# 2017–18 in Scottish football

The 2017–18 season was the 121st season of competitive football in Scotland. The domestic season began on 15 July 2017, with the first round of matches in the 2017–18 Scottish League Cup. The 2017–18 Scottish Professional Football League season commenced on 5 August.

## League competitions
### Scottish Premiership

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Celtic (C) | 38 | 24 | 10 | 4 | 73 | 25 | +48 | 82 | Qualification for the Champions League first qualifying round |
| 2 | Aberdeen | 38 | 22 | 7 | 9 | 56 | 37 | +19 | 73 | Qualification for the Europa League second qualifying round |
| 3 | Rangers | 38 | 21 | 7 | 10 | 76 | 50 | +26 | 70 | Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round |
| 4 | Hibernian | 38 | 18 | 13 | 7 | 62 | 46 | +16 | 67 | Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round |
| 5 | Kilmarnock | 38 | 16 | 11 | 11 | 49 | 47 | +2 | 59 | |
| 6 | Heart of Midlothian | 38 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 39 | 39 | 0 | 49 | |
| 7 | Motherwell | 38 | 13 | 9 | 16 | 43 | 49 | −6 | 48 | |
| 8 | St Johnstone | 38 | 12 | 10 | 16 | 42 | 53 | −11 | 46 | |
| 9 | Dundee | 38 | 11 | 6 | 21 | 36 | 57 | −21 | 39 | |
| 10 | Hamilton Academical | 38 | 9 | 6 | 23 | 47 | 68 | −21 | 33 | |
| 11 | Partick Thistle (R) | 38 | 8 | 9 | 21 | 31 | 61 | −30 | 33 | Qualification for the Premiership play-off final |
| 12 | Ross County (R) | 38 | 6 | 11 | 21 | 40 | 62 | −22 | 29 | Relegation to the Championship |
* ↑ Teams play each other three times (33 matches) before the league is split into two groups (the top six and the bottom six).
* ↑ Since the winners of the 2017–18 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 | St Mirren (C, P) | 36 | 23 | 5 | 8 | 63 | 36 | +27 | 74 | Promotion to the Premiership |
| 2 | Livingston (O, P) | 36 | 17 | 11 | 8 | 56 | 37 | +19 | 62 | Qualification for the Premiership play-off semi-final |
| 3 | Dundee United | 36 | 18 | 7 | 11 | 52 | 42 | +10 | 61 | Qualification for the Premiership play-off quarter-final |
| 4 | Dunfermline Athletic | 36 | 16 | 11 | 9 | 60 | 35 | +25 | 59 | Qualification for the Premiership play-off quarter-final |
| 5 | Inverness Caledonian Thistle | 36 | 16 | 9 | 11 | 53 | 37 | +16 | 57 | |
| 6 | Queen of the South | 36 | 14 | 10 | 12 | 59 | 53 | +6 | 52 | |
| 7 | Greenock Morton | 36 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 47 | 40 | +7 | 50 | |
| 8 | Falkirk | 36 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 45 | 49 | −4 | 47 | |
| 9 | Dumbarton (R) | 36 | 7 | 9 | 20 | 27 | 63 | −36 | 30 | Qualification for the Championship play-offs |
| 10 | Brechin City (R) | 36 | 0 | 4 | 32 | 20 | 90 | −70 | 4 | Relegation to League One |

### Scottish League One

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Ayr United (C, P) | 36 | 24 | 4 | 8 | 92 | 42 | +50 | 76 | Promotion to the Championship |
| 2 | Raith Rovers | 36 | 22 | 9 | 5 | 68 | 32 | +36 | 75 | Qualification for the Championship play-offs |
| 3 | Alloa Athletic (O, P) | 36 | 17 | 9 | 10 | 56 | 43 | +13 | 60 | Qualification for the Championship play-offs |
| 4 | Arbroath | 36 | 17 | 8 | 11 | 70 | 51 | +19 | 59 | Qualification for the Championship play-offs |
| 5 | Stranraer | 36 | 16 | 5 | 15 | 58 | 66 | −8 | 53 | |
| 6 | East Fife | 36 | 13 | 3 | 20 | 49 | 67 | −18 | 42 | |
| 7 | Airdrieonians | 36 | 10 | 11 | 15 | 46 | 60 | −14 | 41 | |
| 8 | Forfar Athletic | 36 | 11 | 5 | 20 | 40 | 65 | −25 | 38 | |
| 9 | Queen's Park (R) | 36 | 7 | 10 | 19 | 42 | 72 | −30 | 31 | Qualification for the League One play-offs |
| 10 | Albion Rovers (R) | 36 | 8 | 6 | 22 | 57 | 80 | −23 | 30 | Relegation to League Two |

