2012–13 Scottish Third Division
Season | 2012–13 |
---|---|
Champions | Rangers |
Promoted | Rangers |
Matches played | 180 |
Goals scored | 589 (3.27 per match) |
Top goalscorer | Andrew Little (Rangers) (22 goals) |
Biggest home win | Stirling Albion 9–1 East Stirlingshire |
Biggest away win | Montrose 0–6 Peterhead |
Highest scoring | Stirling Albion 9–1 East Stirlingshire |
Longest winning run | 11 games[1] Rangers |
Longest unbeaten run | 20 games[1] Rangers |
Longest winless run | 10 games[1] East Stirlingshire |
Longest losing run | 10 games[1] East Stirlingshire |
Highest attendance | 50,048[1] Rangers 2–0 Stirling Albion |
Lowest attendance | 192[1] East Stirlingshire 2–2 Annan Athletic |
Average attendance | 5,598[1] |
← 2011–12 2013–14 → |
The 2012–13 Scottish Football League Third Division (known as the Irn Bru Scottish Football League Third Division for sponsorship reasons) was the 18th season in the current format of 10 teams in the fourth tier of Scottish football. Alloa Athletic were the current champions. Following the liquidation of their old operating company, Rangers made their debut in this division, having been elected to the SFL following the closure of the previous company. The members of the Scottish Football League then voted to place them in the Third Division.
Rangers were confirmed as champions after a goalless away draw with Montrose on 30 March.[2] They were presented with the trophy after a 1-0 win against Berwick Rangers on 4 May in front of 50,048.[3]
During their first season in the division, Rangers had one of the highest home attendances in Britain, consistently ranking in the top four in the UK as a whole and first in Scotland. They set the record for the highest attendance in a 4th tier league worldwide.[4] Bottom side Stirling Albion defeated Rangers on 6 October 2012 in what was reported to be a shock result.[5]
Teams
2011–12 champions Alloa Athletic were promoted from this division, and were replaced by Stirling Albion, who finished bottom of the Second Division. Another promotion spot was available through the promotion play-offs, however this was won by second division side Albion Rovers, who thus stayed in the Second Division. However, losing play-off finalists Stranraer were elevated to the Second Division as a result of Rangers being demoted to this division.
There was no relegation from this division, as this is the lowest in the Scottish League.
Stadiums and locations
Team | Location | Home ground | Capacity |
---|---|---|---|
Annan Athletic | Annan | Galabank | 3,500 |
Berwick Rangers | Berwick-upon-Tweed | Shielfield Park | 4,131 |
Clyde | Cumbernauld | Broadwood Stadium | 8,029 |
East Stirlingshire | Stenhousemuir | Ochilview Park | 3,776 |
Elgin City | Elgin | Borough Briggs | 3,927 |
Montrose | Montrose | Links Park | 3,292 |
Peterhead | Peterhead | Balmoor | 4,000 |
Queen's Park | Glasgow | Hampden Park | 52,025 |
Rangers | Glasgow | Ibrox Stadium | 51,082 |
Stirling Albion | Stirling | Forthbank Stadium | 3,808 |
League table
Template:2012–13 Scottish Third Division table
Results
Teams play each other four times in this league. In the first half of the season each team plays every other team twice (home and away) and then do the same in the second half of the season, for a total of 36 games
Season statistics
Top goalscorers
- As of 27 April 2013
Rank | Player | Club | Goals[6] |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Andrew Little | Rangers | 22 |
2 | Rory McAllister | Peterhead | 21 |
3 | Darren Lavery | Berwick Rangers | 17 |
Lee McCulloch | Rangers | 17 | |
5 | David Templeton | Rangers | 15 |
6 | Stuart Leslie | Elgin City | 14 |
7 | Craig Gunn | Elgin City | 13 |
Jordan White | Stirling Albion | 13 | |
9 | Ally Love | Annan Athletic | 12 |
10 | Scott Chaplain | Annan Athletic | 11 |
Lawrence Shankland | Queen's Park | 11 |
References
- ^ a b c d e f g "Scottish Third Division Stats – 2012–13". ESPN Soccernet. Entertainment and Sports Programming Network (ESPN). Retrieved 1 January 2012.
- ^ "Rangers celebrate Scottish Third Division title win". BBC Sport. 30 March 2013. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
- ^ "Rangers 1-0 Berwick Rangers". BBC Sport. 4 May 2013. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
- ^ "Fourth-tier Rangers shatter world record". Retrieved November 14, 2012.
- ^ "Stirling Albion 1-0 Rangers". Retrieved October 6, 2012.
- ^ Scottish Third Division Top Scorers ESPN Soccernet. Retrieved 1 January 2013