Scottish Junior Football Association, North Region

The Scottish Junior Football Association, North Region is one of the two regions of the Scottish Junior Football Association. Its area covers Grampian and Moray as well as part of the Highland and Angus council areas – from Montrose in the south to Nairn in the west. The North Region features three region-wide divisions, having reverted from the previous setup of two regional divisions below the North Superleague used for five seasons prior to 2018.[1] It replaced the North Junior Football League (1968 to 2001) which had a similar territory and structure.[2] On 5 July 2021, it was announced that the North Region leagues are joined from tier 6 by the North Caledonian League and Midlands League to form a fully-integrated lower tiers below the Highland League from 2021-22.[3]

Member clubs

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There are 33 member clubs of North Region. Buckie Rovers and Spey Valley United are in abeyance for 2021-22.

North Superleague

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Main article: Scottish Junior Football North Super League
Club Location Ground
East End Aberdeen New Advocates Park
Banchory St Ternan Banchory Milton Park
Banks O' Dee Aberdeen Spain Park
Bridge of Don Thistle Newburgh Gallowshill Park
Colony Park Inverurie Colony Park
Culter Peterculter Crombie Park
Deveronside Macduff Myrus Centre
Dyce Juniors Dyce Ian Mair Park
Ellon United Ellon The Meadows
Hall Russell United Bridge of Don Denmore Park
Hermes Bridge of Don Lochside Park
Maud Maud Maud Pleasure Park
Montrose Roselea Montrose Links Park
Nairn St Ninian Nairn Showfield Park

North First Division

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Main article: Scottish Junior Football North First Division
Club Location Home Ground
Aberdeen University Aberdeen Hillhead Centre
Buchanhaven Hearts Peterhead Raemoss Park
Dufftown Dufftown Westburn Park
Fraserburgh United Fraserburgh College Park
Longside Longside Davidson Park
Stonehaven Stonehaven Glenury Park
Stoneywood Parkvale Aberdeen Clark Commercial Park
Sunnybank Aberdeen Heathryfold Park

North Second Division

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Main article: Scottish Junior Football North Second Division
Club Location Home Ground
Burghead Thistle Burghead Forest Park
Cruden Bay Cruden Bay Watson Park
Forres Thistle Forres Logie Park
Glentanar Aberdeen Woodside Sports Complex
Islavale Keith Simpson Park
New Elgin Juniors Elgin Nicol-Togneri Park
Newmachar United Newmachar Charles Gordon Park
Rothie Rovers Rothienorman
Whitehills Whitehills School Park

Cup competitions

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There are seven cup competitions in the North Region:

  • The Jim McPherson Trophy This is a pre-season charity match, similar to the FA Community Shield, played between the previous seasons North Superleague champions and North Regional Cup winners. First played for in 2015, it is named after the late Assistant Secretary and Treasurer of the North Region.[4]
  • The North Regional Cup. Known as the Domino's Pizza North Regional Cup under a sponsorship arrangement, this is a knockout tournament for all North Region clubs.
  • Grill League Cup. This is the opening tournament of the season. Clubs are drawn in eight groups with the group winners advancing to a knockout competition.
  • McLeman Cup. Known as the PMAC Group McLeman Cup under a sponsorship arrangement, this is a knockout tournament for clubs in the North Superleague.
  • Morrison Cup. Known as the AM Property Maintenance Morrison Cup under a sponsorship arrangement, this is a knockout tournament for clubs in the North First Division (East).
  • Elginshire Cup. This is a tournament for clubs in the North First Division (West). Clubs are drawn in two groups with winners and runners-up advancing to the semi-final stage.
  • North and Tayside Inter-Regional Cup. Known as the Signature Signs Cup for sponsorship purposes, this is a knockout tournament involving North Region clubs and Midlands League clubs. First played for in 1988, the cup is administered by a joint committee and clubs play early rounds in their own region with eight sides from each area progressing to the last sixteen.

Inactive

  • The Archibald Cup This was added for North First Division (West) clubs in 2015–16 to bolster their fixture programme after the withdrawal of clubs from the league. The tournament is played in two groups with winners and runners-up progressing to the semi-finals.[5]

Holders

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  • Jim McPherson Trophy - Banks O' Dee (2017–18 competition)
  • North Regional Cup - Culter (2022–23 competition)
  • Grill League Cup - Culter (2022-23 competition)
  • McLeman Cup - Culter (2022-23 competition)
  • Morrison Cup - Banchory St Ternan (2018-19 competition)
  • Elginshire Cup - Dufftown (2021-22 competition)
  • Inter-Regional Cup - East Craigie (2021-22 competition)

Roll of Honour

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Season North Premier Division North Division One (East) North Division One (West)
2001–02 Formartine United Aberdeen Lads Club Strathspey Thistle
2002–03 Sunnybank Turriff United Forres Thistle
Season North Premier Division North Division One North Division Two
2003–04 Culter Maud Islavale
2004–05 Culter Parkvale New Elgin
2005–06 Culter Dyce Juniors New Elgin
2006–07 Culter East End Fochabers
2007–08 Banks O' Dee Banchory St. Ternan Bishopmill United
2008–09 Banks O' Dee Buchanhaven Hearts Inverness City
2009–10 Sunnybank Fraserburgh United Burghead Thistle
Season North Superleague North Division One North Division Two
2010–11 Culter Inverness City Parkvale
2011–12 Hermes Inverness City Portgordon Victoria
2012–13 Culter New Elgin Colony Park
Season North Superleague North First Division (West) North First Division (East)
2013–14 Culter Inverness City Cruden Bay
2014–15 Hermes Grantown Bridge of Don Thistle
2015–16 Banks O' Dee Buckie Rovers Colony Park
2016–17 Banks O' Dee Spey Valley United Ellon United
2017–18 Banks O' Dee Nairn St. Ninian Aberdeen East End
Season North Super League North First Division North Second Division
2018–19 Banks O' Dee Banchory St. Ternan Buchanhaven Hearts
2019–20 All leagues null & void due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[6][a]
2020–21 All leagues null & void due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2021–22
  1. ^ Using a 'points per game' algorithm applied in other leagues, Banks O' Dee (who were also leading the table when play stopped) would have been nominal champions of the Superleague; Aberdeen University would have been nominal champions in the First Division, and Forres Thistle in the Second Division.

References

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ North Region Junior League, Scottish Football Historical Archive, 4 May 2021. Retrieved 13 June 2021
  3. ^ "SCOTTISH FOOTBALL PYRAMID UPDATE".
  4. ^ Crossan, Derek. "Jim McPherson Trophy". North Region JFA. The Juniors.Info. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  5. ^ "Junior tourney kicks off". Northern Scot. 19 February 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  6. ^ Clark, Will (2 May 2020). "North junior football season is declared null and void as season over for Nairn St Ninian". Inverness Courier. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
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