The Scottish Premier League (SPL) is the top division within the current structure of football in Scotland. Currently, the full sponsored name of the league is the Bank of Scotland Scottish Premierleague. UEFA currently rank the league 11th in Europe.
History
Previously, the Scottish Football League had a two divisional structure (Divisions One and Two) between which clubs were promoted and relegated at the end of each season. However, by the mid 1970s, this organisation was perceived to be stagnant, and it was decided to split into a three divisional structure (Premier Division, First Division and Second Division).
This setup continued until the mid-1990s when it was decided to split into a four divisional structure with the addition of a Third Division.
Formation of the SPL
In 1998, the football clubs in the Premier Division decided to split from the Scottish Football League and form the Scottish Premier League. This decision was fuelled by a desire by the top clubs in Scotland to retain more of the revenue generated by the game. Originally, league sponsorship money was divided between clubs in every league; after the SPL was formed, this was no longer the case.
Originally the SPL contained 10 clubs, but it subsequently enlarged to 12 for the 2000-01 season onwards. The increase from 10 clubs to 12 was part of the deal offered to obtain approval from SFL member clubs. Since then, the SPL has operated a “split league format” to prevent the need for a 44-game schedule, which has been tried in the past, but is now considered to be too high a number of games in a league season. Under this system, after 33 games (i.e. when every club has played every other club 3 times, either twice away and once at home, or vice-versa), the division is split into 2 halves, and clubs play a further 5 matches, against the teams in their half of the division, taking their total to 38 games.
This can (and often does) result in the team placed 7th having a higher points total than the team placed 6th, because their final 5 games are considerably easier. In the 2005/2006 season, the 7th-placed club (Inverness Caledonian Thistle) gained more points than the 4th-placed club (Hibernian).
Promotion and relegation
Providing they meet certain criteria regarding their stadium, the top club from the Scottish First Division is promoted to the SPL, with the 12th-placed SPL club relegated.
In 2003, the league’s promotion criteria caused controversy as the chairmen of the member clubs voted against Falkirk’s proposed ground share with Airdrie United and stopped the club from having the 10,000 fan stadium capacity it required, thus saving Motherwell from relegation.
The same situation nearly materialised in 2004, but after several votes and discussion, including threats of court cases from Partick Thistle, the team then threatened with prospect of relegation, Inverness Caledonian Thistle were finally allowed promotion provided that they groundshared with north rivals Aberdeen at Pittodrie, a ground over 160 km (100 miles) away. In 2005, the stadium size criterion for entry to the SPL was reduced to 6,000, thereby allowing Inverness Caledonian Thistle to return to their home stadium partway during the season.
SPL 2
On Thursday, 17 August 2006, SPL Chairman Lex Gold has announced a proposal to create an “SPL 2″ with the teams from the First Division . The new league structure would start in the 2008-09 season. The proposed SPL 2 would have promotion and relegation from the next highest level of the SFL.
This idea is quite unpopular with fans of some SFL clubs as they fear that their clubs will be cut off from the higher levels of the game, as there are some stiff entry criteria (full-time football, 3000 all-seated stadium, pitch protection) proposed for membership of SPL 2. Some SFL clubs, however, are very much in favour of the proposal, as currently the SFL has no title sponsor for either the league or Challenge Cup competitions.
Sponsorship
The Bank of Scotland are not renewing their sponsorship at the end of the 2006-07 season. Talks began with Clydesdale Bank about a new sponsorship deal, and were confirmed shortly afterwards, with an £8m four-year agreement from July 2007.
Current SPL members
Aberdeen
Celtic
Dundee United
Dunfermline Athletic
Falkirk
Heart of Midlothian
Hibernian
Inverness Caledonian Thistle
Kilmarnock
Motherwell
Rangers
St Mirren
Previous SPL members
This is a list of previous members in reverse order of them losing membership, dates are the period that the club was in the SPL.
Livingston – (2001 – 2006)
Dundee – (1998 – 2005)
Partick Thistle – (2002 – 2004)
St Johnstone – (1998 – 2002)
SPL records
Data accurate as at 4 March 2006
Most goals in a season: Celtic, 105 goals, 2003/04
Fewest goals in a season: St Johnstone, 24 goals, 2001/02
Most points in one season: Celtic, 103 points, 2001/02
Fewest points in a season: Livingston, 18 points, 2005/06
Fewest goals conceded in one season: Celtic, 18 goals, 2001/02
Most goals conceded in a season: Aberdeen, 83 goals, 1999/00
Biggest goal difference in a season: Celtic, 80, 2003/04
Biggest home win: Celtic 7-0 Aberdeen (1999/00 and 2002/03); Hibernian 7-0 Livingston (2005/06)
Biggest away win: St. Johnstone 0-7 Rangers (1998/99); Dunfermline Athletic 1-8 Celtic (2005/06)
Top goalscorer in any one season: Henrik Larsson, 35 goals, 2000/01 Celtic
All-time SPL goalscorer Henrik Larsson, 158 goals, 1998-2004
Player with most hat-tricks: Henrik Larsson, 12, 1998-2004
Oldest player: Jim Leighton, for Aberdeen vs Dundee, 41 years 6 months and 28 days
Youngest player: Jamie McCluskey, for Hibernian vs Kilmarnock, 16 years 2 months and 18 days, 24 January 2004
Youngest goalscorer: David Goodwillie, for Dundee United vs Hibernian, 16 years 11 months and 4 days, 4 March 2006
Most consecutive clean-sheets: Robert Douglas, Celtic, 7 games, 16 December 2000 – 21 February 2001
Most SPL appearances: Barry Smith, Dundee, 242
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