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East Junior Football League

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The East Junior Football League, also known as the Edinburgh & District Junior League, the Midlothian Junior League and the Lothians Junior League, was a football league competition operated in Edinburgh, the Lothians and Falkirk under the Scottish Junior Football Association. It had fluctuations in membership and territory but had a continuous operation as the top league in the east of Scotland until a merger in 2002; it existed as the Lothians District for a further four years as a second-tier league before the name was discontinued in 2006.

History

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Junior football competitions had been organised in the Edinburgh area since the 1890s, with a Edinburgh & District Junior League formed in 1892 followed by other small groups in each part of the Lothians region surrounding the city; by the 1910s, the Midlothian Junior League[1] emerged as the strongest of these, drawing membership from the many small mining communities which regularly produced skilled players and attracted a loyal local support. The East of Scotland Junior League covering all parts was set up in a 1922 reorganisation, but this was at the same time as the formation of the East of Scotland Football League (EoSFL),[2] an unrelated 'senior' organisation below, and more closely linked to, the professional Scottish Football League. The majority of emerging clubs within Edinburgh and those in the Scottish Borders joined the EoSFL rather than the East Juniors, who were unable to successfully agree on a new format in this lopsided geography, with the predominant Midlothian clubs and those in East Lothian breaking away to form a new Midlothian Junior League in 1928. Those in West Lothian found themselves with little option but to apply for this 'rebel' setup, which retained the Midlothian name until its suspension during World War II. After the war, some teams from the defunct Scottish Junior Football League from further afield joined the setup, and the league was again re-named Edinburgh & District but operated with 'West' and 'Mid & East' divisions whose winners would play off for the championship.

Despite the true footballing strength of the area never being fully recognised due to the enduring split between the Juniors and the EoSFL, the Edinburgh & District Junior League was considered sufficiently strong to form the East Region, one of the six 'regions' across Scotland in a re-organisation of Junior football in 1968, requiring little adjustment to its operations (the West/East divisions remained until 1973). The period following the change was successful for the territory in terms of East member clubs reaching the Scottish Junior Cup final, achieving this 9 times (3 wins) in 15 years, compared with 15 appearances (8 wins) in the previous 42 years. This was followed by another strong spell with 7 finals (3 wins) in the 14 years from 1989.

However, the small-town teams in the region had generally declined with the closure of local heavy industry, and the surviving clubs looked to boost their income by playing more matches against the leading teams in other areas. In 2002 the new East Region Superleague was created in the east of the country in combination with the Fife League and the Tayside League. The East setup was retained as a feeder division to the Superleague as the Lothians District along with the other historic areas until 2006, when they were fully integrated into the East Region; the Lothians section became the South Division below the Super League and a new Premier Division. The pattern of local appearances in the Scottish Cup final continued at a similar rate, with 3 of 8 finalists lifting the trophy over a 12-year period.

Later movement of East clubs

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In 2018, a large group of East Junior clubs (18 from the old Lothians) joined the East of Scotland (EoSFL) association en masse, aspiring to gain entry to the senior Scottish Professional Football League in future years;[3] This would mean the traditional EoSFL teams and East Juniors could finally be playing together, although with so many teams moving at once, there was not immediate parity, as the new members were placed in a multi-conference system with only one promotion place made available to the Lowland League (where the likes of Spartans had established themselves) and the majority facing some years of battling with their old rivals to make it to the next level. Back in the East Juniors, the remaining teams formed the majority of a new Super League South in 2019 along with those from Fife who had chosen not to switch.

Champions

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1922–1968 era

[edit]

Key:

