Football league season
The 2023–24 East of Scotland Football League (known as the Central Taxis East of Scotland League for sponsorship reasons) was the 95th season of the East of Scotland Football League , and the 10th season with its top division as part of the sixth tier of the Scottish football pyramid system . Linlithgow Rose were the reigning champions but were unable to defend their title after gaining promotion to the Lowland Football League .
Broxburn Athletic won their first East of Scotland Football League title by eleven points over Musselburgh Athletic , and were promoted to the 2024–25 Lowland Football League following a 12–2 victory over Dalbeattie Star in the Lowland League play-off.
Teams
The following teams changed division after the 2022–23 season.
Transferred from Lothian & Edinburgh Amateur League
Promoted to Lowland Football League
Folded
Premier Division
Football league season
East of Scotland Football League Premier DivisionSeason 2023–24 Dates 29 July 2023 – 18 May 2024 Champions Broxburn Athletic Promoted Broxburn Athletic Relegated Matches played 240 Goals scored 930 (3.88 per match) Biggest home win Tynecastle 9–0 Penicuik Athletic (12 August 2023)Biggest away win Highest scoring Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts 3–7 Broxburn Athletic (9 September 2023)Longest winning run 7 matches:Sauchie Juniors Longest unbeaten run 16 matches: Musselburgh Athletic Longest winless run 16 matches: Kinnoull Longest losing run 13 matches: Kinnoull
All statistics correct as of 18 May 2024.
Broxburn Athletic won the East of Scotland League for the first time following a 2–3 defeat suffered by Musselburgh Athletic at Jeanfield Swifts on 1 May 2024, which left Musselburgh eight points behind with two games remaining. They were promoted to the 2024–25 Lowland Football League , beating Dalbeattie Star in the Lowland League play-off.
Location of teams in
2023–24 East of Scotland Football League Premier Division
Relegated from 2022–23 Premier Division:
Blackburn United
Oakley United
Vale of Leithen
Promoted to 2023–24 Premier Division:
Dunbar United
Glenrothes
Luncarty
Kinnoull
Stadia and locations
Team
Location
Home ground
Surface
Capacity
Seats
Broxburn Athletic [SFA]
Broxburn
Albyn Park[ 1]
Artificial
2,050
0
Crossgates Primrose
Crossgates
Humbug Park [ 2]
Grass
1,500
0
Dunbar United [SFA]
Dunbar
New Countess Park[ 3]
Grass
1,200
191
Dundonald Bluebell [SFA]
Cardenden
Moorside Park[ 4]
Grass
1,000
0
Glenrothes
Glenrothes
Warout Stadium [ 5]
Grass
2,000
730
Haddington Athletic [SFA]
Haddington
Millfield Park[ 6]
Grass
1,200
0
Hill of Beath Hawthorn [SFA]
Hill of Beath
Keir's Park[ 7]
Grass
1,080
0
Hutchison Vale [SFA]
Pilton , Edinburgh
Ainslie Park [ a]
Artificial
3,534
854
Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts
Dalgety Bay
Dalgety Bay Sports & Leisure Centre[ 8]
Artificial
800
0
Jeanfield Swifts [SFA]
Perth
Riverside Stadium[ 9]
Grass
1,000
0
Kinnoull
Perth
Tulloch Park[ 10]
Grass
1,000
0
Luncarty
Luncarty
Brownlands Park
Grass
1,000
0
Musselburgh Athletic [SFA]
Musselburgh
Olivebank Stadium[ 11]
Grass
1,500
0
Penicuik Athletic [SFA]
Penicuik
Montgomery Park[ 12]
Grass
1,500
0
Sauchie Juniors [SFA]
Sauchie
Beechwood Park[ 13]
Grass
2,500
200
Tynecastle [SFA]
Slateford , Edinburgh
Meggetland Sports Complex [ 14]
Grass
3,000
500
Notes
All grounds are equipped with floodlights, except Humbug Park (Crossgates Primrose), Warout Stadium (Glenrothes), Brownlands Park (Luncarty).
