The 2022–23 Highland Football League (known as the Breedon Highland League for sponsorship reasons) was the 120th season of the Highland Football League, and the 9th season as part of the fifth tier of the Scottish football pyramid system. Fraserburgh were the reigning champions, but were unable to defend their title.
The championship title was decided in the final round of fixtures with Buckie Thistle and Brechin City facing off against each other at Victoria Park.[1] Brechin City won 2–0 – inflicting Buckie Thistle's first home league defeat since August 2019[2] – to win the league by two points.[3]
Brechin City played the winners of the 2022–23 Lowland Football League (The Spartans) in the Pyramid play-off, losing on penalties after drawing 3–3 on aggregate.
Banks O' Dee joined having become the first club to be promoted into the Highland League, replacing Fort William whose 37-year stay in the division came to an end.
Relegated to North Caledonian League
Promoted from North Superleague
All grounds are equipped with floodlights as required by league regulations.
Subject to the tier 6 champion clubs meeting the required licensing criteria for promotion, a play-off was scheduled to take place between the winners of the 2022–23 Midlands Football League (Carnoustie Panmure), 2022–23 North Caledonian Football League (Loch Ness) and the 2022–23 North Region Junior Football League (Culter), with the winners then playing the team finishing bottom of the Highland League (Strathspey Thistle).[9][10] However, none of the tier 6 champions had the required SFA licence and as such there was no promotion to, or relegation from, the Highland League.[11]
The administrative error – which saw two unregistered Dee players involved in nine infringements across eight Highland League matches – means the Aberdeen side are now rock-bottom of the division on -1 points in their first Highland League campaign. League rules state clubs receive a mandatory three-point deduction for every match in which an ineligible player is involved.
