 | |
| Founded | 1892 (original) 1946 (current) |
|---|---|
| Country |  Scotland |
| Confederation | UEFA |
| Divisions | 1 |
| Number of clubs | 11 |
| Level onpyramid | 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 | Lochar Thistle (1st title) (2024–25) |
| Most championships | 13 titles St Cuthbert Wanderers |
| Website | Official Website |
| Current:2025–26 South of Scotland Football League | |
TheSouth of Scotland Football League (SoSFL) is a seniorfootball league based in south-westScotland. The league sits at level 6 on theScottish football league system, acting as a feeder to theLowland Football League.
Founded in 1946, it is currently composed of 11 member clubs in a single division. Geographically, the league currently coversDumfries and Galloway although clubs have previously also been located inEast Ayrshire andSouth Lanarkshire.
Since 2014–15 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 andWest of Scotland Football League champions, subject to clubs meeting the required licensing criteria.
A league of the same name briefly existed during the early days of competitive football. The original South of Scotland Football League was created in1892–93 and featured seven clubs:
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.
When league football was re-established in 1946, the Southern Counties League name could not be used becauseAyr United 'A' andKilmarnock '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:
| 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 |
| Wigtown & Bladnoch | Wigtown | Trammondford Park | Grass | 888[15] | 0 | Yes |
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– | 1 |
| 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 | 2014–2025 | |
| Whithorn | 1946–1959, 1962–1963, 1964–69 | |
| Wigtown & Bladnoch | 1946–2017, 2018– | 5 |
Notes:
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 the5th Kirkcudbrightshire Rifle Volunteers.
Creetown,Dalbeattie Star,Newton Stewart,St Cuthbert Wanderers, andWigtown & Bladnoch are full members of theScottish Football Association therefore enter theScottish Cup, as do the winners of the league.
2024–25 winners unless stated.
| Season[16] | 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 theSecond World War | |
| Season | Current league | |
| 1946–47 | Ayr United 'A' | |
| 1947–48 | Ayr United 'A' | |
| 1948–49 | Stranraer | |
| 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 the2001 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 theCOVID-19 pandemic[17] | 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 |
| 2024–25 | Lochar Thistle | Lochar Thistle (2) |
* Team promoted to theLowland League
Clubs currently playing in the league are shown inbold.
| 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 | |
| Lochar Thistle | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Maxwelltown High School | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Queen of the South Reserves | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| National teams | |
| League system | |
| Cup competitions | |
| Junior football | |
| Amateur football | |
| Welfare football | |