2011–12 Scottish First Division

The 2011–12 Scottish Football League First Division, also known as the 2011–12 Irn Bru Scottish Football League First Division for sponsorship reasons, is the 17th season of the Scottish First Division and the 106th season of a second-tier football league in Scotland. Dunfermline Athletic are the current champions. It began on 6 August 2011 and is scheduled to end on 5 May 2012. The league comprises the teams ranked second through eighth of the 2010–11 season, the relegated side from the 2010–11 Premier League (Hamilton Academical), the 2010–11 Second Division champions, and the winners of the 2010–11 First Division play-off (Livingston and Ayr United respectively).

Irn-Bru Scottish First Division
Season2011–12
ChampionsRoss County
PromotedRoss County
Dundee
RelegatedAyr United
Queen of the South
Matches played180
Goals scored507 (2.82 per match)
Top goalscorerColin McMenamin (19)
Biggest home winPartick Thistle 5–0 Greenock Morton
(30 September 2011)
Raith Rovers 5–0 Greenock Morton
(3 March 2012)
Biggest away winHamilton Academical 1–6 Dundee
(3 December 2011)
Queen of the South 0–5 Partick Thistle
(17 March 2012)
Highest scoring(8 goals)
Queen of the South 3–5 Ross County
(5 May 2012)
Longest winning run9 games
Ross County
Longest unbeaten run34 games
Ross County
Longest winless run9 games
Ayr United
Longest losing run4 games
Queen of the South
Raith Rovers
Falkirk
Ayr United
Highest attendance5,862[1]
Dundee v Greenock Morton
(26 December 2011)
Lowest attendance859[2]
Livingston v Ayr United
(6 March 2011)
Average attendance2,297

Teams
Location of teams in 2011–12 Scottish First Division

Dunfermline Athletic, champions of the 2010–11 season, were promoted to the 2011–12 Premier League.[3] The club thus completed a five-season tenure in the First Division. Dunfermline were replaced by Hamilton Academical, who were relegated from the 2010–11 Premier League after finishing at the bottom of the table;[3] Hamilton returned to the First Division after three years.

At the bottom end of the table, last-placed Stirling Albion were directly relegated to the 2011–12 Second Division[3] after being promoted to the second tier only one season earlier. They were replaced by the 2010–11 Second Division champions Livingston,[3] who returned to the First Division after two consecutive promotions in two years; the club had previously been demoted for financial irregularities at the end of the 2008–09 season.[4]

An additional place in the league was available via a play-off tournament between the ninth-placed First Division team, Cowdenbeath, and the sides ranked second through to fourth in the Second Division, Ayr United, Forfar Athletic and Brechin City respectively. The tournament was won by Ayr United,[3] who therefore were promoted back to the First Division after a one-year absence; Cowdenbeath hence were relegated,[3] returning to the Second Division after just one season.

Stadia and locations
Team Location Stadium Capacity
Ayr United Ayr Somerset Park 10,243
Dundee Dundee Dens Park 12,085
Falkirk Falkirk Falkirk Stadium 9,120
Greenock Morton Greenock Cappielow 11,612
Hamilton Academical Hamilton New Douglas Park 6,096
Livingston Livingston Braidwood Motor Company Stadium 10,122
Partick Thistle Glasgow Firhill Stadium 13,079
Queen of the South Dumfries Palmerston Park 6,412
Raith Rovers Kirkcaldy Stark's Park 10,104
Ross County Dingwall Victoria Park 6,310

Personnel and kits
Team Manager Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
Ayr United Brian Reid Nike Bodog
Dundee Barry Smith Puma Kilmac Energy
Falkirk Steven Pressley Puma Central Demolition
Greenock Morton Allan Moore Puma Ferguson's Chocolates (H), Buchanan's Toffees (A), Millions Chews (T)
Hamilton Academical Billy Reid Nike M&H Logistics (H), Life Skills Centres (A,T)
Livingston John Hughes Umbro Fasteq
Partick Thistle Jackie McNamara Puma macb (Until March) Just Employment Law (March onwards)
Queen of the South Gus MacPherson Joma Border Utilities Ltd
Raith Rovers John McGlynn Puma Kittys & Styx (H), ACA Sports (A)
Ross County Derek Adams Nike Highnet

