# 2016–17 in Scottish football

The 2016–17 season was the 120th season of competitive football in Scotland. The domestic season began on 16 July 2016, with the first round of the 2016–17 Scottish League Cup. The 2016–17 Scottish Professional Football League season commenced on 6 August.

## League competitions
### Scottish Premiership

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Celtic (C) | 38 | 34 | 4 | 0 | 106 | 25 | +81 | 106 | Qualification for the Champions League second qualifying round |
| 2 | Aberdeen | 38 | 24 | 4 | 10 | 74 | 35 | +39 | 76 | Qualification for the Europa League second qualifying round |
| 3 | Rangers | 38 | 19 | 10 | 9 | 56 | 44 | +12 | 67 | Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round |
| 4 | St Johnstone | 38 | 17 | 7 | 14 | 50 | 46 | +4 | 58 | Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round |
| 5 | Heart of Midlothian | 38 | 12 | 10 | 16 | 55 | 52 | +3 | 46 | |
| 6 | Partick Thistle | 38 | 10 | 12 | 16 | 38 | 54 | −16 | 42 | |
| 7 | Ross County | 38 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 48 | 58 | −10 | 46 | |
| 8 | Kilmarnock | 38 | 9 | 14 | 15 | 36 | 56 | −20 | 41 | |
| 9 | Motherwell | 38 | 10 | 8 | 20 | 46 | 69 | −23 | 38 | |
| 10 | Dundee | 38 | 10 | 7 | 21 | 38 | 62 | −24 | 37 | |
| 11 | Hamilton Academical (O) | 38 | 7 | 14 | 17 | 37 | 56 | −19 | 35 | Qualification for the Premiership play-off final |
| 12 | Inverness Caledonian Thistle (R) | 38 | 7 | 13 | 18 | 44 | 71 | −27 | 34 | Relegation to the Scottish Championship |
* ↑ 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.
* ↑ Since the winners of the 2016–17 Scottish Cup, Celtic, qualified for European competition based on league position, the spot awarded to the Scottish cup winners (Europa League second qualifying round) was passed to the second-placed team and the spot awarded to the second-placed team (Europa League first qualifying round) was passed to the fourth-placed team.

### Scottish Championship

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Hibernian (C, P) | 36 | 19 | 14 | 3 | 59 | 25 | +34 | 71 | Promotion to Premiership |
| 2 | Falkirk | 36 | 16 | 12 | 8 | 58 | 40 | +18 | 60 | Qualification for the Premiership play-off semi-finals |
| 3 | Dundee United | 36 | 15 | 12 | 9 | 50 | 42 | +8 | 57 | Qualification for the Premiership play-off quarter-finals |
| 4 | Greenock Morton | 36 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 44 | 41 | +3 | 52 | Qualification for the Premiership play-off quarter-finals |
| 5 | Dunfermline Athletic | 36 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 46 | 43 | +3 | 48 | |
| 6 | Queen of the South | 36 | 11 | 10 | 15 | 46 | 52 | −6 | 43 | |
| 7 | St Mirren | 36 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 52 | 56 | −4 | 39 | |
| 8 | Dumbarton | 36 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 46 | 56 | −10 | 39 | |
| 9 | Raith Rovers (R) | 36 | 10 | 9 | 17 | 35 | 52 | −17 | 39 | Qualification for the Championship play-offs |
| 10 | Ayr United (R) | 36 | 7 | 12 | 17 | 33 | 62 | −29 | 33 | Relegation to League One |

