2017–18 West of Scotland Super League
The 2017–18 West of Scotland Super League was the 16th and final season of the West Super League, the top tier of league competition for SJFA West Region member clubs.
The league comprised two divisions, a West of Scotland Super League Premier Division of 12 clubs and a West of Scotland Super League First Division of 14 clubs. The competition began on Saturday 19 August 2017.[1]
This was the final season using the format ahead of league reconstruction for the 2018–19 season. The West of Scotland Super League Premier Division was renamed the West of Scotland Premiership and expanded to 16 teams. The West of Scotland Super League First Division was renamed the West of Scotland Championship and also expanded to 16 teams.[2]
The winners of the Super League Premier Division entered the preliminary round of the 2018–19 Scottish Cup.
Super League Premier Division
| Season | 2017–18 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Beith[3] |
| Relegated | Girvan Arthurlie |
| Matches played | 132 |
| Goals scored | 465 (3.52 per match) |
| Biggest home win | Beith 6–0 Girvan (2 June 2018) |
| Biggest away win | Arthurlie 1–8 Beith (9 May 2018) |
| Highest scoring | Arthurlie 1–8 Beith (9 May 2018) Kirkintilloch Rob Roy 3–6 Girvan (19 May 2018) Hurlford United 6–3 Clydebank (2 June 2018) |
← 2016–17 2018–19 → All statistics correct as of 12 June 2018. | |
Format changes
There were no automatic relegation from the Premier Division to the new Championship, however the bottom two entered the West Region Play-offs for a place in the new Premiership.[2]
Member clubs for the 2017–18 season
Glenafton Athletic were the reigning champions.
Clydebank and Girvan were promoted from the Super League First Division, replacing the automatically relegated Troon and Largs Thistle.
Kilwinning Rangers claimed the final spot after defeating Kilsyth Rangers 3–2 on aggregate in the West Region League play-off.
| Club | Location | Ground | Manager | Finishing position 2016–17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arthurlie | Barrhead | Dunterlie Park | Billy Ogilvie | 7th |
| Auchinleck Talbot | Auchinleck | Beechwood Park | Tommy Sloan | 4th |
| Beith | Beith | Bellsdale Park | John Millar | 3rd |
| Clydebank | Clydebank | Holm Park | Kieran McAnespie | Super League First Division, 2nd |
| Cumnock | Cumnock | Townhead Park | Peter Leonard | 6th |
| Girvan | Girvan | Hamilton Park | Lawrie Dinwoodie (interim) | Super League First Division, 1st |
| Glenafton Athletic | New Cumnock | Loch Park | Craig McEwan | Champions |
| Hurlford United | Hurlford | Blair Park | Darren Henderson | 5th |
| Kilbirnie Ladeside | Kilbirnie | Valefield Park | Billy McGhie | 9th |
| Kilwinning Rangers | Kilwinning | Abbey Park | Chris Strain | 10th |
| Kirkintilloch Rob Roy | Cumbernauld | Guy's Meadow1 | Stuart Maxwell | 2nd |
| Pollok | Newlands, Glasgow | Newlandsfield Park | Tony McInally | 8th |
1 Groundsharing with Cumbernauld United.[4]
Managerial changes
| Club | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kilbirnie Ladeside | Mark Bradley | Released[5] | 20 May 2017 | Preseason | Billy McGhie[6] | 20 May 2017 |
| Cumnock Juniors | John McKeown | Resigned[7] | 7 October 2017 | 12th | Peter Leonard[8] | 13 October 2017 |
| Girvan | Peter Leonard | Appointed manager at Cumnock Juniors[8] | 13 October 2017 | 9th | Lawrie Dinwoodie[9] | 15 October 2017 |
| Arthurlie | Chris Mackie | Resigned[10] | 21 October 2017 | 10th | Billy Ogilvie[11] | 29 October 2017 |
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beith (C) | 22 | 14 | 3 | 5 | 61 | 21 | +40 | 45 | Qualification to 2018–19 Scottish Cup |
| 2 | Auchinleck Talbot | 22 | 14 | 2 | 6 | 56 | 25 | +31 | 44 | |
| 3 | Pollok | 22 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 46 | 27 | +19 | 40 | |
| 4 | Kilwinning Rangers | 22 | 12 | 4 | 6 | 43 | 29 | +14 | 40 | |
| 5 | Kilbirnie Ladeside | 22 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 35 | 37 | −2 | 34 | |
| 6 | Kirkintilloch Rob Roy | 22 | 9 | 4 | 9 | 45 | 53 | −8 | 31 | |
| 7 | Glenafton Athletic | 22 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 30 | 30 | 0 | 30 | |