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Ross County (C) 36 22 13 1 72 32 +40 79 Promotion to the Premier League
2 Dundee (P) 36 15 10 11 53 43 +10 55[lower-alpha 1]
3 Falkirk 36 13 13 10 53 48 +5 52
4 Hamilton Academical 36 14 7 15 55 56 −1 49
5 Livingston 36 13 9 14 56 54 +2 48
6 Partick Thistle 36 12 11 13 50 39 +11 47
7 Raith Rovers 36 11 11 14 46 49 −3 44
8 Greenock Morton 36 10 12 14 40 55 −15 42
9 Ayr United (R) 36 9 11 16 44 67 −23 38 Qualification for the First Division Play-offs
10 Queen of the South (R) 36 7 11 18 38 64 −26 32 Relegation to the Second Division
Source: SPFL Archive
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champion; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated.
Notes:
  1. Rangers were liquidated prior to the 2012–13 season. Dundee were chosen to take their place, gaining promotion to the SPL.[5]

Results

Teams play each other four times in this league. In the first half of the season each team plays every other team twice (home and away) and then do the same in the second half of the season, for a total of 36 games

First half of season
Home \ Away AYR DND FAL GMO HAM LIV PAR QOS RAI ROS
Ayr United 1–3 2–2 0–1 1–2 0–0 0–0 1–0 2–1 2–3
Dundee 1–1 4–2 0–1 0–1 3–0 0–1 2–1 1–0 1–2
Falkirk 0–0 2–1 1–0 0–0 4–3 2–1 1–0 2–0 1–1
Greenock Morton 4–1 1–2 3–2 0–2 2–1 1–2 2–2 1–1 0–2
Hamilton Academical 2–3 1–6 0–1 1–2 1–1 1–0 3–1 2–2 5–1
Livingston 1–2 4–2 1–1 1–1 1–0 2–1 2–2 1–1 0–3
Partick Thistle 4–0 0–1 2–2 5–0 1–1 2–1 2–1 0–1 0–1
Queen of the South 4–1 0–0 1–5 4–1 1–0 0–2 0–0 1–3 0–0
Raith Rovers 0–1 0–1 1–0 1–1 3–2 0–1 2–0 0–2 0–1
Ross County 4–0 1–1 3–1 0–0 1–0 1–1 2–2 2–0 4–2
Updated to match(es) played on 7 March 2012. Source: BBC Sport
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Second half of season
Home \ Away AYR DND FAL GMO HAM LIV PAR QOS RAI ROS
Ayr United 3–2 1–0 0–0 2–2 3–1 1–3 1–1 1–1 1–3
Dundee 4–1 3–1 0–1 2–2 1–0 0–3 1–1 1–1 1–1
Falkirk 3–2 1–1 0–2 3–0 2–5 1–1 3–0 2–3 1–1
Greenock Morton 3–1 0–2 0–0 1–2 1–3 1–0 2–2 1–3 1–1
Hamilton Academical 3–2 3–1 0–1 4–3 0–1 2–2 3–0 2–1 0–2
Livingston 0–1 2–3 1–2 0–0 0–4 3–1 2–2 4–0 1–3
Partick Thistle 4–2 0–0 1–1 0–0 2–0 2–3 1–0 1–1 0–1
Queen of the South 2–1 1–1 0–0 2–1 1–2 0–4 0–5 1–0 3–5
Raith Rovers 2–2 0–1 2–2 5–0 2–1 0–3 2–1 3–1 1–1
Ross County 1–1 3–0 2–1 2–2 5–1 3–0 3–0 2–1 1–1
Updated to match(es) played on 5 May 2012. Source: BBC Sport
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

First Division Play-offs

Times are BST (UTC+1)

Semi-Finals

The fourth placed team in the Second Division (Airdrie United) will play the ninth placed team in the First Division (Ayr United) and third placed team in the Second Division (Dumbarton) will play the second placed team in the Second Division (Arbroath). The play-offs will be played over two legs, the winning team in each semi-final will advance to the final.

|}

Team 1 Agg. Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Dumbarton 2–1 Arbroath 2–1 0–0
Airdrie United 3–1 Ayr United 0–0 3–1

First legs

Dumbarton2 – 1Arbroath
Wallace  16'
Prunty  62'		 Malcolm  5'
Attendance: 911
Referee: Craig Charleston
Airdrie United0 – 0Ayr United
Attendance: 1,871
Referee: Crawford Allan

Second legs

Arbroath0 – 0Dumbarton
Ayr United1 – 3Airdrie United
Geggan  64'
Longridge  17'
Tiffoney  90'		 Holmes  55', 65'
McLaren  85'

Final

The two semi-final winners will play each other over two legs. Originally, the winning team only was to be awarded a place in the 2012–13 First Division. Following the Rangers F.C. administration situation, both teams were awarded places.

