2009–10 in Scottish football

The 2009–10 season was the 113th season of competitive football in Scotland.^[1]

Football in Scotland

Season	2009–10
← 2008–09 2010–11 →

2009–10 in Scottish football
Premier League champions
Rangers
First Division champions
Inverness Caledonian Thistle
Second Division champions
Stirling Albion
Third Division champions
Livingston
Scottish Cup winners
Dundee United
League Cup winners
Rangers
Challenge Cup winners
Dundee
Youth Cup winners
Celtic
Teams in Europe
Aberdeen, Celtic, Falkirk Heart of Midlothian, Motherwell, Rangers
Scotland national team
2010 World Cup qualification

Overview

• St Johnstone are competing in the Scottish Premier League for the fifth time, after being promoted as First Division champions last season. St Johnstone's last season in the top-flight was the 2001–02 season.^[2]
• Raith Rovers are competing in the First Division after being promoted as Second Division champions.^[3]

Notable events

• 5 August – Livingston are demoted from the First Division to the Third Division in response to the club being deemed in breach of league rules after going into administration and, briefly, liquidation. As a result, Airdrie United are reassigned to the First Division and Cowdenbeath to the Second Division.

Transfer deals

Main article: List of Scottish football transfers 2009–10

Managerial changes

Team	Outgoing manager	Manner of departure	Date of vacancy	Replaced by	Date of appointment
Livingston	John Murphy	Demoted to coach	31 July[4]	Gary Bollan[4]	31 July
Greenock Morton	Davie Irons	Sacked	21 September[5]	James Grady	31 October[6]
Clyde	John Brown	Sacked	22 November[7]	John McCormack	30 November[8]
Dundee United	Craig Levein	Resigned	23 December	Peter Houston	23 December
Motherwell	Jim Gannon	Sacked	28 December	Craig Brown	29 December
Kilmarnock	Jim Jefferies	Mutual consent	10 January[9]	Jimmy Calderwood	14 January[10]
Hearts	Csaba László	Sacked	28 January	Jim Jefferies	28 January
Falkirk	Eddie May	Resigned	11 February	Steven Pressley	11 February
Dundee	Jocky Scott	Sacked	20 February	Gordon Chisholm	21 February
Queen of the South	Gordon Chisholm	Resigned	21 February	Kenny Brannigan	21 February
Celtic	Tony Mowbray	Sacked	25 March[11]	Neil Lennon	25 March

League Competitions

Scottish Premier League

Main article: 2009–10 Scottish Premier League

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification or relegation
1	Rangers (C)	38	26	9	3	82	28	+54	87	Qualification for the Champions League group stage
2	Celtic	38	25	6	7	75	39	+36	81	Qualification for the Champions League third qualifying round
3	Dundee United	38	17	12	9	55	47	+8	63	Qualification for the Europa League play-off round[a]
4	Hibernian	38	15	9	14	58	55	+3	54	Qualification for the Europa League third qualifying round
5	Motherwell	38	13	14	11	52	54	−2	53	Qualification for the Europa League second qualifying round
6	Heart of Midlothian	38	13	9	16	35	46	−11	48
7	Hamilton Academical	38	13	10	15	39	46	−7	49
8	St Johnstone	38	12	11	15	57	61	−4	47
9	Aberdeen	38	10	11	17	36	52	−16	41
10	St Mirren	38	7	13	18	36	49	−13	34
11	Kilmarnock	38	8	9	21	29	51	−22	33
12	Falkirk (R)	38	6	13	19	31	57	−26	31	Relegation to the First Division

Source: SPFL Archive
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated
Notes:

1. by winning the Scottish Cup.

