2019–20 Arbroath F.C. season

Arbroath
2019–20 season
ChairmanMike Caird
ManagerDick Campbell
StadiumGayfield Park
Scottish Championship5th
Scottish League CupGroup stage
Scottish Challenge CupFourth round
Scottish CupFourth round
Top goalscorerLeague: Bobby Linn (6)
All: Bobby Linn (8)
Highest home attendance1,733 vs. Falkirk, Scottish Cup, 18 January 2020
Lowest home attendance485 vs. Elgin City, League Cup, 13 July 2019
Average home league attendance1,362

The 2019–20 season was Arbroath's first season in the Scottish Championship, following promotion from Scottish League One in the 2018–19 season after finishing in 1st place. Arbroath also competed in the Challenge Cup, League Cup and the Scottish Cup.[1] The season was postponed in April 2020, with Arbroath finishing in fifth place, having played 26 games.[2]

Summary

Season

On 13 March 2020, the Scottish football season was suspended with immediate effect due to the COVID-19 Coronavirus outbreak.[3] On 9 April, the Scottish football season was further suspended until at least 10 June.[4] On 18 May 2020, the SPFL declared the end of the season determining on an average points per game with Arbroath finishing in fifth place and surviving for another season.[5]

Competitions

Scottish Championship

Main article: 2019–20 Scottish Championship
3 August 2019 1 Arbroath 0–0 Queen of the South Arbroath
15:00 BST Report Stadium: Gayfield Park
Attendance: 1,100
Referee: Gavin Ross
10 August 2019 2 Inverness Caledonian Thistle 2–1 Arbroath Inverness
15:00 BST Doran 44'
Donaldson Yellow card 47'
Storey 82'		 Report Spence Yellow card 5'
Linn 26'		 Stadium: Caledonian Stadium
Attendance: 2,298
Referee: Mike Roncone
24 August 2019 3 Alloa Athletic 0–1 Arbroath Alloa
15:00 BST Hetherington Yellow card 38' Red card 77'
Flannigan Yellow card 65'
Stirling Yellow card 84'		 Report Linn 17'
Whatley Yellow card 63'
Campbell Yellow card 88'		 Stadium: Recreation Park
Attendance: 661
Referee: Colin Steven
31 August 2019 4 Arbroath 1–0 Dunfermline Athletic Arbroath
15:00 BST Spence Yellow card 21'
Donnelly 50'
Whatley Yellow card 90+1'		 Report Devine Yellow card 24' Stadium: Gayfield Park
Attendance: 1,624
Referee: Steven Kirkland
13 September 2019 5 Arbroath 1–1 Partick Thistle Arbroath
19:05 BST Thomson 14' Yellow card 77' Report Penrice Yellow card 25'
Zanatta Yellow card 62'
Miller 65'		 Stadium: Gayfield Park
Attendance: 1,214
Referee: David Munro
21 September 2019 6 Dundee United 2–1 Arbroath Dundee
15:00 BST Stanton Yellow card 28'
Robson Yellow card 38'
Butcher Yellow card 39'
Shankland 88', 90+2' Yellow card 90+3'		 Report Donnelly 52' Stadium: Tannadice Park
Attendance: 7,877
Referee: Gavin Duncan
28 September 2019 7 Arbroath 0–3 Ayr United Arbroath
15:00 BST McKenna Yellow card 33' Report Forrest 12', 20' Kelly 27' Stadium: Gayfield Park
Attendance: 1,105
Referee: Grant Irvine
5 October 2019 8 Dundee 2–0 Arbroath Dundee
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Kilmac Stadium at Dens Park
Attendance: 5,045
Referee: Scotland Alan Newlands
19 October 2019 9 Arbroath 1–0 Greenock Morton Arbroath
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Gayfield Park
Attendance: 1,009
Referee: Scotland Willie Collum
26 October 2019 10 Partick Thistle 1–3 Arbroath Glasgow
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: The Energy Check Stadium
Attendance: 2,793
Referee: Scotland Gavin Ross
29 October 2019 11 Dunfermline Athletic 2–0 Arbroath Dunfermline
19:45 GMT
Report
Stadium: East End Park
Attendance: 3,488
Referee: Scotland John McKendrick
2 November 2019 12 Arbroath 2–1 Alloa Athletic Arbroath
15:00 GMT
Report
Stadium: Gayfield Park
Attendance: 921
Referee: Scotland Graham Beaton
9 November 2019 13 Arbroath 3–0 Inverness Caledonian Thistle Arbroath
15:00 GMT
Report
Stadium: Gayfield Park
Attendance: 1,173
Referee: Scotland John Beaton
16 November 2019 14 Greenock Morton 1–0 Arbroath Greenock
15:00 GMT
Report
Stadium: Cappielow Park
Attendance: 1,185
Referee: Scotland Alan Newlands
7 December 2019 15 Arbroath 1–1 Dundee Arbroath
15:00 GMT
Report
Stadium: Gayfield Park
Attendance: 2,170
Referee: Scotland Alan Newlands
10 December 2019 16 Ayr United 1–1 Arbroath Ayr
19:45 GMT
Report
Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 777
Referee: Scotland Colin Steven
14 December 2019 17 Arbroath 0–1 Dundee United Arbroath
15:00 GMT
Report
Stadium: Gayfield Park
Attendance: 4,052
Referee: Scotland Graham Beaton
21 December 2019 18 Queen of the South 2–0 Arbroath Dumfries
15:00 GMT
Report
Stadium: Palmerston Park
Attendance: 1,094
Referee: Scotland Grant Irvine
28 December 2019 19 Inverness Caledonian Thistle 0–1 Arbroath Inverness
15:00 GMT Report
Stadium: Caledonian Stadium
Attendance: 2,287
Referee: Scotland Graham Beaton
4 January 2020 20 Arbroath 1–2 Greenock Morton Arbroath
15:00 GMT
Report
Stadium: Gayfield Park
Attendance: 1,273
Referee: Scotland Gavin Duncan
21 January 2020 21 Alloa Athletic 2–0 Arbroath Alloa
19:45 GMT
Report Stadium: The Indodrill Stadium
Attendance: 765
Referee: Scotland Craig Napier
25 January 2020 22 Arbroath 2–1 Partick Thistle Arbroath
15:00 GMT
Report
Stadium: Gayfield Park
Attendance: 1,418
Referee: Scotland David Lowe
1 February 2020 23 Dundee United 0–1 Arbroath Dundee
15:00 GMT
Report
Stadium: Tannadice Park
Attendance: 8,056
Referee: Scotland Alan Muir (referee)
15 February 2020 24 Arbroath 2–0 Queen of the South Arbroath
15:00 GMT
Report
Stadium: Gayfield Park
Attendance: 801
Referee: Scotland Steven Reid
4 March 2020 25 Arbroath 0–0 Dunfermline Athletic Arbroath
19:45 GMT Little Yellow card 70' Report Thomas Yellow card 16'
Afolabi Yellow card 90'		 Stadium: Gayfield Park
Attendance: 1,146
Referee: John McKendrick
7 March 2020 26 Greenock Morton 1–1 Arbroath Greenock
15:00 GMT
Report
Stadium: Cappielow Park
Attendance: 1,472
Referee: Scotland Steven Reid