### Scottish League Two

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Montrose (C, P) | 36 | 23 | 8 | 5 | 60 | 35 | +25 | 77 | Promotion to League One |
| 2 | Peterhead | 36 | 24 | 4 | 8 | 79 | 39 | +40 | 76 | Qualification for the League One play-offs |
| 3 | Stirling Albion | 36 | 16 | 7 | 13 | 61 | 52 | +9 | 55 | Qualification for the League One play-offs |
| 4 | Stenhousemuir (O, P) | 36 | 15 | 9 | 12 | 56 | 47 | +9 | 54 | Qualification for the League One play-offs |
| 5 | Clyde | 36 | 14 | 9 | 13 | 52 | 50 | +2 | 51 | |
| 6 | Elgin City | 36 | 14 | 7 | 15 | 54 | 61 | −7 | 49 | |
| 7 | Annan Athletic | 36 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 49 | 41 | +8 | 47 | |
| 8 | Berwick Rangers | 36 | 9 | 10 | 17 | 31 | 59 | −28 | 37 | |
| 9 | Edinburgh City | 36 | 7 | 9 | 20 | 37 | 62 | −25 | 30 | |
| 10 | Cowdenbeath (O) | 36 | 4 | 10 | 22 | 23 | 56 | −33 | 22 | Qualification for the League Two play-off final |

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

Highland Football League :
| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | Pts |
| 1 | Cove Rangers (C) | 34 | 90 |
| 2 | Formartine United | 34 | 79 |
| 3 | Inverurie Loco Works | 34 | 78 |
| 4 | Fraserburgh | 34 | 73 |
| 5 | Forres Mechanics | 34 | 73 |
| 6 | Brora Rangers | 34 | 63 |
| 7 | Buckie Thistle | 34 | 51 |
| 8 | Deveronvale | 34 | 51 |
| 9 | Nairn County | 34 | 51 |
| 10 | Rothes | 34 | 49 |
| 11 | Huntly | 34 | 49 |
| 12 | Wick Academy | 34 | 46 |
| 13 | Clachnacuddin | 34 | 41 |
| 14 | Turriff United | 34 | 37 |
| 15 | Keith | 34 | 16 |
| 16 | Lossiemouth | 34 | 15 |
| 17 | Strathspey Thistle | 34 | 14 |
| 18 | Fort William | 34 | 5 |
Lowland Football League :
| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | Pts |
| 1 | The Spartans (C) | 30 | 73 |
| 2 | East Kilbride | 30 | 71 |
| 3 | BSC Glasgow | 30 | 65 |
| 4 | East Stirlingshire | 30 | 64 |
| 5 | Selkirk | 30 | 48 |
| 6 | Cumbernauld Colts | 30 | 41 |
| 7 | Civil Service Strollers | 30 | 40 |
| 8 | Gretna 2008 | 30 | 40 |
| 9 | Stirling University | 30 | 38 |
| 10 | Edusport Academy | 30 | 34 |
| 11 | Edinburgh University | 30 | 34 |
| 12 | Whitehill Welfare | 30 | 34 |
| 13 | Gala Fairydean Rovers | 30 | 31 |
| 14 | Dalbeattie Star | 30 | 29 |
| 15 | Vale of Leithen | 30 | 29 |
| 16 | Hawick Royal Albert (R) | 30 | 6 |

