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.SPFL reintroduce reserve leagues after nearly a decade's absence, Sky Sports, 24 July 2018
History 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. 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.Hamilton and Livingston named reserve league winners as SPFL drop hint over competition's future, Daily Record, 16 June 2020Hamilton Academical and Livingston Named Reserve League Champions, Scottish Professional Football League, 16 June 2020
After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the league returned in season 2022–23 with ten clubs participating. Hibernian were the winners of a truncated competition, with only one round of matches (nine per team).Reserve League 2022/23, SPFL
In 2023–24, Queen's Park won six of their eight Reserve League fixtures, securing the title. Their only defeat came against the previous season's champions Hibernian.
In 2024-25, six clubs participated in the SPFL Reserve League, playing each other twice across the season. Queen's Park won a second successive title with a points tally of 19; just one point ahead of runners up Livingston.
Participating clubs (for 2024–25 - Airdrieonians, Ayr United and Hibernian withdrew) Dundee Dunfermline Athletic Kilmarnock Livingston Queen of the South Queen's Park
Winners Season Winner Runner-up League 2 Winner2018–19Falkirk 1-3 Rangers Reserves, Rangers FCSPFL Reserve League 1 Table, Celtic FCSPFL Reserve League 2018–19, SoccerwayRangers win reserve league title on goal difference, BBC Sport, 6 May 2019Rangers ReservesCeltic ReservesLivingston ReservesSPFL Reserve League 2 2018–19, Soccerway2019–20SPFL Reserve League 2019–20, SoccerwayHamilton Academical ReservesHeart of Midlothian ReservesLivingston ReservesSPFL Reserve League 2 2019–20, Soccerway2019/20 SPFL Reserve League 2 Champions, Livingston FC, 16 June 20202022–23SPFL Reserve League 2022–23, SoccerwayHibernian ReservesMotherwell Reserves2023–24SPFL Reserve League 2023–24, SoccerwayQueen's Park ReservesDundee Reserves2024–25SPFL Reserve League 2024–25, SoccerwayQueen's Park ReservesLivingston Reserves
Reserve Cup A knockout competition is organised alongside the League.
A total of 12 clubs entered the 2024/25 SPFL Reserve Cup, with the competing sides split into three groups of four on a broadly regional basis. Clubs played each other once and the winner of each group progressed to the semi finals. These were Dunfermline Athletic, Queen's Park, and Queen of the South F.C.. Kilmarnock, the best runner-up across the three groups, also qualified for the semi-finals.SPFL Reserve Cup 2024–25, SPFL
The Final, between Kilmarnock and Dunfermline, took place on the 23rd of April 2025. Dunfermline won the match 2-1, securing their second successive reserve cup., SPFL
Season Winner Runner-up2018–19SPFL Reserve Cup 2018–19, SoccerwayHeart of Midlothian ReservesMotherwell Reserves2019–20SPFL Reserve Cup 2019–20, Soccerwaynot completed2022–23SPFL Reserve Cup 2022–23, SoccerwayKilmarnock ReservesDunfermline Athletic Reserves2023–24SPFL Reserve Cup 2023–24, Dunfermline Athletic F.CDunfermline Athletic ReservesLivingston F.C.2024–25https://spfl.co.uk/news/dunfermline-athletic-win-reserve-cup-5056, SPFLhttps://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2025/04/23/scotland/spfl-reserve-cup/dunfermline-res/kilmarnock-res/4639495/, SoccerwayDunfermline Athletic Reserves Kilmarnock Reserves
See also Scottish Premier Reserve League (a similar competition, operated by the Scottish Premier League between 1998 and 2009)
References
External links Table and fixtures at SPFL