12 Lowland League clubs unveiled for new division

Whitehill Welfare's John Hall takes on Johnny Sealey of Spartans. Picture: TSPL

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Twenty-seven clubs from the East of Scotland and South of Scotland Leagues, as well as members of the Scottish Junior Football Association, had expressed an initial interest before 17 formal applications were submitted.

It is part of a major re-structuring of Scottish football which includes plans for play-offs between teams from the Scottish Third Division, the Scottish Lowland Football League and the Scottish Highland Football League from the end of season 2014/15.

The successful clubs are Spartans FC, Threave Rovers FC, Preston Athletic FC, Gretna FC (2008), Whitehill Welfare FC, Dalbeattie Star FC, East Kilbride FC, Selkirk FC, Gala Fairydean Rovers FC, Edinburgh City FC, University of Stirling FC and Vale of Leithen FC.

The Project Steering Group, made up of the Scottish FA Executive, licensing committee and club representatives, selected the 12 based on their ability to meet Scottish FA club licensing criteria.

Spartans, Threave Rovers and Preston Athletic are currently licensed member clubs, and the remaining nine, who have detailed plans in place, must comply by May 2015.

It will be ratified by the board of the Scottish FA at its meeting on 27 June.

Scottish FA chief executive Stewart Regan said: “This is an exciting opportunity for all 12 clubs, and another step forward for league reconstruction in Scotland.

“It’s important that ambitious clubs are given opportunities to progress.

“With the Scottish Lowland Football League running in tandem with the Scottish Highland Football League from next season, we are on track to create a pyramid system feeding into the senior leagues.”

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