SPFL Reserve League
Football 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 (Aberdeen, Celtic, Hibernian, 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 |
- ^ Finalists were Aberdeen Reserves and 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
- Table and fixtures at SPFL
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