The Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) is an association football league in Scotland. It comprises the top four divisions of the Scottish football league system. The league was established in 2013, following a merger of the Scottish Premier League (SPL; tier one) and the Scottish Football League (SFL; tiers two to four). The Scottish Premier League itself had been formed in 1998 as a breakaway from the Scottish Football League, which had been established in 1890.

Clubs

Current members of the Scottish Professional Football League

Club First SFL
season		 First SPFL
season		 Division 2022–23 position Notes
Aberdeen 1904–05 2013–14 Premiership Premiership, 3rd [1]
Airdrieonians[note 1] 2002–03 2013–14 Championship League One, 3rd [2][3]
Alloa Athletic 1921–22 2013–14 League One League One, 4th [4]
Annan Athletic 2008–09 2013–14 League One League Two, 3rd [5]
Arbroath 1921–22 2013–14 Championship Championship, 8th [6]
Ayr United 1910–11 2013–14 Championship Championship, 2nd [7]
Bonnyrigg Rose[note 2] — 2022–23 League Two League Two, 8th
Celtic 1890–91 2013–14 Premiership Premiership, 1st [8]
Clyde 1891–92 2013–14 League Two League One, 9th [9]
Cove Rangers — 2019–20 League One Championship, 10th [10]
Dumbarton 1890–91 2013–14 League Two League Two, 2nd [11]
Dundee 1893–94 2013–14 Premiership Championship, 1st [12]
Dundee United 1910–11 2013–14 Championship Premiership, 12th [13][14]
Dunfermline Athletic 1912–13 2013–14 Championship League One, 1st [15]
East Fife 1921–22 2013–14 League Two League Two, 4th [16]
Elgin City 2000–01 2013–14 League Two League Two, 9th [17]
Edinburgh City[note 3] — 2016–17 League One League One, 6th [18]
Falkirk 1902–03 2013–14 League One League One, 2nd [19]
Forfar Athletic 1921–22 2013–14 League Two League Two, 5th [20]
Greenock Morton 1893–94 2013–14 Championship Championship, 5th [21]
Hamilton Academical 1897–98 2013–14 League One Championship, 9th [22]
Heart of Midlothian 1890–91 2013–14 Premiership Premiership, 4th [23]
Hibernian 1893–94 2013–14 Premiership Premiership, 5th [24]
Inverness Caledonian Thistle[note 4] 1994–95 2013–14 Championship Championship, 6th [25][26]
Kelty Hearts — 2021–22 League One League One, 8th [27]
Kilmarnock 1895–96 2013–14 Premiership Premiership, 10th [28]
Livingston[note 5] 1974–75 2013–14 Premiership Premiership, 8th [29][30]
Montrose 1923–24 2013–14 League One League One, 7th [31]
Motherwell 1893–94 2013–14 Premiership Premiership, 7th [32]
Partick Thistle 1893–94 2013–14 Championship Championship, 4th [33]
Peterhead 2000–01 2013–14 League Two League One, 10th [34]
Queen of the South 1923–24 2013–14 League One League One, 5th [35]
Queen's Park 1900–01 2013–14 Championship Championship, 3rd [36]
Raith Rovers 1902–03 2013–14 Championship Championship, 7th [37]
Rangers 1890–91 2013–14 Premiership Premiership, 2nd [38]
Ross County 1994–95 2013–14 Premiership Premiership, 11th [39]
St Johnstone 1911–12 2013–14 Premiership Premiership, 9th [40]
St Mirren 1890–91 2013–14 Premiership Premiership, 6th [41]
Stenhousemuir 1921–22 2013–14 League Two League Two, 6th [42]
Stirling Albion 1946–47 2013–14 League One League Two, 1st [43]
Stranraer 1949–50 2013–14 League Two League Two, 7th [44]
The Spartans — 2023–24 League Two Lowland League, 1st

