There was good reason to be doubtful of the Division 1 winners – once promoted, they did not fare well in the top league. Alarming tradition settled down: newcomers were too weak. Far too weak…
Kilmarnock, just promoted from Division 1, was the big outsider – last with 17 points.
Greenock Morton was admired for its heroic efforts to beat the odds, but grim reality was stronger: the big problem of Scottish football was money. The lack of money. The club openly admitted that only the fee West Ham United paid for acquiring talented young defender Neil Orr saved them bankruptcy. And the only way to avoid bust was selling players… which resulted in very weak squad. Capable of earning only 20 points… 9th place and relegation.
Perhaps Motherwell were quite happy to witness the troubles of Greenock Morton – that practically guaranteed them survival this year, but the Division 1 champions of 1981-82 had nothing fresh and promising to offer: 8th with 27 points. All they could do – not just this season but surely in the next too – was trying to escape relegation.
Which was also the concern of Hibernian, reduced to shambles in the recent years, even playing second level football in 1980-81. Now they finished 7th with 29 points and the future was looking bright either.
Dundee ended 6th with 29 points – only goal-difference placed them above Hibernian, but there was difference. Like Hibernian – even earlier than them – Dundee went into big crisis. Eventually, the club reacted with reorganization and new programs, but there were no positive results yet. There was optimism for the future, though – based on the implemented changes.
St. Mirren – 5th with 34 points. Not a squad worth mentioning, but strong enough for solid mid-table season. Consistent team – 5th the previous year, 4th in 1980-81, 3rd in 1979-80. It was clear the squad would not go any higher and to think of a title was absurd, but for a small club to be out of danger and solid in the middle was quite an achievement.
Glasgow Rangers – miserable and weak. 4th with 38 points. After 1978 Rangers was decline and that was that.
So, 6 teams were nothing to brag about – but the battle for the title was exciting and it was rare tough battle too: three teams from start to finish, divided at the end by one point and goal-difference.
Aberdeen was unfortunate, taking 3rd place with 55 points and worse goal-difference than Celtic. They had the best defensive record in the league, but scoring was much weaker than their opponents’. But there was neither disappointment, nor dark mood – just the opposite. They lost the title, but there was nothing to be ashamed of, for they won other and bigger trophies in their best year ever.
Celtic was perhaps angry at themselves: smaller club would have been quite happy with a season, which put them so close to the title. After all, if they had one point and 2 goals more, they would have been champions – but they ended only 2nd , above Aberdeen on goal-difference. Well, for a club like Celtic anything but victory is a disaster. Perhaps coming so close and losing the title made the disaster bigger and graver.
Just the opposite feeling in the Dundee United camp – edging traditionally stronger opponents in such close and tough race was more than great. Wonderful last minute victory and titles come rarely in the hands of Dundee United. More cherished because of that. More cherished, because Aberdeen conquered Europe this year. More cherished that Celtic was left behind. 24 wins, 8 ties, 4 losses, 90-35 goal-difference, and 56 points. Celtic and Aberdeen won more games, but they also lost more than Dundee. The champions scored – together with Celtic – most goals in the league. However, they had better defensive record than mighty Celtic – only a goal less received, but better. Only a point more than their rivals, but more. May be the strongest squad in their history too: Sturrock, Narey, Hagarty, Malpas, Gough, Dodds, Britton were enough for a title at the end. However, the group was not enough to ensure long dominance – and club and fans knew it in their hearts. Rare triumphs should be enjoyed fully and in earnest.