TheIntermediate dispute was a major split inScottishfootball which lasted from 1925 to 1931 and concerned the compensation thatJunior clubs received when one of their players moved to a Senior football league side. Although largely confined to the West of Scotland, the dispute involved many of the best Junior clubs in the country, setting them in direct conflict with both theScottish Football Association (SFA) and their own organisation, theScottish Junior Football Association (SJFA).
The dispute was principally led by theGlasgow Junior Football League (GJL). The GJL was the strongest Junior league in Scotland, having provided fifteen of the twenty-sixScottish Junior Cup winners since the turn of the century.[1] Its clubs were increasingly dissatisfied with the behaviour of Senior clubs, in both Scotland and England, who would often approach a player without first contacting the Junior club themselves, then offering little or no compensation for that player if signed. In 1925, the GJL introduced a new player registration form, known as the "White Form". This document gave clubs a two-year option on a players services, enabling greater compensation to be demanded and became the principle to unite the Intermediate movement.
In March 1927, sixty-two clubs met to form theScottish Intermediate Junior Football Association and a split with theScottish Junior Football Association became inevitable. The SJFA sympathised with the Intermediate cause but would not sanction a breakaway. The Intermediates for their part, felt that the SJFA had failed to negotiate powerfully enough on their behalf with theScottish Football Association.[2] The reaction of the SFA was simply to prohibit the signing of any registered Intermediate player. In practice however, once a transfer fee was agreed between Senior and Intermediate clubs, a player's registration was cancelled, evidence destroyed, and the player could sign as a free agent.[3]
In June 1927, the powerful GJL dissolved itself at its AGM and its twenty member clubs were joined by a further twenty from other leagues to form the breakawayScottish Intermediate Football League.[4] Winners of this league lifted theEvening Times Trophy, previously awarded to the Glasgow Junior League champions.[5] In Ayrshire, theWestern Junior Football League reformed as theWestern Intermediate Football League at the same time with sixteen out of the eighteen clubs supporting the dispute.[6] Clubs inFife also showed an interest however the prospect of increased travel meant their participation was not viable.[7] From the beginning of season 1927–28, Intermediate clubs began to compete in separate competitions, including their own Scottish Intermediate Cup (i.e. they did not take part in the Scottish Junior Cup).
For the next four seasons, despite much negotiation, both sides in the dispute maintained their positions. Numbers in the Intermediate leagues however were beginning to dwindle. A combination of clubs folding and defections to Junior leagues meant that by 1931, only forty-two Intermediate sides remained.[8] Some influential clubs, includingIrvine Meadow, started to push for a resolution. A series of meetings in February 1931 led to one final meeting on 27 May 1931 when the Intermediate clubs and SFA agreed terms with only two clubs voting against.[9] A standard transfer fee of £75 was introduced for a professional Junior player. Provisional transfer arrangements also made it easier for clubs to keep their players whilst still involved in major competitions.[10] With this compromise reached, the Scottish Intermediate Association renamed itself the West of Scotland Junior FA. It was also decided not to reform the GJL but to keep the Scottish Intermediate League format as theCentral Junior Football League. The Scottish Intermediate Cup was also renamed as theWest of Scotland Junior Cup, and whilst it was initially only open to the 'breakaway' clubs it is now open to all junior clubs in the region.[11]
Scottish Intermediate Cup
1927–28Ashfield
1928–29Ashfield
1929–30Clydebank Juniors
1930–31Yoker Athletic
Scottish Intermediate League[12]
1927–28Baillieston
Runners-up:Ashfield
1928–29Ashfield
Runners-up:Baillieston
1929–30Clydebank Juniors
Runners-up:Bridgeton Waverley
1930–31Bridgeton Waverley
Runners-up:Yoker Athletic
Scottish Intermediate League Cup
1927–28Kirkintilloch Rob Roy
1928–29Ashfield
1929–30Clydebank Juniors
1930–31Pollok
Glasgow Intermediate Cup
1927–28Kirkintilloch Rob Roy
1928–29Ashfield
1929–30Clydebank Juniors
1930–31Pollok
Western Intermediate League[13]
1927–28Kilwinning Rangers
Runners-up: Kilwinning Eglinton
1928–29Irvine Meadow XI
Runners-up:Ardeer Thistle
1929–30 Kilwinning Eglinton
Runners-up: Troon Athletic
1930–31Kilwinning Rangers
Runners-up:Irvine Meadow XI
Western Intermediate League Cup
1927–28Irvine Meadow XI
1928–29Irvine Meadow XI
1929–30Kilwinning Rangers
1930–31Darvel