2023–24 Highland Football League
Football league season
- Strathspey Thistle 1–10 Brora Rangers
(6 March 2024) - Fraserburgh 11–0 Strathspey Thistle
(20 April 2024)
Brechin City & Fraserburgh
Banks o' Dee
Clachnacuddin & Strathspey Thistle
Strathspey Thistle
← 2022–23
2024–25 →
All statistics correct as of 27 April 2024.The 2023–24 Highland Football League (known as the Breedon Highland League for sponsorship reasons) was the 121st season of the Highland Football League, and the 10th season as part of the fifth tier of the Scottish football pyramid system. Brechin City were the reigning champions, and were one of three teams that could have won the title in the final round of games, along with Buckie Thistle and Fraserburgh.
Buckie Thistle's 1–0 win – a sixth consecutive win to finish the season – over Keith gave them their 12th Highland League title on goal difference from Brechin City,[1] with Fraserburgh three points behind in third, having won their last ten games. However, Buckie Thistle were not eligible for the pyramid play-off as they did not hold a bronze-level club licence.[2]
Teams
Clachnacuddin
Deveronvale
Fraserburgh
Huntly
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Location of teams in 2023-24 Highland Football LeagueStadia and locations
All grounds are equipped with floodlights as required by league regulations.
| Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Banks o' Dee | Aberdeen | Spain Park | 876 | 100 |
| Brechin City | Brechin | Glebe Park | 4,083 | 1,519 |
| Brora Rangers | Brora | Dudgeon Park | 4,000 | 200 |
| Buckie Thistle | Buckie | Victoria Park | 5,000 | 400 |
| Clachnacuddin | Inverness | Grant Street Park | 2,074 | 154 |
| Deveronvale | Banff | Princess Royal Park | 2,600 | 360 |
| Formartine United | Pitmedden | North Lodge Park | 2,500 | 300 |
| Forres Mechanics | Forres | Mosset Park | 2,700 | 502 |
| Fraserburgh | Fraserburgh | Bellslea Park | 3,000 | 480 |
| Huntly | Huntly | Christie Park | 2,200 | 270 |
| Inverurie Loco Works | Inverurie | Harlaw Park | 2,500 | 250 |
| Keith | Keith | Kynoch Park | 4,000 | 370 |
| Lossiemouth | Lossiemouth | Grant Park | 2,050 | 250 |
| Nairn County | Nairn | Station Park | 2,250 | 250 |
| Rothes | Rothes | Mackessack Park | 2,700 | 184 |
| Strathspey Thistle | Grantown-on-Spey | Seafield Park | 1,600 | 150 |
| Turriff United | Turriff | The Haughs | 2,135 | 135 |
| Wick Academy | Wick | Harmsworth Park | 2,412 | 102 |
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Buckie Thistle (C) | 34 | 26 | 3 | 5 | 98 | 34 | +64 | 81 | Ineligible for the Pyramid play-off |
| 2 | Brechin City | 34 | 26 | 3 | 5 | 90 | 28 | +62 | 81 | |
| 3 | Fraserburgh | 34 | 25 | 3 | 6 | 102 | 37 | +65 | 78 | |
| 4 | Banks o' Dee | 34 | 21 | 9 | 4 | 87 | 33 | +54 | 72 | |
| 5 | Formartine United | 34 | 22 | 6 | 6 | 87 | 43 | +44 | 72 | |
| 6 | Brora Rangers | 34 | 17 | 8 | 9 | 64 | 46 | +18 | 59 | |
| 7 | Huntly | 34 | 16 | 6 | 12 | 81 | 61 | +20 | 54 | |
| 8 | Nairn County | 34 | 16 | 5 | 13 | 59 | 58 | +1 | 53 | |
| 9 | Turriff United | 34 | 15 | 3 | 16 | 75 | 63 | +12 | 48 | |
| 10 | Inverurie Loco Works | 34 | 13 | 5 | 16 | 52 | 58 | −6 | 44 | |
| 11 | Rothes | 34 | 10 | 7 | 17 | 47 | 71 | −24 | 37 | |
| 12 | Wick Academy | 34 | 10 | 6 | 18 | 49 | 70 | −21 | 36 | |
| 13 | Keith | 34 | 9 | 6 | 19 | 35 | 61 | −26 | 33 | |
| 14 | Forres Mechanics | 34 | 7 | 9 | 18 | 37 | 64 | −27 | 30 | |
| 15 | Lossiemouth | 34 | 7 | 8 | 19 | 36 | 66 | −30 | 29 | |
| 16 | Deveronvale | 34 | 5 | 10 | 19 | 43 | 91 | −48 | 25 | |
| 17 | Clachnacuddin | 34 | 5 | 8 | 21 | 47 | 89 | −42 | 23 | |
| 18 | Strathspey Thistle | 34 | 3 | 1 | 30 | 35 | 151 | −116 | 10 |
Source: [3][4][5]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(C) Champions
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(C) Champions
Results