### Scottish League One

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Livingston (C, P) | 36 | 26 | 3 | 7 | 80 | 32 | +48 | 81 | Promotion to Scottish Championship |
| 2 | Alloa Athletic | 36 | 17 | 11 | 8 | 69 | 44 | +25 | 62 | Qualification to Championship play-offs |
| 3 | Airdrieonians | 36 | 16 | 4 | 16 | 61 | 66 | −5 | 52 | Qualification to Championship play-offs |
| 4 | Brechin City (O, P) | 36 | 15 | 5 | 16 | 43 | 49 | −6 | 50 | Qualification to Championship play-offs |
| 5 | East Fife | 36 | 12 | 10 | 14 | 41 | 44 | −3 | 46 | |
| 6 | Queen's Park | 36 | 12 | 10 | 14 | 37 | 51 | −14 | 46 | |
| 7 | Stranraer | 36 | 12 | 8 | 16 | 46 | 50 | −4 | 44 | |
| 8 | Albion Rovers | 36 | 11 | 9 | 16 | 41 | 48 | −7 | 42 | |
| 9 | Peterhead (R) | 36 | 10 | 10 | 16 | 44 | 59 | −15 | 40 | Qualification to League One play-offs |
| 10 | Stenhousemuir (R) | 36 | 11 | 6 | 19 | 45 | 64 | −19 | 39 | Relegation to Scottish League Two |

### Scottish League Two

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Arbroath (C, P) | 36 | 18 | 12 | 6 | 63 | 36 | +27 | 66 | Promotion to League One |
| 2 | Forfar Athletic (O, P) | 36 | 18 | 10 | 8 | 69 | 49 | +20 | 64 | Qualification to League One play-offs |
| 3 | Annan Athletic | 36 | 18 | 4 | 14 | 61 | 58 | +3 | 58 | Qualification to League One play-offs |
| 4 | Montrose | 36 | 14 | 10 | 12 | 44 | 53 | −9 | 52 | Qualification to League One play-offs |
| 5 | Elgin City | 36 | 14 | 9 | 13 | 67 | 47 | +20 | 51 | |
| 6 | Stirling Albion | 36 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 50 | 59 | −9 | 47 | |
| 7 | Edinburgh City | 36 | 11 | 10 | 15 | 38 | 45 | −7 | 43 | |
| 8 | Berwick Rangers | 36 | 10 | 10 | 16 | 50 | 65 | −15 | 40 | |
| 9 | Clyde | 36 | 10 | 8 | 18 | 49 | 64 | −15 | 38 | |
| 10 | Cowdenbeath (O) | 36 | 9 | 8 | 19 | 40 | 55 | −15 | 35 | Qualification to League Two play-off finals |

### Non-league football
#### Level 5

Highland Football League :
| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | Pts |
| 1 | Buckie Thistle (C) | 34 | 82 |
| 2 | Cove Rangers | 34 | 82 |
| 3 | Brora Rangers | 34 | 81 |
| 4 | Formartine United | 34 | 73 |
| 5 | Fraserburgh | 34 | 63 |
| 6 | Forres Mechanics | 34 | 58 |
| 7 | Turriff United | 34 | 58 |
| 8 | Wick Academy | 34 | 53 |
| 9 | Inverurie Loco Works | 34 | 50 |
| 10 | Keith | 34 | 47 |
| 11 | Clachnacuddin | 34 | 41 |
| 12 | Lossiemouth | 34 | 38 |
| 13 | Nairn County | 34 | 34 |
| 14 | Huntly | 34 | 34 |
| 15 | Deveronvale | 34 | 30 |
| 16 | Rothes | 34 | 26 |
| 17 | Fort William | 34 | 11 |
| 18 | Strathspey Thistle | 34 | 9 |
Lowland Football League :
| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | Pts |
| 1 | East Kilbride (C) | 30 | 75 |
| 2 | East Stirlingshire | 30 | 68 |
| 3 | The Spartans | 30 | 56 |
| 4 | Stirling University | 30 | 53 |
| 5 | Dalbeattie Star | 30 | 47 |
| 6 | Cumbernauld Colts | 30 | 47 |
| 7 | BSC Glasgow | 30 | 42 |
| 8 | Whitehill Welfare | 30 | 40 |
| 9 | Gretna 2008 | 30 | 40 |
| 10 | Gala Fairydean Rovers | 30 | 40 |
| 11 | Edinburgh University | 30 | 37 |
| 12 | Civil Service Strollers | 30 | 37 |
| 13 | Vale of Leithen | 30 | 37 |
| 14 | Hawick Royal Albert | 30 | 25 |
| 15 | Selkirk | 30 | 23 |
| 16 | Preston Athletic (R) | 30 | 16 |