League table
Source:
eosfl.com Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(C) Champions;
(O) Play-off winners;
(P) Promoted;
(R) Relegated
Notes:
^ Glenrothes deducted 3 points for fielding an ineligible, underage player in their 0–5 defeat against Jeanfield Swifts.[ 15]
Results
Source: East of Scotland Fixture List
[ 17] Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Notes:
^ The original fixture finished 1–0 to Penicuik Athletic, but the match was replayed as Penicuik Athletic made too many substitutions during the match.[ 16]
First Division
Location of teams in
2023–24 East of Scotland Football League First Division
Dunipace won the league title on 14 May 2024, following a 0–1 defeat for St Andrews United at Newtongrange Star – which meant that Dunipace, who had played all their games, could not be caught.
Relegated from 2022–23 First Division:
Burntisland Shipyard
Coldstream
Kennoway Star Hearts
Promoted to 2023–24 First Division:
Whitburn
St Andrews United
Heriot-Watt University
Arniston Rangers
Stadia and locations
Team
Location
Home ground
Surface
Capacity
Seats
Floodlit
Arniston Rangers
Gorebridge
Newbyres Park[ 18]
Grass
1,500
0
No
Blackburn United [SFA]
Blackburn
New Murrayfield Park[ 19]
Artificial
1,500
0
Yes
Camelon Juniors [SFA]
Camelon
Carmuirs Park[ 20]
Grass
2,000
100
Yes
Dunipace [SFA]
Denny
Westfield Park[ 21]
Artificial
1,000
0
Yes
Heriot-Watt University
Riccarton, Edinburgh
John Brydson Arena[ 22]
Artificial
250
195
Yes
Kirkcaldy & Dysart
Kirkcaldy
Denfield Park[ 8]
Grass
1,200
20
No
Leith Athletic
Edinburgh
Meadowbank Stadium [ 23]
Artificial
1,748
499
Yes
Lochore Welfare
Crosshill
Central Park
Grass
1,200
0
No
Newtongrange Star [SFA]
Newtongrange
New Victoria Park[ 24]
Grass
2,275
30
Yes
Oakley United
Oakley
Blairwood Park[ 25]
Grass
1,500
0
No
Preston Athletic [SFA]
Prestonpans
Pennypit Park [ 26]
Grass
1,500
313
Yes
Rosyth
Rosyth
Fleet Grounds
Artificial
300
0
Yes
St Andrews United [SFA]
St Andrews
Recreation Park[ 27]
Grass
766
0
Yes
Vale of Leithen [SFA]
Innerleithen
Victoria Park
Grass
1,000
0
Yes
Whitburn
Whitburn
Central Park[ 28]
Grass
2,000
38
No
Whitehill Welfare [SFA]
Rosewell
Ferguson Park[ 29]
Grass
2,454
192
Yes
Notes
League table
Source:
eosfl.com Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(C) Champions;
(P) Promoted;
(R) Relegated
Notes:
^ Leith Athletic deducted 3 points for fielding an ineligible player in their 1–5 defeat against Preston Athletic.
^ Vale of Leithen deducted 3 points for fielding an ineligible player in their 2–6 defeat against Arniston Rangers.
Results
Source: East of Scotland Football League
[ 17] Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Second Division
Location of teams in
2023–24 East of Scotland Football League Second Division
The league title went down to the final day of the season, with Bo'ness Athletic and Thornton Hibs separated by one point. Despite a 21-match winning run for Thornton Hibs to end the season, Bo'ness Athletic's 4–0 home victory over Dalkeith Thistle was enough for the honours.
