The 2023–24 Scottish League Two (known as cinch League Two for sponsorship reasons) was the eleventh season of Scottish League Two, the fourth tier of Scottish football. The season began on 5 August 2023.[1]
| Season | 2023–24 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 5 August 2023 – 4 May 2024 |
| Champions | Stenhousemuir |
| Promoted | Stenhousemuir, Dumbarton (via play-offs) |
| Matches played | 180 |
| Goals scored | 467 (2.59 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Blair Henderson 18 goals |
| Biggest home win | Peterhead 6–0 Elgin City (30 September 2023) |
| Biggest away win | Stenhousemuir 1–6 Clyde (24 February 2024) |
| Highest scoring | Dumbarton 4–4 Clyde (23 December 2023) The Spartans 2–6 Dumbarton (16 March 2024) |
| Longest winning run | Stenhousemuir 12 games |
| Longest unbeaten run | Stenhousemuir 17 games |
| Longest winless run | Bonnyrigg Rose Clyde 10 games |
| Longest losing run | Stranraer 5 games |
| Highest attendance | 1,512 Stenhousemuir 1–1 Bonnyrigg Rose (27 April 2024) |
| Lowest attendance | 273 Stranraer 1–2 Elgin City (16 March 2024) |
| Total attendance | 105,586 |
| Average attendance | 586 |
← 2022–23 2024–25 →
All statistics correct as of 4 May 2024. | |
Ten teams contested the league: Bonnyrigg Rose, Clyde, Dumbarton, East Fife, Elgin City, Forfar Athletic, Peterhead, Stenhousemuir, Stranraer and The Spartans.
Teams
editThe following teams changed division after the 2022–23 season.
To League TwoeditPromoted from Lowland Football League Relegated from League One |
From League TwoeditRelegated to Lowland Football League Promoted to League One
|
Stadia and locations
edit| Bonnyrigg Rose | Clyde | Dumbarton | East Fife |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Dundas Park | New Douglas Park[3] | Dumbarton Football Stadium | Bayview Stadium |
| Capacity: 3,000[4] | Capacity: 6,018[5] | Capacity: 2,020[6] | Capacity: 1,980[7] |
|
|
|
 |
| Elgin City |
 Location of teams in 2023–24 Scottish League Two |
Forfar Athletic | |
| Borough Briggs | Station Park | ||
| Capacity: 4,520[8] | Capacity: 6,777[9] | ||
|
 | ||
| Peterhead | Stenhousemuir | Stranraer | The Spartans |
| Balmoor | Ochilview Park | Stair Park | Ainslie Park |
| Capacity: 3,150[10] | Capacity: 3,746[11] | Capacity: 4,178[12] | Capacity: 3,612[13] |
|
|
|
|
Personnel and kits
edit| Team | Manager | Captain | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bonnyrigg Rose |  Calum Elliot
|
Jonathan Stewart
|
Puma | G. Fitzsimmons and Son (Home) Shepherd Chartered Surveyors (Away) |
| Clyde | Ian McCall
|
Barry Cuddihy
|
Puma | HomesBook Factoring (Home) Whitemoss Dental (Away) |
| Dumbarton | Stephen Farrell
|
Mark Durnan
|
Macron | Ice & Fire Wellness |
| East Fife | Dick Campbell
|
Stewart Murdoch
|
Erreà | BW Technology (Home) The Taxi Centre Fife (Away) |
| Elgin City | Allan Hale
|
Matthew Cooper
|
Joma | McDonald & Munro |
| Forfar Athletic | Ray McKinnon
|
Stuart Morrison
|
Pendle | Orchard Timber Products |
| Peterhead | Jordon Brown Ryan Strachan
|
Jason Brown
|
Puma | The Score Group |
| Stenhousemuir | Gary Naysmith
|
Gregor Buchanan
|
Uhlsport | LOC Hire |
| Stranraer | Scott Agnew
|
Grant Gallagher
|
Joma | Stena Line |
| The Spartans | Douglas Samuel
|
Kevin Waugh
|
Macron | J-TEQ EMS Solutions Ltd |
Managerial changes
edit| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clyde | Jim Duffy
|
Appointed director of football | 24 May 2023 | Pre-season |  Brian McLean
|
2 June 2023 |
| Elgin City | Charlie Charlesworth, Ross Draper and Stevie Dunn | End of interim spell | 25 May 2023 |  Ross Draper
|
25 May 2023 | |
| Ross Draper
|
Resigned | 5 September 2023 | 9th | Barry Smith
|
5 September 2023 | |
| Clyde | Brian McLean
|
Sacked | 22 October 2023 | Ian McCall
|
15 November 2023 | |
| Elgin City | Barry Smith
|
Mutual consent | 13 November 2023 | Allan Hale
|
5 December 2023 | |
| East Fife | Greig McDonald
|
Resigned | 5 February 2024 | 6th | Dick Campbell
|
6 February 2024 |
| Bonnyrigg Rose | Robbie Horn
|
Sacked | 24 March 2024 | 8th | Calum Elliot
|
25 March 2024 |
League table
edit| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stenhousemuir (C, P) | 36 | 18 | 14 | 4 | 50 | 31 | +19 | 68 | Promotion to League One |
| 2 | Peterhead | 36 | 16 | 12 | 8 | 58 | 39 | +19 | 60 | Qualification for the League One play-offs |
| 3 | The Spartans | 36 | 15 | 13 | 8 | 53 | 43 | +10 | 58 | |
| 4 | Dumbarton (O, P) | 36 | 16 | 9 | 11 | 56 | 44 | +12 | 57 | |
| 5 | East Fife | 36 | 11 | 11 | 14 | 46 | 47 | −1 | 44 | |
| 6 | Forfar Athletic | 36 | 9 | 15 | 12 | 38 | 45 | −7 | 42 | |
| 7 | Elgin City | 36 | 10 | 10 | 16 | 35 | 59 | −24 | 40 | |
| 8 | Bonnyrigg Rose | 36 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 47 | 48 | −1 | 39 | |
| 9 | Clyde | 36 | 9 | 11 | 16 | 46 | 58 | −12 | 38 | |
| 10 | Stranraer (O) | 36 | 9 | 9 | 18 | 38 | 53 | −15 | 36 | Qualification for the League Two play-off final |
Results
editTeams play each other four times, twice in the first half of the season (home and away) and twice in the second half of the season (home and away), making a total of 180 games, with each team playing 36.
