2016–17 Highland Football League Explained

Competition:Press & Journal Highland League
Season:2016–17
Winners:Buckie Thistle
Biggest Home Win:Buckie Thistle 9–0 Strathspey Thistle
Biggest Away Win:Rothes 0–9 Wick Academy
Highest Scoring:Deveronvale 2–9 Buckie Thistle
Fort William 3–8 Wick Academy
Nairn County 3–8 Buckie Thistle
Strathspey Thistle 2–9 Buckie Thistle
Matches:306
Total Goals:1250
Longest Wins:Buckie Thistle (10)
Longest Unbeaten:Cove Rangers (13)
Longest Winless:Fort William (16)
Longest Losses:Fort William (8)
Strathspey Thistle (8)
Prevseason:2015–16
Nextseason:2017–18

The 2016–17 Highland Football League started in July 2016 and ended on 22 April 2017.

For promotion to Scottish League Two, the league champions playoff with the Lowland Football League champions (or other eligible team from outside the SPFL to be nominated by the Scottish FA), with the winner then playing the team finishing 10th and bottom in Scottish League Two in a promotion and relegation playoff to determine the entrants for the 2017–18 League Two season.[1] [2]

League table

Promotion play-offs

Buckie Thistle qualified for the Play-offs after a 9–0 win against Strathspey Thistle on 22 April 2017 secured them the Highland Football League title for the 11th time.[3]

As Highland League champions, Buckie Thistle played East Kilbride, champions of the 2016–17 Lowland League, over two legs. Buckie Thistle drew the first leg at home 2–2 and lost 2–1 away, losing 3–4 on aggregate. Therefore, Buckie Thistle will remain in the Highland League for the 2017–18 season.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Rules of the SPFL . . PDF . 7 March 2014.
  2. Web site: The pyramid system and how it affects the SHFL . Scottish Highland Football League . 10 June 2014.
  3. Web site: Buckie demolish Strathspey 9-0 to secure Highland League title on final day . Sean . Douglass . Evening Express . DC Thomson & Co Ltd . 22 April 2017 . 23 April 2017.