#### Level 6

East of Scotland Football League :
| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | Pts |
| 1 | Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale (C) | 20 | 53 |
| 2 | Leith Athletic | 20 | 47 |
| 3 | Tynecastle | 20 | 43 |
| 4 | Heriot-Watt University | 20 | 39 |
| 5 | Coldstream | 20 | 31 |
| 6 | Stirling University Reserves | 20 | 30 |
| 7 | Eyemouth United | 20 | 23 |
| 8 | Peebles Rovers | 20 | 19 |
| 9 | Ormiston | 20 | 12 |
| 10 | Tweedmouth Rangers | 20 | 12 |
| 11 | Burntisland Shipyard | 20 | 10 |
| 12 | Duns | 0 | 0 |
South of Scotland Football League :
| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | Pts |
| 1 | Edusport Academy (C, P) | 26 | 68 |
| 2 | Wigtown & Bladnoch | 26 | 66 |
| 3 | St Cuthbert Wanderers | 26 | 60 |
| 4 | Threave Rovers | 26 | 40 |
| 5 | Mid-Annandale | 26 | 40 |
| 6 | Newton Stewart | 26 | 39 |
| 7 | Heston Rovers | 26 | 38 |
| 8 | Abbey Vale | 26 | 38 |
| 9 | Lochar Thistle | 26 | 35 |
| 10 | Creetown | 26 | 31 |
| 11 | Lochmaben | 26 | 26 |
| 12 | Upper Annandale | 26 | 21 |
| 13 | Nithsdale Wanderers | 26 | 21 |
| 14 | Dumfries YMCA | 26 | 1 |

### SPFL Development League

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Ross County (C) | 32 | 20 | 6 | 6 | 63 | 40 | +23 | 66 | League winners |
| 2 | Hamilton Academical | 32 | 19 | 7 | 6 | 72 | 39 | +33 | 64 | |
| 3 | Celtic | 32 | 19 | 6 | 7 | 61 | 26 | +35 | 63 | |
| 4 | Hibernian | 32 | 19 | 4 | 9 | 67 | 43 | +24 | 61 | |
| 5 | Motherwell | 32 | 17 | 6 | 9 | 66 | 39 | +27 | 57 | |
| 6 | Rangers | 32 | 15 | 6 | 11 | 53 | 47 | +6 | 51 | |
| 7 | Falkirk | 32 | 14 | 7 | 11 | 57 | 52 | +5 | 49 | |
| 8 | Partick Thistle | 32 | 15 | 3 | 14 | 61 | 64 | −3 | 48 | |
| 9 | Aberdeen | 32 | 14 | 4 | 14 | 56 | 58 | −2 | 46 | |
| 10 | Dunfermline Athletic | 32 | 13 | 5 | 14 | 45 | 53 | −8 | 44 | |
| 11 | Heart of Midlothian | 32 | 12 | 7 | 13 | 48 | 46 | +2 | 43 | |
| 12 | Kilmarnock | 32 | 9 | 5 | 18 | 51 | 68 | −17 | 32 | |
| 13 | St Mirren | 32 | 9 | 4 | 19 | 46 | 70 | −24 | 31 | |
| 14 | Dundee United | 32 | 7 | 9 | 16 | 49 | 66 | −17 | 30 | |
| 15 | Dundee | 32 | 7 | 7 | 18 | 32 | 57 | −25 | 28 | |
| 16 | Inverness Caledonian Thistle | 32 | 7 | 6 | 19 | 32 | 66 | −34 | 27 | |
| 17 | St Johnstone | 32 | 5 | 10 | 17 | 34 | 59 | −25 | 25 | |

## Honours
### Cup honours

| Competition | Winner | Score | Runner-up | Match report |
| 2016–17 Scottish Cup | Celtic | 2–1 | Aberdeen | BBC Sport |
| 2016–17 League Cup | Celtic | 3–0 | Aberdeen | BBC Sport |
| 2016–17 Challenge Cup | Dundee United | 2–1 | St Mirren | BBC Sport |
| 2016–17 Youth Cup | Celtic | 3–0 | Rangers | BBC Sport |
| 2016–17 Junior Cup | Glenafton Athletic | 2–1 | Auchinleck Talbot | BBC Sport |
| 2016–17 Amateur Cup | Colville Park | 1 – 0 | Southside | Glasgow World |

