Highlands and Islands League

Highlands and Islands League
Founded2019
CountryScotland Scotland
Number of clubs8
Domestic cup(s)Scottish Women's Cup
League cup(s)Highlands and Islands League Cup
Current championsBuckie
Most championshipsClachnacuddin (1 title),
Inverness CT Dev. (1 title), Buckie (1 title)
WebsiteScottish Women's Football

The Highlands and Islands League is an amateur women's association football league in Scotland, run by Scottish Women's Football (SWF). Founded in 2019, the league sits outside the current Scottish Women's Football League pyramid.[1] It comprises eight teams: one based in Caithness, one in Moray, one in Ross-shire, one in Nairnshire, one in Orkney, two in Sutherland, and one in Inverness-shire.

History

In September 2018, a proposal to create a women's Highlands and Islands League for 2019 was ratified by Scottish Women's Football (SWF).[2] On 25 February 2019, SWF officially announced the creation of the new league.[1] The inaugural season ran from March to October, with each team playing 12 games, and was won by Clachnacuddin.[3] The 2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[4]

Clubs

2023 season

The following eight teams are competing in the Highlands and Islands League during the 2023 season:[3]

Team Home ground Location First season Ref.
Brora Rangers Dudgeon Park Brora, Sutherland 2019 [5]
Buckie Gordon Park Portgordon, Moray 2019 [6]
Caithness Sir Georges Park Thurso, Caithness 2019 [7]
Clachnacuddin Grant Street Park Inverness, Inverness-shire 2019 [8]
Nairn St Ninian Nairn Showfield Nairn, Nairnshire 2019 [9]
Ross & Cromarty Ferry Brae Park North Kessock, Ross-shire 2023 [10]
Orkney Kirkwall Grammar School Kirkwall, Orkney 2020 [11]
Sutherland Couper Park Helmsdale, Sutherland 2020 [12]

Former clubs

Team Home ground Location First season Last season Ref.
Inverness Caledonian Thistle Development Millburn Academy Inverness, Inverness-shire 2019 2022 [13]
Lewis and Harris Ullapool High School Ullapool, Ross and Cromarty 2019 2019 [14]
Kirkwall City The Pickaquoy Centre Kirkwall, Orkney 2019 2021 [15]

Seasons

Season Champions Runners-up Ref
2019 Clachnacuddin Inverness Caledonian Thistle Development
2020 Season abandoned due to COVID-19 pandemic [16][4]
2021 Inverness Caledonian Thistle Development Clachnacuddin [17]
2022 Buckie Clachnacuddin [18]

Highlands and Islands League Cup

The Cup competition began in the 2019 season, along with the foundation of the Highlands and Islands League. Lewis and Harris won the first edition.[19]

Season Winners Runners-up Result Venue Ref.
2019 Lewis and Harris Clachnacuddin 7–0 Caledonian Stadium, Inverness [19]
2021 Sutherland Clachnacuddin 3–2 Station Park, Nairn [20]
2022 Buckie Sutherland 2–2 a.e.t.
(3–1 pen)		 Station Park, Nairn [21]

References

  1. ^ a b "New Highlands and Islands League set to launch". Scottish Women's Football. 25 February 2019. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  2. ^ "Future bright for girls' grassroots football in Highlands and Islands". Scottish Football Association. 30 September 2018. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Highlands & Islands League". Scottish Women's Football. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  4. ^ a b Clark, Will (27 December 2020). "Highlands and Islands League winning manager Bobby Beckwith steps down as Clachnacuddin Women boss". Strathspey & Badenoch Herald. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  5. ^ "Brora Rangers". Scottish Women's Football. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  6. ^ "Buckie Ladies". Scottish Women's Football. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  7. ^ "Caithness". Scottish Women's Football. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  8. ^ "Clachnacuddin". Scottish Women's Football. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  9. ^ "Nairn". Scottish Women's Football. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  10. ^ Clark, Will (30 March 2023). "Ross and Cromarty women make debut in Highlands and Islands League". Ross-shire Journal. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  11. ^ "Orkney". Scottish Women's Football. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  12. ^ "Sutherland". Scottish Women's Football. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  13. ^ Clark, Will (22 January 2023). "WATCH - Ross and Cromarty WFC to debut in Highlands and Islands League for 2023". Inverness Courier. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  14. ^ "Lewis and Harris women's team aim for a glorious ending to a memorable chapter". West Highland Free Press. 22 August 2019. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  15. ^ "Kirkwall City". Scottish Women's Football. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  16. ^ "Orkney Women's Football Team Loses Out to Coronavirus". Glow Scotland. 28 May 2020. Archived from the original on 10 Jul 2022.
  17. ^ "Inverness Caledonian Thistle Development are Highlands and Islands League champions". Inverness Courier. Archived from the original on 28 Sep 2021.
  18. ^ Highlands & Islands League, season 2022 SWF
  19. ^ a b Frith, Wilf (25 August 2019). "Lewis & Harris lift first ever Highlands & Islands Women's League Cup". She Kicks. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  20. ^ "SWF Highlands & Islands League Cup Final 2021". Scottish Women's Football - Official Channel. 4 Oct 2021.
  21. ^ "Brave Buckie battle out historic league cup victory". SWF. Archived from the original on 10 Jul 2022. SWF results (archive)