North Region Junior Football League
The North Region Junior Football League is a football league based in the north east of Scotland. The league sits at levels 6–7 on the Scottish football league system, acting as a feeder to the Highland Football League.
| Founded | 2001 |
|---|---|
| Country |  Scotland |
| Number of teams | 30 |
| Level on pyramid | 6–7 |
| Promotion to | Highland League |
| Domestic cup(s) | Scottish Junior Cup |
| Current champions | Banks O' Dee (7th title) (2021–22) |
| Most championships | Banks O' Dee and Culter (7 titles) |
| Website | SJFA North Region |
| Current: 2022–23 North Region Junior Football League | |
Geographically, the league covers Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and Moray.
The winners take part in an end of season promotion play-off with the Midlands Football League and North Caledonian Football League champions, subject to clubs meeting the required licensing criteria.
From 2018 to 2022, the league consisted of three divisions at Tiers 6 to 8. The 2018 league was essentially a continuation of a two division system which operated from 2003. It was split into two geographical sections at Tier 7 from 2011, with the lower (Tier 8) Division Two disbanded two years later. After five seasons of that setup, a three-division model was restored.
North Region Junior Football League Premier Division
| Founded | 2001 |
|---|---|
| Country | Scotland |
| Number of teams | 14 |
| Level on pyramid | 6 |
| Promotion to | Highland League |
| Relegation to | North Region Junior Football League Championship |
| Domestic cup(s) | Scottish Junior Cup |
| Current champions | Banks O' Dee (7th title) (2021–22) |
| Most championships | Banks O' Dee and Culter (7 titles) |
| Website | SJFA North Region |
| Current: 2022–23 North Region Junior Football League Premier Division | |
The North Region Junior Football League Premier Division (also known as the McBookie.com North Region Premier Division for sponsorship reasons) is the highest division of the North Region of the Scottish Junior Football Association. It was established (as the North Region Superleague) in 2001 and since 2007, the league champions have qualified for the following season's Scottish Cup.[1]
Member clubs for the 2021–22 season
Beginning from the 2013–14 season, the two automatically relegated clubs drop into one of two regional divisions below the North Superleague.[2] In 2016–17 and 2017–18, a play-off was introduced between the third bottom Superleague side and the runners-up in the East and West sections of the North First Division, potentially adding a third relegation place. Subsequently, there has been automatic relegation only in a deregionalised league system.
Membership of the North Region Premier Division is dependent on more stringent ground criteria than the general entry requirements to the North Region and in recent years, both Inverness City (twice), and Grantown were refused promotion to the North Superleague on this basis.[3][4]
| Club | Location | Ground | Manager | Finishing position 2018–19[lower-alpha 1] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Banchory St Ternan | Banchory | Milton Park | Paul Bain | 1st in North First Division |
| Bridge of Don Thistle | Aberdeen | Aberdeen Sports Village | Steve Dolan | 2nd |
| Colony Park | Inverurie | Colony Park | Anton Lennox | 9th |
| Culter | Peterculter | Crombie Park | Lee Youngson | 5th |
| Deveronside | Macduff | Myrus Centre | John McLeay & Michael Duncan | 2nd in North First Division |
| Dyce Juniors | Dyce | Ian Mair Park | Allan Youngson | 8th |
| East End | Aberdeen | New Advocates Park | Stuart Whicher | 11th |
| Ellon United | Ellon | The Meadows | Keith Mchattie | 12th |
| Hall Russell United | Bridge of Don | Denmore Park | John Carroll | 10th |
| Hermes | Bridge of Don | Lochside Park | Neil Dawson | 4th |
| Maud | Maud | Maud Pleasure Park | Mikey Grant | 6th |
| Montrose Roselea | Montrose | Links Park | Eric Watson | 3rd |
| Nairn St Ninian | Nairn | Showfield Park | Mike Hendry | 7th |
- The 2019–20 season was declared null and void.[5]
Champions and season summaries
- Using a 'points per game' algorithm applied in other leagues, Banks O' Dee (who were leading the table by a big margin) would have been nominal champions.
North Region Junior Football League Championship
| Founded | 2018 |
|---|---|
| Country | Scotland |
| Number of teams | 16 |
| Level on pyramid | 7 |
| Promotion to | North Region Junior Football League Premier Division |
| Domestic cup(s) | Scottish Junior Cup |
| Website | SJFA North Region |
| Current: 2022–23 North Region Junior Football League Championship | |
The North Region Junior Football League Championship (known as the McBookie.com North Region Championship for sponsorship reasons) is the second tier of the North Region of the Scottish Junior Football Association. Clubs at the end of the season are promoted to the North Region Junior Football League Premier Division.
Member clubs for the 2021–22 season
| Club | Location | Home ground | Finishing position 2018–19[9] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen University | Aberdeen | Hillhead Centre | 2nd, Second Division |
| Buchanhaven Hearts | Peterhead | Raemoss Park | 1st, Second Division |
| Dufftown | Dufftown | Westburn Park | 13th, North Superleague |
| Fraserburgh United | Fraserburgh | College Park | 3rd |
| Longside | Longside | Davidson Park | 6th |
| Stonehaven | Stonehaven | Glenury Park | 14th, North Superleague |
| Stoneywood Parkvale | Aberdeen | Clark Commercial Park | 4th |
| Sunnybank | Aberdeen | Heathryfold Park | 5th |
Champions
| Season | Winners | Runner Up | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018–19[9] | Banchory St. Ternan | Deveronside | Fraserburgh Utd |
| 2019–20[10] | Null and void[5][lower-alpha 1] | ||
- Using the 'points per game' algorithm applied in other leagues, Aberdeen University would have been nominal champions ahead of Fraserburgh United.
References
- "Junior clubs enter Scottish Cup". BBC. 1 June 2007. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
- 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.
- "Inverness City's future under threat". Inverness Courier. 5 May 2011. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
- Easton, Richard. "Superleague play off to take place at Colony Park". North Region SJFA. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
- Clark, Will (2 May 2020). "North junior football season is declared null and void as season over for Nairn St Ninian". Inverness Courier. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
- McBookie.Com Superleague Table 18/19, North Region Junior Football League
- McBookie.Com Superleague Table 19/20, North Region Junior Football League
- "SEASON 2020/21 ENDED". Scottish Junior FA. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
- McBookie.Com First Division Table 18/19, North Region Junior Football League
- McBookie.Com First Division Table 19/20, North Region Junior Football League