Scottish League Cup

Group stage

Main article: 2019–20 Scottish League Cup
13 July 2019 1 Arbroath 2–1 Elgin City Arbroath
15:00 BST Kader 44'
Doris 90+2'		 Report Sutherland 29' Stadium: Gayfield Park
Attendance: 485
Referee: Graham Beaton
17 July 2019 2 Stirling Albion 1–6 Arbroath Stirling
19:45 BST Mackin 47' Report Gold 1', 57'
McKenna 28'
Hamilton 82'
Spence 87', 90'		 Stadium: Forthbank Stadium
Attendance: 474
Referee: Craig Napier
23 July 2019 3 Hibernian 3–0 Arbroath Edinburgh
19:45 BST Kamberi 3'
Allan 44' (pen.)
Murray 87'		 Report Stadium: Easter Road
Attendance: 4,769
Referee: Bobby Madden
27 July 2019 4 Arbroath 2–3 Alloa Athletic Arbroath
15:00 BST Linn 18'
Thomson 74'		 Report Buchanan 18'
Trouten 51', 78'		 Stadium: Gayfield Park
Attendance: 590
Referee: Barry Cook

Scottish Challenge Cup

Main article: 2019–20 Scottish Challenge Cup
7 September 2019 Third round Dundee United 0–0
(3–4 p)		 Arbroath Dundee
15:00 Report Stadium: Tannadice Park
Attendance: 2,568
Referee: David Lowe
12 October 2019 Fourth round Arbroath 0–2 Clyde Arbroath
15:00 Report Johnston 9'
Little 68 o.g.'		 Stadium: Gayfield Park
Attendance: 806
Referee: David Lowe

