exile Posted February 22 Posted February 22 I was reminded recently of some great title races of the past, via a couple of videos. I am sure there are more that are memorable for different reasons. In 1980 the league hadn't been won outside the Old Firm for 15 years (Kilmarnock). It went down more or less to the last game, and won by a single point. Quote
exile Posted February 22 Author Posted February 22 And this one was even closer. Won by a single point, over 2nd and 3rd placed teams. If Dundee had equalised in the last game to make it 2-2, there would have been three teams on 55 points, the top two on the same goals scored and goals against! Quote
vanderark14 Posted February 22 Posted February 22 I think the most iconic 7 minutes ago, exile said: I was reminded recently of some great title races of the past, via a couple of videos. I am sure there are more that are memorable for different reasons. In 1980 the league hadn't been won outside the Old Firm for 15 years (Kilmarnock). It went down more or less to the last game, and won by a single point. Aberdeen had to play celtic at celtic park twice in 3 weeks towards the end of the season, they won both games too. The highlights are incredible, the amount of fans housed in the jungle was mental Quote
Toepoke Posted February 23 Posted February 23 Football Years was a great series, because it was on STV it's been a bit forgotten about. BBC Scotland's retro documentaries are always getting rerun. Quote
Jersey Jim Posted February 24 Posted February 24 (edited) On 2/22/2026 at 11:45 AM, exile said: I was reminded recently of some great title races of the past, via a couple of videos. I am sure there are more that are memorable for different reasons. In 1980 the league hadn't been won outside the Old Firm for 15 years (Kilmarnock). It went down more or less to the last game, and won by a single point. There was nothing between Aberdeen, Celtic and St Mirren with 4 games to go. Saints only won one of their last 4 games ( Beating Rangers 4-1 ) and finished 6 points behind the Dons. I remember going up on the train as a 14 year old, me and my mate just managed to get into the ground before they closed the gates, it was estimated at least 3000 fans failed to get in, including a few coach load of Saints fans, away end in those days was behind the goals opposite the Beach End, but that day it was mixed. Aberdeen won 2-0 with goals from Scanlon and Rougvie and the rest as they say is history. Edited February 24 by Jersey Jim Quote
Ally Bongo Posted February 24 Posted February 24 Whis is Martin Buchan behind Ferguson and McLean ? Quote
exile Posted February 24 Author Posted February 24 3 hours ago, Jersey Jim said: There was nothing between Aberdeen, Celtic and St Mirren with 4 games to go. Saints only won one of their last 4 games ( Beating Rangers 4-1 ) and finished 6 points behind the Dons. I remember going up on the train as a 14 year old, me and my mate just managed to get into the ground before they closed the gates, it was estimated at least 3000 fans failed to get in, including a few coach load of Saints fans, away end in those days was behind the goals opposite the Beach End, but that day it was mixed. Aberdeen won 2-0 with goals from Scanlon and Rougvie and the rest as they say is history. I noticed that Doug Somner was the top scorer for that season (25 goals) Quote
exile Posted February 24 Author Posted February 24 2 hours ago, Ally Bongo said: Whis is Martin Buchan behind Ferguson and McLean ? I don't know. My only guess is it could be the only shot where they had both Ferguson and McLean in the frame, and both smiling. 🙂 Quote
exile Posted March 5 Author Posted March 5 (edited) "...perhaps, the tightest, most dramatic last-day dénouement of any league season in British football." The day Kilmarnock won league by 0.042 of a goal (Scotsman) Something I didn't know, when Kilmarnock won the league - on the last day of the season - they won it on goal average, which was the tie-breaker of the time, rather than goal difference. If the tie-breaker had been goal difference, then Hearts would have been champions... (or if Dunfermline had an extra point, they would have been chanpions!) Edited March 5 by exile Quote
vanderark14 Posted March 6 Posted March 6 10 hours ago, exile said: "...perhaps, the tightest, most dramatic last-day dénouement of any league season in British football." The day Kilmarnock won league by 0.042 of a goal (Scotsman) Something I didn't know, when Kilmarnock won the league - on the last day of the season - they won it on goal average, which was the tie-breaker of the time, rather than goal difference. If the tie-breaker had been goal difference, then Hearts would have been champions... (or if Dunfermline had an extra point, they would have been chanpions!) The whole league table is below, incredbile to think neither side of the OF finished in the top four but one of them would go on to win the European cup two years later. On another note and 18 team league would be fantastic IMO. All of the sides in that table would be welcome with the exception of those that don't exist anymore, they could be replaced by Raith Rovers, ICT, Ross County........ Quote
exile Posted March 6 Author Posted March 6 4 minutes ago, vanderark14 said: The whole league table is below, incredbile to think neither side of the OF finished in the top four but one of them would go on to win the European cup two years later. On another note and 18 team league would be fantastic IMO. All of the sides in that table would be welcome with the exception of those that don't exist anymore, they could be replaced by Raith Rovers, ICT, Ross County........ Yes the old firm had a poor season, beliw both Edinburgh teams, but overall Glasgow had 4 teams in the top 12. Quote
