Lowland Football League

Lowland League
Founded2013
Country Scotland
Other club(s) from England (1 team)
ConfederationUEFA
Divisions1
Number of clubs18
Level on pyramid5
Promotion toScottish League Two
Relegation toEast of Scotland Football League
South of Scotland Football League
West of Scotland Football League
Domestic cup(s)Scottish Cup
South Region Challenge Cup
Scottish Challenge Cup (top 4)
Scottish League Cup (champions)
League cup(s)Lowland League Cup
Current championsEast Kilbride (3rd title)
(2023–24)
Most championshipsThe Spartans, East Kilbride
(3 titles)
Websiteslfl.co.uk
Current: 2024–25 Lowland Football League

The Scottish Lowland Football League (SLFL, commonly known as the Lowland League) and the Park’s Motor Group Scottish Lowland League for sponsorship reasons is a senior football league based in central and southern Scotland. The league sits at level 5 on the Scottish football league system, acting as a feeder to the Scottish Professional Football League, and is above three regional leagues at level 6.

Founded in 2013, it is currently composed of 18 member clubs in a single division. Geographically, the league covers an area south of Dundee in the Lowlands area of Scotland.

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 Highland Football League champions, with the winners then competing against the bottom club in Scottish League Two for a place in the SPFL. Promotion and relegation also exists between the three Lowlands-based regional leagues at level 6 (East, South, and West).

Format

Teams play each other twice in the league (home and away), receiving three points for a win and one point for a draw. No points are awarded for a loss. At the end of each season, the club with the most points is crowned Lowland League champions. If points are equal, goal difference, and then goals scored determines the champion. If this still does not result in a winner, the tied teams must take part in a championship play-off match at a neutral venue to determine the final placings.[1]

Promotion and relegation

Since 2014–15, promotion to the Scottish Professional Football League is via an annual play-off, beginning with the Lowland League champions facing the champions of the Highland Football League over two legs (home and away).[2] There is no away goals rule so if scores are equal on aggregate after full-time in the second leg, the game will go to extra time, and then penalties if required. The winners will then face a play-off against the bottom club in League Two with the same rules applying.[3][4] If the League Two club loses the play-off final, they are relegated to the Lowland League if they are south of 56.4513N latitude (middle of the Tay Road Bridge).

Promotion to the Lowland League is via a three match round robin play-off between the winners of the East of Scotland Football League, South of Scotland Football League, and West of Scotland Football League, subject to their respective champions meeting league membership criteria. If two clubs meet the criteria they will face each other home and away, if only one club meets the criteria they will be promoted without a play-off, however if no club meets the criteria there will be no promotion to the Lowland League.[5]

Based on the number of clubs remaining after the results of promotion to and from the league are known, the bottom and possibly second-bottom placed clubs will be relegated to the East of Scotland Football League, South of Scotland Football League, or West of Scotland Football League depending on their geographical location.[6]

Scottish Cup

All Lowland League clubs are full members of the Scottish Football Association and qualify automatically for the first round of the Scottish Cup.

The furthest a Lowland League team has reached in the Scottish Cup is the fifth round (last 16), achieved by The Spartans in 2014–15 (lost 1–0 to Berwick Rangers in a replay),[7] East Kilbride in 2015–16 (lost 2–0 to Celtic)[8] and BSC Glasgow in 2019–20 (lost 4–1 to Hibernian).[9]

History

The Lowland Football League was intended on helping institute a football pyramid including promotion and relegation from Scottish football's national divisions down to its junior and amateur levels by the Scottish Football Association.[10]

Formation

The Lowland League was founded by a unanimous vote of members of the Scottish Football Association (SFA) on 11 June 2013,[3] The league would be composed of teams drawn from the East of Scotland, South of Scotland, and junior leagues, who met on 17 June 2013 to elect between them the founder-members of the new league.[11]

While most clubs were invited to submit bids to join, Preston Athletic, The Spartans and Threave Rovers were offered automatic entry as they were already fully licensed by the SFA.[11] While 27 clubs had registered their interest, the Lowland League received 17 applications to join.[12] After the meeting on 17 June, it was announced there would be 12 teams in the league, and that they would be: Dalbeattie Star, East Kilbride, Edinburgh City, Gala Fairydean Rovers, Gretna 2008, Preston Athletic, Selkirk, The Spartans, Threave Rovers, University of Stirling, Vale of Leithen, and Whitehill Welfare.[13]

Expansion

Subsequent seasons saw the number of participating clubs increase. Two clubs, Edinburgh University and BSC Glasgow, were admitted to the league for the 2014–15 season.[14] They were joined the following season by Cumbernauld Colts.[15] Civil Service Strollers and Hawick Royal Albert joined in June 2016, making it a 16-team league.

