2007–08 Scottish Premier League

The 2007–08 Scottish Premier League season was the tenth season of the Scottish Premier League. It began on 4 August 2007 and was originally due to end on 18 May 2008. Due to the death of Phil O'Donnell and extremely poor weather causing the postponement of fixtures during the winter, as well as a backlog of Rangers fixtures and their progression to the UEFA Cup Final, the SPL decided to move the final round of fixtures back four days to 22 May 2008.[1] It was the first season under the sponsorship of the Clydesdale Bank.

Scottish Premier League
Season2007–08
Dates4 August 2007 – 22 May 2008
ChampionsCeltic
RelegatedGretna
Champions LeagueCeltic
Rangers
UEFA CupMotherwell
Intertoto CupHibernian
Matches played228
Goals scored610 (2.68 per match)
Top goalscorerScott McDonald (25)
Biggest home winRangers 7–2 Falkirk (18 August)
Inverness CT 6–1 Gretna (3 May)
Celtic 5–0 Hearts (25 August)
Celtic 5–0 Inverness CT (15 September)
Biggest away winAberdeen 1–5 Celtic (10 February)
St Mirren 1–5 Celtic (2 September)
St Mirren 1–5 Falkirk (1 December)
Gretna 0–4 Falkirk (4 August)
Gretna 0–4 Inverness CT (27 October)
Hearts 0–4 Rangers (27 February)
Highest attendance60,000, Celtic 0–0 Kilmarnock (5 August)
Lowest attendance431, Gretna 1–2 Inverness CT (5 April)

Gretna were promoted from the First Division the previous season and played in the SPL for the first time, replacing Dunfermline Athletic. Gretna did not play at their home stadium Raydale Park as it did not meet the SPL stadia criteria of 6,000 and instead used Motherwell's Fir Park for all but one of their games; that match was at Livingston's Almondvale Stadium.

Champions Celtic qualified directly for the Champions League, while second-placed Rangers qualified for the Second qualifying round. Third-placed Motherwell qualified for the UEFA Cup and Hibernian qualified for the Intertoto Cup. First Division side Queen of the South also qualified for the UEFA Cup after reaching the Scottish Cup Final. Gretna were relegated after just one season in the SPL and were replaced by First Division champions Hamilton Academical for the following season.

The championship was determined on the final day of the season. Leaders Celtic travelled to Tannadice to play Dundee United knowing that a win would secure the title. They achieved this with a 1–0 victory following Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink's second-half header. Rangers needed to win or draw their final match of the season against Aberdeen at Pittodrie and hope that Celtic at least drew or lost respectively. But Aberdeen F.C. won the game 2-0 thanks to goals from Lee Miller and Steve Lovell.

Clubs

Promotion and Relegation from 2006–07

Promoted from First Division to Premier League

Relegated from Premier League to First Division

Stadia and locations
Aberdeen Celtic Dundee United Falkirk
Pittodrie Stadium Celtic Park Tannadice Park Falkirk Stadium
Capacity: 20,866[2] Capacity: 60,411[3] Capacity: 14,223[4] Capacity: 7,937[5]
Gretna
Location of teams in 2007–08 Scottish Premier League
 Heart of Midlothian
Fir Park, Motherwell[6] Tynecastle Park
Capacity: 13,677[7] Capacity: 17,420[8]
Hibernian Inverness Caledonian Thistle
Easter Road Caledonian Stadium
Capacity: 16,531[9] Capacity: 7,500[10]
Kilmarnock Motherwell Rangers St Mirren
Rugby Park Fir Park Ibrox Stadium Love Street
Capacity: 17,889[11] Capacity: 13,677[12] Capacity: 50,817[13] Capacity: 10,800[14]