Toepoke Posted March 6 Posted March 6 15 hours ago, exile said: "...perhaps, the tightest, most dramatic last-day dénouement of any league season in British football." The day Kilmarnock won league by 0.042 of a goal (Scotsman) Something I didn't know, when Kilmarnock won the league - on the last day of the season - they won it on goal average, which was the tie-breaker of the time, rather than goal difference. If the tie-breaker had been goal difference, then Hearts would have been champions... (or if Dunfermline had an extra point, they would have been chanpions!) Hard to believe now but Dunfermline were playing Celtic in the Scottish Cup final at Hampden the same afternoon. Also if goal average still applied in 1986, Hearts would have been champions rather than Celtic. Anyway 😁🏆 Quote
DoonTheSlope Posted March 7 Posted March 7 Maybe not the best title race but one of the best title deciding games was the winner takes all head to head between Queens Park and Dundee a couple of years back. Dundee came out on top winning 5-3 I think If that had been played in England it would have been looped on sky sports news and talk sport for weeks Quote
exile Posted March 9 Author Posted March 9 On 3/7/2026 at 10:07 AM, DoonTheSlope said: Maybe not the best title race but one of the best title deciding games was the winner takes all head to head between Queens Park and Dundee a couple of years back. Dundee came out on top winning 5-3 I think If that had been played in England it would have been looped on sky sports news and talk sport for weeks Yes that looks like some game https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65505493 Quote
Squirrelhumper Posted March 10 Posted March 10 On 3/5/2026 at 8:49 PM, exile said: "...perhaps, the tightest, most dramatic last-day dénouement of any league season in British football." The day Kilmarnock won league by 0.042 of a goal (Scotsman) Something I didn't know, when Kilmarnock won the league - on the last day of the season - they won it on goal average, which was the tie-breaker of the time, rather than goal difference. If the tie-breaker had been goal difference, then Hearts would have been champions... (or if Dunfermline had an extra point, they would have been chanpions!) Will be forever jealous of folk that i know that were at that game. We runners up in 1960, 1961, 1963 & 1964. Unbelievable. Quote
bonzo Posted March 10 Posted March 10 2 hours ago, Squirrelhumper said: Will be forever jealous of folk that i know that were at that game. We runners up in 1960, 1961, 1963 & 1964. Unbelievable. Look on the bright side if you had been there you'd be aboot 75 now. Quote
fringo Posted March 10 Posted March 10 15 minutes ago, bonzo said: Look on the bright side if you had been there you'd be aboot 75 now. 🤣 Quote
Squirrelhumper Posted March 10 Posted March 10 (edited) 1 hour ago, bonzo said: Look on the bright side if you had been there you'd be aboot 75 now. True, know folk in their 60s who were there though! Edited March 10 by Squirrelhumper Quote
exile Posted April 15 Author Posted April 15 BBC's take on When was the last three-team race for Scottish title? Quote
fringo Posted April 15 Posted April 15 45 minutes ago, exile said: BBC's take on When was the last three-team race for Scottish title? I'm biased but 1983 was the greatest and most exciting league season in my lifetime. Consolation for Dons was winning Cup Winners Cup. Quote
Ally Bongo Posted April 15 Posted April 15 In a dream i had last night Hearts won the league Absolutely no idea why that occurred as i have paid very little interest to it Make of it what you will - Almost always nothing is true in dreams Quote
vanderark14 Posted April 21 Posted April 21 The National League or conference league to some has quite the title race this season. York City and Rochdale are slugging it out in 1st and 2nd, York on 107 points with Rochdale on 105. Rochdale stayed in the title race last Saturday with a 99th minute winner which pushes the title race on to the last day of the season. These two teams play each other on Saturday. Quote
exile Posted April 22 Author Posted April 22 On 4/21/2026 at 7:40 AM, vanderark14 said: The National League or conference league to some has quite the title race this season. York City and Rochdale are slugging it out in 1st and 2nd, York on 107 points with Rochdale on 105. Rochdale stayed in the title race last Saturday with a 99th minute winner which pushes the title race on to the last day of the season. These two teams play each other on Saturday. That's quite a title decider! Quote
exile Posted April 22 Author Posted April 22 So here's a documentary on Hearts' 1986 campaign, so close to being the 4th non-Old Firm champion in a row. I'd forgotten they'd been on such a long unbeaten run (since September earlier that season), and also how late in the last game the goals came. Quote
vanderark14 Posted April 27 Posted April 27 On 4/22/2026 at 7:47 PM, exile said: That's quite a title decider! The game ended in dramatic fashion Rochdale thought they'd won it, they went 1 nil up on the 93rd minute, pitch invasions and celebrations started only for York to equaliser in the 113th minute to win the league and get promoted Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.