2019–20 Scottish League One

Scottish League One
Season2019–20
Dates3 August 2019 – 15 April 2020
ChampionsRaith Rovers
PromotedRaith Rovers
RelegatedStranraer
Matches played139
Goals scored387 (2.78 per match)
Top goalscorerDavid Goodwillie (20 goals)[1][2]
Biggest home winFalkirk 6–0 Dumbarton (10 August 2019)[2]
Falkirk 6–0 Forfar Athletic (25 January 2020)[2]
Biggest away winStranraer 0–3 Falkirk (21 September 2019)[2]
Forfar Athletic 1–4 Airdrieonians (26 October 2019)[2]
Highest scoringEast Fife 3–5 Raith Rovers (28 December 2019)[2]
Longest winning run6 matches:[2]
Montrose
Longest unbeaten run12 matches:[2]
Falkirk
Longest winless run15 matches:[2]
Stranraer
Longest losing run6 matches:[2]
Forfar Athletic
Montrose
Stranraer
Highest attendance4,060
Falkirk 6–0 Dumbarton (10 August 2019)[2]
Lowest attendance190
Stranraer 0–1 Montrose (10 March 2020)[2]
Total attendance159,617[2]
Average attendance1,148[2](395)
All statistics correct as of 1 May 2020.

The 2019–20 Scottish League One (known as Ladbrokes League One for sponsorship reasons) was the 26th season in the current format of 10 teams in the third-tier of Scottish football. The fixtures were published in June 2019 and the season began on 3 August 2019.[3]

Ten teams contested the league: Airdrieonians, Clyde, Dumbarton, East Fife, Falkirk, Forfar Athletic, Montrose, Peterhead, Raith Rovers and Stranraer.

On 13 March 2020 all SPFL leagues were indefinitely suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[4] On 8 April, with the pandemic continuing, the SPFL board proposed to curtail the 2019–20 League One season and use the points per game earned by each team to date as the final standings.[5] The plan was approved on 15 April, meaning the league was declared over and Raith Rovers were crowned champions and Stranraer relegated to League 2.[6]

Teams

The following teams have changed division since the 2018–19 season.

Stadia and locations

Airdrieonians Clyde Dumbarton East Fife
Excelsior Stadium Broadwood Stadium Dumbarton Football Stadium Bayview Stadium
Capacity: 10,101[8] Capacity: 8,086[9] Capacity: 2,020[10] Capacity: 1,980[11]
Falkirk
class=notpageimage|
Location of teams in 2019–20 Scottish League One
 Forfar Athletic
Falkirk Stadium Station Park
Capacity: 7,937[12] Capacity: 6,777[13]
Montrose Peterhead Raith Rovers Stranraer
Links Park Balmoor Stark's Park Stair Park
Capacity: 4,936[14] Capacity: 3,150[15] Capacity: 8,867[16] Capacity: 4,178[17]

Personnel and kits

Team Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
Airdrieonians Scotland Ian Murray Scotland Sean Crighton Joma Holemasters[18]
Clyde Scotland Danny Lennon Scotland David Goodwillie Kappa North Lanarkshire Leisure (Home)
Advance Construction (Away)
Dumbarton Scotland Jim Duffy Scotland Stuart Carswell Joma[19] Turnberry Homes[19]
East Fife Scotland Darren Young Scotland Kevin Smith Joma East Fife Supporters Club
Falkirk Scotland David McCracken and Scotland Lee Miller Scotland Gregor Buchanan Puma[20] Central Demolition[20]
Forfar Athletic Scotland Stuart Malcolm South Africa Michael Travis Pendle Orchard Timber Products
Montrose Scotland Stewart Petrie Scotland Paul Watson Hummel Carnegie Fuels Ltd
Peterhead Scotland Jim McInally Scotland Scott Brown Adidas Prime Seafoods
Raith Rovers Scotland John McGlynn Scotland Kyle Benedictus Puma[21] valmcdermid.com (Home)[21]
Tag Games (Away)[21]
Stranraer Scotland Stephen Farrell Scotland Jamie Hamill Joma[22] Stena Line[23]

Managerial changes

Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of appointment
Forfar Athletic Scotland Jim Weir Resigned 3 November 2019[24] 10th Scotland Stuart Malcolm 10 November 2019[25]
Falkirk Scotland Ray McKinnon Sacked 16 November 2019[26] 4th Scotland David McCracken and Scotland Lee Miller (interim) 19 November 2019[27]
Falkirk Scotland David McCracken and Scotland Lee Miller (interim) End of interim 13 December 2019[28] 4th Scotland David McCracken and Scotland Lee Miller 13 December 2019[28]

