1890–91 Scottish Football League

April 2022 March 2026 Scottish Football League 1890–91 16 August 1890 – 21 May 1891 Dumbarton and Rangers(both 1st title) Cowlairs(not re-elected) 90 409 Jack Bell (20 goals) Celtic 9–1 Vale of Leven(5 May 1891) Heart of Midlothian 0–5 Celtic(23 August 1890)Cowlairs 1–6 Dumbarton(25 October 1890)Cowlairs 0–5 Celtic(29 April 1891) Cowlairs 7–5 Abercorn(28 February 1891) 8 games:Dumbarton 14 games:Dumbarton 8 games:St Mirren 7 games:Abercorn 1891–92 The 1890–91 Scottish Football League was the first season of the Scottish Football League. It began on 16 August 1890 and concluded on 21 May 1891. The league was won jointly by Dumbarton and Rangers who ended the season with an equal number of points. Season overview Dumbarton and Rangers ended the league season with an equal number of points so a play-off match was organised at Cathkin Park in Glasgow on 21 May 1891 to determine the winner.http://scottish-football-historical-archive.com/playoffs.htm Scottish Football League & Scottish Premier League - Play-offs and Test Matches 1891-date Scottish Football Historical Archive https://web.archive.org/web/20131104021657/https://scottish-football-historical-archive.com/playoffs.htm 4 November 2013 27 July 2019 The game ended in a 2–2 draw so both clubs were declared champions. On 30 September 1890 after playing four games in the league, Renton was suspended by the Scottish Football Association for professionalism, and the club was subsequently expelled from the league with their record expunged.http://scottish-football-historical-archive.com/expulsions.htm Scottish Football League Expulsions 1890-1953 Scottish Football Historical Archive https://web.archive.org/web/20150414220908/http://scottish-football-historical-archive.com/expulsions.htm 14 April 2015 27 July 2019 Celtic, 3rd LRV and Cowlairs were docked four points each for fielding ineligible players.http://scottish-football-historical-archive.com/pointdeductions.htm Scottish Football League & Scottish Premier League - League point deductions and awards 1890-date Scottish Football Historical Archive https://web.archive.org/web/20150414163346/http://scottish-football-historical-archive.com/pointdeductions.htm 14 April 2015 27 July 2019 At the end of the season, the bottom three teams had to submit applications to rejoin the league for the next season along with other non-league clubs. St Mirren, Vale of Leven and Cowlairs submitted applications along with non-league club Leith Athletic. In the election, Cowlairs lost their league position to Leith Athletic, with St Mirren and Vale of Leven being re-elected.http://scottish-football-historical-archive.com/reelections.htm Scottish Football League - Re-elections 1891-1951 Scottish Football Historical Archive https://web.archive.org/web/20150414174453/http://scottish-football-historical-archive.com/reelections.htm 14 April 2015 27 July 2019 Clubs The inaugural season of the Scottish Football League was contested by 11 clubs. This was reduced to 10 clubs after four games when Renton was expelled from the league for professionalism. Scotland 500 right Locations of teams in the 1890–91 Scottish Football League Scotland 6 55.848054 -4.437221 AbercornSt Mirren left Scotland 6 55.820982 -4.164891 Glasgow right Scotland 6 55.945287 -4.564554 Dumbarton left Scotland 6 55.938998 -3.232491 Heart of Midlothian right Scotland 6 55.988706 -4.578927 Vale of Leven top Scotland 6 55.864237 -4.251806 Cambuslang bottom Scotland TransparentPlaceholder.png 6 60.75 -8.5 90 Glasgow teams3rd LRVCelticCowlairsRangers right Team Home town/city Home ground3rd LRV Glasgow Cathkin ParkAbercorn Paisley Underwood ParkCambuslang Cambuslang Whitefield ParkCeltic Glasgow Celtic ParkCowlairs Glasgow Springvale ParkDumbarton Dumbarton Boghead ParkHeart of Midlothian Edinburgh TynecastleRangers