East Junior Leagues

 

 

Page created: 18 January 2021

Updated: 13 April 2024

 

The East of Scotland Junior Cup was competed for by clubs who were members of the East of Scotland Junior FA (1885-1968), the Scottish Junior FA East Region (1968-2002) and East Regional FA (2002-date). The winners are awarded the Lewis McIver Trophy which had originally been presented to the Edinburgh Junior League Champions of the early 1890s.

 

Although there are press reports of a club called Virginians being Junior League champions in 1891 this probably relates to a cup competition. So it is more probable that the first league formed in the Lothians was the Edinburgh & District Junior League in 1892. This folded in 1897 and was replaced by the short-lived Leith & District League.

 

The Forth Junior League was formed by clubs from Fife and the Lothians in 1901, the second edition in 1902-03 having a completely different membership.

 

A Lothian-based Central Junior League was formed by four clubs in October 1908., but disbanded at the end of the season.

 

The East of Scotland Junior League was originally formed in 1899 but would fold in 1904 after several clubs left to form the Linlithgowshire Junior League. It was re-formed in 1909 and was renamed the Edinburgh & District Junior League in 1911. Between 1915 and 1919 it was re-formed as the Lothian Junior League.

 

The Border Junior League was formed in 1912 and continued until 1929, being under the East of Scotland Junior League banner between 1922 and 1926.

 

However the strongest and longest lasting league was the Midlothian Junior League (also known as the Donaldson League) which was formed in 1892, the winners being awarded the Evening News Trophy. This league would continue under various names until 2002.

 

In 1922 the East of Scotland Junior FA decided to amalgamate the numerous county and district Associations and leagues under its authority. The Midlothian Junior League, the Linlithgowshire Junior League and Border Junior League operated under the East of Scotland Junior League banner which was divided into three regional competitions with each section declaring their own champions. This fragmented in 1926 when the Border clubs left and the remaining clubs consolidated under one division. Further re-organising in 1929 saw clubs in the region compete in the Midlothian Junior League which would continue until WWII, after which the league was restarted as the Edinburgh & District Junior League. The Evening News Trophy which had been presented to the previous league winners

 

In the 1968 the Scottish Junior FA re-organisation of the Junior set-up, the Edinburgh & District Junior League was renamed the East Region Junior League. A further re-organisation in 2002 saw the league merge with the Tayside Region Junior League and Fife Region Junior League to form the expanded East Region Junior League.

From 2017 virtually every Junior club in the Lothians turned Senior and joined the East of Scotland League leaving the East Region a much reduced membership of Tayside and West Lothian clubs. In 2020-21 the league was divided into two sections, Premiership North and Premiership South but like the previous season this was declared null and void due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

2021-22 saw the East Region Junior League reform as the Midlands League, with a Tayside membership as the West Lothian clubs joined the Senior East of Scotland League, and become one of the feeder leagues of the Highland League.

 

 

 

Winners

 

 

 

Edinburgh & District Junior League (1)

1892-93 Niddrie Bluebell

1893-94 Niddrie Bluebell

1894-95 no competition

1895-96 Leith Rangers

1896-97 Leith Craighall

 

 

Leith & District League

1897-98 Leith Primrose

East of Scotland Junior League(1)

1899-00 Vale of Grange

1900-01 Vale of Grange

1901-02 Dunfermline Our Boys

1902-03 Bo'ness Our Boys

1903-04 Broxburn Athletic

 

 

 

Edinburgh Junior League

1904-05 Edinburgh Rosebery

1905-06 no competition

1906-07 Edinburgh Rosebery

1907-08

1908-09 North British Thistle / Edinburgh Rosebery

1909-10 Granton Gasworks

1910-11 Niddrie Bluebell

1911-12 Niddrie Bluebell

 

 

Forth Junior League

1901-02 Linlithgow Rose

1902-03

 

East of Scotland Junior League (2)

1912-13 Niddrie Bluebell

1913-14 Pumpherston Rangers

1914-15 Pumpherston Rangers

1915-1918 no competition

1918-19 Winchburgh Violet

1919-20 Edinburgh Emmet

1920-21 West Calder / West Craigs United

1921-22 Winchburgh Violet

 

