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

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

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

1922–1968 era

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[lower-alpha 1][lower-alpha 2] Musselburgh Bruntonians Arniston Rangers
1923–24[8] Newtongrange Star[lower-alpha 3] [lower-alpha 4] Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic
1924–25[9] Newtongrange Star[lower-alpha 3][lower-alpha 5] Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic
1925–26[10] Newtongrange Star[lower-alpha 6] [lower-alpha 2] Portobello Thistle
1926–27[11] Newtongrange Star[lower-alpha 7] Wallyford Bluebell
1927–28[12] Dunbar United[lower-alpha 8] Dalkeith Thistle[lower-alpha 9]
1928–29[13] Tranent Juniors[lower-alpha 10] Stoneyburn Juniors[lower-alpha 11]
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[lower-alpha 12] 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[lower-alpha 13] Arniston Rangers[lower-alpha 14]
1950–51[29] Newtongrange Star[lower-alpha 13] Camelon Juniors[lower-alpha 14]
1951–52[30] Newtongrange Star[lower-alpha 13] Broxburn Athletic[lower-alpha 14] Camelon Juniors
1952–53[31] Armadale Thistle[lower-alpha 13] Newtongrange Star[lower-alpha 14]
1953–54[32] Arniston Rangers[lower-alpha 13] Bo'ness United[lower-alpha 14]
1954–55[33] Newtongrange Star[lower-alpha 15] Bo'ness United
1955–56[34] Dalkeith Thistle[lower-alpha 13] Broxburn Athletic[lower-alpha 14]
1956–57[35] Haddington Athletic[lower-alpha 13] Broxburn Athletic[lower-alpha 14]
1957–58[36] Bo'ness United[lower-alpha 13] Ormiston Primrose[lower-alpha 14] Pumpherston
1958–59[37] Newtongrange Star[lower-alpha 13] Bo'ness United[lower-alpha 14]
1959–60[38] Loanhead Mayflower[lower-alpha 13] West Calder United[lower-alpha 14]
1960–61[39] Dalkeith Thistle[lower-alpha 13] Armadale Thistle[lower-alpha 14] Dunbar United
1961–62[40][41] Dunbar United[lower-alpha 13] Whitburn Juniors[lower-alpha 14]
1962–63[42] Sauchie Juniors[lower-alpha 13] Newtongrange Star[lower-alpha 14]
1963–64[43][41] Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic[lower-alpha 13] Whitburn Juniors[lower-alpha 14]
1964–65[44] Linlithgow Rose[lower-alpha 13] Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic[lower-alpha 14]
1965–66[45] Linlithgow Rose[lower-alpha 13] Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic[lower-alpha 14] Whitburn
1966–67[46] Linlithgow Rose[lower-alpha 13] Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic[lower-alpha 14]
1967–68[47] Linlithgow Rose[lower-alpha 13] Newtongrange Star[lower-alpha 14]

Notes

  1. ↑ Separate West Section played, won by Livingston United.
  2. 1 2 Separate South Section played, won by Gala Hailes Villa.
  3. 1 2 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. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Winners of playoff between clubs who finished top of 'West' Division and 'Mid-East' Division.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 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

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[lower-alpha 1] Other member in Scottish Cup final[4][5]
1968–69[48] Bo'ness United[lower-alpha 2] Newtongrange Star[lower-alpha 3]
1969–70[49] Arniston Rangers[lower-alpha 2] Pumpherston[lower-alpha 3] Penicuik Athletic
1970–71[50] Musselburgh Athletic[lower-alpha 2] Broxburn Athletic[lower-alpha 3] Newtongrange Star
1971–72[51][41] Arniston Rangers[lower-alpha 2] Whitburn Juniors[lower-alpha 3] Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic
1972–73[52] Broxburn Athletic[lower-alpha 2] Musselburgh Athletic[lower-alpha 3]
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. 1 2 3 4 5 Winners of playoff between clubs who finished top of 'West' Division and 'Mid-East' Division.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Losers of playoff between clubs who finished top of 'West' Division and 'Mid-East' Division.

List of winners

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

    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. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "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. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "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. 1 2 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. 1 2 3 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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