Western Football League

First version 1915-1923

 

See also

Main index

Club directory

Western League overview

Eastern League

Scottish Alliance

Scottish Union

Southern Counties League

After the outbreak of War in 1914, the Scottish League continued with a full programme of fixtures for both of its divisions. In 1915, it decided to suspend the Second Division, but allow its members to form two regional competitions, the Western League and the Eastern  League. The new Western League consisted of six ex-Scottish League clubs (Abercorn, Albion Rovers, Arthurlie, Clydebank, Johnstone and Vale of Leven) and six non-League clubs (Dykehead, Renton, Royal Albert, Wishaw Thistle - all ex Scottish Football Union - Stevenston United from the Scottish Reserve League and Dumbarton Harp). 1916-17 saw Queen's Park Strollers boost the number of clubs to 13 but this proved to be unlucky as three other clubs found the war-time conditions too much and resigned from the league in mid-season. The removal of Aberdeen, Dundee and Raith Rovers from the Scottish League provided champions Clydebank with the opportunity of rejoining the League, but left the Western League with only eight competing clubs for the last two war-time seasons. To compensate, a League Cup competition was introduced. After the anticipated restoration of the Second Division failed to materialize, the Western League continued in 1919-20 with an increased membership. Although Albion Rovers, who were elected to the Scottish League, Abercorn (in their death throes), and Arthurlie all left, Beith, Clydebank 'A', Dykehead, Galston, Hurlford, Queen's Park Strollers, Royal Albert and Wishaw Thistle joined to make a thirteen club league. Renton, the one time 'World Champions' disbanded at the end of that season while Wishaw Thistle decided to return to the Junior ranks. With Stevenston United, champions in 1920, disbanding in 1921, and with Johnstone and Vale of Leven helping to re-form the Second Division, Leith Athletic, despite coming from Edinburgh, joined, as did a trio of clubs from the South West - Queen of the South, Nithsdale Wanderers and Solway Star. When the Scottish League formed the ill fated Third Division in 1923, the Western League was used as the backbone of the new section. Only Queen's Park's reserve side the Victoria XI (a club couldn't be full and associate members at the same time) and Hurlford, who disbanded weren't elected.

When the Third Division collapsed in disarray in 1926, the surviving clubs were all entered into the expanded Scottish Alliance. When that league expelled them a season later, they formed the Provincial League. After a proposal to rename the new body the Western League was opposed, the original Western League was officially dissolved and the Western League Cup trophy was handed over to be awarded to the Provincial League champions.

 

 

Champions

1915-16 Vale of Leven

1916-17 Clydebank

1917-18 Albion Rovers

1918-19 Dumbarton Harp

1919-20 Stevenston United

1920-21 Johnstone

1921-22 Arthurlie

1922-23 Queen of the South

 

Membership

Abercorn

Albion Rovers

Arthurlie

Beith

Clydebank

Clydebank 'A'

Dumbarton Harp

Dykehead

Galston

Hamilton Academical 'A'

Helensburgh

Hurlford

Johnstone

Leith Athletic

Nithsdale Wanderers

Peebles Rovers

Queen of the South

Queen's Park Strollers

Queen's Park Victoria XI

Renton

Royal Albert

Solway Star

Stevenston United

Vale of Leven

Wishaw Thistle

Seasons

1915-19

1915-19

1915-19, 1921-23

1919-23

1915-17

1919-21

1915-22

1915-17*, 1919-23

1919-23

1920-21

1922-23

1919-23

1915-21

1921-22

1922-23

1922-23

1921-23

1916-17, 1919-20

1921-23

1915-20

1915-17*, 1919-23

1922-23

1915-21

1915-21

1915-17*, 1919-20

Came from

Scottish League

Scottish League

Scottish League

 

Scottish League

 

 

Scottish Union

 

 

 

 

Scottish League

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scottish Union

Scottish Union

Southern Counties League

 

Scottish League

Scottish Union

Left for

disbanded

Scottish League

Scottish League

Scottish League

Scottish League

Scottish Alliance

 

Scottish League

Scottish League

Scottish Alliance

Scottish League

Disbanded 

Scottish League

Eastern League

Scottish League

Scottish League

Scottish League

Scottish Alliance

 

disbanded

Scottish League

Scottish League

disbanded

Scottish League

turned junior

 

 

 

1915-16

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vale of Leven

Abercorn

Albion Rovers

Arthurlie

Clydebank

Dumbarton Harp

Dykehead

Johnstone

Renton

Royal Albert

Stevenston United

Wishaw Thistle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1916-17

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clydebank

Abercorn

Albion Rovers

Arthurlie

Dumbarton Harp

Johnstone

Queen’s Park Strollers

Renton

Stevenston United

Vale of Leven

 

Dykehead resigned

Royal Albert resigned

Wishaw Thistle resigned

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1917-18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Albion Rovers

Abercorn

Arthurlie

Dumbarton Harp

Johnstone

Renton

Stevenston United

Vale of Leven

  

League Cup

Dumbarton Harp

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1918-19

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dumbarton Harp

Abercorn

Albion Rovers

Arthurlie

Johnstone

Renton

Stevenston United

Vale of Leven

 

League Cup

Dumbarton Harp

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1919-20

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stevenston United

Beith

Clydebank ‘A’

Dumbarton Harp

Dykehead

Galston

Hurlford

Johnstone

Queen’s Park Strollers

Renton

Royal Albert

Vale of Leven

Wishaw Thistle

 

League Cup

Vale of Leven

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1920-21

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Johnstone

Beith

Clydebank ‘A’

Dumbarton Harp

Dykehead

Galston

Hamilton Academical ‘A’

Hurlford

Royal Albert

Stevenston United

Vale of Leven

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1921-22

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arthurlie

Beith

Dumbarton Harp

Dykehead

Galston

Hurlford

Leith Athletic

Queen of the South

Queen’s Park Victoria XI

Royal Albert

 

League Cup

Royal Albert

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1922-23

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Queen of the South

Arthurlie

Beith

Dykehead

Galston

Helensburgh

Hurlford

Nithsdale Wanderers

Peebles Rovers

Queen’s Park Victoria XI

Royal Albert

Solway Star

 

League Cup

Arthurlie