2012–13 Scottish Third Division

The 2012–13 Scottish Football League Third Division (known as the Irn Bru Scottish Football League Third Division for sponsorship reasons) was the 18th season in the current format of 10 teams in the fourth tier of Scottish football. Alloa Athletic were the current champions. Following the liquidation of Rangers' holding company, the members of the Scottish Football League voted to place them in the Third Division.

Irn Bru Scottish Third Division
Season2012–13
ChampionsRangers
PromotedRangers
Matches played180
Goals scored589 (3.27 per match)
Top goalscorerAndrew Little (Rangers)
(22 goals)
Biggest home winStirling Albion 9–1 East Stirlingshire
Biggest away winMontrose 0–6 Peterhead
Highest scoringStirling Albion 9–1 East Stirlingshire
Longest winning run11 games[1]
Rangers
Longest unbeaten run20 games[1]
Rangers
Longest winless run10 games[1]
East Stirlingshire
Longest losing run10 games[1]
East Stirlingshire
Highest attendance50,048[1]
Rangers 1–0 Berwick Rangers
Lowest attendance192[1]
East Stirlingshire 2–2 Annan Athletic
Average attendance5,598[1]

Rangers were confirmed as champions after a goalless away draw with Montrose on 30 March.[2] They were presented with the trophy after a 1–0 win against Berwick Rangers on 4 May in front of 50,048.[3]

During their first season in the division, Rangers had one of the highest home attendances in Britain, consistently ranking in the top four in the UK as a whole and first in Scotland. They set the record for the highest attendance in a 4th tier league worldwide.[4] Bottom side Stirling Albion defeated Rangers on 6 October 2012 in what was reported to be a shock result.[5]

Teams
Location of teams in 2012–13 Scottish Third Division

2011–12 champions Alloa Athletic were promoted from this division, and were replaced by Stirling Albion, who finished bottom of the Second Division. Another promotion spot was available through the promotion play-offs, however this was won by second division side Albion Rovers, who thus stayed in the Second Division. However, losing play-off finalists Stranraer were elevated to the Second Division as a result of Rangers being elected to the bottom tier.

There was no relegation from this division, as this is the lowest in the Scottish League.

Stadiums and locations
Team Location Home ground Capacity
Annan Athletic Annan Galabank 3,500
Berwick Rangers Berwick-upon-Tweed Shielfield Park 4,131
Clyde Cumbernauld Broadwood Stadium 8,029
East Stirlingshire Stenhousemuir Ochilview Park 3,776
Elgin City Elgin Borough Briggs 3,927
Montrose Montrose Links Park 3,292
Peterhead Peterhead Balmoor 4,000
Queen's Park Glasgow Hampden Park 52,025
Rangers Glasgow Ibrox Stadium 50,987
Stirling Albion Stirling Forthbank Stadium 3,808

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or qualification
1 Rangers (C, P) 36 25 8 3 87 29 +58 83 Promotion to League One
2 Peterhead 36 17 8 11 52 28 +24 59 Qualification for the Second Division Play-offs
3 Queen's Park 36 16 8 12 60 54 +6 56
4 Berwick Rangers 36 14 7 15 59 55 +4 49
5 Elgin City 36 13 10 13 67 69 −2 49
6 Montrose 36 12 11 13 60 68 −8 47
7 Stirling Albion 36 12 9 15 59 58 +1 45
8 Annan Athletic 36 11 10 15 54 65 −11 43
9 Clyde 36 12 4 20 42 66 −24 40
10 East Stirlingshire 36 8 5 23 49 97 −48 29
Source: SPFL archive
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champion; (P) Promoted.

Results

Teams play each other four times in this league. In the first half of the season each team plays every other team twice (home and away) and then do the same in the second half of the season, for a total of 36 games

Season statistics

Top goalscorers
As of 27 April 2013
Rank Player Club Goals[6]
1 Andrew Little Rangers 22
2 Rory McAllister Peterhead 21
3 Darren Lavery Berwick Rangers 17
Lee McCulloch Rangers 17
5 David Templeton Rangers 15
6 Stuart Leslie Elgin City 14
7 Craig Gunn Elgin City 13
Jordan White Stirling Albion 13
9 Ally Love Annan Athletic 12
10 Scott Chaplain Annan Athletic 11
Lawrence Shankland Queen's Park 11
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References
  1. "Scottish Third Division Stats – 2012–13". ESPN Soccernet. Entertainment and Sports Programming Network (ESPN). Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  2. "Rangers celebrate Scottish Third Division title win". BBC Sport. 30 March 2013. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
  3. "Rangers 1-0 Berwick Rangers". BBC Sport. 4 May 2013. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
  4. "Fourth-tier Rangers shatter world record". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved November 14, 2012.
  5. "Stirling Albion 1-0 Rangers". Retrieved October 6, 2012.
  6. Scottish Third Division Top Scorers ESPN Soccernet. Retrieved 1 January 2013
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