| Home \ Away | BAN | BRE | BRO | BUC | CLA | DEV | FOU | FOM | FRA | HUN | INV | KEI | LOS | NAI | RTH | STR | TUR | WIC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Banks o' Dee | — | 0–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 4–1 | 2–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 4–0 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 4–0 |
| Brechin City | 0–0 | — | 2–1 | 2–3 | 6–0 | 5–1 | 1–0 | 6–1 | 0–1 | 5–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 5–0 | 5–1 | 3–1 |
| Brora Rangers | 1–2 | 1–2[a] | — | 1–5 | 1–0 | 3–3[b] | 1–4 | 3–2 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 4–1[c] | 3–2[d] | 2–1 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 4–2[e] | 1–0[f] |
| Buckie Thistle | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–0[g] | — | 2–3 | 6–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–0[h] | 3–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 6–0 | 3–1[i] | 6–1 | 4–0 | 5–2 |
| Clachnacuddin | 1–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–3 | — | 2–2 | 0–5 | 1–4 | 2–6 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 4–4 | 1–5 | 8–0 |
| Deveronvale | 3–3 | 0–4 | 0–3 | 0–0 | 0–0 | — | 0–3 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 0–6 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–3 | 0–1 | 0–0 |
| Formartine United | 1–4 | 4–3 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 5–0 | — | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 6–2 | 2–2 | 5–1 | 6–1 | 4–0 | 2–4 | 3–1 |
| Forres Mechanics | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–8 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–4 | — | 1–2 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 3–1 |
| Fraserburgh | 2–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 1–2 | 2–1 | — | 6–0 | 4–2 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 5–0 | 11–0 | 3–0 | 3–0 |
| Huntly | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 2–3 | 8–0 | 5–1 | 0–1 | 3–0 | 4–1 | — | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 4–4 | 7–0 | 4–2 | 2–1 |
| Inverurie Loco Works | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 0–7 | 2–3 | — | 1–2 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 0–1 | 5–0 | 1–4 | 3–1 |
| Keith | 1–3 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 1–2 | — | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 0–4 |
| Lossiemouth | 1–6 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 5–3 | 3–3 | 1–2 | 0–3 | 0–1 | 1–3 | 0–1 | 1–0 | — | 1–4 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 |
| Nairn County | 3–3 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 2–4 | 4–0 | 3–2 | 5–1 | — | 0–2 | 4–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 |
| Rothes | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 1–3 | 3–2 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 0–3 | — | 8–2 | 1–3 | 3–0 |
| Strathspey Thistle | 0–6 | 1–6 | 1–10 | 0–7 | 2–1 | 5–2 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 0–3 | 0–4 | 2–4 | — | 1–8 | 1–6 |
| Turriff United | 0–4 | 0–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 4–1 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 4–0 | 4–1 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 7–1 | — | 3–1 |
| Wick Academy | 1–1 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 0–3 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 2–3 | 0–0 | 3–2 | 1–5 | — |
- ^ Match played at King George V Park, Golspie.[6]
- ^ Match played at King George V Park, Golspie, due to an unplayable pitch at Dudgeon Park.[7]
- ^ Match played at King George V Park, Golspie, due to an unplayable pitch at Dudgeon Park.[8]
- ^ Match played at King George V Park, Golspie.[9]
- ^ Match played at King George V Park, Golspie.[10]
- ^ Match played at King George V Park, Golspie.[11]
- ^ Match played at Grant Park, Lossiemouth, due to an unplayable pitch at Victoria Park.[12]
- ^ Match played at Grant Park, Lossiemouth.[13]
- ^ Match played at Princess Royal Park, Banff.[13]
Highland League play-off
