Border League Competitions
this
page features the following leagues:
Border League
(1893-94, 1896-1898)
Border Senior League
(1902-1923)
Border Amateur League (1901-1914)
Southern League
(1908-09)
Border League (Cumberland-based) (1905-06)
Page created: 7 August 2020
Updated: 19 June 2025
There have
been a number of Border Leagues operating. The first was in 1893-94 season.
The second Border League was
formed in 1897, with the winners being awarded the Paul Shield. This league
consisted entirely of Scottish clubs and disbanded in 1898.
A Border
Amateur League was formed in 1901 and when the Border Senior League was re-formed in 1902 and the two competitions
ran parallel with each other for a number of years.
In August 1907, a decision was taken to bar the
Gala Renton and Gala Hailes Villa clubs from Border Senior
League this season as the league had ruled only clubs with private grounds
could take part. Both clubs decided to disband and merge as Gala FC and apply
for a League place. This was subsequently refused as new club also didn’t have
a private ground! They then helped form a Southern
League which lasted only one season. Kelso dropped out as their players had
difficulty in travelling to Border League matches and instead joined the more
local Border Amateur League.
The Border
Senior League awarded the Paul Shield to the winners of this version and
when the league was not being competed for, the trophy was played for as a
knock-out competition. The league closed down in 1913, but re-formed after WW1
before disbanding in 1923. The Paul Shield was again thereafter played as a
knock-out competition until about 1934. The League also ran a Second Division with junior clubs for a
couple of seasons after 1910. In 1912 this was re-formed as the Border Junior League.
The Border
Amateur League was formed in 1901, using the trophy of the Shielfield Cup competition, it was centred around
Berwickshire, being a mixture of Scottish and English clubs. Disbanding in 1914
the league was re-formed as a non-senior competition in 1936.
In September 1905 a third Border League was formed, this was based in Cumberland and appears
to have lasted one season.
In the early 1950s, results between the Border
clubs in the East of Scotland League
were compiled as a Border League.
Winners |
||
Border League 1893-94 Selkirk 1894-1896 no competition 1896-97 Selkirk 1897-98 Selkirk Border League (Cumberland-based) 1905-06 Southern League 1907-08 unfinished Border Senior League Divison 2 1910-11 Peebles
Athletic 1911-12 Selkirk
Woodburn Rovers Border League 1951-52 Duns 1952-53 Peebles
Rovers |
Border Senior League 1902-03 Selkirk 1903-04 Vale of Leithen 1904-05 Peebles
Rovers 1905-06 Gala Hailes Villa 1906-07 unfinished 1907-08 unfinished 1908-09 Berwick
Rangers 1909-10 Selkirk 1910-11 Vale of Leithen 1911-12 Selkirk 1912-13 unfinished 1913-1919 no competition 1919-20 Coldstream 1920-21 unfinished 1921-22 Vale of Leithen 1922-23
Coldstream |
Border Amateur League 1901-02 Tweedside
Albion 1902-03 Alnwick Percy Rovers 1903-04 Berwick Rangers 1904-05 Tweedside
Albion 1905-06 Duns 1906-07 Duns 1907-08 Swinton 1908-09 Duns 1909-10 Swinton 1910-11 Coldstream 1911-12 Duns 1912-13 withheld 1913-14 unfinished |
1893-94 Border League
21
Oct Kelso v Earlston 1-0 was stopped early due to darkness caused by the late
arrival of Earlston 27
Jan Hawick v Duns 0-1 was stopped after 70 mins after two Hawick players had
nearly drowned trying to retrieve the ball from Slitrig
Water which was in high flood
|
1894-1896 Border League
No
competition |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1896-97 Border League
Newcastleton were awarded 2 points after Kelso failed to appear Peebles v Selkirk was unfinished but
Selkirk were subsequently awarded the 2 points Selkirk were awarded 2 points after Newcastleton scratched Earlston v Duns 2-1 was originally a
