2016–17 Scottish League One
# 2016–17 Scottish League One

The 2016–17 Scottish League One (known as Ladbrokes League One for sponsorship reasons) was the 22nd season in the current format of 10 teams in the third-tier of Scottish football. The fixtures were published on 17 June 2016.

Ten teams contested the league: Airdrieonians, Albion Rovers, Alloa Athletic, Brechin City, East Fife, Livingston, Peterhead, Queen's Park, Stenhousemuir and Stranraer.

## Teams

The following teams changed division since the 2015–16 season.

### Stadia and locations

| Airdrieonians | Albion Rovers | Alloa Athletic | Brechin City |
| - | - | - | - |
| Excelsior Stadium | Cliftonhill | Recreation Park | Glebe Park |
| Capacity: 10,101 | Capacity: 1,238 | Capacity: 3,100 | Capacity: 4,083 |
| East Fife | AirdrieoniansAlbion RoversAlloa AthleticBrechin CityEast FifeLivingstonPeterheadQueen's ParkStenhousemuirStranraer | AirdrieoniansAlbion RoversAlloa AthleticBrechin CityEast FifeLivingstonPeterheadQueen's ParkStenhousemuirStranraer | Livingston |
| Bayview Stadium | AirdrieoniansAlbion RoversAlloa AthleticBrechin CityEast FifeLivingstonPeterheadQueen's ParkStenhousemuirStranraer | AirdrieoniansAlbion RoversAlloa AthleticBrechin CityEast FifeLivingstonPeterheadQueen's ParkStenhousemuirStranraer | Almondvale Stadium |
| Capacity: 1,998 | AirdrieoniansAlbion RoversAlloa AthleticBrechin CityEast FifeLivingstonPeterheadQueen's ParkStenhousemuirStranraer | AirdrieoniansAlbion RoversAlloa AthleticBrechin CityEast FifeLivingstonPeterheadQueen's ParkStenhousemuirStranraer | Capacity: 8,716 |
| Peterhead | Queen's Park | Stenhousemuir | Stranraer |
| Balmoor | Hampden Park | Ochilview Park | Stair Park |
| Capacity: 3,150 | Capacity: 51,866 | Capacity: 4,096 | Capacity: 4,178 |

### Personnel and kits

| Team | Manager | Captain | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Airdrieonians | Mark Wilson | Marc Fitzpatrick | Under Armour | M&H Logistics |
| Albion Rovers | Darren Young | Michael Dunlop | Adidas | Reigart Demolition |
| Alloa Athletic | Jim Goodwin | Graeme Holmes | Pendle | Chrystal & Hill Ltd |
| Brechin City | Darren Dods | Paul McLean | Pendle | Delson |
| East Fife | Barry Smith | Kevin Smith | Joma | W Glendinning Haulage Contractors (Home shirt) EF Joinery (Away shirt) |
| Livingston | David Hopkin | Sean Crighton | Joma | Tony Macaroni |
| Peterhead | Jim McInally | Simon Ferry | Adidas | LFH Engineering Ltd |
| Queen's Park | Gus MacPherson | Paul Woods | Under Armour | Irn-Bru |
| Stenhousemuir | Brown Ferguson | Mark Gilhaney | Prostar | Gulnar Tandoori Restaurant |
| Stranraer | Stephen Farrell | Steven Bell | Stanno | Stena Line |

### Managerial changes

| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Alloa Athletic | Jack Ross | Signed by St Mirren | 4 October 2016 | 3rd | Jim Goodwin | 11 October 2016 |
| Airdrieonians | Eddie Wolecki Black Kevin McBride | Stepped down Sacked | 30 October 2016 | 4th | Mark Wilson | 31 October 2016 |
| East Fife | Gary Naysmith | Signed by Queen of the South | 5 December 2016 | 9th | Barry Smith | 13 December 2016 |
| Stranraer | Brian Reid | Resigned | 16 January 2017 | 10th | Stephen Farrell | 20 January 2017 |

## League summary

### League table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Livingston (C, P) | 36 | 26 | 3 | 7 | 80 | 32 | +48 | 81 | Promotion to Scottish Championship |
| 2 | Alloa Athletic | 36 | 17 | 11 | 8 | 69 | 44 | +25 | 62 | Qualification to Championship play-offs |
| 3 | Airdrieonians | 36 | 16 | 4 | 16 | 61 | 66 | −5 | 52 | Qualification to Championship play-offs |
| 4 | Brechin City (O, P) | 36 | 15 | 5 | 16 | 43 | 49 | −6 | 50 | Qualification to Championship play-offs |
| 5 | East Fife | 36 | 12 | 10 | 14 | 41 | 44 | −3 | 46 | |
| 6 | Queen's Park | 36 | 12 | 10 | 14 | 37 | 51 | −14 | 46 | |
| 7 | Stranraer | 36 | 12 | 8 | 16 | 46 | 50 | −4 | 44 | |
| 8 | Albion Rovers | 36 | 11 | 9 | 16 | 41 | 48 | −7 | 42 | |
| 9 | Peterhead (R) | 36 | 10 | 10 | 16 | 44 | 59 | −15 | 40 | Qualification to League One play-offs |
| 10 | Stenhousemuir (R) | 36 | 11 | 6 | 19 | 45 | 64 | −19 | 39 | Relegation to Scottish League Two |

