2016–17 Livingston F.C. season

The 2016–17 season was Livingston's first season back in Scottish League One and their first season back in the third-tier of Scottish football, having been relegated from the Scottish Championship at the end of the 2015–16 season.[1] Livingston also competed in the Challenge Cup, League Cup and the Scottish Cup.

Livingston

2016–17 season
Manager	David Hopkin
Stadium	Almondvale Stadium
League One	Winners
League Cup	Group Stage
Challenge Cup	Quarter-Final
Scottish Cup	Fourth Round
Top goalscorer	League: Liam Buchanan (22) All: Liam Buchanan (27)
Highest home attendance	1,241 vs. Celtic Colts, Challenge Cup, 3 September 2016
Lowest home attendance	531 vs. Stenhousemuir, League One, 21 March 2017
Average home league attendance	796
Home colours Away colours

Summary

Season

Livingston finished in first place in League One and were promoted as champions back to the Scottish Championship after only one season back in the third=tier of scottish football.[2] On 24th October 2016, Livingston were fined £4,000 by the SPFL after their Scottish Challenge Cup tie with Crusaders, in which they were found to have fielded an ineligible player. Despite progressing to the next round, the SPFL ordered the match to be replayed in full and was held on 1st of November.[3]

Results and fixtures

  Win   Draw   Loss   Postponed

Pre Season

2 July 2016	Livingston	1 – 5	Dunfermline Athletic	Almondvale Stadium, Livingston
15:00	Currie  64'	Report	Reilly  20', 83' Geggan  31' McCabe  37' Cardle  68'

5 July 2016	Livingston	2 – 2	Greenock Morton	Almondvale Stadium, Livingston
19:30	Trialist  6' Cadden  58'	Report	Tiffoney  44', 75'

12 July 2016	Livingston	1 – 1	St Johnstone	Almondvale Stadium, Livingston
19:30	Cadden  56'	Report	Coulson  11'

23 July 2016	Livingston	0 – 0	Hartlepool United	Almondvale Stadium, Livingston
19:30		Report

Scottish League One

6 August 2016 1	Livingston	5 – 1	Stranraer	Almondvale Stadium, Livingston
15:00	Pittman  5', 90+2' Mullen  24' Buchanan  72', 87 pen.'	Report	Malcolm  55'	Attendance: 693 Referee: Bobby Madden

13 August 2016 2	Airdrieonians	2 – 4	Livingston	Excelsior Stadium, Airdrie
15:00	Ryan  53', 65'	Report	Mullen  13' Buchanan  37' Miller  58' Mullin  90'	Attendance: 1,048 Referee: Mat Northcroft

20 August 2016 3	Livingston	4 – 1	Stenhousemuir	Almondvale Stadium, Livingston
15:00	Mullen  4', 49' Pittman  23' Longridge  78'	Report	McMenamin  90 pen.'	Attendance: 769 Referee: Gavin Duncan

27 August 2016 4	Queen's Park	1 – 0	Livingston	Hampden Park, Glasgow
15:00	Malone  25'	Report		Attendance: 698 Referee: Kevin Graham

10 September 2016 5	Alloa Athletic	1 – 3	Livingston	Recreation Park, Alloa
15:00	Spence  65 pen.'	Report	Pittman  24' Buchanan  34' Miller  39'	Attendance: 712 Referee: Craig Charleston

17 September 2016 6	Livingston	2 – 1	Brechin City	Almondvale Stadium, Livingston
15:00	Mullen  34' Pittman  65'	Report	Trouten  72'	Attendance: 858 Referee: Alan Newlands

24 September 2016 7	East Fife	3 – 1	Livingston	Bayview Stadium, Methil
15:00	Insall  9', 34' Kane  11'	Report	Mullin  59'	Attendance: 784 Referee: David Lowe

1 October 2016 8	Peterhead	1 – 2	Livingston	Balmoor, Peterhead
15:00	Kelleher  7'	Report	Mullen  25', 58'	Attendance: 569 Referee: Gavin Duncan

15 October 2016 9	Livingston	1 – 2	Albion Rovers	Almondvale Stadium, Livingston
15:00	Buchanan  90 pen.'	Report	Boyd  18' Wallace  70'	Attendance: 702 Referee: Craig Charleston