Scottish Cup

Main article: 2019–20 Scottish Cup
23 November 2019 Third round Auchinleck Talbot 1–1 Arbroath Auchinleck
15:00 GMT Hyslop 11' Summary McKenna 84' (pen.) Stadium: Beechwood Park
Attendance: 921
Referee: Scotland David Lowe
27 November 2019 Third round replay Arbroath 3–0 Auchinleck Talbot Arbroath
19:45 GMT McKenna 26'
Linn 54'
Stewart 64'		 Summary Stadium: Gayfield Park
Attendance: 1,022
Referee: Scotland David Lowe
18 January 2020 Fourth round Arbroath 0–0 Falkirk Arbroath
15:00 GMT Whatley Yellow card 75'
Virtanen Yellow card 77'
McKenna Yellow card 79'		 Summary Durnan Yellow card 40'
Dixon Yellow card 90+2'		 Stadium: Gayfield Park
Attendance: 1,733
Referee: Scotland Greg Aitken
28 January 2020 Fourth round replay Falkirk 2–0 Arbroath Falkirk
19:45 GMT McManus 47'
Sammon 66'
Doyle Yellow card 77'		 Report Donnelly Yellow card 61' Stadium: Falkirk Stadium
Attendance: 2,704
Referee: Scotland Euan Anderson

Player statistics

Appearances and goals

As of 7 March 2020
No. Pos Player Championship League Cup Challenge Cup Scottish Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1 GK Scotland Darren Jamieson 7 0 2 0 2 0 3 0 14 0
2 DF Scotland Jason Thomson 17+1 1 4 1 1 0 2 0 25 2
3 DF Scotland Colin Hamilton 26 1 4 1 1 0 4 0 35 2
4 DF Scotland Ricky Little 26 0 2 0 2 0 4 0 34 0
5 DF Scotland Thomas O'Brien 25 0 4 0 2 0 4 0 35 0
6 MF Scotland Mark Whatley 22 1 3 0 2 0 4 0 31 1
7 MF Scotland David Gold 17+3 1 3+1 2 1+1 0 2+1 0 29 3
8 MF Scotland Michael McKenna 15+7 3 2+2 1 2 0 4 2 32 6
9 FW Scotland Dale Hilson 6 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 1
10 MF Scotland Gavin Swankie 3+3 0 3 0 0 0 0+1 0 10 0
11 MF Scotland Bobby Linn 21+2 6 4 1 0+2 0 4 1 33 8
12 MF Scotland Omar Kader 4+15 1 2+2 1 2 0 1+2 0 28 2
14 FW Scotland Craig Wighton 5 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 3
15 FW Scotland Luke Donnelly 14+7 5 0+1 0 1+1 0 4 0 28 5
16 DF Scotland Scott Stewart 15+2 2 0+2 0 0 0 2+2 1 23 3
18 MF United States James Murphy 10+7 0 1+1 0 1+1 0 1 0 22 0
19 DF Scotland Ben Stirling 4+2 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 8 0
20 MF Scotland Josh Campbell 2+7 0 0 0 0 0 0+2 0 11 0
21 GK Scotland Derek Gaston 19 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 22 0
22 MF Finland Miko Virtanen 18+2 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 23 0
23 MF Scotland Logan Chalmers 0+1 0 0 0 0 0 0+2 0 3 0
32 MF England James Craigen 1+3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
Players who left the club during the 2019–20 season
9 FW Scotland Steven Doris 3+9 0 4 1 2 0 0 0 18 1
14 FW Scotland Greig Spence 5+6 0 2+2 2 0 0 1+1 0 17 2
17 DF Scotland Robert Wilson 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
19 DF Scotland Ben Stirling 4+2 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 8 0
20 MF Scotland Josh Campbell 2+7 0 0 0 0 0 0+2 0 11 0

Team statistics

League table

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts PPG Promotion, qualification or relegation[a]
3 Dundee 27 11 8 8 32 31 +1 41 1.52
4 Ayr United 27 12 4 11 38 35 +3 40 1.48
5 Arbroath 26 10 6 10 24 26 −2 36 1.38
6 Dunfermline Athletic 28 10 7 11 41 36 +5 37 1.32
7 Greenock Morton 28 10 6 12 45 52 −7 36 1.29
Source: SPFL
Rules for classification: 1) Points per game.
Notes:
  1. ^ All play-off matches were cancelled, as clubs voted to curtail the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland.[6]