First half of season (Matches 1–18)
editSecond half of season (Matches 19–36)
editSeason statistics
editScoring
editTop scorers
edit| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blair Henderson
|
The Spartans | 18 |
| 2 | Matthew Aitken
|
Stenhousemuir | 14 |
| 3 | Neil Martyniuk
|
Bonnyrigg Rose | 13 |
| Nathan Austin
|
East Fife | ||
| 5 | Martin Rennie
|
Clyde | 12 |
Awards
edit| Month | Manager of the Month | Player of the Month | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manager | Club | Player | Club | |
| August | Douglas Samuel
|
The Spartans | Jamie Dishington
|
The Spartans |
| September | Gary Naysmith
|
Stenhousemuir | Gregor Buchanan
|
Stenhousemuir |
| October | Douglas Samuel
|
The Spartans | Bradley Whyte
|
The Spartans |
| November | Gary Naysmith
|
Stenhousemuir | Matthew Aitken
|
Stenhousemuir |
| December | ||||
| January | Blair Henderson
|
The Spartans | ||
| February | Ray McKinnon
|
Forfar Athletic | Martin Rennie
|
Clyde |
| March | Dick Campbell
|
East Fife | Alan Trouten
|
East Fife |
| April | Stephen Farrell
|
Dumbarton | Bradley Barrett
|
Bonnyrigg Rose |
League Two play-offs
editThe Pyramid play-off was due to be contested between the champions of the 2023–24 Highland Football League and the 2023–24 Lowland Football League. East Kilbride secured their place in the play-offs as the Lowland Football League representative on 12 April 2024. Buckie Thistle won the Highland League on 20 April 2024. However, on 25 April 2024 the SFA confirmed that Buckie Thistle had not received the necessary Bronze licence to be able to compete in the SPFL,[17] therefore the Pyramid play-off was cancelled and East Kilbride were automatically advanced to the League Two play-off final against Stranraer. Stranraer's victory in the final meant that they remained in League Two for the 2024–25 season.
Pyramid play-off
editFirst leg
edit| 27 April 2024 | East Kilbride | Walkover | Buckie Thistle | East Kilbride |
| 15:00 | Stadium: K-Park Training Academy |
Second leg
edit| 4 May 2024 | Buckie Thistle | Walkover | East Kilbride | Buckie |
| 15:00 | Stadium: Victoria Park |
Final
editFirst leg
edit| 11 May 2024 | East Kilbride | 2–2 | Stranraer | East Kilbride |
| 15:00 | [18] |
|
Stadium: K-Park Training Academy Attendance: 652 Referee: Dan McFarlane |
Second leg
edit| 18 May 2024 | Stranraer | 3–1 (a.e.t.) (5–3 agg.) | East Kilbride | Stranraer |
| 15:00 |
|
[19] | Samson  76' |
Stadium: Stair Park Attendance: 1,871 Referee: Craig Napier |
References
edit- ^ "Key dates for Season 2023/24". SPFL. 21 December 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
- ^ Lindsay, Clive (22 April 2023). "Scottish League 2: Stirling Albion aim to avoid Yo-Yo return after title win". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
- ^ "Club Statement". Clyde FC. 21 April 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
- ^ "Bonnyrigg Rose Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
- ^ "Clyde Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
- ^ "Dumbarton Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
- ^ "East Fife Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
- ^ "Elgin City Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
- ^ "Forfar Athletic Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
- ^ "Peterhead Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
- ^ "Stenhousemuir Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
- ^ "Stranraer Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
- ^ "The Spartans Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
- ^ "cinch League Two Table". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
- ^ "The Rules of the Scottish Professional Football League" (PDF). SPFL. pp. 38–39. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
- ^ a b "cinch League Two Results". SPFL. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
- ^ "Scottish FA Statement: Pyramid Play-Off Tie". SFA. 25 April 2024. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
- ^ McGilvray, Andy (11 May 2024). "East Kilbride 2, Stranraer 2: Robbo magic levels the tie for Kilby". Daily Record. Reach plc. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
- ^ McGilvray, Andy (18 May 2024). "Stranraer 3, East Kilbride 1 (agg 5-3): Blues break Kilby hearts". Daily Record. Reach plc. Retrieved 18 May 2024.