 

 

Central Junior League

1908-09 Vale of Grange

Linlithgowshire Junior League

1904-05 Broxburn Athletic

1905-06 Broxburn Athletic

1906-07 Armadale Thistle / Our Boys Athletic

1907-08 Broxburn Thistle

1908-09 Broxburn Thistle

1909-10 Broxburn St Andrew's / Armadale Thistle

1910-11 Seafield Athletic

1911-12 Bathgate Primrose

1912-13 Broxburn St Andrew's

1913-14 Addiewell United

1914-1921 no competition

1921-22 Westcraigs United

 

 

Midlothian Junior League (1)

1893-94 Arniston Rangers

1894-95 Newtongrange Athletic

1895-96 Arniston Rangers

1896-97 Arniston Rangers

1897-98 Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic

1898-99 Musselburgh Fern

1899-00 Arniston Rangers

1900-01 Arniston Rangers

1901-02 Arniston Rangers

1902-03 Edinburgh Myrtle

1903-04 Arniston Rangers

1904-05 Arniston Rangers

1905-06 Newtongrange Star

 

 

 

1906-07 Newtongrange Star

1907-08 Newtongrange Star

1908-09 Arniston Rangers

1909-10 Penicuik

1910-11 Arniston Rangers

1911-12 Wemyss Athletic

1912-13 Wemyss Athletic

1913-14 Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic

1914-15 Tranent

1915-1919 no competition

1919-20 Newtongrange Star

1920-21 Newtongrange Star

1921-22 Newtongrange Star

 

Lothian Junior League

1915-16 Winchburgh Violet

1916-17 Winchburgh Violet

1917-18 Winchburgh Violet

1918-19 Loanhead Mayflower

 

Border Junior League (1)

1912-13 Peebles Strollers

1913-14 Gala Athletic

1914-15 Melrose Invicta

1915-1919 no competition

1919-20 Melrose Elder Park

1920-21 Newtown St Boswell's

1921-22 St Abbs Thistle

 

East of Scotland Junior League (3)

Midlothian Section

1922-23 Newtongrange Star

1923-24 Newtongrange Star

1924-25 Newtongrange Star

1925-26 Newtongrange Star

 

 

East of Scotland Junior League (3)

West Lothian Section

1922-23 Livingston United

1923-24 Linlithgow Rose

1924-25 Linlithgow Rose

1925-26 Vale of Grange

 

 

East of Scotland Junior League (3)

Border Section

1922-23 Gala Hailes Villa

1923-24 Vale of Leithen

1924-25 Duns Juniors

1925-26 Gala Hailes Villa

 

Midlothian Junior League (2)

1926-27 Newtongrange Star

1927-28 Dunbar United

1928-29 Tranent

1929-30 Newtongrange Star

1930-31 Tranent

1931-32 Dalkeith Thistle

1932-33 Newtongrange Star

1933-34 Blackburn Athletic

1934-35 Stoneyburn

1935-36 Bo'ness Cadora

1936-37 Tranent

1937-38 Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic

1938-39 Stoneyburn

1939-40 Armadale Thistle

1940-41 Armadale Thistle

1941-1945 no competition

 

 

East of Scotland Junior League (4)

1928-29 Stoneyburn

 

 

Midlothian Junior League (2)

Division A

1927-28 Dalkeith Thistle

 

Division B

1927-28 Linlithgow Rose

 

Border Junior League (2)

1926-27 no competition

1927-28 Hearts of Liddlesdale

1928-29 Gala Hailes Villa

Lanark & Lothians Junior League

1941-42 Polkemmet

1942-43 Armadale Thistle

1943-44 Armadale Thistle

1944-45 Fauldhouse United

 

 

 

 

Edinburgh & District Junior League (3)

