A national third tier of Scottish league football was first established in the 1923–24 season as Division Three, but it only lasted for two full seasons due to the costs of meeting match guarantees and travel and other expenses being beyond most member clubs' capacity to pay. As a result, the third-tier league was dissolved, and would not be re-established until 1946–47 with the C Division, which also included

reserve team In sports, a reserve team is a team composed of players under contract to a club but who do not normally play in matches for the first team. Reserve teams often include back-up players from the first team, young players who need playing time to i ...

s of the clubs from the divisions above. Division C operated as a national competition for the first three seasons; thereafter, it was split into two regional sections until season 1954–55, when the third tier was again dissolved. The third tier was re-established in 1975–76 season, when a division known as the

Second Division In sport, the Second Division, also called Division 2 or Division II is usually the second highest division of a league, and will often have promotion and relegation with divisions above and below. Following the rise of Premier League style compet ...

was set up. Its status within the

Scottish football league system The Scottish football league system is a series of generally connected leagues for Scottish football clubs. The Scottish system is more complicated than many other national league systems, consisting of several completely separate systems or 'gr ...

league system changed in season 1998–99, when clubs from the top tier (Premier Division) broke away from the Scottish Football League to form the

Scottish Premier League The Scottish Premier League (SPL) was the top level league competition for professional football clubs in Scotland. The league was founded in 1998, when it broke away from the Scottish Football League (SFL). It was abolished in 2013, when t ...

. The Second Division was still the third tier of the Scottish league system, but became the second level of the

Scottish Football League The Scottish Football League (SFL) was a league featuring professional and semi-professional football clubs mostly from Scotland.One club, Berwick Rangers, is based in the town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, which is located approximately 4 km sout ...

rather than the third. In 2013, the Scottish Premier League and Scottish Football League merged to form the

Scottish Professional Football League The Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) is the national men's association football league in Scotland. The league was formed in June 2013 following a merger between the Scottish Premier League and the Scottish Football League. As ...

, with the third tier becoming known as the

Scottish League One The Scottish League One, known as cinch League One for sponsorship reasons, is the third tier of the Scottish Professional Football League, the league competition for men's professional football clubs in Scotland. The Scottish League One was ...

Scottish Football League Division Three (1923–1926)

Helensburgh Helensburgh (; gd, Baile Eilidh) is an affluent coastal town on the north side of the Firth of Clyde in Scotland, situated at the mouth of the Gareloch. Historically in Dunbartonshire, it became part of Argyll and Bute following local gove ...

had the most points, whereas Leith Athletic had a better points to match ratio.

Scottish Football League Division C (1946–1955)

The C Division – the “other clubs” division
Alan Bell, via Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Transfer Database

Scottish Football League Second Division (1975–2013)

Scottish League One (2013–)

Total wins

34 different clubs (counting

s separately from first teams) have won the third tier of Scottish football. Three clubs (Clyde, Partick Thistle and Rangers) have won the third tier with both their first team and their reserve team. *Clubs participating in the 2022–23 Scottish League One are denoted in bold type. *Clubs no longer active are denoted in ''italics''. :Livingston were known as Meadowbank Thistle between 1974 and 1995 :Greenock Morton were known as Morton before 1994 :Airdrieonians were known as

Airdrie United Airdrieonians Football Club is a Scottish professional football team in Airdrie, North Lanarkshire, who are members of the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) and play in Scottish League One. They were formed in 2002 as Airdrie United ...

before 2013

References

Specific General
RSSSF – Scotland - Final Tables Third Level 1924-2004

{{DEFAULTSORT:List of winners of the Scottish League One and predecessors

Winners Winners Merchants International L.P is a chain of off-price Canadian department stores owned by TJX Companies. It offers brand name clothing, footwear, bedding, furniture, fine jewelry, beauty products, and housewares. Products are at a 20-60 ...

League One winners