Scottish Football League First Division facts for kids

The Scottish First Division was a professional football league in Scotland. It was the second-highest level of football in the country, just below the Scottish Premier League. It was also the top league within the Scottish Football League system.

How Teams Move Up and Down the League

In football, teams can move between different leagues. This is called promotion (moving up) and relegation (moving down).

Moving Up to the Premier League

The team that won the Scottish First Division could move up to the Scottish Premier League (SPL). However, they had to meet certain rules. Their stadium needed to have at least 6,000 seats.

The team that finished last in the SPL would move down to the Scottish First Division.

Moving Down to the Second Division

The team that finished last in the First Division would move down to the Second Division.

The team that finished second to last in the First Division had to play in a special set of games called a play-off. They played against the teams that finished second, third, and fourth in the Second Division. The winner of these play-off games would get a spot in the First Division for the next season.

How Games Were Played

In the Scottish First Division, each team played every other team four times during the season.

• If a team won a game, they got three points.
• If a game ended in a draw (a tie), both teams got one point.

Who Sponsored the League?

On July 20, 2007, a Scottish soft drink company called Irn-Bru became the main sponsor of the Scottish Football League. They sponsored the league for three seasons.

Teams in the 2011–12 Season

Here are the teams that played in the Scottish First Division during the 2011–12 season:

• Airdrie
• Cowdenbeath
• Dumbarton
• Dunfermline Athletic
• Falkirk
• Greenock Morton
• Hamilton Academical
• Livingston
• Partick Thistle
• Raith Rovers

Related Football Leagues

You might also be interested in these other Scottish football leagues:

• Scottish Premier League
• Scottish Football League Second Division
• Scottish Football League Third Division

See also

In Spanish: Scottish Championship para niños