Club also won the Scottish Junior Cup[4][5] (doubles in bold).
Club were also runners-up in the Scottish Junior Cup.[4][5]
Season[6] Winner Runner-up Other member in Scottish Cup final[4][5]
1922–23[7] Newtongrange Star[a][b] Musselburgh Bruntonians Arniston Rangers
1923–24[8] Newtongrange Star[c] [d] Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic
1924–25[9] Newtongrange Star[c][e] Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic
1925–26[10] Newtongrange Star[f] [b] Portobello Thistle
1926–27[11] Newtongrange Star[g] Wallyford Bluebell
1927–28[12] Dunbar United[h] Dalkeith Thistle[i]
1928–29[13] Tranent Juniors[j] Stoneyburn Juniors[k]
1929–30[14] Newtongrange Star Tranent Juniors
1930–31[15] Tranent Juniors Rosewell Rosedale
1931–32[16] Dalkeith Thistle Tranent Juniors
1932–33[17] Newtongrange Star[l] Musselburgh Bruntonians Tranent Juniors
1933–34[18] Blackburn Athletic Bo'ness Cadora
1934–35[19] Stoneyburn Juniors Bo'ness Cadora Tranent Juniors
1935–36 Bo'ness Cadora Arniston Rangers
1936–37[20] Tranent Juniors Musselburgh Athletic
1937–38[21] Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic Winchburgh Juniors
1938–39[22] Stoneyburn Juniors Whitburn Juniors
1939–40[23] Armadale Thistle Tranent Juniors
1940–41 Armadale Thistle Winchburgh Juniors
1941–42 Not played
1942–43
1943–44
1944–45
1945–46[24] Fauldhouse United Bo'ness United
1946–47[25] Bo'ness United Whitburn Juniors
1947–48[26] Bo'ness United Armadale Thistle
1948–49[27] Bo'ness United Armadale Thistle
1949–50[28] Armadale Thistle[m] Arniston Rangers[n]
1950–51[29] Newtongrange Star[m] Camelon Juniors[n]
1951–52[30] Newtongrange Star[m] Broxburn Athletic[n] Camelon Juniors
1952–53[31] Armadale Thistle[m] Newtongrange Star[n]
1953–54[32] Arniston Rangers[m] Bo'ness United[n]
1954–55[33] Newtongrange Star[o] Bo'ness United
1955–56[34] Dalkeith Thistle[m] Broxburn Athletic[n]
1956–57[35] Haddington Athletic[m] Broxburn Athletic[n]
1957–58[36] Bo'ness United[m] Ormiston Primrose[n] Pumpherston
1958–59[37] Newtongrange Star[m] Bo'ness United[n]
1959–60[38] Loanhead Mayflower[m] West Calder United[n]
1960–61[39] Dalkeith Thistle[m] Armadale Thistle[n] Dunbar United
1961–62[40][41] Dunbar United[m] Whitburn Juniors[n]
1962–63[42] Sauchie Juniors[m] Newtongrange Star[n]
1963–64[43][41] Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic[m] Whitburn Juniors[n]
1964–65[44] Linlithgow Rose[m] Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic[n]
1965–66[45] Linlithgow Rose[m] Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic[n] Whitburn
1966–67[46] Linlithgow Rose[m] Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic[n]
1967–68[47] Linlithgow Rose[m] Newtongrange Star[n]

Notes

  1. ^ Separate West Section played, won by Livingston United.
  2. ^ a b Separate South Section played, won by Gala Hailes Villa.
  3. ^ a b Separate West Section played, won by Linlithgow Rose.
  4. ^ Separate South Section played, won by Vale of Leithen.
  5. ^ Separate South Section played, won by Duns.
  6. ^ Separate West Sectionplayed, won by Vale of Grange.
  7. ^ Separate West Lothian Junior Lesgue played.
  8. ^ Winners of playoff between clubs who finished top of 'A' Division and 'B' Division.
  9. ^ Losers of playoff between clubs who finished top of 'A' Division and 'B' Division.
  10. ^ Winners of playoff between clubs who finished top of 'West' Division and 'East' Division.
  11. ^ Losers of playoff between clubs who finished top of 'West' Division and 'East' Division.
  12. ^ Title was revoked then reinstated after protest and appeal regarding ineligible player.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Winners of playoff between clubs who finished top of 'West' Division and 'Mid-East' Division.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Losers of playoff between clubs who finished top of 'West' Division and 'Mid-East' Division.
  15. ^ 'West' Division winners Bo'ness United refused to play the championship playoff in Midlothian as they had done so and lost the previous season - the league awarded the title to 'Mid-East' Division winners Newtongrange Star without a match being played.

