SJFA West Region Championship
Founded2002 (22 years ago) (2002)
Folded2020
Country Scotland
Number of teams16
Level on pyramid2
Promotion toWest Region Premiership
Relegation toWest League One
Domestic cup(s)Scottish Junior Cup
Last championsBlantyre Victoria and Darvel (1st titles; shared)
(2019–20)
Most championshipsRutherglen Glencairn (2 titles)

The SJFA West Region Championship (known as the McBookie.com West Region Championship for sponsorship reasons) was a Scottish semi-professional football competition run by the West Region of the Scottish Junior Football Association and was the second tier of league competition for its member clubs.

Formerly known as the West of Scotland Super League First Division, the league began in 2002 when top sides from the former Ayrshire and Central Regions agreed to form two combined Super League divisions above the regional competitions. Originally comprising twelve clubs, it was expanded to fourteen after two years as promotion/relegation places were increased.

West Region clubs voted in 2017 to organise all leagues on a regionwide basis and as a result, the second tier Super League First Division was rebranded as the Championship from 2018 onwards and latterly consisted of sixteen clubs.[1] Clubs were promoted to a rebranded Premiership and relegated to a regionwide League One instead of the previous Central and Ayrshire district divisions.

The competition was abolished in 2020 when all SJFA West Region clubs moved to join the newly formed senior West of Scotland Football League.

Final member clubs for the 2019–20 season

Club Location Home Ground Finishing position 2018–19
Arthurlie Barrhead Dunterlie Park 5th
Blantyre Victoria Blantyre KG Stadium 3rd in League One
Cambuslang Rangers Cambuslang Somervell Park 16th in Premiership
Craigmark Burntonians Dalmellington Station Park 13th
Cumbernauld United Cumbernauld Guy's Meadow 4th
Dalry Thistle Dalry Merksworth Park 11th
Darvel Juniors Darvel Recreation Park 7th
Gartcairn Juniors Airdrie MTC Park 1st in League One
Irvine Victoria Irvine Victoria Park 12th
Kilsyth Rangers Kilsyth Duncansfield Park 6th
Neilston Juniors Neilston Brig O' Lea Stadium 8th
Petershill Springburn, Glasgow Petershill Park 15th in Premiership
Renfrew Renfrew New Western Park 14th in Premiership
Shotts Bon Accord Shotts Hannah Park 2nd in League One
St Roch's Royston, Glasgow James McGrory Park 10th
Whitletts Victoria Ayr Dam Park 9th

Season summaries

Season Champions Also promoted Relegated
2002–03 Arthurlie Troon Cambuslang Rangers, Largs Thistle
2003–04 Bellshill Athletic Renfrew Benburb, Shettleston
2004–05 Kilsyth Rangers Shotts Bon Accord Irvine Meadow, Kilbirnie Ladeside, Cumbernauld United, Saltcoats Victoria
2005–06 Neilston Juniors Petershill Kirkintilloch Rob Roy, Maybole, Dunipace, Cambuslang Rangers
2006–07 Irvine Meadow Beith Juniors Hurlford United, Larkhall Thistle, Lugar Boswell Thistle, Girvan
2007–08 Kirkintilloch Rob Roy Vale of Clyde Maryhill, Troon, Lesmahagow, Johnstone Burgh
2008–09 Largs Thistle Kilbirnie Ladeside, Lanark United Port Glasgow, Shotts Bon Accord, Kilwinning Rangers, Hurlford United
2009–10 Rutherglen Glencairn Cumnock Juniors Dalry Thistle, Maybole, Kilsyth Rangers, Neilston Juniors
2010–11 Ashfield Clydebank Kilwinning Rangers, Bellshill Athletic, Vale of Clyde, Annbank United
2011–12[2] Glenafton Athletic Shotts Bon Accord East Kilbride Thistle, Lanark United, Girvan, Dalry Thistle
2012–13[3] Hurlford United Kilbirnie Ladeside, Largs Thistle Whitletts Victoria, Ardrossan Winton Rovers, Kello Rovers, Glasgow Perthshire
2013–14[4] Troon Beith Juniors, Shotts Bon Accord Lesmahagow, Kilwinning Rangers, Renfrew, Ashfield
2014–15[5] Pollok Shettleston, Kirkintilloch Rob Roy Irvine Victoria, Neilston Juniors, Ardeer Thistle, Thorniewood United
2015–16[6] Cumnock Juniors Largs Thistle, Kilwinning Rangers Greenock Juniors, Ardrossan Winton Rovers, Bellshill Athletic, Maybole
2016–17[7] Girvan Clydebank Yoker Athletic, Shotts Bon Accord, Blantyre Victoria, Irvine Victoria
2017–18[8] Petershill Cambuslang Rangers, Largs Thistle,
Renfrew, Irvine Meadow, Troon		 Maryhill, Shettleston
2018–19[9] Rutherglen Glencairn (2) Benburb, Rossvale Girvan, Kello Rovers, Larkhall Thistle
2019–20[10][a] Blantyre Victoria /
Darvel (shared)		 No promotion or relegation: all SJFA West teams moved to the Senior West of Scotland Football League.[12][13]
  1. ^ Season suspended in March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Champions calculated using 'points per game' algorithm, announced on 21 April.[11]

References

  1. ^ Goldthorp, Craig (13 July 2017). "Junior football overhaul sees merger of Scotland's West and Ayrshire clubs". carlukegazette.co.uk. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  2. ^ {Divisions no longer in existence} - SJFA West Region Championship (2011–20) | 2011 - 2012, Non League Matters. Retrieved 17 May 2023
  3. ^ {Divisions no longer in existence} - SJFA West Region Championship (2011–20) | 2012 - 2013, Non League Matters. Retrieved 17 May 2023
  4. ^ {Divisions no longer in existence} - SJFA West Region Championship (2011–20) | 2013 - 2014, Non League Matters. Retrieved 17 May 2023
  5. ^ {Divisions no longer in existence} - SJFA West Region Championship (2011–20) | 2014 - 2015, Non League Matters. Retrieved 17 May 2023
  6. ^ {Divisions no longer in existence} - SJFA West Region Championship (2011–20) | 2015 - 2016, Non League Matters. Retrieved 17 May 2023
  7. ^ {Divisions no longer in existence} - SJFA West Region Championship (2011–20) | 2016 - 2017, Non League Matters. Retrieved 17 May 2023
  8. ^ {Divisions no longer in existence} - SJFA West Region Championship (2011–20) | 2017 - 2018, Non League Matters. Retrieved 17 May 2023
  9. ^ {Divisions no longer in existence} - SJFA West Region Championship (2011–20) | 2018 - 2019, Non League Matters. Retrieved 17 May 2023
  10. ^ {Divisions no longer in existence} - SJFA West Region Championship (2011–20) | 2019 - 2020, Non League Matters. Retrieved 17 May 2023
  11. ^ Junior football chiefs explain reasoning behind controversial league winners decision, Daily Record, 21 April 2020
  12. ^ Pyramid Update – 67 Applications Approved, Scottish Lowland Football League, 14 April 2020
  13. ^ Junior clubs in the west are about to get the best of both worlds, The Scotsman, 19 April 2020

External links

Scottish Junior Football Association, West Region
Defunct football competitions in Scotland
Categories