friendly but was later counted as a league fixture
Play-off at Kelso 10 Apr Selkirk v Peebles Rovers 4-0 The winners were awarded the Paul Shield |
1897-98 Border League
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1898-1901 Border League No
competition |
1901-02 Border Amateur
League
Duns v Alnwick played at Union Park, Tweedmouth Alnwick v Duns played at Shielfield
Park, Berwick 5 Oct Coldstream v Berwick 3-0 ordered to be
replayed at Union Park, Berwick on 12 Apr 2 Nov Duns v Kelso 4-3 unfinished due to the game
staring half an hour late Duns withdrew at the end of January, but were
re-admitted two weeks later
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1902-03 Border Senior
League
13
Dec Vale of Leithen v Peebles 1-0 stopped after 70
mins due to poor light 24
Jan GHV v Vale of Leithen 4-4 was ordered to be
replayed as Vale played an ineligible player but the match wasn't played and
GHV awarded the points Peebles
were awarded 2 points after GHV failed to appear Gala HV and Selkirk Woodburn Rovers were awarded
2 points each for Peebles scratching
|
1902-03 Border Amateur
League
4 Oct Duns fielded two teams Alnwick PR awarded 2 points when Kelso refused to
play on the official date
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1903-04 Border Senior
League
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1904-05 Border Senior
League
Walkerburn Thistle withdrew in late November and their record (2-0-0-2-2-16-0)
expunged 10 Sep Kelso v Walkerburn
10-0 29 Oct Walkerburn v
Selkirk 2-6 17 Sep Kelso v Gala Renton 1-0 stopped after 75
mins and a replay ordered 17 Dec Gala HV v Kelso 4-2 replay ordered 10
Dec Peebles v GHV 5-1 stopped after 82 mins due to poor light 18
Feb Peebles v GHV 1-2 declared void due to ineligible players Peebles,
Kelso, Gala Renton and Selkirk were all awarded 2 points from Earlston Peebles
were awarded 2 points from Gala Renton Peebles
were awarded 4 points from GHV Vale
of Leithen were awarded 2 points from GHV
|
1904-05 Border Amateur
League
15
Apr Chirnside v Coldstream 4-3 played as friendly due to no referee
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1905-06 Border Senior
League
21 Oct Gala HV v Kelso 1-2 sopped after 60 mins
due to a late start
1905-06 Border League (Cumberland-based)
Table
based on known results |
1905-06 Border Amateur
League
Tweedside Albion were dissolved in August 1905
and replaced at their ground by Berwick Artillery 18
Nov Swinton v Berwick Rangers 4-0 stopped after 79 mins due to poor light DATE
Cumledge Mills v Eyemouth stopped at half-time
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1906-07 Border Senior
League
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1907-08 Border Senior
League
In August 1907 a
decision was taken to bar the Gala Renton and Gala Hailes
Villa clubs from the Border Senior League this season as the league had ruled
only clubs with private grounds could take part. Both clubs decided to
disband and merge as Gala FC and apply for League place which was
subsequently refused as the new club also didn’t have a private ground. Kelso
dropped out as their players had difficulty in travelling to Border League
matches but joined the more local Border Amateur League instead. 7 Mar Peebles refused to travel to Selkirk for
fear that the latter would fail to fulfill the
return match over guarantees. Peebles were subsequently sanctioned by the
Border FA and resigned from the league The remaining fixtures were un-played
Competition
unfinished 1907-08 Southern League This league was formed on the initiative of
Gala AFC. This club was formed after the Border League ruled that clubs
without a private ground be excluded, ruling out Gala Hailes
Villa and Gala Renton.These two subsequently merged
as Gala AFC, but the two clubs re-emerged after one season. The league had an initial membership of seven