#### Level 6

East of Scotland Football League :
| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | Pts |
| 1 | Kelty Hearts (C, O, P) | 24 | 69 |
| 2 | Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale | 24 | 67 |
| 3 | Preston Athletic | 24 | 51 |
| 4 | Leith Athletic | 24 | 49 |
| 5 | Tynecastle | 24 | 39 |
| 6 | Heriot-Watt University | 24 | 39 |
| 7 | Peebles Rovers | 24 | 38 |
| 8 | Burntisland Shipyard | 24 | 25 |
| 9 | Stirling University Reserves | 24 | 24 |
| 10 | Coldstream | 24 | 18 |
| 11 | Eyemouth United | 24 | 18 |
| 12 | Ormiston | 24 | 12 |
| 13 | Tweedmouth Rangers | 24 | 4 |
South of Scotland Football League :
| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | Pts |
| 1 | Threave Rovers (C) | 28 | 73 |
| 2 | Mid-Annandale | 28 | 66 |
| 3 | Lochar Thistle | 28 | 63 |
| 4 | St Cuthbert Wanderers | 28 | 54 |
| 5 | Abbey Vale | 28 | 49 |
| 6 | Bonnyton Thistle | 28 | 46 |
| 7 | Heston Rovers | 28 | 46 |
| 8 | Stranraer reserves | 28 | 42 |
| 9 | Newton Stewart | 28 | 38 |
| 10 | Upper Annandale | 28 | 37 |
| 11 | Nithsdale Wanderers | 28 | 36 |
| 12 | Lochmaben | 28 | 33 |
| 13 | Annan Athletic reserves | 28 | 10 |
| 14 | Creetown | 28 | 11 |
| 15 | Dumfries YMCA | 28 | 6 |
| 16 | Wigtown & Bladnoch | 0 | 0 |

### SPFL Development League

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Hibernian (C) | 26 | 19 | 2 | 5 | 72 | 35 | +37 | 59 |
| 2 | Dundee | 26 | 16 | 5 | 5 | 52 | 33 | +19 | 53 |
| 3 | Heart of Midlothian | 26 | 17 | 1 | 8 | 62 | 43 | +19 | 52 |
| 4 | Aberdeen | 26 | 14 | 5 | 7 | 49 | 30 | +19 | 47 |
| 5 | Motherwell | 26 | 14 | 3 | 9 | 45 | 34 | +11 | 45 |
| 6 | Celtic | 26 | 13 | 5 | 8 | 49 | 27 | +22 | 44 |
| 7 | Ross County | 26 | 11 | 7 | 8 | 56 | 52 | +4 | 40 |
| 8 | Hamilton Academical | 26 | 11 | 6 | 9 | 46 | 38 | +8 | 39 |
| 9 | Dundee United | 26 | 9 | 1 | 16 | 37 | 61 | −24 | 28 |
| 10 | St Mirren | 26 | 7 | 5 | 14 | 43 | 59 | −16 | 26 |
| 11 | St Johnstone | 26 | 7 | 5 | 14 | 41 | 57 | −16 | 26 |
| 12 | Partick Thistle | 26 | 6 | 4 | 16 | 36 | 65 | −29 | 22 |
| 13 | Kilmarnock | 26 | 6 | 1 | 19 | 29 | 53 | −24 | 19 |
| 14 | Falkirk | 26 | 5 | 4 | 17 | 26 | 56 | −30 | 19 |
Development League Champions
| Competition | Winner |
| Development League | Hibernian |
| Development League West | Greenock Morton |
| Development League East | Raith Rovers |

## Honours
### Cup honours

| Competition | Winner | Score | Runner-up | Match report |
| 2017–18 Scottish Cup | Celtic | 2–0 | Motherwell | BBC Sport |
| 2017–18 League Cup | Celtic | 2–0 | Motherwell | BBC Sport |
| 2017–18 Challenge Cup | Inverness CT | 1–0 | Dumbarton | BBC Sport |
| 2017–18 Youth Cup | Hibernian | 3–1 | Aberdeen | BBC Sport |
| 2017–18 Junior Cup | Auchinleck Talbot | 3–2 | Hurlford United | BBC Sport |

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

| Competition | Winner |
| Highland League | Cove Rangers |
| Lowland League | Spartans |
| East of Scotland League | Kelty Hearts |
| South of Scotland League | Threave Rovers |

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

| Division | Winner |
| Super League Premier Division | Beith |
| Super League First Division | Petershill |
| Ayrshire District League | Dalry Thistle |
| Central District League First Division | Rossvale |
| Central District League Second Division | Royal Albert |

##### East Region

| Division | Winner |
| Superleague | Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic |
| Premier League | Musselburgh Athletic |
| North Division | Dundee North End |
| South Division | Pumpherston |

