HibeeJibee

Top division format in Scotland yrs (chronological from 1890-91) 1 11 teams 1 12 teams 8 10 teams 1 11 teams 1 10 teams 1 12 teams 2 14 teams 1 16 teams 7 18 teams 4 20 teams 2 18 teams 3 22 teams 16 20 teams (6 war emergency) 9 16 teams 20 18 teams 11 10 teams playing x4 2 12 teams playing x4 3 10 teams playing x4 3 12 teams playing x4 6 10 teams playing x4 25+ 12 teams playing x4 with split Number of divisions in Scottish League yrs (chronological from 1890-91) 3 1 division 22 2 divisions 6 1 division 2 2 divisions 3 3 divisions 14 2 divisions (6 war emergency) 9 3 divisions 20 2 divisions 19 3 divisions 31+ 4 divisions

No time for BA to dwell on their consecutive promotion success - as they face arguably the biggest 2 single games in their history this week. Remember draws go to penalties for 1pt bonus. First up:

Luncarty... 12th !

Dunipace are PROMOTED Edinburgh University's relegation means 4th can no longer become a promotion place. Congratulations to Dunipace. I recall some scepticism even gentle mockery being expressed in other parts when they were revealed as the 'mystery' west club turning senior and moving east 6 years ago - but they've continually progressed on and off the park since. On-field they came 2nd bottom of their conference in 2018-19 (above just 'lowly' Eyemouth)... but improved to top 4 in their First Division conference in 2019-20 and 2021-22; solidly mid-table in the united First Division last season; and now promotion, maybe as champions. They also won the South Challenge Cup (with much less attention and credit than deserved: probably as it was badly delayed to August 2021), reached the King and League cup finals last season, plus the EOS Qualifying Cup SF this season. Off-field they've installed artificial turf, lights and enclosure then obtained their SFA licence (leading to Scottish Cup entry and annually improving results there too). I recall their U20s have also had some good campaigns. Great advert for what 'small' clubs can achieve.

Bo'ness Athletic are PROMOTED Edinburgh University's relegation means 4th can no longer become a promotion place. Congratulations to Bo'ness Athletic. Edinburgh South stocking-up on restoratives but if their winning streak can outlive an arduous month Armadale may be in a panic: Mon 22 Apr Edinburgh South v Dalkeith Wed 24 Apr Edinburgh South v Stirling Uni EOS Sun 29 Apr Edinburgh South v Newburgh Wed 1 May Thornton v Edinburgh South Sat 4 May Edinburgh South v Tweedmouth Wed 8 May Burntisland v Edinburgh South Sat 11 May Stirling Uni EOS v Edinburgh South Sat 18 May Edinburgh South v Kennoway date tbc Edinburgh South v Coldstream

Edinburgh University's relegation means 4th can no longer become a promotion place. Hawick and Pumpherston lose; Livingston Utd manage a win!

Tuesday 16th April (R2) Preston 4-2 Kinnoull (aet, FT 2-2) Newtongrange 0-2 Crossgates Wednesday 17th April (R2) St Andrews 0-1 Kirkcaldy & Dysart Saturday 20th April (R2) Glenrothes 1-0 Harthill (R2) Hill of Beath 3-2 Thornton (R2) Lochore 2-1 Camelon Arniston 3-2 Kirkcaldy & Dysart (aet, FT 2-2) Sauchie 5-0 Blackburn Whitburn 3-1 Jeanfield (aet, FT 1-1) Whitehill 1-3 Preston Tuesday 23rd April Broxburn v Glenrothes Haddington v Dunbar Lochore v Hill of Beath Whitburn the notable Saturday 'shock'. Fourth Round Arniston v Broxburn/Glenrothes Lochore/Hill of Beath v Sauchie Haddington/Dunbar v Crossgates Whitburn v Preston

Tuesday 16th April (R4) Heriot-Watt Uni 3-2 Armadale (R4) Whitehill 2-1 Camelon (aet, FT 1-1) Saturday 20th April (R3) Ormiston 1-8 (eight) St Andrews Saturday 27th April (R4) St Andrews v Newtongrange (SF) Heriot-Watt Uni v Whitehill date tbc (SF) St Andrews/Newtongrange v Leith 'Old school EOS' feel here.

Exactly, indeed it must have been... Hearts v Zaragoza went to a playoff that wasn't held until 2 months after 2nd leg, and was effectively simultaneous with QFs starting. European Champions' Cup and Fairs' Cup 1965-66 - Details (rsssf.org)

I cannot find thread but I've a feeling this point arose years ago and Dunfermline + Hearts in 1965-66 was the only occasion 2 non-OF clubs got each other in a draw. Might be mistaken though.

