Scotland. Their home ground is Lorimer Park and they play in the South of Scotland Football League. It was also the name of a club from the town. Nithsdale Wanderers originally formed in 1897 and enjoyed a measure of success in their early years. The 1920s would see them achieve their highest level of national prominence, the decade began with them moving to a new ground at Crawick Holm. In the 1923–24 season, they were one of the invited to join the Scottish Leagues new Third Division. In 1924–25, Wanderers won the Third Division championship, clinching the title with an 8–0 victory over Montrose in the match of the season. Although they finished comfortably mid-table in their season in the Second Division. They were unsuccessful and the brief career of Nithsdale Wanderers was at an end. They continued to compete in senior competitions, including the Southern Counties League and the South of Scotland League. In 1951, the club dropped down to the junior grades, after a gap of 37 years, the name of Nithsdale Wanderers was revived when the new club successfully applied for membership of the South of Scotland Football League in 2001. Their biggest impact on the competition to date was finishing in place in the 2006–07 season. As they are only members of the SFA, they are only eligible to compete in the Scottish Cup in the event of them winning the league. The teams home colours are blue and white
23.
Solway Star F.C.
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Solway Star Football Club were a football club based in Annan, Scotland, playing their home games at Kimmeter Park Green. The club were members of the Scottish Football League Third Division, founded in 1911 Star concentrated on friendlies for much of their early years as league competition was unpopular in the south west of Scotland. They managed only two seasons in the Southern Counties Football League before joining the Western League for a single season and this league was incorporated by the Scottish Football League as its new Third Division for the 1923–24 season. Solway Star lasted the Divisions three seasons, finishing 11th, 3rd and 11th, but were not retained by the League and they continued until 1928 when they were wound up. A single season in the Scottish Football Alliance with the club competing in the South of Scotland Football League. They returned to their cup games and friendlies status in 1933. Players that have played/managed in the Scottish Football League or any equivalent to this level. Players that hold a record or have captained the club. James Kerr Solway Star Historical Kits
24.
Third Lanark A.C.
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Third Lanark Athletic Club was a football club that existed for 95 years between 1872 and 1967, in Glasgow, Scotland. Third Lanark was known as Thirds, the Warriors, the Redcoats, the fans invariably started to sing Hi Hi Hi. as a battle cry to encourage the team to victory during the clubs matches. There was a house called The Hi Hi Bar at the southern end of Crown Street in the Gorbals area of Glasgow. One of the successful clubs in early Scottish Football, Third Lanark was not the first major club to be compulsorily liquidated and dissolved. Former Scottish Cup winners Renton and near neighbours Vale of Leven suffered similar fates and it was refounded in 1996 with forming Under-18s were formed by Jim Weir. Finally Third Lanark fielded a team, in 2007, to coincide with the 40th anniversary of Third Lanark’s withdrawal from Senior Scottish football. Third Lanark started as the team of the Third Lanarkshire Rifle Volunteers. The team was founded on 12 December 1872 at a meeting of the Third Lanarkshire Rifle Volunteers in the Regimental Orderly Room in Howard Street. The soldiers, inspired by the first ever international friendly which had taken two weeks previously, decided to form their own team. Several of the Scotland team in match, made up solely of Queens Park players, had been part of the regiment, including Billy Dickson, Billy MacKinnon. A later meeting decided that the kit should be, A cowl – one end blue, the other yellow. Blue trousers or knickerbockers with blue stockings, the players used an old drill field on Victoria Road to train. The club was a member of the Scottish Football League. The name was changed to Third Lanark AC in 1903, when links with the military were severed. The club won the Scottish League championship in 1903–04, as well as the Scottish Cup in 1889 and 1905, the last day of the 1960–61 season saw Third Lanark reach a historic landmark. The club beat Hibernian 6–1 at Cathkin Park to reach 100 goals for the season, the following season saw Thirds take part in European competition for the first and only time when they faced Rouen of France home and away in the Anglo-Franco-Scottish Friendship Cup. Rouen won 4–0 at Cathkin on 7 November 1961 and 2–1 in France on 9 May 1962, only four years after that successful 1960–61 season, the clubs terminal agony began. There followed another two seasons of mediocrity and discontent, Third Lanark recorded their lowest-ever home League attendance of 297 spectators on 15 April 1967 for the visit of Clydebank
25.
Vale of Leven F.C.
