Eastern Football League

Third version 1915-1922

 

See also

Main index

Club directory

Eastern League overview

Central League

Northern League

Scottish Alliance

Western League

After the outbreak of War in 1914, the Scottish League continued with a full programme of fixtures for both of its divisions. In 1915, it decided to suspend the Second Division, but allow its members to form two regional leagues, Western and Eastern. With the addition of five non-League clubs, a twelve team league was organized. Leith and Kirkcaldy United both dropped out after this season, with the latter disbanding completely. By 1917 the league had been reduced to five clubs. Dundee and Raith Rovers, after leaving the Scottish League to reduce travelling costs, joined and the seven clubs played each other four times in the 1917-18 season. The league then broke up for a year before restarting in 1919. The Eastern League continued until 1920-21 season when it disbanded and its clubs joined other leagues such as the Aberdeenshire League and North Eastern League.

 

It was played for again in 1922-23, but only for a season after which Brechin City, Clackmannan and Montrose all helped to form the Third Division of the Scottish League.

 

The league also ran a cup competition for a number of years.

 

The name had also been used in 1921-22 , but for this season the league was composed of Edinburgh and Border amateur clubs, and was the forerunner of the East of Scotland League, which continues to the present day.

 

 

.

 

Eastern League champions

Eastern Cup winners

1915-16 Armadale

1916-17 Cowdenbeath

1917-18 Dundee

1918-19    no competition

1919-20 Dundee Hibernian

1920-21 Montrose ?

1921-22 Gala Fairydean

1922-23 Montrose ?

Armadale

? or St Bernards

Dundee or Dundee Hibernian

No competition

Montrose or ?

Dundee ‘A’

 

Eastern League membership

Seasons

Aberdeen ‘A’

 

Arbroath

Arbroath Athletic

Armadale

Bathgate

Brechin City

 

Broxburn United

Civil Service Strollers

Clackmannan

Cowdenbeath

 

Dundee

Dundee ‘A’

 

Dundee Hibernian

 

 

Dunfermline Athletic

East Fife

East Stirlingshire

Edinburgh Civil Service

Forfar Athletic

Gala Fairydean

Kirkcaldy United

Leith Athletic

 

Lochgelly United

 

Montrose

 

Peebles Rovers

Peterhead

Raith Rovers

Raith Rovers ‘A’

Selkirk

St Bernards

St Johnstone

Vale of Leithen

1920-21

1922-23

1919-20

1922-23

1915-1918

1915-1917

1919-1921

1922-23

1915-1917

1921-22

1922-23

1915-1918

1919-20

1917-1918

1919-1921

1922-23

1915-1918

1919-20

1922-23

1915-1918

1915-1918

1915-1917

1921-22

1919-20

1921-22

1915-16

1915-16

1922-23

1915-1917

1919-20

1919-1920

1922-23

1921-22

1920-21

1917-18

1919-20

1921-22

1915-1917

1919-20

1921-22

 

 

1915-16

Arm

Bat

BU

Cow

DH

Df

EF

ES

KU

Lei

LU

StB

Armadale

X

2 Oct

4-0

20 Nov

2-0

6 Nov

2-1

15 Jan

3-0

8 Jan

1-0

9 Oct

5-1

28 Aug

3-2

11 Sep

6-0

26 Feb

5-1

18 Mar

1-0

23 Oct

2-0

Bathgate

21 Aug

0-1

X

13 Nov

2-0

4 Sep

2-1

9 Oct

5-2

19 Feb

7-1

5 Feb

3-0

30 Oct

2-0

27 Nov

5-1

15 Apr

3-0

16 Oct

1-2

29 Jan

1-2

Broxburn United

15 Apr

5-1

28 Aug

1-0

X

8 Jan

1-0

23 Oct

2-1

5 Feb

2-0

27 Nov

1-1

29 Apr

1-1

6 Nov

2-1

21 Aug

1-2

25 Sep

2-0

11 Sep

0-2

Cowdenbeath

25 Sep

2-3

26 Feb

1-2

12 Feb

2-0

X

27 Nov

3-0

30 Oct

3-0

28 Aug

1-1

16 Oct

1-0

18 Mar

2-0

2 Oct

2-0

11 Sep

0-1

13 Nov

2-1

Dundee Hibernian

16 Oct

1-2

11 Sep

0-3

 