### Non-league honours
#### Senior

| Competition | Winner |
| Highland League | Buckie Thistle |
| Lowland League | East Kilbride |
| East of Scotland League | Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale |
| South of Scotland League | Edusport Academy |

#### Junior
##### West Region

| Division | Winner |
| 2016–17 Super League Premier Division | Glenafton Athletic |
| Super League First Division | Girvan |
| Ayrshire District League | Darvel Juniors |
| Central District League First Division | Cambuslang Rangers |
| Central District League Second Division | Glasgow Perthshire |

##### East Region

| Division | Winner |
| 2016–17 Superleague | Kelty Hearts |
| Premier League | Sauchie Juniors |
| North Division | Kirriemuir Thistle |
| South Division | Dunbar United |

##### North Region

| Division | Winner |
| 2016–17 Superleague | Banks O'Dee |
| First Division (West) | Spey Valley United |
| First Division (East) | Ellon United |

### Individual honours
#### PFA Scotland awards

| Award | Winner | Team |
| Players' Player of the Year | Scott Sinclair | Celtic |
| Young Player of the Year | Kieran Tierney | Celtic |
| Manager of the Year | Brendan Rodgers | Celtic |
| Championship Player of Year | John McGinn | Hibernian |
| League One Player of Year | Liam Buchanan | Livingston |
| League Two Player of Year | Shane Sutherland | Elgin City |

#### SFWA awards

| Award | Winner | Team |
| Footballer of the Year | Scott Sinclair | Celtic |
| Young Player of the Year | Kieran Tierney | Celtic |
| Manager of the Year | Brendan Rodgers | Celtic |
| International Player of the Year | Robert Snodgrass | Hull City/ West Ham United |

## Scottish clubs in Europe

Celtic, Aberdeen, Heart of Midlothian and Hibernian qualified for European competition.

### Hibernian
#### UEFA Europa League
## Women's football
### Scottish Women's Premier League
#### SWPL 1

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Glasgow City (C) | 21 | 20 | 0 | 1 | 78 | 12 | +66 | 60 | 2017–18 Champions League |
| 2 | Hibernian (Q) | 21 | 17 | 1 | 3 | 76 | 17 | +59 | 52 | 2017–18 Champions League |
| 3 | Celtic | 21 | 13 | 0 | 8 | 50 | 30 | +20 | 39 | |
| 4 | Stirling University | 21 | 9 | 1 | 11 | 28 | 45 | −17 | 28 | |
| 5 | Rangers | 21 | 9 | 0 | 12 | 35 | 57 | −22 | 27 | |
| 6 | Spartans | 21 | 7 | 1 | 13 | 24 | 54 | −30 | 22 | |
| 7 | Aberdeen | 21 | 5 | 1 | 15 | 17 | 46 | −29 | 16 | |
| 8 | Forfar Farmington (R) | 21 | 2 | 0 | 19 | 12 | 59 | −47 | 6 | 2017 SWPL 2 |

#### SWPL2
### League and Cup honours

| Division | Winner |
| SWPL 1 | Glasgow City |
| SWPL 2 | Hamilton Academical |
| SWFL 1 North | East Fife |
| SWFL 1 South | Motherwell |
| SWFL 2 North | Granite City |
| SWFL 2 South West | Renfrew |
| SWFL 2 Central | Partick Thistle |
| SWFL 2 East | Dundee United |
| Competition | Winner | Score | Runner-up | Match report |
| 2016 Scottish Women's Cup | Hibernian | 1–1 a.e.t. (6–5 pen) | Glasgow City | BBC Sport |
| 2016 Scottish Women's Premier League Cup | Hibernian | 2–1 | Glasgow City | BBC Sport |
| SWFL First Division Cup | | | | |
| SWFL Second Division Cup | | | | |

### Individual honours

Jane Ross and Caroline Weir were both nominated for the (English) PFA Women's Players' Player of the Year award.