### Positions by round

* Leader - Promotion to 2017–18 Scottish Championship
* Qualification to Championship play-offs
* Qualification to League One play-offs
* Relegation to 2017–18 Scottish League Two

The table lists the positions of teams after each week of matches. In order to preserve chronological progress, any postponed matches are not included in the round at which they were originally scheduled, but added to the full round they were played immediately afterwards. For example, if a match is scheduled for matchday 13, but then postponed and played between days 16 and 17, it will be added to the standings for day 16.

| Team ╲ Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Livingston | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Alloa Athletic | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Airdrieonians | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 3 |
| Brechin City | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| East Fife | 6 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Queen's Park | 8 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Stranraer | 9 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 |
| Albion Rovers | 5 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 |
| Peterhead | 10 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 |
| Stenhousemuir | 7 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 |

## Results

Teams play each other four times, twice in the first half of the season (home and away) and twice in the second half of the season (home and away), making a total of 36 games.

## Season statistics

### Scoring

**Top scorers**


    As of matches played on 6 May 2017

| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Andy Ryan | Airdrieonians | 23 |
| 2 | Liam Buchanan | Livingston | 22 |
| 3 | Iain Russell | Airdrieonians | 18 |
| 4 | Greig Spence | Alloa Athletic | 16 |
| 4 | Rory McAllister | Peterhead | 16 |
| 6 | Jordan Kirkpatrick | Alloa Athletic | 14 |
| 6 | Danny Mullen | Livingston | 14 |
| 8 | Andy Jackson | Brechin City | 13 |
| 8 | Craig Malcolm | Stranraer | 13 |

Source:

**Hat-tricks**

| Player | For | Against | Result | Date |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Iain Russell | Airdrieonians | Queen's Park | 4–1 | 22 October 2016 |
| Ross Caldwell | Brechin City | Peterhead | 3–1 | 5 November 2016 |
| Andy Ryan | Airdrieonians | East Fife | 4–0 | 29 April 2017 |

### Attendances

| Pos | Team | Total | High | Low | Average | Change |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Airdrieonians | 14,945 | 1,633 | 482 | 830 | $−3.6%^†$ |
| 2 | Albion Rovers | 8,092 | 1,199 | 228 | 449 | $−19.0%^†$ |
| 3 | Alloa Athletic | 9,561 | 712 | 307 | 531 | $−52.6%^†$ |
| 4 | Brechin City | 7,715 | 553 | 283 | 428 | $−20.7%^†$ |
| 5 | East Fife | 11,273 | 918 | 412 | 626 | $+0.2%^†$ |
| 6 | Livingston | 14,344 | 1,099 | 531 | 796 | $−53.9%^†$ |
| 7 | Peterhead | 9,081 | 681 | 365 | 504 | $−20.8%^†$ |
| 8 | Queen's Park | 11,605 | 957 | 481 | 644 | $+24.3%^†$ |
| 9 | Stenhousemuir | 7,715 | 604 | 331 | 428 | $−24.4%^†$ |
| 10 | Stranraer | 7,369 | 523 | 317 | 409 | $−19.2%^†$ |
| | League total | 101,700 | 1,633 | 228 | 565 | $−42.1%^†$ |

Updated to games played on 6 May 2017 Source:

## Awards

### Monthly awards

| Month | Manager of the Month | Manager of the Month | Player of the Month | Player of the Month | Ref. |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Month | Manager | Club | Player | Club | Ref. |
| August | Jack Ross | Alloa Athletic | Jordan Kirkpatrick | Alloa Athletic | |
| September | Gary Naysmith | East Fife | Jamie Insall | East Fife | |
| October | David Hopkin | Livingston | Liam Buchanan | Livingston | |
| November | Mark Wilson | Airdrieonians | Rohan Ferguson | Airdrieonians | |
| December | Bary Smith | East Fife | Jonathan Page | East Fife | |
| January | Jim McInally | Peterhead | Michael Dunlop | Albion Rovers | |
| February | Jim Goodwin | Alloa Athletic | Willie Gibson | Stranraer | |
| March | David Hopkin | Livingston | Andy Jackson | Brechin City | |
| April | David Hopkin | Livingston | Liam Buchanan | Livingston | |

## League One play-offs

Peterhead the second bottom team, entered into a 4-team playoff with the 2nd-4th placed teams in 2016–17 Scottish League Two; Annan Athletic, Forfar Athletic and Montrose.

### Final

The winners of the semi-finals will compete against one another over two legs, with the winner competing in the 2017–18 Scottish League One.

