The Scottish Football League (SFL) was a league featuring professional and semi-professional football clubs, mostly from Scotland. From its foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League (SPL) was formed in 1998, the SFL represented the top level of football in Scotland. After 1998, the SFL represented levels 2 to 4 of the Scottish football league system. In June 2013, the SFL merged with the SPL to form the Scottish Professional Football League. The SFL was played out in a wide variety of stadiums, ranging from the stadiums of Glasgow giants Celtic and Rangers to the intimate surroundings of Cliftonhill and Dumbarton Football Stadium, with capacities of just over 2000.
Founding Members, 1890–1891
editStadiums marked in bold are the stadiums used during the inaugural season of the Scottish Football League.
Stadium | Location | Team | Opened | Closed | Demo'd | Years hosting League Football | Current Status |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Boghead Park | Dumbarton | Dumbarton | 1879 | 2000 | Unknown | 1890–2000 | Near junction of Round Riding Road and Miller Street; now a residential development |
Dumbarton Football Stadium | Dumbarton | Dumbarton | 2000 | ---- | ---- | 2000–present | |
Ibrox Park I | Govan | Rangers | 1887 | 1899 | Unknown | 1890–1899 | Was replaced by Ibrox II, built just to the west. Now an office building, parking, and a row of residential tenements along Copland Road. |
Ibrox Park II | Glasgow | Rangers | 1899 | ---- | ---- | 1899–present | |
Celtic Park I | Glasgow | Celtic | 1888 | 1892 | Unknown | 1890–1892 | Was replaced by Celtic Park II, built just to the west. Now waste ground, just north of Janefield Street and cut through by Springfield Gardens. |
Celtic Park II | Glasgow | Celtic | 1892 | ---- | ---- | 1892–present | |
Whitefield Park | Cambuslang | Cambuslang | 1888 | 1897 | Unknown | 1890–1892 | Now occupied by residential properties and Whitefield Bowling Club |
Cathkin Park | Crosshill | Third Lanark | 1872 | 1903 | Unknown | 1890–1903 | Now occupied by residential tenements, located at the north east corner of Dixon Road and Cathcart Road, cut through by Boyd Street |
New Cathkin Park | Glasgow | Third Lanark | 1903 | 1967 | Unknown | 1904–1967 | Still in use as a municipal playing field, some overgrown terracing remains visible. |
Tynecastle Park | Edinburgh | Heart of Midlothian | 1886 | ---- | ---- | 1890–present | |
Underwood Park | Paisley | Abercorn | 1889 | 1899 | Unknown | 1890–1899 | Site just north of Underwood Road, and to the south west of the Greenock Branch rail line; since replaced by commercial and industrial properties. |
Old Ralston Park | Paisley | Abercorn | 1899 | 1909 | Unknown | 1899–1909 | Near junction of Glasgow Road and East Lane; site now occupied by office buildings. |
New Ralston Park | Paisley | Abercorn | 1909 | 1920 | Unknown | 1909–1915 | Near junction of Glasgow Road and East Lane; site now occupied by office buildings. |
Westmarch | Paisley | St Mirren | 1883 | 1894 | Unknown | 1890–1894 | Exact location uncertain, but area is occupied by industrial units and possibly by St Mirren Park |
Love Street | Paisley | St Mirren | 1894 | 2009 | 2010 | 1894–2009 | Site is derelict; awaiting residential development. |
St Mirren Park | Paisley | St Mirren | 2009 | ---- | ---- | 2009–present | Still in use. |
Millburn Park | Alexandria | Vale of Leven | 1890 | ---- | ---- | 1890–1892, 1905–1915, 1921–1926 | Still in use by the West of Scotland Football League side Vale of Leven. |
Springvale Park | Glasgow | Cowlairs | 1890 | 1895 | Unknown | 1890–1891, 1893–1895 | At Cowlairs junction, between the Edinburgh & Glasgow railway and the Sighthill Branch. Both rail lines are still there, but the adjacent Cowlairs station is long gone. The site is now occupied by Network Rail offices and associated parking. |
Tontine Park | Renton | Renton | 1872 | 1897 | Unknown | 1890, 1891–1897 | Under modern Tontine Park housing development. |
New members, 1891–1900
