2022–23 Highland Football League

Football league season

Breedon Highland LeagueSeason| 2022–23

|

Dates| 23 July 2022 – 22 April 2023
Champions| Brechin City
Matches played| 306
Goals scored| 1,140 (3.73 per match)
Biggest home win| Brechin City 10–0 Wick Academy
(25 March 2023)
Biggest away win| Strathspey Thistle 0–11 Brora Rangers
(5 October 2022)
Highest scoring| Strathspey Thistle 0–11 Brora Rangers
(5 October 2022)
Longest winning run| 8 matches:
3 teams
Longest unbeaten run| 23 matches:
Brechin City
Longest winless run| 14 matches:
Strathspey Thistle
Longest losing run| 7 matches:
3 teams

← 2021–22

2023–24 →

All statistics correct as of 22 April 2023.

The 2022–23 Highland Football League (known as the Breedon Highland League for sponsorship reasons) was the 120th season of the Highland Football League, and the 9th season as part of the fifth tier of the Scottish football pyramid system. Fraserburgh were the reigning champions, but were unable to defend their title.

The championship title was decided in the final round of fixtures with Buckie Thistle and Brechin City facing off against each other at Victoria Park.[1] Brechin City won 2–0 – inflicting Buckie Thistle's first home league defeat since August 2019[2] – to win the league by two points.[3]

Brechin City played the winners of the 2022–23 Lowland Football League (The Spartans) in the Pyramid play-off, losing on penalties after drawing 3–3 on aggregate.

## Teams

[edit]

Banks O' Dee

Brechin City

Brora Rangers

Buckie Thistle

Clachnacuddin

Deveronvale

Formartine United

Fraserburgh

Forres Mechanics

Huntly

Inverurie Loco Works

Keith

Lossiemouth

Nairn County

Rothes

Strathspey Thistle

Turriff United

Wick Academy

class=notpageimage|

Location of teams in 2022-23 Highland Football League

Banks O' Dee joined having become the first club to be promoted into the Highland League, replacing Fort William whose 37-year stay in the division came to an end.

### From Highland League

[edit]

Relegated to North Caledonian League

* Fort William

### To Highland League

[edit]

Promoted from North Superleague

* Banks O' Dee

### Stadia and locations

[edit]

All grounds are equipped with floodlights as required by league regulations.

Team  | Location  | Stadium  | Capacity  | Seats

|
|
|
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Banks O' Dee | Aberdeen | Spain Park  | 876  | 100
Brechin City | Brechin | Glebe Park | 4,083  | 1,519
Brora Rangers | Brora | Dudgeon Park  | 4,000  | 200
Buckie Thistle | Buckie | Victoria Park | 5,000  | 400
Clachnacuddin | Inverness | Grant Street Park | 2,074  | 154
Deveronvale | Banff | Princess Royal Park | 2,600  | 360
Formartine United | Pitmedden | North Lodge Park | 2,500  | 300
Fraserburgh | Fraserburgh | Bellslea Park | 3,000  | 480
Forres Mechanics | Forres | Mosset Park | 2,700  | 502
Huntly | Huntly | Christie Park | 2,200  | 270
Inverurie Loco Works | Inverurie | Harlaw Park | 2,500  | 250
Keith | Keith | Kynoch Park | 4,000  | 370
Lossiemouth | Lossiemouth | Grant Park | 2,050  | 250
Nairn County | Nairn | Station Park  | 2,250  | 250
Rothes | Rothes | Mackessack Park  | 2,700  | 184
Strathspey Thistle | Grantown-on-Spey | Seafield Park  | 1,600  | 150
Turriff United | Turriff | The Haughs | 2,135  | 135
Wick Academy | Wick | Harmsworth Park | 2,412  | 102

## League table

[edit]

