2023–24 East of Scotland Football League

The 2023–24 East of Scotland Football League (known as the Central Taxis East of Scotland League for sponsorship reasons) was the 95th season of the East of Scotland Football League, and the 10th season with its top division as part of the sixth tier of the Scottish football pyramid system. Linlithgow Rose were the reigning champions but were unable to defend their title after gaining promotion to the Lowland Football League.

Broxburn Athletic won their first East of Scotland Football League title by eleven points over Musselburgh Athletic, and were promoted to the 2024–25 Lowland Football League following a 12–2 victory over Dalbeattie Star in the Lowland League play-off.

Teams

The following teams changed division after the 2022–23 season.

To East of Scotland Football League

Transferred from Lothian & Edinburgh Amateur League

Linton Hotspur

From East of Scotland Football League

Promoted to Lowland Football League

Linlithgow Rose

Folded

Syngenta

Premier Division

Broxburn Athletic won the East of Scotland League for the first time following a 2–3 defeat suffered by Musselburgh Athletic at Jeanfield Swifts on 1 May 2024, which left Musselburgh eight points behind with two games remaining. They were promoted to the 2024–25 Lowland Football League, beating Dalbeattie Star in the Lowland League play-off.

Hill of Beath Hawthorn

Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts

Location of teams in 2023–24 East of Scotland Football League Premier Division

Relegated from 2022–23 Premier Division:

Blackburn United
Oakley United
Vale of Leithen

Promoted to 2023–24 Premier Division:

Dunbar United
Glenrothes
Luncarty
Kinnoull

Stadia and locations

Notes

^ Hutchison Vale ground-shared with The Spartans.

All grounds are equipped with floodlights, except Humbug Park (Crossgates Primrose), Warout Stadium (Glenrothes), Brownlands Park (Luncarty).

League table

Source: eosfl.com
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:

^ Glenrothes deducted 3 points for fielding an ineligible, underage player in their 0–5 defeat against Jeanfield Swifts.^[15]

Results

Source: East of Scotland Fixture List^[17]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Notes:

^ The original fixture finished 1–0 to Penicuik Athletic, but the match was replayed as Penicuik Athletic made too many substitutions during the match.^[16]

First Division

Heriot-Watt University

Location of teams in 2023–24 East of Scotland Football League First Division

Dunipace won the league title on 14 May 2024, following a 0–1 defeat for St Andrews United at Newtongrange Star – which meant that Dunipace, who had played all their games, could not be caught.

Relegated from 2022–23 First Division:

Burntisland Shipyard
Coldstream
Kennoway Star Hearts

Promoted to 2023–24 First Division:

Whitburn
St Andrews United
Heriot-Watt University
Arniston Rangers

Stadia and locations

Notes

League table

Source: eosfl.com
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:

^ Leith Athletic deducted 3 points for fielding an ineligible player in their 1–5 defeat against Preston Athletic.
^ Vale of Leithen deducted 3 points for fielding an ineligible player in their 2–6 defeat against Arniston Rangers.

Results

Source: East of Scotland Football League^[17]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Second Division

Edinburgh College

Edinburgh United & Edinburgh South

Stirling University reserves

Thornton Hibs

Tweedmouth Rangers

class=notpageimage|

Location of teams in 2023–24 East of Scotland Football League Second Division

The league title went down to the final day of the season, with Bo'ness Athletic and Thornton Hibs separated by one point. Despite a 21-match winning run for Thornton Hibs to end the season, Bo'ness Athletic's 4–0 home victory over Dalkeith Thistle was enough for the honours.

Relegated from 2022–23 Second Division:

Craigroyston
Hawick Royal Albert
Lochgelly Albert
Syngenta (folded)

Promoted to 2023–24 Second Division:

Bo'ness Athletic
Armadale Thistle
Edinburgh College

Stadia and locations

Notes

^ Edinburgh College ground-shared with Heriot-Watt University.
^ Edinburgh South ground-shared with Edinburgh United.
^ Stirling University reserves ground-shared with Stenhousemuir.
^ Tweedmouth Rangers ground-shared with Berwick Rangers.

League table

Source: eosfl.com
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:

^ Edinburgh United deducted 9 points for fielding an ineligible player in their March 2024 defeats against Edinburgh South, Bo'ness Athletic and Easthouses Lily Miners Welfare.

Results

Source: East of Scotland Football League^[17]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Notes:

^ Match played at Albyn Park, Broxburn.^[40]
^ Match played at Meadowbank Stadium.^[41]
^ Match played at Albyn Park, Broxburn, due to a waterlogged pitch at Paties Road.^[42]
^ Match played at Bayview Stadium, Methil, due to an unplayable pitch at Memorial Park.^[43]

Third Division

West Lothian

Linton Hotspur

Location of teams in 2023–24 East of Scotland Football League Third Division

Location of teams in 2023–24 East of Scotland Football League Third Division within West Lothian

West Calder United won the league title with a round of matches to spare, following a 2–1 victory over Harthill Royal on 14 May 2024.

