2011–12 Scottish First Division

Irn-Bru Scottish First Division
Season 2011–12
Champions Ross County
Promoted

Ross County

Dundee
Relegated

Ayr United

Queen of the South
Matches played 180
Goals scored 507 (2.82 per match)
Top goalscorer Colin McMenamin (19)
Biggest home win Partick Thistle 5–0 Greenock Morton
(30 September 2011)
Raith Rovers 5–0 Greenock Morton
(3 March 2012)
Biggest away win Hamilton Academical 1–6 Dundee
(3 December 2011)
Queen of the South 0–5 Partick Thistle
(17 March 2012)
Highest scoring (8 goals)
Queen of the South 3–5 Ross County
(5 May 2012)
Longest winning run 9 games
Ross County
Longest unbeaten run 34 games
Ross County
Longest winless run 9 games
Ayr United
Longest losing run 4 games
Queen of the South
Raith Rovers
Falkirk
Ayr United
Highest attendance 5,862[1]
Dundee v Greenock Morton
(26 December 2011)
Lowest attendance 859[2]
Livingston v Ayr United
(6 March 2011)
Average attendance 2,297

The 2011–12 Scottish Football League First Division, also known as the 2011–12 Irn Bru Scottish Football League First Division for sponsorship reasons, is the 17th season of the Scottish First Division and the 106th season of a second-tier football league in Scotland. Dunfermline Athletic are the current champions. It began on 6 August 2011 and is scheduled to end on 5 May 2012. The league comprises the teams ranked second through eighth of the 2010–11 season, the relegated side from the 2010–11 Premier League (Hamilton Academical), the 2010–11 Second Division champions, and the winners of the 2010–11 First Division play-off (Livingston and Ayr United respectively).

Teams

Dunfermline Athletic, champions of the 2010–11 season, were promoted to the 2011–12 Premier League.[3] The club thus completed a five-season tenure in the First Division. Dunfermline were replaced by Hamilton Academical, who were relegated from the 2010–11 Premier League after finishing at the bottom of the table;[3] Hamilton returned to the First Division after three years.

At the bottom end of the table, last-placed Stirling Albion were directly relegated to the 2011–12 Second Division[3] after being promoted to the second tier only one season earlier. They were replaced by the 2010–11 Second Division champions Livingston,[3] who returned to the First Division after two consecutive promotions in two years; the club had previously been demoted for financial irregularities at the end of the 2008–09 season.[4]

An additional place in the league was available via a play-off tournament between the ninth-placed First Division team, Cowdenbeath, and the sides ranked second through to fourth in the Second Division, Ayr United, Forfar Athletic and Brechin City respectively. The tournament was won by Ayr United,[3] who therefore were promoted back to the First Division after a one-year absence; Cowdenbeath hence were relegated,[3] returning to the Second Division after just one season.

Stadia and locations

Team Location Stadium Capacity
Ayr United Ayr Somerset Park 10,243
Dundee Dundee Dens Park 12,085
Falkirk Falkirk Falkirk Stadium 9,120
Greenock Morton Greenock Cappielow 11,612
Hamilton Academical Hamilton New Douglas Park 6,096
Livingston Livingston Braidwood Motor Company Stadium 10,122
Partick Thistle Glasgow Firhill Stadium 13,079
Queen of the South Dumfries Palmerston Park 6,412
Raith Rovers Kirkcaldy Stark's Park 10,104
Ross County Dingwall Victoria Park 6,310

Personnel and kits

Team Manager Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
Ayr United Scotland Brian Reid Nike Bodog
Dundee Scotland Barry Smith Puma Kilmac Energy
Falkirk Scotland Steven Pressley Puma Central Demolition
Greenock Morton Scotland Allan Moore Puma Ferguson's Chocolates (H), Buchanan's Toffees (A), Millions Chews (T)
Hamilton Academical Scotland Billy Reid Nike M&H Logistics (H), Life Skills Centres (A,T)
Livingston Scotland John Hughes Umbro Fasteq
Partick Thistle Scotland Jackie McNamara Puma macb (Until March) Just Employment Law (March onwards)
Queen of the South Scotland Gus MacPherson Joma Border Utilities Ltd
Raith Rovers Scotland John McGlynn Puma Kittys & Styx (H), ACA Sports (A)
Ross County Scotland Derek Adams Nike Highnet

League table

Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Qualification or relegation
1 Ross County (C) 36 22 13 1 72 32+40 79 Promotion to 2012–13 Scottish Premier League
2 Dundee (P) 36 15 10 11 53 43+10 055
3 Falkirk 36 13 13 10 53 48+5 52
4 Hamilton Academical 36 14 7 15 55 561 49
5 Livingston 36 13 9 14 56 54+2 48
6 Partick Thistle 36 12 11 13 50 39+11 47
7 Raith Rovers 36 11 11 14 46 493 44
8 Greenock Morton 36 10 12 14 40 5515 42
9 Ayr United (R) 36 9 11 16 44 6723 38 Qualification for Scottish First Division Play-offs
10 Queen of the South (R) 36 7 11 18 38 6426 32 Relegation to Scottish Second Division

