Central Football League
There have been at least three competitions in Scotland known as the Central Football League
The first was originally formed in 1896 by five clubs - Cowdenbeath, Dunfermline Athletic, Fair City Athletic, Kirkcaldy and St Johnstone. In 1897 this version was superseded by the Central Football Combination.
Champions
- 1896–97 Cowdenbeath
- 1897–98 not completed
Membership
- Alloa Athletic 1897–1898
- Cowdenbeath 1896–1898
- Dundee 'A' 1897–98
- Dunfermline Athletic 1896–1898
- Fair City Athletic 1896–1897
- Hearts of Beith 1897–1898
- Kircaldy 1896–1898
- Lochgelly United 1896–1898
- St Johnstone 1896–97
The Central League was reformed in 1909 with twelve members - Alloa Athletic, Arbroath, Bathgate, Bo'ness, Broxburn Athletic, Dunfermline Athletic, East Fife, King's Park, Kirkcaldy United, Lochgelly United and St Johnstone. The League closed down after 1915 because of World War I and a number of clubs transferred to the new Eastern Football League.
Champions
- 1909–10 Bo'ness
- 1910–11 Dunfermline Athletic
- 1911–12 Dunfermline Athletic
- 1912–13 Alloa Athletic
- 1913–14 Armadale
- 1914–15 Armadale
Membership
- Alloa Athletic 1909–1915
- Arbroath 1909–1915
- Armadale 1911–1915
- Bathgate 1909–1914
- Bo'ness 1909–1915
- broxburn 1911–1912
- Broxburn Athletic 1909–1910
- Broxburn United 1912–1915
- Clackmannan 1914–1915
- Dundee 'A' 1912–1915
- Dunfermline Athletic 1909–1912
- East Fife 1909–1915
- Falkirk 'A' 1912–1912
- Forfar Athletic 1913–1915
- Heart of Midlothian 'A' 1910–1911
- King's Park 1909–1915
- Kirkcaldy United 1909–1915
- Lochgelly United 1909–1912, 1913–1914
- Montrose 1914–1915
- St Johnstone F.C. 1909–1911
- Stenhousemuir 1909–1915
The league closed down in 1915 because of the War but when the Scottish Football League refused to re-institute the Second Division in 1919, the Central Football League was re-formed. Since this competition was independent, member clubs could attract players by paying higher wages than those allowed under the maximum wage rules that applied to Scottish League clubs.
Champions
- 1919–20 Bo'ness
- 1920–21 Bo'ness
Membership
- Alloa Athletic 1919–1921
- Armadale 1919–1921
- Bathgate 1919–1921
- Bo'ness 1919–1921
- Broxburn United 1919–1921
- Clackmannan 1920–1921
- Cowdenbeath 1920–1921
- Dundee Hibernian 1920–1921
- Dunfermline Athletic 1919–1921
- East Fife 1919–1921
- East Stirlingshire 1919–1921
- Falkirk 'A' 1919–1921
- Heart of Midlothian 'A' 1919–1921
- King's Park 1919–1921
- Lochgelly United 1920–1921
- St Bernard's 1919–1921
- St Johnstone 1920–1921
- Stenhousemuir 1919–1921
In 1921, the Central League was absorbed by the Scottish League as the Second Division.
