The 2011–12 Scottish Football League Second Division (also known as the 2011–12 Irn Bru Scottish Football League Second Division for sponsorship reasons) is the 18th season in the current format of 10 teams in the third-tier of Scottish football. Livingston F.C. are the current champions.
Teams
As champions of the 2010–11 season, Livingston were directly promoted to the 2011–12 Scottish First Division.BBC Sport – Football – Ups and downs, news.bbc.co.uk Retrieved 2011-05-25. They were replaced by Stirling Albion who finished bottom of the 2010–11 Scottish First Division.
A second promotion place was available via a play-off tournament between the ninth-placed team of the 2010–11 Scottish First Division, Cowdenbeath, and the sides ranked second, third and fourth in the 2010–11 Scottish Second Division, Ayr United, Forfar Athletic and Brechin City respectively. The play off was won by Ayr United who defeated Brechin City in the final. Cowdenbeath were therefore relegated and replaced Ayr United.
Peterhead finished bottom at the end of the 2010–11 Scottish Second Division season so were relegated to the 2011–12 Scottish Third Division. They were replaced by Arbroath, the champions of the 2010–11 Scottish Third Division.
The ninth placed team of the 2010–11 Scottish Second Division, Alloa Athletic, entered a play-off tournament with the sides ranked second, third and fourth in the 2010–11 Scottish Third Division, Albion Rovers, Queen's Park and Annan Athletic respectively. The play off was won by Albion Rovers who defeated Annan Athletic in the final. Alloa Athletic were therefore relegated and replaced by Albion Rovers.
Stadia and locations Team Location Home ground Capacity Airdrie United Airdrie New Broomfield 10,171 Albion Rovers Coatbridge Cliftonhill 2,496 Arbroath Arbroath Gayfield Park 4,153 Brechin City Brechin Glebe Park 1,519 Cowdenbeath Cowdenbeath Central Park 4,370 Dumbarton Dumbarton Dumbarton Football Stadium 2,025 East Fife Methil Bayview Stadium 2,000 Forfar Athletic Forfar Station Park 4,602 Stenhousemuir Stenhousemuir Ochilview Park 3,776 Stirling Albion Stirling Doubletree Dunblane Stadium 3,808
Personnel and kits Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Team Manager Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsorAirdrie United SurridgeSt Andrew's HospiceAlbion Rovers MacronReigartArbroath PendleOgstonsBrechin City PendleCancer Research UKCowdenbeath UmbroSubseaDumbarton SurridgeBet ButlerEast Fife 1903 (clubs own brand)Cogen EnergyForfar Athletic PendleOrchard Timber ProductsStenhousemuir HummelFigure 11 CommunicationsStirling Albion PumaPrudential plc
League table
Results
First half of season
Second half of season
Second Division play-offs Times are BST (UTC+1)
Semi-finals The fourth placed team in the Third Division (Elgin City ) will play the ninth placed team in the Second Division ( Albion Rovers ) and third placed team in the Third Division (Stranraer ) will play the second placed team in the Third Division (Queen's Park ). The play-offs will be played over two legs, the winning team in each semi-final will advance to the final.
First legs
Second legs
Final The two semi-final winners will play each other over two legs. The winning team will be awarded a place in the 2012–13 Second Division. However, in July 2012, following discussions as a result of the sale of Rangers FC in administration to Charles Green, the result was moot; both teams were awarded a place in the Second Division.
First leg
Second leg
Statistics
Top goalscorers
Player Club Goals 1 Steven Doris Arbroath 21 2 Ryan Donnelly Airdrie United 20 Ryan Wallace East Fife 3 Marc McKenzie Cowdenbeath 17 4 Chris Templeman Forfar Athletic 16 5 Paul McManus Brechin City 15 6 Bryan Prunty Dumbarton 14 7 Scott Agnew Dumbarton 13 Lewis Coult Cowdenbeath Andy Rodgers Stenhousemuir 8 Gavin Swankie Arbroath 11 9 Stewart Kean Stenhousemuir 10
Hat-tricks
Player For Against Result Date 4 Dumbarton East Fife 6–0 Albion Rovers Airdrie United 7–2 Airdrie United Forfar Athletic 4–4 Cowdenbeath Stirling Albion 4–1 Arbroath Forfar Athletic 4–1 4 Player scored 4 goals
Awards MonthSecond Division Manager of the MonthSFL Player of the MonthSFL Young player of the MonthGinger BootManagerClubPlayerClubPlayerClubPlayerClubAugust Paul SheerinArbroath First division player First division player Third division player September Colin CameronCowdenbeath First division player Mark RidgersEast Fife First division player October John RobertsonEast Fife First division player First division player Ryan DonnellyAirdrie United November Colin CameronCowdenbeath First division player Ryan DonnellyAirdrie United Third division player December Jim WeirBrechin City First division player Third division player Third division player January Alan AdamsonDumbarton Third division player Third division player Third division player February Alan AdamsonDumbarton Steven DorisArbroath First division player Lewis CoultCowdenbeath March April
References