Subject to the tier 6 champion clubs meeting the required licensing criteria for promotion,[16][17] a play-off was scheduled to take place between the winners of the 2023–24 Midlands Football League, 2023–24 North Caledonian Football League and the 2023–24 North Region Junior Football League, with the winners then playing Strathspey Thistle, who finished bottom of the Highland League. However, none of the tier 6 champions had the required SFA licence and as such there was no promotion to, or relegation from, the Highland League.
References
- ^ Clark, Jonny (20 April 2024). "Buckie Thistle are 2023-24 Highland League champions after narrow win over Keith at Victoria Park". The Northern Scot. Highland News and Media Ltd. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
- ^ "Scottish FA Statement: Pyramid Play-Off Tie". Scottish Football Association. 25 April 2024. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
- ^ "Highland League Table". BBC. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
- ^ "Highland Football League, Scotland - League Table". Highland Football League. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
- ^ "Summary - Football League". Soccerway. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
- ^ Mew, Steven (18 April 2024). "Match Preview | Brora Rangers v Brechin City". Brechin City F.C. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
- ^ Clark, Will (3 April 2024). "Venue changed for Brora Rangers clash with Deveronvale tonight". The Northern Times. Highland News and Media Ltd. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
- ^ Law, Callum (26 January 2024). "Brora Rangers v Keith in Highland League switched to Golspie". The Press and Journal. Aberdeen Journals. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
- ^ Clark, Will (21 February 2024). "Brora Rangers announce change of venue eight hours before kick-off for Highland League match with Golspie [sic]". The Northern Times. Highland News and Media Ltd. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
- ^ Law, Callum (26 April 2024). "Highland League preview: Brora legends bow out against Turriff; Keith and Wick battle for 12th and Clach make new signings". The Press and Journal. Aberdeen Journals. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
Player-manager Ally MacDonald, goalkeeper Joe Malin, midfielder Dale Gillespie and attacker Paul Brindle are all leaving the Cattachs following the fixture at King George V Park in Golspie.
- ^ Chalk, Paul (24 April 2024). "Brora Rangers edge past Wick Academy to seal sixth spot in Highland League". The Press and Journal. Aberdeen Journals. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
The Cattachs, playing their final few games in Golspie due to a troublesome Dudgeon Park [...]
- ^ Christie, Craig (10 April 2024). "Buckie Thistle switch crucial Highland League clash to Lossiemouth's Grant Park while Brechin City await verdict on Keith's Kynoch Park surface". The Northern Scot. Highland News and Media Ltd. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
- ^ a b Clark, Jonathan (8 February 2024). "Buckie Thistle to play home matches at Deveronvale's Princess Royal Park and Lossiemouth's Grant Park". The Northern Scot. Highland News and Media Ltd. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
- ^ "Highland League Results". Highland Football League. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
- ^ "Highland League 2023/24 fixtures revealed". The Press and Journal. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
- ^ Chalk, Paul. "George Manson takes over top Highland League role at AGM". The Press and Journal. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
- ^ Fraser, Alasdair. "Relegation dawns for Highland League clubs as tier six north set for next season". Inverness Courier. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
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