North junior football clubs will play in the North of Scotland League next season after autonomous set-up voted in at Scottish FA meeting
Junior football clubs will be playing in a brand now autonomous league next season as part of the Scottish pyramid system.
The North Region Junior League will now be known as the North of Scotland Football League, falling in line with similar feeder leagues in the south, east and west of the country.
Members from all levels of Scottish football accepted the application for the new north league at the Scottish FA annual general meeting.
North Region president John Carroll said: “This is exciting for football in the north as we move into the next chapter of semi-professional football in our area.
“A lot of hard work went into making sure that we complied with all the requirements set out by the SFA during the application process and now we can plan moving towards being part of the SFA framework and look forward to contributing to the Pyramid Working Group as an active member and having our Clubs actively achieving all they can within the game.”
Carroll thanked Highland League officials for proposing the application to form, the North of Scotland League, as well as figures in the Scottish FA and Scottish Junior FA.
He added: “Finally, thanks to our member clubs who have been supportive of this move and now we look forward to the new dawn as the North of Scotland Football League.”
The North of Scotland League will again be split into two divisions, with the Premier Division champions being eligible for promotion play-offs to the Highland League if they meet club licensing criteria, a requirement that none of the north sides have at present.
The first cup draws have been made for the inaugural NoSFL season, including the Grill Cup competition which will kick off the 2025-26 campaign in July.
It will run as a straight knockout this season instead of the previous group stages format, and threw up a Moray derby with New Elgin hosting Islavale in the first round.
The Domino’s North Regional Cup was also drawn, with Burghead Thistle landing a plum tie at home to Premier Division champions Culter.
Grill Cup first round draw
Forres Thistle v Whitehills
Dufftown v Maud
Burghead Thistle v Banks o’ Dee
Colony Park v Stoneywood Parkvale
Cruden Bay v Bridge of Don Thistle
Deveronside v Newmachar United
Glentanar v Stonehaven
Aberdeen East End v Dyce
Hall Russell United v Buchanhaven Hearts
Westdyke v Fraserburgh United
Ellon United v Rothie Rovers
Longside v Culter
Lossiemouth United v Nairn St Ninian
Hermes v Sunnybank
New Elgin v Islavale
Banchory St Ternan received a bye.
Domino’s North Regional Cup first round draw
Hall Russell United v Forres Thistle
Glentanar v Rothie Rovers
Whitehills v Nairn St Ninian
Fraserburgh United v Dufftown
Deveronside v Banchory St Ternan
Colony Park v Aberdeen East End
Stoneywood Parkvale v Maud
Longside v Ellon United
Burghead Thistle v Culter
Dyce v Cruden Bay
Stonehaven v Buchanhaven Hearts
Banks o’ Dee v Lossiemouth United
Islavale v Westdyke
Bridge of Don Thistle v Hermes
Islavale received a bye.
