There have been at least three competitions in Scotland known as the Central Football League
The first was originally formed in 1896 by five clubs - Cowdenbeath, Dunfermline Athletic, Fair City Athletic, Kirkcaldy and St Johnstone. In 1897 this version was superseded by the Central Football Combination.
Champions
1896–97 Cowdenbeath1897–98 not completedMembership
Alloa Athletic 1897–1898Cowdenbeath 1896–1898Dundee 'A' 1897–98Dunfermline Athletic 1896–1898Fair City Athletic 1896–1897Hearts of Beith 1897–1898Kircaldy 1896–1898Lochgelly United 1896–1898St Johnstone 1896–97The Central League was reformed in 1909 with twelve members - Alloa Athletic, Arbroath, Bathgate, Bo'ness, Broxburn Athletic, Dunfermline Athletic, East Fife, King's Park, Kirkcaldy United, Lochgelly United and St Johnstone. The League closed down after 1915 because of World War I and a number of clubs transferred to the new Eastern Football League.
Champions
1909–10 Bo'ness1910–11 Dunfermline Athletic1911–12 Dunfermline Athletic1912–13 Alloa Athletic1913–14 Armadale1914–15 ArmadaleMembership
Alloa Athletic 1909–1915Arbroath 1909–1915Armdale 1911–1915Bathgate 1909–1914Bo'ness 1909–1915broxburn 1911–1912Broxburn Athletic 1909–1910Broxburn United 1912–1915Clackmannan 1914–1915Dundee 'A' 1912–1915Dunfermline Athletic 1909–1912East Fife 1909–1915Falkirk 'A' 1912–1912Forfar Athletic 1913–1915Heart of Midlothian 'A' 1910–1911King's Park 1909–1915Kirkcaldy United 1909–1915Lochgelly United 1909–1912, 1913–1914Montrose 1914–1915St Johnstone F.C. 1909–1911Stenhousemuir 1909–1915The league closed down in 1915 because of the War but when the Scottish Football League refused to re-institute the Second Division in 1919, the Central Football League was re-formed. Since this competition was independent, member clubs could attract players by paying higher wages than those allowed under the maximum wage rules that applied to Scottish League clubs.
Champions
1919–20 Bo'ness1920–21 Bo'nessMembership
Alloa Athletic 1919–1921Armadale 1919–1921Bathgate 1919–1921Bo'ness 1919–1921Broxburn United 1919–1921Clackmannan 1920–1921Cowdenbeath 1920–1921Dundee Hibernian 1920–1921Dunfermline Athletic 1919–1921East Fife 1919–1921East Stirlingshire 1919–1921Falkirk 'A' 1919–1921Heart of Midlothian 'A' 1919–1921King's Park 1919–1921Lochgelly United 1920–1921St Bernard's 1919–1921St Johnstone 1920–1921Stenhousemuir 1919–1921In 1921, the Central League was absorbed by the Scottish League as the Second Division.