| 8 | Hurlford United | 22 | 8 | 5 | 9 | 37 | 36 | +1 | 29 | |
| 9 | Cumnock | 22 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 36 | 40 | −4 | 27 | |
| 10 | Clydebank | 22 | 7 | 3 | 12 | 22 | 44 | −22 | 24 | |
| 11 | Girvan (R) | 22 | 2 | 6 | 14 | 24 | 59 | −35 | 12 | Qualification to West Region League play-offs |
| 12 | Arthurlie (R) | 22 | 2 | 5 | 15 | 20 | 64 | −44 | 11 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated
Results
Super League First Division
| Season | 2017–18 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Petershill[12] |
| Relegated | Maryhill Shettleston |
| Matches played | 182 |
| Goals scored | 647 (3.55 per match) |
| Biggest home win | Petershill 6–0 Darvel (14 April 2018) |
| Biggest away win | Larkhall Thistle 0–7 Troon (26 April 2018) |
| Highest scoring | Darvel 4–5 Cumbernauld United (2 September 2017) Larkhall Thistle 4–5 Rutherglen Glencairn (16 September 2017) Maryhill 3–6 Cambuslang Rangers (10 February 2018) Kello Rovers 3–6 Renfrew (24 March 2018) |
← 2016–17 2018–19 → All statistics correct as of 3 June 2018. | |
Format changes
The top four were promoted to the new Premiership with fifth and sixth entering the West Region Play-offs. There was no automatic relegation from the First Division to the new League One, however, the bottom two entered the West Region Play-offs for a place in the new Championship.[2]
Member clubs for the 2017–18 season
Troon and Largs Thistle were relegated from the Super League Premier Division.
Darvel and Kello Rovers were promoted from the Ayrshire District League while Cambuslang Rangers and Larkhall Thistle gained promotion from the Central District First Division.
They were joined by Kilsyth Rangers who lost the West Region League play-off 3–2 on aggregate to Kilwinning Rangers.
Irvine Victoria were relegated to the Ayrshire District League and Blantyre Victoria, Shotts Bon Accord and Yoker Athletic were relegated to the Central District First Division.
Managerial changes
| Club | Outgoing manager(s) | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shettleston | James McKenna & Keith Doherty | Sacked[13] | 9 July 2017 | Preseason | Hugh Kelly & Bernard Beacom[14] | 16 July 2017 |
| Kilsyth Rangers | Keith Hogg | Resigned[15] | 31 July 2017 | Preseason | Chris McGroarty[16] | 5 August 2017 |
| Kello Rovers | Geoff Patterson | End of interim | 3 September 2017 | 8th | John Quinn[17] | 3 September 2017 |
| Irvine Meadow | Ross Wilson | Sacked[18] | 9 October 2017 | 9th | Brian McGinty[19] | 25 October 2017 |
| Darvel Juniors | Scott Clelland | Sacked[20] | 7 November 2017 | 6th | Graeme Neil[21] | 17 November 2017 |
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Petershill (C, P) | 26 | 19 | 4 | 3 | 65 | 30 | +35 | 61 | Promotion to West of Scotland Premiership |
| 2 | Cambuslang Rangers (P) | 26 | 16 | 2 | 8 | 62 | 39 | +23 | 50 | |
| 3 | Largs Thistle (P) | 26 | 15 | 5 | 6 | 42 | 27 | +15 | 50 | |
| 4 | Renfrew (P) | 26 | 15 | 4 | 7 | 48 | 36 | +12 | 49 | |
| 5 | Irvine Meadow (O, P) | 26 | 15 | 4 | 7 | 45 | 33 | +12 | 49 | Qualification to West Region League play-offs |
| 6 | Troon (O, P) | 26 | 14 | 5 | 7 | 62 | 42 | +20 | 47 | |
| 7 | Rutherglen Glencairn | 26 | 13 | 4 | 9 | 56 | 46 | +10 | 43 | |
| 8 | Cumbernauld United | 26 | 13 | 2 | 11 | 51 | 45 | +6 | 41 | |
| 9 | Darvel | 26 | 9 | 4 | 13 | 48 | 55 | −7 | 31 | |
| 10 | Kilsyth Rangers | 26 | 8 | 4 | 14 | 42 | 53 | −11 | 28 | |
| 11 | Larkhall Thistle | 26 | 7 | 4 | 15 | 45 | 62 | −17 | 25 | |
| 12 | Kello Rovers | 26 | 6 | 5 | 15 | 38 | 55 | −17 | 23 | |
| 13 | Maryhill (R) | 26 | 2 | 6 | 18 | 24 | 62 | −38 | 12 | Qualification to West Region League play-offs |
| 14 | Shettleston (R) | 26 | 2 | 3 | 21 | 19 | 62 | −43 | 9 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Results
West Region League play-offs
Premiership
As the teams finishing 11th and 12th in the Super League Premier Division, Girvan and Arthurie entered a play-off against the teams finishing fifth and sixth (Troon and Irvine Meadow) in the Super League First Division for the final two places in the new West Region Premiership.