25 Dec

0-4

X

2 Oct

2-1

13 Nov

2-5

20 Nov

2-1

22 Jan

1-0

30 Oct

0-2

28 Aug

4-5

4 Dec

5-2

Dunfermline Athletic

 

6 Nov

2-3

4 Mar

3-3

9 Oct

1-1

15 Apr

4-1

X

25 Dec

1-2

11 Sep

2-2

23 Oct

4-3

4 Sep

7-1

27 Nov

0-0

25 Sep

5-4

East Fife

30 Oct

0-0

22 Apr

10-1

16 Oct

1-1

11 Mar

1-2

4 Sep

3-4

20 Nov

4-1

X

25 Sep

6-1

21 Aug

5-0

12 Feb

2-2

2 Oct

3-1

1 Jan

0-2

East Stirlingshire

5 Feb

1-0

18 Mar

1-0

4 Sep

2-1

18 Sep

2-3

21 Aug

2-1

13 Nov

4-1

23 Oct

1-3

X

9 Oct

4-1

6 Nov

4-0

15 Apr

5-2

27 Nov

1-2

Kirkcaldy United

13 Nov

2-5

12 Feb

0-3

2 Oct

1-3

20 Nov

1-5

18 Sep

3-3

28 Aug

1-3

18 Dec

2-1

15 Jan

0-1

X

16 Oct

4-1

30 Oct

0-3

15 Apr

1-3

Leith

27 Nov

0-0

23 Oct

2-1

9 Oct

1-2

5 Feb

1-1

25 Sep

2-1

 

11 Sep

4-2

29 Jan

2-0

4 Mar

5-1

X

13 Nov

0-0

28 Aug

1-4

Lochgelly United

25 Dec

0-3

20 Nov

0-0

11 Mar

1-0

23 Oct

0-1

22 Apr

0-3

21 Aug

4-1

6 Nov

2-2

12 Feb

0-1

4 Sep

2-0

 

X

9 Oct

1-2

St Bernards

4 Sep

1-3

18 Sep

1-1

30 Oct

2-1

21 Aug

1-0

6 Nov

5-0

16 Oct

5-1

19 Feb

2-1

2 Oct

3-0

25 Dec

5-0

11 Dec

3-0

5 Feb

7-0

X

 

 

 

1915-16

P

W

D

L

F

A

Pts

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

Armadale

St Bernards

Cowdenbeath

Bathgate

East Fife

Broxburn United

East Stirlingshire

Leith

Lochgelly United

Dundee Hibernian

Dunfermline Athletic

Kirkcaldy United

21

22

22

22

22

22

22

20

21

22

20

22

17

16

12

12

 8

 9

10

7

7

7

5

2

2

1

3

2

6

4

2

4

4

1

4

1

2

5

7

8

8

9

10

9

10

14

11

19

52

59

38

45

52

29

36

28

24

36

38

22

17

26

20

30

39

29

36

43

36

57

53

73

36

33

27

26

22

22

22

18

18

15

14

5

 

25 Sep Bathgate v Kirkcaldy off

22 Jan Lochgelly v Leith 0-2, Dunfermline v Armadale 0-0 both abd

12 Feb Dunfermline v Dundee Hibs 2-0 abd

 

EASTERN CUP 1915-16

First round

8 Jan East Stirlingshire v Lochgelly United 2-4

22 Jan St Bernards v East Fife 3-3 (600)

26 Feb East Fife v St Bernards 1-5

29 Jan Kirkcaldy United v Armadale 0-3

29 Jan Broxburn United v Dundee Hibernian 0-0

18 Mar Dundee Hibernian v Broxburn United 3-0

 

Second round

4 Mar Armadale v Cowdenbeath 4-0 (1000)

4 Mar Lochgelly United v Bathgate 0-3

1 Apr St Bernards v Dunfermline Athletic 3-0

8 Apr Dundee Hibernian v Leith 0-3

 

