The 2025–26 East of Scotland Football League was the 97th season of the East of Scotland Football League, and the 12th season with its top division as part of the sixth tier of the Scottish football pyramid system.
From the 2026–27 season, a new Lowland Football League structure is being introduced with two divisions each of 16 member clubs (plus any B teams) running concurrently known as Lowland League East and Lowland League West. As a result, the 2025-26 season was a transitional season with three teams from the Premier Division promoted to Lowland League East.
Hill of Beath Hawthorn won the East of Scotland Football League for the first time, finishing a point clear of Musselburgh Athletic, with Dunipace a further point behind in third; all three teams were promoted to the Lowland League East.
Background At the Lowland Football League AGM in May 2025, a new league structure was announced to be introduced from the 2026–27 season. The league is transitioning into two parallel divisions to be known as Lowland League East and Lowland League West. Membership would be based on geographic boundaries with the East of Scotland Football League and the Midlands Football League becoming feeder leagues for Lowland League East. To fill league membership up to 16 teams plus one guest team, four teams were promoted from the 2025–26 East of Scotland Football League Premier Division and the 2025–26 Midlands Football League Premier Division. Priority was given to the highest-ranked eligible clubs. To be eligible, a club must be club licensed with the Scottish Football Association.
A new club, Cowdenbeath Central, was admitted to the league.
Peebles Rovers withdrew from the league following issues around the compliance of their ground, Whitestone Park.
Premier Division
Hill of Beath Hawthorn won their first East of Scotland League title, and promotion to the Lowland League East, beating their closest challengers Camelon Juniors 1–0 on 2 May 2026, to hold an unassailable four-point lead into the final round of fixtures.
Team changes Defending champions Musselburgh Athletic remained in the league after losing the Lowland League play-off against Clydebank. Edinburgh University, Luncarty and Tynecastle were relegated to the First Division while Camelon Juniors, Bo'ness Athletic and Newtongrange Star were promoted.
Stadia and locations ClubLocationGroundSurfaceCapacitySeatsFloodlitRef.Bo'ness Athletic Bo'nessNewtown ParkArtificial2,0000YesCamelon Juniors CamelonCarmuirs ParkGrass2,000100YesDunbar United DunbarNew Countess ParkGrass1,200200YesDundonald Bluebell CardendenMoorside ParkGrass1,0000YesDunipace DennyWestfield ParkArtificial1,0000YesGlenrothesGlenrothesWarout StadiumGrass2,000730NoHaddington Athletic HaddingtonMillfield ParkGrass1,200154YesHill of Beath Hawthorn Hill of BeathKeir's ParkGrass1,0800YesHutchison Vale Saughton, EdinburghSaughton EnclosureGrass1,0000YesJeanfield Swifts PerthRiverside StadiumGrass1,0000YesMusselburgh Athletic MusselburghOlivebank StadiumGrass1,5000YesNewtongrange Star NewtongrangeNew Victoria ParkGrass2,27530YesPenicuik Athletic PenicuikMontgomery ParkGrass1,5000YesSauchie Juniors SauchieBeechwood ParkGrass2,500200YesSt Andrews United St AndrewsRecreation ParkGrass7660YesWhitburnWhitburnCentral ParkGrass3,00038Yes
League table
Results
First Division
Armadale Thistle won the First Division title on 25 April 2026; their 4–0 victory at Blackburn United allowed them to maintain a ten-point lead over second-placed Thornton Hibs with three games remaining.
Team changes Defending champions Camelon Juniors were promoted to the Premier Division alongside Bo'ness Athletic and Newtongrange Star while Arniston Rangers, Kinnoull and Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts were relegated to the Second Division. In their place, Tynecastle, Edinburgh University and Luncarty were relegated from the Premier Division and Armadale Thistle, Easthouses Lily Miners Welfare and Bathgate Thistle were promoted from the Second Division.