Scottish First Division

Main article: 2009–10 Scottish First Division

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Promotion, qualification or relegation
1	Inverness Caledonian Thistle (C, P)	36	21	10	5	72	32	+40	73	Promotion to the Premier League
2	Dundee	36	16	13	7	48	34	+14	61
3	Dunfermline Athletic	36	17	7	12	54	44	+10	58
4	Queen of the South	36	15	11	10	53	40	+13	56
5	Ross County	36	15	11	10	46	44	+2	56
6	Partick Thistle	36	14	6	16	43	40	+3	48
7	Raith Rovers	36	11	9	16	36	47	−11	42
8	Greenock Morton	36	11	4	21	40	65	−25	37
9	Airdrie United (R)	36	8	9	19	41	56	−15	33	Qualification to the First Division play-offs
10	Ayr United (R)	36	7	10	19	29	60	−31	31	Relegation to the Second Division

Source: Scottish Football League
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
First Division play-offs: The 9th place team will be entered into a play-off with the 2nd, 3rd and 4th places of the Second Division. The winner gets a place in the 2010-11 First Division
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated

Scottish Second Division

Main article: 2009–10 Scottish Second Division

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Promotion, qualification or relegation
1	Stirling Albion (C, P)	36	18	11	7	68	48	+20	65	Promotion to the First Division
2	Alloa Athletic	36	19	8	9	49	35	+14	65	Qualification for the First Division play-offs[a]
3	Cowdenbeath (O, P)	36	16	11	9	60	41	+19	59
4	Brechin City	36	15	9	12	47	42	+5	54
5	Peterhead	36	15	6	15	45	49	−4	51
6	Dumbarton	36	14	6	16	49	58	−9	48
7	East Fife	36	10	11	15	46	53	−7	41
8	Stenhousemuir	36	9	13	14	38	42	−4	40
9	Arbroath (R)	36	10	10	16	41	55	−14	40	Qualification for the Second Division play-offs[b]
10	Clyde (R)	36	8	7	21	37	57	−20	31	Relegation to the Third Division

Source: Scottish Football League
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (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 will be awarded a place in the 2010–11 First Division.
2. The 9th place team will be entered into a play-off with the 2nd, 3rd and 4th places of the Third Division. The winner gets a place in the 2010-11 Second Division

Scottish Third Division

Main article: 2009–10 Scottish Third Division

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Promotion or qualification
1	Livingston (C, P)	36	24	6	6	63	25	+38	78	Promotion to the Second Division
2	Forfar Athletic (P, O)	36	18	9	9	59	44	+15	63	Qualification for the Second Division Play-offs[a]
3	East Stirlingshire	36	19	4	13	50	46	+4	61
4	Queen's Park	36	15	6	15	42	42	0	51
5	Albion Rovers	36	13	11	12	35	35	0	50
6	Berwick Rangers	36	14	8	14	46	50	−4	50
7	Stranraer	36	13	8	15	48	54	−6	47
8	Annan Athletic	36	11	10	15	41	42	−1	43
9	Elgin City	36	9	7	20	46	59	−13	34
10	Montrose	36	5	9	22	30	63	−33	24

Source: Scottish Football League
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted
Notes:

1. The 2nd, 3rd and 4th placed teams will be entered into a play-off with the Second Division's 9th placed team. The winning team will be awarded a place in the 2010–11 Second Division.

Scottish Premier Under-19 League

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Celtic (C)	22	15	5	2	47	17	+30	50
2	Motherwell	22	12	3	7	58	36	+22	39
3	Rangers	20	11	5	4	38	22	+16	38
4	Dundee United	22	9	10	3	43	34	+9	37
5	St Mirren	22	11	3	8	40	35	+5	36
6	Aberdeen	22	10	3	9	38	28	+10	33
7	Falkirk[a] (R)	22	6	6	10	30	38	−8	24
8	Hamilton Academical	22	6	6	10	34	50	−16	24
9	St Johnstone	22	6	6	10	24	48	−24	24
10	Heart of Midlothian	22	6	5	11	26	28	−2	23
11	Kilmarnock	22	6	3	13	28	48	−20	21
12	Hibernian	22	5	3	14	23	45	−22	18

