We all know the old rhetoric: if football used the same rules as boxing Scotland would have been world champions the day we defeated England back in 1967. What I bet you didn’t know is that Paul Brown, once a journalist for FourFourTwo magazine, traced the lineage from that memorable afternoon at Wembley right up to the present day and has been keeping a tab on who the current champion is (it’s Uruguay, by the way). He even has a website dedicated to this obsession.
Well I’ll be. Doesn’t that sound like the kind of pointless fun The Terrace likes to dedicate itself to? Let’s give it a shot of our own.
Now, I could have started this a while back, but seeing as how this was the first season of the SPFL, and going back much further would sap the fun out of it, I decided to make this campaign its first year with Celtic the reigning champions coming in. Here’s how it all unfolded and who the current belt holder is:
Celtic
Defended their title: Six times (2-1 v Ross County; 2-0 @ Aberdeen; 2-2 v Inverness CT; 1-0 @ Dundee United; 3-1 @ Hearts; 2-1 v St Johnstone).
Lost their belt: 24 Sept (0-1 v Morton in League Cup)
Morton
Defended their title: Zero times
Lost their belt: 28 Sept (1-3 @ Dundee)
Dundee
Defended their title: Three times (2-0 @ Cowdenbeath; 4-1 @ Dumbarton; 2-1 v Queen of the South)
Lost their belt: 26 Oct (1-2 @ Livingston)
Livingston
Defended their title: Zero times
Lost their belt: 29 Oct (0-1 @ Raith Rovers)
Raith Rovers
Defended their title: One time (2-0 @ East Stirlingshire in Scottish Cup)
Lost their belt: 9 Nov (0-2 @ Dundee)
Dundee (Two-time Champs)
Defended their title: Two times (1-1 v Falkirk; 3-0 @ Hamilton)
Lost their belt: 30 Nov (0-1 v Raith Rovers)
Raith Rovers (Two-time Champs)
Defended their title: Zero times
Lost their belt: 7 Dec (1-3 @ Falkirk)
Falkirk
Defended their title: Seven times (2-0 @ Morton; 0-0 v Alloa; 1-0 @ Livingston; 0-0 v Hamilton; 2-0 @ Cowdenbeath; 2-0 v Dundee; 1-1 v Morton)
Lost their belt: 8 Feb (0-2 @ Queen of the South)
Queen of the South
Defended their title: Zero times
Lost their belt: 15 Feb (0-1 v Dundee)
Dundee (Three-time Champs)
Defended their title: Zero times
Lost their belt: 22 Feb (0-2 @ Cowdenbeath)
Cowdenbeath
Defended their title: Zero times
Lost their belt: 1 Mar (0-1 @ Livingston)
Livingston (Two-time Champs)
Defended their title: One time (1-1 @ Falkirk)
Lost their belt: 15 Mar (0-2 v Dundee)
Dundee (Four-time Champs)
Defended their title: Three times (0-0 v Raith Rovers; 1-0 @ Dumbarton; 1-0 v Queen of the South)
Lost their belt: 29 Mar (0-1 v Falkirk)
Falkirk (Two-time Champs)
Defended their title: Zero times*
*Reigning Champions
Unfortunately for any Premiership fans, with no games remaining between Championship sides and opposition from another league, the only way the belt doesn’t finish the season in the second tier is if it lands in the hands of any of the top four and their either promoted or reach the playoff final. I guess that’s why they call it then Championship, huh? *nudge, nudge*
We promise to keep track of the events as they unfold and will be announcing a new champion every time it occurs. In the meantime, here’s a preview to get you psyched up for Falkirk’s defence of their title.
The longest running champions in history must feel pretty confident about defending their belt against the plucky upstarts from Central Park. They’ve only lost twice at the Falkirk Stadium against Championship opposition and will believe their constant jabbing away will eventually tire out the underdogs, leaving them open to win the match outright.
They must be wary, however, of the potential knockout blow that could be inflicted by a now fit-again Kane Hemmings. Cowdenbeath pulled off a major upset when they wrestled the title from Dundee earlier in the season and with their top goalscorer back in the mix they’ll fancy their chances of pulling off another upset. They’ve only won three times away from home in the league, but one of those was at Number One contenders Hamilton so there is scope for a shock here.
Prediction: Falkirk win and retain their title.
Subscribe to Podcast