editStadium | Location | Club | Opened | Closed | Demo'd | Years hosting League football | Current status |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bank Park | Leith | Leith Athletic | 1891 | 1899 | Unknown | 1891–1899 | Just to the north east of Easter Road Stadium, now occupied by residential properties and municipal playing fields. |
Hawkhill | Leith | Leith Athletic | 1899 | 1900 | Unknown | 1899–1900 | At junction of Restalrig Road and the former Leith railway line; site now occupied by residential units, centred on Restalrig Park |
Chancelot Park | Leith | Leith Athletic | 1900 | 1904 | Unknown | 1900–1904 | Now Lethem Park, a private park situated just off Bonar Place. |
Old Logie Green | Leith | Leith Athletic | 1904 | 1926 | Unknown | 1904–1915, 1924–1926 | Next to the Water of Leith, at the junction of Logie Green Road and Warriston Road; now occupied by commercial properties and parking, including a major home improvement chain. |
New Powderhall | Edinburgh | Leith Athletic | 1927 | 1928 | Unknown | 1927–1928 | Adjacent to Old Logie Green, at the end of Beaverhall Road, now occupied by residential properties. |
Marine Gardens | Portobello | Leith Athletic | 1928 | 1936 | Unknown | 1928–1936 | On corner of King's Road and Seafield Road; site now occupied by a bus terminal. |
Old Meadowbank | Edinburgh | Leith Athletic | 1936 | 1953 | Unknown | 1936–1939, 1947–1953 | Adjacent to New Meadowbank, roughly on the site of the field hockey pitch. |
New Meadowbank | Edinburgh | Leith Athletic | 1946 | 1947 | Unknown | 1946–1947 | Site is occupied by the current Meadowbank Stadium. |
Barrowfield Park | Glasgow | Clyde | 1891 | 1898 | Unknown | 1891–1898 | On corner of Carstairs Street and what is now Colvend Street; occupied by waste ground and light industrial units. |
Shawfield Stadium | Rutherglen | Clyde | 1898 | 1986 | – | 1898–1986 | Now used for greyhound racing. |
Broadwood Stadium | Cumbernauld | Clyde | 1994 | – | – | 1994–present | Still in use. |
West Craigie Park | Dundee | Dundee | 1893 | 1893 | Unknown | 1893 | Unknown |
Carolina Port | Dundee | Dundee | 1893 | 1899 | Unknown | 1893–1899 | Unknown |
Dens Park | Dundee | Dundee | 1899 | – | – | 1899–present | Still in use. |
Easter Road | Edinburgh | Hibernian | 1893 | – | – | 1893–present | Still in use. |
Dalziel Park | Motherwell | Motherwell | 1893 | 1895 | Unknown | 1893–1895 | At Airbles Street and Glencairn Street; now occupied by housing. |
Fir Park | Motherwell | Motherwell | 1895 | – | – | 1895–present | Still in use. |
Inchview | Partick | Partick Thistle | 1885 | 1897 | Unknown | 1893–1897 | In Whiteinch; approximately the location of the Clyde Tunnel northern entrance. |
Meadowside | Partick | Partick Thistle | 1897 | 1908 | 1910 | 1897–1908 | On south side of Castlebank Street; site subsequently occupied by granaries, now residential properties. |
Firhill | Glasgow | Partick Thistle | 1909 | – | – | 1909–present | Still in use. |
Clune Park | Port Glasgow | Port Glasgow Athletic | 1893 | 1911 | Unknown | 1893–1911 | Unknown |
Cappielow | Greenock | Morton | 1879 | – | – | 1893–present | Still in use. |
Hyde Park | Glasgow | Northern | 1893 | 1894 | Unknown | 1893–1894 | On south side of Flemington Street, to the east of Springburn Road; the site is now occupied by North Glasgow College, some residential properties, and Ayr Street. |
Braehead Park | Glasgow | Thistle | 1893 | 1894 | Unknown | 1893–1894 | On south bank of the Clyde, adjacent to Hutchesontown Bowling Club; site is now occupied by residential units, centred around Dolphington Avenue. |
New Logie Green | Edinburgh | St Bernard's | 1893 | 1900 | Unknown | 1893–1900 | |
New Powderhall | Edinburgh | St Bernard's | 1900 | 1901 | Unknown | 1900–1901 | |
Royal Gymnasium Ground | Edinburgh | St Bernard's | 1880 | 1943 | Unknown | 1900–1915, 1924–1939 | Just north of Royal Crescent; site now occupied by parking. |
