South of Scotland Football League
 | |
| Founded | 1892 (original) 1946 (current) |
|---|---|
| Country |  Scotland |
| Confederation | UEFA |
| Divisions | 1 |
| Number of teams | 12 |
| Level on pyramid | 6 |
| Promotion to | Lowland Football League |
| Domestic cup(s) | Scottish Cup (SFA licensed clubs and league winners) South Region Challenge Cup |
| League cup(s) | South of Scotland League Cup Southern Counties FA Challenge Cup Cree Lodge Cup Haig Gordon Cup Potts Cup Tweedie Cup |
| Current champions | Dalbeattie Star (6th title) (2023–24) |
| Most championships | 13 titles St Cuthbert Wanderers |
| Website | Official Website |
| Current: 2024–25 South of Scotland Football League | |
The South of Scotland Football League (SoSFL) is a senior football league based in south-west Scotland. The league sits at level 6 on the Scottish football league system, acting as a feeder to the Lowland Football League.
Founded in 1946, it is currently composed of 12 member clubs in a single division. Geographically, the league currently covers Dumfries and Galloway although clubs have also been located in East Ayrshire and South Lanarkshire.
Since 2014–15 it has featured in the senior pyramid system. The winners take part in an end of season promotion play-off with the East of Scotland Football League and West of Scotland Football League champions, subject to clubs meeting the required licensing criteria.
History
[edit]Original league
[edit]A league of the same name briefly existed during the early days of competitive football. The original South of Scotland Football League was created in 1892–93 and featured seven clubs:
- 5th Kirkcudbrightshire Rifle Volunteers
- Cronberry Eglinton
- Lanemark
- Lugar Boswell
- Mauchline
- Queen of the South Wanderers
- Springbank
The clubs preferred to play in cup competitions and traditional friendlies, so most of the league fixtures were not played. The competition was subsequently abandoned and no championship was awarded.
Current league
[edit]When league football was re-established in 1946, the Southern Counties League name could not be used because Ayr United 'A' and Kilmarnock 'A' were not members of the Southern Counties F.A.. Instead, the new competition was called the South of Scotland Football League. The first season saw the league played in two sections, East and West, but it has been played as a single league ever since.
Teams play each other on a home and away basis. In seasons where league membership has been low, clubs have played each other four times, instead of the usual twice. Recent changes in league membership have been:
- Stranraer Athletic withdrew from the league at the end of the 2007–08 season.
- The newly formed Gretna 2008, founded to replace the Gretna team that had been forced to dissolve following its meteoric rise to the Scottish Premier League between 2002 and 2007, applied to join the South of Scotland League, but then joined the East of Scotland Football League instead.
- Annan Athletic withdrew their reserve team from the league at the end of the 2008–09 season, so that they could concentrate on the SFL Under-19 League and the Reserve League West.
- Stranraer withdrew their reserve team from the league at the end of the 2011–12 season,[1] before returning again in 2017.
- Dalbeattie Star and Threave Rovers withdrew from the league at the end of the 2012–13 season to join the newly formed Lowland Football League, although both have since been relegated back to the league.[2] Threave subsequently transferred to the West of Scotland Football League for season 2022–23.
- After 44 Seasons in the Dumfries and District Amateur Football League, champions Lochar Thistle were elected to the league for the start of the 2013–14 season.
- Three new teams Dumfries YMCA, Edusport Academy and Upper Annandale were elected to the league for the 2014–15 Season.[3]
- Fleet Star withdrew from the league in 2016.[4] Crichton, who were saved from folding last season by a merger with Lochmaben Amateurs, have taken the Lochmaben name and moved to Lockerbie.[5]
- Bonnyton Thistle joined the league in 2017 before moving to the newly formed West of Scotland Football League in 2020.
