The first incarnation of the tournament was founded in 1891 and ran until 1897 when most of the member clubs left to join the Central Football Combination.
[1] At a meeting in April 1891 in Larbert of representatives from eight football clubs there was a discussion about forming a new league.
A month later an official meeting was held in Alloa and the Midland Football League was founded.
There were ten clubs that competed in the inaugural season: Alloa Athletic, Alva, Bridge of Allan, Camelon, Clackmannan, Cowdenbeath, Dunblane, Dunfermline Athletic, Grangemouth and Raith Rovers.
The Midland Football League was reformed in 1903, six years after the original competition folded in 1897.