The 2023β24 Scottish Lowland Football League was the 11th season of the Lowland Football League, part of the fifth tier of the Scottish football pyramid system. The Spartans were the reigning champions but were unable to defend their title following their promotion to Scottish League Two.
East Kilbride won a record-equalling third Lowland League title, following a 4β2 victory by Heart of Midlothian B β who cannot win the Lowland League as a guest club[1] β over Bo'ness United on 12 April 2024, which left Bo'ness United nine points behind East Kilbride with two games remaining.
With their scheduled matchup with 2023β24 Highland Football League champion Buckie Thistle being cancelled due to the latter not holding the relevant licence, East Kilbride faced League Two bottom-placed team Stranraer in the final. They lost 3β5 on aggregate after conceding two goals in the last five minutes of extra time in the second leg at Stair Park.[2]
Teams
Albion Rovers became the fourth club to join the league via relegation from the SPFL, having lost the previous season's League Two play-off against The Spartans. East of Scotland League champions Linlithgow Rose were promoted to the league, replacing founding league member Dalbeattie Star who were relegated to the South of Scotland League.
Rangers B withdrew prior to the start of the season.[3]
From Lowland League
Promoted to League Two
Relegated to South of Scotland League
Withdrew
To Lowland League
Relegated from League Two
Promoted from East of Scotland League
Stadia and locations
- Notes
- ^ Broomhill are ground-sharing with Dumbarton.
- ^ Celtic B are ground-sharing with Airdrieonians.
- ^ East Stirlingshire are ground-sharing with Falkirk.
- ^ Heart of Midlothian B are ground-sharing with The Spartans.
- ^ University of Stirling are ground-sharing with Stirling Albion.
All grounds are equipped with floodlights.
League table
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | East Kilbride (C) | 34 | 26 | 3 | 5 | 96 | 43 | +53 | 81 | Qualification for the Pyramid play-off |
2 | Heart of Midlothian B | 34 | 21 | 6 | 7 | 92 | 43 | +49 | 69 | Ineligible for promotion or relegation |
3 | Bo'ness United | 34 | 21 | 4 | 9 | 72 | 50 | +22 | 67 | |
4 | Cumbernauld Colts | 34 | 19 | 8 | 7 | 70 | 43 | +27 | 65 | |
5 | Tranent | 34 | 18 | 6 | 10 | 69 | 42 | +27 | 60 | |
6 | Celtic B | 34 | 18 | 5 | 11 | 80 | 47 | +33 | 59 | Ineligible for promotion or relegation |
7 | Civil Service Strollers | 34 | 17 | 5 | 12 | 51 | 48 | +3 | 56 | |
8 | Linlithgow Rose | 34 | 14 | 8 | 12 | 63 | 43 | +20 | 50 | |
9 | Albion Rovers | 34 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 43 | 36 | +7 | 46 | |
10 | Cowdenbeath | 34 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 55 | 56 | −1 | 46 | |
11 | University of Stirling | 34 | 13 | 7 | 14 | 50 | 53 | −3 | 46 | |
12 | Caledonian Braves | 34 | 12 | 9 | 13 | 47 | 43 | +4 | 45 | |
13 | Berwick Rangers | 34 | 12 | 6 | 16 | 42 | 48 | −6 | 42 | |
14 | East Stirlingshire | 34 | 12 | 4 | 18 | 58 | 68 | −10 | 40 | |
15 | Broomhill | 34 | 11 | 6 | 17 | 56 | 59 | −3 | 39 | |
16 | Gala Fairydean Rovers | 34 | 9 | 5 | 20 | 45 | 87 | −42 | 32 | |
17 | Gretna 2008 | 34 | 3 | 3 | 28 | 26 | 114 | −88 | 12 | |
18 | Edinburgh University (R) | 34 | 2 | 3 | 29 | 40 | 132 | −92 | 9 | Relegation to the East of Scotland League |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated
Results
Lowland League play-off
A three match round robin play-off was scheduled to take place between the winners of the 2023β24 East of Scotland Football League, the 2023β24 South of Scotland Football League, and the 2023β24 West of Scotland Football League, subject to all three clubs meeting the required licensing criteria for promotion.[6] However, as West of Scotland Football League winners Beith Juniors did not hold a licence, the play-off was then contested by the remaining two league winners β Broxburn Athletic (East of Scotland Football League) and Dalbeattie Star (South of Scotland Football League) β over a home-and-away basis.
First leg
18 May 2024 | Dalbeattie Star | 1β4 | Broxburn Athletic | Dalbeattie |
15:00 | C. Watson ![]() |
Report[7] |
|
Stadium: Islecroft Stadium Attendance: 300 Referee: Andy Gamble |
Second leg
24 May 2024 | Broxburn Athletic | 8β1 (12β2 agg.) | Dalbeattie Star | Broxburn |
19:45 |
|
|
Stadium: Albyn Park Attendance: 932[8] Referee: Jordan Curran |
References
- ^ "Scottish Lowland Football League Constitution and Rules Version 20" (PDF). Lowland Football League. 8 June 2022. p. 19. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
Specifically, a Guest Club shall not be the Champion Club.
- ^ McGilvray, Andy (18 May 2024). "Stranraer 3, East Kilbride 1 (agg 5-3): Blues break Kilby hearts". Daily Record. Reach plc. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
- ^ "CLUB STATEMENT: SCOTTISH LOWLAND FOOTBALL LEAGUE". Rangers.co.uk. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
- ^ "Update: Hearts B vs Civil Service Strollers". Heart of Midlothian F.C. 14 December 2023. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
- ^ "Lowland League Results". Lowland Football League. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
- ^ "LOWER PYRAMID PLAY - OFF COMPETITION RULES" (PDF). Lowland Football League. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
- ^ "Dalbeattie Star v Broxburn Ath". Broxburn Athletic F.C. 18 May 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
- ^ @broxburnathfc (25 May 2024). "932 last night!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
Recent Comments