Central Football
League
Second
version 1909-1921
|
See also Central League overview |
The Central League re-formed in 1909 when six Northern
League clubs resigned from that body and set up a less geographically
widespread league. In 1915, the
Central League closed down. The Scottish Football League then suspended the Second
Division and seven of their clubs combined with five of the Central League
sides to form the Eastern League. When it
became likely that the Second Division wouldn’t be re-formed after the War,
twelve sides resuscitated the Central League, also admitting the reserve
sides of two Scottish League clubs. Because the Central League were not members of the Inter-League
Board, they did not have to pay transfer fees, and were thus able to entice prominent
Scottish, and English, League players to their stronger clubs. One of the
first was Andy Wilson who although contracted decided to sign for
Dunfermline. The Fife side also signed Bob Mercer of Hearts and James Gordon
of Rangers. The wages paid to these three men were said to be in excess of
what some Scottish League clubs were playing their entire playing staff.
Seeing the Central League as a serious threat to its existence, the Scottish
League decided on a compromise. For the return of their poached players, the
Scottish League promised the restoration of the Second Division with
automatic promotion and relegation. This was accepted by the Central League
and was rubberstamped at a Scottish League meeting on 11 May 1921. At the end
of the 1920-21 season therefore the Central League disbanded and its clubs
became members of the Scottish League. |
|
Champions 1909-10 Bo'ness 1910-11 1911-12 1912-13 Alloa Athletic 1913-14 Armadale 1914-15 Armadale 1919-20
Bo’ness 1920-21
Bo’ness |
Membership
Alloa Athletic Arbroath Armadale Bathgate Bo'ness Broxburn Broxburn Athletic Broxburn United Clackmannan Cowdenbeath Dundee Hibernian East Stirlingshire Forfar Athletic Heart of King's Park Kirkcaldy United Lochgelly United Montrose St Bernards St Johnstone Stenhousemuir |
Seasons
1909-1915 1919-1921 1909-1915 1911-1915 1919-1921 1909-1915 1919-1921 1909-1915 1919-1921 1911-12 1909-10 1912-1915 1919-1921 1914-15 1919-1921 1920-21 1912-1915 1920-21 1909-1912 1919-1921 1909-1915 1919-1921 1919-1921 1912-13 1919-1921 1913-1915 1910-11 1919-1921 1909-1915 1919-1921 1909-1915 1909-1912, 1913-14 1914-15 1919-1921 1909-1911 1920-21 1909-1915 1919-1921 |
Came from
Scottish Northern League Scottish Scottish Midland League Scottish Midland League new
club Eastern League Northern League Eastern League Northern League Northern League Scottish Northern League Northern League Northern League Northern League Northern League Northern League Midland League |
Left for
Scottish League Eastern League Eastern League Scottish League Scottish
LeagueScottish Leaguemerged with Broxburn Athletic Eastern League Scottish League Scottish League Scottish League Scottish League Scottish League Scottish League Eastern League Scottish League Scottish League Scottish Alliance Scottish Alliance Scottish League Eastern League Northern League Scottish League Scottish League Scottish League Scottish League Scottish League |
|
|
1909-10 |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
Pts |
|
1 |
Alloa
Athletic |
22 |
12 |
6 |
4 |
37 |
22 |
30 |
|
2 |
Bo’ness
|
21 |
12 |
4 |
5 |
40 |
20 |
28 |
|
3 |
Dunfermline
Athletic |
21 |
8 |
9 |
4 |
29 |
18 |
25 |
|
4 |
Bathgate |
17 |
8 |
4 |
5 |
37 |
21 |
20 |
|
5 |
Arbroath |
21 |
8 |
4 |
9 |
39 |
27 |
20 |
|
6 |
St
Johnstone |
18 |
5 |
8 |
5 |
26 |
20 |
18 |
|
7 |
Kirkcaldy
United |
19 |
6 |
5 |
8 |
21 |
25 |
17 |
|
8 |
Stenhousemuir |
18 |
6 |
5 |
7 |
22 |
30 |
17 |
|
9 |
East
Fife |
21 |
5 |
6 |
10 |
28 |
38 |
16 |
|
10 |
Lochgelly
United |
15 |
6 |
2 |
7 |
23 |
28 |
14 |
|
11 |
Broxburn
Athletic |
15 |
4 |
3 |
8 |
19 |
29 |
11 |
|
12 |
King’s
Park |
14 |
1 |
4 |
9 |
15 |
46 |
6 |
Incomplete
table
Bo’ness won
their last game to draw level with Alloa on 30 points. A play-off match was
arranged for the start of the following season which Bo’ness won
East Fife did
not play away to Lochgelly United during season 1909-10, as Lochgelly were
transferring from Reids Park to Recreation Park near the end of the
season, when the two sides were due to play.
|
|
1910-11 |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
Pts |
|
1 |
Dunfermline
Athletic
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
Heart
of Midlothian ‘A’ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Alloa
Athletic |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bathgate |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bo’ness |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
East
Fife |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7 |
Arbroath |
22 |
9 |
4 |
9 |
42 |
49 |
22 |
|
|
King’s
Park |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kirkcaldy
United |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lochgelly
United |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
St
Johnstone |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stenhousemuir |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1911-12 |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
Pts |
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Alloa
Athletic |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bathgate |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bo’ness |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Broxburn |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Arbroath |
19 |
6 |
4 |
9 |
37 |
37 |
16 |
|
|
East
Fife |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
King’s
Park |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kirkcaldy
United |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lochgelly
United |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stenhousemuir |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1912-13 |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
Pts |
|
1 |
Alloa Athletic
|
22 |
13 |
4 |
5 |
44 |
35 |
30 |
|
2 |
Kirkcaldy
United |
22 |
12 |
4 |
6 |
46 |
27 |
28 |
|
3 |
Dundee
‘A’ |
21 |
11 |
4 |
6 |
47 |
29 |
26 |
|
4 |
Bathgate |
22 |
10 |
3 |
9 |
38 |
34 |
23 |