Western
Football League
First
version 1915-1923
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See also Western League
overview |
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. |
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Champions 1915-16 Vale of Leven 1916-17 1917-18 1918-19 Dumbarton Harp 1919-20 Stevenston United 1920-21 Johnstone 1921-22 Arthurlie 1922-23 Queen of the South |
Membership
Abercorn Arthurlie Beith Dumbarton Harp Dykehead Galston Helensburgh Hurlford Johnstone Nithsdale Wanderers Peebles Rovers Queen of the South Queen's Park Strollers Queen's Park Victoria XI 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 Scottish League Scottish Scottish Southern Counties League Scottish League Scottish |
Left for
disbanded Scottish League Scottish League Scottish League Scottish League Scottish Scottish League Scottish League Scottish Scottish League Disbanded Scottish League Eastern League Scottish League Scottish League Scottish League Scottish disbanded Scottish League Scottish League disbanded Scottish League turned junior |
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1915-16 |
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Vale
of Leven
Abercorn Arthurlie Dumbarton Harp Dykehead Johnstone Royal Albert Stevenston
United Wishaw Thistle |
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1916-17 |
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Clydebank
Abercorn Arthurlie Dumbarton
Harp Johnstone Queen’s
Park Strollers Stevenston United Vale
of Leven Dykehead
resigned Royal
Albert resigned Wishaw Thistle resigned |
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1917-18 |
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Albion
Rovers
Abercorn Arthurlie Dumbarton
Harp Johnstone Stevenston United Vale
of Leven League
Cup
Dumbarton Harp |
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1918-19 |
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Dumbarton
Harp
Abercorn Arthurlie Johnstone Stevenston United Vale
of Leven League
Cup
Dumbarton Harp |
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1919-20 |
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Stevenston
United
Beith Dumbarton
Harp Dykehead Galston Hurlford Johnstone Queen’s
Park Strollers Royal Albert Vale
of Leven Wishaw
Thistle League
Cup
Vale of Leven |
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1920-21 |
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Johnstone
Beith Dumbarton
Harp Dykehead Galston Hamilton
Academical ‘A’ Hurlford Royal
Albert Stevenston
United Vale of Leven |
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1921-22 |
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Arthurlie
Beith Dumbarton
Harp Dykehead Galston Hurlford Queen
of the South Queen’s
Park Victoria XI Royal
Albert League
Cup
Royal Albert |
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1922-23 |
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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 |
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