2007–08 in Scottish football

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The 2007–08 season was the 111th season of competitive football in Scotland. [1]

Quick facts Season ...
Football in Scotland
Season2007–08
Scotland
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Quick facts Premier League champions, First Division champions ...
2007–08 in Scottish football
Premier League champions
Celtic
First Division champions
Hamilton Academical
Second Division champions
Ross County
Third Division champions
East Fife
Scottish Cup winners
Rangers
League Cup winners
Rangers
Challenge Cup winners
St Johnstone
Junior Cup winners
Bathgate Thistle
Teams in Europe
Aberdeen, Celtic, Dunfermline Athletic, Rangers
Scotland national team
UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying
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Overview

Notable events

2007

2008

Transfer deals

Managerial changes

More information Team, Outgoing manager ...
TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyReplaced byDate of appointment
ClydeScotland Joe MillerMutual Consent25 May[22]Scotland Colin Hendry11 June[23]
MotherwellScotland Maurice MalpasResigned1 June[24]Scotland Mark McGhee18 June[25]
GretnaScotland Rowan AlexanderSacked18 July[26]Scotland David Irons18 July[26]
Inverness CTScotland Charlie ChristieResigned20 August[27]Scotland Craig Brewster27 August[28]
StenhousemuirScotland Campbell MoneyResigned29 September[29]Scotland John Coughlin12 October[30]
Ross CountyScotland Dick CampbellMutual consent2 October[31]Scotland Derek Adams21 November[32]
Berwick RangersScotland John CoughlinResigned7 October[33]Scotland Michael Renwick24 October[34]
Ayr UnitedScotland Neil WattResigned23 October[35]Scotland Brian Reid24 October[36]
DumbartonScotland Gerry McCabeSacked11 November[37]Scotland Jim Chapman31 December[38]
St JohnstoneScotland Owen CoyleMutual consent22 November[39]Scotland Derek McInnes27 November[40]
Dunfermline AthleticRepublic of Ireland Stephen KennySacked4 December[41]Scotland Jim McIntyre3 January[42]
HibernianScotland John CollinsResigned20 December[43]Finland Mixu Paatelainen10 January[44]
Queen's ParkScotland Billy StarkResigned9 January[45]Scotland Gardner Speirs25 January[46]
ClydeScotland Colin HendryResigned18 January[47]Scotland John Brown26 January[48]
Greenock MortonScotland Jim McInallyResigned12 February[49]Scotland David Irons19 February[50]
GretnaScotland David IronsResigned19 February[50]England Mick Wadsworth19 February
East StirlingshireScotland Gordon WyldeResigned28 February[51]Scotland Jim McInally13 March[52]
Forfar AthleticScotland Jim MoffatMutual consent21 April[53]Scotland Dick Campbell8 May[54]
Berwick RangersScotland Michael RenwickSacked28 February[55]Scotland Allan McGonigal13 May[56]
Heart of MidlothianScotland Stephen FrailMutual Consent27 May 2008[57]Hungary Csaba László11 July[58]
Livingston England Mark Proctor Sacked 3 June[59] Italy Roberto Landi11 June[60]
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League competitions

Scottish Premier League

Celtic won their third consecutive title, having been off the pace for much of the season before a run of seven consecutive victories in the closing stages lifted them to the top of the table. Their title win was dedicated to the memory of assistant manager Tommy Burns, who died from cancer a week before the season ended. Rangers lost out on the title thanks to indifferent form in the final weeks of the campaign, though the fact that they came so close and recorded victories in both domestic cups nonetheless meant the season was a considerable improvement on the two previous seasons, which both ended up trophyless and without a serious challenge for the title. Motherwell finished third and took the UEFA Cup berth, as former player Mark McGhee's return as manager brought a major turnaround in form.

