the league has been somewhat weakened in recent years by the departure of many former members who have subsequently joined the sfl. this happened in 1994 when caledonian, inverness thistle and ross county left. until then the hfl had operated with 18 clubs; this was reduced by the departure of the three mentioned clubs, but wick academy from the north caledonian football league were elected, to create a league of 16 clubs. this was the state of affairs till 2000 when elgin city and peterhead were elected into the sfl. in 2002 inverurie loco works were elected into the hfl to give it a membership of 15 clubs, with which it continues to operate.