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Scottish Junior Football Association, East Region

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The Scottish Junior Football Association, East Region is one of three regions of the SJFA which organise their own distinct league and cup competitions. The SJFA used to be split into six regions, but in 2002 they took the decision to reform into three to try to ensure more games between the top clubs and hence increase their revenues. The East Region was created by amalgamating the former East (Lothians), Fife and Tayside Regions and currently stretches from Brechin in the North to Dunbar in the South-East.

Contents

Until 2006–07

For season 2002–03, twelve clubs from the East (Lothians), Fife and Tayside Leagues combined to create the East Superleague. This was fed by the existing Regional Leagues: Tayside Premier (with Tayside Division One below), Fife District League and Lothians Division One (with Lothians Division Two below.)

2006–07 to 2012–13

In 2006, a further reorganisation led to the creation of another Regionwide tier below the East Superleague, known as the East Premier League. Below this, the Regional leagues were streamlined into single North (Tayside), Central (Fife) and South (Lothians) Divisions. To balance the numbers in these new leagues, the majority of Perthshire clubs were re-allocated from the North Division to the Central Division. Exceptions to this are Blairgowrie and Coupar Angus who remain in the North Division set-up.

As of the end of 2006–07 season, clubs are promoted and relegated between the Super League and the Premier League. One club from each of the lowest-tier divisions will be promoted to the Premier League, with three Premier League sides being relegated to a regional division corresponding to their geographical area.

From 2013–14

As agreed at the 2011–12 East Region AGM, the leagues were restructured into four divisions from the 2013–14 season. The Superleague and Premier League were expanded to sixteen clubs while the regional divisions were merged into two from the current three and branded as North and South. Clubs in the Central division were split between the two new leagues on a geographical basis. The League Cup competitions which traditionally opened the season were also scrapped as part of these proposals.

Cup competitions

There are three cup competitions in the East Region:

  • The East of Scotland Cup. Known as the DJ Laing East of Scotland Cup under a sponsorship arrangement, this is a knockout tournament for all East Region clubs. The competition dates back to 1896–97 and was the most prestigious cup trophy in the former East Region.
  • Fife & Lothians Cup. Known as the Conservatory Converters Fife & Lothians Cup under a sponsorship arrangement, this tournament dates back to regionalisation in 1968 and is a knockout tournament for former East (Lothians) and Fife Region clubs in the current East Region. It is administered by a separate Fife & Lothians committee.
  • North and Tayside Inter-Regional Cup. Known as the GA Engineering Cup for sponsorship purposes, this is a knockout tournament for former Tayside Region and current North Region clubs and is administered by a joint committee. First played for in 1988, clubs play early rounds in their own region with eight sides from each area progressing to the last sixteen.

    • Prior to league reconstruction in 2013, clubs also competed in one of three League Cup competitions at the beginning of the season:

  • DJ Laing League Cup. This tournament was for former Tayside Region clubs excluding Perthshire sides affiliated to the Central Division. Clubs initially competed in groups (sections) with the group winners advancing to a knockout semi-final stage. In all league cup competitions, matches in the group stages were played under league rules so a player was not cup-tied by turning out for a particular club.
  • ACA Sports League Cup. This tournament was for former Fife Region clubs and all other teams affiliated to the Central Division. Clubs initially competed in four groups, with group winners advancing to a knockout semi-final stage.
  • Dechmont Forklift League Cup. This tournament was for former East (Lothian) Region clubs. Clubs initially competed in four groups, with group winners advancing to a knockout semi-final stage.

    • Current cup holders

  • East of Scotland Cup - Bo'ness United
  • GA Engineering Cup - Lochee United
  • Fife & Lothians Cup - Penicuik Athletic

    • Member clubs for 2016–17 season

    There are 60 clubs in the East Region for the 2016–17 season. The most recent new members are Craigroyston who joined from the East of Scotland Football League in 2016.

    References

    Scottish Junior Football Association, East Region Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA