1996–97 Scottish Premier Division
| Season | 1996–97 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Rangers |
| Promoted | Dunfermline Dundee United |
| Relegated | Raith Rovers |
| Champions League | Rangers |
| UEFA Cup | Celtic Dundee United |
| Cup Winners' Cup | Kilmarnock |
| Goals scored | 504 ( 27) |
| Average goals/game | 2.8 |
| Top goalscorer | Jorge Cadete (25) |
| Biggest home win | Celtic 6–0 Kilmarnock (08 Jan) |
| Biggest away win | Raith Rovers 0–6 Rangers (15 Apr) |
| Highest attendance | 50,210, Rangers 2–0 Celtic (28 Sep) |
| Lowest attendance | 3,052, Raith Rovers 1–5 Motherwell (18 Feb) |
| Average attendance | 17,194 (2,159) |
← 1995–96 1997–98 → | |
The 1996–97 Scottish Premier Division season was the penultimate season of Scottish Premier Division football before the change to the Scottish Premier League. It began on 10 August 1996.
Overview
The 1996–97 Scottish Premier Division season ended in success for Rangers who won the title by five points from nearest rivals Celtic to clinch nine titles in a row, equalling Celtic's record from the 1973-74 season. Raith Rovers were relegated to the First Division after finishing bottom. As champions, Rangers qualified for the Champions League while Celtic were joined by third-placed Dundee United in qualifying for the UEFA Cup. Seventh-placed Kilmarnock qualified for the penultimate Cup Winners' Cup as Scottish Cup winners.[1]
The season began on 10 August with the first goal of the season scored by Dundee United's Gary McSwegan as they drew 1–1 at home to Motherwell. The season ended on 10 May with Celtic's Tommy Johnson netting a late goal to cap a 3–0 win at home to Dundee United to claim the final goal of the season.
Promotion and relegation from 1995–96
Promoted from First Division to Premier League
- Dunfermline Athletic
- Dundee United (via play-off)
Relegated from Premier Division to First Division
- Partick Thistle (via play-off)
- Falkirk
Events
- 17 August: Ally McCoist hits the first hat-trick of the season in a 5–2 win at Dunfermline.
- 7 May: Rangers win the title with a 1–0 win at Dundee United
League table
Template:Fb cl header Template:Fb cl team Template:Fb cl2 qr Template:Fb cl team Template:Fb cl2 qr Template:Fb cl team Template:Fb cl2 qr Template:Fb cl team Template:Fb cl team Template:Fb cl team Template:Fb cl team Template:Fb cl2 qr Template:Fb cl team Template:Fb cl team Template:Fb cl team Template:Fb cl2 qr Template:Fb cl footer
Results
Matches 1–18
During matches 1–18 each team plays every other team twice (home and away).
Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r
Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r
Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r
Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r
Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r
Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r
Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r
Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r
Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r
Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r
Matches 19–36
During matches 19–36 each team plays every other team a further two times (home and away).
Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r
Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r
Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r
Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r
Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r
Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r
Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r
Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r
Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r
Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r Template:Fb r
Top scorers
| Player | Goals | Team |
|---|---|---|
 Jorge Cadete |
25 | Celtic |
 Brian Laudrup |
16 | Rangers |
 Paul Wright |
15 | Kilmarnock |
| Billy Dodds |
14 | Aberdeen |
| John Robertson |
Hearts | |
 Pierre van Hooijdonk |
Celtic | |
| Gerry Britton |
13 | Dunfermline Athletic |
 Paul Gascoigne |
Rangers | |
 Paolo di Canio |
12 | Celtic |
 Kjell Olofsson |
Dundee United | |
 Tommy Coyne |
11 | Motherwell |
| Darren Jackson |
Hibernian | |
 Jorg Albertz |
10 | Rangers |
| Ally McCoist |
Rangers | |
| Andy Smith |
Dunfermline Athletic | |
| Dean Windass |
Aberdeen |
Source: Soccerbot
Managerial changes
| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Replaced by | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raith Rovers | Tommy McLean
|
Resigned | 10 September 1996 | Iain Munro
|
16 September 1996 |
| Dundee United | Billy Kirkwood
|
Sacked | 10 September 1996 | Tommy McLean
|
10 September 1996 |
| Hibernian | Alex Miller
|
Sacked | 30 September 1996 | Jim Duffy
|
30 December 1996 |
| Kilmarnock | Alex Totten
|
Sacked | 30 November 1996 | Bobby Williamson
|
7 December 1996 |
References
- ^ "Scottish Premier Division 1996/97". Soccerbot. Archived from the original on 12 May 2008. Retrieved 2008-06-03.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help)