1968–2002 era

[edit]
Club also won the Scottish Junior Cup[4][5] (doubles in bold).
Club were also runners-up in the Scottish Junior Cup.[4][5]
Season[6] Winner Runner-up[a] Other member in Scottish Cup final[4][5]
1968–69[48] Bo'ness United[b] Newtongrange Star[c]
1969–70[49] Arniston Rangers[b] Pumpherston[c] Penicuik Athletic
1970–71[50] Musselburgh Athletic[b] Broxburn Athletic[c] Newtongrange Star
1971–72[51][41] Arniston Rangers[b] Whitburn Juniors[c] Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic
1972–73[52] Broxburn Athletic[b] Musselburgh Athletic[c]
1973–74[53] Broxburn Athletic Musselburgh Athletic Linlithgow Rose
1974–75 Linlithgow Rose Dalkeith Thistle
1975–76[54] Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic Arniston Rangers Bo'ness United
1976–77 Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic Linlithgow Rose
1977–78[55] Linlithgow Rose Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic
1978–79[56] Penicuik Athletic Camelon Juniors Bo'ness United
1979–80[57] Camelon Juniors Linlithgow Rose
1980–81[58] Penicuik Athletic Arniston Rangers
1981–82[59] Linlithgow Rose Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic
1982–83[60] Fauldhouse United Tranent Juniors Bo'ness United
1983–84[61] Linlithgow Rose Broxburn Athletic Bo'ness United
1984–85[62] Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic Whitburn Juniors
1985–86[63] Whitburn Juniors Linlithgow Rose
1986–87[64] Whitburn Juniors Newtongrange Star
1987–88[65] Linlithgow Rose Whitburn Juniors
1988–89[66][67] Whitburn Juniors Linlithgow Rose Ormiston Primrose
1989–90[68] Whitburn Juniors Bo'ness United
1990–91[69] Newtongrange Star Fauldhouse United
1991–92[70] Newtongrange Star Bo'ness United
1992–93[71] Fauldhouse United Whitburn Juniors
1993–94[72] Camelon Juniors Newtongrange Star
1994–95[73] Camelon Juniors Whitburn Juniors
1995–96[74] Whitburn Juniors Arniston Rangers Camelon Juniors
1996–97[75] Linlithgow Rose Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic
1997–98[76] Whitburn Juniors Linlithgow Rose
1998–99[77] Linlithgow Rose Whitburn Juniors
1999–2000[78] Linlithgow Rose Newtongrange Star Whitburn Juniors
2000–01[79] Whitburn Juniors Linlithgow Rose
2001–02[80] Linlithgow Rose Whitburn Juniors

Notes

  1. ^ Runners-up incomplete.
  2. ^ a b c d e Winners of playoff between clubs who finished top of 'West' Division and 'Mid-East' Division.
  3. ^ a b c d e Losers of playoff between clubs who finished top of 'West' Division and 'Mid-East' Division.

List of winners

[edit]
Club 1922–1968 era 1968–2002 era Overall
Win R-up First win Last win Win R-up First win Last win Win R-up
Newtongrange Star 11 3 1922–23 1958–59 2 4 1990–91 1991–92 13 7
Linlithgow Rose 4 0 1964–65 1967–68 9 5 1974–75 2001–02 13 6
Whitburn Juniors 0 4 N/A 7 7 1985–86 2000–01 7 11
Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic 2 5 1937–38 1963–64 3 3 1975–76 1984–85 5 8
Bo'ness United 4 4 1948–49 1957–58 1 2 1968–69 5 6
Armadale Thistle 4 2 1939–40 1952–53 0 0 N/A 4 2
Arniston Rangers 1 2 1953–54 2 3 1969–70 1971–72 3 5
Tranent Juniors 3 3 1928–29 1936–37 0 1 N/A 3 4
Camelon Juniors 0 1 N/A 3 1 1979–80 1994–95 3 2
Dalkeith Thistle 3 1 1931–32 1960–61 0 1 N/A 3 2
Fauldhouse United 1 0 1945–46 2 1 1982–83 1992–93 3 1
Broxburn Athletic 0 3 N/A 2 2 1972–73 1973–74 2 5
Stoneyburn Juniors 2 1 1934–35 1938–39 0 0 N/A 2 1
Penicuik Athletic 0 0 N/A 2 0 1978–79 1980–81 2 0
Dunbar United 2 0 1927–28 1961–62 0 0 N/A 2 0
Musselburgh Athletic 0 3 N/A 1 2 1970–71 1 5
Bo'ness Cadora 1 2 1935–36 0 0 N/A 1 2
Blackburn Athletic 1 0 1933–34 0 0 N/A 1 0
Haddington Athletic 1 0 1956–57 0 0 N/A 1 0
Loanhead Mayflower 1 0 1959–60 0 0 N/A 1 0
Sauchie Juniors 1 0 1962–63 0 0 N/A 1 0
Winchburgh Juniors 0 2 N/A 0 0 N/A 0 2
West Calder United 0 1 N/A 0 0 N/A 0 1
Pumpherston 0 0 N/A 0 1 N/A 0 1
Ormiston Primrose 0 1 N/A 0 0 N/A 0 1
Portobello Thistle 0 1 N/A 0 0 N/A 0 1
Rosewell Rosedale 0 1 N/A 0 0 N/A 0 1
Wallyford Bluebell 0 1 N/A 0 0 N/A 0 1

