2020–21 Scottish League Two

The 2020–21 Scottish League Two is the 26th season in the current format of 10 teams in the fourth-tier of Scottish football. The season commenced later than usual on 17 October, being played over a shortened 27-game period due to the Coronavirus pandemic.[2]

Scottish League Two
Season2020–21
Dates17 October 2020 – 1 May 2021
Matches played45
Goals scored134 (2.98 per match)
Top goalscorerKane Hester
(7 goals)[1]
2021–22 →
All statistics correct as of 2 January 2021.

The bottom team enters a two-legged play-off against the winners of the Pyramid play-off between the Highland League and Lowland League champions, determining which team competes in League Two in the 2021–22 season.[3]

Ten teams contest the league: Albion Rovers, Annan Athletic, Brechin City, Cowdenbeath, Edinburgh City, Elgin City, Queen's Park, Stenhousemuir, Stirling Albion and Stranraer.

On 11 January 2021, the league was suspended for three weeks due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[4] On 29 January 2021, the suspension was extended until at least 14 February.[5]

Teams

The following teams changed division after the 2019–20 season.[6]

To League Two

Relegated from League One

From League Two

Promoted to League One

Stadia and locations
Albion Rovers Annan Athletic Brechin City Cowdenbeath
Cliftonhill Galabank Glebe Park Central Park
Capacity: 1,238[7] Capacity: 2,504[8] Capacity: 4,123[9] Capacity: 4,309[10]
Edinburgh City
Location of teams in 2020–21 Scottish League Two
 Elgin City
Ainslie Park[11] Borough Briggs
Capacity: 3,534[12] Capacity: 4,520[13]
Queen's Park Stenhousemuir Stirling Albion Stranraer
Hampden Park Ochilview Park Forthbank Stadium Stair Park
Capacity: 51,866[14] Capacity: 3,746[15] Capacity: 3,808[16] Capacity: 4,178[17]

Personnel and kits
Team Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
Albion Rovers Brian Reid Aron Lynas Joma CompliancePath
Annan Athletic Peter Murphy Steven Swinglehurst Halbro M & S Engineering
Brechin City Michael Paton Jonathan Page Pendle Glencadam distillery
Cowdenbeath Gary Bollan Craig Barr Errea Collier Haulage, Quarrying and Recycling
Edinburgh City James McDonaugh Craig Thomson Macron Forth Capital
Elgin City Gavin Price Euan Spark Joma McDonald & Munro
Queen's Park Ray McKinnon David Galt Admiral Irn-Bru
Stenhousemuir Davie Irons TBC Uhlsport LOC Hire
Stirling Albion Kevin Rutkiewicz Ross McGeachie Macron Prudential
Stranraer Stephen Farrell Jamie Hamill Joma[18] Stena Line[19]

'

Managerial changes
Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of appointment
Albion Rovers Kevin Harper Resigned 8 May 2020[20] Pre-season Brian Reid 5 June 2020[21]
Brechin City Mark Wilson Sacked 27 October 2020 10th Michael Paton 6 November 2020

League summary

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Queen's Park 9 7 2 0 18 5 +13 23 Promotion to League One
2 Elgin City 9 6 0 3 18 9 +9 18 Qualification for the League One play-offs
3 Stranraer 10 5 3 2 19 11 +8 18
4 Stirling Albion 9 5 3 1 16 8 +8 18
5 Edinburgh City 9 4 1 4 20 13 +7 13
6 Stenhousemuir 9 3 3 3 14 14 0 12
7 Annan Athletic 10 2 2 6 9 15 −6 8
8 Cowdenbeath 8 2 1 5 6 15 −9 7
9 Albion Rovers 8 2 0 6 9 20 −11 6
10 Brechin City 9 1 1 7 5 24 −19 4 Qualification for the League Two play-off final
Updated to match(es) played on 2 January 2021. Source: SPFL
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-to head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Play-off (only for deciding promotion, play-off participation and relegation).[22]

Results

Teams are due to play each other three times, making a total of 135 games, with each team playing 27. The season was shortened compared to its normal schedule, and started later than normal, due to the coronavirus pandemic.[23]

First two thirds of season (Matches 1–18)
Home \ Away ALB ANN BRE COW EDC ELG QPA STE STI STR
Albion Rovers — TBC 0–2 20 Feb TBC 3–1 TBC 1–3 0–1 6 Mar
Annan Athletic 2–3 — 27 Feb TBC 0–4 TBC 1–2 6 Mar TBC 1–1
Brechin City TBC 0–0 — 6 Mar 1–5 TBC TBC TBC 0–5 1–4
Cowdenbeath TBC 0–3 2–0 — TBC TBC 0–3 1–1 27 Feb TBC
Edinburgh City 5–2 TBC 20 Feb 0–1 — 1–0 27 Feb TBC 2–3 0–1
Elgin City 27 Feb 1–0 3–0 5–2 TBC — 0–1 2–0 TBC TBC
Queen's Park 2–0 20 Feb 3–0 TBC 3–3 6 Mar — 3–1 TBC TBC
Stenhousemuir TBC 1–2 2–1 TBC 2–0 20 Feb TBC — 2–2 2–2
Stirling Albion TBC 1–0 TBC 1–0 6 Mar 1–2 0–0 13 Mar — 20 Feb
Stranraer 4–0 2–0 TBC 2–0 TBC 1–4 0–1 27 Feb 2–2 —
Updated to match(es) played on 2 January 2021. Source: SPFL
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
For upcoming matches, an "a" indicates there is an article about the rivalry between the two participants.