Stadia and locations TeamLocationHome groundSurfaceCapacitySeatsFloodlitRef.Armadale ThistleArmadaleVolunteer ParkArtificial2,000300YesBathgate ThistleBathgateCreamery ParkGrass2,0000YesBlackburn United BlackburnNew Murrayfield ParkArtificial1,10060YesCrossgates PrimroseCrossgatesHumbug ParkGrass1,5000NoEasthouses Lily Miners Welfare EasthousesNewbattle ComplexGrass1,500100YesEdinburgh SouthColinton, EdinburghPaties Road StadiumGrass1,200200NoEdinburgh University Craigmillar, EdinburghNew Peffermill StadiumGrass1,100100YesHeriot-Watt UniversityRiccarton, EdinburghJohn Brydson ArenaArtificial5000YesKirkcaldy & DysartKirkcaldyDenfield ParkGrass1,20020NoLeith AthleticMeadowbank, EdinburghMeadowbank StadiumArtificial1,748499YesLochore WelfareCrosshillCentral ParkGrass1,2000NoLuncartyLuncartyBrownlands ParkGrass1,0000NoPreston Athletic PrestonpansPennypit ParkGrass1,500313YesThornton HibsThorntonMemorial ParkGrass1,5000NoTynecastle Slateford, EdinburghMeggetland Sports ComplexGrass3,000500YesWhitehill Welfare RosewellFerguson ParkGrass1,500192Yes
Notes
League table
Results
Second Division
The Second Division title went down to the final round of matches, with West Calder United ultimately winning the championship by two points ahead of Coldstream.
Following the end of the season, the Second and Third Divisions were amalgamated into geographical conferences by region, with Stirling University reserves being reprieved from relegation.
Team changes Defending champions Armadale Thistle were promoted to the First Division alongside Easthouses Lily Miners Welfare and Bathgate Thistle while Vale of Leithen and Tweedmouth Rangers were relegated to the Third Division. In their place, Arniston Rangers, Kinnoull and Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts were relegated from the First Division and Lochgelly Albert, Linton Hotspur and Fauldhouse United were promoted from the Third Division. Peebles Rovers withdrew from the league.
Stadia and locations TeamLocationHome groundSurfaceCapacitySeatsFloodlitRefArniston RangersGorebridgeNewbyres ParkGrass1,5000NoBurntisland Shipyard BurntislandRecreation ParkGrass1,0000NoColdstream ColdstreamHome ParkGrass1,0000YesDalkeith Thistle DalkeithKing's ParkGrass1,5000YesEdinburgh CollegeRiccarton, EdinburghJohn Brydson ArenaArtificial5000YesFauldhouse UnitedFauldhousePark ViewGrass1,5000NoHarthill RoyalHarthillGibbshill ParkGrass1,0000NoInverkeithing Hillfield SwiftsDalgety BayDalgety Bay Sports & Leisure CentreArtificial8000YesKennoway Star HeartsStarTreaton ParkGrass1,0000YesKinnoullPerthTulloch ParkGrass1,0000YesLinton HotspurWest LintonNew Moor ParkGrass1,00063NoLochgelly AlbertLochgellyGardiners ParkGrass1,5000NoOakley UnitedOakleyBlairwood ParkGrass1,5000NoStirling University reservesAlloaRecreation ParkArtificial3,100919YesWest Calder UnitedWest CalderHermand ParkGrass1,0000No
Notes
League table
Results
Third Division
Hawick Royal Albert won the Third Division title on 5 May 2026, following a 2–0 win over Vale of Leithen, which allowed them to retain an eight-point lead over second-placed Stoneyburn with two games remaining. It was their first league title of any kind since winning the East of Scotland League in 1973–74.
Following the end of the season, the Second and Third Divisions were amalgamated into geographical conferences by region, with all teams being promoted as a result.
Team changes Defending champions Lochgelly Albert were promoted to the Second Division alongside Linton Hotspur and Fauldhouse United. In their place, Vale of Leithen and Tweedmouth Rangers were relegated from the Second Division Previously a youth team known as Blue Brazil, Cowdenbeath Central joined the East of Scotland League after setting up a senior side.
Stadia and locations ClubLocationHome GroundSurfaceCapacitySeatsFloodlitRef.Cowdenbeath CentralCowdenbeathAlex Venters Memorial ParkGrass5000NoEdinburgh CFCWarriston, EdinburghSt Mark's ParkGrass1,0000NoEdinburgh UnitedColinton, EdinburghPaties Road StadiumGrass1,200200NoHawick Royal Albert HawickAlbert ParkGrass1,000500YesLivingston UnitedLivingstonStation ParkGrass1,5000NoNewburghNewburghEast Shore ParkGrass1,0000NoOrmiston PrimroseOrmistonNew Recreation ParkGrass1,0000NoPumpherstonPumpherstonRecreation ParkGrass1,5000NoStoneyburnStoneyburnBeechwood ParkGrass1,5000NoTweedmouth Rangers Berwick-upon-TweedOld Shielfield ParkGrass1,00050NoVale of Leithen InnerleithenVictoria ParkGrass1,0000Yes
League table
Results
Notes Club with an SFA licence eligible for promotion to Lowland League East (should they participate in the Premier Division) and also compete in the Scottish Cup.
References
External links