clubs: Earlston Selkirk Walkerburn Melrose United Gala Hawick United Army Service Corp (Stobo)
Earlston withdrew as they wished to compete in
the junior Dudley Cup competition The league was not sanctioned by the Scottish
FA Competition unfinished as the league disbanded
mid-season |
1907-08 Border Amateur
League
12
Oct Cumledge v Kelso 3-3 stopped after 83 mins due
to poor light, result originally stood but was subsequently a replay was
ordered 28
Dec Spittal v Berwick 3-5 replay ordered as it was
alleged the match was stopped 2 mins before time. This and the return fixture
were both ordered to be re-played on 3 and 10 September 1908 21
Mar Cumlege v Coldstream 0-2 friendly due to no
official referee
Berwick
were deducted 2 points Chirmside withdrew on 1 Feb but their record
(8-0-0-8-8-41-0) stood Decider Swinton
v Cumledge Mills not played as Cumledge
refused to travel to Berwick on 31 Oct 1908 for the decider Swinton
were awarded the Championship |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1908-09 Border Senior
League
Kelso resigned in
November 1908 31 Oct Selkirk v Gala Fairydean
2-1 friendly played after the referee failed to appear 28 Nov Selkirk v Gala Fairydean
2-1 friendly played due to the ground condititons On 15 May Berwick Rangers were awarded title as
Vale of Leithen had failed to fulfill
the fixtures ordered by the Border FA
|
1908-09 Border Amateur
League
On
10 Oct Cumledge Mills and Ayton Thistle both
officially resigned leaving 7 clubs in membership, then on 6 Feb Kelso also
resigned and their record expunged 10
Oct Berwick v Spittal 4-1 protest, possibly
Berwick's 'A' XI
Decider 24
Apr Duns v Berwick Rangers 1-0 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1909-10 Border Senior
League
Duns were re-admitted on 13 Nov
|
1909-10 Border Amateur
League
13
Nov Coldstream v Chirnside 6-0 played as a friendly due to the late arrival
of Chirnside The
remaining fixtures were un-played
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1910-11 Border Senior
League Division 1
21 Feb Gala Fairydean (the
then league leaders) resigned from the Border FA because of the way the Association
conducted business
Division 2
12 Nov Gala Fairydean 'A'
v Selkirk 1-0 stopped due to darkness and was replayed 12 Nov Earlston v Gala Thorn 0-2 stopped due to
darkness and not counted Earlston resigned but their record was allowed to
stand Gala Thorn withdrew in protest at Peebles
Athletic and Kelso being allowed to enter the Border Cup but their record
also stood
|
1910-11 Border Amateur
League
7 Jan
Berwick Rangers donate a new Championship trophy, replacing the small cup
which was donated for schools' competition.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1911-12 Border Senior
League Division 1
18 Nov Vale of Leithen
v Peebles 1-1 stopped after 75 mins due to poor light The remaining matches were un-played
Selkirk
were awarded the championship as Duns had failed to fulfil their fixture with
them Division 2
16
Dec Selkirk Woodburn v Gala 1-0 stopped after 81 mins due to poor light but
result stood
Selkirk
'A' and Vale of Leithen 'A' both withdrew |
1911-12 Border Amateur
League
14 Oct Spittal v Berwick 2-0
full time not played due to mistake by referee Duns v
Coldstream played at Chirnside for double points
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1912-13 Border Senior
League
Competition
unfinished |
1912-13 Border Amateur
League
26 Oct Coldstream v Duns 1-0 friendly as no
referee 14 Dec Kelso v Coldstream 0-6 stopped after 87
mins darkness 1 Mar Kelso v Coldstream 1-1 friendly as no
referee Coldstream
v Duns was played in 1913-14 season. Because they fielded ineligible players,
Coldstream were deducted the 2 points which were awarded to Duns Chirnside
withdrew and their record (4-1-0-3-6-17-2) was expunged
Decider Due
in Mar 1914 Berwick Rangers v Duns not
played Competition