Last third of season (Matches 19–27)
Home \ Away ALB ANN BRE COW EDC ELG QPA STE STI STR
Albion Rovers — — 27 Mar — — 17 Apr — 1 May 10 Apr —
Annan Athletic 20 Mar — — — 10 Apr — 1 May — — 17 Apr
Brechin City — 24 Apr — — 17 Apr — — — 3 Apr 20 Mar
Cowdenbeath 24 Apr 3 Apr 20 Apr — — — 10 Apr 20 Mar — —
Edinburgh City 13 Mar — — 1 May — 20 Mar — — 20 Apr 3 Apr
Elgin City — 13 Mar 1 May 27 Mar — — 20 Apr 3 Apr — —
Queen's Park 3 Apr — 13 Mar — 24 Apr — — 17 Apr — —
Stenhousemuir — 20 Apr 10 Apr — 27 Mar — — — TBC 24 Apr
Stirling Albion — 27 Mar — 17 Apr — 24 Apr 20 Mar — — —
Stranraer 20 Apr — — 13 Mar — 10 Apr 27 Mar — 1 May —
First match(es) will be played on 13 March 2021. Source: SPFL
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
For upcoming matches, an "a" indicates there is an article about the rivalry between the two participants.

Season statistics

Top scorers
As of 2 January 2021
Rank Player Club Goals
1 Kane Hester Elgin City 7
2 Matthew Aitken Albion Rovers 5
Andy Ryan Stirling Albion
Thomas Orr Stranraer
5 Josh Campbell Edinburgh City 4
Liam Henderson Edinburgh City
Bob McHugh Queen's Park
Botti Biabi Stenhousemuir
Greig Spence Stenhousemuir
Darryl Duffy Stranraer
Ruari Paton Stranraer

Source:[1]

Hat-tricks
Main article: List of Scottish Professional Football League hat-tricks § Scottish League Two
Player For Against Score Date
Kane Hester Elgin City Cowdenbeath 5–2 (H) 28 November 2020
Liam Henderson Edinburgh City Albion Rovers 5–2 (H) 5 December 2020

Attendances

Games are mostly being played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Limited attendance is allowed at some grounds with strict conditions under the Scottish Government Tier system, dependent on the club's geographical location.

Awards
Month Manager of the Month Player of the Month
Manager Club Player Club
October Ray McKinnon Queen's Park Willie Muir Queen's Park
November Stephen Farrell Stranraer Darryl Duffy Stranraer
December Kevin Rutkiewicz Stirling Albion Andy Ryan Stirling Albion
January
February
March
April

League Two play-offs

The Pyramid play-off will be contested between the champions of the 2020–21 Highland Football League and the 2020–21 Lowland Football League. The winners will then face the bottom club in the League Two play-off final, being promoted to League Two for the 2020–21 season if they win. If the League Two club loses the play-off, they will be relegated to the appropriate regional league depending on whether they are north or south of 56.4513N latitude (middle of the Tay Road Bridge).[3]

First leg
24 April 2021 SHFL champion or SLFL champion v SHFL champion or SLFL champion
15:00

Second leg
1 May 2021 SHFL champion or SLFL champion v SHFL champion or SLFL champion
15:00

First leg
9 May 2021 Pyramid play-off winner v 10th in Scottish League Two
15:00

Second leg
15 May 2021 10th in Scottish League Two v Pyramid play-off winner
15:00

References
  1. "Scottish League Two Top Scorers". BBC. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  2. https:///www.skysports.com/amp/football/news/11781/12019835/scottish-league-one-to-play-27-game-2020-21-season
  3. "The Rules and Regulations of the Scottish Professional Football League" (PDF). Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  4. "Scottish lower leagues & Scottish Cup suspended for three weeks". BBC Sport. 11 January 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  5. "Scottish Cup, lower leagues and women's football remain suspended". BBC Sport. 29 January 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  6. "Dundee Utd, Raith & Cove win titles and reconstruction talks start after Dundee vote". BBC Sport. 15 April 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  7. "Albion Rovers Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  8. "Annan Athletic Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  9. "Brechin City Football Club". Scottish Football Ground Guide. Archived from the original on 10 April 2016. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  10. "Cowdenbeath Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  11. Pilcher, Ross (29 March 2017). "Edinburgh City and Spartans confirm three-season groundshare". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  12. "Edinburgh City Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  13. "Elgin City Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  14. "Queens Park Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  15. "Stenhousemuir Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  16. "Stirling Albion Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  17. "Stranraer Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  18. "New kit deal". Stranraer FC. 15 May 2018. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  19. "30 years of Stena". Stranraer FC. 29 June 2017. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
  20. "Kevin Harper leaves Scottish League Two side Albion Rovers after contract expires". BBC Sport. BBC. 8 May 2020. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  21. "Albion Rovers: Brian Reid is new manager of League Two side". BBC Sport. BBC. 6 June 2020. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  22. "The Rules of the Scottish Professional Football League" (PDF). SPFL. pp. 38–39. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  23. "League One & Two to start 27-game season in October after vote". BBC Sport. BBC. 3 July 2020. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
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