Personnel and kits
Team Manager Kit manufacturer Kit sponsor
Aberdeen Jimmy Calderwood Nike Apex Tubulars
Celtic Gordon Strachan Nike Carling
Dundee United Craig Levein hummel Anglian Windows
Falkirk John Hughes Lotto Central Demolition
Gretna Mick Wadsworth (caretaker) Crest Teamwear Subway
Heart of Midlothian Stephen Frail (caretaker) Umbro Ukio Bankas
Hibernian Mixu Paatelainen Le Coq Sportif Whyte and Mackay
Inverness Caledonian Thistle Craig Brewster Erreà Flybe
Kilmarnock Jim Jefferies Lotto www.smallworldmedia.com
Motherwell Mark McGhee Bukta Anglian Home Improvements
Rangers Walter Smith Umbro Carling
St Mirren Gus MacPherson hummel Braehead Shopping Centre

Managerial changes
Team Outgoing manager Date of vacancy Manner of departure Position in table Incoming manager Date of appointment
Motherwell Maurice Malpas 1 June 2007[15] Sacked Pre-season Mark McGhee 18 June 2007[16]
Gretna Rowan Alexander 14 June 2007[17] Sacked Davie Irons 18 July 2007[18]
Inverness Charlie Christie 20 August 2007[19] Resigned 12th Craig Brewster 27 August 2007[20]
Hibernian John Collins 20 December 2007[21] Resigned 5th Mixu Paatelainen 10 January 2008[22]
Hearts Anatoliy Korobochka 1 January 2008[23] Sacked 10th Stephen Frail (caretaker) 1 January 2008
Gretna Davie Irons 19 February 2008[24] Signed by Greenock Morton 12th Mick Wadsworth (caretaker) 19 February 2008[24]

Notable events
Main article: 2007–08 in Scottish football

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation[lower-alpha 1]
1 Celtic 38 28 5 5 84 26 +58 89 Qualification for the Champions League group stage
2 Rangers 38 27 5 6 84 33 +51 86 Qualification for the Champions League second qualifying round
3 Motherwell 38 18 6 14 50 46 +4 60 Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round
4 Aberdeen 38 15 8 15 50 58 −8 53
5 Dundee United 38 14 10 14 53 47 +6 52
6 Hibernian 38 14 10 14 49 45 +4 52 Qualification for the Intertoto Cup second round[lower-alpha 2]
7 Falkirk 38 13 10 15 45 49 −4 49
8 Heart of Midlothian 38 13 9 16 47 55 −8 48
9 Inverness Caledonian Thistle 38 13 4 21 51 62 −11 43
10 St Mirren 38 10 11 17 26 54 −28 41
11 Kilmarnock 38 10 10 18 39 52 −13 40
12 Gretna 38 5 8 25 32 83 −51 13[lower-alpha 3] Resigned from the Scottish Football League and liquidated[lower-alpha 4]
Source: Scottish Professional Football League
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
Notes:
  1. 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.
  2. Hibernian qualified for the Intertoto Cup as the highest ranked club to apply for a place in the competition.
  3. Gretna were deducted 10 points for entering administration.
  4. At the end of the season, Gretna were relegated to the Third Division due to their financial struggles. However, as no buyer was found for the club, they resigned from the Scottish Football League and were subsequently liquidated.

Results

Matches 1–22

During matches 1–22 each team played every other team twice (home and away).

