The 1977–78 season was the 105th season of competitive football in Scotland and the 81st season of Scottish league football.[1] In the Scottish Premier League, the Rangers F.C. were champions. Notable events included the Scotland national football team qualifying for the 1978 FIFA World Cup.
| 1977–78 in Scottish football | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Premier Division champions | |
| Rangers | |
| First Division champions | |
| Morton | |
| Second Division champions | |
| Clyde | |
| Scottish Cup winners | |
| Rangers | |
| League Cup winners | |
| Rangers | |
| Junior Cup winners | |
| Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic | |
| Teams in Europe | |
| Aberdeen, Celtic, Dundee United, Rangers | |
| Scotland national team | |
| 1978 BHC, 1978 World Cup qualification, 1978 World Cup |
Scottish Premier Division
edit| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rangers (C) | 36 | 24 | 7 | 5 | 76 | 39 | +37 | 55 | Qualification for the European Cup first round |
| 2 | Aberdeen | 36 | 22 | 9 | 5 | 68 | 29 | +39 | 53 | Qualification for the Cup Winners' Cup first round |
| 3 | Dundee United | 36 | 16 | 8 | 12 | 42 | 32 | +10 | 40 | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round |
| 4 | Hibernian | 36 | 15 | 7 | 14 | 51 | 43 | +8 | 37 | |
| 5 | Celtic | 36 | 15 | 6 | 15 | 63 | 54 | +9 | 36 | |
| 6 | Motherwell | 36 | 13 | 7 | 16 | 45 | 52 | −7 | 33 | |
| 7 | Partick Thistle | 36 | 14 | 5 | 17 | 52 | 62 | −10 | 33 | |
| 8 | St Mirren | 36 | 11 | 8 | 17 | 52 | 63 | −11 | 30 | |
| 9 | Ayr United (R) | 36 | 9 | 6 | 21 | 36 | 68 | −32 | 24 | Relegation to the 1978–79 Scottish First Division |
| 10 | Clydebank (R) | 36 | 6 | 7 | 23 | 23 | 64 | −41 | 19 |
Source: Statto
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated
Champions: Rangers
Relegated: Ayr United, Clydebank
Scottish League First Division
edit| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Morton (C, P) | 39 | 25 | 8 | 6 | 85 | 42 | +43 | 58 | Promotion to the Premier Division |
| 2 | Heart of Midlothian (P) | 39 | 24 | 10 | 5 | 77 | 42 | +35 | 58 | |
| 3 | Dundee | 39 | 25 | 7 | 7 | 91 | 44 | +47 | 57 | |
| 4 | Dumbarton | 39 | 16 | 17 | 6 | 65 | 48 | +17 | 49 | |
| 5 | Stirling Albion | 39 | 15 | 12 | 12 | 60 | 52 | +8 | 42 | |
| 6 | Kilmarnock | 39 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 52 | 46 | +6 | 40 | |
| 7 | Hamilton Academical | 39 | 12 | 12 | 15 | 54 | 56 | −2 | 36 | |
| 8 | St Johnstone | 39 | 15 | 6 | 18 | 52 | 64 | −12 | 36 | |
| 9 | Arbroath | 39 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 42 | 55 | −13 | 35 | |
| 10 | Airdrieonians | 39 | 12 | 10 | 17 | 50 | 64 | −14 | 34 | |
| 11 | Montrose | 39 | 10 | 9 | 20 | 55 | 71 | −16 | 29 | |
| 12 | Queen of the South | 39 | 8 | 13 | 18 | 44 | 68 | −24 | 29 | |
| 13 | Alloa Athletic (R) | 39 | 8 | 8 | 23 | 44 | 84 | −40 | 24 | Relegation to the Second Division |
| 14 | East Fife (R) | 39 | 4 | 11 | 24 | 39 | 74 | −35 | 19 |
Source: RSSSF and statto[2]
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Promoted: Morton, Hearts
Relegated: Alloa, East Fife
Scottish League Second Division
edit| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clyde (C, P) | 39 | 21 | 11 | 7 | 71 | 32 | +39 | 53 | Promotion to the First Division |
| 2 | Raith Rovers (P) | 39 | 19 | 15 | 5 | 63 | 34 | +29 | 53 | |
| 3 | Dunfermline Ath | 39 | 18 | 12 | 9 | 64 | 41 | +23 | 48 | |
| 4 | Berwick Rangers | 39 | 16 | 16 | 7 | 68 | 51 | +17 | 48 | |
| 5 | Falkirk | 39 | 15 | 14 | 10 | 51 | 46 | +5 | 44 | |
| 6 | Forfar Athletic | 39 | 17 | 8 | 14 | 61 | 55 | +6 | 42 | |
| 7 | Queen's Park | 39 | 13 | 15 | 11 | 52 | 51 | +1 | 41 | |
| 8 | Albion Rovers | 39 | 16 | 8 | 15 | 68 | 68 | 0 | 40 | |