League summary

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts PPG Promotion, qualification or relegation[a]
1 Raith Rovers (C) 28 15 8 5 49 33 +16 53 1.89 Promotion to the Championship
2 Falkirk 28 14 10 4 54 18 +36 52 1.86
3 Airdrieonians 28 14 6 8 38 27 +11 48 1.71
4 Montrose 28 15 2 11 48 38 +10 47 1.68
5 East Fife 28 12 9 7 44 36 +8 45 1.61
6 Dumbarton 28 11 5 12 35 44 −9 38 1.36
7 Clyde 28 9 7 12 35 43 −8 34 1.21
8 Peterhead 27 7 5 15 30 44 −14 26 0.96
9 Forfar Athletic 28 6 6 16 26 47 −21 24 0.86
10 Stranraer (R) 27 2 10 15 28 57 −29 16 0.59 Relegation to League Two
Source: SPFL
Rules for classification: 1) Points per game.
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ All play-off matches were cancelled, as clubs voted to curtail the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[29]

Results

Teams play each other four times, twice in the first half of the season (home and away) and twice in the second half of the season (home and away), making a total of 180 games, with each team playing 36.

First half of season

Home \ Away AIR CLY DUM EFI FAL FOR MON PET RAI STR
Airdrieonians — 3–1 3–1 4–0 0–0 0–2 1–3 2–1 0–1 2–2
Clyde 3–1 — 1–2 1–1 1–0 0–0 0–2 1–2 2–2 6–1
Dumbarton 0–1 1–2 — 2–4 1–1 3–1 0–2 1–0 0–1 3–1
East Fife 4–1 0–0 2–2 — 0–0 1–0 0–1 1–1 4–2 1–1
Falkirk 1–2 0–1 6–0 0–0 — 3–0 2–1 4–0 1–1 3–0
Forfar Athletic 1–4 0–0 3–4 1–2 0–2 — 2–0 2–1 1–2 1–0
Montrose 0–1 4–0 1–2 1–3 2–3 3–0 — 4–3 0–1 2–1
Peterhead 1–2 1–1 2–3 1–2 0–0 1–0 0–0 — 2–0 3–0
Raith Rovers 1–0 5–2 0–2 1–1 2–2 0–0 3–0 4–0 — 3–1
Stranraer 0–2 3–0 0–0 0–2 0–3 2–4 2–2 1–2 3–2 —
Source: Scottish League One
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Second half of season

Home \ Away AIR CLY DUM EFI FAL FOR MON PET RAI STR
Airdrieonians — 2–0 N/A 1–0 1–1 1–0 N/A N/A 0–1 0–0
Clyde N/A — 2–0 2–1 3–2 N/A 2–1 N/A N/A 3–3
Dumbarton 0–0 1–0 — N/A N/A 2–0 N/A N/A 1–0 1–1
East Fife 2–2 N/A 4–2 — N/A N/A N/A 1–0 3–5 4–2
Falkirk N/A N/A 3–0 2–0 — 6–0 1–0 3–0 N/A N/A
Forfar Athletic N/A 2–1 N/A 0–1 N/A — 2–3 N/A 1–1 1–1
Montrose 1–0 N/A 2–1 1–0 N/A N/A — 4–3 N/A 4–1
Peterhead 0–2 2–0 1–0 N/A 1–3 1–1 N/A — N/A N/A
Raith Rovers N/A 1–0 N/A N/A 1–1 2–1 4–3 2–1 — N/A
Stranraer N/A N/A N/A N/A 1–1 N/A 0–1 N/A 1–1 —
Source: Scottish League One
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Season statistics

Scoring

Top scorers

Rank Player Club Goals
1 Scotland David Goodwillie Clyde 20
2 Scotland Declan McManus Falkirk 19
3 Scotland Dale Carrick Airdrieonians 12
4 Scotland Calum Gallagher Airdrieonians 11
5 Scotland Blair Lyons Montrose 10
6 Scotland Scott Agnew East Fife 9
Scotland Graham Webster Montrose
Scotland Jamie Gullan Raith Rovers
9 England Isaac Layne Dumbarton 8
Scotland Scott Brown Peterhead

Source:[30]

Hat-tricks

Main article: List of Scottish Professional Football League hat-tricks § Scottish League One
Player For Against Result Date Ref
Scotland Declan McManus Falkirk Dumbarton 6–0 (H) 10 August 2019 [31]
Scotland David Goodwillie5 Clyde Stranraer 6–1 (H) 14 September 2019 [32]
Scotland David Goodwillie Clyde Stranraer 3–3 (H) 4 January 2020 [33]
Scotland Declan McManus Falkirk Peterhead 3–1 (A) 11 January 2020 [34]