Member clubs
[edit]
Stranraer reserves
Location of teams in 2024–25 South of Scotland Football League within Dumfries & Galloway
| Team | Location | Home ground | Surface | Capacity | Seats | Floodlit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abbey Vale | New Abbey | Maryfield Park | Grass | 500[6] | 48 | No |
| Creetown | Creetown | Castlecary Park | Grass | 500[7] | 0 | Yes |
| Dalbeattie Star | Dalbeattie | Islecroft Stadium | Grass | 1,320 | 100 | Yes |
| Lochar Thistle | Dumfries | Wilson Park | Grass | 1,000[8] | 0 | Yes |
| Lochmaben | Lochmaben | Whitehills Park | Grass | 1,000[9] | 0 | No |
| Mid-Annandale | Lockerbie | New King Edward Park | Artificial | 500[10] | 50 | Yes |
| Newton Stewart | Newton Stewart | Blairmount Park | Artificial | 1,000[11] | 0 | Yes |
| Nithsdale Wanderers | Sanquhar | Lorimer Park | Grass | 1,000[12] | 0 | Yes |
| St Cuthbert Wanderers | Kirkcudbright | St Mary's Park | Artificial | 1,000[13] | 0 | Yes |
| Stranraer reserves | Stranraer | Stair Park | Grass | 4,178[14] | 1,830 | Yes |
| Upper Annandale | Moffat | Moffat Academy | Grass | 1,000[15] | 0 | No |
| Wigtown & Bladnoch | Wigtown | Trammondford Park | Grass | 888[16] | 0 | Yes |
League membership
[edit]Bold indicates a current league member.
| Club | Years Active | Titles Won |
|---|---|---|
| Abbey Vale | 2001– | 1 |
| Annan Athletic | 1977–1987 | 2 |
| Annan Athletic Reserves | 1987–1991, 1992–2009, 2017–2019 | |
| Ayr United 'A' | 1946–1948 | 2 |
| Bonnyton Thistle | 2017–2020 | |
| Caledonian Braves Reserves | 2019–2023 | |
| Creetown | 1946–1948, 1972– | |
| Crichton | 1992–2016 | 1 |
| Dalbeattie Star | 1946–1947, 1976–2001, 2009–2012, 2023– | 6 |
| Dalbeattie Star Reserves | 2001–2009 | |
| Dumfries | 2000–2008 | |
| Dumfries High School Former Pupils | 1994–2000 | |
| Dumfries United | 1987–1988 | |
| Dumfries YMCA | 2014–2019 | |
| Edusport Academy | 2014–2017 | 1 |
| Fleet Star | 2004–2016 | |
| Girvan | 1951–1962, 1975–2005 | 1 |
| Glenluce | 1948–1950 | |
| Gretna Reserves | 2001–2003 | |
| Gretna Community | 1991–1992 | |
| Greystone Rovers | 1956–1958 | 1 |
| Heathhall Athletic | 1948–1950 | |
| Heston Rovers | 2008–2021 | |
| Kilmarnock 'A' | 1946–1948 | |
| Lincluden Swifts | 1977–1980 | 1 |
| Lochar Thistle | 2013– | |
| Lochmaben | 2016– | |
| Maxwelltown High School Former Pupils | 1990–2000 | 1 |
| Mid-Annandale | 2003– | |
| Newton Stewart | 1946– | 3 |
| Nithsdale Wanderers (1) | 1946–1947, 1948–1950 | |
| Nithsdale Wanderers (2) | 2001– | |
| Queen of the South Reserves | 1972–1973, 1992–1993, 1996–1997, 2003–2004 | 1 |
| RAF West Freugh | 1948–1949 | |
| St Cuthbert Wanderers | 1946– | 8 |
| Solway Star | 1946–1947 | |
| Stranraer | 1946–1949 | |
| Stranraer Reserves | 1949–1988, 1990–1991, 2003–2004, 2007–2012, 2017– | 16 |
| Stranraer Athletic | 1995–2008 | 3 |
| Tarff Rovers | 1946–1988, 1990–2003 | 8 |
| Threave Rovers | 1959–1998, 2004–2012, 2016–2022 | 13 |
| Upper Annandale | 2014– | |
| Whithorn | 1946–1959, 1962–1963, 1964–69 | |
| Wigtown & Bladnoch | 1946–2017, 2018– | 5 |
Notes:
- Crichton was known as Blackwood Dynamos until 1999. The club was to be called Crichton Royal, but the suffix has never been used.
- Dumfries was formed by the merger of Dumfries High School Former Pupils and Dumfries Amateurs.