Broomfield Park | Airdrie | Airdrieonians | 1892 | 1994 | 1994 | 1894–1994 | Directly to east of Gartlea Roundabout; site now occupied by a supermarket and parking. |
East Dock Street | Dundee | Dundee Wanderers | Unknown | 1894 | |||
Clepington Park | Dundee | Dundee Wanderers | 1894 | 1895 | Unknown | 1894–1895 | Was taken over and rebuilt by Dundee Hibernian; renamed Tannadice. Still in use. |
Rugby Park | Kilmarnock | Kilmarnock | 1877 | – | – | 1877–present | Still in use |
Govandale Park | Govan | Linthouse | 1894 | 1900 | Unknown | 1895–1900 | Between Govan Road and the River Clyde beside Govan Old Parish Church; now apartments (Wanlock Street). |
Somerset Park | Ayr | Ayr | 1888 | – | – | 1897–present | Still in use. |
Douglas Park | Hamilton | Hamilton Academical | 1888 | 1994 | 1994 | 1897–1994 | Adjacent to New Douglas Park; site now occupied by a supermarket. |
New Douglas Park | Hamilton | Hamilton Academical | 2001 | – | – | 2001–present | Still in use. |
Merchiston Park | Bainsford | East Stirlingshire | Unknown | 1921 | Unknown | 1900–1921 | Just to the north of the Forth and Clyde Canal and to the west of Main Street; the park was moved at some point in the early 1900s to make way for a railway line. Sites are now occupied by residential and commercial properties. |
Firs Park | Falkirk | East Stirlingshire | 1921 | 2008 | 2012 | 1921–2008 | Just at the end of Firs Street; site now derelict and awaiting residential development. |
Hampden Park I | Glasgow | Queen's Park | 1884 | 1903 | Unknown | 1900–1903 | Became Cathkin Park, home of Third Lanark. Now a municipal park. |
Hampden Park II | Glasgow | Queen's Park | 1903 | – | – | 1903–2021 | Still in use as national stadium; the SFA purchased the ground from Queen's Park, with the club playing their last home fixture there in March 2021. |
New members, 1901–1910
editStadium | Location | Team | Opened | Closed | Demo'd | Years hosting League Football | Current Status |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dunterlie Park I | Barrhead | Arthurlie | 1882 | 1906 | Unknown | 1901–1906 | Located just off Glasgow Road in Barrhead; site now occupied by residential units, particularly houses on Rufflees Avenue. |
Dunterlie Park II | Barrhead | Arthurlie | 1906 | 1919 | Unknown | 1906–1919 | |
Dunterlie Park III | Barrhead | Arthurlie | 1919 | ---- | ---- | 1923–1929 | Still in use. |
Brockville Park | Falkirk | Falkirk | 1885 | 2003 | 2003 | 1902–2003 | Located on Hope Street in Falkirk; site now occupied by a supermarket. |
Falkirk Stadium | Falkirk | Falkirk | 2004 | ---- | ---- | 2003–present | Still in use. |
Stark's Park | Kirkcaldy | Raith Rovers | 1891 | ---- | ---- | 1902–present | Still in use. |
Beresford Park | Ayr | Ayr Parkhouse | 1888 | 1910 | Unknown | 1903–1904, 1906–1910 | Located to the east of Beresford Terrace, just south of the Burns Statue; site now occupied by commercial properties, and bisected by Parkhouse Street. |
Meadow Park | Whifflet | Albion Rovers | 1885 | 1919 | Unknown | 1903–1915 | Located just east of the railway line and south of Calder Street; site now occupied by waste ground and an electrical substation. |
Cliftonhill | Coatbridge | Albion Rovers | 1919 | ---- | ---- | 1919–present | Still in use. |
Pittodrie | Aberdeen | Aberdeen | 1903 | ---- | ---- | 1904–present | Still in use. |
North End Park | Cowdenbeath | Cowdenbeath | Unknown | 1917 | Unknown | 1905–1915 | Located just south of Perth Road and east of High Street; site is still in use as a municipal playing field. |
Central Park | Cowdenbeath | Cowdenbeath | 1917 | ---- | ---- | 1921–present | Still in use. |
Tannadice Park | Dundee | Dundee Hibernian | 1917 | ---- | ---- | 1921–present | Still in use. |
Somerset Park | Ayr | Ayr United | 1910 | ---- | ---- | 1910–present | Still in use. |
New members, 1911–1920
editStadium | Location | Club | Opened | Closed | Demo'd | Years hosting League football | Current status |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Recreation Grounds | Perth | St Johnstone | 1885 | 1924 | Unknown | 1911–24 | Located between Edinburgh Road and the railway line, just west of the prison; site now occupied by residential and commercial units. |