References

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  1. ^ Midlothian Junior Football League 1893-1922, Scottish Football Historical Archive (archived version, 2014)
  2. ^ East of Scotland Football League, Scottish Football Historical Archive (archived version, 2017)
  3. ^ McLauchlin, Brian (7 June 2018). "East of Scotland League vote signals exodus of 25 junior clubs". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Scottish Junior Cup > Finals 1886 to 1956". Scottish Football Association (archive version, 2018). Archived from the original on 16 January 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "Scottish Junior Cup > Finals 1957 - Present [2009]". Scottish Football Association (archive version, 2018). Archived from the original on 16 January 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  6. ^ a b Timeline Junior East, Scottish Football Historical Archive (archived version, 2017)
  7. ^ 1922/23, The History of Newtongrange Star
  8. ^ 1923/24, The History of Newtongrange Star
  9. ^ 1924/25, The History of Newtongrange Star
  10. ^ 1925/26, The History of Newtongrange Star
  11. ^ 1926/27, The History of Newtongrange Star
  12. ^ 1927/28, The History of Newtongrange Star
  13. ^ 1928/29, The History of Newtongrange Star
  14. ^ 1929/30, The History of Newtongrange Star
  15. ^ 1930/31, The History of Newtongrange Star
  16. ^ 1931/32, The History of Newtongrange Star
  17. ^ 1932/33, The History of Newtongrange Star
  18. ^ 1933/34, The History of Newtongrange Star
  19. ^ 1934/35, The History of Newtongrange Star
  20. ^ 1936/37, The History of Newtongrange Star
  21. ^ 1937/38, The History of Newtongrange Star
  22. ^ 1938/39, The History of Newtongrange Star
  23. ^ 1939/40, The History of Newtongrange Star
  24. ^ 1945/46, The History of Newtongrange Star
  25. ^ 1946/47, The History of Newtongrange Star
  26. ^ 1947/48, The History of Newtongrange Star
  27. ^ 1948/49, The History of Newtongrange Star
  28. ^ 1949/50, The History of Newtongrange Star
  29. ^ 1950/51, The History of Newtongrange Star
  30. ^ 1951/52, The History of Newtongrange Star
  31. ^ 1952/53, The History of Newtongrange Star
  32. ^ 1953/54, The History of Newtongrange Star
  33. ^ 1954/55, The History of Newtongrange Star
  34. ^ 1955/56, The History of Newtongrange Star
  35. ^ 1956/57, The History of Newtongrange Star
  36. ^ 1957/58, The History of Newtongrange Star
  37. ^ 1958/59, The History of Newtongrange Star
  38. ^ 1959/60, The History of Newtongrange Star
  39. ^ 1960/61, The History of Newtongrange Star
  40. ^ 1961/62, The History of Newtongrange Star
  41. ^ a b c Honours, Whitburn Junior FC
  42. ^ 1962/63, The History of Newtongrange Star
  43. ^ 1963/64, The History of Newtongrange Star
  44. ^ 1964/65, The History of Newtongrange Star
  45. ^ 1965/66, The History of Newtongrange Star
  46. ^ 1966/67, The History of Newtongrange Star
  47. ^ 1967/68, The History of Newtongrange Star
  48. ^ 1968/69, The History of Newtongrange Star
  49. ^ 1969/70, The History of Newtongrange Star
  50. ^ 1970/71, The History of Newtongrange Star
  51. ^ 1971/72, The History of Newtongrange Star
  52. ^ 1972/73, The History of Newtongrange Star
  53. ^ 1973/74, The History of Newtongrange Star
  54. ^ 1975/76, The History of Newtongrange Star
  55. ^ 1977/78, The History of Newtongrange Star
  56. ^ 1978/79, The History of Newtongrange Star
  57. ^ 1979/80, The History of Newtongrange Star
  58. ^ 1980/81, The History of Newtongrange Star
  59. ^ 1981/82, The History of Newtongrange Star
  60. ^ 1982/83, The History of Newtongrange Star
  61. ^ 1983/84, The History of Newtongrange Star
  62. ^ 1984/85, The History of Newtongrange Star
  63. ^ 1985/86, The History of Newtongrange Star
  64. ^ 1986/87, The History of Newtongrange Star
  65. ^ 1987/88, The History of Newtongrange Star
  66. ^ Non League Tables for 1988-1989, NonLeague Matters
  67. ^ 1988/89, The History of Newtongrange Star
  68. ^ 1989/90, The History of Newtongrange Star
  69. ^ 1990/91, The History of Newtongrange Star
  70. ^ 1991/92, The History of Newtongrange Star
  71. ^ 1992/93, The History of Newtongrange Star
  72. ^ 1993/94, The History of Newtongrange Star
  73. ^ 1994/95, The History of Newtongrange Star
  74. ^ 1995/96, The History of Newtongrange Star
  75. ^ 1996/97, The History of Newtongrange Star
  76. ^ 1997/98, The History of Newtongrange Star
  77. ^ 1998/99, The History of Newtongrange Star
  78. ^ 1999/2000, The History of Newtongrange Star
  79. ^ 2000/01, The History of Newtongrange Star
  80. ^ 2001/02, The History of Newtongrange Star
  • McGlone, David; McLure, Bill (1987). The Juniors - 100 Years. A Centenary History of Scottish Junior Football. Mainstream. ISBN 1-85158-060-3.
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