Note

5 Player scored five goals

Attendances

Pos Team Total High Low Average Change
1 Airdrieonians 15,567 2,530 600 1,037 +35.9%†
2 Clyde[a] 13,369 2,048 507 954 +49.5%†
3 Dumbarton 9,268 982 364 662 +7.3%†
4 East Fife 11,533 1,998 425 823 +18.1%†
5 Falkirk[b] 51,987 4,060 3,289 3,713 −21.7%†
6 Forfar Athletic 9,029 998 370 644 −3.2%†
7 Montrose 9,293 1,095 423 663 −16.0%†
8 Peterhead[a] 9,611 1,513 443 640 −5.5%†
9 Raith Rovers 25,746 3,235 975 1,839 +18.3%†
10 Stranraer 4,204 549 190 350 +3.2%†
League total 159,617 4,060 190 1,148 +52.5%†

Source: [35]

  1. ^ a b Club was playing in League Two during the previous season.
  2. ^ Club was playing in Championship during the previous season.

Awards

Monthly awards

Month Manager of the Month Player of the Month Ref.
Manager Club Player Club
August Scotland Darren Young East Fife Scotland Marc McCallum Forfar Athletic
September Scotland John McGlynn Raith Rovers Scotland Steven Anderson Raith Rovers
October Scotland Stewart Petrie Montrose Scotland Graham Webster Montrose
November Scotland Ian Murray Airdrieonians Scotland Dale Carrick Airdrieonians
December Scotland Stewart Petrie Montrose Scotland Andrew Steeves Montrose
January Scotland David McCracken
Scotland Lee Miller 		Falkirk Scotland Declan McManus Falkirk
February Scotland Darren Young East Fife Scotland Scott Agnew East Fife

References

  1. ^ "Top Scorers - Scottish League One". BBC. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Scottish League One Performance Stats 2019–20". ESPN. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
  3. ^ "SPFL sticks with Scottish Premiership winter break for 2019/20". BBC Sport. 17 April 2019. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  4. ^ "Coronavirus joint response group update". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  5. ^ "SPFL: Clubs to vote on lower leagues; Premiership decision on hold". BBC Sport. BBC. 8 April 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  6. ^ "Dundee Utd, Raith & Cove win titles & reconstruction talks start after Dundee vote". BBC Sport. BBC. 15 April 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  7. ^ "Arbroath seal League One title with draw at Brechin City". BBC Sport. 13 April 2019. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  8. ^ "Airdrieonians Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  9. ^ "Clyde Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  10. ^ "Dumbarton Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  11. ^ "East Fife Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  12. ^ "Falkirk Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  13. ^ "Forfar Athletic Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  14. ^ "Montrose Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  15. ^ "Peterhead Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  16. ^ "Raith Rovers Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Archived from the original on 22 October 2013. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  17. ^ "Stranraer Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  18. ^ "Holemasters announced as new club sponsor". Airdrieonians FC. 11 August 2017. Archived from the original on 9 February 2018. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
  19. ^ a b Findlay, Alan (28 June 2017). "The 'Big Reveal' - New home kit 2017/2018". Dumbarton FC. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
  20. ^ a b "New strips on sale now!". Falkirk F.C. 12 May 2017. Archived from the original on 18 April 2018. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  21. ^ a b c "2017/18 Strips Launched". Raith Rovers FC. 6 July 2017. Archived from the original on 15 August 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  22. ^ "New kit deal". Stranraer FC. 15 May 2018. Archived from the original on 21 May 2018. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  23. ^ "30 years of Stena". Stranraer FC. 29 June 2017. Archived from the original on April 22, 2018. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
  24. ^ "Forfar Athletic: Jim Weir resigns due to personal reasons". BBC Sport. BBC. 3 November 2019. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  25. ^ "Stuart Malcolm appointed new Forfar Athletic manager". BBC Sport. BBC. 10 November 2019. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  26. ^ "Falkirk: Ray McKinnon sacked with club fourth in League One". BBC Sport. BBC. 16 November 2019. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  27. ^ "Falkirk: Lee Miller and David McCracken appointed interim coaching team". BBC Sport. BBC. 19 November 2019. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  28. ^ a b "Falkirk confirm Lee Miller & David McCracken until end of season". BBC Sport. BBC. 13 December 2019. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  29. ^ "Dundee Utd, Raith & Cove win titles and reconstruction talks start after Dundee vote". BBC Sport. 15 April 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  30. ^ "Scottish League One Top Scorers". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  31. ^ "Falkirk v Dumbarton". BBC Sport. 10 August 2019.
  32. ^ "Clyde v Stranraer". BBC Sport. 14 September 2019.
  33. ^ "Clyde v Stranraer". BBC Sport. 4 January 2020.
  34. ^ "Peterhead v Falkirk". BBC Sport. 11 January 2020.
  35. ^ "Ladbrokes League One Results". SPFL. Retrieved 5 August 2019.