Transferred from Lothian & Edinburgh Amateur League

Linton Hotspur

Stadia and locations

League table

Source: eosfl.com
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted
Notes:

^ Fauldhouse United deducted 2 points for fielding an ineligible player in their game against Edinburgh Community – originally a 3–3 draw, the game was awarded 1–0 to Edinburgh Community.

Results

Source: East of Scotland Football League^[17]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Notes:

^ Match initially finished 3–3; later awarded 1–0 to Edinburgh Community as Fauldhouse United fielded an ineligible player.
^ The original fixture finished 3–1 to Edinburgh Community, but the match was replayed as Edinburgh Community made too many substitutions during the match.^[52]

Notes

SFA Club with an SFA licence;^[53] eligible to participate in the Lowland League promotion play-off (should they win the Premier Division), and also compete in the Scottish Cup.

References

^ "Broxburn Athletic". Non League Scotland. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
^ "Crossgates Primrose". Non League Scotland. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
^ "Dunbar United". Non League Scotland. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
^ "Dundonald Bluebell". Non League Scotland. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
^ "Glenrothes". Non League Scotland. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
^ "Haddington Athletic". Non League Scotland. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
^ "Hill of Beath Hawthorn". Non League Scotland. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
^ a b "Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts". Non League Scotland. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
^ "Jeanfield Swifts". Non League Scotland. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
^ "Kinnoull". Non League Scotland. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
^ "Musselburgh Athletic". Non League Scotland. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
^ "Penicuik Athletic". Non League Scotland. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
^ "Sauchie Juniors". Non League Scotland. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
^ "Tynecastle". Non League Scotland. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
^ Goldthorp, Craig (5 September 2023). "Glenrothes FC: Co-manager John Martin 'gutted' as Glens deducted three points for fielding player under the age of 16". Fife Free Press. National World. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
^ "Club Statement". Penicuik Athletic F.C. 5 May 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
^ a b c d "The East of Scotland Football League Season 2023-24: Fixture List" (PDF). East of Scotland Football League. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
^ "Arniston Rangers". Non League Scotland. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
^ "Blackburn United". Non League Scotland. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
^ "Camelon Juniors". Non League Scotland. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
^ "Dunipace". Non League Scotland. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
^ "Heriot-Watt Uni". Non League Scotland. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
^ "Leith Athletic". Non League Scotland. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
^ "Newtongrange Star". Non League Scotland. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
^ "Oakley United". Non League Scotland. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
^ "Preston Athletic". Non League Scotland. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
^ "St Andrews United". Non League Scotland. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
^ "Whitburn". Non League Scotland. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
^ "Whitehill Welfare". Non League Scotland. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
^ Warrender, Claire (7 February 2024). "Game over as Rosyth FC announce shock closure with immediate effect". The Courier. DC Thomson. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
^ "Armadale Thistle". Non League Scotland. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
^ "Burntisland Shipyard". Non League Scotland. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
^ "Bo'ness United Junior". Non League Scotland. Archived from the original on April 24, 2022. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
^ "Coldstream". Non League Scotland. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
^ "Dalkeith Thistle". Non League Scotland. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
^ "Easthouses Lily MW". Non League Scotland. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
^ "Edinburgh United". Non League Scotland. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
^ "Ormiston". Non League Scotland. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
^ "Peebles Rovers". Non League Scotland. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
^ Easthouses Lily M.W.F.C [@EasthousesLily] (5 April 2024). "With a lot of pitch inspections and heavy rain due tonight Our game will be ON tomorrow as we play our @EastScotlandFA div 2 league match tomorrow at @BroxburnAthFC ground. We play against @TweedmouthRange 2.30pm kick off. Entry is £6/£3 Teas and coffees are available" (Tweet). Retrieved 6 April 2024 – via Twitter.
^ "Edinburgh College v. Thornton Hibs". East of Scotland Football League. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
^ Edinburgh South FC [@EdinSouthFC] (30 March 2024). "A reminder of today's details! Different from usual as we are playing out at Broxburn instead of Paties Road due to a waterlogged pitch. Hopefully see you this afternoon" (Tweet). Retrieved 20 August 2023 – via Twitter.
^ Thornton Hibs FC [@ThorntonHibsJFC] (5 April 2024). "COMING UP // A reminder that tomorrow's match has been switched to the MGM Timber Bayview Stadium due to Memorial Park currently being unplayable" (Tweet). Retrieved 6 April 2024 – via Twitter.
^ "Bathgate Thistle". Non League Scotland. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
^ "Craigroyston". Non League Scotland. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
^ "Fauldhouse United". Non League Scotland. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
^ "Hawick Royal Albert". Non League Scotland. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
^ "Livingston United". Non League Scotland. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
^ "Pumpherston". Non League Scotland. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
^ "Stoneyburn". Non League Scotland. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
^ "West Calder United". Non League Scotland. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
^ Hutson, Darin (19 September 2023). "Hawick Royal Albert hoping for third win on trot after knocking Bathgate Thistle out of South Region Challenge Cup". Southern Reporter. National World. Retrieved 23 September 2023. It's a re-run of the visitors' 3-1 win in Hawick at the start of August, a result since declared null and void because the Edinburgh side made too many substitutions [...]
^ "Licensed Clubs – 2024" (PDF). Retrieved 15 April 2024.

External links

Official website