Former member clubs

Club First SFL
season		 First SPFL
season		 Last SPFL
season		 Current status Notes
Albion Rovers 1903–04 2013–14 2022–23 Relegated from the SPFL in 2023; now play in the Lowland League. [45]
Berwick Rangers 1951–52 2013–14 2018–19 Relegated from the SPFL in 2019; now play in the Lowland League. [46]
Brechin City 1923–24 2013–14 2020–21 Relegated from the SPFL in 2021; now play in the Highland League. [47]
Cowdenbeath 1905–06 2013–14 2021–22 Relegated from the SPFL in 2022; now play in the Lowland League. [48]
East Stirlingshire 1900–01 2013–14 2015–16 Relegated from the SPFL in 2016; now play in the Lowland League. [49]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ A previous club known as Airdrieonians played in the Scottish Football League between 1894 and 2002. The name was revived in 2013 when Airdrie United were renamed. The present Airdrieonians club is formally a continuation of Clydebank, who relocated in 2002 to the stadium of the defunct Airdrieonians and were renamed "Airdrie United" at that time.
  2. ^ The club was known as "Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic" until 2022.
  3. ^ The club was known as "F.C. Edinburgh" during the 2022–23 season. A previous club known as Edinburgh City played in the Scottish Football League between 1931 and 1949. That name was revived in 1986 when Postal United were renamed.
  4. ^ Formed from merger of Caledonian and Inverness Thistle in 1994. Changed name from Caledonian Thistle to Inverness Caledonian Thistle in 1996.
  5. ^ Changed name from Meadowbank Thistle to Livingston in 1995.

References

  1. ^ "Aberdeen". The Football Club History Database. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  2. ^ "Airdrie United". The Football Club History Database. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  3. ^ "Airdrieonians". The Football Club History Database. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  4. ^ "Alloa Athletic". The Football Club History Database. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  5. ^ "Annan Athletic". The Football Club History Database. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  6. ^ "Arbroath". The Football Club History Database. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  7. ^ "Ayr United". The Football Club History Database. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  8. ^ "Celtic". The Football Club History Database. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
  9. ^ "Clyde". The Football Club History Database. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
  10. ^ "Cove Rangers". The Football Club History Database. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  11. ^ "Dumbarton". The Football Club History Database. Retrieved 22 August 2013.
  12. ^ "Dundee". The Football Club History Database. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
  13. ^ "DUNDEE UNITED". The Football Club History Database. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  14. ^ "DUNDEE HIBERNIANS". The Football Club History Database. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  15. ^ "Dunfermline Athletic". The Football Club History Database. Retrieved 22 August 2013.
  16. ^ "East Fife". The Football Club History Database. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
  17. ^ "Elgin City". The Football Club History Database. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
  18. ^ "Edinburgh City". The Football Club History Database. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  19. ^ "Falkirk". The Football Club History Database. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
  20. ^ "Forfar Athletic". The Football Club History Database. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
  21. ^ "Morton". The Football Club History Database. Retrieved 22 August 2013.
  22. ^ "Hamilton Academical". The Football Club History Database. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
  23. ^ "Heart of Midlothian". The Football Club History Database. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  24. ^ "Hibernian". The Football Club History Database. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  25. ^ "Caledonian Thistle". The Football Club History Database. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  26. ^ "Inverness Caledonian Thistle". The Football Club History Database. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  27. ^ "Kelty Hearts". The Football Club History Database. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  28. ^ "Kilmarnock". The Football Club History Database. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  29. ^ "Livingston". The Football Club History Database. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  30. ^ "Meadowbank Thistle". The Football Club History Database. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  31. ^ "Montrose". The Football Club History Database. Retrieved 22 August 2013.
  32. ^ "Motherwell". Soccerbase. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  33. ^ "Partick Thistle". The Football Club History Database. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
  34. ^ "Peterhead". The Football Club History Database. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
  35. ^ "Queen of the South". The Football Club History Database. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
  36. ^ "Queen's Park [Glasgow]". The Football Club History Database. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
  37. ^ "Raith Rovers". The Football Club History Database. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
  38. ^ "Rangers". The Football Club History Database. Retrieved 22 August 2013.
  39. ^ "Ross County". The Football Club History Database. Retrieved 22 August 2013.
  40. ^ "St Johnstone". The Football Club History Database. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  41. ^ "St Mirren". The Football Club History Database. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  42. ^ "Stenhousemuir". The Football Club History Database. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
  43. ^ "Stirling Albion". The Football Club History Database. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
  44. ^ "Stranraer". The Football Club History Database. Retrieved 22 August 2013.
  45. ^ "Albion Rovers". The Football Club History Database. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  46. ^ "Berwick Rangers". The Football Club History Database. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
  47. ^ "Brechin City". The Football Club History Database. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
  48. ^ "Cowdenbeath". The Football Club History Database. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
  49. ^ "East Stirlingshire". The Football Club History Database. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
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