Updated to match(es) played on 3 May 2010. Source: ^{[citation needed]}
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated
Notes:

1. Falkirk U19s will not compete in the 2010–11 competition due to their first team being relegated from the SPL – Inverness Caledonian Thistle will replace them in both leagues

Honours

Cup honours

Competition	Winner	Score	Runner-up	Match report
2009–10 Scottish Cup	Dundee United	3 – 0	Ross County	BBC Sport
2009–10 League Cup	Rangers	1 – 0	St Mirren	BBC Sport
2009–10 Challenge Cup	Dundee	3 – 2	Inverness Caledonian Thistle	BBC Sport
2009–10 Youth Cup	Celtic	2 – 0	Rangers	BBC Sport
2009–10 Junior Cup	Linlithgow Rose	1 - 0	Largs Thistle	Daily Record

Non-league honours

Senior

Competition	Winner
Highland League 2009–10	Buckie Thistle
East of Scotland League	Spartans
South of Scotland League	Threave Rovers

Junior

West Region

Division	Winner
Premier League	Beith Juniors
Division One	Rutherglen Glencairn
Ayrshire League	Hurlford United
Central League Division One	Cumbernauld United
Central League Division Two	Johnstone Burgh

East Region

Division	Winner
Super League	Bo'ness United
Premier League	Tayport
North Division	Broughty Athletic
Central Division	Thornton Hibs
South Division	Broxburn Athletic

North Region

Division	Winner
Premier League	Sunnybank
Division One	Fraserburgh United
Division Two	Burghead Thistle

Individual honours

PFA Scotland awards

Award	Winner	Team
Players' Player of the Year	Steven Davis	Rangers
Young Player of the Year	Danny Wilson	Rangers
Manager of the Year	Walter Smith	Rangers

SFWA awards

Award	Winner	Team
Footballer of the Year	David Weir	Rangers
Young Player of the Year	Danny Wilson	Rangers
Manager of the Year	Walter Smith	Rangers
International Player of the Year	Craig Gordon	Sunderland

Scottish clubs in Europe

Summary

Club	Competition(s)	Final round	Coef.
Rangers	UEFA Champions League	Group stage	6.0
Celtic	UEFA Champions League UEFA Europa League	Play-off round Group stage	6.0
Heart of Midlothian	UEFA Europa League	Play-off round	1.0
Aberdeen	UEFA Europa League	Third qualifying round	0.0
Falkirk	UEFA Europa League	Second qualifying round	1.0
Motherwell	UEFA Europa League	Third qualifying round	2.0
Total			16.0
Average			2.66

• All teams are eliminated.
• Current UEFA coefficients: Teams and Country

Rangers

Date	Venue	Opponents	Score[12]	Rangers scorer(s)	Report
Champions League group stage
16 September 2009	Mercedes-Benz Arena, Stuttgart (A)	Stuttgart	1–1	Madjid Bougherra	BBC Sport
29 September 2009	Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow (H)	Sevilla	1–4	Nacho Novo	BBC Sport
20 October 2009	Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow (H)	Unirea Urziceni	1–4	Vilana (o.g.)	BBC Sport
4 November 2009	Stadionul Steaua, Bucharest (A)	Unirea Urziceni	1–1	Lee McCulloch	BBC Sport
24 November 2009	Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow (H)	Stuttgart	0–2		BBC Sport
9 December 2009	Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán, Seville (A)	Sevilla	0–1		BBC Sport

