First Division. Most amusing championship, but in any positive way – a 10-team league sharply divided into 4 groups. And further division at the very top.
Greenock Morton, just promoted, finished last with pathetic 12 points. They really distinguished themselves – received exactly 100 goals this season.
Dumbarton, the second newcomer, was 9th with 19 points. Better than Greenock Morton, but still a hopeless outsider. Thus, both newcomers were relegated and, frankly, did not deserve to play top-league football.
The next 2 teams were quite weak, but still head and shoulders above the outsiders and never in danger of relegation.
Hibernian – 8th with 27 points.
Heart of Midlothian – 7th with 31 points.
The next 3 teams battled between themselves, but entirely apart from both those bellow and above them.
Dundee – 6th with 37 points.
St. Mirren – 5th with 38 points. Not bad – for them.
Glasgow Rangers – 4th with 38 points. Well… that was that: famous Rangers was now a midtable team, prevailing over St. Mirren on goal-difference. A statement in itself.
The top 3 – unquestionably stronger than the rest of the league, but not equal between themselves either. Everyone held its own separate position.
Dundee United – 3rd with 47 points. 9 points ahead of Glasgow Rangers – impressive. 5 points behind Celtic – impressive? Strong, but so far away from the title.
Celic – 2nd with 52 points. Perhaps it was best to compare them only to the archrival: Rangers was pathetic, Celtic was strong. Much stronger than Dundee United too. And stop here… better not compare them to the champions: Celtic was 7 points behind.
Aberdeen was flying – champions in 1983-84, now again. In the both championships they did not allow any team to come close – 7 points difference the previous season, 7 points difference now. 27 wins, 5 ties, 4 losses, 89-26, 59 points. A bit better record than the previous season.
Sky was the limit for this wonderful squad? Reality was the limit, unfortunately – the mastermind waiving in the middle of the champagne drinkers was going away and to new glory. Inevitable… no matter how good a Scottish club could be, an English one will always be the better option. And if this English club is Manchester United, there was no argument whatsoever. Gordon Strachan already joined Manchester United, now Alex Ferguson. Aberdeen was not going to be really strong anymore, that was clear. So, let party now as heavy as possible, for there will be no opportunity any time soon.