Although the League officially records itself as having been founded in 1909, when Scottish Football League club Queen's Park decided that their fourth team needed regular competition, research published by the Scottish Football Historical Archive confirms that the league was actually founded by six clubs at a meeting at Glasgow University in late June 1901, with Paisley Academicals winning the first championship.

Queen's Park were successful in winning the league title in 1909–10, but Edinburgh Civil Service won the league the following year, so Queen's Park decided to enter their third team for the third season of the competition, indicating a high standard of football was played at this level from an early stage.

Although, prior to the official formation of the league a SAFL side made at least one visit to Fife for a match.

Prior to the Second World War membership stretched across the Scottish Central Belt, with a number of clubs from the East of the country participating.

The SAFL has been successful in embracing a number of clubs from the Argyll area which otherwise might not have regular competition.