SJFA West Region Championship

The SJFA West Region Championship (known as the McBookie.com West Region Championship for sponsorship reasons) was a Scottish semi-professional football competition run by the West Region of the Scottish Junior Football Association and was the second tier of league competition for its member clubs.

SJFA West Region Championship
Founded2002 (2002)
Folded2020
Country Scotland
Number of teams16
Level on pyramid2
Promotion toWest Region Premiership
Relegation toWest League One
Domestic cup(s)Scottish Junior Cup
Last championsBlantyre Victoria and Darvel (1st titles; shared)
(2019–20)
Most championshipsRutherglen Glencairn (2 titles)

Formerly known as the West of Scotland Super League First Division, the league began in 2002 when top sides from the former Ayrshire and Central Regions agreed to form two combined Super League divisions above the regional competitions. Originally comprising twelve clubs, it was expanded to fourteen after two years as promotion/relegation places were increased.

West Region clubs voted in 2017 to organise all leagues on a regionwide basis and as a result, the second tier Super League First Division was rebranded as the Championship from 2018 onwards and now consists of sixteen clubs.[1] Clubs were promoted to a rebranded Premiership and relegated to a regionwide League One instead of the previous Central and Ayrshire district divisions.

The competition was abolished in 2020 when all SJFA West Region clubs moved to join the newly formed senior West of Scotland Football League.

Final member clubs for the 2019–20 season
Club Location Home Ground Finishing position 2018–19
ArthurlieBarrheadDunterlie Park5th
Blantyre VictoriaBlantyreKG Stadium3rd in League One
Cambuslang RangersCambuslangSomervell Park16th in Premiership
Craigmark BurntoniansDalmellingtonStation Park13th
Cumbernauld UnitedCumbernauldGuy's Meadow4th
Dalry ThistleDalryMerksworth Park11th
Darvel JuniorsDarvelRecreation Park7th
Gartcairn JuniorsAirdrieMTC Park1st in League One
Irvine VictoriaIrvineVictoria Park12th
Kilsyth RangersKilsythDuncansfield Park6th
Neilston JuniorsNeilstonBrig O' Lea Stadium8th
PetershillSpringburn, GlasgowPetershill Park15th in Premiership
RenfrewRenfrewNew Western Park14th in Premiership
Shotts Bon AccordShottsHannah Park2nd in League One
St Roch'sRoyston, GlasgowJames McGrory Park10th
Whitletts VictoriaAyrDam Park9th

Season summaries
Season Champions Also promoted Relegated
2002–03ArthurlieTroonCambuslang Rangers, Largs Thistle
2003–04Bellshill AthleticRenfrewBenburb, Shettleston
2004–05Kilsyth RangersShotts Bon AccordIrvine Meadow, Kilbirnie Ladeside, Cumbernauld United, Saltcoats Victoria
2005–06Neilston JuniorsPetershillKirkintilloch Rob Roy, Maybole, Dunipace, Cambuslang Rangers
2006–07Irvine MeadowBeith JuniorsHurlford United, Larkhall Thistle, Lugar Boswell Thistle, Girvan
2007–08Kirkintilloch Rob RoyVale of ClydeMaryhill, Troon, Lesmahagow, Johnstone Burgh
2008–09Largs ThistleKilbirnie Ladeside, Lanark UnitedPort Glasgow, Shotts Bon Accord, Kilwinning Rangers, Hurlford United
2009–10Rutherglen GlencairnCumnock JuniorsDalry Thistle, Maybole, Kilsyth Rangers, Neilston Juniors
2010–11AshfieldClydebankKilwinning Rangers, Bellshill Athletic, Vale of Clyde, Annbank United
2011–12Glenafton AthleticShotts Bon AccordEast Kilbride Thistle, Lanark United, Girvan, Dalry Thistle
2012–13Hurlford UnitedKilbirnie Ladeside, Largs ThistleWhitletts Victoria, Ardrossan Winton Rovers, Kello Rovers, Glasgow Perthshire
2013–14TroonBeith Juniors, Shotts Bon AccordLesmahagow, Kilwinning Rangers, Renfrew, Ashfield
2014–15PollokShettleston, Kirkintilloch Rob RoyIrvine Victoria, Neilston Juniors, Ardeer Thistle, Thorniewood United
2015–16Cumnock JuniorsLargs Thistle, Kilwinning RangersGreenock Juniors, Ardrossan Winton Rovers, Bellshill Athletic, Maybole
2016–17GirvanClydebankYoker Athletic, Shotts Bon Accord, Blantyre Victoria, Irvine Victoria
2017–18PetershillCambuslang Rangers, Largs Thistle,
Renfrew, Irvine Meadow, Troon		Maryhill, Shettleston
2018–19Rutherglen Glencairn (2)Benburb, RossvaleGirvan, Kello Rovers, Larkhall Thistle
2019–20[lower-alpha 1]Blantyre Victoria /
Darvel (shared)		No promotion or relegation: all SJFA West teams moved to the Senior West of Scotland Football League.[3][4]
  1. Season suspended in March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Champions calculated using 'points per game' algorithm, announced on 21 April.[2]

References
  1. Goldthorp, Craig (13 July 2017). "Junior football overhaul sees merger of Scotland's West and Ayrshire clubs". carlukegazette.co.uk. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  2. Junior football chiefs explain reasoning behind controversial league winners decision, Daily Record, 21 April 2020
  3. Pyramid Update – 67 Applications Approved, Scottish Lowland Football League, 14 April 2020
  4. Junior clubs in the west are about to get the best of both worlds, The Scotsman, 19 April 2020
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