Scottish Football League & Scottish Premier League

Play-offs and Test Matches 1891-date

 

See also

Main index

Club directory

Re-elections

Promotion & relegation

There have been a number of occasions that the Scottish League has used play-offs, or test matches as they were sometimes termed in the 1890s. Most of the games came about because before 1921, the Scottish league didn’t use goal average to separate teams on the same number of points, these clubs being declared equal. But when it came to splitting sides that finished in the important placings, ie first to third, or in the re-election spots, the test matches were organized.

 

The first time it happened came in the League’s first season when Dumbarton and Rangers finished level at the top of the Championship. A play-off was hurriedly arranged but when this couldn’t separate the teams, they were declared joint champions, one of only two times this has happened. The other came in 1910 when Leith and Raith Rovers tied at the top of the Second Division. Championship games were also arranged in 1906, a three way Second Division play-off in 1915, and one in 1940 for the Emergency League Championship.

 

In 1995, play-offs were arranged to determine promotion places for the Premier Division, this series lasting until 1997. The Scottish League re-introduced them in 2006.

 

 

‘First Division’ championship play-off

 

1890-91

At Cathkin Park, Glasgow att 10000

 

21 May 1891

Dumbarton v Rangers

2-2

 

 

Second Division third place play-off

 

1895-96

At Cathkin Park, Glasgow

 

May 1897

Renton v Kilmarnock

2-1

 

 

First Division seventh place play-off to decides who applies for re-election

 

1897-98

At Meadowside Park, Partick

 

24 Mar 1898

Dundee v Partick Thistle

2-0

 

 

First Division eighth place play-off to decides who applies for re-election

 

1899-00

At Dens Park, Dundee

 

7 Apr 1900

St Mirren v St Bernards

2-1

 

 

First Division championship play-off

 

1904-05

At Hampden Park, Glasgow att 30000

 

6 May 1905

Celtic v Rangers

2-1

 

 

First Division fourteenth place play-off to decides who applies for re-election

 

1905-06

At Cathkin Park, Glasgow

 

15 May 1906

Port Glasgow Athletic v Kilmarnock

6-0

 

 

Second Division tenth place play-off to decides who applies for re-election

 

1906-07

At Logie Green, Edinburgh

 

11 May 1907

Raith Rovers v East Stirlingshire

3-2

 

 

Second Division championship play-off.

The proposed match wasn’t played and both clubs were declared joint champions

 

1909-10

 

 

 

Leith v Raith Rovers

 

 

 

Second Division championship play-off.

The first game was played before St Bernards had finished their programme, and so two more games were organized. Cowdenbeath were declares champions after winning both their fixtures.

 

1914-15

 

 

10 Apr 1915

 

 

17 Apr 1915

 

 

24 Apr 1915

At East End Park, Dunfermline

Cowdenbeath v Leith

 

At Easter Road, Edinburgh

Leith v St Bernards

 

At Easter Road, Edinburgh

Cowdenbeath v St Bernards

 

2-1

 

 

2-1

 

 

3-1

 

 

Championship play-off

 

1939-40

At Ibrox Park, Glasgow att 15000

 

1 Jun 1940

Rangers v Falkirk

2-1

 

 

Promotion and relegation play-off between the second top and second bottom Premier and First Division clubs.

 

1994-95

 

 

21 May 1995

25 May 1995

Aberdeen v Dunfermline Athletic

Dunfermline Athletic v Aberdeen

3-1

1-3

 

 

Promotion and relegation play-off between the second top and second bottom Premier and First Division clubs.

 

1995-96

 

 

12 May 1996

16 May 1996

Partick Thistle v Dundee United

Dundee United v Partick Thistle

1-1

2-1aet

 

 

Promotion and relegation play-off between the second top and second bottom Premier and First Division clubs.

 

1996-97

 

 

17 May 1997

22 May 1997

Hibernian v Airdrieonians

Airdrieonians v Hibernian

1-0

2-4

 

 

Promotion and relegation play-offs between the second and third top and second bottom First and Second Division clubs.

 

2005-06

 

 

3 May 2006

3 May 2006

6 May 2006

6 May 2006

 

10 May 2006

14 May 2006

Morton v Peterhead

Stranraer v Partick Thistle

Partick Thistle v Stranraer

Peterhead v Morton

 

Partick Thistle v Peterhead

Peterhead v Partick Thistle

Partick Thistle won on penalties

0-0

1-3

1-2

1-0

 

1-2

1-2 aet

 

Promotion and relegation plays-off between the second and third top and second bottom Second and Third Division clubs.           

 

2005-06

 

 

3 May 2006

3 May 2006

6 May 2006

6 May 2006

 

10 May 2006

14 May 2006

Arbroath v Alloa Athletic

Stenhousemuir v Berwick Rangers

Alloa Athletic v Arbroath

Berwick Rangers v Stenhousemuir

 

Alloa Athletic v Berwick Rangers

Berwick Rangers v Alloa Athletic

1-1

0-1

1-0

0-0

 

4-0

2-1

 

 

Promotion and relegation play-offs between the second and third top and second bottom First and Second Division clubs.

 

2006-07

 

 

2 May 2007

2 May 2007

5 May 2007

5 May 2007

 

9 May 2007

12 May 2007

Brechin City v Airdrie United

Raith Rovers v Stirling Albion

Airdrie United v Brechin City

Stirling Albion v Raith Rovers

 

Stirling Albion v Airdrie United

Airdrie United v Stirling Albion

1-3

0-0

3-0

3-1

 

2-2

2-3

 

Promotion and relegation plays-off between the second and third top and second bottom Second and Third Division clubs.

 

2006-07

 

 

1 May 2007

2 May 2007

5 May 2007

5 May 2007

 

9 May 2007

12 May 2007

Queen’s Park v Arbroath

East Fife v Stranraer

Arbroath v Queen’s Park

Stranraer v East Fife

 

Queen’s Park v East Fife

East Fife v Queen’s Park

2-0

4-1

1-2

1-0

 

4-2

0-3

 

 

 

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