Celtic

Date	Venue	Opponents	Score[12]	Celtic scorer(s)	Report
Champions League third qualifying round
29 July 2009	Celtic Park, Glasgow (H)	Dinamo Moscow	0–1		BBC Sport
4 August 2009	Arena Khimki, Khimki (A)	Dinamo Moscow	2–0	Scott McDonald, Georgios Samaras	BBC Sport
Champions League play-off round
19 August 2009	Celtic Park, Glasgow (H)	Arsenal	0–2		BBC Sport
26 August 2009	Emirates Stadium, London (A)	Arsenal	1–3	Massimo Donati	BBC Sport
UEFA Europa League Group Stage
17 September 2009	Bloomfield Stadium, Tel Aviv (A)	Hapoel Tel Aviv	1–2	Georgios Samaras	BBC Sport
1 October 2009	Celtic Park, Glasgow (H)	Rapid Vienna	1–1	Scott McDonald	BBC Sport
22 October 2009	Celtic Park, Glasgow (H)	Hamburg	0–1		BBC Sport
5 November 2009	HSH Nordbank Arena, Hamburg (A)	Hamburg	0–0		BBC Sport
3 December 2009	Celtic Park, Glasgow (H)	Hapoel Tel Aviv	2–0	Georgios Samaras, Barry Robson	BBC Sport
17 December 2009	Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna (A)	Rapid Vienna	3–3	Marc-Antoine Fortune (2), Paul McGowan	BBC Sport

Heart of Midlothian

Date	Venue	Opponents	Score[12]	Heart of Midlothian scorer(s)	Report
UEFA Europa League play-off round
20 August 2009	Maksimir Stadium, Zagreb (A)	Dinamo Zagreb	0–4		BBC Sport
27 August 2009	Tynecastle Stadium, Edinburgh (H)	Dinamo Zagreb	2–0	Michael Stewart, Marius Zaliukas	BBC Sport

Aberdeen

Date	Venue	Opponents	Score[12]	Aberdeen scorer(s)	Report
UEFA Europa League third qualifying round
30 July 2009	Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen (H)	Sigma Olomouc	1–5	Charlie Mulgrew	BBC Sport
6 August 2009	Andrův stadion, Olomouc (A)	Sigma Olomouc	0–3		BBC Sport

Falkirk

Date	Venue	Opponents	Score[12]	Falkirk scorer(s)	Report
UEFA Europa League second qualifying round
16 July 2009	Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk (H)	Vaduz	1–0	Ryan Flynn	BBC Sport
23 July 2009	Rheinpark Stadion, Vaduz (A)	Vaduz	0–2		BBC Sport

Motherwell

Date	Venue	Opponents	Score[12]	Motherwell scorer(s)	Report
UEFA Europa League first qualifying round
2 July 2009	Excelsior Stadium, Airdrie (H)	Llanelli	0–1		BBC Sport
9 July 2009	Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli (A)	Llanelli	3–0	John Sutton (2), Jamie Murphy	BBC Sport
UEFA Europa League second qualifying round
16 July 2009	Stadiumi Flamurtari, Vlorë (A)	Flamurtari Vlorë	0–1		BBC Sport
23 July 2009	Excelsior Stadium, Airdrie (H)	Flamurtari Vlorë	8–1	Jamie Murphy (3), Paul Slane, Ross Forbes (2), Shaun Hutchinson, Robert McHugh	BBC Sport
UEFA Europa League third qualifying round
30 July 2009	Stadionul Steaua, Bucharest (A)	Steaua București	0–3		BBC Sport
6 August 2009	Excelsior Stadium, Airdrie (H)	Steaua București	1–3	Ross Forbes	BBC Sport

National teams

Scotland national team

Main article: Scotland national football team 2000–19 results

Date	Venue	Opponents	Score[13]	Competition	Scotland scorer(s)	Report
12 August 2009	Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo	Norway	0–4	WCQ(9)		BBC Sport
5 September 2009	Hampden Park, Glasgow	North Macedonia	2–0	WCQ(9)	Scott Brown, James McFadden	BBC Sport
9 September 2009	Hampden Park, Glasgow	Netherlands	0–1	WCQ(9)		BBC Sport
10 October 2009	Nissan Stadium, Yokohama[14]	Japan	0–2	Friendly		BBC Sport
14 November 2009	Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff	Wales	0–3	Friendly		BBC Sport
3 March 2010	Hampden Park, Glasgow	Czech Republic	1–0	Friendly	Scott Brown

