This was a Scottish non-league football (soccer) competition that ran at various times between 1891 and 1946.
Eastern Alliance 1891–92 The Eastern Football Alliance was formed in 1891–92 by predominantly six Linlithgowshire clubs: Mossend Swifts, Armadale, Bathgate Rovers, Bo'ness, Broxburn, and Leith Hibernian (a club related to the original Hibernian).
Kirkcaldy were later admitted to the league, but withdrew during the season and their results expunged. Leith Hibernian were dissolved before the tournament started, and were replaced by Adventurers.
The league remained unfinished and was wound before the season finished.
East of Scotland League 1893–94 The first East of Scotland Football League was formed in 1893–94 by six West Lothian clubs. The league was officially formed and its officials were selected at the East of Scotland FA Rooms in January 1894.
Broxburn Shamrock were to join after the first season. The competition was poorly received. It was unfinished primarily because it had started so late in the season.
Eastern League 1904–07
After an unsuccessful season of the revived Midland League, the Eastern Football League was reformed by nine clubs on 6 August 1904. One of those clubs, Hearts of Beath, was later replaced with Hearts 'A'.
After a single season, member clubs Bo'ness, Broxburn, and Broxburn Shamrock all left to join the reformed Scottish Alliance. An ailing league only lasted another season before it was disbanded.
Champions
1904–05 Heart of Midlothian 'A'
1905–06 Heart of Midlothian 'A'
1906–07 unfinished
Membership
Adventurers 1904–1906 Bathgate 1904–1905 Berwick Rangers 1905–1907 Bo'ness 1904–1905 Broxburn 1904–1905 Broxburn Athletic 1905–1907 Broxburn Shamrock 1904–1905, 1906–1907 Cowdenbeath 'A' 1905–1906 Dykehead 1904–1905 East Fife 1904–1905 Heart of Midlothian 'A' 1904–1907 West Calder Swifts 1904–1905 West Lothian Albion 1906–1907
1912–14
The Eastern Football League was revived in 1912–13 and lasted for two seasons.
It came about after the Northern League had lost several of its principal clubs to other leagues, and there was a failed attempt to re-form as the North Eastern League with clubs from the Lothians and Borders.
Membership
Broxburn Shamrock 1912–14 Clackmannan 1912–14 Dumfermline Athletic 'A' 1913–14 Gala Fairydean 1912–14 Hearts of Beath 1912–13 Lochgelly 1912–14 Musselburgh 1912–13 Peebles Rovers 1912–14 Selkirk 1912–14 Vale of Leithen 1912–14 West Calder Swifts 1912–13
1915–18
In 1915, the Scottish League suspended its Division Two for the remainder of World War I. The member clubs combined with multiple non-league sides formed two regional leagues: Western and Eastern Football Leagues.
Although the Western League continued throughout the World War II, the Eastern League went into abeyance after season 1917–18 due to the lack of clubs still operating in the area.
Champions
1915–16 Armadale
1916–17 Cowdenbeath
1917–18 Cowdenbeath
Membership
Armadale 1915–1918 Bathgate 1915–1917 Broxburn United 1915–1917 Cowdenbeath 1915–1918 Dundee 1917–1918 Dundee Hibernian 1915–1918 Dunfermline Athletic 1915–1918 East Fife 1915–1918 East Stirlingshire 1915–1917 Kirkcaldy United 1915–1916 Leith Athletic 1915–1916 Lochgelly United 1915–1918 Raith Rovers 1917–1918 St Bernard's 1915–1917
1919–23
Champions
1919–20 Dundee Hibernian
1920–21
1921–22
1922–23
Membership
Aberdeen 'A' 1922–1923 Arbroath 1919–1920 Arbroath Athletic 1922–1923 Brechin City 1919–1923 Clackmannan 1922–1923 Cowdenbeath 1919–1920 Dundee 'A' 1919–1920, 1922–1923 Dundee Hibernian 1919–1920, 1922–1923 Forfar Athletic 1919–1920 leith Athletic 1922–1923 Lochgelly United 1919–1920 Montrose 1919–1923 Peebles Rovers 1921–1922 Raith Rovers 'A' 1919–1920 St Johnstone 1919–1920
See also East of Scotland League (supplementary competition, 1894–1907) East of Scotland League (level 6–9 on pyramid, founded 1923) Scottish Football (Defunct Leagues)
References