Scottish Junior Football Association, North Region
The Scottish Junior Football Association, North Region is one of the two regions of the Scottish Junior Football Association. Its area covers Grampian and Moray as well as part of the Highland and Angus council areas – from Montrose in the south to Nairn in the west. The North Region features three region-wide divisions, having reverted from the previous setup of two regional divisions below the North Superleague used for five seasons prior to 2018.[1] It replaced the North Junior Football League (1968 to 2001) which had a similar territory and structure.[2] On 5 July 2021, it was announced that the North Region leagues are joined from tier 6 by the North Caledonian League and Midlands League to form a fully-integrated lower tiers below the Highland League from 2021-22.[3]
Member clubs
[edit]There are 33 member clubs of North Region. Buckie Rovers and Spey Valley United are in abeyance for 2021-22.
North Superleague
[edit]| Club | Location | Ground |
|---|---|---|
| East End | Aberdeen | New Advocates Park |
| Banchory St Ternan | Banchory | Milton Park |
| Banks O' Dee | Aberdeen | Spain Park |
| Bridge of Don Thistle | Newburgh | Gallowshill Park |
| Colony Park | Inverurie | Colony Park |
| Culter | Peterculter | Crombie Park |
| Deveronside | Macduff | Myrus Centre |
| Dyce Juniors | Dyce | Ian Mair Park |
| Ellon United | Ellon | The Meadows |
| Hall Russell United | Bridge of Don | Denmore Park |
| Hermes | Bridge of Don | Lochside Park |
| Maud | Maud | Maud Pleasure Park |
| Montrose Roselea | Montrose | Links Park |
| Nairn St Ninian | Nairn | Showfield Park |
North First Division
[edit]| Club | Location | Home Ground |
|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen University | Aberdeen | Hillhead Centre |
| Buchanhaven Hearts | Peterhead | Raemoss Park |
| Dufftown | Dufftown | Westburn Park |
| Fraserburgh United | Fraserburgh | College Park |
| Longside | Longside | Davidson Park |
| Stonehaven | Stonehaven | Glenury Park |
| Stoneywood Parkvale | Aberdeen | Clark Commercial Park |
| Sunnybank | Aberdeen | Heathryfold Park |
North Second Division
[edit]| Club | Location | Home Ground |
|---|---|---|
| Burghead Thistle | Burghead | Forest Park |
| Cruden Bay | Cruden Bay | Watson Park |
| Forres Thistle | Forres | Logie Park |
| Glentanar | Aberdeen | Woodside Sports Complex |
| Islavale | Keith | Simpson Park |
| New Elgin Juniors | Elgin | Nicol-Togneri Park |
| Newmachar United | Newmachar | Charles Gordon Park |
| Rothie Rovers | Rothienorman | |
| Whitehills | Whitehills | School Park |
Cup competitions
[edit]There are seven cup competitions in the North Region:
- The Jim McPherson Trophy This is a pre-season charity match, similar to the FA Community Shield, played between the previous seasons North Superleague champions and North Regional Cup winners. First played for in 2015, it is named after the late Assistant Secretary and Treasurer of the North Region.[4]
- The North Regional Cup. Known as the Domino's Pizza North Regional Cup under a sponsorship arrangement, this is a knockout tournament for all North Region clubs.
- Grill League Cup. This is the opening tournament of the season. Clubs are drawn in eight groups with the group winners advancing to a knockout competition.
- McLeman Cup. Known as the PMAC Group McLeman Cup under a sponsorship arrangement, this is a knockout tournament for clubs in the North Superleague.
- Morrison Cup. Known as the AM Property Maintenance Morrison Cup under a sponsorship arrangement, this is a knockout tournament for clubs in the North First Division (East).
- Elginshire Cup. This is a tournament for clubs in the North First Division (West). Clubs are drawn in two groups with winners and runners-up advancing to the semi-final stage.