#### SWPL awards

* Award
* Players' Player of the Year
* Player of the Year
* Manager of the Year
* Young Player of the Year

### Scotland women's national team

The Scotland women's national football team qualified for a major tournament for the first time. A loss by Finland against Portugal confirmed that Scotland would finish qualifying as one of the six best runners-up, guaranteeing a place in UEFA Women's Euro 2017.

## Deaths

* 3 July: Jimmy Frizzell, 79, Greenock Morton inside forward.
* July: David Nicol, 80, Falkirk, Stirling Albion and Cowdenbeath wing half.
* 8 July: Jackie McInally, 79, Kilmarnock, Motherwell and Hamilton Academical forward.
* 21 July: Dick Donnelly, 74, East Fife and Brechin City goalkeeper, journalist and Radio Tay sports broadcaster.
* 5 August: Joe Davis, 75, Third Lanark and Hibernian defender.
* 20 August: Rab Stewart, 54, Dunfermline Athletic, Motherwell, Falkirk and Queen of the South forward.
* 5 September: Max Murray, 80, Queen's Park, Rangers, Third Lanark and Clyde forward.
* 13 September: Matt Gray, 80, Third Lanark forward.
* 16 September: Donald Cameron, 77, Ayr United chairman (2005–08).
* 19 September: Donnie Fraser, Inverness Caledonian Thistle director (2015–16).
* 20 September: Alan Cousin, 78, Dundee, Hibernian and Falkirk forward.
* 1 October: David Herd, 82, Scotland forward.
* 2 October: Jimmy McIntosh, 80, Falkirk wing-half; Forres Mechanics player/manager.
* 10 October: Gerry Gow, 64, Scotland under-23 midfielder.
* 10 October: Eddie O'Hara, 80, Falkirk and Morton winger.
* 16 October: George Peebles, 80, Dunfermline Athletic and Stirling Albion winger; Stirling Albion manager.
* 19 October: George McKimmie, 65, Dunfermline Athletic forward.
* 7 November: Eric Murray, 74, Kilmarnock and St Mirren wing half.
* 8 November: Ian Cowan, 71, Falkirk, Partick Thistle and Dunfermline Athletic forward.
* 16 November: Daniel Prodan, 44, Rangers defender.
* 25 November: Jim Gillespie, 69, Raith Rovers and Dunfermline Athletic winger.
* 26 November: David Provan, 75, Rangers, St Mirren and Scotland defender; Albion Rovers manager.
* 6 December: Dave MacLaren, 82, Dundee goalkeeper.
* 10 December: Tommy McCulloch, 82, Clyde and Hamilton goalkeeper.
* 11 December: Charlie McNeil, 53, Stirling Albion winger.
* 18 January: John Little, 86, Queen's Park, Rangers, Morton and Scotland defender.,
* 27 January: Billy Simpson, 87, Rangers, Stirling Albion and Partick Thistle forward.
* 18 February: Roger Hynd, 75, Rangers defender and Motherwell manager.
* 22 February: Paul Morrison, 42, Arbroath midfielder.
* 27 February: Alex Young, 80, Hearts and Scotland forward.
* 2 March: Tommy Gemmell, 73, Celtic, Dundee and Scotland full-back; Dundee and Albion Rovers manager.
* 22 March: Ken Currie, 91, Heart of Midlothian, Third Lanark, Raith Rovers, Dunfermline Athletic and Stranraer inside forward.
* 1 April: Stuart Markland, 69, Berwick Rangers, Dundee United and Montrose defender.
* 21 April: Ugo Ehiogu, 44, Rangers defender.
* 2 May: Cammy Duncan, 51, Motherwell, Partick Thistle, Ayr United and Albion Rovers goalkeeper.
* 6 May: Tommy Henaughan, 86, Queen's Park, Kilmarnock and Morton forward.
* 18 May: Eric Stevenson, 74, Hibernian and Ayr United winger.
* 19 May: Tommy Ross, 70, Ross County forward.
* 26 May: Derek Neilson, 58, Brechin City and Berwick Rangers goalkeeper.
* 18 June: Albert Franks, 81, Rangers, Morton and Queen of the South wing half.
* 27 June: Stéphane Paille, 52, Hearts midfielder.
* 28 June: John Higgins, 87, Hibernian and St Mirren defender.