Pyramid movement

The end of the 2015–16 season was the first time that founding members would leave the league; Edinburgh City became the first club to be promoted to the SPFL, while Threave Rovers declined the opportunity to re-apply to the league after finishing bottom and rejoined the South of Scotland Football League.[16] The same season also saw East Stirlingshire become the first club relegated into the league from Scottish League Two.

Another founding member would leave the league at the end of the 2016-17 season as Preston Athletic were relegated to the East of Scotland League. They were replaced by Edusport Academy who became the first club to gain promotion from the South of Scotland League.[17]

In 2017–18 the first promotion play-off took place between the champions of the East of Scotland and South of Scotland leagues, with former SJFA East Region club Kelty Hearts winning 10–0 on aggregate over Threave Rovers to gain promotion.[18]

Decline of Selkirk

During the 2018–19 season Selkirk resigned their membership in the league owing to insurmountable difficulties.[19] It was agreed by the Lowland League board that all fixtures played by and to be played by Selkirk in 2018–19 would be expunged from the record along with any other data involving Selkirk for that season. The Lowland League moved forward with 15 clubs, however Whitehill Welfare, who finished bottom in the season's competition, were still relegated to the East of Scotland League.[20][21] East of Scotland champions Bonnyrigg Rose were promoted to the league after gaining their SFA membership.[22][23] Berwick Rangers became the second club to be relegated into the league from the SPFL, having lost the League Two play-off against Cove Rangers.[24]

Impact of Covid

At the start of the 2019–20 season Edusport Academy rebranded the club as the Caledonian Braves following a vote online by members of the Our Football Club.com project.[25][26] The 2019–20 league season was suspended on 13 March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[27] A month later, the competition was ended with immediate effect with Kelty Hearts being declared champions on a points per game average based on the current standings.[28] Vale of Leithen who were bottom of the league were also spared relegation.[29]

WOSFL

On 14 April 2020, the Lowland League announced it had approved 67 applications to join the new West of Scotland Football League, which included all 63 clubs from the Scottish Junior Football Association's West Region, and four others. Bonnyton Thistle already a member of the South of Scotland League decided to move due to being based in Kilmarnock.[30] The West of Scotland League acts as a feeder league on the same tier as the East of Scotland Football League and South of Scotland Football League.

Kelty Hearts promotion

The league consisted of 17 teams for the 2020–21 season with East of Scotland champions Bo'ness United being promoted after gaining their SFA membership in June 2020.[31][32] The start of the league season was delayed until October 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and games were played behind closed doors due to Scottish Government restrictions. On 11 January 2021 the league was suspended by the Scottish Football Association due to the escalating pandemic situation.[33] On 30 March the league announced that a majority of clubs had voted to curtail the season, with a points per game basis used to finalise standings and Kelty Hearts were declared as the champions.[34] Kelty became the second Lowland League club to gain promotion to the SPFL after beating Brechin City 3–1 on aggregate in the Pyramid play-off final.[35]

B teams

Celtic and Rangers were approached by the Lowland League for a proposal to admit "B" teams (also known as "Colt" teams) into the league for the 2021–22 season.[36] The proposal was given provisional approval by the majority of member clubs with the vote being confirmed at the leagues AGM on 27 May 2021.[37][38][39] This arrangement was renewed for the 2022–23 season,[40] with Hearts also providing a B team.[41] Celtic and Hearts continued for the 2023–24 season however Rangers withdrew their entry in June 2023.[42]

