1996–97 Scottish Premier Division

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.

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.

Clubs

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

Stadia and locations

Managers

Managerial changes

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

Results

Matches 1–18

During matches 1–18 each team plays every other team twice (home and away).

Matches 19–36

During matches 19–36 each team plays every other team a further two times (home and away).

Play-off

A two leg play-off took place between the 9th placed team in the Premier Division (Hibernian) and the runner-up of the First Division (Airdrieonians) for a place in the 1997–98 Scottish Premier Division.

Hibernian won the first leg 1–0 at Easter Road, and went on to win the second leg by 4 goals to 2 at Broadwood Stadium. Therefore, Hibernian maintained their Premier Division status for another season, 5–2 on aggregate.

Top scorers

Source: Soccerbot

Awards

• Player awards

• Manager awards

Attendances

!#!!Football club!!Home games!!Average attendance |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Rangers FC || 18 || 48,122 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Celtic FC || 18 || 47,691 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Aberdeen FC || 18 || 12,603 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Heart of Midlothian || 18 || 12,349 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Hibernian FC || 18 || 10,631 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Dundee United || 18 || 9,320 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Kilmarnock FC || 18 || 9,121 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Dunfermline Athletic || 18 || 8,753 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Motherwell FC || 18 || 7,256 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Raith Rovers || 18 || 5,907 |- |} }}

References

References

1. "Scottish Premier Division 1996/97". Soccerbot.
2. (10 September 1996). "McLean quits Raith to join his brother". [[The Herald (Glasgow).
3. (4 December 1996). "Youth is name of the game as Totten is pushed out by Kilmarnock". [[The Herald (Glasgow).
4. (16 April 1997). "Photographer claims club chairman kicked and punched him outside ground Raith chief 'went berserk'". [[The Herald (Glasgow).
5. (14 April 1997). "Nicholl rejects Raith's offer". [[The Independent]].
6. (23 May 1997). "Airdrie captain sent off as Hibs secure premier division status Jackson at the double on a night of penalties". [[The Herald (Glasgow).
7. "Premiership 1996/1997 - Attendance".