2020–21 in Scottish football
The 2020–21 season was the 124th season of competitive football in Scotland . The domestic season began on 1 August 2020 with the first round of matches in the 2020–21 Scottish Premiership . The start of all other domestic competitions were delayed until at least October 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic , and most games were played behind closed doors due to Scottish Government restrictions.
Transfer deals
Due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on the football calendar, the summer window for transfers in Scotland ran from 14 July to 5 October.[ 2] Those dates used the full 12-week period permitted by FIFA , and the governing bodies also authorised clubs outside the Premiership to make loan signings during October 2020.[ 3]
League competitions
Scottish Premiership
Source:
[ 4] Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head points; 5) Head-to-Head goal difference; 6) Play-off (only if deciding champion, UEFA competitions qualification, second stage group allocation or relegation).
[ 5] (C) Champions;
(R) Relegated
Notes:
^ Teams play each other three times (33 matches), before the league is split into two groups (the top six and the bottom six).
^ St Johnstone qualified as the 2020–21 Scottish Cup winners.
Scottish Championship
Source:
SPFL Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-to head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Play-off (only for deciding promotion, play-off participation and relegation).
[ 6] (C) Champions;
(O) Play-off winners;
(P) Promoted;
(R) Relegated
Scottish League One
Source:
SPFL Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-to head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Play-off (only for deciding promotion, play-off participation and relegation).
[ 7] (C) Champions;
(O) Play-off winners;
(P) Promoted;
(R) Relegated
Scottish League Two
Source:
SPFL Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-to head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Play-off (only for deciding promotion, play-off participation and relegation).
[ 8] (C) Champions;
(P) Promoted;
(R) Relegated
Level 5
Level 6
Honours
Cup honours
The Old Firm teams (Celtic and Rangers ) were eliminated from both national cup competitions before the semi-final stage, the first time this had occurred since the introduction of the Scottish League Cup 75 years earlier.[ 9] St Johnstone won both tournaments, becoming the first non-Old Firm side to win a "cup double" since Aberdeen in 1989–90 .
Non-league honours
Senior
Junior
East Region
North Region
Division
Winner
Aberdeen North
Null and void
Aberdeen South
Banff and Buchan
West
Individual honours
PFA Scotland awards
SFWA awards
Scottish clubs in Europe
Summary
Due to scheduling pressures caused by the coronavirus pandemic, qualifying rounds were played over just one tie instead of the usual two-leg format.[ 21]
* Season in progress
Celtic
UEFA Champions League
Celtic entered the 2020–21 UEFA Champions League in the first qualifying round.
UEFA Europa League
Having lost in the second qualifying round of the Champions League, Celtic entered the Europa League in its third round of qualifying.[ 22]
Qualifying
Group stage
Rangers
UEFA Europa League
Rangers entered the UEFA Europa League in the second round of qualifying.
Qualifying
Group stage
Knockout Stage
Motherwell
UEFA Europa League
Motherwell entered the UEFA Europa League at the first qualifying round.[ 23]
Aberdeen
UEFA Europa League
Aberdeen entered the UEFA Europa League in the first qualifying round as fourth-place finishers in the 2019–20 Scottish Premiership ,[ 23] as the 2019–20 Scottish Cup was not completed by the UEFA deadline.
Scotland national team
The Scotland national team qualified for their first major tournament in over two decades (since the 1998 World Cup ) by winning through the Euro 2020 play-offs , defeating Israel and Serbia in penalty shootouts .[ 24]
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the 2020 women's season was declared null and void in July 2020.[ 26]
A new season (2020–21) started in October 2020 and ended in July 2021;[ 26] Scottish Women's Football thus returned to the autumn–spring calendar for the first time since 2008–09.
League and Cup honours
Individual honours
SWPL awards
Award
Winner
Team
Players' Player of the Year
Player of the Year
Manager of the Year
Young Player of the Year
Scottish Women's Premier League
SWPL 1
Source:
[ 33] Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(C) Champions
SWPL 2
Updated to match(es) played on 9 June 2021. Source:
[ 34] Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
UEFA Women's Champions League
Glasgow City
Glasgow City entered the 2020–21 UEFA Women's Champions League in the first qualifying round.