At the other end of the table, Gretna's meteoric rise up the Scottish football pyramid came to a juddering halt; they went bottom of the table following a 4-0 thrashing in their first match, and never left it. The withdrawal of millionaire owner Brooks Mileson plunged them into a financial crisis that forced the club into administration, resulting in them becoming the first top-flight club to earn a ten-point deduction for doing so. This helped cause them to set a new record for the lowest top-flight points total since the adoption of 3 points for a win, and their financial troubles would ultimately prove terminal, resulting in the club folding and being reformed as Gretna F.C. 2008 in the Lowland League for the following year.

More information Pos, Pld ...
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation[a]
1 Celtic (C) 38 28 5 5 84 26 +58 89 Qualification for the Champions League group stage
2 Rangers 38 27 5 6 84 33 +51 86 Qualification for the Champions League second qualifying round
3 Motherwell 38 18 6 14 50 46 +4 60 Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round
4 Aberdeen 38 15 8 15 50 58 8 53
5 Dundee United 38 14 10 14 53 47 +6 52
6 Hibernian 38 14 10 14 49 45 +4 52 Qualification for the Intertoto Cup second round[b]
7 Falkirk 38 13 10 15 45 49 4 49
8 Heart of Midlothian 38 13 9 16 47 55 8 48
9 Inverness Caledonian Thistle 38 13 4 21 51 62 11 43
10 St Mirren 38 10 11 17 26 54 28 41
11 Kilmarnock 38 10 10 18 39 52 13 40
12 Gretna (R) 38 5 8 25 32 83 51 13[c] Resigned from the Scottish Football League and liquidated[d]
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Source: Scottish Professional Football League
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. Teams played each other three times (33 matches), before the league split into two groups (the top six and the bottom six) for the last five matches.
  2. Hibernian qualified for the Intertoto Cup as the highest ranked club to apply for a place in the competition.
  3. Gretna were deducted 10 points for entering administration.
  4. At the end of the season, Gretna were relegated to the Third Division due to their financial struggles. However, as no buyer was found for the club, they resigned from the Scottish Football League and were subsequently liquidated.

Scottish First Division

Hamilton Academical won the title, and with it, their third promotion in seven years, bringing them back into the top-flight for the first time since 1989.

Stirling Albion finished well adrift in bottom place, and suffered automatic relegation as a result. Clyde were sent into the play-offs, and retained their place in the First Division by beating Airdrie United in the final.

More information Pos, Pld ...
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Hamilton Academical (C, P) 36 23 7 6 62 27 +35 76 Promotion to the Premier League
2 Dundee 36 20 9 7 58 30 +28 69
3 St Johnstone 36 15 13 8 60 45 +15 58
4 Queen of the South 36 14 10 12 47 43 +4 52 Qualification for the UEFA Cup second qualifying round[a]
5 Dunfermline Athletic 36 13 12 11 36 41 5 51
6 Partick Thistle 36 11 12 13 40 39 +1 45
7 Livingston 36 10 9 17 55 66 11 39
8 Greenock Morton 36 9 10 17 40 58 18 37
9 Clyde 36 9 10 17 40 59 19 37 Qualification for the First Division Play-offs[b]
10 Stirling Albion (R) 36 4 12 20 41 71 30 24 Relegation to the Second Division
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Source: BBC Sport
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. Queen of the South qualified for the UEFA Cup Second Qualifying Round as Scottish Cup runners-up
  2. The 9th placed team were entered into a play-off with the Second Division's 2nd, 3rd and 4th placed teams. The winning team were awarded a place in the 2008–09 First Division, Clyde won the play-off to stay in the division.

Scottish Second Division

Ross County won immediate promotion back to the First Division, vindicating their shock decision to sack manager Dick Campbell early in the campaign with the club top of the table, as rookie manager Derek Adams managed to further improve the club's form, resulting in them comfortably winning the title. Airdrie United initially lost out on promotion after failing to beat Clyde in the play-offs, but Gretna's demise meant Airdrie ended up being promoted anyway.

Berwick Rangers were relegated in bottom place after a dismal campaign, and Cowdenbeath joined them after losing in the play-offs.