Team 1 Agg. Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Dumbarton 6–2 Airdrie United 2–1 4–1

First leg

Dumbarton2 – 1Airdrie United
Prunty  29'
Wallace  32'		 Bain  42'

Second leg

Airdrie United1 - 4Dumbarton
Holmes  35'
Bain  80'		 Dargo  9', 21'
Gilhaney  45+3'
Wallace  65'

Statistics

Top goalscorers
As of 21 April 2012
Rank Scorer Team Goals
1 Colin McMenamin Ross County 19
2 Farid El Alagui Falkirk 18
3 Kris Doolan Partick Thistle 13
Michael Gardyne Ross County
4 Rory Boulding Livingston 11
Paul Cairney Partick Thistle
Ryan Conroy Dundee
Brian Graham Raith Rovers
Marc McNulty Livingston
Steven Milne Dundee


Hat-tricks
PlayerForAgainstResultDate
Kevin SmithQueen of the SouthGreenock Morton4–117 September 2011
Steven MilneDundeeHamilton Academical6–13 December 2011
Marc McNultyLivingstonRaith Rovers4–018 February 2012
Richard BrittainRoss CountyAyr United3–229 February 2012
Rory BouldingLivingstonRaith Rovers3–010 April 2012
Brian GrahamRaith RoversFalkirk3–221 April 2012
Paul CairneyPartick ThistleDundee3–021 April 2012

Disciplinary by player
As of 7 March 2011 23:25 (BST)
Rank[6] Player Team Yellow Red
1 Mark McLaughlin Hamilton Academical 5 2
Simon Mensing Hamilton Academical 8 1
3 Stephen O'Donnell Dundee 4 2
Darren Dods Falkirk 7 1
5 Craig Reid Queen of the South 3 2
6 Stuart Kettlewell Ross County 5 1
Mark Fotheringham Livingston 5 1
Paul Watson Livingston 5 1
9 Farid El Alagui Falkirk 8 0
Stephen McKenna Queen of the South 8 0

Awards
Month First Division Manager of the Month SFL Player of the Month SFL Young player of the Month Ginger Boot
Manager Club Player Club Player Club Player Club
August[7] Allan Moore Greenock Morton Dougie Imrie Hamilton Academical Craig Sibbald Falkirk Third division player
September[8] Steven Pressley Falkirk Farid El Alagui Falkirk Second division player Peter MacDonald Greenock Morton
October[9] Derek Adams
Steven Pressley		 Ross County
Falkirk		 Darren Dods
Grant Munro		 Falkirk
Ross County		 Aaron Sinclair Partick Thistle Second division player
November[10] Barry Smith Dundee Nicky Riley Dundee Second division player Third division player
December[11] Jackie McNamara Partick Thistle Farid El Alagui Falkirk Third division player Third division player
January[12] Steven Pressley Falkirk Third division player Third division player Third division player
February[13] Steven Pressley Falkirk Second division player Andy Ryan Hamilton Second division player
March
April

References
  1. Dundee 0 - 1 Greenock Morton : Monday, 26 December 2011 Archived 5 June 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Retrieved 2012-03-07.
  2. Livingston 1 - 2 Ayr United : Tuesday, 6 March 2012 Archived 24 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Retrieved 2012-03-07.
  3. BBC Sport - Football - Ups and downs, news.bbc.co.uk Retrieved 2011-05-25.
  4. Livi relegated to Division Three, 2009-08-05 news.bbc.co.uk Retrieved 2011-05-29.
  5. Rangers: Dundee invited to take place in SPL - BBC Sport, 16 July 2012
  6. First Division - Disciplinary, Retrieved 2012-03-07.
  7. "IRN-BRU Phenomenal Awards for August 2011". Scottish Football League. 9 September 2011. Archived from the original on 24 October 2011. Retrieved 19 December 2011.
  8. "IRN-BRU Phenomenal Awards - September 2011". Scottish Football League. 7 October 2011. Archived from the original on 11 December 2011. Retrieved 19 December 2011.
  9. "IRN-BRU SFL Phenomenal Awards - October 2011". Scottish Football League. 18 November 2011. Archived from the original on 5 May 2012. Retrieved 2011-12-19.
  10. "IRN-BRU SFL November Manager and Player of the Month Awards". Scottish Football League. 18 December 2011. Archived from the original on 5 May 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  11. "IRN-BRU SFL Phenomenal Awards - December 2011". Scottish Football League. 23 January 2011. Archived from the original on 26 January 2013. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
  12. "IRN-BRU SFL Phenomenal Awards - January 2012". Scottish Football League. 17 February 2012. Archived from the original on 5 May 2012. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
  13. "IRN-BRU SFL Phenomenal Awards - February 2012". Scottish Football League. 16 March 2012. Archived from the original on 5 May 2012. Retrieved 12 April 2012.
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