30-695: Lochee Harp Football Club are a Scottish Junior football club historically based in the Lochee area of the city of Dundee . Formed in 1904 and nicknamed "the Harp" , they play at Lochee Community Sports Hub. The team moved into this new ground adjacent to the former home of Beechwood Park in late 2020. Their strip colours are green and white. Lochee Harp were formed among the Irish community in Lochee, and derive their history as an Irish Catholic football club. They were formed in much
60-530: A Scottish football club is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Scottish Junior Football Association The Scottish Junior Football Association ( SJFA ) is an affiliated national association of the Scottish Football Association and is the governing body for the junior grade of football in Scotland . The term "junior" refers to the level of football played, not the age of
90-581: A free kick in stoppage time (resulting in a goal) when it was clear it should have been a free kick to Scotland. Manager Alex McLeish resigned on 27 November 2007 following the loss against Italy and became manager of Birmingham City , his assistants Roy Aitken and Andy Watson joined him at Birmingham. He was eventually replaced on 24 January 2008 by Southampton manager George Burley , he appointed Steven Pressley and former England captain Terry Butcher as his assistants. In first match in charge
120-483: A major turnaround in form. At the other end of the table, Gretna's meteoric rise up the Scottish football pyramid came to a juddering halt; they went bottom of the table following a 4-0 thrashing in their first match, and never left it. The withdrawal of millionaire owner Brooks Mileson plunged them into a financial crisis that forced the club into administration, resulting in them becoming the first top-flight club to earn
150-621: A number of its proposals rejected at SJFA meetings, seceded from the SJFA in 1907 but returned a year later. Further disputes occurred in 1922 over "poaching" clubs and, in 1927, the GJFA was instrumental in the Intermediate dispute which split the SJFA for four seasons. The record number of clubs to enter the Junior Cup was 412 in 1922–23. The local associations continued to run their leagues until 1968, when
180-538: A suspended reduction to associate members in the previous campaign (meaning they would have faced an expulsion vote had they finished bottom in both this and the next seasons), managed to avoid this fate by pulling above Forfar Athletic on the final day of the season. It was the first time since 2002 that any other team had finished bottom of the SFL pyramid. West Region East Region North Region UEFA Cup Runners-up Scotland failed in their attempt to qualify for
210-507: A ten-point deduction for doing so. This helped cause them to set a new record for the lowest top-flight points total since the adoption of 3 points for a win, and their financial troubles would ultimately prove terminal, resulting in the club folding and being reformed as Gretna F.C. 2008 in the Lowland League for the following year. Hamilton Academical won the title, and with it, their third promotion in seven years, bringing them back into
240-506: Is Scotland's national football stadium . There was an earlier Scottish Junior FA, which was founded in Glasgow in October 1880. This body also ran a Scottish Junior Cup competition during 1880–81 season but appears to have disbanded at the end of that season. The SJFA was formed in Glasgow on 2 October 1886 and the first season's Junior Cup saw 39 clubs take part. Junior football had existed since
270-588: The East region of Scottish junior football which they, along with all Tayside junior clubs became a part in 2002. Lochee Harp were formerly a hugely successful junior team, winning the Dundee Junior League in their first season of existence, but have found such success more hard to come by in recent years. Scottish Junior Cup 56°28′43″N 3°00′00″W / 56.478612°N 2.999900°W / 56.478612; -2.999900 This article about
300-511: The Euro 2008 , finishing third in Group B behind 2006 World Cup finalists France and Italy despite beating France twice. Scotland needed a win in their final group game against Italy to qualify, although a draw would have been enough if Ukraine beat France in the last group fixture. Scotland lost 2–1 as a result of a heavily criticised decision by Spanish referee Manuel Mejuto González to award Italy
330-593: The North Caledonian League the East of Scotland Football League , the South of Scotland Football League and the West of Scotland Football League . Over time, as various local football associations and leagues — both junior and senior — have risen in strength, or in some cases disappeared completely. Scottish football developed its current pattern with either junior or senior non-leagues taking precedence in various parts of