Deaths

• 26 July – Graham Potter, 30, Hamilton goalkeeper.^[15]
• 29 July – Paul McGrillen, 37, Motherwell, Falkirk, Partick Thistle and Airdrieonians striker.^[16]
• 13 August – Brian McLaughlin, 54, Celtic, Ayr United, Motherwell, Hamilton Academical and Falkirk winger.^[17]
• 1 September – John Buchanan, 74, Hibs and Raith Rovers forward.^[18]
• 19 September – Stevie Gray, 42, Aberdeen and Airdrie winger.^[19]
• 25 September – David Will, 72, Brechin City chairman, Scottish Football Association president and FIFA vice-president.^[20]
• 8 October – Alex McCrae, 89, Hearts and Falkirk forward; Stirling Albion and Falkirk manager.^[21]
• 3 November – Archie Baird, 90, Aberdeen, St Johnstone and Scotland forward.^[22]
• 19 November – Frank Beattie, 76, Kilmarnock player; Albion Rovers and Stirling Albion manager.^[23]
• 1 December – Neil Dougall, 88, Birmingham City, Plymouth Argyle and Scotland player.^[24]
• 3 January – Gus Alexander, 75, Southport, Workington and York City wing half.
• 7 January – Alex Parker, 74, Falkirk and Scotland defender.^[25]
• 13 January – Tommy Sloan, 84, Hearts and Motherwell winger^[26]
• 1 February – Bobby Kirk, 82, Dunfermline, Raith Rovers and Hearts defender.^[27]
• 7 February – Bobby Dougan, 83, Hearts, Kilmarnock and Scotland defender.^[28]
• 12 February – Willie Polland, 75, Raith Rovers and Hearts defender.
• 18 February – Alan Gordon, 65, Hearts, Dundee United, Hibs and Dundee striker.^[29]
• 20 February – Bobby Cox, 76, Dundee defender.^[30]
• 22 February – Bobby Smith, 56, Hibs and Dunfermline player.^[31]
• 23 February – Gerry Neef, 63, Rangers goalkeeper.^[32]
• 28 February – Adam Blacklaw, 72, Burnley, Blackburn Rovers and Scotland goalkeeper.^[33]
• 11 March – Willie MacFarlane, 79, Hibs, Raith Rovers and Morton defender; Stirling Albion, Hibs and Meadowbank manager.^[34]
• 12 March – Hugh Robertson, 70, Dundee, Dunfermline, Arbroath and Scotland winger.
• 11 April – Billy Fulton, 72, Ayr United, Falkirk and St Mirren wing half.^[35]
• 21 April – Sammy Baird, 79, Clyde, Rangers, Hibs, Third Lanark, Stirling Albion and Scotland player; Stirling Albion manager.^[36]
• 1 June – John Hagart, 72, Berwick Rangers wing half; Hearts and Falkirk manager.^[37]