Relegated from 2022–23 Second Division:
Craigroyston
Hawick Royal Albert
Lochgelly Albert
Syngenta (folded)
Promoted to 2023–24 Second Division:
Bo'ness Athletic
Armadale Thistle
Edinburgh College
Stadia and locations
Team
Location
Home ground
Surface
Capacity
Seats
Floodlit
Armadale Thistle
Armadale
Volunteer Park[ 31]
Artificial
2,000
300
Yes
Burntisland Shipyard [SFA]
Burntisland
Recreation Park[ 32]
Grass
1,000
0
Yes
Bo'ness Athletic
Bo'ness
Newtown Park [ 33]
Artificial
2,000
0
Yes
Coldstream [SFA]
Coldstream
Home Park[ 34]
Grass
1,000
0
Yes
Dalkeith Thistle [SFA]
Dalkeith
King's Park[ 35]
Grass
1,500
0
Yes
Easthouses Lily Miners Welfare [SFA]
Easthouses
Newbattle Complex[ 36]
Grass
1,500
100
Yes
Edinburgh College
Edinburgh
Riccarton Campus[ a]
Artificial
250
195
Yes
Edinburgh South
Colinton, Edinburgh
Paties Road Stadium[ b]
Grass
1,200
200
No
Edinburgh United
Colinton, Edinburgh
Paties Road Stadium[ 37]
Grass
1,200
200
No
Kennoway Star Hearts
Star
Treaton Park
Grass
1,000
0
No
Newburgh
Newburgh
East Shore Park
Grass
1,000
0
No
Ormiston Primrose
Ormiston
New Recreation Park[ 38]
Grass
1,000
0
No
Peebles Rovers
Peebles
Whitestone Park [ 39]
Grass
1,250
250
No
Stirling University reserves
Stenhousemuir
Ochilview Park [ c]
Artificial
3,746
626
Yes
Thornton Hibs
Thornton
Memorial Park
Grass
1,500
0
No
Tweedmouth Rangers
Berwick-upon-Tweed
Shielfield Park [ d]
Grass
4,099
1,366
Yes
Notes
League table
Source:
eosfl.com Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(C) Champions;
(P) Promoted;
(R) Relegated
Notes:
^ Edinburgh United deducted 9 points for fielding an ineligible player in their March 2024 defeats against Edinburgh South, Bo'ness Athletic and Easthouses Lily Miners Welfare.
Results
Source: East of Scotland Football League
[ 17] Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Notes:
Third Division
Location of teams in
2023–24 East of Scotland Football League Third Division
Location of teams in
2023–24 East of Scotland Football League Third Division within West Lothian
West Calder United won the league title with a round of matches to spare, following a 2–1 victory over Harthill Royal on 14 May 2024.
Transferred from Lothian & Edinburgh Amateur League
Stadia and locations
Club
Location
Home Ground
Surface
Capacity
Seats
Floodlit
Bathgate Thistle
Bathgate
Creamery Park [ 44]
Grass
2,000
0
Yes
Edinburgh Community
Warriston, Edinburgh
St Mark's Park[ 45]
Grass
1,000
0
No
Fauldhouse United
Fauldhouse
Park View[ 46]
Grass
1,500
80
No
Harthill Royal
Harthill
Gibbshill Park
Grass
1,800
0
No
Hawick Royal Albert [SFA]
Hawick
Albert Park [ 47]
Grass
1,000
500
Yes
Linton Hotspur
West Linton
New Moor Road
Grass
1,000
63
No
Livingston United
Livingston
Station Park[ 48]
Grass
1,500
0
No
Lochgelly Albert
Lochgelly
Gardiners Park
Grass
1,500
0
No
Pumpherston
Pumpherston
Recreation Park[ 49]
Grass
1,500
0
No
Stoneyburn
Stoneyburn
Beechwood Park[ 50]
Grass
1,500
0
No
West Calder United
West Calder
Hermand Park[ 51]
Grass
1,000
0
No
League table
Source:
eosfl.com Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(C) Champions;
(P) Promoted
Notes:
^ Fauldhouse United deducted 2 points for fielding an ineligible player in their game against Edinburgh Community – originally a 3–3 draw, the game was awarded 1–0 to Edinburgh Community.
Results
Source: East of Scotland Football League
[ 17] Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Notes:
^ Match initially finished 3–3; later awarded 1–0 to Edinburgh Community as Fauldhouse United fielded an ineligible player.
^ The original fixture finished 3–1 to Edinburgh Community, but the match was replayed as Edinburgh Community made too many substitutions during the match.[ 52]
Notes
SFA Club with an SFA licence;[ 53] eligible to participate in the Lowland League promotion play-off (should they win the Premier Division), and also compete in the Scottish Cup .
References
External links
Domestic leagues Domestic cups European competitions Related to national team Transfers Club seasons
Premiership Championship League One League Two