The 2020–21 Scottish League One was the eighth season of Scottish League One, the third tier of Scottish football. The season commenced later than usual, on the October 17th, being played over a shortened 22 game period due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Ten teams contested the league: Airdrieonians, Clyde, Cove Rangers, Dumbarton, East Fife, Falkirk, Forfar Athletic, Montrose, Partick Thistle and Peterhead.
On 11 January 2021, the league was suspended for three weeks due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On 29 January 2021, the suspension was extended until at least 14 February. In March 2021, the Scottish Government gave permission for the league to resume. On 4 March, League One and Two clubs proposed shortening the season to 22 matches, with each team playing all other teams twice, followed by a split in the table to determine the final four matches. The clubs suggested a restart date of 20 March, which was approved by the SPFL.
Teams The following teams changed division after the 2019–20 season.
To League One Promoted from League Two Cove Rangers Relegated from the Championship Partick Thistle
From League One Relegated to League Two Stranraer Promoted to the Championship Raith Rovers
Stadia and locations AirdrieoniansClydeCove RangersDumbartonExcelsior StadiumBroadwood StadiumBalmoral StadiumDumbarton Football StadiumCapacity: 10,101Capacity: 8,086Capacity: 2,602Capacity: 2,020East FifeFalkirkBayview Stadium Falkirk StadiumCapacity: 1,980Capacity: 7,937Forfar AthleticMontrosePartick ThistlePeterheadStation ParkLinks ParkFirhill StadiumBalmoorCapacity: 6,777Capacity: 4,936Capacity: 10,102Capacity: 3,150
Personnel and kits
Team Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsorAirdrieonians UmbroHolemastersClyde UhlsportNorth Lanarkshire Leisure (Home)HomesBook Factoring (Away)Cove Rangers AdidasACE GroupDumbarton JomaC&G SystemsEast Fife JomaBW TechnologyFalkirk (Interim) PumaCentral DemolitionForfar Athletic PendleOrchard Timber ProductsMontrose HummelCarnegie Fuels LtdPartick Thistle O'NeillsJust Employment LawPeterhead AdidasThe Score Group
Managerial changes Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of appointment Forfar Athletic Stuart Malcolm Resigned 9 April 2021 10th Gary Irvine 9 April 2021 Falkirk David McCracken Lee Miller Sacked 21 April 2021 3rd Gary Holt (interim) 21 April 2021
League summary
League table
Results Teams play each other two times, making a total of 90 games, with each team playing 18, the league then splits in half for a further 4 matches. This was reduced from the normal 36 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Matches 1–18
Post-Split Fixtures (Matches 19–22)
Top half
Bottom half
Season statistics Scoring
Top scorers
RankPlayerClubGoals1 Mitch MegginsonCove Rangers142 David GoodwillieClyde11 Brian GrahamPartick Thistle4 Dale CarrickAirdrieonians95 Graham WebsterMontrose86 Jack HamiltonEast Fife7 Russell McLeanMontrose Scott TiffoneyPartick Thistle Source:
Hat-tricks
PlayerForAgainstScore Date David GoodwillieClydeMontrose3–2 (H)21 November 2020
Attendances Games were mostly played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Limited attendance was allowed at some grounds with strict conditions under the Scottish Government Tier system, dependent on the club's geographical location.
Awards MonthManager of the MonthPlayer of the MonthManagerClubPlayerClubOctober Paul Hartley Cove Rangers Stuart McKenzie Cove RangersNovember David McCracken Lee Miller Falkirk Thomas Robert AirdrieoniansDecember Stewart Petrie Montrose Jack Hamilton East FifeJanuary N/A N/A N/A N/AFebruary N/A N/A N/A N/AMarch David McCracken Lee Miller Falkirk Graham Webster MontroseApril Ian McCall Partick Thistle Scott Tiffoney Partick Thistle
League One play-offs The second bottom team, Dumbarton, entered into a 4-team playoff with the 2nd-4th placed teams in 2020–21 Scottish League Two. Edinburgh City along with Elgin City and Stranraer secured playoff spots.
Semi-final First leg
Second leg
Final First leg
Second leg
References
External links Official website