Pos | Team  | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation

|
|
|
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|
|
|
|

1  | Brechin City (C) | 34  | 28  | 5  | 1  | 101  | 16  | +85  | 89  | Qualification for the Pyramid play-off
2  | Buckie Thistle | 34  | 28  | 3  | 3  | 92  | 26  | +66  | 87  |
3  | Brora Rangers | 34  | 26  | 2  | 6  | 116  | 32  | +84  | 80
4  | Formartine United | 34  | 23  | 5  | 6  | 81  | 31  | +50  | 74
5  | Fraserburgh | 34  | 21  | 8  | 5  | 91  | 31  | +60  | 71
6  | Inverurie Loco Works | 34  | 14  | 8  | 12  | 63  | 57  | +6  | 50
7  | Nairn County | 34  | 12  | 10  | 12  | 51  | 63  | −12  | 46
8  | Huntly | 34  | 13  | 6  | 15  | 44  | 49  | −5  | 45
9  | Rothes | 34  | 12  | 8  | 14  | 64  | 60  | +4  | 44
10  | Banks O' Dee[a] | 34  | 19  | 6  | 9  | 98  | 49  | +49  | 39
11  | Forres Mechanics | 34  | 10  | 6  | 18  | 57  | 60  | −3  | 36
12  | Turriff United | 34  | 11  | 3  | 20  | 56  | 76  | −20  | 36
13  | Clachnacuddin | 34  | 10  | 4  | 20  | 44  | 76  | −32  | 34
14  | Lossiemouth | 34  | 8  | 3  | 23  | 38  | 83  | −45  | 27
15  | Keith | 34  | 7  | 6  | 21  | 38  | 87  | −49  | 27
16  | Wick Academy | 34  | 7  | 5  | 22  | 34  | 100  | −66  | 26
17  | Deveronvale | 34  | 6  | 6  | 22  | 48  | 90  | −42  | 24
18  | Strathspey Thistle | 34  | 2  | 4  | 28  | 24  | 154  | −130  | 10

Source: [5][6][7]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(C) Champions
Notes:

1. ^ Banks O' Dee deducted 24 points for fielding an ineligible player in 8 matches.[4]

## Results

[edit]