Semi final

8 Apr Armadale v Bathgate 2-1

17 Apr St Bernards v Leith 2-2 (also noted as a Gardener Cup tie)

22 Apr St Bernards v Leith 2-0 (replay)

 

Final

Armadale v St Bernards

 

 

 

 

1916-17

Arm

Bat

BU

Cow

DH

Df

EF

ES

LU

StB

Armadale

X

19 Aug

0-1

2 Sep

1-0

2 Dec

1-1

 

30 Sep

3-1

24 Feb

1-1

21 Oct

7-0

16 Sep

4-0

 

Bathgate

23 Sep

2-3

X

 

26 Aug

2-2

7 Oct

2-3

14 Oct

4-0

9 Sep

0-1

9 Dec

1-1

 

4 Nov

0-5

Broxburn United

25 Nov

2-2

21 Oct

2-1

X

 

23 Sep

1-2

 

 

 

30 Sep

1-0

26 Aug

1-0

Cowdenbeath

4 Nov

5-2

30 Sep

3-1

19 Aug

8-1

X

30 Dec

4-1

2 Sep

2-1

11 Nov

1-1

16 Sep

3-3

21 Oct

5-1

10 Feb

2-0

Dundee Hibernian

 

2 Sep

1-2

11 Nov

0-0

16 Dec

1-2

X

16 Sep

3-0

14 Oct

1-3

30 Sep

2-0

19 Aug

5-1

25 Nov

1-2

Dunfermline Athletic

26 Aug

3-0

 

7 Oct

3-2

1 Jan

1-0

21 Oct

3-2

X

23 Sep

1-0

10 Mar

2-0

4 Nov

1-0

9 Aug

 

East Fife

7 Oct

1-1

9 Aug

 

NOT

PLAYED

3 Feb

1-1

4 Nov

5-0

19 Aug

1-0

 

2 Sep

4-0

3 Mar

4-0

21 Oct

1-0

East Stirlingshire

9 Aug

 

11 Nov

7-0

3 Feb

2-1

7 Oct

0-1

26 Aug

3-1

28 Oct

3-2

 

X

 

23 Sep

2-1

Lochgelly United

11 Nov

0-1

 

 

23 Sep

1-0

9 Aug

 

3 Feb

3-1

 

 

X

7 Oct

0-3

St Bernards

9 Dec

3-0

16 Sep

3-2

28 Oct

1-0

14 Oct

1-2

2 Dec

1-1

11 Nov

2-1

30 Sep

1-0

19 Aug

5-1

2 Sep

6-2

X

                                                           

26 Aug Lochgelly v East Fife off

16 Sep East Fife v Broxburn off due to a dispute, points awarded to East Fife

14 Oct Lochgelly v E Stirling, Broxburn v Armadale off

4 Nov Broxburn v E Stirling 1-1 stopped 70 mins darkness

11 Nov Cowdenbeath v East Fife 1-1 stopped early

 

 

1916-17

P

W

D

L

F

A

Pts

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Cowdenbeath

East Fife

St Bernards

Armadale

Dundee Hibernian

Dunfermline Athletic       

East Stirlingshire

Broxburn United

Bathgate

Lochgelly United

18

14

18

17

17

16

15

14

16

15

11

7

10

7

6

7

5

5

3

4

5

5

2

6

3

1

4

2

2

0

2

2

6

4

8

8

6

7

11

11

45

26

37

36

29

21

28

15

21

16

19

9

23

26

33

27

35

25

38

39

27

23

22

20

15

15

14

12

8

8

 

Both East Fife v Broxburn United fixtures were not played due to a dispute. The points from both fixtures were awarded to East Fife

 

 

EASTERN CUP 1916-17

First round

18 Nov St Bernards v Bathgate 2-1

25 Nov Cowdenbeath v East Fife 3-1

2 Dec Dunfermline Athletic v Lochgelly United 4-2

 

Second round

2 Jan Armadale v East Stirlingshire 5-1

20 Jan St Bernards v Broxburn United 3-0

3 Mar Dunfermline Athletic v Dundee Hibernian 7-0

 

Semi final

7 Apr Dunfermline Athletic v St Bernards 1-2 (600)

 

 

 