More information Pos, Pld ...
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Ross County (C, P) 36 22 7 7 78 44 +34 73 Promotion to the First Division
2 Airdrie United (P) 36 20 6 10 64 34 +30 66 Qualification for the First Division Play-offs[a]
3 Raith Rovers 36 19 3 14 60 50 +10 60
4 Alloa Athletic 36 16 8 12 57 56 +1 56
5 Peterhead 36 16 7 13 65 54 +11 55
6 Brechin City 36 13 13 10 63 48 +15 52
7 Ayr United 36 13 7 16 51 62 11 46
8 Queen's Park 36 13 5 18 48 51 3 44
9 Cowdenbeath (R) 36 10 7 19 47 73 26 37 Qualification for the Second Division Play-offs[b]
10 Berwick Rangers (R) 36 3 7 26 40 101 61 16 Relegation to the Third Division
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Source: SPFL Archive
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. The 2nd, 3rd and 4th placed teams will be entered into a play-off with the First Division's 9th placed team. The winning team were awarded a place in the 2008–09 First Division, Clyde won the play-off to stay in the division. However, with Gretna being relegated to the Third Division, Airdrie were promoted to Division One. Airdrie United won promotion to the First Division after Gretna were relegated to the Third Division.
  2. The 9th placed team were entered into a play-off with the Third Division's 2nd, 3rd and 4th placed teams. The winning team were awarded a place in the 2008–09 Second Division, Cowdenbeath were relegated and Arbroath were promoted. Due to Gretna's relegation, Stranraer were also promoted.

Scottish Third Division

East Fife won the division by a wide margin after their play-off heartbreak the previous season. Arbroath, who had likewise lost out on promotion in the previous season's play-offs, were victorious in this year's campaign. Stranraer, who lost to Arbroath in the play-off final, still ended up earning an immediate return to Division Two, thanks to Gretna's demise.

East Stirlingshire, who had been given a suspended reduction to associate members in the previous campaign (meaning they would have faced an expulsion vote had they finished bottom in both this and the next seasons), managed to avoid this fate by pulling above Forfar Athletic on the final day of the season. It was the first time since 2002 that any other team had finished bottom of the SFL pyramid.[citation needed]

More information Pos, Pld ...
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or qualification
1 East Fife (C, P) 36 28 4 4 77 24 +53 88 Promotion to the Second Division
2 Stranraer[a] (P) 36 19 8 9 65 43 +22 65 Qualification for the Second Division Play-offs[b]
3 Montrose 36 17 8 11 59 36 +23 59
4 Arbroath (P, O) 36 14 10 12 54 47 +7 52
5 Stenhousemuir 36 13 9 14 50 59 9 48
6 Elgin City 36 13 8 15 56 68 12 47
7 Albion Rovers 36 9 10 17 51 68 17 37
8 Dumbarton 36 9 10 17 31 48 17 37
9 East Stirlingshire[c] 36 10 4 22 48 71 23 34
10 Forfar Athletic 36 8 9 19 35 62 27 33
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Source: SPFL archive
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted
Notes:
  1. Stranraer won promotion to Second Division after Gretna were relegated to the Third Division.
  2. The 9th placed Second Division team were entered into a play-off with the Third Division's 2nd, 3rd and 4th placed teams. The winning team were awarded a place in the 2008–09 Second Division, Cowdenbeath were relegated and Arbroath were promoted. With Gretna being relegated to the Third Division, Stranraer were also promoted.
  3. Had East Stirlingshire finished bottom of the table for what would have been a sixth consecutive time, they would have lost their Scottish Football League status, they finished second bottom.[citation needed]

Other honours

Main cup honours

Non-league honours

Senior

More information Competition, Winner ...
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Junior

West Region

More information Competition, Winner ...
Competition Winner
Evening Times Cup Pollok
West of Scotland Cup Kilbirnie Ladeside
Central League Cup Arthurlie
Central Sectional League Cup Rutherglen Glencairn
Ayrshire League Cup Cumnock Juniors
Ayrshire Sectional League Cup Auchinleck Talbot
North Ayrshire Cup Ardrossan Winton Rovers
South Ayrshire Cup Maybole
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East Region