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#1733084983432360-528: The 2015–16 season, Linlithgow Rose became the first junior team to reach the last 16 of the Scottish Cup after beating Forfar Athletic . (see "Juniors in the Scottish Cup"). In 2011, the Scottish Football Association created two new operational boards, Professional and Non-Professional, to provide more focused governance in these differing areas of the game. Junior football is represented on
390-616: The East Region with a single division and the North Region with two divisions. The top division of each region sits at tier 6 of the Scottish football league system , with a play-off enabling promotion to the Highland League for clubs with an SFA licence. There was previously a West Region league system which contained 63 clubs at the end of the 2019–20 season, prior to its members leaving
420-516: The Juniors to join a new West of Scotland Football League in the senior pyramid . 53 of those clubs kept their membership of the SJFA in order to enter the Scottish Junior Cup. A similar move had also greatly reduced the East Region's membership two years earlier when 25 clubs joined the East of Scotland Football League ahead of the 2018–19 season, with a further 20 clubs making the move over
450-487: The Non-Professional Game Board alongside other organisations such as the East of Scotland Football League , South of Scotland Football League and Scottish Amateur Football Association . The term "junior" does not relate to the age of players. Football for young players is generally known as "Youth" (up to Under-19) or "Juvenile" (which is to Under-21 level) football. In the late 19th century, membership of
480-838: The SFA conferred "senior" status on a club and the junior grade developed outside the SFA framework. Today, the senior grade of football in Scotland is played in the Scottish Professional Football League (until 2013 divided into the Scottish Premier League and the Scottish Football League ), as well as the six senior non-leagues: the Highland Football League , the Lowland Football League ,
510-2046: The SJFA after moving leagues. East Region (19) Arbroath Victoria, Blairgowrie, Brechin Victoria, Broughty Athletic, Carnoustie Panmure, Coupar Angus, Downfield, Dundee North End, Dundee St. James, Dundee Violet, East Craigie, Forfar United, Forfar West End, Kirriemuir Thistle, Letham, Lochee Harp, Lochee United, Scone Thistle, Tayport North Region (33) Aberdeen East End, Aberdeen University, Banchory St Ternan, Banks O' Dee Juniors, Bridge of Don Thistle, Buchanhaven Hearts, Buckie Rovers, Burghead Thistle, Colony Park, Cruden Bay, Culter, Deveronside, Dufftown, Dyce, Ellon United, Forres Thistle, Fraserburgh United, Glentanar, Hall Russell United, Hermes, Islavale, Longside, Lossiemouth United, Maud, Montrose Roselea, Nairn St Ninian, New Elgin, Newmachar United, Rothie Rovers, Stonehaven, Stoneywood Parkvale, Sunnybank, Whitehills East of Scotland League (8) Armadale Thistle, Bathgate Thistle, Harthill Royal, Livingston United, Pumpherston, Stoneyburn, Syngenta , West Calder United West of Scotland League (52) Ardeer Thistle, Ardrossan Winton Rovers, Arthurlie, Ashfield, Auchinleck Talbot , Beith Juniors, Belshill Athletic, Benburb , Blantyre Victoria, Cambuslang Rangers, Carluke Rovers, Craigmark Burntonians, Cumbernauld United, Cumnock Juniors , Dalry Thistle, Darvel , East Kilbride Thistle, Gartcairn, Glasgow Perthshire, Glasgow United, Glenafton Athletic, Greenock, Hurlford United, Irvine Meadow XI , Irvine Victoria, Johnstone Burgh, Kilbirnie Ladeside, Kilsyth Rangers, Kirkintilloch Rob Roy, Lanark United, Largs Thistle, Larkhall Thistle, Lesmahagow, Lugar Boswell Thistle, Maryhill, Maybole, Muirkirk, Newmains United, Petershill, Rossvale, Royal Albert, Rutherglen Glencairn , St. Anthony's, St. Roch's, Saltcoats Victoria, Shotts Bon Accord, Thorniewood United, Troon, Vale of Clyde, Vale of Leven, Wishaw, Yoker Athletic Note Club with an SFA Licence Currently there are two regional junior league systems:
540-437: The SJFA instituted major reforms. This first phase of regionalisation removed the need for the many local associations, replacing them instead with six regional committees. These six regions — Ayrshire, Central, East, Fife, Tayside and North — still exist, to a certain extent, as divisions in the national league structure and as operators of certain cup competitions. The last major league reform took place in 2002, with
570-446: The campaign with the club top of the table, as rookie manager Derek Adams managed to further improve the club's form, resulting in them comfortably winning the title. Airdrie United initially lost out on promotion after failing to beat Clyde in the play-offs, but Gretna's demise meant Airdrie ended up being promoted anyway. Berwick Rangers were relegated in bottom place after a dismal campaign, and Cowdenbeath joined them after losing in