1917-18

Arm

Cow

Dun

DH

Df

EF

RR

Armadale

X

22 Sep

0-1

23 Mar

2-0

13 Oct

9-0

2 Jan

1-1

6 Oct

2-0

16 Feb

0-0

10 Nov

2-2

9 Mar

4-1

15 Sep

6-0

 

 

1 Sep

2-1

 

 

Cowdenbeath

25 Aug

1-1

9 Feb

3-0

X

29 Sep

5-0

8 Dec

0-3

3 Oct

5-0

30 Mar

3-0

20 Oct

4-0

23 Feb

2-0

10 Nov

0-1

16 Mar

4-0

15 Sep

2-0

26 Jan

0-0

Dundee

1 Dec

2-0

 

7-0

1 Sep

3-4

6 Apr

2-0

X

18 Aug

5-1

26 Jan

1-2

22 Sep

2-1

16 Mar

5-1

20 Oct

5-1

16 Feb

4-1

3 Oct

4-0

15 Dec

2-5

Dundee Hibernian

8 Sep

3-1

2 Jan

2-0

27 Oct

0-0

22 Dec

1-6

15 Sep

0-2

23 Feb

1-2

X

8 Dec

4-1

2 Feb

1-1

25 Aug

1-2

29 Dec

5-1

13 Oct

1-1

9 Mar

1-1

Dunfermline Athletic

29 Sep

6-3

2 Mar

1-3

18 Aug

3-2

2 Jan

0-1

27 Oct

1-2

16 Mar

0-2

1 Sep

3-1

9 Feb

0-3

X

24 Nov

4-0

15 Dec

4-2

17 Nov

2-4

30 Mar

2-1

East Fife

3 Oct

0-0

 

 

1 Dec

0-2

2 Mar

0-1

17 Nov

5-2

9 Mar

1-1

22 Sep

0-1

1 Jan

3-6

8 Sep

3-2

26 Jan

1-1

X

29 Sep

0-2*

9 Feb

0-0

Raith Rovers

27 Oct

5-0

 

 

24 Nov

0-3

16 Feb

2-0

8 Sep

0-0

2 Feb

1-2

20 Oct

5-2

16 Mar

3-0

25 Aug

4-0

22 Dec

1-2

18 Aug

1-0

16 Mar

2-0

X

                                                           

*at Kirkcaldy

 

23 Mar Armadale v Cowdenbeath 2-0 abd after Birrell of Cowdenbeath was attacked as he left the field after 73 mins

 

CHAMPIONSHIP DECIDER

20 Aug 1919 Cowdenbeath v  Dundee ‘A’ 0-1 (at Cowdenbeath gate £130)

 

 

1917-18

P

W

D

L

F

A

Pts

=

=

3

4

5

6

7

Cowdenbeath

Dundee

Raith Rovers

Armadale

Dundee Hibernian

Dunfermline Athletic

East Fife

24

24

22

20

24

24

22

15

15

11

7

7

6

5

3

3

5

5

5

3

4

6

6

6

8

12

15

13

49

59

40

36

30

37

21

18

40

24

33

48

61

48

33

33

27

19

19

15

14

 

Dundee beat Cowdenbeath in a play-off in 1919 for the title.

 

16 August 1919 Dundee v Cowdenbeath 2-1

20 August 1919 Cowdenbeath v Dundee 0-1

                      Dundee won 3-1 on aggregate

 

 

EASTERN CUP 1917-18

Semi final

13 Apr Dundee v East Fife 1-1 (4000)

 

Final

27 Apr Dundee v Dundee Hibernian 2-2 (at Dens Pk 3000)

 

 

1918-19

NO COMPETITION

 

 

1919-20

Arb

Bre

Cow

DunA

DunH

Forf

Loch

Mont

RR

StJ

Arbroath

X

Oct 4

4-1

13 Dec

6-2

20 Sep

2-2

Oct 25

0-1

31 Jan

1-2

Aug 23

1-0

Nov 8

6-1

3 Jan

2-1

29 Nov

5-2

Brechin

City

Dec 27

1-2

X

21 Feb

3-3

Nov 8

2-3

Nov 29

2-5

10 Jan

1-1

25 Oct

2-3

Jan 17

4-2

20 Dec

1-2

Oct 11

1-3

Cowdenbeath

6 Mar

5-1

31 Jan

8-1

X

25 Oct

1-1

Feb 7

3-0

20 Mar

6-1

Sep 13

1-1

Aug 23

4-1

20 Dec

3-2

Dundee ‘A’