Home \ Away  | BAN | BRE | BRO | BUC | CLA | DEV | FOU | FOM | FRA | HUN | INV | KEI | LOS | NAI | RTH | STR | TUR | WIC

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Banks O' Dee | -- | 1–4  | 4–3  | 1–3  | 2–1  | 2–0  | 2–3  | 2–0  | 1–1  | 5–2  | 3–4  | 8–0  | 7–0  | 1–1  | 2–0  | 9–1  | 2–0  | 6–0
Brechin City | 4–4  | -- | 0–0  | 1–0  | 5–0  | 7–1  | 3–1  | 2–1  | 5–0  | 2–2  | 5–1  | 5–0  | 3–0  | 3–0  | 1–0  | 6–0  | 4–0  | 10–0
Brora Rangers | 3–0  | 0–3  | -- | 0–2  | 4–2  | 5–0  | 2–1  | 4–1  | 0–1  | 1–0  | 5–2  | 6–1  | 1–0  | 2–1  | 3–0  | 2–0  | 2–1  | 6–1
Buckie Thistle | 2–2  | 0–2  | 4–2  | -- | 5–0  | 3–2  | 1–0  | 2–0  | 2–1  | 2–0  | 2–0  | 3–0  | 2–1  | 3–0  | 1–1  | 8–0  | 7–1  | 2–1
Clachnacuddin | 3–1  | 1–2  | 0–4  | 1–4  | -- | 3–1  | 1–3  | 2–0  | 1–1  | 2–0  | 1–3  | 2–1  | 2–1  | 0–2  | 4–1  | 0–2  | 1–4  | 1–3
Deveronvale | 1–4  | 1–3  | 0–6  | 1–2  | 3–3  | -- | 0–3  | 2–1  | 2–3  | 1–3  | 0–3  | 4–3  | 2–0  | 2–3  | 0–1  | 7–0  | 2–0  | 3–3
Formartine United | 2–0  | 2–0  | 2–1  | 1–2  | 4–0  | 2–1  | -- | 2–0  | 0–1  | 2–0  | 2–1  | 6–0  | 5–0  | 3–1  | 2–1  | 6–1  | 2–1  | 6–0
Forres Mechanics | 1–2  | 0–1  | 0–8  | 2–3  | 0–0  | 4–1  | 1–1  | -- | 1–1  | 3–0  | 1–1  | 1–2  | 1–0  | 3–4  | 4–3  | 8–1  | 1–2  | 4–2
Fraserburgh | 0–3  | 0–0  | 2–2  | 1–0  | 5–0  | 3–0  | 2–2  | 3–0  | -- | 3–0  | 1–2  | 4–0  | 3–0  | 2–2  | 2–0  | 3–1  | 2–3  | 3–0
Huntly | 0–2  | 0–1  | 1–3  | 1–1  | 0–1  | 1–0  | 1–2  | 2–1  | 1–4  | -- | 1–1  | 1–0  | 2–1  | 3–1  | 1–1  | 2–0  | 2–0  | 5–2
Inverurie Loco Works | 1–1  | 0–1  | 2–4  | 0–4  | 2–4  | 4–0  | 1–1  | 0–1  | 0–4  | 0–0  | -- | 2–0  | 3–2  | 2–1  | 1–1  | 4–0  | 3–1  | 4–0
Keith | 2–3  | 0–2  | 0–4  | 1–5  | 2–1  | 1–1  | 1–0  | 2–6  | 2–2  | 1–1  | 2–3  | -- | 0–2  | 1–1  | 2–3  | 6–1  | 2–1  | 2–0
Lossiemouth | 1–2  | 0–3  | 0–3  | 0–6  | 0–2  | 2–3  | 1–3  | 0–0  | 0–7  | 1–4  | 1–0  | 2–0  | -- | 5–1  | 2–4  | 4–2  | 2–2  | 2–1
Nairn County | 3–0  | 0–0  | 0–4  | 1–3  | 1–0  | 2–2  | 1–1  | 0–5  | 0–4  | 2–0  | 2–2  | 2–2  | 2–0  | -- | 2–2  | 4–2  | 2–1  | 3–0
Rothes | 2–0  | 0–1  | 0–4  | 2–4  | 3–2  | 1–1  | 2–2  | 2–1  | 0–3  | 0–2  | 0–5  | 3–0  | 3–1  | 2–0  | -- | 9–0  | 6–1  | 2–2
Strathspey Thistle | 0–7  | 0–5  | 0–11  | 0–2  | 2–2  | 2–2  | 0–2  | 0–4  | 0–9  | 1–4  | 2–2  | 0–1  | 1–3  | 1–1  | 0–7  | -- | 1–6  | 1–2
Turriff United | 1–1  | 1–4  | 0–4  | 0–1  | 4–1  | 5–1  | 2–4  | 2–0  | 1–4  | 2–1  | 3–2  | 1–1  | 1–2  | 1–3  | 3–1  | 5–0  | -- | 0–3
Wick Academy | 0–8  | 0–3  | 1–7  | 0–1  | 1–0  | 2–1  | 0–3  | 1–1  | 0–6  | 0–1  | 1–2  | 1–0  | 2–2  | 1–2  | 1–1  | 1–2  | 2–0  | --

Source: [8]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

## Highland League play-off

[edit]

Subject to the tier 6 champion clubs meeting the required licensing criteria for promotion, a play-off was scheduled to take place between the winners of the 2022–23 Midlands Football League (Carnoustie Panmure), 2022–23 North Caledonian Football League (Loch Ness) and the 2022–23 North Region Junior Football League (Culter), with the winners then playing the team finishing bottom of the Highland League (Strathspey Thistle).[9][10] However, none of the tier 6 champions had the required SFA licence and as such there was no promotion to, or relegation from, the Highland League.[11]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Smith, Ewan (19 April 2023). "Brechin verdict: Key moments and player ratings as Angus side secure Highland League title showdown with Buckie Thistle". The Courier. DC Thomson. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
2. ^ Clark, Jonathan (22 April 2023). "Buckie Thistle 0 Brechin City 2: Last-gasp goals deny Jags the Highland League title". The Northern Scot. Highland News and Media Ltd. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
3. ^ Atkinson, Mark (22 April 2023). "Brechin City seal Highland League title in dramatic style as Stirling Albion clinch League Two crown". The Scotsman. National World. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
4. ^ Cryle, Ryan (26 October 2022). "Banks o' Dee hammered with 24-POINT penalty as player registration issue sees them drop to bottom of Breedon Highland League". The Press and Journal. Aberdeen Journals. Retrieved 26 October 2022. "The administrative error – which saw two unregistered Dee players involved in nine infringements across eight Highland League matches – means the Aberdeen side are now rock-bottom of the division on -1 points in their first Highland League campaign. League rules state clubs receive a mandatory three-point deduction for every match in which an ineligible player is involved."
5. ^ "Highland League Table". BBC. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
6. ^ "Highland Football League, Scotland - League Table". Highland Football League. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
7. ^ "Summary - Football League". Soccerway. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
8. ^ "Highland League Results". Highland Football League. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
9. ^ Chalk, Paul. "George Manson takes over top Highland League role at AGM". The Press and Journal. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
10. ^ Fraser, Alasdair. "Relegation dawns for Highland League clubs as tier six north set for next season". Inverness Courier. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
11. ^ Clark, Will (2023-05-07). "Why a team could still face relegation from the Highland League this season?". Inverness Courier. Retrieved 2023-05-17.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