Updated to games played on 5 May 2012.
Source: BBC Sport
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored
Rangers were liquidated prior to the 2012–13 season. Dundee were chosen to take their place, gaining promotion to the SPL.[5]
(C) = Champion; (R) = Relegated; (P) = Promoted; (E) = Eliminated; (O) = Play-off winner; (A) = Advances to a further round.
Only applicable when the season is not finished:
(Q) = Qualified to the phase of tournament indicated; (TQ) = Qualified to tournament, but not yet to the particular phase indicated; (RQ) = Qualified to the relegation tournament indicated; (DQ) = Disqualified from tournament.

Results

Teams play each other four times in this league. In the first half of the season each team plays every other team twice (home and away) and then do the same in the second half of the season, for a total of 36 games

First half of season

Home ╲ Away AYR DND FALGMOHAMLIVPARQOSRAIROS
Ayr United 13 22 01 12 00 00 10 21 23
Dundee 11 42 01 01 30 01 21 10 12
Falkirk 00 21 10 00 43 21 10 20 11
Greenock Morton 41 12 32 02 21 12 22 11 02
Hamilton Academical 23 16 01 12 11 10 31 22 51
Livingston 12 42 11 11 10 21 22 11 03
Partick Thistle 40 01 22 50 11 21 21 01 01
Queen of the South 41 00 15 41 10 02 00 13 00
Raith Rovers 01 01 10 11 32 01 20 02 01
Ross County 40 11 31 00 10 11 22 20 42

Updated to games played on 7 March 2012.
Source: BBC Sport
1 ^ The home team is listed in the left-hand column.
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Second half of season

Home ╲ Away AYR DND FALGMOHAMLIVPARQOSRAIROS
Ayr United 32 10 00 22 31 13 11 11 13
Dundee 41 31 01 22 10 03 11 11 11
Falkirk 32 11 02 30 25 11 30 23 11
Greenock Morton 31 02 00 12 13 10 22 13 11
Hamilton Academical 32 31 01 43 01 22 30 21 02
Livingston 01 23 12 00 04 31 22 40 13
Partick Thistle 42 00 11 00 20 23 10 11 01
Queen of the South 21 11 00 21 12 04 05 10 35
Raith Rovers 22 01 22 50 21 03 21 31 11
Ross County 11 30 21 22 51 30 30 21 11

Updated to games played on 5 May 2012.
Source: BBC Sport
1 ^ The home team is listed in the left-hand column.
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

First Division Play-offs

Times are BST (UTC+1)

Semi-Finals

The fourth placed team in the Second Division (Airdrie United) will play the ninth placed team in the First Division (Ayr United) and third placed team in the Second Division (Dumbarton) will play the second placed team in the Second Division (Arbroath). The play-offs will be played over two legs, the winning team in each semi-final will advance to the final.

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First legs


Team 1 Agg. Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Dumbarton 2–1 Arbroath 2–1 0–0
Airdrie United 3–1 Ayr United 0–0 3–1
9 May
7:30 pm
Dumbarton 2 – 1 Arbroath
Wallace  16'
Prunty  62'
Malcolm  5'
Dumbarton Football Stadium
Attendance: 911
Referee: Craig Charleston

9 May
7:45 pm
Airdrie United 0 – 0 Ayr United
Excelsior Stadium
Attendance: 1,871
Referee: Crawford Allan

Second legs



12 May
3:00 pm
Ayr United 1 – 3 Airdrie United
Geggan  64'
Longridge Red card 17'
Tiffoney Red card 90'
Holmes  55', 65'
McLaren  85'

Final

The two semi-final winners will play each other over two legs. Originally, the winning team only was to be awarded a place in the 2012–13 First Division. Following the Rangers F.C. administration situation, both teams were awarded places.