Aug 16

2-1

X

Dec 20

2-0

Sep 13

5-0

13 Mar

0-2

18 Oct

4-0

1 Nov

1-0

Jan 17

3-3

Dundee

Hibernian

Aug 30

2-0

Mar 13

4-1

Oct 11

2-0

Sep 27

1-1

X

Nov 1

2-0

Dec 6

4-0

Nov 15

1-4

Oct 18

1-0

Sep 13

3-1

Forfar

Athletic

1 Jan

3-2

7 Feb

2-1

Aug 30

1-4

22 Nov

2-1

Oct 4

1-2

X

Nov 8

0-1

29 Nov

3-0

20 Sep

0-1

Dec 27

1-1

Lochgelly

United

18 Oct

1-2

20 Mar

1-1

14 Feb

1-2

29 Nov

2-2

Dec 27

1-3

13 Dec

3-0

X

Aug 30

2-1

Oct 11

1-3

Aug 16

1-1

Montrose

Sep 13

1-1

1 Nov

2-1

10 Jan

0-3

13 Dec

2-4

Aug 23

0-2

Oct 11

1-2

20 Sep

0-2

X

22 Nov

0-2

13 Mar

2-0

Raith

Rovers ‘A’

Aug 16

1-2

13 Dec

5-1

13 Mar

1-3

Dec 27

0-1

Nov 8

2-3

10 Apr

1-2

Sep 27

4-0

31 Jan

3-4

X

Aug 30

5-0

St Johnstone

10 Jan

8-1

6 Dec

10-1

Mar 27

3-0

Aug 23

4-2

Dec 13

1-1

25 Oct

1-2

22 Nov

5-1

3 Jan

4-1

Nov 15

3-2

X

 

17 January 1920, the referee didn’t appear at the Cowdenbeath v Arbroath and Dundee ‘A’ v St Johnstone games – were these games declared unofficial?

Brechin City opened their new ground – Glebe Park – on 11 October 1919 against St Johnstone.

14 February 1920 Dundee Hibernians 1-0 Arbroath

 

 

1919-20

P

W

D

L

F

A

Pts

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Dundee Hibernian

Dundee ‘A’

Cowdenbeath

St Johnstone

Arbroath

Forfar Athletic

Lochgelly United

Raith Rovers ‘A’

Montrose

Brechin City

18

18

18

18

18

18

18

18

18

18

13

10

10

8

9

8

6

7

4

1

2

5

4

4

2

2

4

0

2

3

3

3

4

6

7

8

8

11

12

14

37

38

36

46

39

34

27

33

27

28

19

22

32

33

32

36

32

29

47

63

28

25

24

20

20

18

16

14

10

5

 

EASTERN CUP 1919-20

First round

24 Jan Raith Rovers ‘A’ v Brechin City 2-0 (2000)

6 Mar Lochgelly United v Dundee ‘A’ 1-1

5 Apr St Johnstone v Dundee Hibernian 1-2 (replay, protested)

17 Apr St Johnstone v Dundee Hibernian 1-3

10 Apr  Arbroath v Montrose 1-2

 

Semi final

17 Apr Forfar Athletic v Montrose 0-0

24 Apr Montrose v Forfar Athletic 2-0

 

 

1920-21

Abe

Brech

Dun

Forf

Mont

Peter

Aberdeen ‘A’

X

19 Feb

8-1

Brechin City

25 Sep

2-4

X

22 Jan

2-3

16 Oct

3-1

20 Nov

2-2

Dundee ‘A’

 

 

X

Forfar Athletic

9 Oct

3-2

X

23 Oct

0-3

Montrose

4 Dec

1-0

27 Nov

3-0

29 Jan

2-1

18 Sep

1-1

X

9 Oct

2-2

Peterhead

 

 

X

 

