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West of Scotland Football League

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Association football league in Scotland

Football league
West of Scotland Football League
Founded2020
Country Scotland
ConfederationUEFA
Divisions5
Number of clubs80
Level onpyramid6–10
Promotion toLowland Football League
Domestic cup(s)Scottish Cup (SFA licensed clubs and Premier Division winners)
South Region Challenge Cup
Scottish Junior Cup (SJFA members)
Strathclyde Cup (Neither SFA nor SJFA members only)
League cupWest of Scotland League Cup
Current championsClydebank (1st title)
(2024–25)
Most championshipsBeith Juniors (2 titles)
Websitewww.wosfl.co.uk
Current:2025–26 West of Scotland Football League

TheWest of Scotland Football League (WoSFL) is a seniorfootball league based in the west ofScotland. The league sits at levels 6–10 on theScottish football league system, acting as a feeder to theLowland Football League.

Founded in 2020, it is currently composed of 80 member clubs competing in five divisions. Geographically, the league coversArgyll & Bute,Ayrshire,East Dunbartonshire,West Dunbartonshire,Glasgow,Inverclyde,Lanarkshire,East Renfrewshire andRenfrewshire. Two clubs are also based inDumfries and Galloway.

Since its formation, it has featured in the seniorpyramid system. The winners take part in an end of season promotion play-off with theEast of Scotland Football League andSouth of Scotland Football League champions, subject to clubs meeting the required licensing criteria.

History

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Formation

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Talks to integrate all of theScottish Junior Football Association clubs into the senior pyramid structure below theSPFL had been taking place for a number of years, however discussions at theScottish Football Association's pyramid working group had broken down in early 2020.[1] In February 2020 the Lowland and East of Scotland leagues invited clubs to express their interest in the formation of a new West of Scotland league at tier 6,[2] with a majority ofSJFA West Region clubs submitting emails.[3] The next month, clubs were invited to information meetings and applications were opened to join the league.[4][5]

On 14 April 2020, theLowland League announced it had approved 67 applications for the new league, which included all 63 clubs from theScottish Junior Football Association'sWest Region,[a] and four others:Glasgow amateursDrumchapel United andGlasgow University,Kilmarnock sideBonnyton Thistle moving sideways from theSouth of Scotland League andNewton Mearns-based youth clubSt Cadoc's Youth Club from the Paisley, Johnstone & District League.[6]

Initial plans for the inaugural season would have seen the league operate a conference format in order to facilitate all 67 clubs at the same level. However, following a video conference with theScottish Football Association, the league was split into a top tier and lower divisions, similar to that utilised by theEast of Scotland Football League.[7]

On 1 May 2020, the League confirmed that a top division of 20 teams would contest the first season in2020–21, comprising the 16 teams who had played in the2019–20 West Region Premiership, the top three places from theWest Championship and one moving 'sideways' from theSouth of Scotland Football League.[7] This ran contrary to some clubs' expectations that the inaugural campaign would not use a hierarchical system,[8][9] but the league stated "that option was not on the table" due to legal issues. Teams below the top division would be distributed into three balanced conferences;[10] The list for which was published three days later.[11]

Impact of Covid

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On 17 September 2020, the League announced that the Premier Division would be split into two groups based on the Points Per Game formula that was used to declare the league winners of theSJFA West Region. There would be two phases to the season. In Phase 1, teams would play other teams within their group twice, home and away. Phase 2 consisted of a further ten games, five home and five away, with teams being drawn against teams from the other group.[12] However, the league reverted to a normal home and away format following a number of withdrawals from the initial season.[13]

On 11 January 2021 the league was suspended by theScottish Football Association due to the escalatingCOVID-19 pandemic situation.[14]

Expansion

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On 12 May 2021, the league announced the formation of the Development League, with nine teams becoming initial members. The Development League became Division 4 when the WOSFL changed to a linear structure for the2022–23 season. Teams in the Development League will only be promoted if they meet specified ground criteria.[15]

Since formation, a number of clubs have successfully applied to join the league, or have taken over existing clubs, and currently the league runs at its maximum capacity of 80 clubs in 5 divisions. Examples includeHarthill Royal joining in2021–22 (though left the following season), andThreave Rovers joining in2022–23.Annbank United remain in abeyance.

Member clubs

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West of Scotland Football League is located in Scotland South
Location of teams in2024–25 West of Scotland League
– Premier Division – First Division – Second Division – Third Division – Fourth Division
Main article:2025–26 West of Scotland Football League

After running with a Premier Division of 20 clubs and three Tier 7 Conferences of 15 or 16 clubs during its transitional 2021–22 season, the WoSFL has since switched to a linear structure with the Premier, First, Second, Third, and Fourth Divisions now each containing 16 teams.

Listed below are the 80 clubs in the WoSFL for the2025–26 season. Three clubs are promoted and relegated between each division.

Premier Division

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First Division

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Second Division

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Third Division

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Fourth Division

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Seasons

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SeasonPremier DivisionTier 7 Conferences
2020–21Null and void[16]
Premier DivisionTier 7 ConferencesDivision FourLeague Cup
2021–22DarvelA:Arthurlie
B:Cambuslang Rangers
C:Petershill		FinnartHurlford United
Premier DivisionFirst DivisionSecond DivisionThird DivisionFourth DivisionLeague Cup
2022–23Beith JuniorsGartcairnRenfrewVale of ClydeWest Park UnitedAuchinleck Talbot
2023–24Beith Juniors (2)Drumchapel UnitedArdrossan Winton RoversLanark UnitedGlenvaleDarvel
2024–25Clydebank *ArthurlieNeilstonThorn AthleticKnightswoodAuchinleck Talbot (2)