Play-off winners

1945-46 Fauldhouse United
1946-47
Bo'ness United
1947-48
Bo'ness United

1948-49 Bo'ness United

1949-50 Armadale Thistle
1950-51
Newtongrange Star
1951-52 Newtongrange Star

1952-53 Armadale Thistle

1953-54 Arniston Rangers
1954-55
Newtongrange Star
1955-56 Dalkeith Thistle
1956-57 Haddington Athletic

1957-58 Bo'ness United
1958-59
Newtongrange Star
1959-60
Loanhead Mayflower
1960-61 Dalkeith Thistle

1961-62 Dunbar United
1962-63
Sauchie
1963-64
Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic
1964-65 Linlithgow Rose
1965-66 Linlithgow Rose
1966-67 Linlithgow Rose
1967-68 Linlithgow Rose

 

 

Edinburgh & District Junior League (3)

West Division

1949-50 Armadale Thistle
1950-51
Camelon
1951-52 Broxburn Athletic

1952-53 Armadale Thistle

1953-54 Bo'ness United
1954-55 Bo'ness United
1955-56 Broxburn Athletic
1956-57 Broxburn Athletic

1957-58 Bo'ness United
1958-59
Bo'ness United
1959-60
West Calder United
1960-61 Armadale Thistle

1961-62 Whitburn
1962-63
Sauchie
1963-64
Whitburn
1964-65 Linlithgow Rose
1965-66 Linlithgow Rose
1966-67 Linlithgow Rose
1967-68 Linlithgow Rose

 

 

Edinburgh & District Junior League (3)

Mid/East Division

1949-50 Arniston Rangers
1950-51
Newtongrange Star
1951-52 Newtongrange Star

1952-53 Newtongrange Star

1953-54 Arniston Rangers
1954-55
Newtongrange Star
1955-56 Dalkeith Thistle
1956-57 Haddington Athletic

1957-58 Ormiston Primrose
1958-59
Newtongrange Star
1959-60
Loanhead Mayflower
1960-61 Dalkeith Thistle

1961-62 Dunbar United
1962-63
Newtongrange Star
1963-64
Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic
1964-65
Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic
1965-66
Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic
1966-67
Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic
1967-68
Newtongrange Star

 

East Region Junior League

Play-off winners

1968-69 Bo'ness United
1969-70
Arniston Rangers
1970-71 Musselburgh Athletic
1971-72
Arniston Rangers
1972-73 Broxburn Athletic

 

East Region Junior League

West Division

1968-69 Bo'ness United
1969-70
Pumpherston
1970-71 Broxburn Athletic
1971-72
Whitburn
1972-73 Broxburn Athletic

 

East Region Junior League

Mid/East Division

1968-69 Newtongrange Star
1969-70
Arniston Rangers
1970-71 Musselburgh Athletic
1971-72
Arniston Rangers
1972-73 Musselburgh Athletic

 

 

East Region Junior League

Division A
1973-74
Broxburn Athletic
1974-75 Linlithgow Rose

1975-76 Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic
1976-77
Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic
1977-78 Linlithgow Rose
1978-79
Penicuik Athletic

1979-80 Camelon
1980-81
Penicuik Athletic

1981-82 Linlithgow Rose
1982-83 Fauldhouse United

 

 

 

 

1983-84 Linlithgow Rose

1984-85 Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic
1985-86 Whitburn
1986-87 Whitburn
1987-88 Linlithgow Rose
1988-89 Whitburn
1989-90 Whitburn

1990-91 Newtongrange Star

1991-92 Newtongrange Star

 

 

Division 1

1992-93 Fauldhouse United

1993-94 Camelon

1994-95 Camelon

1995-96 Whitburn

1996-97 Linlithgow Rose

1997-98 Whitburn

1998-99 Linlithgow Rose

1999-00 Linlithgow Rose

2000-01 Whitburn

2001-02 Linlithgow Rose

 

East Region Junior League

Division B
1973-74
Tranent
1974-75
Newtongrange Star

1975-76 Dunbar United
1976-77
Newtongrange Star
1977-78 Whitburn
1978-79
Broxburn Athletic

1979-80 Dalkeith Thistle
1980-81
Livingston United

1981-82 Fauldhouse United
1982-83 Ormiston Primrose

 