Home \ Away ABE CEL DUN FAL GRT HOM HIB INV KIL MOT RAN STM
Aberdeen 1–3 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 3–1 1–0 2–1 1–2 1–1 4–0
Celtic 3–0 3–0 4–0 3–0 5–0 1–1 5–0 0–0 3–0 2–1 1–1
Dundee United 1–0 0–2 2–0 1–2 4–1 0–0 0–1 2–0 1–0 2–1 2–0
Falkirk 0–0 1–4 3–0 2–0 2–1 1–1 1–0 1–1 1–0 1–3 0–1
Gretna 1–1 1–2 3–2 0–4 1–1 0–1 0–4 1–2 1–2 1–2 0–0
Heart of Midlothian 4–1 1–1 1–3 4–2 1–1 0–1 2–3 1–1 1–2 4–2 0–1
Hibernian 3–3 3–2 2–2 1–1 4–2 1–1 1–0 4–1 1–0 1–2 0–1
Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1–2 3–2 0–3 4–2 3–0 2–1 2–0 3–1 0–3 0–3 1–0
Kilmarnock 0–1 1–2 2–1 0–1 3–3 3–1 2–1 2–2 0–1 1–2 0–0
Motherwell 3–0 1–4 5–3 0–3 3–0 0–2 2–1 2–1 1–2 1–1 1–1
Rangers 3–0 3–0 2–0 7–2 4–0 2–1 0–1 2–0 2–0 3–1 2–0
St Mirren 0–1 1–5 0–3 1–5 1–0 1–3 2–1 2–1 0–0 0–1 0–3
Source: BBC Sport
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Matches 23–33

During matches 23–33 each team played every other team once (either at home or away).

Home \ Away ABE CEL DUN FAL GRT HOM HIB INV KIL MOT RAN STM
Aberdeen 1–5 2–1 3–0 0–1 1–1 1–1
Celtic 0–0 3–0 2–1 1–0 0–1
Dundee United 3–0 0–0 1–1 2–0 3–3 1–1
Falkirk 0–1 0–2 0–0 0–0 4–0
Gretna 0–3 0–3 2–0 1–2 4–2 1–3
Heart of Midlothian 1–0 0–0 2–0 1–0 0–4
Hibernian 3–1 0–2 4–2 2–0 2–0 2–0
Inverness Caledonian Thistle 3–4 1–1 0–1 0–3 0–1
Kilmarnock 3–1 1–2 0–0 4–1 0–2 1–0
Motherwell 0–1 1–0 3–1 1–0 1–1
Rangers 3–1 1–0 2–0 4–2 2–1 4–0
St Mirren 0–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 3–1
Source: BBC Sport
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Matches 34–38

During matches 34–38 each team played every other team in their half of the table once.

Goals

Top scorers
Celtic's Scott McDonald was the top goalscorer during season 2007–08.
PlayerGoalsClub
Scott McDonald25Celtic
Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink15Celtic
Kris Boyd14Rangers
Chris PorterMotherwell
Steven Fletcher13Hibernian
Noel HuntDundee United
Barry RobsonDundee United/Celtic
David Clarkson12Motherwell
Jean-Claude DarchevilleRangers
Lee MillerAberdeen
Colin Nish11Kilmarnock/Hibernian
Daniel Cousin10Rangers
Nacho NovoRangers
Don Cowie9Inverness CT
Michael Higdon8Falkirk

Hat-tricks
Main article: List of Scottish Premier League hat-tricks
Scorer For Against Date
Scott McDonald Celtic Dundee United 29 September 2007
Clayton Donaldson Hibernian Kilmarnock 29 September 2007
Scott McDonald Celtic Motherwell 27 October 2007
Aiden McGeady Celtic Falkirk 11 December 2007
Barry Robson Dundee United Heart of Midlothian 2 January 2008
Steven Fletcher Hibernian Gretna 13 February 2008

Kits and shirt sponsors
Team Kitmaker Shirt sponsor Notes
Aberdeen Nike Apex Tubulars New home and third kits
Celtic Nike Carling New home kit and new away kit to celebrate 40 years since being the first British team to win the European Cup.
Dundee United hummel Anglian Windows New home and away kit
Falkirk Lotto Central Demolition Lotto take over from previous manufacturer, TFG. Home kit is to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the club's Scottish Cup victory in 1957.
Gretna Crest Teamwear Subway Subway take over as new sponsor
Heart of Midlothian Umbro Ukio Bankas Umbro take over from previous manufacturer, Hummel
Hibernian Le Coq Sportif Whyte and Mackay New away kit and new home kit
Inverness CT Erreà Flybe Flybe take over as new sponsor
Kilmarnock Lotto www.smallworldmedia.com Lotto take over from previous manufacturer, TFG.
Motherwell Bukta Anglian Home Improvements Bukta take over from previous manufacturer, Xara
Rangers Umbro Carling New home, away and third kits
St Mirren hummel Braehead Shopping Centre Hummel take over from previous manufacturer, Xara

For the first time in the SPL, certain teams also carried secondary sponsors on the back of their jerseys, above the players' names.