- North and Tayside Inter-Regional Cup. Known as the Signature Signs Cup for sponsorship purposes, this is a knockout tournament involving North Region clubs and Midlands League clubs. First played for in 1988, the cup is administered by a joint committee and clubs play early rounds in their own region with eight sides from each area progressing to the last sixteen.
Inactive
- The Archibald Cup This was added for North First Division (West) clubs in 2015–16 to bolster their fixture programme after the withdrawal of clubs from the league. The tournament is played in two groups with winners and runners-up progressing to the semi-finals.[5]
Holders
[edit]- Jim McPherson Trophy - Banks O' Dee (2017–18 competition)
- North Regional Cup - Culter (2022–23 competition)
- Grill League Cup - Culter (2022-23 competition)
- McLeman Cup - Culter (2022-23 competition)
- Morrison Cup - Banchory St Ternan (2018-19 competition)
- Elginshire Cup - Dufftown (2021-22 competition)
- Inter-Regional Cup - East Craigie (2021-22 competition)
Roll of Honour
[edit]| Season | North Premier Division | North Division One (East) | North Division One (West) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001–02 | Formartine United | Aberdeen Lads Club | Strathspey Thistle |
| 2002–03 | Sunnybank | Turriff United | Forres Thistle |
| Season | North Premier Division | North Division One | North Division Two |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003–04 | Culter | Maud | Islavale |
| 2004–05 | Culter | Parkvale | New Elgin |
| 2005–06 | Culter | Dyce Juniors | New Elgin |
| 2006–07 | Culter | East End | Fochabers |
| 2007–08 | Banks O' Dee | Banchory St. Ternan | Bishopmill United |
| 2008–09 | Banks O' Dee | Buchanhaven Hearts | Inverness City |
| 2009–10 | Sunnybank | Fraserburgh United | Burghead Thistle |
| Season | North Superleague | North Division One | North Division Two |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010–11 | Culter | Inverness City | Parkvale |
| 2011–12 | Hermes | Inverness City | Portgordon Victoria |
| 2012–13 | Culter | New Elgin | Colony Park |
| Season | North Superleague | North First Division (West) | North First Division (East) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013–14 | Culter | Inverness City | Cruden Bay |
| 2014–15 | Hermes | Grantown | Bridge of Don Thistle |
| 2015–16 | Banks O' Dee | Buckie Rovers | Colony Park |
| 2016–17 | Banks O' Dee | Spey Valley United | Ellon United |
| 2017–18 | Banks O' Dee | Nairn St. Ninian | Aberdeen East End |
| Season | North Super League | North First Division | North Second Division |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018–19 | Banks O' Dee | Banchory St. Ternan | Buchanhaven Hearts |
| 2019–20 | All leagues null & void due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[6][a] | ||
| 2020–21 | All leagues null & void due to the COVID-19 pandemic. | ||
| 2021–22 | |||
- ^ Using a 'points per game' algorithm applied in other leagues, Banks O' Dee (who were also leading the table when play stopped) would have been nominal champions of the Superleague; Aberdeen University would have been nominal champions in the First Division, and Forres Thistle in the Second Division.
References
[edit]- ^ Easton, Richard (9 June 2013). "Clubs agree to league reconstruction". SJFA, North Region. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
- ^ North Region Junior League, Scottish Football Historical Archive, 4 May 2021. Retrieved 13 June 2021
- ^ "SCOTTISH FOOTBALL PYRAMID UPDATE".
- ^ Crossan, Derek. "Jim McPherson Trophy". North Region JFA. The Juniors.Info. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
- ^ "Junior tourney kicks off". Northern Scot. 19 February 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
- ^ Clark, Will (2 May 2020). "North junior football season is declared null and void as season over for Nairn St Ninian". Inverness Courier. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
External links
[edit]- The North Region Scottish Junior Football Association
- Stewart Davidson, Scottish Non-League Review, issues 15–24.