All-time records within reach this SPL season

By: Ian Rose | July 30th, 2007

Each season has its trophies and accomplishments, but each also allows teams and individuals to make their mark on all-time records. Here are a few ways the 2007-2008 SPL season could be a significant one in the larger scheme of things.

The 2000th SPL match
Since the SPL was created in a split from the Scottish Football Association in 1998, there have been 1,956 SPL matches, meaning the SPL will celebrate its 2000th match on Saturday, September 29th, when all twelve SPL teams will play in simultaneous matches.

Old Firm in the Scottish Cup
Since the Scottish Cup returned from its World War II hiatus in 1947, there have been 61 Cups. Of these, Celtic has been a finalist in 30 and won 21. Rangers have made it to 30 and won 19. If either of the Old Firm can make it to this year’s final, they will overtake the other in postwar appearances, making the Cup a little sweeter for Old Firm fans.

The All-Time Scoring List
Several active players have a chance to move up the list of all-time leading scorers in the SPL. Celtic’s Derek Riordan is currently in seventh place with 57 league goals, but stands only three goals behind sixth-place Billy Dodds, and six behind the two players tied at fourth. Rangers’ Nacho Novo is just behind with 52, and stands in ninth place, just three goals behind Stillyan Petrov for eighth. If he scores five or more better than Riordan, he’ll pass him this season. St. Mirren striker Craig Dargo stands in eleventh place, just one goal away from the all-time top ten, a feat he’s almost sure to achieve.

Caley rising
Inverness Caley Thistle are just two wins away from equaling St. Johnstone’s total of 39 league wins and overtaking them for 12th place all-time in wins. Caley has 37 wins in 114 matches, while Saints have 39, but took 148 matches to do so. They are only eleven wins from 11th place, currently held by Livingston.

Gretna rise to top 50 all-time
In their first season ever in the top flight, Gretna will likely move into the top 50 teams in Scottish history on total points across all leagues. They currently stand in 51st place all-time with 365 points, twelve behind 50th-place Vale of Leven, one of the early greats of Scottish football.

That’s enough meaningless statistics for today.