2007–08 Scottish Premier League Explained

Season:2007–08
Dates:4 August 2007 – 22 May 2008
League Topscorer:Scott McDonald (25)
Matches:228
Total Goals:610
Biggest Home Win:Rangers 7–2 Falkirk (18 August)
Inverness CT 6–1 Gretna (3 May)
Celtic 5–0 Hearts (25 August)
Celtic 5–0 Inverness CT (15 September)
Biggest Away Win:Aberdeen 1–5 Celtic (10 February)
St Mirren 1–5 Celtic (2 September)
St Mirren 1–5 Falkirk (1 December)
Gretna 0–4 Falkirk (4 August)
Gretna 0–4 Inverness CT (27 October)
Hearts 0–4 Rangers (27 February)
Highest Attendance:60,000, Celtic 0–0 Kilmarnock (5 August)
Lowest Attendance:431, Gretna 1–2 Inverness CT (5 April)
Nextseason:2008–09

The 2007–08 Scottish Premier League season was the tenth season of the Scottish Premier League. It began on 4 August 2007 and was originally due to end on 18 May 2008. Due to the death of Phil O'Donnell and extremely poor weather causing the postponement of fixtures during the winter, as well as a backlog of Rangers fixtures and their progression to the UEFA Cup Final, the SPL decided to move the final round of fixtures back four days to 22 May 2008.[1] It was the first season under the sponsorship of the Clydesdale Bank.

Gretna were promoted from the First Division the previous season and played in the SPL for the first time, replacing Dunfermline Athletic. Gretna did not play at their home stadium Raydale Park as it did not meet the SPL stadia criteria of 6,000 and instead used Motherwell's Fir Park for all but one of their games; that match was at Livingston's Almondvale Stadium.

Champions Celtic qualified directly for the Champions League, while second-placed Rangers qualified for the Second qualifying round. Third-placed Motherwell qualified for the UEFA Cup and Hibernian qualified for the Intertoto Cup. First Division side Queen of the South also qualified for the UEFA Cup after reaching the Scottish Cup Final. Gretna were relegated after just one season in the SPL and were replaced by First Division champions Hamilton Academical for the following season.

The championship was determined on the final day of the season with Celtic and Rangers even on 86 points. Celtic travelled to Tannadice to play Dundee United knowing that a win would likely secure the title due to their superior goal difference (+57 to +53). Meanwhile, Rangers needed to better Celtic's result in their match against Aberdeen at Pittodrie (a Ranger win and Celtic draw or a Ranger draw coupled with a Celtic loss). If both teams won or lost, then Rangers must better better Celtic's goal difference by 4 or more. As it turned out, Celtic won 1–0 following Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink's second-half header, while Aberdeen F.C. beat Rangers 2–0 thanks to goals from Lee Miller and Steve Lovell.

Clubs

Promotion and Relegation from 2006–07

Promoted from First Division to Premier League

Relegated from Premier League to First Division

Stadia and locations

AberdeenCelticDundee UnitedFalkirk
Pittodrie StadiumCeltic ParkTannadice ParkFalkirk Stadium
Capacity: 20,866[2] Capacity: 60,411[3] Capacity: 14,223[4] Capacity: 7,937[5]
GretnaHeart of Midlothian
Fir Park, Motherwell[6] Tynecastle Park
Capacity: 13,677[7] Capacity: 17,420[8]
HibernianInverness Caledonian Thistle
Easter RoadCaledonian Stadium
Capacity: 16,531[9] Capacity: 7,500[10]
KilmarnockMotherwellRangersSt Mirren
Rugby ParkFir ParkIbrox StadiumLove Street
Capacity: 17,889[11] Capacity: 13,677Capacity: 50,817[12] Capacity: 10,800[13]