Notes and references

1. "2009/10 - The Scottish Football League". Archived from the original on 16 December 2012. Retrieved 10 May 2012.
2. "St Johnstone 3-1 Morton". BBC Sport. 2 May 2009. Archived from the original on 4 May 2009. Retrieved 2 May 2009.
3. "Queen's Park 0-1 Raith Rovers". BBC Sport. 2 May 2009. Archived from the original on 4 May 2009. Retrieved 2 May 2009.
4. "Bollan to be named Livi manager". BBC Sport. 31 July 2009. Retrieved 29 January 2010.
5. "Irons dismissed from Morton job". BBC Sport. 21 September 2009. Retrieved 21 September 2009.
6. "Grady and McManus get Ton job". Greenock Telegraph. 31 October 2009. Archived from the original on 2 November 2009. Retrieved 31 October 2009.
7. "Manager Brown departs Bully Wee". BBC Sport. 22 November 2009. Archived from the original on 25 November 2009. Retrieved 22 November 2009.
8. "Clyde announce John McCormack as their new manager". BBC Sport. 30 November 2009. Archived from the original on 4 December 2009. Retrieved 30 November 2009.
9. "Killie part with boss Jefferies". BBC Sport. 11 January 2010. Archived from the original on 12 January 2010. Retrieved 11 January 2010.
10. "Jimmy Calderwood is unveiled as Kilmarnock manager". BBC Sport. 14 January 2010. Archived from the original on 14 January 2010. Retrieved 14 January 2010.
11. "Celtic part company with Tony Mowbray". BBC Sport. 25 March 2010. Archived from the original on 26 March 2010. Retrieved 25 March 2010.
12. The score of the Scottish team is shown first.
13. Scotland's score is shown first.
14. "「キリンチャレンジカップ２００９～ＡＬＬ ＦＯＲ ２０１０！～」に特別協賛 ワールドカップ出場決定後初の国内強化試合はスコットランド代表、トーゴ代表と対戦！│2009年│ニュースリリース│キリン".
15. "Teammates find Cumnock Juniors goalkeeper dead in his hotel room during pre-season tour". Daily Record. 27 July 2009. Retrieved 28 August 2009.
16. "Former Motherwell footballer Paul McGrillen found dead". The Scotsman. 30 July 2009. Retrieved 30 July 2009.
17. "Morton – Match Preview, Stats and Trivia". Ayr United. 21 August 2009. Retrieved 28 August 2009.^{[permanent dead link]}
18. "Hibs' home Euro score Jock Buchanan dies after illness". Edinburgh Evening News. 4 September 2009. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
19. "Former Dons winger Gray found dead at age of 42". The Scotsman. 22 September 2009. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
20. "Football mourns the death of Will". BBC Sport. BBC. 25 September 2009. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
21. Ponting, Ivan (17 October 2009). "Alex McCrae: Striker who remains the last man to score 20 top-flight League goals in a season for Middlesbrough". The Independent. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
22. Ponting, Ivan (1 December 2009). "Archie Baird: Footballer who escaped from POW camp before helping Aberdeen to post-war triumphs". The Independent. Archived from the original on 22 November 2014. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
23. "Kilmarnock mourn Beattie". The Scotsman. 24 November 2009. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
24. "Former team-mates pay tribute to legend Dougall". Plymouth Herald. 3 December 2009. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
25. "Everton legend of the sixties Alex Parker passes away". Liverpool Echo. 8 January 2010. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
26. McElroy, Robert (31 January 2010). "Tommy Sloan; Footballer". The Herald. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
27. "Classy Kirk was in the right place and time to be a Tynecastle great". The Scotsman. 2 February 2010. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
28. "Hearts hero Dougan dies at age of 83". The Scotsman. 8 February 2010. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
29. "Alan Gordon, the thinking man's striker, passes away at age of 65". The Scotsman. 19 February 2010. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
30. "Dundee legend Bobby Cox dies, aged 76". BBC Sport. BBC. 20 February 2010. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
31. McElroy, Robert (4 March 2010). "Bobby Smith; Footballer". The Herald. Herald & Times Group. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
32. "Gerry Neef". The Scotsman. 1 March 2010. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
33. "Burnley's title-winning goalkeeper Adam Blacklaw dies". The Guardian. 1 March 2010. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
34. Vallance, Matt (12 March 2010). "Willie MacFarlane; Footballer and manager". The Herald. Herald & Times Group. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
35. "Willie Fulton - 1937-2010". www.saintmirren.tv. 12 April 2010. Archived from the original on 4 March 2012.
36. "Obituary: Sammy Baird". The Scotsman. 22 April 2010. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
37. "Ex-Hearts manager John Hagart dies at 72". The Scotsman. 3 June 2010. Retrieved 1 January 2015.