League Cup table

Pos Team
 Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification HIB ALO ARB ELG STI
1 Hibernian 4 3 1 0 0 8 1 +7 11 Qualification for the Second Round — 2–0 3–0 — —
2 Alloa Athletic 4 2 0 1 1 8 8 0 7 — — — 3–3p 2–1
3 Arbroath 4 2 0 0 2 10 8 +2 6 — 2–3 — 2–1 —
4 Elgin City 4 1 1 0 2 7 7 0 5 0–2 — — — 3–0
5 Stirling Albion 4 0 0 1 3 3 12 −9 1 1–1p — 1–6 — —
Source: [7]
Rules for classification: 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) away goals scored, 4) matches won, 5) away matches won, 6) drawing of lots.[8]

Transfers

Transfers in

Date Position Name From Fee Ref.
1 July 2019 GK` Derek Gaston Greenock Morton Free transfer [9]
MF Scott Stewart Airdrieonians [10]
8 July 2019 DF Robert Wilson Berwick Rangers [11]
17 July 2019 MF United States James Murphy Free agent [12]
18 January 2020 FW Dale Hilson Forfar Athletic [13]

Transfers out

Date Position Name To Fee Ref.
9 June 2019 MF Ryan McCord Brechin City Free transfer [14]
1 July 2019 GK Darren Hill Cumbernauld United [15]
FW Ryan Wallace East Fife [16]
31 July 2019 MF Danny Denholm [17]
10 January 2020 FW Greig Spence Stenhousemuir [18]
DF Robert Wilson
18 January 2020 FW Steven Doris Forfar Athletic [19]

Loans in

Date Position Name From End date Ref.
23 August 2019 DF Ben Stirling Hibernian 6 January 2020 [20]
MF Josh Campbell
29 August 2019 Finland Miko Virtanen Aberdeen 31 May 2020 [21]
10 January 2020 FW Logan Chalmers Dundee United 31 May 2020 [22]
23 January 2020 FW Craig Wighton Heart of Midlothian 31 May 2020 [23]
31 January 2020 MF England James Craigen England AFC Fylde 31 May 2020 [24]

References

  1. ^ "ARBROATH FC | Official Site of the Red Lichties". Arbroath FC. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  2. ^ "SPFL Statement - Wednesday 15th April 2020". Arbroath FC. 15 April 2020. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  3. ^ "Coronavirus – Joint Response Group Update". SPFL. 13 March 2020. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  4. ^ "Scottish football season suspended until 10 June". BBC Sport. 9 April 2020.
  5. ^ "Celtic champions & Hearts relegated after SPFL ends season". BBC Sport. 18 May 2020. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  6. ^ "Dundee Utd, Raith & Cove win titles and reconstruction talks start after Dundee vote". BBC Sport. 15 April 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  7. ^ "Summary - League Cup Group C". Soccerway. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  8. ^ "Format". SPFL. Archived from the original on 1 October 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  9. ^ "New signing - Derek Gaston". Arbroath FC. 3 June 2019. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  10. ^ "New signing - Scott Stewart". Arbroath FC. 3 June 2019. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  11. ^ "New signing - Robert Wilson". Arbroath FC. 8 July 2019. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  12. ^ "James Murphy". Arbroath FC. 17 July 2019. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  13. ^ "Hilson joins Arbroath". SPFL. 18 January 2020. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
  14. ^ FC, Brechin City (9 June 2019). "| The Club are delighted to announce the signing of experienced midfielder Ryan McCord who picked up a League One winners medal with @ArbroathFC last season. Welcome to Glebe Park, Ryan! #BCFCpic.twitter.com/fePG4ZenV7". @BrechinCityFC. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  15. ^ "Scottish Championship 2019/20 Preview - Arbroath". Perennial Underachievers. 31 July 2019. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  16. ^ "Wallace returns to East Fife | SPFL". spfl.co.uk. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  17. ^ "East Fife winger Danny Denholm on football's fine system". 31 July 2019. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  18. ^ "Dundee United sign Dillon Powers from Orlando City and Kieran Freeman from Southampton". bbc.co.uk. 10 January 2020. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  19. ^ "January Signings". spfl.co.uk. 29 February 2020. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  20. ^ "Hibs duo Josh Campbell and Ben Stirling join Arbroath on loan". www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  21. ^ "Miko Virtanen". Arbroath FC. 29 August 2019. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  22. ^ "Dundee United sign Dillon Powers from Orlando City and Kieran Freeman from Southampton". BBC Sport. 10 January 2020. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
  23. ^ "Jake Mulraney to leave Hearts for Atlanta United as Craig Wighton joins Arbroath on loan". BBC Sport. 23 January 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  24. ^ "James Craigen". BBC Sport. 31 January 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2019.