 

 

 

1983-84 Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic

1984-85 Armadale Thistle
1985-86 Edinburgh United
1986-87 Bathgate Thistle
1987-88
Livingston United
1988-89 Armadale Thistle
1989-90
Dalkeith Thistle

1990-91 Bathgate Thistle

1991-92 Livingston United

 

 

Division 2

1992-93 Harthill Royal

1993-94 Dunbar United

1994-95 Harthill Royal

1995-96 Tranent

1996-97 Fauldhouse United

1997-98 Dunbar United

1998-99 Haddington Athletic

1999-00 Harthill Royal

2000-01 Musselburgh Athletic

2001-02 Fauldhouse United

 

 

East Region Junior League
Super League

2002-03 Tayport

2003-04 Linlithgow Rose

2004-05 Lochee United

2005-06 Tayport

2006-07 Linlithgow Rose

2007-08 Lochee United

2008-09 Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic

2009-10 Bo'ness United

2010-11 Bo'ness United

2011-12 Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic

2012-13 Linlithgow Rose

2013-14 Bo'ness United

2014-15 Kelty Hearts

2015-16 Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic

2016-17 Kelty Hearts

2017-18 Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic

2018-19 Lochee United

2019-20 North unfinished

2019-20 South unfinished

 

 

East Region Junior League
Premier League

2006-07 Glenrothes

2007-08 Bo'ness United

2008-09 Musselburgh Athletic

2009-10 Tayport

2010-11 St Andrews United

2011-12 Sauchie

2012-13 Newtongrange Star

2013-14 Penicuik Athletic

2014-15 Tayport

2015-16 Jeanfield Swifts

2016-17 Sauchie

2017-18 Musselburgh Athletic

 

Premier League North

2018-19 Dundee North End

 

Premier League South

2018-19 Pumpherston

 

 

 

East Region Junior League

Premiership North

2020-21 unfinished

 

Premiership South

2020-21 unfinished

 

Championship Play-off

2020-21 not played

 

 

Midlands League

2021-22 Carnoustie Panmure

2022-23 Carnoustie Panmure

2023-24

 

Midlands League Cup

2021-22 Lochee United

2022-23 Carnoustie Panmure

2023-24

East Region Junior League
Tayside District

2002-03 Lochee United

2003-04 Carnoustie Panmure

2004-05 Dundee North End

2005-06 Kinnoull

 

 

East Region Junior League
Fife District

2002-03 Kelty Hearts

2003-04 Thornton Hibernian

2004-05 Hill of Beath Hawthorn

2005-06 Oakley United

 

 

East Region Junior League
Lothian Division 1

2002-03 Bo'ness United

2003-04 Camelon

2004-05 Whitburn

2005-06 Camelon

 

Lothian Division 2

2002-03 Harthill Royal

2003-04 Broxburn Athletic

2004-05 Penicuik Athletic

2005-06 Broxburn Athletic

 

 

East Region Junior League

North Division

2006-07 Forfar West End

2007-08 Blairgowrie

2008-09 Montrose Roselea

2009-10 Broughty Athletic

2010-11 Downfield

2011-12 Dundee Violet

2012-13 Kirriemuir Thistle

2013-14 Dundee North End

2014-15 Thornton Hibs

2015-16 Downfield

2016-17 Kirriemuir Thistle

2017-18 Dundee North End

 

East Region Junior League

Central Division

2006-07 Dundonald Bluebell

2007-08 Ballingry Rovers

2008-09 St Andrews United

2009-10 Thornton Hibs

2010-11 Oakley United

2011-12 Jeanfield Swifts

2012-13 Kinnoul

 

East Region Junior League
South Division

2006-07 Newtongrange Star

2007-08 Fauldhouse United

2008-09 Armadale Thistle

2009-10 Broxburn Athletic

2010-11 Sauchie

2011-12 Dalkeith Thistle

2012-13 Fauldhouse United

2013-14 Edinburgh United

2014-15 Haddington Athletic

2015-16 Tranent

2016-17 Dunbar United

2017-18 Pumpherston