North Region

More information Competition, Winner ...
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Individual honours

PFA Scotland awards

SFWA awards

Monthly awards

More information Month, SPL ...
Month SPL SFL
Manager Player Young player Rising star Div 1 manager Div 2 manager Div 3 manager Player Young player
AugustScotland Walter Smith
(Rangers)
Spain Carlos Cuéllar
(Rangers)
Scotland Steven Fletcher
(Hibernian)
Scotland Mark Staunton
(Falkirk)
Scotland Billy Reid
(Hamilton Academical)
Scotland Billy Stark
(Queen's Park)
Scotland Gordon Wylde
(East Stirlingshire)
England Richard Offiong
(Hamilton Academical)
Scotland Kevin McDonald
(Dundee)
SeptemberScotland John Collins
(Hibernian)
Australia Scott McDonald
(Celtic)
England Andrew Driver
(Heart of Midlothian)
Scotland Scott Anson
(Kilmarnock)
Scotland Owen Coyle
(St Johnstone)
Scotland Steve Paterson
(Peterhead)
Scotland John McGlashan
(Arbroath)
Scotland Ryan Stevenson
(Ayr United)
Scotland James McArthur
(Hamilton Academical)
OctoberScotland Craig Levein
(Dundee United)
Scotland Lee Wilkie
(Dundee United)
Scotland Ross McCormack
(Motherwell)
Scotland Jack Wilson
(Hibernian)
Scotland Billy Reid
(Hamilton Academical)
Scotland Alan Maitland
(Alloa Athletic)
England David Baikie
(East Fife)
England Bryn Halliwell
(Hamilton Academical)
Republic of Ireland James McCarthy
(Hamilton Academical)
NovemberScotland Mark McGhee
(Motherwell)
Republic of Ireland Aiden McGeady
(Celtic)
Scotland Ross McCormack
(Motherwell)
Scotland Liam Cusack
(Gretna)
Scotland Alex Rae
(Dundee)
Scotland Derek Adams
(Ross County)
England David Baikie
(East Fife)
Scotland Kenny Deuchar
(St Johnstone)
Scotland Scott Fox
(East Fife)
DecemberScotland Craig Brewster
(Inverness CT)
Romania Marius Niculae
(Inverness CT)
Scotland Scott Arfield
(Falkirk)
Scotland Jim McIntyre
(Dunfermline Athletic)
Scotland Michael O'Neill
(Brechin City)
Scotland Gerry Britton
(Stranraer)
Scotland Allan Russell
(Airdrie United)
Scotland Kevin McDonald
(Dundee)
JanuaryScotland Walter Smith
(Rangers)
Scotland Barry Robson
(Dundee United)
England Danny Grainger
(Dundee United)
Scotland Gordon Chisholm
(Queen of the South)
Scotland Derek Adams
(Ross County)
England David Baikie
(East Fife)
Scotland Andrew Barrowman
(Ross County)
Republic of Ireland Andy Jackson
(St Johnstone)
FebruaryFinland Mixu Paatelainen
(Hibernian)
Republic of Ireland Aiden McGeady
(Celtic)
Scotland Steven Fletcher
(Hibernian)
Scotland Ryan Strachan
(Aberdeen)
Scotland Gordon Chisholm
(Queen of the South)
Scotland Neale Cooper
(Peterhead)
Scotland Derek Ferguson
(Stranraer)
France Mickaël Antoine-Curier
(Dundee)
Scotland Graham Dorrans
(Livingston)
MarchScotland Walter Smith
(Rangers)
Scotland Darren Barr
(Falkirk)
Scotland Garry Kenneth
(Dundee United)
Scotland Ryan Crighton
(St Mirren)
Scotland Ian McCall
(Partick Thistle)
Scotland Brian Reid
(Ayr United)
Scotland Robbie Williamson
(Elgin City)
Northern Ireland Jonathan Tuffey
(Partick Thistle)
Scotland Leigh Griffiths
(Livingston)
AprilScotland Gordon Strachan
(Celtic)
Scotland Barry Robson
(Celtic)
Scotland Gary Glen
(Heart of Midlothian)
Scotland Gordon Chisholm
(Queen of the South)
Scotland Alan Maitland
(Alloa Athletic)
Scotland Derek Ferguson
(Stranraer)
Scotland Mark McLaughlin
(Hamilton Academical)
Scotland Brian Easton
(Hamilton Academical)
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Scottish clubs in Europe