Team 1 Agg. Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Dumbarton 6–2 Airdrie United 2–1 4–1

First leg


16 May 2012
7:45 pm
Dumbarton 2 – 1 Airdrie United
Prunty  29'
Wallace  32'
Bain  42'

Second leg


20 May 2012
4:05 pm
Airdrie United 1 - 4 Dumbarton
Holmes  35'
Bain Red card 80'
Dargo  9', 21'
Gilhaney  45+3'
Wallace  65'

Statistics

Top goalscorers

As of 21 April 2012
Rank Scorer Team Goals
1 Scotland Colin McMenamin Ross County 19
2 Morocco Farid El Alagui Falkirk 18
3 Scotland Kris Doolan Partick Thistle 13
Scotland Michael Gardyne Ross County
4 England Rory Boulding Livingston 11
Scotland Paul Cairney Partick Thistle
Scotland Ryan Conroy Dundee
Scotland Brian Graham Raith Rovers
Scotland Marc McNulty Livingston
Scotland Steven Milne Dundee

Hat-tricks

Player For Against Result Date
Scotland Smith, KevinKevin Smith Queen of the South Greenock Morton 4–1 17 September 2011
Scotland Milne, StevenSteven Milne Dundee Hamilton Academical 6–1 3 December 2011
Scotland McNulty, MarcMarc McNulty Livingston Raith Rovers 4–0 18 February 2012
Scotland Brittain, RichardRichard Brittain Ross County Ayr United 3–2 29 February 2012
England Boulding, RoryRory Boulding Livingston Raith Rovers 3–0 10 April 2012
Scotland Graham, BrianBrian Graham Raith Rovers Falkirk 3–2 21 April 2012
Scotland Cairney, PaulPaul Cairney Partick Thistle Dundee 3–0 21 April 2012

Disciplinary by player

As of 7 March 2011 23:25 (BST)
Rank[6] Player Team Yellow Red
1 Scotland Mark McLaughlin Hamilton Academical 5 2
Germany Simon Mensing Hamilton Academical 8 1
3 Scotland Stephen O'Donnell Dundee 4 2
Scotland Darren Dods Falkirk 7 1
5 Scotland Craig Reid Queen of the South 3 2
6 Scotland Stuart Kettlewell Ross County 5 1
Scotland Mark Fotheringham Livingston 5 1
Scotland Paul Watson Livingston 5 1
9 Morocco Farid El Alagui Falkirk 8 0
Scotland Stephen McKenna Queen of the South 8 0

Awards

Month First Division Manager of the Month SFL Player of the Month SFL Young player of the Month Ginger Boot
Manager Club Player Club Player Club Player Club
August[7] Scotland Allan Moore Greenock Morton Scotland Dougie Imrie Hamilton Academical Scotland Craig Sibbald Falkirk Third division player
September[8] Scotland Steven Pressley Falkirk Morocco Farid El Alagui Falkirk Second division player Scotland Peter MacDonald Greenock Morton
October[9] Scotland Derek Adams
Scotland Steven Pressley
Ross County
Falkirk
Scotland Darren Dods
Scotland Grant Munro
Falkirk
Ross County
Scotland Aaron Sinclair Partick Thistle Second division player
November[10] Scotland Barry Smith Dundee Scotland Nicky Riley Dundee Second division player Third division player
December[11] Scotland Jackie McNamara Partick Thistle Morocco Farid El Alagui Falkirk Third division player Third division player
January[12] Scotland Steven Pressley Falkirk Third division player Third division player Third division player
February[13] Scotland Steven Pressley Falkirk Second division player Scotland Andy Ryan Hamilton Second division player
March
April

References

  1. Dundee 0 - 1 Greenock Morton : Monday, 26 December 2011, Retrieved 2012-03-07.
  2. Livingston 1 - 2 Ayr United : Tuesday, 6 March 2012, Retrieved 2012-03-07.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 BBC Sport - Football - Ups and downs, news.bbc.co.uk Retrieved 2011-05-25.
  4. Livi relegated to Division Three, 2009-08-05 news.bbc.co.uk Retrieved 2011-05-29.
  5. Rangers: Dundee invited to take place in SPL - BBC Sport, 16 July 2012
  6. First Division - Disciplinary, Retrieved 2012-03-07.
  7. "IRN-BRU Phenomenal Awards for August 2011". Scottish Football League. 2011-09-09. Archived from the original on 24 October 2011. Retrieved 2011-12-19.
  8. "IRN-BRU Phenomenal Awards - September 2011". Scottish Football League. 2011-10-07. Retrieved 2011-12-19.
  9. "IRN-BRU SFL Phenomenal Awards - October 2011". Scottish Football League. 18 November 2011. Archived from the original on 5 May 2012. Retrieved 2011-12-19.
  10. "IRN-BRU SFL November Manager and Player of the Month Awards". Scottish Football League. 2011-12-18. Archived from the original on 5 May 2012. Retrieved 2012-01-12.
  11. "IRN-BRU SFL Phenomenal Awards - December 2011". Scottish Football League. 2011-01-23. Archived from the original on 26 January 2013. Retrieved 2012-01-23.
  12. "IRN-BRU SFL Phenomenal Awards - January 2012". Scottish Football League. 2012-02-17. Retrieved 2012-02-21.
  13. "IRN-BRU SFL Phenomenal Awards - February 2012". Scottish Football League. 2012-03-16. Archived from the original on 5 May 2012. Retrieved 2012-04-12.
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