First leg
| Irvine Meadow | 2–1 | Arthurlie |
|---|---|---|
Second leg
Irvine Meadow won 4–1 on aggregate.
Troon won 4–2 on aggregate.
Championship
Maryhill and Shettleston finished as the bottom two of the Super League First Division, they entered a play-off against the teams finishing fourth in the Ayrshire District League (Whitletts Victoria) and the Central District First Division (Neilston) for the final two places in the new West Region Championship.
First leg
| Shettleston | 0–1 | Neilston |
|---|---|---|
Second leg
| Whitletts Victoria | 2–1 | Maryhill |
|---|---|---|
Whitletts Victoria won 4–1 on aggregate.
| Neilston | 1–1 | Shettleston |
|---|---|---|
Neilston won 2–1 on aggregate.
References
- ^ Bark, Stephen (4 July 2017). "Glens at home but tough trips for Auchinlck Talbot and Cumnock as first fixtures of 2017/18 announced". Cumnock Chronicle. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
- ^ a b c Bark, Stephen (29 June 2017). "Massive majority votes to reconfigure league structure from 2018/19". Cumnock Chronicle. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
- ^ {Divisions no longer in existence} - SJFA West Region Premiership (2011–20) | 2017 - 2018, Non League Matters. Retrieved 17 May 2023
- ^ "End of an era at Adamslie Park for famous Rob Roy". The Scotsman. 12 April 2014. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
- ^ Thomson, Scott (24 May 2017). "Mark Bradley setting sights high on return to Linlithgow hotseat". www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
- ^ O'Donnell, Jim (23 May 2017). "New Kilbirnie Ladeside boss Budgie McGhie excited at getting back into the Junior scene". Evening Times. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
- ^ O'Donnell, Jim (10 October 2017). "Cumnock boss John McKeown resigns after run of defeats leaves them bottom of the table". Evening Times. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
- ^ a b O'Donnell, Jim (17 October 2017). "New Cumnock boss Peter Leonard can't wait for derby clash with Auchinleck Talbot". Evening Times. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
- ^ "Girvan Football Club". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
- ^ O'Donnell, Jim (24 October 2017). "Arthurlie boss Chris Mackie resigns after less than a year in charge". Evening Times. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
- ^ O'Donnell, Jim (31 October 2017). "Arthurlie appoint former East Kilbride boss Billy Ogilvie as their new manager". Evening Times. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
- ^ {Divisions no longer in existence} - SJFA West Region Championship (2011–20) | 2017 - 2018, Non League Matters. Retrieved 17 May 2023
- ^ O'Donnell, Jim (11 July 2017). "Shettleston co-bosses James McKenna and Keith Docherty sacked before ball is kicked". Evening Times. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
- ^ "Team Management News". www.facebook.com. Shettleston Jfc 1903. 16 July 2017. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
- ^ Maclean, Ian (1 August 2017). "Kilsyth Rangers boss Hogg quits on eve of new season". www.cumbernauld-news.co.uk. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
- ^ Ferguson, John (6 August 2017). "Kilsyth 3 Rob Roy 0: Kilsyth bounce back to stun cup holders". www.cumbernauld-news.co.uk. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
- ^ Bark, Stephen (22 September 2017). "Kello Rovers' new boss John Quinn targets staying in Super League". cumnockchronicle.com. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
- ^ McGowan, Eric (9 October 2017). "Irvine Meadow sack manager Ross Wilson after 13 games in the hotseat". Daily Record. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
- ^ Dunn, Ross (25 October 2017). "Irvine Meadow appoint Brian McGinty as new manager". Daily Record. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
- ^ Wren, David (8 November 2017). "Darvel chairman: Clelland exit was decision I had to make". dailyrecord. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
- ^ Kirkpatrick, Gary (21 November 2017). "Team spirit key for new Darvel boss". UWS Newsroom, BA/MA Journalism Student Output. Retrieved 21 February 2018.