Summary

Celtic

More information Date, Venue ...
Date Venue Opponents Score[61] Celtic scorer(s) Report
Champions League third qualifying round
15 August Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow (A) Russia Spartak Moscow 1–1 Paul Hartley BBC Sport
29 August Celtic Park, Glasgow (H) Russia Spartak Moscow 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(4–3 Pen.)
Scott McDonald BBC Sport
Champions League group stage
18 September RSK Olimpiyskyi, Donetsk (A) Ukraine Shakhtar Donetsk 0–2 BBC Sport
18 September Celtic Park, Glasgow (H) Italy A.C. Milan 2–1 Stephen McManus, Scott McDonald BBC Sport
24 October Estádio da Luz, Lisbon (A) Portugal Benfica 0–1 BBC Sport
6 November Celtic Park, Glasgow (H) Portugal Benfica 1–0 Aiden McGeady BBC Sport
28 November Celtic Park, Glasgow (H) Ukraine Shakhtar Donetsk 2–1 Jiří Jarošík, Massimo Donati BBC Sport
4 December San Siro, Milan (A) Italy A.C. Milan 0–1 BBC Sport
Champions League Round of 16
20 February Celtic Park, Glasgow (H) Spain Barcelona 2–3 Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, Barry Robson BBC Sport
4 March Nou Camp, Barcelona (A) Spain Barcelona 0–1 BBC Sport
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Rangers

More information Date, Venue ...
Date Venue Opponents Score[61] Rangers scorer(s) Report
Champions League second qualifying round
31 July Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow (H) Montenegro FK Zeta 2–0 David Weir, Lee McCulloch BBC Sport
7 August Podgorica City Stadium, Podgorica (A) Montenegro FK Zeta 1–0 DaMarcus Beasley BBC Sport
Champions League third qualifying round
14 August Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow (H) Serbia Red Star Belgrade 1–0 Nacho Novo BBC Sport
28 August Stadion Crvena Zvezda, Belgrade (A) Serbia Red Star Belgrade 0–0 BBC Sport
Champions League group stage
13 September Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow (H) Germany Stuttgart 2–1 Charlie Adam, Jean-Claude Darcheville BBC Sport
19 September Stade Gerland, Lyon (A) France Lyon 3–0 Lee McCulloch, Daniel Cousin DaMarcus Beasley BBC Sport
23 October Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow (H) Spain Barcelona 0–0 BBC Sport
7 November Nou Camp, Barcelona (A) Spain Barcelona 0–2 BBC Sport
27 November Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadion, Stuttgart (A) Germany Stuttgart 2–3 Charlie Adam, Barry Ferguson BBC Sport
12 December Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow (H) France Lyon 0–3 BBC Sport
UEFA Cup Round of 32
13 February Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow (H) Greece Panathinaikos 0–0 BBC Sport
21 February Leoforos Alexandras Stadium, Athens (A) Greece Panathinaikos (a)1–1 Nacho Novo BBC Sport
UEFA Cup Round of 16
6 March Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow (H) Germany Werder Bremen 2–0 Daniel Cousin, Steven Davis BBC Sport
13 March Weserstadion, Bremen (A) Germany Werder Bremen 0–1 BBC Sport
UEFA Cup Quarter-final
3 April Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow (H) Portugal Sporting CP 0–0 BBC Sport
10 April Estádio José Alvalade, Lisbon (A) Portugal Sporting CP 2–0 Jean-Claude Darcheville, Steven Whittaker BBC Sport
UEFA Cup Semi-final
24 April Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow (H) Italy Fiorentina 0–0 BBC Sport
1 May Stadio Artemio Franchi, Florence (A) Italy Fiorentina 0–0 (a.e.t.)
(4–2 pen.)
BBC Sport
UEFA Cup Final
14 May City of Manchester Stadium, Manchester (N) Russia Zenit St. Petersburg 0–2 BBC Sport
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Aberdeen