Scotland women's national team
Deaths
13 July: Pat Quinn , 84, Albion Rovers, Motherwell, Hibernian, East Fife and Scotland forward; East Fife manager.[ 39]
c.13 July: Eddie Beaton, 88, Greenock Morton, Berwick Rangers, Stranraer and Dumbarton forward.[ 40]
21 July: Hugh McLaughlin , 75, St Mirren, Third Lanark and Queen of the South midfielder.[ 41]
24 July: David Hagen , 47, Rangers, Hearts, Falkirk, Livingston, Clyde and Peterhead midfielder.[ 42]
4 August: Willie Hunter , 80, Motherwell, Hibernian and Scotland forward; Queen of the South and Inverness Caledonian manager.[ 43]
13 August: Jackie Wren , 84, Hibernian, Stirling Albion and Berwick Rangers goalkeeper.[ 44]
14 August: Tom Forsyth , 71, Motherwell, Rangers and Scotland defender; Dunfermline Athletic manager.[ 45]
24 August: Pat McCluskey , 68, Celtic, Dumbarton, Airdrieonians and Queen of the South defender and midfielder.[ 46]
September: Archie Irvine , 74, Airdrieonians midfielder.[ 47]
19 October: Jim Townsend , 75, Heart of Midlothian, St Johnstone and Greenock Morton midfielder.[ 48]
23 October: Ebbe Skovdahl , 75, Aberdeen manager.[ 49]
24 October: Kevin McCarra , 62, journalist.[ 50]
31 October: Marius Žaliūkas , 36, Heart of Midlothian and Rangers defender.[ 51]
4 November: Matt Tees , 81, Airdrieonians forward.[ 52]
15 November: Campbell Forsyth , 86, St Mirren, Kilmarnock and Scotland goalkeeper.[ 53]
3 December: Bobby Wishart , 87, Aberdeen, Dundee, Airdrie and Raith Rovers forward.[ 54]
12 December: John McSeveney , 89, Hamilton Academical winger.[ 55]
December: Joe Frickleton , East Stirlingshire wing half.[ 56]
24 December: Davie Sneddon , 84, Dundee, Kilmarnock and Raith Rovers inside forward; Kilmarnock and Stranraer manager.[ 57]
26 December: Chic McLelland , 63, Aberdeen, Motherwell, Dundee and Montrose defender; Montrose manager.[ 58]
26 December: Jim McLean , 83, Hamilton Academical, Clyde, Dundee and Kilmarnock inside forward; Dundee United manager and chairman.[ 59]
31 December: Tommy Docherty , 92, Celtic and Scotland right half; Scotland manager.[ 60]
24 January: Jóhannes Eðvaldsson , 70, Celtic and Motherwell defender.[ 61]
24 January: Barrie Mitchell , 73, Dunfermline Athletic, Aberdeen and Morton forward.[ 62]
26 January: Jozef Vengloš , 84, Celtic manager.[ 63]
28 January: Eddie Connachan , 85, Dunfermline Athletic, Falkirk and Scotland goalkeeper.[ 64]
January: John Grant , 89, Hibernian, Raith Rovers and Scotland defender.[ 65]
6 February: Columb McKinley , 70, Airdrie and Dumbarton half-back.[ 66]
22 February: Jack Bolton , 79, Raith Rovers, Morton and Dumbarton defender.[ 67]
2 March: Ian St John , 82, Motherwell and Scotland forward; Motherwell manager.[ 68]
3 March: Willie Whigham , 81, Albion Rovers, Falkirk and Dumbarton goalkeeper.[ 69]
6 March: Jimmy Stevenson , 74, Hibernian wing half.[ 70]
7 March: Alastair Alexander, 83, BBC Scotland football commentator.[ 71]
20 March: Peter Lorimer , 74, Scotland midfielder.[ 72]
27 March: Alex Kiddie , 93, Aberdeen, Falkirk, Arbroath, Brechin City, Montrose and Forfar Athletic winger.[ 73]
24 April: Walter Borthwick , 73, Morton, East Fife, St Mirren, St Johnstone and Dunfermline midfielder; Arbroath manager.[ 74]
29 April: Frank Brogan , 78, Celtic winger.[ 75]
7 May: John Sludden , 56, Celtic, St Johnstone, Airdrieonians, Ayr United, Kilmarnock, East Fife, Clydebank, Clyde and Stenhousemuir forward; Bo'ness United, Camelon Juniors and East Stirlingshire manager.[ 76]
3 June: Alan Miller , 51, St Johnstone goalkeeper.[ 77]
Notes and references
^ a b "Scottish Challenge Cup cancelled for season 2020-21" . BBC Sport . BBC. 2 October 2020. Retrieved 3 October 2020 .
