The 2016–17 Scottish Lowland Football League (known as the Ferrari Packaging Lowland League for sponsorship reasons) was the fourth season of the Lowland Football League, the fifth tier of the Scottish football pyramid system. Edinburgh City were the defending champions but could not defend their title after being promoted to Scottish League Two.
East Stirlingshire became the first club to join the league via relegation from the SPFL, having lost the League Two play-off against Edinburgh City. Threave Rovers declined the opportunity to re-apply for membership following their bottom place finish the previous season and instead rejoined the South of Scotland Football League. Hawick Royal Albert and Civil Service Strollers joined the league from the East of Scotland Football League to bring the number of clubs to 16 for the first time.
The league was won with two matches still to play by East Kilbride on 1 April 2017 after they defeated Gala Fairydean Rovers 6–1. East Kilbride defeated the winners of the 2016–17 Highland Football League (Buckie Thistle) in the League Two play-offs semi-finals, but lost to Cowdenbeath on penalties in the final.
Teams
The following teams have changed division since the 2015–16 season.
To Lowland League Transferred from East of Scotland League Civil Service Strollers Hawick Royal Albert
Relegated from League Two East Stirlingshire
From Lowland League Promoted to League Two Edinburgh City
Relegated to South of Scotland League Threave Rovers
Team Location StadiumCapacitySeats Floodlit BSC Glasgow Glasgow Lochburn Park 1,800 205 Yes Civil Service Strollers Edinburgh Christie Gillies Park 1,569 TBC No Cumbernauld Colts Cumbernauld Broadwood Stadium 7,936 7,936 Yes Dalbeattie Star Dalbeattie Islecroft Stadium 4,000 250 Yes East Kilbride East Kilbride K Park 660 400 Yes East Stirlingshire Stenhousemuir Ochilview Park 3,746 626 Yes Edinburgh University Edinburgh New Peffermill Stadium 1,100 100 Yes Gala Fairydean Rovers Galashiels 3G Arena, Netherdale 5,500 495 Yes Gretna 2008 Gretna Raydale Park 3,000 1,318 Yes Hawick Royal Albert Hawick Albert Park 1,000 500 Yes Preston Athletic Prestonpans Pennypit Park 4,000 313 Yes Selkirk Selkirk Yarrow Park 1,000 100 to be The Spartans Edinburgh Ainslie Park 3,000 504 Yes Stirling University Stirling Forthbank Stadium 3,808 2,508 Yes Vale of Leithen Innerleithen Victoria Park 1,500 0 No Whitehill Welfare Rosewell Ferguson Park 4,000 150 No
League table
Results
Lowland League play-off A play-off was due to take place between the winners of the 2016–17 East of Scotland Football League (Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale) and the 2016–17 South of Scotland Football League (Edusport Academy). However Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale did not meet the required licensing criteria therefore Edusport Academy were promoted automatically to replace Preston Athletic.
References