Highland Football League

2024–25 teams|

* Banks o' Dee
* Brechin City
* Brora Rangers
* Buckie Thistle
* Clachnacuddin
* Deveronvale
* Formartine United
* Forres Mechanics
* Fraserburgh
* Huntly
* Inverurie Loco Works
* Keith
* Lossiemouth
* Nairn County
* Rothes
* Strathspey Thistle
* Turriff United
* Wick Academy

Former teams|

* Aberdeen 'A'
* Caledonian
* Cove Rangers
* Elgin Caledonian
* Elgin City
* Fort William
* Highland Light Infantry
* Inverness Celtic
* Inverness Citadel
* Inverness Thistle
* Inverness Union
* Peterhead
* Ross County

Associated competitions|

* Highland League Cup
* Aberdeenshire Cup
* Aberdeenshire League
* Aberdeenshire Shield
* Caledonia Trophy
* Inverness Cup
* North of Scotland Cup

Seasons|

* 1985-86
* 1986-87
* 1987-88
* 1988-89
* 1989-90
* 1990-91
* 1991-92
* 1992-93
* 1993-94
* 1994-95
* 1995-96
* 1996-97
* 1997-98
* 1998-99
* 1999–2000
* 2000–01
* 2001–02
* 2002–03
* 2003–04
* 2004–05
* 2005–06
* 2006–07
* 2007–08
* 2008–09
* 2009–10
* 2010–11
* 2011–12
* 2012–13
* 2013–14
* 2014–15
* 2015–16
* 2016–17
* 2017–18
* 2018–19
* 2019–20
* 2020–21
* 2021–22
* 2022–23
* 2023–24
* 2024–25

* v
* t
* e

2022–23 in Scottish football

« 2021–22

2023–24 »

Domestic leagues|

* SPFL
* Premiership
* Championship
* League One
* League Two
* Highland
* Lowland
* Midlands
* North Caledonian
* North Region Junior
* East of Scotland
* South of Scotland
* West of Scotland
* Women's Premier League
* SWPL 1
* SWPL 2
* Women's Championship

Domestic cups|

* Scottish Cup
* Final
* League Cup
* Group stage
* Final
* Challenge Cup
* Final
* South Region Challenge Cup
* Junior Cup
* Youth Cup
* Women's Cup
* Women's Premier League Cup
* Final

European competitions|

* Champions League
* Europa League
* Europa Conference League
* Youth League

Related to national team|

* Results
* Men's
* Women's
* UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying
* 2022–23 UEFA Nations League
* 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification (UEFA)

Transfers|

* Summer 2022
* Winter 2022–23

Club seasons

Premiership|

* Aberdeen
* Celtic
* Dundee United
* Heart of Midlothian
* Hibernian
* Kilmarnock
* Livingston
* Motherwell
* Rangers
* Ross County
* St Johnstone
* St Mirren

Championship|

* Arbroath
* Ayr United
* Cove Rangers
* Dundee
* Greenock Morton
* Hamilton Academical
* Inverness Caledonian Thistle
* Partick Thistle
* Queen's Park
* Raith Rovers

League One|

* Airdrieonians
* Alloa Athletic
* Clyde
* Dunfermline Athletic
* Edinburgh
* Falkirk
* Kelty Hearts
* Montrose
* Peterhead
* Queen of the South

League Two|

* Albion Rovers
* Annan Athletic
* Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic
* Dumbarton
* East Fife
* Elgin City
* Forfar Athletic
* Stenhousemuir
* Stirling Albion
* Stranraer

*[Pos]: Position
*[Pld]: Played
*[W]: Won
*[D]: Drawn
*[L]: Lost
*[GF]: Goals for
*[GA]: Goals against
*[GD]: Goal difference
*[Pts]: Points
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template