Personnel and kits

TeamManagerKit manufacturerKit sponsor
Aberdeen Jimmy CalderwoodNikeApex Tubulars
Celtic Gordon StrachanNikeCarling
Dundee United Craig LeveinhummelAnglian Windows
Falkirk John HughesLottoCentral Demolition
Gretna Mick Wadsworth (caretaker)Crest TeamwearSubway
Heart of Midlothian Stephen Frail (caretaker)UmbroUkio Bankas
Hibernian Mixu PaatelainenLe Coq SportifWhyte and Mackay
Inverness Caledonian Thistle Craig BrewsterErreàFlybe
Kilmarnock Jim JefferiesLottowww.smallworldmedia.com
Motherwell Mark McGheeBuktaAnglian Home Improvements
Rangers Walter SmithUmbroCarling
St Mirren Gus MacPhersonhummelBraehead Shopping Centre

Managerial changes

TeamOutgoing managerDate of vacancyManner of departurePosition in tableIncoming managerDate of appointment
Motherwell Maurice Malpas1 June 2007[14] SackedPre-season Mark McGhee18 June 2007[15]
Gretna Rowan Alexander14 June 2007[16] Sacked Davie Irons18 July 2007[17]
Inverness Charlie Christie20 August 2007[18] Resigned12th Craig Brewster27 August 2007[19]
Hibernian John Collins20 December 2007[20] Resigned5th Mixu Paatelainen10 January 2008[21]
Hearts Anatoliy Korobochka1 January 2008[22] Sacked10th Stephen Frail (caretaker)1 January 2008
Gretna Davie Irons19 February 2008[23] Signed by Greenock Morton12th Mick Wadsworth (caretaker)19 February 2008

Notable events

See main article: article and 2007–08 in Scottish football.

League table

Results

Matches 1–22

During matches 1–22 each team played every other team twice (home and away).

Matches 23–33

During matches 23–33 each team played every other team once (either at home or away).

Matches 34–38

During matches 34–38 each team played every other team in their half of the table once.

Bottom six

Goals

Top scorers

Player Goals Club
25 Celtic
15 Celtic
14 Rangers
Motherwell
13 Hibernian
Dundee United
Dundee United/Celtic
12 Motherwell
Rangers
Aberdeen
11 Kilmarnock/Hibernian
10 Rangers
Rangers
9 Inverness CT
8 Falkirk

Hat-tricks

See main article: article and List of Scottish Premier League hat-tricks.

ScorerForAgainstDate
Scott McDonaldCelticDundee United29 September 2007
Clayton DonaldsonHibernianKilmarnock29 September 2007
Scott McDonaldCelticMotherwell27 October 2007
Aiden McGeadyCelticFalkirk11 December 2007
Barry RobsonDundee UnitedHeart of Midlothian2 January 2008
Steven FletcherHibernianGretna13 February 2008

Kits and shirt sponsors

TeamKitmakerShirt sponsorNotes
AberdeenNikeApex TubularsNew home and third kits
CelticNikeCarlingNew home kit and new away kit to celebrate 40 years since being the first British team to win the European Cup.
Dundee UnitedhummelAnglian WindowsNew home and away kit
FalkirkLottoCentral DemolitionLotto take over from previous manufacturer, TFG. Home kit is to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the club's Scottish Cup victory in 1957.
GretnaCrest TeamwearSubwaySubway take over as new sponsor
Heart of MidlothianUmbroUkio BankasUmbro take over from previous manufacturer, Hummel
HibernianLe Coq SportifWhyte and MackayNew away kit and new home kit
Inverness CTErreàFlybeFlybe take over as new sponsor
KilmarnockLottowww.smallworldmedia.comLotto take over from previous manufacturer, TFG.
MotherwellBuktaAnglian Home ImprovementsBukta take over from previous manufacturer, Xara
RangersUmbroCarlingNew home, away and third kits
St MirrenhummelBraehead Shopping CentreHummel take over from previous manufacturer, Xara

For the first time in the SPL, certain teams also carried secondary sponsors on the back of their jerseys, above the players' names.