Member clubs

class=notpageimage|
Location of teams in 2023–24 Scottish Lowland Football League
Team Location Stadium Surface Capacity Seats
Albion Rovers Coatbridge Cliftonhill Grass 1,238[43] 489
Berwick Rangers Berwick-upon-Tweed Shielfield Park Grass 4,099 1,366
Bo'ness United Bo'ness Newtown Park Artificial 2,500 0
Broomhill Dumbarton Dumbarton Football Stadium[a] Grass 2,020 2,020
Broxburn Athletic Broxburn Albyn Park Artificial 2,050 0
Caledonian Braves Motherwell Alliance Park Artificial 500 100
Celtic B Airdrie Excelsior Stadium[b] Artificial 10,101 10,101
Civil Service Strollers Edinburgh Christie Gillies Park Grass 1,569 100
Cowdenbeath Cowdenbeath Central Park Grass 4,309 1,622
Cumbernauld Colts Cumbernauld Broadwood Stadium Artificial 8,086 8,086
East Kilbride East Kilbride K-Park Artificial 660 400
East Stirlingshire Falkirk Falkirk Stadium[c] Artificial 7,937 7,937
Gala Fairydean Rovers Galashiels 3G Arena, Netherdale Artificial 2,000 500
Gretna 2008 Gretna Raydale Park Artificial 1,030 138
Heart of Midlothian B Edinburgh Ainslie Park[d] Artificial 3,500 192
Linlithgow Rose Linlithgow Prestonfield Grass 2,264 301
Tranent Tranent Foresters Park Grass 2,300 44
University of Stirling Stirling Forthbank Stadium[e] Grass 3,808 2,508
Notes
  1. ^ Broomhill are ground-sharing with Dumbarton.
  2. ^ Celtic B are ground-sharing with Airdrieonians.
  3. ^ East Stirlingshire are ground-sharing with Falkirk.
  4. ^ Heart of Midlothian B are ground-sharing with The Spartans.
  5. ^ University of Stirling are ground-sharing with Stirling Albion.

All grounds are equipped with floodlights.

Former members

Promoted to the SPFL
Relegated
Resigned

Seasons

Season Champions Runners-up Relegated[a] New members[b]
2013–14 The Spartans[c] University of Stirling Does not appear Does not appear
2014–15 Edinburgh City[d] East Kilbride Does not appear Edinburgh University I
BSC Glasgow I
2015–16 Edinburgh City*[e] (2) The Spartans Threave Rovers S Cumbernauld Colts I
2016–17 East Kilbride[f] East Stirlingshire Preston Athletic E East Stirlingshire R
Civil Service Strollers I
Hawick Royal Albert I
2017–18 The Spartans[g] (2) East Kilbride (2) Hawick Royal Albert E Edusport Academy S
2018–19 East Kilbride[h] (2) BSC Glasgow Selkirk[i]
Whitehill Welfare E 		Kelty Hearts PO E
2019–20 Kelty Hearts†[c] Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic Does not appear Berwick Rangers R
Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic E
2020–21 Kelty Hearts *†[j] (2) East Kilbride (3) Does not appear Bo'ness United E
2021–22 Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic *[k] East Kilbride (4) Vale of Leithen E Celtic B I
Rangers B I
2022–23 The Spartans *[l] (3) University of Stirling (2) Dalbeattie Star S
Rangers B[m] 		Cowdenbeath R
Tranent Juniors PO E

Heart of Midlothian B I

2023–24 East Kilbride (3) Bo'ness United Edinburgh University E Albion Rovers R
Linlithgow Rose E
2024–25 Broxburn Athletic E
* Team promoted to Scottish League Two
R Relegated team from previous season's Scottish League Two
I Invited rather than promoted from lower tier in traditional manner
PO Winner of previous season's promotion playoff
E Team relegated to or promoted from the East of Scotland Football League
S Team relegated to or promoted from the South of Scotland Football League

† Season curtailed due to COVID-19 pandemic - Kelty were announced as champions for the 2019-20[28] and 2020–21 season. A points per game basis was used to finalise standings.[34]

  1. ^ Relegated from the Lowland League or withdrew
  2. ^ Relegated from the SPFL, or promoted or invited into the Lowland League - see notes against Champions to indicate teams promoted up to the SPFL
  3. ^ a b No promotion playoffs
  4. ^ Lost to Brora Rangers
  5. ^ Beat Cove Rangers, beat East Stirlingshire
  6. ^ Beat Buckie Thistle, lost to Cowdenbeath
  7. ^ Lost to Cove Rangers
  8. ^ Lost to Cove Rangers
  9. ^ Withdrew and folded
  10. ^ Beat Brora Rangers, beat Brechin City
  11. ^ Beat Fraserburgh, beat Cowdenbeath
  12. ^ Beat Brechin City, beat Albion Rovers
  13. ^ Opted not to continue invitation to participate

Top Scorers

Season Player Team Goals
2013–14 Scotland Keith McLeod The Spartans 17
2014–15 Scotland Aaron Somerville Whitehill Welfare 23
2015–16 Scotland Ross Allum Edinburgh City 27
2016–17 Scotland David Grant East Stirlingshire 35
2017–18 Scotland Jack Smith BSC Glasgow 21
2018–19 Scotland Craig Malcolm East Kilbride 25
2019–20 England Nathan Austin Kelty Hearts 37
2020–21 Scotland Jamie Penker University of Stirling 11
2021–22 Scotland Blair Henderson The Spartans 27
2022–23 Scotland Liam Buchanan Berwick Rangers 22
2023–24 Northern Ireland Makenzie Kirk Hearts B 26