Muirton Park | Perth | St Johnstone | 1924 | 1989 | 1989 | 1924–89 | Located at the junction of Dunkeld Road and Florence Place; site now occupied by a supermarket. |
McDiarmid Park | Perth | St Johnstone | 1989 | ---- | ---- | 1989–present | Still in use. |
East End Park I | Dunfermline | Dunfermline Athletic | 1885 | 1920 | Unknown | 1912–20 | Located just to the west of the current stadium; now occupied by parking. |
East End Park II | Dunfermline | Dunfermline Athletic | 1920 | ---- | ---- | 1920–present | Still in use. |
Newfield Park | Johnstone | Johnstone | 1894 | 1927 | Unknown | 1912–15, 1921–26 | Located on the north side of the town, at the junction of Barrochan Road and the A737; site now occupied by a slip road for the A737. |
Clydeholm | Clydebank | Clydebank (1914) | 1914 | 1931 | Unknown | 1914–15, 1917–31 | Located on the corner of Mill Road and Glasgow Road; site now occupied by apartment blocks. |
Recreation Park | Cowdenbeath | Lochgelly United | 1910 | 1928 | 1934 | 1914–15, 1921–26 | Housing |
New members, 1921–1930
editStadium | Location | Team | Opened | Closed | Demo'd | Years hosting League Football | Current Status |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Recreation Park | Alloa | Alloa Athletic | 1895 | ---- | ---- | 1921–present | Still in use. |
Volunteer Park | Armadale | Armadale | 1910 | 1932 | Unknown | 1921–1932 | Still in use, by Armadale Thistle junior team. |
Mill Park | Bathgate | Bathgate | 1904 | 1935 | Unknown | 1921–1929 | Located at the junction of Cochrane Street and Mill Road; now occupied by residential properties and Marmion Road. |
Newtown Park | Bo'ness | Bo'ness | 1986 | 1945 | Unknown | 1921–1932 | Still in use (by Bo'ness United). |
Sports Park | Broxburn | Broxburn United | 1912 | 1932 | Unknown | 1921–1926 | Located on Church Street; now occupied by a sports centre and parking. |
Bayview Park | Methil | East Fife | 1903 | 1998 | Unknown | 1921–1998 | Located at junction of Kirland Road and Wellesley Road; now occupied by housing. |
Bayview Stadium | Methil | East Fife | 1998 | ---- | ---- | 1998–present | Still in use. |
Ochilview Park | Stenhousemuir | Stenhousemuir | 1890 | ---- | ---- | 1921–present | Still in use. |
Station Park | Forfar | Forfar Athletic | 1880 | ---- | ---- | 1921–present | Still in use. |
Gayfield Park I | Arbroath | Arbroath | 1880 | 1925 | Unknown | 1921–1925 | Unknown, partly covered by Gayfield Park II. |
Gayfield Park II | Arbroath | Arbroath | 1925 | ---- | ---- | 1925–present | Still in use. |
Forthbank Park | Stirling | King's Park | 1875 | 1940 | Unknown | 1921–1940 | Located just to the east of the railway line and to the north of Springbank Road; now occupied by waste ground and light industrial units. |
Duckburn Park | Dunblane | King's Park | 1921 | Used by King's Park for a single match after Forthbank Park was closed due to crowd trouble. | |||
Chapelhill Park | Clackmannan | Clackmannan | 1886 | 1931 | Unknown | 1921–22, 1923–1926 | Located at corner of Chapelhill and Wellmyre; occupied by residential properties. |
Ardencaple Park | Helensburgh | Helensburgh | 1896 | 1928 | ---- | 1923–1926 | Located just to the north of Helensburgh cricket ground, just off Rhu Road Higher; site is still in use as a rugby field. |
Parkside | Shotts | Dykehead | Unknown | ---- | ---- | 1923–1926 | Still in use (for youth football). |
Raploch Park | Larkhall | Royal Albert | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | 1923–1926 | Located to the north of Raploch Street, opposite Larkhall Thistle's Gasworks Park ground; site now occupied by residential properties. |
Kintail Park | Lockerbie | Mid-Annandale | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | 1923–1926 | Located just north of Livingstone Place and south of the former railway line; site now occupied by housing and Kintail Park street. |