^ "Coronavirus – Joint Response Group Update 14 July" . www.scottishfa.co.uk . Scottish Football Association. 14 July 2020. Retrieved 14 July 2020 .
^ "Scottish transfer window open from 14 July to 5 October" . BBC Sport . BBC. 14 July 2020. Retrieved 14 July 2020 .
^ "Summary - Premiership" . Soccerway. Archived from the original on 25 March 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021 .
^ "The Rules of the Scottish Professional Football League" (PDF) . SPFL. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 November 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2020 .
^ "The Rules of the Scottish Professional Football League" (PDF) . SPFL . pp. 38–39. Retrieved 20 October 2019 .
^ "The Rules of the Scottish Professional Football League" (PDF) . SPFL . pp. 38–39. Retrieved 20 October 2019 .
^ "The Rules of the Scottish Professional Football League" (PDF) . SPFL . pp. 38–39. Retrieved 20 October 2019 .
^ "St Johnstone upset over Rangers means new first for Scottish football" . Edinburgh Evening News . 26 April 2021.
^ "South Region Challenge Cup update!" . Twitter . Retrieved 26 April 2021 .
^ Third, Paul (30 March 2021). "Brora declared Highland League champions after season is curtailed" . Press & Journal . Retrieved 30 March 2021 .
^ "Finalising season 2020/21" . www.slfl.co.uk . Lowland Football League. 30 March 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2021 .
^ a b Robertson, Euan (17 March 2021). "West of Scotland Football League season has been cancelled" . Daily Record . Retrieved 30 March 2021 .
^ East Region SJFA [@eastregion_sjfa] (16 March 2021). "Following today's update from the Scottish Government stating that adult contact training/football will not be allowed until 17th May 2021, the management committee of the Scottish Junior FA have decided to end season 2020/2021 and declare all competitions null & void" (Tweet ) – via Twitter .
^ a b c d "Rangers: Steven Gerrard and James Tavernier win PFA Scotland awards" . BBC Sport . 16 May 2021. Retrieved 16 May 2021 .
^ "Davis crowned Player of the Year" . SFWA. 16 May 2021. Retrieved 16 May 2021 .
^ McDermott, Scott (9 May 2021). "Josh Doig emulates Kieran Tierney as Hibs star follows his idol's footsteps to scoop SFWA Young Player of the Year" . Sunday Mail . Retrieved 9 May 2021 .
^ "Steven Gerrard: Rangers boss wins Scottish writers' manager award" . BBC Sport . BBC. 12 May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021 .
^ Gordon, Moira (18 May 2021). "Aston Villa star John McGinn on the 'criminally underrated' Scotland player set to miss Euro 2020" . The Scotsman . Retrieved 18 May 2021 .
^ Forsyth, Paul (18 May 2021). "John McGinn: New generation can shine at Euros" . The Times . Retrieved 18 May 2021 .
^ Wallace, Sean (17 June 2020). "Aberdeen to play one-legged ties in Europa League qualifying next season" . Press & Journal . Retrieved 19 August 2020 .
^ "Europa League: Scottish sides learn third-round opponents" . BBC Sport . BBC. 1 September 2020. Retrieved 1 September 2020 .