- Heston Rovers Youth (formed in 1978) merged with Dumfries in 2008, retaining Heston Rovers as the name of the new club.
- Annan Athletic (1987–2008), Dalbeattie Star (2001–2009) and Threave Rovers (1998–2004) have all run teams in the East of Scotland League. From the 2008–09 season, Annan Athletic has played in the Scottish Football League. Dalbeattie Star and Threave Rovers joined the newly formed Scottish Lowland Football League for the 2013–14 season.
- The following clubs have resigned during the season:
- Creetown 1975–76
- Girvan 1978–79
- Gretna Community 1991–92
- RAF West Freugh 1948–49
- St Cuthbert Wanderers 1977–78
- Wigtown & Bladnoch 1962–63 and 1972–73
- Dumfries United resigned prior to the start of the 1987–88 season.
Cup competitions
[edit]In 1950, the league's membership had been reduced to just seven clubs. To compensate for the lack of fixtures, the League Cup was introduced. The final is usually contested by the winners of two mini-leagues, but has also been played as a straight knock-out competition. There was no separate League Cup competition between 1962–1968 and 1973–1975. Instead the trophy was awarded to the runner-up in the League.
The Southern Counties Cup, also known as the Challenge Cup, is the league's main knockout competition. It has been played for since 1891, and the first winners were the 5th Kirkcudbrightshire Rifle Volunteers.
Creetown, Dalbeattie Star, Newton Stewart, St Cuthbert Wanderers, and Wigtown & Bladnoch are full members of the Scottish Football Association therefore enter the Scottish Cup, as do the winners of the league.
Holders
[edit]2022–23 winners unless stated.
- SFA South Region Challenge Cup: The Spartans
- Alba Cup: Nithsdale Wanderers (2023–24)
- South & East of Scotland Cup-Winners Shield: Luncarty
- South of Scotland League Cup: Lochar Thistle (2023–24)
- Southern Counties FA Challenge Cup: Caledonian Braves
- J Haig Gordon Memorial Trophy: Edusport Academy (2018–19)
- SCFA Potts Cup: Stranraer
- WDFA Cree Lodge Cup: Lochar Thistle
- WDFA Tweedie Cup: No competition
| Season | Original League | |
|---|---|---|
| 1892–93 | 5th Kirkcudbrightshire Rifle Volunteers | |
| 1893–94 | No Competition | |
| 1894–95 | St Cuthbert Wanderers | |
| 1895–96 | St Cuthbert Wanderers (2) | |
| 1896–97 | 6 GRV | |
| 1897–98 | Newton Stewart | |
| 1898–99
to 1909–10 |
No Competition | |
| 1910–11 | Douglas Wanderers | |
| 1911–12 | No Competition | |
| 1912–13 | No Competition | |
| 1913–14 | Newton Stewart (2) | |
| 1914–15 | 5th KOSB | |
| 1915–16
to 1929–20 |
No Competition | |
| 1920–21 | St Cuthbert Wanderers | |
| 1921–22 | Mid-Annandale | |
| 1923–23 | Mid-Annandale (2) | |
| 1923–24 | Newton Stewart (3) | |
| 1924–25 | Dalbeattie Star | |
| 1925–26 | No Competition | |
| 1926–27 | No Competition | |
| 1927–28 | St Cuthbert Wanderers | |
| 1928–29 | St Cuthbert Wanderers | |
| 1929–30 | Dalbeattie Star | |
| 1930–31 | Dalbeattie Star | |
| 1931–32 | Dalbeattie Star | |
| 1932–33 | Dalbeattie Star | |
| 1933–34 | Dalbeattie Star | |
| 1934–35 | St Cuthbert Wanderers | |
| 1935–36 | St Cuthbert Wanderers | |
| 1936–37 | St Cuthbert Wanderers | |
| 1937–38
to 1945–46 |
No league championship for the duration of the Second World War | |
| Season | Current League | |
| 1946–47 | Ayr United 'A' | |
| 1947–48 | Ayr United 'A' | |
| 1948–49 | Stranraer Reserves | |
| 1949–50 | Tarff Rovers | League Cup |
| 1950–51 | Newton Stewart (4) | Newton Stewart |
| 1951–52 | Wigtown & Bladnoch | Wigtown & Bladnoch |
