# 1890–91 Scottish Football League

The 1890–91 Scottish Football League was the first season of the Scottish Football League. It began on 16 August 1890 and concluded on 21 May 1891. The league was won jointly by Dumbarton and Rangers who ended the season with an equal number of points.

## Season overview

Dumbarton and Rangers ended the league season with an equal number of points so a play-off match was organised at Cathkin Park in Glasgow on 21 May 1891 to determine the winner. The game ended in a 2–2 draw so both clubs were declared champions.
On 30 September 1890 after playing four games in the league, Renton was suspended by the Scottish Football Association for professionalism, and the club was subsequently expelled from the league with their record expunged. Celtic, 3rd LRV and Cowlairs were docked four points each for fielding ineligible players. At the end of the season, the bottom three teams had to submit applications to rejoin the league for the next season along with other non-league clubs. St Mirren, Vale of Leven and Cowlairs submitted applications along with non-league club Leith Athletic. In the election, Cowlairs lost their league position to Leith Athletic, with St Mirren and Vale of Leven being re-elected.

## Clubs

The inaugural season of the Scottish Football League was contested by 11 clubs. This was reduced to 10 clubs after four games when Renton was expelled from the league for professionalism.
| Team | Home town/city | Home ground |
| 3rd LRV | Glasgow | Cathkin Park |
| Abercorn | Paisley | Underwood Park |
| Cambuslang | Cambuslang | Whitefield Park |
| Celtic | Glasgow | Celtic Park |
| Cowlairs | Glasgow | Springvale Park |
| Dumbarton | Dumbarton | Boghead Park |
| Heart of Midlothian | Edinburgh | Tynecastle |
| Rangers | Glasgow | Ibrox Park |
| Renton | Renton | Tontine Park |
| St Mirren | Paisley | Westmarch |
| Vale of Leven | Alexandria | Millburn Park |

## Table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Dumbarton (C) | 18 | 13 | 3 | 2 | 61 | 21 | +40 | 29 | Joint Champions |
| 1 | Rangers (C) | 18 | 13 | 3 | 2 | 58 | 25 | +33 | 29 | Joint Champions |
| 3 | Celtic | 18 | 11 | 3 | 4 | 48 | 21 | +27 | 21 | |
| 4 | Cambuslang | 18 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 47 | 42 | +5 | 20 | |
| 5 | 3rd LRV | 18 | 8 | 3 | 7 | 38 | 39 | −1 | 15 | |
| 6 | Heart of Midlothian | 18 | 6 | 2 | 10 | 31 | 37 | −6 | 14 | |
| 7 | Abercorn | 18 | 5 | 2 | 11 | 36 | 47 | −11 | 12 | |
| 8 | St Mirren | 18 | 5 | 1 | 12 | 39 | 62 | −23 | 11 | Re-elected |
| 8 | Vale of Leven | 18 | 5 | 1 | 12 | 27 | 65 | −38 | 11 | Re-elected |
| 10 | Cowlairs (R) | 18 | 3 | 4 | 11 | 24 | 50 | −26 | 6 | Not re-elected |
| 11 | Renton | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Expelled, record expunged |
* 1 2 Dumbarton and Rangers finished equal on points, and a play-off to determine the winner ended in a 2−2 draw so both teams were declared joint champions.
* 1 2 3 Celtic, 3rd LRV and Cowlairs were deducted four points each for fielding ineligible players.
* ↑ Cowlairs failed re-election to compete in the league for the next season.
* ↑ Renton were expelled from the league in September 1890 for professionalism and their record was expunged.

## Results

| Home \ Away | ABC | CAM | CEL | COW | DUM | HOM | RAN | STM | VOL | 3RD |
| Abercorn | | 2–5 | 1–5 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 6–0 | 2–4 |
| Cambuslang | 4–5 | | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–6 | 3–2 | 8–2 | 2–2 |
| Celtic | 2–0 | 5–2 | | 2–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 9–1 | 1–1 |
| Cowlairs | 7–5 | 1–1 | 0–5 | | 1–6 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 2–2 |
| Dumbarton | 5–1 | 5–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | | 3–1 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 4–0 | 5–1 |
| Heart of Midlothian | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–5 | 4–0 | 0–4 | | 0–1 | 1–0 | 8–1 | 4–1 |
| Rangers | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 5–2 | | 8–2 | 4–0 | 4–1 |
| St Mirren | 4–2 | 2–3 | 1–0 | 5–2 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 3–7 | | 1–1 | 3–2 |
| Vale of Leven | 2–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 2–4 | 1–3 | 5–2 | | 1–2 |
| 3rd Lanark RV | 2–1 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 0–4 | 5–3 | 4–1 | |

## Championship play-off

Rangers defeated 3rd Lanark RV 4–1 in their final league match on 9 May 1891 to move level with Dumbarton on 29 points, and a play-off was organised to determine which team would be crowned champions. However, the match finished as a draw and, with no more dates available for a further replay before the end of the season, it was decided that Dumbarton and Rangers would be declared joint champions.
Dumbarton: :
| GK | John McLeod |
| RB | Daniel Watson |
| LB | Alex Miller |
| RH | Tom McMillan |
| CH | Dickie Boyle |
| LH | Leitch Keir |
| OR | Jack Taylor |
| IR | James Galbraith |
| CF | John Miller |
| IL | James McNaught |
| OL | Jack Bell |
Rangers: :
| GK | David Reid |
| RB | Donald Gow |
| LB | William Hodge |
| RH | Robert Marshall |
| CH | Andrew McCreadie |
| LH | David Mitchell |
| OR | David Hislop |
| IR | James Henderson |
| CF | Neil Kerr |
| IL | John McPherson |
| OL | John Allan |
* ↑ Some sources credit an appearance to Hugh McCreadie rather than John Allan, but contemporary reports contradict this; consequently the goal by 'McCreadie' must have been scored by Andrew.