Dunfermline Athletic

More information Date, Venue ...
Date Venue Opponents Score[61] Dunfermline scorer(s) Report
UEFA Cup second qualifying round
16 August East End Park, Dunfermline (H) Sweden BK Häcken 1–1 Jim Hamilton BBC Sport
30 August Rambergsvallen, Gothenburg (A) Sweden BK Häcken 0–1 BBC Sport
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National teams

Summary

Scotland failed in their attempt to qualify for the Euro 2008, finishing third in Group B behind 2006 World Cup finalists France and Italy despite beating France twice. Scotland needed a win in their final group game against Italy to qualify, although a draw would have been enough if Ukraine beat France in the last group fixture. Scotland lost 2–1 as a result of a heavily criticised decision[62] by Spanish referee Manuel Mejuto González to award Italy a free kick in stoppage time (resulting in a goal) when it was clear it should have been a free kick to Scotland.

Manager Alex McLeish resigned on 27 November 2007 following the loss against Italy and became manager of Birmingham City,[63] his assistants Roy Aitken and Andy Watson joined him at Birmingham. He was eventually replaced on 24 January 2008 by Southampton manager George Burley,[64] he appointed Steven Pressley and former England captain Terry Butcher as his assistants.[65] In first match in charge a 1–1 draw was achieved against Croatia despite the withdrawal of 7 players.

Results

More information Date, Venue ...
Date Venue Opponents Score[66] Competition Scotland scorer(s) Report
22 August Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen (H)  South Africa 1–0 Friendly Kris Boyd BBC Sport
8 September Hampden Park, Glasgow (H)  Lithuania 3–1 ECQ(B) Kris Boyd, Stephen McManus, James McFadden BBC Sport
12 September Parc des Princes,[67] Paris (A)  France 1–0 ECQ(B) James McFadden BBC Sport
13 October Hampden Park, Glasgow (H)  Ukraine 3–1 ECQ(B) Kenny Miller, Lee McCulloch, James McFadden BBC Sport
17 October Boris Paichadze Stadium, Tbilisi (A)  Georgia 0–2 ECQ(B) BBC Sport
17 November Hampden Park, Glasgow (H)  Italy 1–2 ECQ(B) Barry Ferguson BBC Sport
26 March Hampden Park, Glasgow (H)  Croatia 1–1 Friendly Kenny Miller BBC Sport
30 May AXA Arena, Prague (A)  Czech Republic 1–3 Friendly David Clarkson BBC Sport
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Youth and Reserve football

Deaths

  • 12 July: Forbes Johnston, 35, Falkirk and Airdrie midfielder.[68]
  • 31 August: Willie Cunningham, 77, St Mirren and Dunfermline defender; Dunfermline, Falkirk and St Mirren manager.
  • 11 September: Ian Porterfield, 61, Aberdeen manager (1986–88).[69]
  • 30 November: Ian Crawford, 73, Hamilton and Hearts winger.[70]
  • 29 December: Phil O'Donnell, 35, Motherwell, Celtic and Scotland midfielder (died whilst playing for Motherwell).[8]
  • 14 January: Johnny Steele, 91, East Fife and Ayr United inside forward.
  • 20 April: Derek McKay, 59, Dundee and Aberdeen winger.[71]
  • 15 May: Tommy Burns, 51, Celtic, Kilmarnock and Scotland midfielder; Kilmarnock and Celtic manager.[72]
  • 7 June: Jimmy Bonthrone, 78, East Fife, Dundee and Stirling Albion inside forward; East Fife and Aberdeen manager.[73]

References

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