##### North Region

| Division | Winner |
| Superleague | Banks O’Dee |
| First Division (West) | Nairn St Ninian |
| First Division (East) | East End |

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

| Award | Winner | Team |
| Players' Player of the Year | Scott Brown | Celtic |
| Young Player of the Year | Kieran Tierney | Celtic |
| Manager of the Year | Jack Ross | St Mirren |
| Championship Player | Lewis Morgan | St Mirren |
| League One Player | Lawrence Shankland | Ayr United |
| League Two Player | Darren Smith | Stirling Albion |

#### SFWA awards

| Award | Winner | Team |
| Footballer of the Year | Scott Brown | Celtic |
| Young Player of the Year | Kieran Tierney | Celtic |
| Manager of the Year | Steve Clarke | Kilmarnock |
| International Player of the Year | Leigh Griffiths | Celtic |

#### SPFL awards

| Award | Winner | Team |
| Premiership Manager | Brendan Rodgers | Celtic |
| Premiership Player | Scott Brown | Celtic |
| Championship Manager | Jack Ross | St Mirren |
| Championship Player | Lewis Morgan | St Mirren |
| League One Manager | Ian McCall | Ayr United |
| League One Player | Lawrence Shankland | Ayr United |
| League Two Manager | Stewart Petrie | Montrose |
| League Two Player | Seán Dillon | Montrose |

## Scottish clubs in Europe
### Summary

Celtic, Aberdeen, Rangers and St Johnstone qualified for European competition. Rangers and St Johnstone were both eliminated in the first qualifying round, which prompted some administrators and coaches to suggest that Scottish football should adopt a summer season.
| Club | Competitions | Started round | Final round | Coef. |
| Celtic | UEFA Champions League | Second qualifying round | Group Stage | 12.5 |
| Celtic | UEFA Europa League | Round of 32 | Round of 32 | | 12.5 |
| Aberdeen | UEFA Europa League | Second qualifying round | Third qualifying round | 2.5 |
| Rangers | UEFA Europa League | First qualifying round | First qualifying round | 1.0 |
| St Johnstone | UEFA Europa League | First qualifying round | First qualifying round | 1.0 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | 16.0 |
| Average | Average | Average | Average | 4.000 |

### Celtic
#### UEFA Champions League

Celtic started in the second qualifying round of the 2017–18 UEFA Champions League, and were drawn against the winners of a first round tie between Linfield and Fiorita.

#### UEFA Europa League

Celtic finished third in their Champions League group, which meant that they progressed to the last 32 of the Europa League.

### Aberdeen
#### UEFA Europa League

Aberdeen started in the second qualifying round of the 2017–18 UEFA Europa League, and were drawn against the winners of a first round tie between Ordabasy and Široki Brijeg.

### St Johnstone
#### UEFA Europa League
## Women's football
### League and Cup honours

| Division | Winner |
| 2017 SWPL 1 | Glasgow City |
| 2017 SWPL 2 | Forfar Farmington |
| 2017 SWFL First Division (North) | Central Girls |
| 2017 SWFL First Division (South) | Kilmarnock |
| 2017 SWFL Second Division (West) | |
| 2017 SWFL Second Division (Central) | |
| 2017 SWFL Second Division (East) | |
| Competition | Winner | Score | Runner-up | Match report |
| 2017 Scottish Women's Cup | Hibernian | 3–0 | Glasgow City | BBC Sport |
| 2017 Scottish Women's Premier League Cup | Hibernian | 4–1 | Celtic | BBC Sport |
| SWFL First Division Cup | | | | |
| SWFL Second Division Cup | | | | |

### Individual honours
#### SWPL awards

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

### Scottish Women's Premier League

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Glasgow City (C) | 21 | 19 | 2 | 0 | 70 | 4 | +66 | 59 | 2018–19 Champions League |
| 2 | Hibernian | 21 | 18 | 0 | 3 | 75 | 14 | +61 | 54 | |
| 3 | Celtic | 21 | 11 | 2 | 8 | 54 | 30 | +24 | 35 | |
| 4 | Stirling University | 21 | 8 | 4 | 9 | 26 | 39 | −13 | 28 | |
| 5 | Spartans | 21 | 8 | 4 | 9 | 26 | 46 | −20 | 28 | |
| 6 | Rangers | 21 | 6 | 2 | 13 | 33 | 51 | −18 | 20 | |
| 7 | Hamilton Academical | 21 | 4 | 1 | 16 | 15 | 50 | −35 | 13 | |
| 8 | Aberdeen (R) | 21 | 1 | 3 | 17 | 16 | 81 | −65 | 6 | 2018 SWPL 2 |

### UEFA Women's Champions League
#### Glasgow City

Glasgow City entered the Champions League in the round of 32.

