North Caledonian League

The introduction of the North of Scotland Junior Cup in 1888 prompted to the formation of a new junior association for the region, and following the first cup final, the North of Scotland Junior Football Association was formed.

The Association's league competition was later introduced in 1896 as the "North of Scotland Junior League" with the initial aim of providing a league format for its junior members and "2nd XI" junior teams from senior Highland Football League clubs. Upon its formation these teams mostly came from the Inverness area. By the turn of the century though, the Association had welcomed several new member teams from throughout Inverness-shire and Ross-shire, such as Muir of Ord, Beauly, Dingwall Victoria United (later known as Ross County) and Tore United.

By 1948, the league had dropped its junior status and became known as the North of Scotland "2nd XI" League or "Highland Reserve League", having dropped its junior tag and instead becoming recognised as a senior football league. By the 1970s, the Highland League reserve teams which had frequently entered teams gradually dropped out with most finding that it was not financially viable to run "2nd XI" or reserve teams each year.

In a bid to shake the stigma of the "2nd XI" tag (and the inference of being "second best") the remaining football clubs in the league took the decision to rename the league and at the 1984 annual general meeting of the North of Scotland 2nd XI Football Association in Bonar Bridge, member clubs voted unanimously to change the name of the association to the North Caledonian Football Association and the name of the league competition to the North Caledonian Football League.

League Members:

• Bonar Bridge

• Bunillidh Thistle

• Golspie Sutherland

• Halkirk United

• Invergordon

• Inverness Athletic

• Orkney

• St Duthes

• Thurso

Guest Members for entry into cup competitions only:

• Alness United

• Lewis & Harris

• Nairn County U20s

• Shetland