Scottish Junior Football North First Division
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (December 2009) |
| Founded | 2003 |
|---|---|
| Country |  Scotland |
| Number of clubs | 21 |
| Promotion to | North Superleague |
| Relegation to | North Second Division |
| Domestic cup(s) | Scottish Junior Cup |
| Current champions | Nairn St. Ninian (West) Aberdeen East End (East) (2017–18) |
| Website | SJFA North Region |
The Scottish Junior Football North First Division known as the McBookie.com First Division is the second-tier of the North Region of the Scottish Junior Football Association. Clubs at the end of the season are promoted to the North Superleague. From 2013, the division has comprised two West and East sections running in parallel. The North Second Division, which clubs had previously been relegated into, was abolished as part of this change.[1] From the 2016–17 season, the runners-up in each section will play-off for the right to meet the third bottom club in the North Superleague for an extra promotion/relegation spot.
Member clubs for the 2017–18 season
First Division (West)
Whitehills return to the league from a season in abeyance. Spey Valley United are a new club formed from the merger of Grantown and Spey Valley who finished 7th and 5th respectively in the 2015–16 First Division (West). Two clubs were also moved to the West Division to balance league numbers. This was done according to rule of which club lay furthest West by longitude. The two clubs switched were Newmachar United and Montrose Roselea. Roselea are new members of the North Region having transferred from the East Region in 2016. In September 2016, Fochabers left their facility in the village and relocated to Bishopmill United's old ground in Elgin.[2]
| Club | Location | Home Ground | Finishing position 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buckie Rovers | Buckie | Merson Park | North Superleague 13th |
| Burghead Thistle | Burghead | Forest Park | |
| Deveronside | Macduff | Myrus Centre | North Superleague 14th |
| Fochabers | Elgin | Pinefield | |
| Forres Thistle | Forres | Logie Park | |
| Islavale | Keith | Simpson Park | |
| Nairn St. Ninian | Nairn | Showfield Park | |
| New Elgin | Elgin | Nicol-Togneri Park | |
| Spey Valley United | Cromdale | Cromdale Park | 1st N/A |
| Whitehills | Whitehills | School Park |
First Division (East)
Stoneywood Parkvale are a new club formed from the merger of F.C. Stoneywood who finished 14th (last) in the 2015–16 North Superleague, and Parkvale, who finished 6th in the First Division (East).[3] Aberdeen University were expelled from the association at the 2016 AGM for non-attendance and non-payment of subscriptions but were re-admitted shortly after.[4]
| Club | Location | Home Ground | Finishing position 2016–17 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen University | Aberdeen | Hillhead Centre | |
| Buchanhaven Hearts | Peterhead | Raemoss Park | |
| Cruden Bay | Cruden Bay | Watson Park | |
| East End | Aberdeen | New Advocates Park | |
| Fraserburgh United | Fraserburgh | College Park | |
| Glentanar | Aberdeen | Woodside Sports Complex | |
| Lewis United | Aberdeen | Aberdeen Sports Village | |
| Longside | Longside | Davidson Park | |
| Newmachar United | Newmachar | Charles Gordon Park | North First Division (West) |
| Stoneywood Parkvale | Aberdeen | Clark Commercial Park | N/A |
| Sunnybank | Aberdeen | Heathryfold Park |
Past champions
| Season | Winners | Runner Up | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013–14 | (West) Inverness City (East) Cruden Bay |
Dufftown Bridge of Don Thistle |
Islavale Colony Park |
| 2014–15 | (West) Grantown (East) Bridge of Don Thistle |
Dufftown Parkvale |
Islavale Colony Park |
| 2015–16 | (West) Buckie Rovers (East) Colony Park |
Forres Thistle Fraserburgh United |
Nairn St. Ninian Buchanhaven Hearts |
| 2016–17 | (West) Spey Valley United (East) Ellon United |
Montrose Roselea F.C. Sunnybank F.C. |
Nairn St. Ninian Aberdeen East End |
| 2017–18 | (West) Nairn St. Ninian (East) Aberdeen East End |
Deveronside Sunnybank F.C. |
Forres Thistle Longside |
References
- ^ 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.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Easton, Richard. "Fochabers relocate to Elgin". North Region SJFA. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
- ^ Allan, Charlie (27 May 2016). "Two Junior sides from the North East join forces". Evening Express. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
- ^ Scottishjuniorfa [@scottishjuniors] (8 July 2016). "The North Region Junior clubs have unanimously agreed to re-admit Aberdeen University to the Region" (Tweet). Retrieved 13 July 2016 – via Twitter.