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.
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 regionalisation 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 regionalised 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.
Roll of Honour
Current cup holders
- West of Scotland Cup - Auchinleck Talbot [1]
- Central League Cup - Clydebank [2]
- Ayrshire Cup - Troon [3]
- Central Sectional League Cup - Cumbernauld United (2014–15 season) [4]
- Ayrshire Sectional League Cup - Glenafton Athletic (2014–15 season) [5]
- Evening Times Champions Cup - Auchinleck Talbot [6]
Member clubs
There are 63 member clubs of the West Region.
Stagecoach Super League Premier Division
Stagecoach Super League First Division
Ayrshire District League
Central District, First Division
Central District, Second Division
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.[7]
- 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.[8]
- Central Sectional League Cup. Known as the Euroscot Engineering Sectional 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 (Ayrshire) 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.[9] 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 2003–2012, all ten West Region league and cup winners entered the tournament which was known as the Evening Times Cup Winners Cup.[10]
External links
References
- ↑ "The wait is over as the Bot lift the West of Scotland Cup". Daily Record. 26 May 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
- ↑ Jim O'Donnell (11 June 2014). "Clydebank lift silver with final victory". Evening Times. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
- ↑ "Troon complete dream double". Ayr Advertiser. 18 June 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
- ↑ O'Donnell, Jim (3 November 2014). "Queen's penalty-kick kings". Evening Times. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
- ↑ O'Donnell, Jim (13 October 2014). "Glens are a Glass act as they break the Bot to land cup silverware". Evening Times. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
- ↑ Scott Mullen (7 June 2014). "Talbot take the title in Champions Cup clash". Evening Times. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
- ↑ "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.
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