#### Hibernian
### Scotland women's national team
## Deaths

* 2 July: Billy Cook, 77, Kilmarnock defender.
* 2 July: John McCormick, 80, Third Lanark and Aberdeen defender.
* 5 July: John McKenzie, 91, Partick Thistle, Dumbarton and Scotland winger.
* 15 July: Davie Laing, 92, Heart of Midlothian, Clyde and Hibernian wing half.
* 19 July: Joe Walters, 82, Clyde, Albion Rovers and Stenhousemuir wing half.
* 2 August: Dave Caldwell, 85, Aberdeen and Morton left back.
* 15 August: Joe McGurn, 52, St Johnstone, Alloa and Stenhousemuir forward.
* 16 August: John Ogston, 78, Aberdeen goalkeeper.
* 12 September: Bert McCann, 84, Dundee United, Queen's Park, Motherwell, Hamilton and Scotland wing half.
* 18 September: Paul Wilson, 66, Celtic, Motherwell and Partick Thistle midfielder.
* 1 October: John Swinburne, 87, Motherwell director.
* 6 October: Ian McNeill, 85, Aberdeen forward and Ross County manager.
* 9 October: Jimmy Reid, 81, Dundee United, East Fife, Arbroath and Brechin City forward.
* 31 October: Stefano Salvatori, 49, Hearts midfielder.
* 15 November: Bert Ormond, 86, Falkirk, Airdrieonians and Dumbarton forward.
* 28 November: Jimmy McEwan, 88, Arbroath and Raith Rovers winger.
* 26 December: Willie Penman, 78, Rangers inside forward.
* 2 January: Mike McCartney, 63, Gretna manager.
* 2 January: Felix Reilly, 84, Dunfermline and East Fife forward.
* 9 January: Tommy Lawrence, 77, Scotland goalkeeper.
* 10 January: John McGlashan, 50, Montrose, Dundee, Arbroath and Ross County midfielder; Arbroath manager.
* 9 February: Liam Miller, 36, Celtic and Hibernian midfielder.
* 19 February: John Orr, 72, Kilmarnock chairman (2001–03).
* 28 February: John Muir, 70, Alloa Athletic and St Johnstone forward.
* 4 March: Alex Rennie, 69, Stirling Albion, St Johnstone and Dundee United defender; St Johnstone and Stenhousemuir manager.
* 6 March: John Kurila, 76, Celtic wing half.
* 19 March: George Meek, 84, Hamilton winger.
* 28 March: Ron Mailer, 85, Dunfermline wing half.
* 4 April: Ray Wilkins, 61, Rangers and Hibernian midfielder.
* 10 April: John Lambie, 77, Falkirk and St Johnstone defender; Hamilton, Partick Thistle and Falkirk manager.
* 27 April: George Mulhall, 81, Aberdeen, Morton and Scotland winger.
* May: Bill McCarry, 79, Falkirk, St Johnstone and Stirling Albion centre half / centre forward.
* 28 May: Neale Cooper, 54, Aberdeen, Rangers, Dunfermline and Ross County midfielder; Ross County and Peterhead manager.
* 2 June: John Ritchie, 70, Cowdenbeath, Brechin City and Dundee United goalkeeper; Brechin City manager.
* 14 June: Allan Presslie, 77, Caledonian, Arbroath, Buckie Thistle and Elgin City centre half.
* 21 June: Johnny Hubbard, 87, Rangers and Ayr United winger.
* 23 June: Douglas Rae, 87, Morton chairman.
* 26 June: Harold Davis, 85, East Fife, Rangers and Partick Thistle wing half; Queen's Park and Queen of the South manager.
* c.26 June: Ronnie Sheed, 71, Kilmarnock and Partick Thistle midfielder.