| 1952–53 | Tarff Rovers (2) | Wigtown & Bladnoch (2) |
| 1953–54 | Wigtown & Bladnoch (2) | St Cuthbert Wanderers |
| 1954–55 | St Cuthbert Wanderers | Tarff Rovers |
| 1955–56 | Newton Stewart (5) | Tarff Rovers (2) |
| 1956–57 | St Cuthbert Wanderers | Stranraer Reserves |
| 1957–58 | Greystone Rovers | Stranraer Reserves |
| 1958–59 | St Cuthbert Wanderers | Newton Stewart |
| 1959–60 | Stranraer Reserves | Tarff Rovers (3) |
| 1960–61 | Stranraer Reserves | Tarff Rovers (4) |
| 1961–62 | Stranraer Reserves | Stranraer Reserves |
| 1962–63 | Tarff Rovers (3) | |
| 1963–64 | Tarff Rovers (4) | |
| 1964–65 | Threave Rovers | |
| 1965–66 | Stranraer Reserves | |
| 1966–67 | Stranraer Reserves | |
| 1967–68 | Stranraer Reserves | |
| 1968–69 | Threave Rovers (2) | Stranraer Reserves |
| 1969–70 | Stranraer Reserves | St Cuthbert Wanderers (2) |
| 1970–71 | St Cuthbert Wanderers | |
| 1971–72 | Threave Rovers (3) | Threave Rovers |
| 1972–73 | Stranraer Reserves | |
| 1973–74 | St Cuthbert Wanderers | |
| 1974–75 | Stranraer Reserves | |
| 1975–76 | Stranraer Reserves | Girvan |
| 1976–77 | Stranraer Reserves | Stranraer Reserves |
| 1977–78 | Stranraer Reserves | Girvan (2) |
| 1978–79 | Threave Rovers (4) | Lincluden Swifts |
| 1979–80 | Lincluden Swifts | Lincluden Swifts |
| 1980–81 | St Cuthbert Wanderers (14) | Threave Rovers |
| 1981–82 | Stranraer Reserves | St Cuthbert Wanderers (3) |
| 1982–83 | Stranraer Reserves | Annan Athletic |
| 1983–84 | Annan Athletic | Wigtown & Bladnoch (3) |
| 1984–85 | Dalbeattie Star | Annan Athletic |
| 1985–86 | Dalbeattie Star (2) | Newton Stewart |
| 1986–87 | Annan Athletic (2) | Wigtown & Bladnoch (4) |
| 1987–88 | Newton Stewart (6) | Threave Rovers |
| 1988–89 | Dalbeattie Star (3) | Dalbeattie Star |
| 1989–90 | Girvan | Threave Rovers |
| 1990–91 | Maxwelltown High School | Threave Rovers |
| 1991–92 | Wigtown & Bladnoch (3) | Girvan (3) |
| 1992–93 | Threave Rovers (5) | Dalbeattie Star |
| 1993–94 | Threave Rovers (6) | Threave Rovers |
| 1994–95 | Threave Rovers (7) | Wigtown & Bladnoch (5) |
| 1995–96 | St Cuthbert Wanderers (15) | St Cuthbert Wanderers (4) |
| 1996–97 | Queen of the South Reserves | Queen of the South Reserves |
| 1997–98 | Tarff Rovers (5) | Tarff Rovers |
| 1998–99 | Tarff Rovers (6) | Tarff Rovers |
| 1999–00 | Tarff Rovers (7) | Tarff Rovers |
| 2000–01 | No competition due to the 2001 foot-and-mouth outbreak | Newton Stewart |
| 2001–02 | Tarff Rovers (8) | Girvan (4) |
| 2002–03 | Stranraer Athletic | Crichton |
| 2003–04 | Stranraer Athletic (2) | Stranraer Athletic |
| 2004–05 | Stranraer Athletic (3) | Annan Athletic |
| 2005–06 | Threave Rovers (8) | Creetown |
| 2006–07 | Threave Rovers (9) | Threave Rovers |
| 2007–08 | Crichton | St Cuthbert Wanderers (5) |
| 2008–09 | Threave Rovers (10) | St Cuthbert Wanderers (6) |
| 2009–10 | Threave Rovers (11) | Stranraer Reserves |
| 2010–11 | Threave Rovers (12) | Dalbeattie Star |
| 2011–12 | Dalbeattie Star (4) | Dalbeattie Star |
| 2012–13 | Dalbeattie Star (5) | Dalbeattie Star |
| 2013–14 | Wigtown & Bladnoch (4) | Wigtown & Bladnoch (6) |
| 2014–15 | Wigtown & Bladnoch (5) | Edusport Academy |
| 2015–16 | St Cuthbert Wanderers (16) | Edusport Academy (2) |
| 2016–17 | Edusport Academy * | Newton Stewart |
| 2017–18 | Threave Rovers (13) | Abbey Vale |
| 2018–19 | Stranraer Reserves | Upper Annandale |
| 2019–20 | Null and void due to the COVID-19 pandemic[18] | Stranraer Reserves |
