Scottish Junior Football Association, East Region
The Scottish Junior Football Association, East 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 East Region was created by amalgamating the former East (Lothians), Fife and Tayside Regions and currently stretches from Brechin in the North to Dunbar in the South-East.
League structure
Until 2006–07
For season 2002–03, twelve clubs from the East (Lothians), Fife and Tayside Leagues combined to create the East Superleague. This was fed by the existing Regional Leagues: Tayside Premier (with Tayside Division One below), Fife District League and Lothians Division One (with Lothians Division Two below.)
2006–07 to 2012–13
In 2006, a further reorganisation led to the creation of another Regionwide tier below the East Superleague, known as the East Premier League. Below this, the Regional leagues were streamlined into single North (Tayside), Central (Fife) and South (Lothians) Divisions. To balance the numbers in these new leagues, the majority of Perthshire clubs were re-allocated from the North Division to the Central Division. Exceptions to this are Blairgowrie and Coupar Angus who remain in the North Division set-up.
As of the end of 2006–07 season, clubs are promoted and relegated between the Super League and the Premier League. One club from each of the lowest-tier divisions will be promoted to the Premier League, with three Premier League sides being relegated to a regional division corresponding to their geographical area.
From 2013–14
As agreed at the 2011–12 East Region AGM, the leagues were restructured into four divisions from the 2013–14 season. The Superleague and Premier League were expanded to sixteen clubs while the regional divisions were merged into two from the current three and branded as North and South. Clubs in the Central division were split between the two new leagues on a geographical basis.[1] The League Cup competitions which traditionally opened the season were also scrapped as part of these proposals.
Cup competitions
There are three cup competitions in the East Region:
- The East of Scotland Cup. Known as the DJ Laing East of Scotland Cup under a sponsorship arrangement, this is a knockout tournament for all East Region clubs. The competition dates back to 1896–97 and was the most prestigious cup trophy in the former East Region.
- Fife & Lothians Cup. Known as the Conservatory Converters Fife & Lothians Cup under a sponsorship arrangement, this tournament dates back to regionalisation in 1968 and is a knockout tournament for former East (Lothians) and Fife Region clubs in the current East Region. It is administered by a separate Fife & Lothians committee.
- North and Tayside Inter-Regional Cup. Known as the GA Engineering Cup for sponsorship purposes, this is a knockout tournament for former Tayside Region and current North Region clubs and is administered by a joint committee. First played for in 1988, clubs play early rounds in their own region with eight sides from each area progressing to the last sixteen.
Prior to league reconstruction in 2013, clubs also competed in one of three League Cup competitions at the beginning of the season:
- DJ Laing League Cup. This tournament was for former Tayside Region clubs excluding Perthshire sides affiliated to the Central Division. Clubs initially competed in groups (sections) with the group winners advancing to a knockout semi-final stage. In all league cup competitions, matches in the group stages were played under league rules so a player was not cup-tied by turning out for a particular club.
- ACA Sports League Cup. This tournament was for former Fife Region clubs and all other teams affiliated to the Central Division. Clubs initially competed in four groups, with group winners advancing to a knockout semi-final stage.
- Dechmont Forklift League Cup. This tournament was for former East (Lothian) Region clubs. Clubs initially competed in four groups, with group winners advancing to a knockout semi-final stage.
Roll of Honour
| Season | East Superleague | Lothians Division One | Lothians Division Two | Fife District League | Tayside Premier Division | Tayside First Division |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002–03 | Tayport | Bo'ness United | Harthill Royal | Kelty Hearts | Lochee United | Scone Thistle |
| 2003–04 | Linlithgow Rose | Camelon Juniors | Broxburn Athletic | Thornton Hibs | Carnoustie Panmure | Blairgowrie |
| 2004–05 | Lochee United | Whitburn | Penicuik Athletic | Hill of Beath Hawthorn | Dundee North End | Downfield |
| 2005–06 | Tayport | Camelon Juniors | Broxburn Athletic | Oakley United | Kinnoull | Jeanfield Swifts |
| Season | East Superleague | East Premier League | East Region South Division | East Region Central Division | East Region North Division |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–07 | Linlithgow Rose | Glenrothes | Newtongrange Star | Dundonald Bluebell | Forfar West End |
| 2007–08 | Lochee United | Bo'ness United | Fauldhouse United | Ballingry Rovers | Blairgowrie |
| 2008–09 | Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic | Musselburgh Athletic | Armadale Thistle | St Andrews United | Montrose Roselea |
| 2009–10 | Bo'ness United | Tayport | Broxburn Athletic | Thornton Hibs | Broughty Athletic |
| 2010–11 | Bo'ness United | St Andrews United | Sauchie Juniors | Oakley United | Downfield |
| 2011–12 | Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic | Sauchie Juniors | Dalkeith Thistle | Jeanfield Swifts | Dundee Violet |
| 2012–13 | Linlithgow Rose | Newtongrange Star | Fauldhouse United | Kinnoull | Kirriemuir Thistle |
| Season | East Superleague | East Premier League | East Region South Division | East Region North Division |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013–14 | Bo'ness United | Penicuik Athletic | Edinburgh United | Dundee North End |
| 2014–15 | Kelty Hearts | Tayport | Haddington Athletic | Thornton Hibs |
| 2015–16 | Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic | Jeanfield Swifts | Tranent Juniors | Downfield |
Current cup holders
- East of Scotland Cup - Bo'ness United [2]
- GA Engineering Cup - Lochee United [3]
- Fife & Lothians Cup - Penicuik Athletic [4]
Member clubs for 2016–17 season
There are 60 clubs in the East Region for the 2016–17 season. The most recent new members are Craigroyston who joined from the East of Scotland Football League in 2016.[5]
Superleague
Premier League
North Division
South Division
References
- ↑ "Junior Football – PA Friday June 22". Perthshire Advertiser. 22 June 2012. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
- ↑ Mair, George (12 June 2016). "Bo'ness United 5 Dundonald Bluebell 1: United end long wait for cup". The Scottish Sun. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
- ↑ Easton, Richard. "Lochee United win GA Cup". North Region, SJFA. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
- ↑ Thomson, Scott (9 June 2016). "Penicuik Athletic stun champs to win Fife and Lothians Cup". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
- ↑ Thomson, Scott (4 August 2016). "Craigroyston all set for South League debut". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 8 August 2016.