Scottish Junior Football Association - Name

Name

The term "Junior" does not relate to the age of players. Football for youngsters is generally known as "Youth" (up to Under-19) or "Juvenile" (which is to Under-21 level) football. In the late 19th century, membership of the SFA conferred "Senior" status on a club and the Junior grade developed outwith the SFA framework. Today, the Senior grade of football in Scotland is played in the Scottish Premier League, the Scottish Football League, as well as the three Senior non-leagues, the Highland Football League, the East of Scotland Football League and the South of Scotland Football League. Over time, as various local football associations and leagues, both Junior and Senior, have risen in strength or in some cases disappeared completely, Scottish football developed its current pattern with either Junior or Senior non-leagues taking precedence in various parts of the country with some occasional overlap. Nowadays, membership of the SJFA automatically confers on a club, registered membership of the SFA, however Junior and Senior non-league clubs still play in separate competitions.

Despite the lesser media coverage the Juniors get, many of the club sides are fairly popular, and some of the bigger games between clubs (such as the local derbies between Arthurlie and Pollok, and Cumnock Juniors vs. Auchinleck Talbot) can attract attendances in the thousands, although crowds were far bigger in the past (76,000 for the Junior Cup Final in 1951, with nearly 90,000 watching the semi finals (including a replay)) compared to the level of support attracted now. Since gaining entry to the Scottish Cup in 2007, Junior clubs have enjoyed reasonable success with Irvine Meadow, Bo'ness United and Sunnybank all defeating Scottish Football League opposition.