Records

Biggest home win
Hearts B 12-0 Edinburgh University, 5 January 2024
Biggest away win
Vale of Leithen 0–13 Bonnyrigg Rose, 6 October 2021
Most goals in a game
The Spartans 11–2 Selkirk, 7 December 2013[44]
Most points in a season
87; Bonnyrigg Rose, 2021-22
Fewest points in a season
5; Selkirk, 2013-14 and Vale of Leithen, 2021-22[a] (0; Vale of Leithen, 2020-21[b])
Longest unbeaten run in a season
21; Kelty Hearts, 2019–20
Most wins in a season
28; Bonnyrigg Rose, 2021-22
Fewest wins in a season
1; Hawick Royal Albert, 2017-18, Vale of Leithen, 2021-22, Dalbeattie Star, 2022-23 (0; Vale of Leithen, 2020-21[b])
Most draws in a season
11; East Stirlingshire, 2021-22
Most defeats in a season
31; Vale of Leithen, 2021-22
Fewest defeats in a season
1; Edinburgh City, 2014-15 and Kelty Hearts, 2019-20
Most goals scored in a season
107; East Stirlingshire, 2016-17
Fewest goals scored in a season
10; Vale of Leithen, 2021-22 (5; Vale of Leithen, 2020-21[b])
Most goals conceded in a season
166; Vale of Leithen, 2021-22
Fewest goals conceded in a season
12; East Kilbride, 2018-19 (4; Kelty Hearts, 2020-21[b])
Notes
  1. ^ Inaugural league season which consisted of 12 teams. Hawick Royal Albert's 6 points from 30 games in 2017-18 is fewer points per game.
  2. ^ a b c d 2020-21 Season curtailed due to COVID-19 pandemic with fewer than 50% of matches played.

Managers

Dougie Samuel is the most successful manager of the Lowland League having won three league titles with Spartans.[45] Spartans won the inaugural league title during the 2013-14 season,[46] clinched their second title in 2018,[47] and record third title in 2023, as well as winning promotion to the SPFL.[48]

Gary Jardine, Barry Ferguson, and Robbie Horn have also guided their clubs to promotion to the SPFL after winning the Lowland League.[49][35][50]

East Kilbride have won the title three times with different managers, Martin Lauchlan in 2017,[51] Stuart Malcolm in 2019,[52][53] and Mick Kennedy in 2024.[54]

Winning managers
Manager Club(s) Wins Winning years
Scotland Dougie Samuel The Spartans 3 2013–14, 2017–18, 2022–23
Scotland Gary Jardine Edinburgh City 2 2014–15, 2015–16
Scotland Barry Ferguson Kelty Hearts 2019–20, 2020–21
Scotland Martin Lauchlan East Kilbride 1 2016–17
Scotland Stuart Malcolm East Kilbride 2018–19
Scotland Robbie Horn Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic 2021–22
Scotland Mick Kennedy East Kilbride 2023–24
Current managers
Nat. Name Club Appointed Time as manager
Scotland Ricky Waddell Caledonian Braves 1 September 2015 9 years, 118 days
Scotland Chris Geddes University of Stirling 30 June 2017 7 years, 181 days
Scotland Gary Jardine Civil Service Strollers 23 May 2018 6 years, 219 days
Scotland Gordon Herd Linlithgow Rose 22 August 2021 3 years, 128 days
Scotland Martin Scott Gala Fairydean Rovers 9 January 2022 2 years, 354 days
Republic of Ireland Darren O'Dea Celtic B 1 June 2022 2 years, 210 days
United States Steve Pittman Broxburn Athletic 21 January 2023 1 year, 342 days
Scotland Sandy Clark Albion Rovers 28 March 2023 1 year, 275 days
Scotland Pat Scullion East Stirlingshire 6 April 2023 1 year, 266 days
Scotland Mick Kennedy East Kilbride 1 June 2023 1 year, 210 days
Scotland Stuart Hunter Bo'ness United 5 June 2023 1 year, 206 days
Scotland Liam Fox Hearts B 16 June 2023 1 year, 195 days
Scotland Tam Scobbie Berwick Rangers 24 October 2023 1 year, 65 days
Scotland Dougie Hill Cowdenbeath 10 May 2024 232 days
Scotland Vinnie Parker Gretna 2008 10 May 2024 232 days
Scotland Zander Diamond Broomhill 21 May 2024 221 days
Scotland Jonny Stewart Tranent 3 September 2024 116 days
Scotland Craig Malcolm Cumbernauld Colts 19 October 2024 70 days

Youth competitions

The Lowlands Development League operates for the Under 20s youth teams of clubs in the Lowland, East of Scotland, South of Scotland and West of Scotland leagues, along with other invited SPFL clubs. Originally named the Lowland and East of Scotland Under 20 Development League when it began in 2014, this replaced an earlier Under 19 league run by the East of Scotland League. Matches are normally played on Friday nights.