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Vale of Leven Football Club are an association club based in the town of Alexandria, Scotland, in the Vale of Leven area of West Dunbartonshire. Nicknamed the Vale and formed in 1939, they play at Millburn Park and they play in the Scottish Junior Football Association, West Region, and wear blue and white strips. In the early days of Scottish football, Vale of Leven, Vale won the Scottish Cup three times in succession. In 1878 they travelled down to England and beat the FA Cup winners, The Wanderers, the Wanderers had the advantage that the game was played under the English throw-in rule, but the Vales Scottish passing game proved superior to the English game of individual dribbling. The club also won the Celtic Society Cup in shinty in 1879, Vale of Leven was a founder member of the Scottish Football League when it was formed in 1890. By this time, the club was being eclipsed by the stars from Glasgow. In their second season failed to win a single game. Rather than face re-election for the time, the club withdrew. Between 1893 and 1902 the Vale played only friendly matches and in cup competition before joining the Scottish Football Combination, in 1905 they applied successfully for readmission to the Scottish League when the Second Division was extended with two additional places. They finished as runners-up in 1907 and in 1909 but did not receive the votes they needed to be elected to the First Division, as the following decade wore on, Vale of Leven struggled and regularly finished near the foot of the table. When the Second Division was suspended in 1915, Vale joined the Western League, after World War I ended Vale of Leven returned to the Scottish League for the third time as members of the reformed Second Division. After a decent fourth-place finish in their first season, the club was relegated to the new Third Division in 1924 and this ill-fated competition was abandoned in 1926 when it became clear that the cost of meeting match guarantees and additional travel expenses were beyond the means of its members. Despite the church name, Vale Ocoba appeared to be a flag of convenience for the Vale of Leven Football & Athletic Club struck off the SFAs roll. Original club colours, Dark blue shirts, dark blue shorts, disaster struck however when the start of World War II obliged the league to be suspended due to restrictions on travel by December 1939. Technically, the current club is unattached to the senior club. Scottish Junior football has a number of clubs that were forced to fold as Senior sides due to financial reasons or as a result of the collapse of the old Scottish Division Three in the late 1920s. This is more prevalent on the West Coast where no non-amateur Senior league exists any longer, the most recent example of this trend has been the former Junior turned Senior turned Junior again side Clydebank. Vale of Leven should not be confused with the slightly differently named East of Scotland League club Vale of Leithen
26.
Highland Football League
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The Scottish Highland Football League is a part-time professional senior football league in the north of Scotland. The league, which is the level within Scottish football, is a full member of the Scottish Football Association. It currently consists of 18 teams from the Scottish Highlands as well as the lowlands of Moray, until the reorganisation of Scottish football during the 2012–13 season, the league was historically one of the senior leagues in Scottish football. The others being the Scottish Premier League and Scottish Football League, along with the East of Scotland, since the 2014–15 season, the league is a feeder division for SPFLs Scottish League Two. The Highland Football League champions play the winners of the Lowland Football League for a chance to face the bottom club in League Two, all current league members are full members of the Scottish Football Association so qualify automatically for the following seasons first round of the Scottish Cup. The league champions and the team receive a bye into the cups second round. Since 2014, the league champion team has also gained a place in the Scottish Challenge Cup. The leagues current sponsorship deal is with the Aberdeen-based Press & Journal media group, each team in the league plays each other twice during a season – once at home, once away, for a total of 34 matches. The standard league scoring system of 3 points for a win and 1 for a draw is applied, with ties in the league table broken by goal difference. The champions are presented with the League trophy and a flag, either immediately after the match which secures the victory, as the region is prone to severe weather in winter, postponements have sometimes caused the conclusion of the season to be delayed. Various proposals which would have reduced the number of matches a team would play, were considered, instead, clubs now play both a Saturday and a Wednesday fixture most weeks from August through October, taking advantage of milder weather at the start of the season. The original league consisted of seven teams, Inverness Thistle, Caledonian, Clachnacuddin, Forres Mechanics, Inverness Union, Inverness Citadel, Ross County were an eighth original member, but resigned membership in November 1893. The inaugural champions were Inverness Thistle, of the original teams, two are still playing in the league today and two merged to become current Scottish League club Inverness Caledonian Thistle. Many of the clubs have performed well when competing against SFL clubs in the Scottish Cup. However, from the 1990s onwards, the HFL has been a victim of its own success, the league has been somewhat weakened in recent years by the departure of many former members who have subsequently joined the SFL. This happened in 1994 when Caledonian, Inverness Thistle and Ross County left and this was the state of affairs till 2000 when Elgin City and Peterhead were elected into the SFL. In 2002 Inverurie Loco Works were elected into the HFL to give it a membership of 15 clubs. In 2008, North Region Junior League sides Formartine United and Turriff United both submitted bids to join the Highland League, following in the footsteps of past Junior League side Inverurie Locos, Banks O Dee and Strathspey Thistle also applied