Glasgow Ibrox ParkRenton Renton Tontine ParkSt Mirren Paisley WestmarchVale of Leven Alexandria Millburn Park Table main WDL complete 5 https://spfl.co.uk/league/premiership/archive/102 1890-1891 SFL SPFL 27 July 2019 DUM RAN CEL CAM LRV HOM ABE STM VOL COW REN 1 8 JCP JCP REL REL NREL E 13 3 2 61 21 13 3 2 58 25 11 3 4 48 21 8 4 6 47 42 8 3 7 38 39 6 2 10 31 37 5 2 11 36 47 5 1 12 39 62 5 1 12 27 65 3 4 11 24 50 Dumbarton Celtic Rangers Heart of Midlothian Cambuslang Abercorn St Mirren Vale of Leven Cowlairs 3rd LRV Renton -4 -4 -4 Celtic, 3rd LRV and Cowlairs were deducted four points each for fielding ineligible players. CEL CEL C C R 2 1) Points; QR green1 Joint Champions red2 Re-elected red1 Not re-elected lightgrey Expelled, record expunged Dumbarton and Rangers finished equal on points, and a play-off to determine the winner ended in a 2−2 draw so both teams were declared joint champions. DUM Cowlairs failed re-election to compete in the league for the next season. Renton were expelled from the league in September 1890 for professionalism and their record was expunged. Results main FBR grey ABC CAM CEL COW DUM HOM RAN STM VOL 3RD Abercorn Cambuslang Celtic Cowlairs Dumbarton Heart of Midlothian Rangers St Mirren Vale of Leven 3rd Lanark RV 2–5 1–5 1–0 1–2 1–0 1–1 5–1 6–0 2–4 4–5 3–1 4–0 2–2 2–0 2–6 3–2 8–2 2–2 2–0 5–2 2–0 1–0 1–0 2–2 3–2 9–1 1–1 7–5 1–1 0–5 1–6 1–2 0–2 4–2 3–2 2–2 5–1 5–0 2–2 1–1 3–1 5–1 5–1 4–0 5–1 1–1 2–2 0–5 4–0 0–4 0–1 1–0 8–1 4–1 2–0 2–1 1–2 1–1 4–2 5–2 8–2 4–0 4–1 4–2 2–3 1–0 5–2 2–4 3–2 3–7 1–1 3–2 2–1 2–1 3–1 2–1 1–3 2–4 1–3 5–2 1–2 2–1 1–2 2–1 3–0 1–3 4–0 0–4 5–3 4–1 2005 Football in Scotland: A Statistical Record 1873–2005 Alexander Graham Cleethorpes Soccer Books 9 1-86223-123-0 complete Championship play-off Rangers defeated 3rd Lanark RV 4–1 in their final league match on 9 May 1891http://www.fitbastats.com/rangers/game.php?gameid=80394 Rangers 4 - 1 Third Lanark, Scottish League (09/05/1891) Fitbastats.com 27 July 2019 to move level with Dumbarton on 29 points, and a play-off was organised to determine which team would be crowned champions. However, the match finished as a draw and, with no more dates available for a further replay before the end of the season, it was decided that Dumbarton and Rangers would be declared joint champions.On This Day In Football History: 21 May 1891, Russell MdFadyen, The North Section, 21 May 2019Thursday, 21 May 1891, Scottish League History Football. League Championship–Rangers v. Dumbarton. The Glasgow Herald, 22 May 1891 21 May 1891 Dumbarton 2–2 Rangers *Miller Taylor *A. McCreadie Hislop Cathkin Park Glasgow 10,000http://www.fitbastats.com/rangers/game.php?gameid=38057 Rangers 2 - 2 Dumbarton, Division One (old) Play-offs (21/05/1891) Fitbastats.com 27 July 2019http://www.sonsarchive.com/matchdetails.php?id=121 Dumbarton 2-2 Rangers, Thursday, May 21st, 1891 The Sons Archive 27 July 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190703120106/http://www.sonsarchive.com/matchdetails.php?id=121 3 July 2019 J. Marshall Dumbarton: GK John McLeodRB Daniel WatsonLB Alex MillerRH Tom McMillanCH Dickie BoyleLHLeitch KeirOR Jack TaylorIR James GalbraithCF John MillerIL James McNaughtOL Jack BellRangers: GK David ReidRB Donald GowLB William HodgeRH Robert MarshallCH Andrew McCreadieLHDavid MitchellOR David HislopIR James HendersonCF Neil KerrIL John McPhersonOL John AllanSome sources credit an appearance to Hugh McCreadie rather than John Allan, but contemporary reports contradict this; consequently the goal by 'McCreadie' must have been scored by Andrew. See also 1890–91 in Scottish football 1904–05 Scottish Division One#Championship play-off References Association football Scotland Category:1890–91 in European association football leagues 1890-91 Category:1890–91 in domestic association football leagues 1