| 2020–21 | Null and void due to the COVID-19 pandemic | |
| 2021–22 | St Cuthbert Wanderers (17) | Threave Rovers |
| 2022–23 | Abbey Vale | Creetown |
| 2023–24 | Dalbeattie Star (6) | Lochar Thistle |
* Team promoted to the Lowland League
Total titles won
[edit]Clubs currently playing in the league are shown in bold.
| Rank | Club | Pre-war league | Current league | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Cuthbert Wanderers | 8 | 9 | 17 |
| 2 | Stranraer Reserves | 0 | 16 | 16 |
| 3 | Threave Rovers | 0 | 13 | 13 |
| 4 | Dalbeattie Star | 6 | 6 | 12 |
| 5 | Tarff Rovers | 0 | 8 | 8 |
| 6 | Newton Stewart | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| 7 | Wigtown & Bladnoch | 0 | 5 | 5 |
| 8 | Stranraer Athletic | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Annan Athletic | 0 | 3 | 3 | |
| 10 | Ayr United 'A' | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Mid-Annandale | 2 | 0 | 2 | |
| 12 | 5th KRV | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 5th KOSB | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 6 GRV | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| Abbey Vale | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Crichton | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Douglas Wanderers | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| Edusport Academy | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Girvan | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Greystone Rovers | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Lincluden Swifts | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Maxwelltown High School | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Queen of the South Reserves | 0 | 1 | 1 |
References
[edit]- ^ "Stranraer bow out of South league". The Galloway Gazette. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
- ^ "Lowland League clubs confirmed by Scottish FA". BBC. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
- ^ "South Champions Start With a Home Game". DG News-Sport. Dumfries & Galloway News. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
- ^ Gillespie, Stuart (5 June 2016). "Threave Rovers' South of Scotland League return confirmed after three years in the Lowland League". Daily Record. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
- ^ McNaught, John (30 July 2016). "South football kicks off again this weekend". Galloway Gazette. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
- ^ Abbey Vale, nonleaguescotland.org.uk, Retrieved 5 July 2017.
- ^ Creetown, nonleaguescotland.org.uk, Retrieved 5 July 2017.
- ^ Lochar Thistle, nonleaguescotland.org.uk, Retrieved 5 July 2017.
- ^ "Lochmaben". nonleaguescotland.org.uk. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
- ^ Mid-Annandale, nonleaguescotland.org.uk, Retrieved 5 July 2017.
- ^ Newton Stewart, nonleaguescotland.org.uk, Retrieved 5 July 2017.
- ^ Nithsdale Wanderers, nonleaguescotland.org.uk, Retrieved 5 July 2017.
- ^ St Cuthbert Wanderers, nonleaguescotland.org.uk, Retrieved 5 July 2017.
- ^ Stranraer reserves, nonleaguescotland.org.uk, Retrieved 5 July 2017.
- ^ Upper Annandale, nonleaguescotland.org.uk, Retrieved 5 July 2017.
- ^ Wigtown & Bladnoch, nonleaguescotland.org.uk, Retrieved 5 July 2017.
- ^ "SOUTH OF SCOTLAND LEAGUE CHAMPIONS". South of Scotland Football League. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
- ^ "South football season ends without a champion side". dgnews-sport.co.uk. Retrieved 5 May 2020.