20 Nov Montrose v Arbroath Ams 4-2

11 Dec Brechin v Montrose 5-1

30 Apr Arbroath v Montrose 4-1

 

 

P

W

D

L

F

A

Pts

Montrose

8

4

2

2

14

15

10

Aberdeen ‘A’

3

3

0

1

12

4

6

Brechin City

6

1

1

4

11

16

3

Forfar Athletic

3

1

1

1

4

6

3

Dundee ‘A’

2

1

0

1

2

6

2

Peterhead

2

0

2

0

4

4

2

 

 

EASTERN CUP 1920-21

Final (2 legs)

13 Nov Montrose v Dundee ‘A’ 1-0

4 Jan Dundee ‘A’ v Montrose 2-0

 

 

1921-22

CCS

ECS

Gala

PR

Sel

VoL

Civil Service Strollers

X

26 Nov

1-3

29 Apr

1-3**

19 Nov

0-0

8 Apr

1-2*

Edinburgh Civil Service

X

4 Mar

1-3

7 Jan

2-2

 

Gala Fairydean

5 Nov

3-0

19 Nov

2-2

X

20 Aug

2-1

1 Oct

2-1

24 Dec

4-2

Peebles Rovers

17 Sep

5-0

10 Dec

2-3

3 Dec

2-3

X

29 Oct

3-2

19 Nov

1-1

Selkirk

24 Sep

3-1

8 Oct

0-3

 

X

11 Mar

2-4

Vale of Leithen

25 Feb

1-1

18 Mar

1-1

7 Jan

2-1

31 Dec

2-2

10 Dec

3-1

X

 

*at Innerleithen

**at Peebles

 

17 Dec Gala Fairydean v Peebles Rovers 2-2

8 Apr Vale of Leithen v Civil Service Strollers 2-1

29 Apr Peebles Rovers v Civil Service Strollers 3-1

 

 

 

1921-22

P

W

D

L

F

A

Pts

1

Gala Fairydean

10

8

1

1

26

12

17

2

Vale of Leithen

9

4

4

1

18

14

12

3

Peebles Rovers

9

3

3

3

21

16

9

4

Edinburgh Civil Service

5

1

3

1

9

10

5

5

Selkirk

7

1

1

5

9

16

3

6

Civil Service Strollers

8

0

2

6

5

20

2

 

 

EASTERN LEAGUE

1922-23

Abe

Arb A

Bre

Clack

Dund

Dun H

Leith

Mont

Aberdeen ‘A’

X

14 Apr

1-1

 

6 Sep

3-4

Arbroath Athletic

9 Sep

1-4

X

2 Dec

3-

14 Oct

4-1

Brechin City

13 Jan

1-1

25 Nov

1-3

X

16 Sep

4-3

4 Nov

0-3

 

7 Oct

1-1

6 Jan

0-2

Clackmannan

21 Oct

1-1

9 Sep

2-0

X

23 Sep

2-2

20 Jan

2-0

6 Jan

1-3

7 Oct

2-2

Dundee ‘A’

3 Feb

5-0

X

21 Apr

1-1

Dundee Hibernian

9 Apr

0-2

 

X

  

Leith Athletic

2 Jan

2-1

24 Mar

5-0

26 Aug

2-1

17 Mar

2-0

18 Nov

1-3

X

4 Nov

3-0

Montrose

18 Nov

1-2

30 Dec

6-1

21 Oct

4-0

26 Aug

2-1

7 Apr

2-1

16 Dec

2-0

16 Sep

8-1

X

 

24 Mar Brechin v Montrose 2-1

14 Apr Aberdeen ‘A’ v Arbroath Athletic at Arbroath

 

 

1922-23

P

W

D

L

F

A

Pts

1

Montrose

12

8

1

3

34

18

17

2

Leith Athletic

9

6

1

2

20

15

13

3

Aberdeen ‘A’

7

3

2

2

14

10

8

4

Arbroath Athletic

9

3

2

4

14

24

8

5

Clackmannan

9

2

3

4

14

16

7

6

Dundee ‘A’

6

2

2

2

12

8

6

7

Brechin City

9

1

2

6

8

21

4

8

Dundee Hibernian

5

1

1

3

4

8

3