^ a b "Europa League: Aberdeen & Motherwell discover opponents" . BBC Sport . BBC. 20 August 2020. Retrieved 21 August 2020 .
^ "Euro 2020: Scotland have qualified... but what happens now for national team?" . BBC Sport . BBC. 12 November 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2020 .
^ "Euro 2020 play-offs: 8 October semis for Scotland, N Ireland & Republic" . BBC Sport . BBC. 17 June 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2020 .
^ a b c d Lewis, Jane (29 July 2020). "SWPL season declared null and void after one round of games" . BBC Sport . BBC. Retrieved 29 July 2020 .
^ "Glasgow City secure 14th successive SWPL title as Celtic finish second" . BBC Sport . 6 June 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2021 .
^ "#SBSSWPL 2: Aberdeen 4-2 Boroughmuir Thistle" . SWPL . 5 July 2021. Archived from the original on 5 July 2021.
^ a b "SWF Statement – Senior Performance Arm update (29/04/21)" . SWPL. 5 May 2021. Archived from the original on 29 April 2021. Retrieved 5 May 2021 .
^ "LEAGUE START DATE ANNOUNCED WITH ENHANCED BROADCAST DEAL" . Scottish Women's Football. 29 July 2020. Retrieved 29 July 2020 .
^ "#SWFLCup - Group Stage Draw" . SWF . 27 January 2020.
^ a b "Forfar Farmington a sorry casualty of the professional era" . The Herald . 15 August 2021. Archived from the original on 15 August 2021.
^ "Summary – SWPL1" . Soccerway. Retrieved 6 June 2021 .
^ "Summary – SWPL2" . Soccerway. Retrieved 10 June 2021 .
^ a b c d e f "Scotland: Women's Euro 2021 qualifiers to resume in September" . BBC Sport . BBC. 27 May 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2020 .
^ a b c d e f "SWNT September Fixtures Postponed" . www.scottishfa.co.uk . Scottish Football Association. 31 August 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2020 .
^ "SWNT'S fixture against Portugal to be played in Cyprus" . www.scottishfa.co.uk . Scottish Football Association. 4 February 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2021 .
^ "Wales to host Scotland in June friendly at Parc y Scarlets" . BBC Sport . BBC. 21 May 2021. Retrieved 21 May 2021 .
^ McGilvray, Andy (13 July 2020). "Former Motherwell star Pat Quinn has passed away" . Daily Record . Retrieved 13 July 2020 .
^ "Eddie Beaton" . Archived from the original on 15 July 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2020 .
^ ST MIRREN SADDENED TO HEAR OF PASSING OF HUGH MCLAUGHLIN
^ "David Hagen: Ex-Rangers player dies aged 47 after MND battle" . BBC Sport . BBC. 25 July 2020. Retrieved 25 July 2020 .
^ "Former Portsmouth assistant manager Willie Hunter dies aged 80" . Portsmouth News . 4 August 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2020 .
^ "JACKIE WREN: HIS MEMORY MARCHES ON" . www.hibernianfc.co.uk . Hibernian FC. 14 August 2020. Archived from the original on 13 September 2020. Retrieved 14 August 2020 .
^ "Tom Forsyth: Former Motherwell, Rangers & Scotland defender dies at age 71" . BBC Sport . BBC. 14 August 2020. Retrieved 15 August 2020 .
^ "Pat McCluskey: Ex-Celtic, Dumbarton, Airdrie & QoS player dies at 68" . BBC Sport . BBC. 25 August 2020. Retrieved 25 August 2020 .
^ Archie Irvine (1946-2020)
^ "James (Jim) townsend" .
^ "En af de største har takket af" . brondby.com (in Danish). Brøndby IF . 23 October 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020 .
^ Wilson, Jonathan (25 October 2020). "Kevin McCarra: a pioneer who changed football journalism" . The Guardian . Retrieved 25 October 2020 .
^ "Marius Zaliukas: Former Hearts & Rangers defender dead at age of 36" . BBC Sport . BBC. 31 October 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2020 .
