The Midland Football League was an association football league tournament in Scotland that was contested in three different periods. The first incarnation of the tournament was founded in 1891 and ran until 1897 when most of the member clubs left to join the Central Football Combination. In 1903, it was reformed for a single season and again in 1908 for three seasons but was largely unfinished. All the teams that competed in the league were based in the Midlands of Scotland.
Original (1891–1897)
edit| Founded | 16 May 1891 |
|---|---|
| Folded | 1897 |
| Number of clubs | 7 (1896–97) |
| Last champions | Clackmannan (1896–97) |
| Most championships | 6 clubs (1 title each) |
The original Midland Football League was established in 1891 and was contested by teams from the Midlands of Scotland.[1]
At a meeting in April 1891 in Larbert of representatives from eight football clubs there was a discussion about forming a new league. A month later an official meeting was held in Alloa and the Midland Football League was founded. There were ten clubs that competed in the inaugural season: Alloa Athletic, Alva, Bridge of Allan, Camelon, Clackmannan, Cowdenbeath, Dunblane, Dunfermline Athletic, Grangemouth and Raith Rovers. The original Midland Football League ran for seven seasons with membership frequently changing from season to season.
Reform attempts
edit1903–04
editThe Midland Football League was reformed in 1903, six years after the original competition folded in 1897. Ten clubs met in Glasgow and reformed the tournament but it lasted for only one season after six of the clubs left to reform the Eastern League. The competition was won by Bo'ness.[2]
1908–11
editAn attempt was made to reform the league for a second time in 1908 with seven clubs. It ran successfully for one season with Falkirk 'A' winning the league but three clubs left, Bo'ness, Broxburn Athletic and Stenhousemuir, to help form the Central Football League in 1909. For the next two seasons the competition was largely unfinished with a backlog of outstanding fixtures and was eventually cancelled at the end of the 1910–11 season.[3]
Winners
edit| Season | Winner |
|---|---|
| 1891–92 | Raith Rovers |
| 1892–93 | King's Park |
| 1893–94 | East Stirlingshire |
| 1894–95 | Falkirk |
| 1895–96 | Stenhousemuir |
| 1896–97 | Clackmannan |
| Defunct 1897 to 1903 | |
| 1903–04 | Bo'ness |
| Defunct 1904 to 1908 | |
| 1908–09 | Falkirk 'A' |
| 1909–10 | Clackmannan |
| 1910–11 | Hearts of Beath F.C |
References
edit- ^ Midland Football League First version 1891-1897 Archived 24 September 2013 at the Wayback Machine, Scottish Football Historical Archive. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
- ^ Midland Football League Second version 1903-04, Scottish Football Historical Archive. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
- ^ Midland Football League Third version 1908-1911, Scottish Football Historical Archive. Retrieved 13 May 2013.