SPFL Reserve League
Founded | 2018 |
---|---|
Country | Scotland |
Divisions | 1 |
Number of teams | 9 |
Current champions | Hibernian Reserves (2022–23) |
The SPFL Reserve League is the reserve team league for football in Scotland. The league began in 2018, as the SPFL Development League was replaced by a reserve team (i.e not age-restricted) format.[1][2][3]
History
In its first season, 2018–19, the league included 27 clubs, split into two divisions. At its end, several clubs (
Rangers and St Johnstone) intimated that they would withdraw from the Reserve League to arrange their own programme of matches.[4][5] The 2019–20 edition was formed with 19 clubs, with the season being curtailed early due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland; the winners were decided on a 'points per game' calculation.[6][7]
After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the league returned in season 2022–23 with ten clubs participating.[8][9] Hibernian were the winners of a truncated competition, with only one round of matches (nine per team).[10]
In 2023–24, there will be nine clubs participating.[11]
Participating clubs
- (for 2023–24 - Hamilton Academical and Motherwell withdrew, Airdrieonians joined)
- Airdrieonians
- Ayr United
- Dundee
- Dunfermline Athletic
- Hibernian
- Kilmarnock
- Livingston
- Queen of the South
- Queen's Park
Winners
Season | Winner | Runner-up | League 2 Winner |
---|---|---|---|
2018–19 [12][13][14][15] |
Rangers Reserves
|
Celtic Reserves
|
Livingston Reserves[16] |
2019–20 [6][7][17] |
Hamilton Academical Reserves | Heart of Midlothian Reserves | Livingston Reserves[18][19] |
2022–23 [11][20] |
Hibernian Reserves | Motherwell Reserves |
Reserve Cup
A knockout competition is organised alongside the League.[9]
Season | Winner | Runner-up |
---|---|---|
2018–19[21] | Heart of Midlothian Reserves
|
Motherwell Reserves |
2019–20[22] | not completed[a] | |
2022–23[23] | Kilmarnock Reserves | Dunfermline Athletic Reserves |
- Celtic Reserves.
See also
- Scottish Premier Reserve League (a similar competition, operated by the Scottish Premier League between 1998 and 2009)
References
- ^ "Reserve Leagues for season 2018/19". SPFL. 23 July 2018. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
- ^ "SPFL reintroduces reserve leagues after nine-year absence". BBC Sport. 23 July 2018. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
- ^ SPFL reintroduce reserve leagues after nearly a decade's absence, Sky Sports, 24 July 2018
- ^ "Reserve League Update". Hibernian FC. 29 May 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
- ^ Jack, Christopher (1 May 2019). "Rangers and Celtic set to quit SPFL Reserve League in a bid to boost Academy teams". The Herald. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
- ^ a b Hamilton and Livingston named reserve league winners as SPFL drop hint over competition's future, Daily Record, 16 June 2020
- ^ a b Hamilton Academical and Livingston Named Reserve League Champions, Scottish Professional Football League, 16 June 2020
- ^ "Press Release: Reserve League | SPFL". spfl.co.uk. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
- ^ a b "SPFL Reserve League to return this season after two-year absence". BBC Sport. 26 July 2022. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
- ^ Reserve League 2022/23, SPFL
- ^ a b "SPFL Reserve football for 2023/24". SPFL. 1 August 2023.
- ^ Falkirk 1-3 Rangers Reserves, Rangers FC
- ^ SPFL Reserve League 1 Table, Celtic FC
- ^ SPFL Reserve League 2018–19, Soccerway
- ^ Rangers win reserve league title on goal difference, BBC Sport, 6 May 2019
- ^ SPFL Reserve League 2 2018–19, Soccerway
- ^ SPFL Reserve League 2019–20, Soccerway
- ^ SPFL Reserve League 2 2019–20, Soccerway
- ^ 2019/20 SPFL Reserve League 2 Champions, Livingston FC, 16 June 2020
- ^ SPFL Reserve League 2022–23, Soccerway
- ^ SPFL Reserve Cup 2018–19, Soccerway
- ^ SPFL Reserve Cup 2019–20, Soccerway
- ^ SPFL Reserve Cup 2022–23, Soccerway
External links