Attendances

class=unsortableTeamclass=unsortableStadiumCapacityLowestHighestAverage
Celtic 60,832 45,000 60,000 56,676
Rangers 51,082 47,419 50,440 48,090
Heart of Midlothian 17,420 10,512 17,131 15,930
Hibernian 17,500 7,650 17,015 13,840
Aberdeen 22,199 8,240 17,798 11,993
Dundee United 14,209 5,845 13,613 8,530
Kilmarnock 18,128 4,456 11,544 6,181
Motherwell1 13,742 4,086 10,445 6,598
Falkirk 6,935 4,490 6,8035,657
Inverness CT 7,500 3,420 7,753 4,752
St Mirren 10,800 3,163 7,840 4,547
Gretna1 13,742 431 6,137 2,283
As of 22 May 2008[30]

1 Gretna were sharing Motherwell's stadium whilst Raydale Park was being upgraded. However, in March the Fir Park pitch was considered unplayable so the game between Gretna and Celtic was played instead at Almondvale, the home of First Division club Livingston.[31]

Managerial changes

TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyReplaced byDate of appointment
Motherwell Maurice MalpasSacked18 June 2007 Mark McGhee1 June 2007
Gretna Andy SmithHealth4 August 2007 Davie Irons18 July 2007
Heart of Midlothian Valdas IvanauskasMutual consent Stephen Frail & Anatoly Korobochka30 July 2007
Inverness CT Charlie ChristieResignedAugust 2007 Craig Brewster27 August 2007
Hibernian John CollinsResigned20 December 2007 Mixu Paatelainen10 January 2008
Gretna Davie IronsResigned19 February 2008 Mick Wadsworth19 February
Heart of Midlothian Stephen Frail[32] Mutual Consent27 May 2008 Csaba László11 July[33]

Awards

Clydesdale Bank Premier League Monthly awards

MonthManagerPlayerYoung playerRising star
August Walter Smith (Rangers) Carlos Cuéllar (Rangers) Steven Fletcher (Hibernian) Mark Staunton (Falkirk)
September John Collins (Hibernian) Scott McDonald (Celtic) Andrew Driver (Heart of Midlothian) Scott Anson (Kilmarnock)
October Craig Levein (Dundee United) Lee Wilkie (Dundee United) Ross McCormack (Motherwell) Jack Wilson (Hibernian)
November Mark McGhee (Motherwell) Aiden McGeady (Celtic) Ross McCormack (Motherwell) Liam Cusack (Gretna)
December Craig Brewster (Inverness CT) Marius Niculae (Inverness CT) Scott Arfield (Falkirk)
January Walter Smith (Rangers) Barry Robson (Dundee United) Danny Grainger (Dundee United)
February Mixu Paatelainen (Hibernian) Aiden McGeady (Celtic) Steven Fletcher (Hibernian) Ryan Strachan (Aberdeen)
March Walter Smith (Rangers) Darren Barr (Falkirk) Garry Kenneth (Dundee United) Ryan Crighton (St Mirren)
April Gordon Strachan (Celtic) Barry Robson (Celtic) Gary Glen (Heart of Midlothian)

Clydesdale Bank Premier League Awards

AwardRecipient
Player of the Season Carlos Cuéllar (Rangers)
Manager of the Season Walter Smith (Rangers)
Young Player of the Season Aiden McGeady (Celtic)
Goal of the Season Willo Flood (Dundee United v St Mirren)
Under-19 League Player of the Season Scott Anson (Kilmarnock)
Best Club Media RelationsKilmarnock
Best Fan InitiativeHeart of Midlothian
Best Matchday Hospitality PackageRangers
Best Community InitiativeFalkirk
Best Away GroundTynecastle (Heart of Midlothian)
[34]

Broadcasting rights

Setanta Sports provided domestic TV live coverage and highlights as in previous seasons, with STV and BBC Scotland also broadcasting free-to-air highlights. BBC Radio Scotland continued to provide domestic radio coverage, with many games also available internationally, and all domestically, through their website. The BBC held rights to show highlights online and do so through the BBC Sport website. Internationally, the Premier League's overseas television broadcasting partner was TWI, with coverage of the SPL available in over 100 territories worldwide.Overseas Broadcasting | Scottish Premier League | Broadcasting | Overseas

Transfer deals

See also: List of Scottish football transfers 2007–08.

