| |
| | SFL: Scottish Football League |
 | | The prime reason, however, why a Scottish League was formed was not initially to form a professional set-up, (although that would soon follow), but was to provide clubs with a regular diet of competitive football. |
 | | Prior to League football, a haphazard arrangement existed with clubs arranging friendly matches, including several against leading English clubs, with the major competition being that organised by The Scottish Football Association (formed in 1873), namely the Scottish Cup, as well as the cup competitions run by the various local associations throughout Scotland. |
 | | Right from the very beginning, the League was beset by controversy and in that very first season, Renton incurred the wrath of The Scottish Football Association for playing a friendly without the approval of the Association, and as a result, were expelled from the Association, thereby preventing them from continuing their participation in the League. |
| www.scottishfootballleague.com /scottish_football.cfm?curpageid=971 (2350 words) |
|