The Under 20s league expanded to 31 teams for the 2019–20 season, split into two conferences, having already increased in size from 13 to 23 teams thanks to the addition of new clubs to the East of Scotland League in 2018–19. A year later, the aborted 2020–21 season saw numbers increase to 68 along with the addition of three West Conferences due to the introduction of the West of Scotland League within the Scottish football pyramid.[55][56][57]

For the 2021–22 season, a record number of 88 clubs are taking part, split across six Conferences.[58] Petershill, Kilwinning Rangers, and Darvel later withdrew their team from the Development League.[59][60][61]

Ahead of the 2023-24 season - the development leagues were separated and are now governed by their own respective leagues. The Scottish Lowlands Development Football League previously consisted of 14 clubs (Edinburgh City later withdrew) in only one division with a mixture of SPFL and Lowland League clubs.[62] 12 teams are competing in the league for the 2024-25 season.[63]

These clubs also take part in two cup competitions for both the Eastern and Western conferences, as well as a combined challenge cup. Prior to it becoming a competition for Under 18 teams in 2018 many also competed in the annual SFA Scottish Youth Cup.

Seasons

The Spartans won the first Lowlands Development League title in 2015.[64] The title was then won by Preston Athletic in 2016,[65] East Kilbride in 2017,[66] and Heriot-Watt University in 2018.[67]

From the 2018–19 season, the league was split into two conferences. Conference B winners Spartans won their second title after beating Conference A winners Kelty Hearts in a play-off match which determined the overall league champions.[68]

Edinburgh City were declared champions of Conference A and University of Stirling champions of Conference B after the 2019–20 season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[69]

There was no league champion for 2020–21 as the season did not start due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[70]

Season Champions Runners-up
2014–15 The Spartans Whitehill Welfare
2015–16 Preston Athletic The Spartans
2016–17 East Kilbride The Spartans
2017–18 Heriot-Watt University Cumbernauld Colts
2018–19 The Spartans (2) Kelty Hearts
2019–20 Conference A: Edinburgh City; B: University of Stirling
2020–21 No competition
2021–22 Conference A: University of Stirling
2022–23 Conference A: Cumbernauld Colts
2023–24 University of Stirling East Kilbride

Lowland League Cup

The competition is a 16 team straight knock-out tournament between member clubs, excluding B teams. The league champion previously had the right to withdraw from the competition to concentrate on the Scottish League Two play-offs, however, the competition is now played out earlier in the season rather than over four weekends at the end of the league campaign.

Season Winner Score Runners–up
2013–14 University of Stirling 5–2[71] Preston Athletic
2014–15 East Kilbride 3–1[72] Gretna 2008
2015–16 East Kilbride (2) 0–0 AET
4–2 on penalties[73] 		Gretna 2008
2016–17 The Spartans 3–0[74] BSC Glasgow
2017–18 Cumbernauld Colts 3–1[75] Selkirk
2018–19 BSC Glasgow 2–1[76] East Stirlingshire
2019–20 No competition
2020–21 No competition
2021–22 East Kilbride (3) 4–2 Bo'ness United
2022–23 East Kilbride (4) 2–2 AET
5–4 on penalties[77] 		Bo'ness United
2023–24 Tranent 2–2 AET
5–4 on penalties[78] 		East Kilbride

Sponsorship

On 24 September 2013, the Scottish Sun newspaper announced it was sponsoring the league.[79] The league was then sponsored by Ferrari Packaging on a two-year agreement, which was extended to cover the 2017–18 season.[80] In August 2018, GeoSonic, the Alloa-based sonic drilling contractor, concluded a one-year deal to become the new title sponsor of the Scottish Lowland Football League for the 2018-19 season.[81] On 4 March 2022, Clarke ePOS was announced as the league's title sponsor until the end of the 2022–23 season, however, the partnership was ended in August 2022.[82] The league announced a two year official naming partnership with Park's Motor Group in December 2022.[83]

Media coverage

The league has its own podcast known as The Lowland League Catchup.[84] As well as weekly previews to games, and reviews known as the Roundup.[85]

On 19 September 2018, the SLFL agreed a comprehensive media partnership with RockSport Radio but this has since ended.[86]

References

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