External links

News - Recent results - Upcoming fixtures - Live Scores - Current standings

Notes and References

  1. News: SPL prepares for season extension. 22 April 2008. news.bbc.co.uk.
  2. Web site: Aberdeen Football Club. Scottish Professional Football League . 11 November 2013.
  3. Web site: Celtic Football Club. Scottish Professional Football League . 11 November 2013.
  4. Web site: Dundee United Football Club. Scottish Professional Football League . 11 November 2013.
  5. Web site: Falkirk Football Club. Scottish Professional Football League . 11 November 2013.
  6. [Gretna F.C.|Gretna]
  7. Web site: Motherwell Football Club. Scottish Professional Football League . 11 November 2013.
  8. Web site: Heart of Midlothian Football Club . Scottish Professional Football League . 11 November 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131022121754/http://spfl.co.uk/clubs/hearts/ . 22 October 2013 . dead.
  9. Web site: Hibernian Football Club. Scottish Professional Football League . 11 November 2013.
  10. Web site: Inverness Caledonian Thistle Football Club . Scottish Professional Football League . 11 November 2013 .
  11. Web site: Kilmarnock Football Club. Scottish Professional Football League . 11 November 2013.
  12. Rangers Football Club. Scottish Professional Football League . 4 November 2015.
  13. St Mirren Football Club. Scottish Professional Football League . 4 November 2015.
  14. News: Malpas leaves post at Motherwell. BBC Sport. 1 June 2007. 18 February 2018.
  15. News: 18 June 2007 . McGhee named new Motherwell boss . . 18 February 2018.
  16. News: No return for Alexander at Gretna. BBC Sport. 14 June 2007. 18 February 2018.
  17. News: Irons will lead Gretna into SPL. BBC Sport. 18 July 2007. 18 February 2018.
  18. News: Christie quits as Inverness boss. BBC Sport. 20 August 2008. 18 February 2018.
  19. News: Craig Brewster returns to Inverness. The Daily Telegraph. 28 August 2007. 18 February 2018.
  20. News: Collins stuns Hibernian with shock resignation. The Guardian. 20 December 2007. 18 February 2018.
  21. News: Hibs appoint Paatelainen. World Soccer. 10 January 2008. 18 February 2018.
  22. News: Hearts to search for new manager. BBC Sport. 1 January 2008. 18 February 2018.
  23. News: Davie Irons resigns as Gretna manager and heads to Morton. The Scotsman. 19 February 2008. 18 February 2018.
  24. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/motherwell/7164150.stm Motherwell captain O'Donnell dies
  25. News: St Mirren 2-0 Gretna. BBC Sport. 29 March 2008. 29 March 2008.
  26. News: Hamilton Accies 2-0 Clyde. BBC Sport. 19 April 2008. 19 April 2008.
  27. News: Dundee United 0-1 Celtic. BBC Sport. 22 May 2008. 22 May 2008.
  28. News: Gretna demoted to Division Three. BBC Sport. 29 May 2008. 29 May 2008.
  29. News: Gretna resign from Scottish Football League. The Times. 2 June 2008. 2 June 2008 . London.
  30. News: Gretna 1-2 Inverness CT. 5 April 2008. news.bbc.co.uk.
  31. News: Gretna return 'home' to Fir Park . 1 April 2008 . BBC Sport. 1 April 2008 .
  32. News: Hearts confirm Frail's departure. BBC Sport. 9 July 2008. 12 July 2008.
  33. News: Hearts appoint Laszlo as manager. BBC Sport. 11 July 2008. 12 July 2008.
  34. Web site: Clydesdale Bank Premier League Awards Season 2007/08 . 3 May 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080410103336/http://www.cbfootball.co.uk/groundvote.aspx . 10 April 2008 . dead .