Founded | 2018 |
---|---|
Country | Scotland |
Divisions | 1 |
Number of teams | 9 |
Current champions | Hibernian Reserves (2022–23) |
The SPFL Reserve League is the reserve team league for football in Scotland. The league began in 2018, as the SPFL Development League was replaced by a reserve team (i.e not age-restricted) format.[1][2][3]
In its first season, 2018–19, the league included 27 clubs, split into two divisions. At its end, several clubs (Aberdeen, Celtic, Hibernian, Rangers and St Johnstone) intimated that they would withdraw from the Reserve League to arrange their own programme of matches.[4][5] The 2019–20 edition was formed with 19 clubs, with the season being curtailed early due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland; the winners were decided on a 'points per game' calculation.[6][7]
After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the league returned in season 2022–23 with ten clubs participating.[8][9] Hibernian were the winners of a truncated competition, with only one round of matches (nine per team).[10]
In 2023–24, there will be nine clubs participating.[11]
Season | Winner | Runner-up | League 2 Winner |
---|---|---|---|
2018–19 [12][13][14][15] |
Rangers Reserves | Celtic Reserves | Livingston Reserves[16] |
2019–20 [6][7][17] |
Hamilton Academical Reserves | Heart of Midlothian Reserves | Livingston Reserves[18][19] |
2022–23 [11][20] |
Hibernian Reserves | Motherwell Reserves |
A knockout competition is organised alongside the League.[9]
Season | Winner | Runner-up |
---|---|---|
2018–19[21] | Heart of Midlothian Reserves | Motherwell Reserves |
2019–20[22] | not completed[a] | |
2022–23[23] | Kilmarnock Reserves | Dunfermline Athletic Reserves |