Attendances
Team Stadium Capacity Lowest Highest Average
CelticCeltic Park60,83245,00060,00056,676
RangersIbrox Stadium51,08247,41950,44048,090
Heart of MidlothianTynecastle Stadium17,42010,51217,13115,930
HibernianEaster Road17,5007,65017,01513,840
AberdeenPittodrie22,1998,24017,79811,993
Dundee UnitedTannadice Park14,2095,84513,6138,530
KilmarnockRugby Park18,1284,45611,5446,181
Motherwell1Fir Park13,7424,08610,4456,598
FalkirkFalkirk Stadium6,9354,4906,8035,657
Inverness CTCaledonian Stadium7,5003,4207,7534,752
St MirrenLove Street10,8003,1637,8404,547
Gretna1Fir Park13,7424316,1372,283

As of 22 May 2008[31]

1 Gretna were sharing Motherwell's stadium whilst Raydale Park was being upgraded. However, in March the Fir Park pitch was considered unplayable so the game between Gretna and Celtic was played instead at Almondvale, the home of First Division club Livingston.[32]

Managerial changes
See also: 2007–08 in Scottish football § Managerial changes
Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Replaced by Date of appointment
Motherwell Maurice Malpas Sacked 18 June 2007 Mark McGhee 1 June 2007
Gretna Andy Smith Health 4 August 2007 Davie Irons 18 July 2007
Heart of Midlothian Valdas Ivanauskas Mutual consent Stephen Frail & Anatoly Korobochka 30 July 2007
Inverness CT Charlie Christie Resigned August 2007 Craig Brewster 27 August 2007
Hibernian John Collins Resigned 20 December 2007 Mixu Paatelainen 10 January 2008
Gretna Davie Irons Resigned 19 February 2008 Mick Wadsworth 19 February
Heart of Midlothian Stephen Frail[33] Mutual Consent 27 May 2008 Csaba László 11 July[34]

Awards

Clydesdale Bank Premier League Monthly awards
See also: 2007–08 in Scottish football § Monthly awards
MonthManagerPlayerYoung playerRising star
August Walter Smith (Rangers) Carlos Cuéllar (Rangers) Steven Fletcher (Hibernian) Mark Staunton (Falkirk)
September John Collins (Hibernian) Scott McDonald (Celtic) Andrew Driver (Heart of Midlothian) Scott Anson (Kilmarnock)
October Craig Levein (Dundee United) Lee Wilkie (Dundee United) Ross McCormack (Motherwell) Jack Wilson (Hibernian)
November Mark McGhee (Motherwell) Aiden McGeady (Celtic) Ross McCormack (Motherwell) Liam Cusack (Gretna)
December Craig Brewster (Inverness CT) Marius Niculae (Inverness CT) Scott Arfield (Falkirk)—
January Walter Smith (Rangers) Barry Robson (Dundee United) Danny Grainger (Dundee United)—
February Mixu Paatelainen (Hibernian) Aiden McGeady (Celtic) Steven Fletcher (Hibernian) Ryan Strachan (Aberdeen)
March Walter Smith (Rangers) Darren Barr (Falkirk) Garry Kenneth (Dundee United) Ryan Crighton (St Mirren)
April Gordon Strachan (Celtic) Barry Robson (Celtic) Gary Glen (Heart of Midlothian)—

