Vale of Leithen F.C.

Not to be confused with Vale of Leven F.C..
Vale of Leithen
Full name Vale of Leithen Football Club
Nickname(s) The Vale
Founded 1891
Ground Victoria Park, Innerleithen
Capacity 1,500
Chairman Stuart Robertson
Manager Ian Flynn
League East of Scotland League First Division
2022–23 East of Scotland League Premier Division, 16th of 16 (relegated)
Website Club website


Vale of Leithen Football Club are a football club based in the town of Innerleithen, Scotland. They play in the East of Scotland League First Division, and their home games take place at Victoria Park.

The team's motto is "Keep Faith", and features on their club crest, along with the town's patron saint, St. Ronan. The home strip features a blue shirt, navy blue shorts and navy blue socks; the away strip is all-white, with black trim.

Vale of Leithen should not be confused with the slightly differently named West of Scotland team Vale of Leven.

History

The club is one of the oldest in the Scottish Borders, having formed in 1891, they became full members of the Scottish Football Association in 1897. The club played at Caddon Park and initially played their first two games as Leithen Vale but subsequently changed their name to Vale of Leithen Football Club. In 1922, they moved to their current home, Victoria Park.

The club were founding members of the Lowland Football League in 2013–14, having previously played in the East of Scotland Football League. Their best finishing position was 6th place in their first campaign, spending nine seasons in the league before being relegated back to the East of Scotland League at the end of the 2021–22 season.

Club Officials

Position Name
Honorary President Keith Brown
Honorary Vice President Stanley Clifford
Chairman Stuart Robinson
Vice Chairman / Treasurer Michael Hogarth
General Manager Bobby Craigie
Committee Member Michael Burns
Committee Member Brian Ellis
Committee Member Alan Forrest
Club Chaplin Rob Wilson

Coaching Staff

Position Name
Manager Ian Flynn
Assistant Manager Jocky McCraw
Coach Barry Burns
Coach Adam Hill

Current Squad

As of 15 December 2023

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
— GK SCO Chris Malcolm
— DF SCO Harris Neillings
— DF SCO Lewis Bell
— MF SCO Gary Mitchell
— DF SCO Jason Dryden
— DF SCO Nathan Masson
— DF SCO Ross McIntyre
— MF SCO Dean Burgess
— MF SCO Craig Brydon
No. Pos. Nation Player
— MF SCO Daniel McKinlay
— MF SCO Callum Mitchell
— MF SCO Ross Nicholson
— MF SCO Cammy Smith
— MF SCO Sunny McGarth
— FW SCO Owen Bryce
— FW SCO James Flynn
— FW SCO Daniel Taylor

Season-by-Season Record

Season Division Position Played Wins Draws Losses GD Points Scottish Cup
2013/14 Lowland League 6th 22 11 3 8 −2 36 First Round, losing to Brora Rangers
2014/15 Lowland League 9th 26 9 6 11 −14 33 Preliminary Round, losing to Gala Fairydean Rovers
2015/16 Lowland League 13th 28 7 5 16 −29 26 Preliminary Round One, losing to Wigtown & Bladnoch
2016/17 Lowland League 13th 30 11 4 15 −14 37 First Round, losing to East Kilbride
2017/18 Lowland League 15th 30 8 5 17 −32 29 First Round, losing to Spartans
2018/19 Lowland League 13th 28 8 5 15 −31 29 First Round, losing to Gretna 2008
2019/20 Lowland League 16th† 23 2 2 19 −71 8 First Round, losing to Fort William
2020/21 Lowland League 17th† 12 0 0 12 −53 0 Preliminary Round Two, losing to Banks O' Dee
2021/22 Lowland League 18th 34 1 2 31 −156 5 First Round, losing to Brechin City
2022/23 East of Scotland League Premier Division 16th 30 2 0 28 −115 0 Preliminary Round, losing to Dunbar United
2023/24 East of Scotland League First Division

† Season's curtailed due to coronavirus pandemic.

Honours

East of Scotland Football League

  • Winners (4): 1924–25, 1977–78, 1978–79, 1986–87

East of Scotland Qualifying Cup

  • Winners (6) : 1919–20, 1920–21, 1924–25, 1948–49, 1985–86, 1978–79, 1981–82

Scottish Qualifying Cup (South)

  • Winners (5): 1957–58, 1972–73, 1976–77, 1990–91, 1992–93

East of Scotland (City Cup)

  • Winners (1): 1991–92

King Cup

  • Winners (7) : 1921–22, 1936–37, 1955–56, 1959–60, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1991–92