* Team promoted to theLowland League

Cup competitions

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  • Scottish Cup (sponsored byScottish Gas): For clubs with an SFA licence and the Premier Division winners, who all enter at the preliminary round stage. Knock-out tournament with no replays, except for in the preliminary rounds.[17]
  • SFA South Region Challenge Cup: (sponsored by FinestCarMats.co.uk) Introduced in 2007–08 as a replacement for theScottish Qualifying Cup (South) which was abolished under the new Scottish Cup format. It is for all seniornon-league clubs in the south of Scotland and has 163 entrants for the 2023–24 season – 16 from the Lowland League, 56 from the EoSFL, 11 from the SoSFL, and 80 from the WoSFL. Reserve teams do not take part. It is a straight knock-out tournament without replays, with drawn matches going to extra time.
  • Strathclyde Cup (sponsored by Strathclyde Demolition): Competition for the WoSFL clubs who are neither SFA nor SJFA members, usually played on the same weekends as Junior Cup matches. Straight knock-out tournament, without replays. The winner goes on to play in theEast, South and West of Scotland Cup-Winners Shield against the East's Alex Jack Cup winner and the Southern Counties FA's Alba Cup winners for a place in the following season's Scottish Cup.
  • West of Scotland League Cup: All 80 WoSFL sides compete in this knock-out tournament without replays, drawn matches go straight to a penalty shootout. Similar to theWest of Scotland Junior Cup, which was for all clubs in the formerSJFA West Region.
  • Scottish Junior Cup (sponsored by Clydebuilt Home Improvements): Competition for the 53 WoSFL clubs who remain members of theSJFA after moving from the Junior leagues. Knock-out tournament without replays, drawn matches go straight to a penalty shootout, two legged semi-finals.

Holders

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2024–25 winners unless stated

Notes

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  1. ^SJFA West Region teams:Annbank United,Ardeer Thistle,Ardrossan Winton Rovers,Arthurlie,Ashfield,Auchinleck Talbot,Beith Juniors,Bellshill Athletic,Benburb,Blantyre Victoria,Cambuslang Rangers,Carluke Rovers,Clydebank,Craigmark Burntonians,Cumbernauld United,Cumnock Juniors,Dalry Thistle,Darvel,East Kilbride Thistle,Forth Wanderers,Gartcairn Juniors,Girvan,Glasgow Perthshire,Glenafton Athletic,Greenock Juniors,Hurlford United,Irvine Meadow XI,Irvine Victoria,Johnstone Burgh,Kello Rovers,Kilbirnie Ladeside,Kilsyth Rangers,Kilwinning Rangers,Kirkintilloch Rob Roy,Lanark United,Largs Thistle,Larkhall Thistle,Lesmahagow,Lugar Boswell Thistle,Maryhill,Maybole,Muirkirk,Neilston Juniors,Newmains United,Petershill,Pollok,Port Glasgow,Renfrew,Rossvale,Royal Albert,Rutherglen Glencairn,Saltcoats Victoria,Shettleston,Shotts Bon Accord,St Anthony's,St Roch's,Thorniewood United,Troon,Vale of Clyde,Vale of Leven,Whitletts Victoria,Wishaw,Yoker Athletic.

References

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  1. ^Wilson, Fraser (1 February 2020)."Junior football pyramid talks hit a wall - what now?".Daily Record. Retrieved4 July 2023.
  2. ^Team, Media (12 February 2020)."Pyramid Statement".Scottish Lowland League. Retrieved4 July 2023.
  3. ^Team, Media (6 March 2020)."Statement - Pyramid Update".Scottish Lowland League. Retrieved4 July 2023.
  4. ^Team, Media (24 March 2020)."West of Scotland League Update".Scottish Lowland League. Retrieved4 July 2023.
  5. ^Wilson, Fraser (13 February 2020)."Plans for SPFL pyramid expansion leave juniors staring at uncertain future".Daily Record. Retrieved4 July 2023.
  6. ^"Pyramid Update – 67 Applications Approved". Scottish Lowland League. 14 April 2020. Retrieved14 April 2020.
  7. ^ab"West of Scotland League structure confirmed with top flight of 20". Daily Record. 1 May 2020. Retrieved1 May 2020.
  8. ^Junior clubs threaten revolt over pyramid move amid claims they've been conned, Daily Record, 2 May 2020
  9. ^Shotts plot West of Scotland league revolt after 20-team tier six snub, Daily Record, 6 May 2020
  10. ^Every word of the West of Scotland League statement confirming bumper tier six after initial SFA KO, Daily Record, 1 May 2020
  11. ^Pirie, Mark (4 May 2020)."West of Scotland League unveil full conference list ahead of huge non-league overhaul".Daily Record.Reach plc. Retrieved5 May 2020.
  12. ^"Division Structures for 2020/21 – West of Scotland Football League". Archived fromthe original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved17 September 2020.
  13. ^"Update: 13th October 2020". Archived fromthe original on 22 April 2021. Retrieved17 May 2021.
  14. ^"West of Scotland League chairman admits season may not be concluded amid Covid football suspension".www.msn.com. Retrieved18 March 2021.
  15. ^McGowan, Eric (12 May 2021)."Nine new teams join WoSFL with more to follow as new league gets green light".Daily Record. Retrieved25 May 2021.
  16. ^"End of Season Statement – West of Scotland Football League". Archived fromthe original on 19 March 2021. Retrieved18 March 2021.
  17. ^"Scottish Cup replays removed for 2022/23 season".

External links

[edit]
Premier Division
First Division
Second Division
Third Division
Fourth Division
Former teams
Seasons
Overview
National teams
League system
Cup competitions
Junior football
Amateur football
Welfare football
Sixth-levelfootball leagues of Europe (UEFA)
Current
Defunct
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