2025–26 North Caledonian Football League
The 2025–26 North Caledonian Football League (known as the Macleod & MacCallum North Caledonian League for sponsorship reasons) was the 117th season of the North Caledonian Football League, and the fifth season as part of the sixth tier of the Scottish football pyramid system.[1] The defending champions were Invergordon, having won the title for the second consecutive season.
| Season | 2025–26 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 9 August 2025 – 18 April 2026[a] |
| Champions | Invergordon |
| Promoted | Invergordon |
| Matches | 131 |
| Goals | 548 (4.18 per match) |
| Biggest home win | 4 matches: 8 goals[b] |
| Biggest away win | Thurso 1–8 Invergordon (16 August 2025) |
| Highest scoring | Fort William 11–3 Orkney (11 April 2026) |
| Longest winning run | 19 matches: Invergordon |
| Longest unbeaten run | 19 matches: Invergordon |
| Longest winless run | 11 matches: Bonar Bridge |
| Longest losing run | 6 matches: Clachnacuddin 'A' & Orkney |
← 2024–25 2026–27 →
All statistics correct as of 18 April 2026. | |
Invergordon retained their title, winning each of their first 16 games, sealing a third consecutive title with a 5–0 win over Orkney on 14 February,[2] to open an unassailable lead over their closest rivals Alness United and Inverness Athletic. Invergordon were scheduled to take part in the Highland League play-off against Rothes, but were promoted directly as a result of a vacancy opening up in the division.[3][4]
Teams
edit
Inverness Thistle joined the league for the first time, whilst Bunillidh Thistle withdrew from the league but retained membership in the hopes of playing in the 2026–27 season.[5]
From North Caledonian League
editWithdrew
To North Caledonian League
editJoined
Stadia and locations
edit| Team | Location | Home ground | Surface | Capacity | Seats | Floodlit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alness United | Alness | New Dalmore Park | Artificial | 500 | 0 | Yes |
| Bonar Bridge | Bonar Bridge | Migdale Playing Fields | Grass | 500 | 0 | No |
| Clachnacuddin 'A' | Evanton | Culcairn Park | Grass | 500 | 0 | No |
| Fort William | Fort William | Claggan Park | Grass | 1,800 | 200 | Yes |
| Golspie Sutherland [SFA] | Golspie | King George V Park | Grass | 1,000 | 0 | Yes |
| Halkirk United | Halkirk | Morrison Park | Grass | 1,000 | 0 | Yes |
| Invergordon [SFA] | Invergordon | Recreation Grounds | Grass | 800 | 0 | No |
| Inverness Athletic | Muir of Ord | Pavilion Park | Grass | 500 | 0 | No |
| Inverness Thistle | North Kessock | Ferry Brae Park | Grass | 500 | 0 | No |
| Orkney | Kirkwall | Kirkwall Grammar School | Artificial | 500 | 0 | Yes |
| St Duthus | Tain | Grant Park | Grass | 500 | 0 | No |
| Thurso | Thurso | Sir George's Park | Grass | 1,000 | 0 | No |
SFA Club with an SFA licence[6] eligible to participate in the Highland League promotion play-off should they win the league, and also compete in the Scottish Cup.
Withdrew
edit| Team | Location | Home ground | Surface | Capacity | Seats | Floodlit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bunillidh Thistle | Helmsdale | Couper Park | Grass | 500 | 0 | No |
League table
editInvergordon were initially scheduled to play Rothes in the Highland League play-off, but instead were accepted into the Highland League on 2 April 2026 and the play-off was cancelled.[3][4]
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Invergordon (C, P) | 22 | 21 | 0 | 1 | 94 | 15 | +79 | 63 | Promotion to the Highland League |
| 2 | Alness United | 22 | 14 | 4 | 4 | 45 | 26 | +19 | 46 | |
| 3 | Inverness Athletic | 22 | 12 | 7 | 3 | 44 | 31 | +13 | 43 | |
| 4 | Thurso | 22 | 10 | 2 | 10 | 50 | 46 | +4 | 32 | |
| 5 | Golspie Sutherland | 22 | 10 | 2 | 10 | 38 | 49 | −11 | 32 | |
| 6 | Fort William | 21 | 9 | 4 | 8 | 59 | 50 | +9 | 31 | |
| 7 | Inverness Thistle | 22 | 8 | 2 | 12 | 30 | 41 | −11 | 26 | |
| 8 | Clachnacuddin 'A' | 22 | 7 | 2 | 13 | 43 | 51 | −8 | 23 | Ineligible for promotion |
| 9 | Halkirk United | 21 | 6 | 4 | 11 | 50 | 60 | −10 | 22 | |
| 10 | Bonar Bridge | 22 | 6 | 4 | 12 | 35 | 51 | −16 | 22 | |
| 11 | St Duthus | 22 | 6 | 2 | 14 | 26 | 52 | −26 | 20 | |
| 12 | Orkney | 22 | 4 | 3 | 15 | 34 | 76 | −42 | 15 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted
Results
editNotes
edit- 1 2 One match between Fort William and Halkirk United was not played.
- ↑ The matches were Invergordon 8–0 Orkney on 23 August 2025, Invergordon 8–0 Fort William on 29 November 2025, Clachnacuddin 'A' 10–2 Halkirk United on 6 December 2025, and Fort William 11–3 Orkney on 11 April 2026.
- 1 2 Match played at Grant Street Park, Inverness
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Match played at Dalmore Park, Alness
- 1 2 Match played at Lochaber High School
- 1 2 3 4 Match played at the Highland Football Academy, Dingwall
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Match played at The Rockworks, Holm
- ↑ Match played at Couper Park, Helmsdale
- ↑ Match played at Stromness 3G, Stromness
References
edit- ↑ "North Caledonian Football League". northcaleyfa.com. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
- ↑ Clark, Will (14 February 2026). "Invergordon are crowned North Caledonian League champions after five star performance in Orkney". Ross-shire Journal. Highland News and Media Ltd. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
- 1 2 Henderson, Andrew (2 April 2026). "Invergordon accepted into Highland League for 2026/27 season without needing a play-off". Strathspey & Badenoch Herald. Highland News and Media Ltd. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
- 1 2 Law, Callum (2 April 2026). "EXCLUSIVE: Invergordon join the Highland League without requirement for play-off". The Press and Journal. Aberdeen Journals. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
- ↑ Chalk, Paul (2025-08-06). "North Caledonian League 2025-26 season preview: Views from all the clubs including newcomers Inverness Thistle". Press and Journal. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
- ↑ "Licensed Clubs – 2024" (PDF). Retrieved 12 November 2024.
- ↑ North Caledonian League "North Caledonian League Results". North Caledonian League. Retrieved 18 April 2026.