Scottish Football Alliance

First formed in 1891, the Scottish Alliance was one of a number of leagues set-up a year after the Scottish Football League was formed. The original members were Airdrieonians F.C., Ayr F.C., East Stirlingshire F.C., Morton F.C., Kilmarnock F.C., King's Park F.C., Linthouse F.C., Northern F.C., Partick Thistle F.C., Port Glasgow Athletic F.C., St Bernards F.C. and Thistle F.C.. In 1892, several clubs left and the league was reconstituted with a smaller membership. In 1893 a number of clubs returned, but during the summer, the Alliance was used as the backbone of the new Second Division of the Scottish League. The league, bolstered by the inclusion of a number of clubs from the Scottish Football Federation, continued for four more years.

Champions

1891-92 Linthouse F.C.

1892-93 Cowlairs F.C.

1893-94 Royal Albert F.C.

1894-95 Wishaw Thistle F.C.

1895-96 Wishaw Thistle F.C.

1896-97 Third Lanark F.C. 'A'

Membership

Airdrieonians F.C. 1891-94

Albion Rovers F.C. 1893-96

Arthurlie F.C. 1893-96

Ayr F.C. 1891-92

Blantyre Victoria F.C. 1895-97

Burnbank Swifts F.C. 1895-96

Cambuslang F.C. 1892-93, 1894-97

Cameronians F.C. 1896-97

Clyde F.C. 'A' 1896-97

Cowlairs F.C. 1892-93

Dykehead F.C. 1895-96

East Stirlingshire F.C. 1891-92

Hamilton Academical F.C. 1895-96

Johnstone F.C. 1894-95

Kilmarnock F.C. 1891-93

King's Park F.C. 1891-92

Linthouse F.C. 1891-93

Morton F.C. 1891-92

Neilston F.C. 1895-96

Northern F.C. 1891-93, 1896-97 (resigned during the season)

Partick Thistle F.C. 1891-93

Port Glasgow Athletic F.C. 1891-92

Royal Albert F.C. 1893-96

St Bernards F.C. 1891-93

Third Lanark F.C. 'A' 1896-97

Thistle F.C. 1891-93

Vale of Leven F.C. 1892-93

Wishaw Thistle F.C. 1893-96

The Scottish Alliance was reformed for a season in 1905-06. Its member clubs were:-

Bo'ness F.C.

Broxburn F.C.

Broxburn Shamrock F.C.

Heart of Midlothian F.C. 'A'

King's Park F.C.

Rangers F.C. 'A'

St Mirren F.C. 'A'

However it was unfinished and was eventually superseded by the creation of the Scottish Football Union.

In 1919, the Scottish Alliance was re-formed, this time principally as a reserve league. From 1920 though, it had a policy of including at least one non-reserve team. On the collapse of the Scottish League's Third Division in 1926, a large number of clubs found a place in the Alliance. So much so that for one season the competition was split into regional sections. This split lasted only one season, after which the Alliance was re-formed as one division. In 1938, the reserve sides decided to get rid of those non-League sides that still played, namely Beith and Galston. They disbanded the Alliance and reformed as the Scottish Reserve Football League.

Champions

1919-20 Kilmarock F.C. 'A'

1920-21 St Mirren F.C. 'A'

1921-22 Celtic F.C. 'A'

1922-23 Airdrieonians F.C. 'A'

1923-24 Rangers F.C. 'A'

1924-25 Heart of Midlothian F.C. 'A'

1925-26 Airdrieonians F.C. 'A'

1926-27 East - Heart of Midlothian F.C. 'A' ("Overall champions") West - Airdrieonians F.C. 'A'

1927-28 Rangers F.C. 'A'

1928-29 Rangers F.C. 'A'

1929-30 Rangers F.C. 'A'

1930-31 Rangers F.C. 'A'

1931-32 Rangers F.C. 'A'

1932-33 Aberdeen F.C. 'A'

1933-34 Celtic F.C. 'A'

1934-35 Rangers F.C. 'A'

1935-36 Aberdeen F.C. 'A'

1936-37 Celtic F.C. 'A'

1937-38 Celtic F.C. 'A'

Membership

Aberdeen F.C. 'A' 1920-38

Airdrieonians F.C. 'A' 1921-34

Albion Rovers F.C. 'A' 1920-23

Arbroath F.C. 1920-21

Ayr United F.C. 'A' 1919-32, 1937-38

Beith F.C. 1926-27, 1928-38

Bo'ness F.C. 1933-34

Brechin City F.C. 1926-27, 19288-29

Broxburn United F.C. 1926-27

Celtic F.C. 'A' 1919-22, 1930-38

Clyde F.C. 'A' 1919-21

Clydebank F.C. 'A' 1919-20, 1921-22, 1925-26

Cowdenbeath F.C. 'A' 1924-26, 1931-32

Dumbarton F.C. 'A' 1921-22

Dykehead F.C. 1926-27

Dundee F.C. 'A' 1920-24, 1925-28, 1930-32, 1934-38

Dundee Hibernian F.C. 1922-23

Falkirk F.C. 'A' 1921-22, 1923-30, 1931-32, 1936-38

Forfar Athletic F.C. 1920-21

Galston F.C. 1932-38

Hamilton Academical F.C. 'A' 1921-22, 1929-38

Heart of Midlothian F.C. 'A' 1921-38

Helensburgh F.C. 1926-27

Hibernian F.C. 'A' 1920-22, 1925-31, 1933-38

Johnstone F.C. 1926-27

Kilmarnock F.C. 'A' 1919-38

Leith Athletic F.C. 1923-24, 1926-27

Lochgelly United F.C. 1926-27

Mid-Annandale F.C. 1926-27

Montrose F.C. 1926-27, 1928-29

Morton F.C. 'A' 1920-21, 1927-28, 1930-32

Motherwell F.C. 'A' 1919-22, 1926-38

Nithsdale Wanderers F.C. 1928-30

Partick Thistle F.C. 'A' 1919-38

Peebles Rovers F.C. 1926-27

Queen of the South F.C. 'A' 1924-27, 1933-38

Queen's Park F.C. Strollers 1920-38

Raith Rovers F.C. 'A' 1921-23, 1924-25, 1927-28

Rangers F.C. 'A' 1919-38

Royal Albert F.C. 1926-27

St Johnstone F.C. 'A' 1925-30, 1933-38

St Mirren F.C. 'A' 1919-24, 1925-38

Solway Star F.C. 1926-27

Third Lanark F.C. 'A' 1920-25, 1928-29, 1931-34, 1936-38

Vale of Leven F.C. 1926-27

In 1939-40, the Scottish Alliance was re-formed by Babcock & Wilcox F.C., Galston F.C., Girvan Athletic F.C., Nithsdale Wanderers F.C., Queen's Park F.C. Strollers, Stranraer F.C. and Vale of Leven F.C. but disbanded after only a couple of games because of the World War II.

In 1956-57, six reserve sides formed a new Alliance - Dumbarton F.C., St Johnstone F.C., Clyde F.C., Dundee United F.C., Third Lanark F.C., and Queen's Park F.C.Victoria XI. Cowdenbeath F.C. came in for the Spring tournament.

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