Clydesdale Bank Premier League Awards
AwardRecipient
Player of the Season Carlos Cuéllar (Rangers)
Manager of the Season Walter Smith (Rangers)
Young Player of the Season Aiden McGeady (Celtic)
Goal of the Season Willo Flood (Dundee United v St Mirren)
Under-19 League Player of the Season Scott Anson (Kilmarnock)
Best Club Media RelationsKilmarnock
Best Fan InitiativeHeart of Midlothian
Best Matchday Hospitality PackageRangers
Best Community InitiativeFalkirk
Best Away GroundTynecastle (Heart of Midlothian)

[35]

Broadcasting rights

Setanta Sports provided domestic TV live coverage and highlights as in previous seasons, with STV and BBC Scotland also broadcasting free-to-air highlights. BBC Radio Scotland continued to provide domestic radio coverage, with many games also available internationally, and all domestically, through their website. The BBC held rights to show highlights online and do so through the BBC Sport website. Internationally, the Premier League's overseas television broadcasting partner was TWI, with coverage of the SPL available in over 100 territories worldwide.

Transfer deals
Further information: List of Scottish football transfers 2007–08

References
  1. SPL prepares for season extension
  2. "Aberdeen Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  3. "Celtic Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  4. "Dundee United Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  5. "Falkirk Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  6. Gretna played their home matches at Motherwell's Fir Park as their home ground, Raydale Park, did not meet the league's minimum standards. They also played one match against Celtic at Livingston's Almondvale Stadium as the pitch at Fir Park was considered unplayable.
  7. "Motherwell Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  8. "Heart of Midlothian Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Archived from the original on 22 October 2013. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  9. "Hibernian Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  10. "Inverness Caledonian Thistle Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  11. "Kilmarnock Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  12. "Motherwell Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  13. "Rangers Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 4 November 2015. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  14. "St Mirren Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 4 November 2015. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  15. "Malpas leaves post at Motherwell". BBC Sport. 1 June 2007. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  16. "McGhee named new Motherwell boss". BBC Sport. 18 June 2007. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  17. "No return for Alexander at Gretna". BBC Sport. 14 June 2007. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  18. "Irons will lead Gretna into SPL". BBC Sport. 18 July 2007. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  19. "Christie quits as Inverness boss". BBC Sport. 20 August 2008. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  20. "Craig Brewster returns to Inverness". The Daily Telegraph. 28 August 2007. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  21. "Collins stuns Hibernian with shock resignation". The Guardian. 20 December 2007. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  22. "Hibs appoint Paatelainen". World Soccer. 10 January 2008. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  23. "Hearts to search for new manager". BBC Sport. 1 January 2008. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  24. "Davie Irons resigns as Gretna manager and heads to Morton". The Scotsman. 19 February 2008. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  25. Motherwell captain O'Donnell dies BBC Sport. Retrieved on 29 December 2007
  26. "St Mirren 2-0 Gretna". BBC Sport. 29 March 2008. Retrieved 29 March 2008.
  27. "Hamilton Accies 2-0 Clyde". BBC Sport. 19 April 2008. Retrieved 19 April 2008.
  28. "Dundee United 0-1 Celtic". BBC Sport. 22 May 2008. Retrieved 22 May 2008.
  29. "Gretna demoted to Division Three". BBC Sport. 29 May 2008. Retrieved 29 May 2008.
  30. "Gretna resign from Scottish Football League". The Times. London. 2 June 2008. Retrieved 2 June 2008.
  31. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/7328019.stm
  32. BBC Sport (1 April 2008). "Gretna return 'home' to Fir Park". BBC News. Retrieved 1 April 2008.
  33. "Hearts confirm Frail's departure". BBC Sport. 9 July 2008. Retrieved 12 July 2008.
  34. "Hearts appoint Laszlo as manager". BBC Sport. 11 July 2008. Retrieved 12 July 2008.
  35. ""Clydesdale Bank Premier League Awards Season 2007/08"". Archived from the original on 10 April 2008. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
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