What's particularly sad is the FA think these secret negotiations produced a good deal because R5 returns to a weekend plus they get some pennies (in EPL terms); and anyway they "had" to help EPL clubs in Europe as there simply aren't enough dates. Yet somehow those same EPL clubs have found enough dates to start the season 1 week later than previously, and spread R4 out over a weekend and adjacent midweek. You can also bet that in a few years they'll want to take the weekend part of R4 out and just play it in midweek. Meanwhile the FA Cup Final is no longer the last game of the season - nor even has the weekend to itself; and replays have inexplicably also been abolished in R1 & R2 even though EFL1&2 clubs wouldn't want that. They've been completely outmanoeuvred by EPL.

Scottish Premiership Championship Group not to be confused with the Scottish Championship Scottish Premiership Relegation Group contesting relegation to the Scottish Championship Scottish Championship not to be confused with the Scottish Premiership Championship Group Scottish Premiership Playoffs contesting promotion & relegation between Premiership & Championship... 2/3 of which only involve Championship clubs

Why can't it be another midweek at Dens? Plus won't many ticketholders need turned away - Dens holds more than McDiarmid and have to be unallocated seating?

There were 9x Dundee derbies in 1987-88: Forfarshire Cup Final on Christmas holiday Monday. Including local cups when still big I recall there are OF or Edinburgh examples in double figures.

If people think Hampden has bad sightlines consider the view most spectators got of that FA Cup Final in the old Crystal Palace ground: Note also the hoarding promoting: among varied fare:

Iran state TV saying a "first wave" of ballistic missiles have now also been fired - their version of Scud seemingly. Remarkable to have reached a situation where Iran's openly and directly bombarding Israel.

Ukraine-Russia has its throwback to WWI with the remorseless reliance on artillery barrages... now Israel-Iran has its own to WWII with in essence sophisticated V bombs, or the Blitz without pilots.

Broxburn continue erratically; but still looks very unlikely anybody can catch them. Down the bottom is clearly now a 4 cornered fight with Inverkeithing, Glenrothes, Luncarty and Crossgates. Updated state of play across southerly tier 6: South of Scotland League (22 games) West of Scotland League (30 games)

Dunipace may be promoted imminently and are now favourites for title; behind them all take turns at stuttering. Down the bottom Oakley, who've only beaten Vale all campaign, in big trouble. Run-in:

Armadale had a scare but ultimately won. Thornton look to reel-in Bo'ness Athletic.. Edinburgh South to reel-in Armadale... down the bottom Ormiston to reel-in Tweedmouth... but Newburgh are teetering. Run-in:

Hawick's form has badly collapsed since February... unless they or Pumpherston can finish in rampant style, it looks like the top 3 are fairly secure, with West Calder in driving seat for the title. Plenty head-to-heads to shake-up the placings certainly. Stoneyburn have now reached double figures of home postponements (plus 7 more away)... thusfar 44% of their home games have been off. Run-in:

Days later: 2026 European Athletics Championships - Wikipedia Scotstoun + temporary ends/'exclusive ticketing'?

With some caveats for TV - or Clyde and Hamilton clashing (plus Peterhead sometimes play home on Wednesdays not Tuesdays?) - playoff dates will presumably be: Premiership/Championship: QF 1st leg Tuesday 7th May QF 2nd leg Friday 10th May SF 1st leg Tuesday 14th May SF 2nd leg Friday 17th May Fin 1st leg Thursday 23rd May unless Aberdeen finish 11th and are in Scottish Cup Final Fin 2nd leg Sunday 26th May unless Aberdeen finish 11th and are in Scottish Cup Final Championship/SPFL1: SF 1st leg Tuesday 7th May SF 2nd leg Saturday 11th May Fin 1st leg Tuesday 14th May (?) Fin 2nd leg Saturday 18th May (?) SPFL1/SPFL2: SF 1st leg Tuesday 7th May SF 2nd leg Saturday 11th May Fin 1st leg Tuesday 14th May Fin 2nd leg Saturday 18th May SPFL2/Lowland/Highland: SF 1st leg Saturday 27th April SF 2nd leg Saturday 4th May Fin 1st leg Saturday 11th May Fin 2nd leg Saturday 18th May East/South/West for Lowland: 1st leg/RR#1 Saturday 18th May RR#2 Tuesday 21st May 2nd leg/RR#3 Friday 24th May Highland/North Caledonian/North Juniors/Tayside Juniors: (no SF/round-robin required) Fin 1st leg no fixed date? maybe Saturday 4th May? Fin 2nd leg no fixed date? maybe Saturday 11th May? (Strathspey end Sat 20th Apr but Lochee Utd not until Wed 1st May and could have North & Tayside Junior Cup Final on Sat 18th May)