^ "R.I.P. Matt Tees - A Tribute To The Town Legend" . Grimsby Town F.C. 4 November 2020. Retrieved 4 November 2020 .
^ "Tribute to Campbell Forsyth" . Kilmarnock FC. 16 November 2020. Retrieved 16 November 2020 .
^ "In Memoriam | Bobby Wishart" . Aberdeen FC . 3 December 2020.
^ Hull City Tigers: John McSeveney death notice
^ "It's Been Confirmed To The Siya Crew That Joe Frickleton Has Passed Away" . Soccer Laduma . 15 December 2020.
^ "Kilmarnock legend David Sneddon dies aged 84" . BBC Sport . 24 December 2020. Retrieved 24 December 2020 .
^ "Aberdeen: Former defender Chic McLelland dies at the age of 63" . BBC Sport . 26 December 2020. Retrieved 26 December 2020 .
^ "Jim McLean: Dundee Utd announce death of legendary manager aged 83" . BBC Sport . 26 December 2020. Retrieved 26 December 2020 .
^ "Tommy Docherty: Former Manchester United and Scotland manager dies aged 92" . Sky Sports . 31 December 2020. Retrieved 31 December 2020 .
^ Grahame, Ewing (25 January 2021). "Celtic fans' favourite Johannes Edvaldsson dies at 70" . The Times . Retrieved 25 January 2021 .
^ "Barrie Mitchell (15.03.47 - 24.01.21)" . Dunfermline Athletic FC. Retrieved 27 January 2021 .
^ "Dr Jozef Venglos: Former Villa & Celtic boss dies at 84" . BBC Sport . 26 January 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2021 .
^ Hart, Ross (29 January 2021). "Eddie Connachan, Dunfermline 1961 Scottish Cup winner, dies" . Dunfermline Press . Retrieved 30 January 2021 .
^ Wright, Tom (31 January 2021). "His memory marches on: John Grant" . Hibernian FC. Retrieved 2 February 2021 .
^ @AirdrieoniansFC (8 February 2021). "Everyone at the club was saddened to hear of the loss of former Airdrie player Columb McKinley, who passed away on Saturday. Columb, an accomplished half-back, made 64 appearances in the Diamond between 1969 and 1975. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this sad time" (Tweet ) – via Twitter .
^ Former Defender Bolton Dies
^ "Ian St John: Former Liverpool & Scotland forward dies at age 82" . BBC Sport . 2 March 2021. Retrieved 2 March 2021 .
^ Johns, Craig (5 March 2021). "Obituary: Middlesbrough Boys of '67 goalkeeper Willie Whigham dies aged 81" . TeessideLive . Retrieved 5 March 2021 .
^ "His memory marches on: Jimmy Stevenson" . Hibernian FC. 6 March 2021. Retrieved 18 March 2021 .
^ Obituary: Alastair Alexander, broadcaster known as BBC Scotland's 'Voice of Football'
^ "Peter Lorimer: Leeds United's record goalscorer dies aged 74" . BBC Sport . 20 March 2021. Retrieved 20 March 2021 .
^ "In memoriam | Alex Kiddie" . Aberdeen FC . 3 April 2021. Retrieved 29 March 2021 .
^ "Tributes to former Hearts coach Walter Borthwick, 1948-2021" . Edinburgh Evening News . 25 April 2021. Retrieved 25 April 2021 .
^ Trimble, James (17 May 2021). "Tributes paid to Falkirk's Celtic great Frank Brogan" . Falkirk Herald . Retrieved 10 May 2021 .
^ Reilly, Jonathan (7 May 2021). "Former Celtic and Stenhousemuir player John Sludden dies aged 56" . Falkirk Herald . Retrieved 17 May 2021 .
^ "Alan Miller: Former West Brom, Arsenal, Middlesbrough and Blackburn keeper dies" . BBC Sport . 4 June 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2021 .
Domestic leagues Domestic cups European competitions Related to national team Transfers Club seasons
Premiership Championship League One
Domestic leagues Domestic cups League cups Supercups UEFA competitions International competitions