The Scottish Football Alliance was a football league football structure set up in Scotland in competition with the Scottish Football League. Its success in the early years of professional football in both England and Scotland made Alliance the basis for a second division in both countries. The alliance attracted a number of Junior clubs to the League system to guarantee its longevity for years to come. 1891–97 Originally founded in 1891 to rival the League, the Scottish Alliance was one of a number of leagues set up a year after the Scottish Football League was formed. The original members were Airdrieonians, Ayr, East Stirlingshire, Morton F.C., Kilmarnock, King's Park, Linthouse F.C., Northern, Partick Thistle, Port Glasgow Athletic, St Bernard's F.C. and Thistle. In 1892, several clubs left and the league was reconstituted with a smaller membership; the league decided to reduce to 10 clubs, and, with 2 vacancies, attracted applications from nine clubs. St Bernard's - who had sought to leave - was re-elected, and Vale of Leven were also elected; the disappointed clubs were Albion Rovers, Arthurlie, East Stirlingshire, Hurlford, Morton, Port Glasgow Athletic, and Glasgow Wanderers. In 1893 a number of clubs returned, but during the summer, the Alliance was used as the backbone of the new Second Division of the Scottish League. The league, bolstered by the inclusion of a number of clubs from the Scottish Football Federation, continued for four more years. Champions 1891–92 Linthouse 1892–93 Cowlairs 1893–94 Royal Albert 1894–95 Wishaw Thistle 1895–96 Wishaw Thistle 1896–97 Third Lanark "A" Membership Airdrieonians 1891–94 Albion Rovers 1893–96 Arthurlie 1893–96 Ayr 1891–92 Blantyre Victoria 1895–97 Burnbank Swifts 1895–96 Cambuslang 1892–93, 1894–97 Cameronians 1896–97 Clyde "A" 1896–97 Cowlairs 1892–93 Dykehead 1895–96 East Stirlingshire 1891–92 Hamilton Academical 1894–96 Johnstone 1894–95 Kilmarnock 1891–93 King's Park 1891–92 Linthouse 1891–93 Morton 1891–92 Neilston 1895–96 Northern 1891–93, 1896–97 (resigned during the season) Partick Thistle 1891–93 Port Glasgow Athletic 1891–92 Royal Albert 1893–96 St Bernard's 1891–93 Third Lanark "A" 1896–97 Thistle 1891–93 Vale of Leven 1892–93 Wishaw Thistle 1893–96 1905–06 The Scottish Alliance was reformed for a season in 1905–06. However it was unfinished and was eventually superseded by the creation of the Scottish Football Union. Membership Bo'ness Broxburn Broxburn Shamrock Heart of Midlothian "A" King's Park Rangers "A" St Mirren "A" 1919–38 In 1919, the Scottish Alliance was re-formed for a second time, principally as a reserve team league for Scottish Football League First