Highland Football League has a great tradition of spirit, skill and
sportsmanship - expanding form humble beginnings to a championship whose
standards now command national respect.
The league was conceived at the Inverness Workman's Club on August 4th 1893, all
the clubs present expressing an enthusiastic willingness to become part of a
league. After discussing the logistical matters, the Scottish Football
Association blessed the venture and The Highland Football League was born.
By February 7th 1894, after undergoing the teething problems of a new venture
and having lost one of the original teams from the fixture list, the League
reported a surplus of five pounds. This rocky first season was concluded, and
Thistle became the first champions of the Highland Football League.
The league consisted of seven teams in 1893-94, those of Thistle, Caley,
Clachnacuddin, Forres Machanics, Union, Citadel and Camerons. From this strong
base, the League has gone from strength to strength culminating in the 1992-1993
championships where the league contained eighteen clubs - those of Elgin City,
Cove Rangers, Lossiemouth, Caley, Ross County, Huntly, Clachnacuddin, Inverness
Thistle, Buckie Thistle, Fraserburgh, Deveronvale, Keith, Brora Rangers,
Peterhead, Rothes, Fort William, Forres Mechanics and Nairn County.
Having now survived over one hundred years, and the many obstacles history has
placed in its path, the Highland Football League has become a part of the
Northern Spirit, displaying the strength of commitment to the game from the
meeting rooms, the players and from the supporters who loyally support their
chosen team. Although the Highland Football League is a small speck in the
increasingly global world of football, it is a league with a special character,
a sound commitment to the game, exceptional skill, strong pride and an integral
part of the communities within which it is a part.