600-481: The country with some occasional overlap. Nowadays, membership of the SJFA automatically confers on a club registered membership of the SFA; however, junior and senior non-league clubs still play in separate competitions. Despite the lesser media coverage the juniors get, many of the club sides are fairly popular, and some of the bigger games (such as the local derbies between Arthurlie and Pollok , and Cumnock Juniors vs. Auchinleck Talbot ) can attract attendances in
630-538: The early 1880s, initially as separate local associations across Scotland for clubs not in membership of the SFA. This new national association acted as an umbrella for these local junior associations, as well as establishing the Scottish Junior Cup, a national cup competition. The first three winners of the Scottish Junior Cup all joined the SFA and stepped up to senior level. Gradually, a number of junior leagues grew in strength — particularly in Glasgow, where leading clubs drew large crowds. The Glasgow Junior FA, having seen
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#1733084983432660-573: The next three years. 19 clubs playing 36 games ↑ 1 promotion playoff spot to Highland League 14 clubs playing 26 games ↑ 1 promotion playoff spot to Highland League ↓ 2 relegation spots 16 clubs playing 30 games ↑ 4 promotion spots 1945–1951 1912–1922 1922–1929 1926–1929 1892–1897 1897–1898 1929–1941 1945–1968 1968–2002 2002–2021 1904–1922 1892–1922 1904–1922 1893–1915 1913–1919 1919–1921 1921–1968 1968–2002 1919–1921 1908–1922 2007%E2%80%9308 in Scottish football The 2007–08 season
690-422: The play-offs. East Fife won the division by a wide margin after their play-off heartbreak the previous season. Arbroath, who had likewise lost out on promotion in the previous season's play-offs, were victorious in this year's campaign. Stranraer, who lost to Arbroath in the play-off final, still ended up earning an immediate return to Division Two, thanks to Gretna's demise. East Stirlingshire, who had been given
720-588: The players. The closest equivalent terminology would be non-League football in England , the difference being that junior football in Scotland was not similarly integrated into its football league system until 2021. Founded in 1886, the SJFA is responsible for disciplinary matters within the grade, certain player registration procedures and organising the annual Scottish Junior Cup . Other league and cup competitions are organised by regional committees. The association headquarters are at Hampden Park , Glasgow , which
750-536: The same way as Hibernian, by local priests and church members to alleviate the boredom of the workers and provide some recreation. Dundee United have much the same origins, having been formed as Dundee Hibernian, and there was another Irish based club in the Lochee area as well, Lochee Emmet, named after the Irish patriot Robert Emmet . They were members of the Tayside Junior League, but are presently competing in
780-458: The six regions "merging" to create a three-pronged regional league setup consisting of East, North, and West regions (see "Organisation and regions"). Since the 2007–08 season , up to four Junior sides have been able to qualify for the Scottish Cup . The four teams are the three Superleague winners ( West , East and North ) and the Scottish Junior Cup winners, all from the previous season. In
810-575: The thousands. Crowds were far bigger in the past (76,000 for the Junior Cup Final in 1951, with nearly 90,000 watching the semi-finals (including a replay) compared to the level of support attracted now. The SJFA has 112 member clubs, comprising: East Region (19 clubs), North Region (33 clubs) in SJFA-administered leagues, as well as 52 West of Scotland League and 8 East of Scotland League teams who have retained their membership or rejoined
840-489: The title thanks to indifferent form in the final weeks of the campaign, though the fact that they came so close and recorded victories in both domestic cups nonetheless meant the season was a considerable improvement on the two previous seasons, which both ended up trophyless and without a serious challenge for the title. Motherwell finished third and took the UEFA Cup berth, as former player Mark McGhee 's return as manager brought
870-468: The top-flight for the first time since 1989. Stirling Albion finished well adrift in bottom place, and suffered automatic relegation as a result. Clyde were sent into the play-offs, and retained their place in the First Division by beating Airdrie United in the final. Ross County won immediate promotion back to the First Division, vindicating their shock decision to sack manager Dick Campbell early in
900-412: Was the 111th season of competitive football in Scotland . Celtic won their third consecutive title, having been off the pace for much of the season before a run of seven consecutive victories in the closing stages lifted them to the top of the table. Their title win was dedicated to the memory of assistant manager Tommy Burns , who died from cancer a week before the season ended. Rangers lost out on
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