Scottish Amateur Football League

Scottish Amateur Football League

Country	Scotland
Confederation	UEFA
Founded	1900
Divisions	Premier Premier 1 Premier 2 Division 1 (A & B)
Number of teams	53
Level on pyramid	N/A
Promotion to	None
Relegation to	None
Domestic cup(s)	Scottish Amateur Cup West of Scotland Cup

The Scottish Amateur Football League (SAFL) is a football league competition for amateur teams in Scotland. It was formally founded in 1909 when Scottish Football League club Queen's Park decided that their fourth team needed regular competition. Queen's Park were successful in winning the first league title, but Edinburgh Civil Service won the league the following year, so Queen's Park decided to enter their third team for the third season of the competition, indicating a high standard of football was played at this level from an early stage.

History

Despite being called the Scottish Amateur Football League, the league has never included clubs from across the country. Although, prior to the official formation of the league a SAFL side made at least one visit to Fife for a match. Prior to the Second World War membership stretched across the Scottish Central Belt, with a number of clubs from the East of the country participating. However, following the end of the war membership became concentrated in the West of the country. The SAFL has been successful in embracing a number of clubs from the Argyll area which otherwise might not have regular competition.

At its peak in the early 1980s the SAFL contained 12 divisions, but this number has been halved to six. For more than 20 years, the League was split into a Premier section of three divisions, with two or three further divisions comprising Section One, so named as it preserved the divisions of the original league. But following an SAFA directive during the 2011/2012 season, this format has been changed back to one all-in competition, with effect from the start of the 2012/2013 season. The three premier divisions are retained, and the lowest two divisions become two sections of equal status, decided by a ballotted draw prior to the start of each season. The top two teams from each section will be promoted to Premier 2, which will start the 2012/2013 season with 11 clubs, but will have 12 clubs from the start of the following season.

Hall of fame

In March 2013, the League held its inaugural Hall of Fame Dinner, attended by well over 300 guests, at which the following became the first inductees to the SAFL Hall of Fame:

• Alan Bruce (Busby AFC)
• Alan & Russel Davidson (Whitehill FP AFC)
• Charlie Henderson (Paisley AFC)
• Duncan McAulay (Campbeltown Pupils AFC)
• Keith Millar (Oban Saints)
• Derek Yuille (Rutherglen AFC)

Executive Members 2012/13

Office Bearers

Frank McCann(President), Colin Thomson(Vice President), Mike McLean(Secretary), Jack Keating(Treasurer), Robert Marshall (Match Secretary), Linda Keating (Discipline Secretary/Registration Secretary), Minute Secretary - Ronnie Mackay. Immediate Past President - James Soutar

Executive Members Only

Brian Pettigrew (Carlton YM), Gerry McDonnell (Alba Thistle) and Robert Gallacher (Millbeg AFC). Active life members - Gordon Anderson, Robert Bowman, Jack McConnell, Colin McDonald, Ronnie Mackay, Bert Smith and James Soutar

League Membership 2012/13

Premier
Aikenhead Thistle
Castlemilk
Eaglesham
Finnart
Inverclyde
Oban Saints
Postal United
Rolls Royce EK
St. Joseph's
Thorn Athletic

Premier 1
Alba Thistle
Arkleston
Auldhouse
Busby
Duncanrig FP
Haldane United
Kilbowie Union
Kings Park Rangers
Shawlands FP

Premier 2
Campbeltown Pupils
Carlton YMCA
Celtic Community Academy
Centre AFC
Clydebank AFC
Dunoon
Glencastle Sparta
Hillington AFC
Paisley AFC
Port Glasgow OBU
Rutherglen

Division 1A
Duncanrig FP (B)
Dunoon Athletic
Eaglesham (B)
East Kilbride AFC
East Kilbride YM FC
Millbeg Amateurs
Port Glasgow Hibs
Port Glasgow United
Strathaven Dynamo
Tarbert AFC

Division 1B
Bothwell and Uddingston Albion
Easthall Star
Goldenhill AFC
Inverkip AFC
Jamestown AFC
Kings Park Rangers B
Lochgilphead Red Star
Millerston Thistle
Rosehill Star
Shawlands FP (B)
Whitehill FP

League winners

External links

• The SAFL's Official Website