SCOTTISH JUNIOR FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION

"The Scottish Junior Football Association aims to foster and develop the game of football among all Junior Clubs in Scotland.

Clubs, once admitted as members of the S.J.F.A., must then become members of a Regional Association. The Country is currently divided into three regions: West, East and North. Each Region presides over their own myriad of league and cup competitions. Each year SJFA runs a prestigious nationwide cup competition, known as the Scottish Cup. Junior football has a long tradition of providing players for the senior professional ranks. There is an international set-up at Junior level with the best of Scottish talent playing matches against their English, Irish and Welsh counterparts".

The Scottish Junior Football Association has offices at the Hampden Park, Glasgow.

LEAGUE AND CUP COMPETITIONS

Clydebank Join Junior Ranks
In July 2002 the absentee Clydebank FC owner John Hall accepted a bid from Airdrie United to effectively purchase our Scottish Football League (SFL) membership and take up Clydebank's position in the SFL. Clydebank supporters were faced with life without their football team. A tremendous effort from our supporters revived the club and after a year out of the game 'The Bankies' were elected into the Scottish Junior Football Association at their AGM on June 21st 2003.

Clydebank entered the Junior set-up in the Central League Division 2 and gained promotion after their first season. Clydebank currently compete in Central District League Division 1 which is shown below below in red.

LEAGUE STRUCTURE
The last time the Bankies were involved in the Junior game was 4 decades ago so it is not surprising that the structure has changed. The the Central and Ayrshire Districts feed into the top two leagues which form the best of the West Region. To view the current league positions for all clubs in the West you can visit the Scottish Junior FA website.

A question that visitors often ask is whether the best teams from the Juniors can advance into the national Scottish Football League. At present there is no promotion/relegation between Junior into Senior football. Evidence suggests that there is little difference in standard between the lower divisions of the SCottish Football League and the higher echelons of Junior football. However, there are those within the game who would like to a pyramid structure to enable Junior sides to advance into the SFL in the same way that non-league sides in England can work their way into the English Football League.

Clydebank players and fans celebrate winning the Central League Division 2 Championship (2003/04)

CUPS

Sectional League Cup
Begins July/August - Ends with Cup Final in October
Format: Teams from Central District are divided into group sections playing each other once or twice depending on size of the groups. Teams qualify from groups into a knockout stage with drawn matches to be decided with a penalty shoot-out after the 90 minutes. Final held in October.

West of Scotland Cup
Begins September - Ends with Cup Final in May
Format: Teams from Ayrshire and Central Districts compete in a knockout tournament. Two or three rounds before christmas and ties resume in the Spring, culminating in the May final. Drawn matches are decided with a penalty shoot-out after the 90 minutes.

Central League Cup
Begins January - Ends with Cup Final in May
Format: Teams from Central District are drawn and face a knockout competition until the final. Because of the awkard numbers, only a handful of ties take place in round 2 and most teams get a bye. Drawn matches are decided with a penalty shoot-out after the 90 minutes.

Scottish Junior Cup
Begins October - Ends with Grand Final in May or June.
Format: 160+ Junior teams from across Scotland compete in the national cup knockout competition. Byes for some teams in the early rounds. Replays with Extra-time and penalties if necessary. Final is decided on the day with Extra-time and penalties if needed. In recent years in the latter stages of the competition replays skip extra time and go straight to penalties of the game is drawn in 90mins.

Evening Times Cup
Contested in May/June by the winners of the other trophies in Ayrshire and Central, including all league winners. 2 rounds played before the Final itself. Drawn matches are decided with a penalty shoot-out after the 90 minutes.

SJFA Super Cup
Contested in late June by the winners of the top leagues in Each Region (West, East, Tayside, North). Semi-finals and Final.