unfinished and championship withheld |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1912-1919 Border Senior
League No
competition |
1913-14 Border Amateur
League
Competition
unfinished |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1919-20 Border Senior League
The
remaining fixtures were not played Coldstream
were declared champions
|
1920-21 Border Senior League At
the Border FA AGM on 10 July 1920, it was decided to split the league into
regional divisions, with the top two clubs from each playing off for the
championship.
However
after withdrawals, a single division was once again organized.
Competition
unfinished |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1921-22 Border Senior League North Section
South Section
By
December 1921, the northern clubs had barred the southern ones due to
financial constraints and the South Section was disbanded. Vale of Leithen
were declared champions |
1922-23 Border Senior League
|
1923-1951 Border League
No
competition
1951-52 Border League
|
Chir |
Dun |
Eye |
Gala |
Kels |
PR |
Selk |
VoL |
Chirnside United |
|
22 Dec 1-4 |
8 Dec 1-2 |
WL |
19 Jan 2-1 |
27 Oct 2-0 |
3 May 4-5 |
23 Feb 1-2 |
Duns |
29 Mar 4-2 |
|
12 Apr 4-3 |
15 Sep 2-0 |
WL |
11 Aug 4-1 |
13 Oct 3-0 |
1 Sep 6-0 |
Eyemouth United |
5 Jan 7-2 |
3 May 2-2 |
|
26 Apr WL |
3 Nov 9-3 |
25 Aug 0-3 |
8 Mar 8-2 |
11 Aug 1-2 |
Gala Fairydean |
10 Nov 3-2 |
18 Aug 0-6 |
LW |
|
27 Oct 4-5 |
8 Mar 1-2 |
6 Oct 7-3 |
24 Nov WL |
Kelso United |
LW |
6 Oct 1-5 |
15 Mar 0-5 |
25 Aug 2-4 |
|
18 Aug 2-4 |
22 Sep 5-2 |
LW |
Peebles Rovers |
17 Nov 5-2 |
DD |
23 Feb 0-3 |
29 Sep 7-3 |
12 Jan 1-1 |
|
29 Mar 6-4 |
WL |
Selkirk |
20 Oct 2-4 |
10 May 3-6 |
12 Jan 2-5 |
1 Dec 2-3 |
WL |
24 Nov 5-5 |
|
19 Apr 3-2 |
Vale of Leithen |
9 Feb 3-1 |
14 May LW |
1 Mar 1-4 |
22 Mar 5-2 |
WL |
6 Oct 2-1 |
15 Dec 5-5 |
|
|
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
Pts |
Duns |
14 |
12 |
2 |
0 |
48 |
13 |
26 |
Eyemouth United |
14 |
10 |
1 |
3 |
51 |
22 |
21 |
Peebles Rovers |
14 |
7 |
3 |
4 |
36 |
29 |
17 |
Vale of Leithen |
14 |
7 |
1 |
6 |
24 |
27 |
15 |
Gala Fairydean |
14 |
5 |
0 |
9 |
28 |
39 |
10 |
Chirnside United |
14 |
5 |
0 |
9 |
26 |
38 |
10 |
Selkirk |
14 |
3 |
2 |
9 |
39 |
63 |
8 |
Kelso United |
14 |
2 |
1 |
11 |
20 |
41 |
5 |
XXXXXXXXXXXX |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1952-53 Border League
|
Chir |
Cold |
Dun |
Eye |
Gala |
PR |
Selk |
VoL |
Kels |
Chirnside United |
|
7 Mar 2-3 |
30 Aug 1-7 |
13 Dec 1-9 |
21 Mar 2-6 |
LW |
4 Oct 2-4 |
LW |
|
Coldstream |
15 Nov 4-0 |
|
N/P |
N/P |
25 Oct 6-2 |
1 Nov 1-5 |
17 Jan 5-0 |
14 Feb 7-5 |
|
Duns |
27 Dec 4-3 |
4 Oct 3-4 |
|
17 Jan 3-3 |
3 Jan DD |
28 Feb 2-1 |
8 Nov 6-2 |
21 Feb 4-3 |
|
Eyemouth United |
1 Jan 4-0 |
3 Jan 6-2 |
7 Mar 2-2 |
|
14 Feb 6-0 |
16 Aug 1-0 |
23 Aug 6-1 |
N/P |
|
Gala Fairydean |
16 Aug 5-1 |
30 Aug 2-5 |
28 Mar 1-6 |
N/P |
|
22 Nov 0-12 |
29 Nov 2-2 |
6 Dec 0-2 |
|
Peebles Rovers |
17 Jan 15-1 |
24 Jan 2-0 |
4 Apr 4-3 |
21 Feb 2-1 |
27 Dec 6-1 |
|
6 Dec 6-1 |
29 Nov 3-2 |
27 Sep 7-1 |
Selkirk |
WL |
22 Nov 2-3 |
9 Aug 1-3 |
9 May 1-5 |
24 Jan 3-0 |
18 Oct 2-4 |
|
15 Nov 3-2 |
|
Vale of Leithen |
23 Aug 8-5 |
8 Nov 5-1 |
13 Dec 6-1 |
7 Feb 3-3 |
4 Oct 3-2 |
21 Mar 2-3 |
31 Jan 3-1 |
|
|
Kelso United |
|
|
30 Aug 0-7 |
|
|
|
16 Aug 5-6 |
|
|
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
Pts |
Peebles Rovers |
14 |
12 |
0 |
2 |
63 |
17 |
24 |
Duns |
13 |
7 |
3 |
3 |
44 |
31 |
17 |
Coldstream |
12 |
8 |
0 |
4 |
41 |
34 |
16 |
Eyemouth United |
11 |
7 |
3 |
1 |
41 |
10 |
17 |
Vale of Leithen |
13 |
7 |
1 |
5 |
44 |
33 |
15 |
Selkirk |
14 |
4 |
1 |
9 |
23 |
47 |
9 |
Gala Fairydean |
13 |
2 |
2 |
9 |
21 |
54 |
6 |
Chirnside United |
14 |
0 |
0 |
14 |
18 |
69 |
0 |
XXXXXXXXXXXX |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kelso United withdrew and
their record (3-0-0-3-6-23-0) expunged