The 1995–96 Scottish Premier Division season was the second season involving a relegation playoff with the Scottish First Division. The season began on 26 August 1995.
Overview The 1995–96 Scottish Premier Division season ended in success for Rangers who won the title by four points from nearest rivals Celtic to clinch eight titles in a row, despite Celtic losing only one league match in the entire season. Falkirk were relegated to the First Division after finishing bottom with Partick Thistle also being relegated after losing the relegation playoff to Dundee United. As champions, Rangers qualified for the Champions League while Celtic were joined by third-placed Aberdeen in qualifying for the UEFA Cup. Fourth-placed Hearts qualified for the Cup Winners' Cup as Scottish Cup runners-up.
The season began on 26 August with the first goal of the season scored by Aberdeen's John Inglis as they won 3–2 away to Falkirk. The regular league season ended on 4 May with Hibernian's Darren Jackson netting a late winner in a 1–0 win at home to Partick Thistle to claim the final goal of the season.
Clubs Promotion and relegation from 1994–95 Promoted from First Division to Premier League Raith Rovers
Relegated from Premier Division to First Division Dundee United
Stadia and locations
Team Location StadiumAberdeen Aberdeen Pittodrie StadiumCeltic Parkhead, Glasgow Celtic ParkFalkirkFalkirkBrockville ParkHeart of MidlothianGorgie, EdinburghTynecastle ParkHibernianLeith, EdinburghEaster RoadKilmarnockKilmarnockRugby ParkMotherwellMotherwellFir ParkPartick ThistleMaryhill, GlasgowFirhill StadiumRaith RoversKirkcaldyStark's ParkRangersIbrox, GlasgowIbrox Park
Managers Team ManagerAberdeen Roy AitkenCeltic Tommy BurnsFalkirk Eamonn BannonHeart of Midlothian Jim JefferiesHibernian Alex MillerKilmarnock Alex TottenMotherwell Alex McLeishPartick Thistle Murdo MacLeodRaith Rovers Jimmy ThomsonRangers Walter Smith
Managerial changes Team Outgoing manager Date of vacancy Manner of departure Incoming manager Date of appointmentHeart of Midlothian Tommy McLean21 July 1995Sacked Jim Jefferies4 August 1995Falkirk Jim Jefferies4 August 1995Signed by Heart of Midlothian John LambieAugust 1995Partick Thistle John LambieAugust 1995Signed by Falkirk Murdo MacLeodAugust 1995Raith Rovers Jimmy NichollFebruary 1996Signed by Millwall Jimmy ThomsonFebruary 1996Falkirk John Lambie16 March 1996Resigned Eamonn BannonMay 1996
Events 14 October: Gordon Durie hits the first hat-trick of the season in a 4–0 win at Partick Thistle. 28 April: Rangers win the title at Ibrox as a Paul Gascoigne hat-trick helps them to a 3–1 win over Aberdeen.
League table
Results
Matches 1–18 During matches 1–18 each team plays every other team twice (home and away).
Matches 19–36 During matches 19–36 each team plays every other team a further two times (home and away).
Play-off A two leg play-off took place between the 9th placed team in the Premier Division (Partick Thistle) and the runner-up of the First Division (Dundee United) for a place in the 1996–97 Scottish Premier Division.
The first leg at Firhill Stadium finished 1–1 and the second leg at Tannadice Park four days later also finished 1–1 after 90 minutes, meaning extra time was required to separate the teams. Owen Coyle scored for Dundee United during extra time, meaning Dundee United won 3–2 on aggregate, and returned to the Premier Division and Partick Thistle were relegated to the First Division.
Top scorers Player Goals Team Pierre van Hooijdonk 26 Celtic Gordon Durie 17 Rangers Ally McCoist 16 Rangers Paul Gascoigne 14 Rangers Paul Wright 13 Kilmarnock John Collins 11 Celtic John Robertson Heart of Midlothian Darren Jackson 10 Hibernian Colin Cameron Raith Rovers Scott Booth 9 Aberdeen Joe Miller Keith Wright Hibernian Source: Soccerbot
Awards
Player awards
AwardWinnerClubPFA Players' Player of the Year RangersPFA Young Player of the Year CelticSFWA Footballer of the Year Rangers
Manager awards
AwardWinnerClubSFWA Manager of the Year Rangers
Attendances
See also Nine in a row
References