Lowland Football League
 | |
| Country |
 Scotland |
|---|---|
| Confederation | UEFA |
| Founded | 2013 |
| Number of teams | 12 |
| Levels on pyramid | 5 (proposed) |
| Feeder to | Scottish League Two (proposed) |
| Domestic cup(s) | Scottish Cup |
| League cup(s) | Lowland League Cup |
| Website | slfl.co.uk |
 2013–14 Lowland League | |
The Scottish Lowland Football League (commonly known as the Lowland League) is a newly created league of 12 football clubs operating in the Scottish Lowlands, to be drawn from teams previously competing in the East of Scotland, South of Scotland and junior leagues.
On 24 September 2013, the Scottish Sun newspaper was revealed to be the first sponsor of the league.[1] Consequently, the official name of the league is The Scottish Sun Lowland Football League.[2]
It is intended that promotion and relegation will be instituted with the Scottish League Two via an annual play-off with the champions of the Highland Football League, though this will not happen until at least the 2014–15 season.[3] Consequently, it will stand at a new Level 5 on the Scottish football pyramid, on a par with the Highland League and above the Lowlands-based regional leagues. Relegation to the Lowlands regional leagues may follow afterwards.
As a creation of the Scottish FA, the Lowland League will be a full member of the same organisation.
History
Formation
The Lowland League was founded by a unanimous vote of members of the Scottish FA on 11 June 2013,[3] who had for some time intended on instituting a football pyramid including promotion and relegation from Scottish football's senior divisions down to its junior and amateur levels.[4] The league will be composed of teams drawn from the South of Scotland, East of Scotland and junior leagues, who met on 17 June 2013 to elect between them the founder-members of the new league.[5]
While most clubs were invited to submit bids to join, Preston Athletic, Spartans and Threave Rovers were offered automatic entry as they were already fully licensed by the Scottish FA.[5] While 27 clubs had registered their interest, the Lowland League received 17 applications to join.[6] After the meeting on 17 June, it was announced there would be 12 teams in the league, and that they would be Dalbeattie Star, East Kilbride, Edinburgh City, Gala Fairydean Rovers, Gretna 2008, Preston Athletic, Selkirk, Spartans, Stirling University, Threave Rovers, Vale of Leithen & Whitehill Welfare.[7]
Member clubs
| Club | Joined | Previous league | Ground Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dalbeattie Star | 2013 | South of Scotland Football League | 3,500 |
| East Kilbride | 2013 | Scottish Amateur Football League | 400 |
| Edinburgh City | 2013 | East of Scotland Football League | 16,500 |
| Gala Fairydean Rovers | 2013 | East of Scotland Football League | 4,000 |
| Gretna 2008 | 2013 | East of Scotland Football League | 2,200 |
| Preston Athletic | 2013 | East of Scotland Football League | 4,000 |
| Selkirk | 2013 | East of Scotland Football League | 1,162 |
| Spartans | 2013 | East of Scotland Football League | 3,000 |
| Stirling University | 2013 | East of Scotland Football League | 3,808 |
| Threave Rovers | 2013 | South of Scotland Football League | 1,500 |
| Vale of Leithen | 2013 | East of Scotland Football League | 1,500 |
| Whitehill Welfare | 2013 | East of Scotland Football League | 2,614 |
External links
References
- ↑ "We’re league leaders". Scottish Sun. 24 September 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
- ↑ "Scottish Sun Lowland Football League: Home". slfl.co.uk. 21 October 2013.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Scottish FA approves Lowland League for next season". BBC Sport. 11 June 2013.
- ↑ "George Peat's Scottish football pyramid plan quickly bogged down in political sands". The Telegraph. 11 December 2008. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Scottish clubs approve creation of Lowland League as part of pyramid". STV. 11 June 2013.
- ↑ "Dozen clubs to play in Scottish Lowland Football League announced". STV. 17 June 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
- ↑ "Scottish Lowland Football League clubs selected". Scottish FA. 17 June 2013. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
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