The 2015–16 Lowland League was the third season of the Lowland Football League. The season began on 1 August 2015 and ended on 19 May 2016. Edinburgh City were the defending champions. Cumbernauld Colts were elected to the league as new members.
| Season | 2015–16 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Edinburgh City |
| Promoted | Edinburgh City |
| Relegated | Threave Rovers |
| Matches played | 210 |
| Goals scored | 786 (3.74 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Ross Allum (Edinburgh City) (27 goals) |
| Longest winning run | 8 matches: Edinburgh City |
| Longest unbeaten run | 18 matches: Edinburgh City |
| Longest losing run | 17 matches: Threave Rovers |
← 2014–15 2016–17 → | |
The league was won by Edinburgh City with two matches remaining on 9 April 2016, securing their second title after a 1–0 win over Stirling University. They played the champions of the 2015–16 Highland League (Cove Rangers) in the semi-finals of the League Two play-offs, winning 4-1 on aggregate.
Edinburgh City then drew 1–1 at home in the first leg of the play-off final against East Stirlingshire, before scoring a late penalty to win 1–0 away from home in the second leg, winning 2–1 on aggregate to gain a place in Scottish League Two.
Teams
edit
The following teams have changed division since the 2014–15 season.
To Lowland League
editTransferred from Caledonian Amateur Football League
Stadia and Locations
edit| Team | Location | Home ground | Capacity | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BSC Glasgow | Glasgow | Lochburn Park (Maryhill) | 1,800 | [1] |
| Cumbernauld Colts | Cumbernauld | Broadwood Stadium | 7,936 | [2] |
| Dalbeattie Star | Dalbeattie | Islecroft Stadium | 3,500 | [3] |
| East Kilbride | East Kilbride | K Park Training Academy | 400 | [4] |
| Edinburgh City | Edinburgh | Meadowbank Stadium | 16,500 | [5] |
| Edinburgh University | Edinburgh | New East Peffermill | 1,000 | [6] |
| Gala Fairydean Rovers | Galashiels | Netherdale | 4,000 | [7] |
| Gretna 2008 | Gretna | Raydale Park | 2,200 | [8] |
| Preston Athletic | Prestonpans | Pennypit Park | 4,000 | [9] |
| Selkirk | Selkirk | Yarrow Park | 1,162 | [10] |
| The Spartans | Edinburgh | Ainslie Park | 3,000 | [11] |
| Stirling University | Stirling | Forthbank Stadium | 3,808 | [12] |
| Threave Rovers | Castle Douglas | Meadow Park | 1,500 | [13] |
| Vale of Leithen | Innerleithen | Victoria Park | 1,500 | [14] |
| Whitehill Welfare | Rosewell | Ferguson Park | 2,614 | [15] |
League table
editThreave Rovers were spared automatic relegation as neither champion of the two feeder leagues, Leith Athletic or St Cuthbert Wanderers, met licensing criteria. The club however, declined the opportunity to re-apply to the league and rejoined the South of Scotland Football League for the 2016–17 season.[16]
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Edinburgh City (C, O, P) | 28 | 24 | 1 | 3 | 74 | 28 | +46 | 73 | Qualification to League Two play-off semi-finals |
| 2 | The Spartans | 28 | 18 | 4 | 6 | 74 | 36 | +38 | 58 | |
| 3 | Stirling University | 28 | 17 | 5 | 6 | 65 | 32 | +33 | 56 | |
| 4 | Cumbernauld Colts | 28 | 15 | 6 | 7 | 60 | 42 | +18 | 51 | |
| 5 | East Kilbride | 28 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 68 | 44 | +24 | 49 | |
| 6 | Edinburgh University | 28 | 13 | 3 | 12 | 51 | 46 | +5 | 42 | |
| 7 | BSC Glasgow | 28 | 12 | 5 | 11 | 54 | 51 | +3 | 41 | |
| 8 | Whitehill Welfare | 28 | 12 | 4 | 12 | 47 | 43 | +4 | 40 | |
| 9 | Dalbeattie Star | 28 | 10 | 6 | 12 | 54 | 50 | +4 | 36 | |
| 10 | Gretna 2008 | 28 | 11 | 3 | 14 | 38 | 50 | −12 | 36 | |
| 11 | Gala Fairydean Rovers | 28 | 10 | 2 | 16 | 53 | 61 | −8 | 32 | |
| 12 | Selkirk | 28 | 9 | 2 | 17 | 52 | 70 | −18 | 29 | |
| 13 | Vale of Leithen | 28 | 7 | 5 | 16 | 38 | 67 | −29 | 26 | |
| 14 | Preston Athletic | 28 | 6 | 4 | 18 | 28 | 70 | −42 | 22 | |
| 15 | Threave Rovers (R) | 28 | 3 | 1 | 24 | 30 | 96 | −66 | 10 | Resigned at end of season, joined South of Scotland League |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Results
editLowland Football League play-off
editIt was proposed that the respective winners of the 2015–16 East of Scotland Football League (Leith Athletic) and 2015–16 South of Scotland Football League (St Cuthbert Wanderers) leagues would meet in a play-off, with the winner taking a place in next season's Lowland League. However, neither met licensing criteria so the play-off did not take place.
References
edit- ^ Broomhill SC Glasgow Archived 2015-06-24 at the Wayback Machine, nonleaguescotland.org.uk, Retrieved 24 June 2015.
- ^ Cumbernauld Colts, nonleaguescotland.org.uk, Retrieved 24 June 2015.
- ^ Dalbeattie Star, nonleaguescotland.org.uk, Retrieved 10 August 2013.
- ^ East Kilbride, nonleaguescotland.org.uk, Retrieved 10 August 2013.
- ^ Edinburgh City Archived 2013-08-14 at the Wayback Machine, nonleaguescotland.org.uk, Retrieved 10 August 2013.
- ^ Edinburgh University, nonleaguescotland.org.uk, Retrieved 24 June 2015.
- ^ Gala Fairydean Rovers, nonleaguescotland.org.uk, Retrieved 10 August 2013.
- ^ Gretna 2008, nonleaguescotland.org.uk, Retrieved 10 August 2013.
- ^ Preston Athletic, nonleaguescotland.org.uk, Retrieved 10 August 2013.
- ^ Selkirk Archived 21 October 2016 at the Wayback Machine, nonleaguescotland.org.uk, Retrieved 10 August 2013.
- ^ Spartans, nonleaguescotland.org.uk, Retrieved 10 August 2013.
- ^ Stirling University, nonleaguescotland.org.uk, Retrieved 10 August 2013.
- ^ Threave Rovers, nonleaguescotland.org.uk, Retrieved 10 August 2013.
- ^ Vale of Leithen, nonleaguescotland.org.uk, Retrieved 10 August 2013.
- ^ Whitehill Welfare, nonleaguescotland.org.uk, Retrieved 10 August 2013.
- ^ Gillespie, Stuart (5 June 2016). "Threave Rovers' South of Scotland League return confirmed after three years in the Lowland League". Daily Record. Retrieved 10 August 2016.