| 9 | East Stirlingshire | 39 | 15 | 8 | 16 | 55 | 65 | −10 | 38 | |
| 10 | Cowdenbeath | 39 | 13 | 8 | 18 | 75 | 78 | −3 | 34 | |
| 11 | Stranraer | 39 | 13 | 7 | 19 | 54 | 63 | −9 | 33 | |
| 12 | Stenhousemuir | 39 | 10 | 10 | 19 | 43 | 67 | −24 | 30 | |
| 13 | Meadowbank Thistle | 39 | 6 | 10 | 23 | 43 | 89 | −46 | 22 | |
| 14 | Brechin City | 39 | 7 | 6 | 26 | 45 | 73 | −28 | 20 |
Source: "1977-1978 Second Division - SPFL Archive". SPFL. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted
Promoted: Clyde, Raith Rovers
Cup honours
edit| Competition | Winner | Score | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scottish Cup 1977–78 | Rangers | 2–1 | Aberdeen |
| League Cup 1977–78 | Rangers | 2 – 1 (a.e.t.) | Celtic |
| Junior Cup | Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic | 1–0 | Stonehouse Violet |
Other Honours
editNational
edit| Competition | Winner | Score | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scottish Qualifying Cup – North | Peterhead | 2–0 | Inverness Thistle |
| Scottish Qualifying Cup – South | Gala Fairydean | 3 – 2 * † | Vale of Leithen |
County
edit| Competition | Winner | Score | Runner-up | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aberdeenshire Cup | Keith | ||||
| Ayrshire Cup | Ayr United | 2–1 | Kilmarnock | ||
| East of Scotland Shield | Hibernian | 4–0 | Meadowbank Thistle | ||
| Fife Cup | Dunfermline Athletic | 2–0 | Cowdenbeath | ||
| Renfrewshire Cup | Morton | 1 – 1 ‡ | St Mirren | ||
| Stirlingshire Cup | Stirling Albion | 4–1 | Clydebank |
* – aggregate over two legs
† – play off
‡ – won on penalties
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Inverness Caledonian | 30 | 23 | 3 | 4 | 85 | 40 | +45 | 49 |
| 2 | Peterhead | 30 | 22 | 3 | 5 | 85 | 33 | +52 | 47 |
| 3 | Ross County | 30 | 19 | 7 | 4 | 73 | 41 | +32 | 45 |
Source: [citation needed]
Individual honours
edit| Award | Winner | Club |
|---|---|---|
| Footballer of the Year |  Derek Johnstone |
Rangers |
| Players' Player of the Year | Derek Johnstone |
Rangers |
| Young Player of the Year | Graeme Payne |
Dundee United |
Scottish national team
edit| Date | Venue | Opponents | Score[3] | Competition | Scotland scorer(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 September 1977 | Stadion der Weltjugend, East Berlin (A) |  East Germany
|
0–1 | Friendly | |
| 21 September 1977 | Hampden Park, Glasgow (H) |  Czechoslovakia
|
3–1 | WCQG7 | Joe Jordan, Asa Hartford, Kenny Dalglish |
| 12 October 1977 | Anfield, Liverpool (A) |  Wales
|
2–0 | WCQG7 | Don Masson (pen.), Kenny Dalglish |
| 22 February 1978 | Hampden Park, Glasgow (H) |  Bulgaria
|
2–1 | Friendly | Archie Gemmill (pen.), Ian Wallace |
| 13 May 1978 | Hampden Park, Glasgow (H) |  Northern Ireland
|
1–1 | BHC | Derek Johnstone |
| 17 May 1978 | Hampden Park, Glasgow (H) | Wales
|
1–1 | BHC | Derek Johnstone |
| 20 May 1978 | Hampden Park, Glasgow (H) |  England
|
0–1 | BHC | |
| 3 June 1978 | Córdoba (N) |  Peru
|
1–3 | WCG4 | Joe Jordan |
| 7 June 1978 | Córdoba (N) |  Iran
|
1–1 | WCG4 | own goal |
| 11 June 1978 | Estadio San Martin, Mendoza (N) |  Netherlands
|
3–2 | WCG4 | Archie Gemmill (2, 1 pen.), Kenny Dalglish |
1978 British Home Championship – Third Place
Key:
- (H) = Home match
- (A) = Away match
- WCQG7 = World Cup qualifying – Group 7
- WCG4 = World Cup – Group 4
- BHC = British Home Championship
Notes and references
edit- ^ http://www.scottishfootballleague.com/stats/records/league-championship/league-tables/1970-1979/197778/[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Scottish Division One 1977-1978 Season Summary". statto.com. Archived from the original on 17 December 2014. Retrieved 12 April 2012.
- ^ Scotland's score is shown first.