The 2021–22 North Caledonian Football League (known for sponsorship reasons as the Macleod & MacCallum North Caledonian League) was the 113th season of the North Caledonian Football League, and the first season as the sixth tier of the Scottish football pyramid system.[citation needed]
| Season | 2021–22 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 21 August 2021 – 16 April 2022 |
| Champions | Invergordon[1] |
| Matches played | 110 |
| Goals scored | 453 (4.12 per match) |
| Biggest home win | Golspie Sutherland 9–0 Bonar Bridge (2 October 2021) |
| Biggest away win | Orkney 1–8 Golspie Sutherland (25 September 2021) |
| Highest scoring | 4 matches: 9 goals[A] |
| Longest winning run | 8 matches: Loch Ness |
| Longest unbeaten run | 8 matches: Loch Ness |
| Longest winless run | 11 matches: Alness United |
| Longest losing run | 10 matches: Nairn County A |
← 2020–21 2022–23 →
All statistics correct as of 16 April 2022. | |
Invergordon won the league title for the sixth time, with a 1–0 victory over Orkney on 2 April 2022 securing an unassailable five-point lead over long-time league leaders Loch Ness, ahead of Loch Ness' final league game. Following a Scottish FA rule change in June 2020, champions Invergordon were awarded a place in the preliminary round of the 2022–23 Scottish Cup.[2]
Teams
edit
Location of Orkney in the 2021–22 North Caledonian League
Location of mainland teams in the 2021–22 North Caledonian League
Stadia and locations
edit| Team | Location | Home ground | Capacity | Seats | Floodlit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alness United | Alness | Dalmore Park[3] | TBC | 0 | No |
| Bonar Bridge | Bonar Bridge | Migdale Playing Fields[4] | 500 | 0 | No |
| Golspie Sutherland [SFA] | Golspie | King George V Park[5] | 1,000 | 0 | Yes |
| Halkirk United | Halkirk | Morrison Park[6] | 1,000 | 0 | Yes |
| Invergordon | Invergordon | Recreation Grounds[7] | 500 | 0 | No |
| Inverness Athletic | Inverness | Inverness Royal Academy[8] | 500 | 0 | No |
| Loch Ness | Fortrose | King George V Park[9] | 500 | 0 | No |
| Nairn County 'A' | Nairn | Riverside Park[10] | 500 | 0 | No |
| Orkney | Holm | The Rockworks[11] | 1,000 | 0 | No |
| St Duthus | Tain | Grant Park[12] | 500 | 0 | No |
| Thurso | Thurso | Sir George's Park[13] | 1,000 | 0 | No |
Withdrew
editHaving withdrawn from the 2020–21 North Caledonian Football League, Bunillidh Thistle announced their intention to withdraw from the 2021–22 season as well, in June 2021.[14] In the week leading up to the start of the season, Scourie also resigned their membership of the North Caledonian Football Association.[15]
| Team | Location | Home ground | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bunillidh Thistle | Helmsdale | Couper Park | [14] |
| Scourie | Scourie | Achlochan Park[16] | [15] |
League table
edit| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Invergordon (C) | 20 | 14 | 3 | 3 | 43 | 24 | +19 | 45 | Ineligible for the Highland League play-off |
| 2 | Loch Ness | 20 | 14 | 1 | 5 | 52 | 27 | +25 | 43 | |
| 3 | Halkirk United | 20 | 13 | 1 | 6 | 58 | 35 | +23 | 40 | |
| 4 | Golspie Sutherland | 20 | 11 | 5 | 4 | 55 | 27 | +28 | 38 | |
| 5 | St Duthus | 20 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 47 | 40 | +7 | 34 | |
| 6 | Orkney | 20 | 11 | 1 | 8 | 41 | 36 | +5 | 34 | |
| 7 | Thurso[a] | 20 | 8 | 1 | 11 | 37 | 43 | −6 | 22 | |
| 8 | Nairn County A[b] | 20 | 5 | 0 | 15 | 26 | 57 | −31 | 18 | Ineligible for promotion |
| 9 | Inverness Athletic | 20 | 4 | 4 | 12 | 43 | 54 | −11 | 16 | |
| 10 | Alness United | 20 | 3 | 4 | 13 | 31 | 45 | −14 | 13 | |
| 11 | Bonar Bridge | 20 | 3 | 4 | 13 | 20 | 65 | −45 | 13 |
Source: North Caledonian Football League
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions
Notes:
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions
Notes:
Notes
editSFA Club with an SFA Licence (as of May 2021)[18] eligible to participate in the Highland League play-off should they win the league.
- ^ The matches were Orkney 1–8 Golspie Sutherland on 25 September 2021, Golspie Sutherland 9–0 Bonar Bridge on 2 October 2021, Golspie Sutherland 7–2 Thurso on 3 December 2021 and Loch Ness 6–3 Inverness Athletic on 11 December 2021.
References
edit- ^ North Caledonian FA [@NorthCaleyFA] (2 April 2022). "Congratulations to @InvergordonFC who were crowned @MacandMac28 North Caledonian League Champions today after their 1-0 win over Orkney" (Tweet). Retrieved 2 April 2022 – via Twitter.
- ^ Law, Danny. "Invergordon to represent North Caledonian League in this season's Scottish Cup". Press and Journal. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
- ^ "Alness United FC - North Caledonian Football Association". North Caledonian FA Official Website. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
- ^ "Bonar Bridge FC - North Caledonian Football Association". North Caledonian FA Official Website. Archived from the original on 5 May 2021. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
- ^ Golspie Sutherland, nonleaguescotland.org.uk, Retrieved 5 May 2021.
- ^ Halkirk United, nonleaguescotland.org.uk, Retrieved 5 May 2021.
- ^ Invergordon, nonleaguescotland.org.uk, Retrieved 5 May 2021.
- ^ "Inverness Athletic F.C." nonleaguescotland.org.uk. Archived from the original on 29 June 2016. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
- ^ "Non League Scotland". nonleaguescotland.org.uk. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
- ^ "Non League Scotland". nonleaguescotland.org.uk. Archived from the original on 15 August 2020. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
- ^ Orkney, nonleaguescotland.org.uk, Retrieved 5 May 2021.
- ^ "St Duthus F.C." nonleaguescotland.org.uk. Archived from the original on 28 February 2019. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
- ^ Thurso, nonleaguescotland.org.uk, Retrieved 5 May 2021.
- ^ a b Chalk, Paul (11 June 2021). "Golspie Sutherland close in on North Caledonian League title – and target Highland League spot in longer term". The Press and Journal. Aberdeen Journals. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
Bunillidh Thistle, who will retain their membership of the association, have elected to sit out of competition for a further season.
- ^ a b Chalk, Paul (20 August 2021). "Scourie manager reveals reason for withdrawal from North Caledonian League". The Press and Journal. Aberdeen Journals. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
- ^ "Non League Scotland". nonleaguescotland.org.uk. Archived from the original on 15 August 2020. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
- ^ a b Hendry, Alan (18 March 2022). "North Caledonian League points deduction for Thurso after fielding ineligible player". North of Scotland Newspapers. Scottish Provincial Press. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
- ^ "Licensed Clubs - May 2021" (PDF). Retrieved 11 June 2021.