Links Park | Montrose | Montrose | 1887 | ---- | ---- | 1923–1926, 1929–present | Still in use. |
Glebe Park | Brechin | Brechin City | 1919 | ---- | ---- | 1923–1926, 1929–present | Still in use. |
Kimmeter Park Green | Annan | Solway Star | 1911 | 1947 | Unknown | 1923–1926 | Located just to the east of the junction of the B6357 and the B721; now occupied by farmland. |
Bellsdale Park | Beith | Beith | 1919 | 1938 | Unknown | 1923–1926 | Still in use (by Beith Juniors). |
Whitestone Park | Peebles | Peebles Rovers | Unknown | ---- | ---- | 1923–1926 | Still in use. |
Portland Park | Galston | Galston | 1894 | 1940 | Unknown | 1923–1926 | Located at the junction of Titchfield Street and the A71; now occupied by the A71 and farmland. |
Meadow Park | Dumbarton | Dumbarton Harp | 1894 | 1925 | Unknown | 1923–1924 | Located on the corner of what is now Poplar Road and Overburn Avenue; now occupied by industrial properties. |
Palmerston Park | Dumfries | Queen of the South | 1919 | ---- | ---- | 1923–present | Still in use. |
Crawick Holm | Sanquhar | Nithsdale Wanderers | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | 1923–1927 | Unknown, probably located near where the A76 crosses Crawick Water. |
New members, 1931–2010
editStadium | Location | Team | Opened | Closed | Demo'd | Years hosting League Football | Current Status |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Powderhall Stadium | Edinburgh | Edinburgh City | 1931 | Unknown | Unknown | 1931-Unknown | Situated adjacent to Old Logie Green, at the end of Beaverhall Road, now occupied by residential properties. |
City Park | Edinburgh | Edinburgh City | Unknown | ---- | ---- | Unknown-1949 | Unknown. |
Annfield Stadium | Stirling | Stirling Albion | 1945 | 1993 | Unknown | 1946–1993 | Located near junction of Livilands Lane and St Ninians Road; site now occupied by housing and by streets named Annfield Gardens and Annfield Grove. |
Forthbank Stadium | Stirling | Stirling Albion | 1993 | ---- | ---- | 1993–present | Still in use. |
Shielfield Park | Berwick-upon-Tweed | Berwick Rangers | 1954 | ---- | ---- | 1955–present | Still in use. |
Kilbowie Park | Clydebank | Clydebank (1965) | 1939 | 1996 | 1997 | 1964–65, 1966–97 | Located to the north of the rail line and west of Argyll Road; site now occupied by commercial properties and parking. |
Stair Park | Stranraer | Stranraer | 1907 | ---- | ---- | 1955–present | Still in use. |
Meadowbank Stadium | Edinburgh | Meadowbank Thistle | 1974 | ---- | ---- | 1974–1995 | Still in use (as an athletics stadium). |
Telford Street Park | Inverness | Inverness Caledonian Thistle | 1926 (as Caledonian F.C.) | 1996 | 1996 | 1994–1996 | Located near junction of Telford Street and Dunain Road; site now occupied by an electronics store and parking. |
Caledonian Stadium | Inverness | Inverness Caledonian Thistle | 1996 | ---- | ---- | 1996–present | Still in use. |
Victoria Park | Dingwall | Ross County | 1929 | ---- | ---- | 1994–present | Still in use. |
Almondvale Stadium | Livingston | Livingston | 1995 | ---- | ---- | 1995–present | Still in use. |
Borough Briggs | Elgin | Elgin City | 1921 | ---- | ---- | 2000–present | Still in use. |
Balmoor Stadium | Peterhead | Peterhead | 1997 | ---- | ---- | 2000–present | Still in use. |
Raydale Park | Gretna | Gretna | 1946 | ---- | ---- | 2002–2008 | Still in use. |
Galabank | Annan | Annan Athletic | 1953 | ---- | ---- | 2008–present | Still in use. |
See also
editReferences
edit- http://www.scottishfootballleague.com
- http://www.footballgroundguide.com/scotland
- http://www.myfootygrounds.co.uk/ScottishGrounds.asp
- https://web.archive.org/web/20091222081409/http://scottish-football-historical-archive.com/
- http://www.britainfromabove.org.uk Aerial views of many Scottish stadiums
- http://www.oldmapsonline.org Includes outlines of most Scottish stadiums on historical maps
- Crampsey, Robert A., The First 100 Years (The Official Centenary History of the Scottish Football League)