22 October 2016 10	Livingston	3 – 1	Alloa Athletic	Almondvale Stadium, Livingston
15:00	Miller  55' Buchanan  62', 90'	Report	Spence  90 pen.'	Attendance: 977 Referee: Stephen Finnie

29 October 2016 11	Brechin City	0 – 3	Livingston	Glebe Park, Brechin
15:00		Report	Buchanan  66' Longridge  69' Byrne  86'	Attendance: 517 Referee: Bobby Madden

5 November 2016 12	Livingston	3 – 1	East Fife	Almondvale Stadium, Livingston
15:00	Buchanan  45', 66 pen.' Miller  49'	Report	Smith  53'	Attendance: 907 Referee: Craig Napier

19 November 2016 13	Livingston	1 – 2	Peterhead	Almondvale Stadium, Livingston
15:00	Buchanan  80'	Report	McIntosh  39' Brown  74'	Attendance: 712 Referee: Greg Aitken

3 December 2016 14	Albion Rovers	0 – 1	Livingston	Cliftonhill, Coatbridge
15:00		Report	Cadden  89 pen.'	Attendance: 413 Referee: David Munro

10 December 2016 15	Stranraer	1 – 2	Livingston	Stair Park, Stranraer
15:00	Gibson  5'	Report	Carrick  77' De Vita  84'	Attendance: 333 Referee: Colin Steven

13 December 2016 16	Stenhousemuir	0 – 4	Livingston	Ochilview Park, Stenhousemuir
19:45		Report	Summers  16 o.g.' De Vita  70' Buchanan  81' Carrick  90'	Attendance: 334 Referee: Kevin Graham

17 December 2016 17	Livingston	2 – 0	Airdrieonians	Almondvale Stadium, Livingston
15:00	Carrick  10' Cadden  89'	Report		Attendance: 989 Referee: Steven Reid

24 December 2016 18	Livingston	1 – 2	Queen's Park	Almondvale Stadium, Livingston
15:00	Buchanan  40'	Report	McKernon  55 pen.' Cummins  58'	Attendance: 819 Referee: Steven Kirkland

31 December 2016 19	East Fife	2 – 1	Livingston	Bayview Stadium, Methil
15:00	Insall  74' Robinson  77'	Report	Buchanan  14'	Attendance: 661 Referee: Gavin Duncan

7 January 2017 20	Peterhead	2 – 3	Livingston	Balmoor, Peterhead
15:00	Riley  52' McAllister  62'	Report	Gallagher  50' Buchanan  53' Byrne  79'	Attendance: 582 Referee: David Lowe

28 January 2017 21	Livingston	3 – 0	Brechin City	Almondvale Stadium, Livingston
15:00	Buchanan  1' Halkett  29' Cadden  56'	Report		Attendance: 746 Referee: Alan Newlands

4 February 2017 22	Alloa Athletic	2 – 2	Livingston	Recreation Park, Alloa
15:00	Kirkpatrick  25' Mackin  86'	Report	Mullen  36' Buchanan  48'	Attendance: 565 Referee: Kevin Graham

11 February 2017 23	Livingston	0 – 0	Stranraer	Almondvale Stadium, Livingston
15:00		Report		Attendance: 677 Referee: Graham Beaton

18 February 2017 24	Airdrieonians	0 – 4	Livingston	Excelsior Stadium, Airdrie
15:00		Report	Crighton  34' Gorman  50 o.g.' Mullen  78' Cadden  81'	Attendance: 1,012 Referee: Stephen Finnie

4 March 2017 25	Queen's Park	1 – 1	Livingston	Hampden Park, Glasgow
15:00	Zanatta  20'	Report	Pittman  11'	Attendance: 701 Referee: Alan Newlands

7 March 2017 26	Livingston	3 – 0	Albion Rovers	Almondvale Stadium, Livingston
19:45	Todorov  34', 90' Mullen  88'	Report		Attendance: 548 Referee: Nick Walsh

11 March 2017 27	Livingston	0 – 1	East Fife	Almondvale Stadium, Livingston
15:00		Report	Kerr  85'	Attendance: 773 Referee: Grant Irvine

18 March 2017 28	Stranraer	0 – 1	Livingston	Stair Park, Stranraer
15:00		Report	Buchanan  84'	Attendance: 523 Referee: Craig Napier

21 March 2017 29	Livingston	1 – 0	Stenhousemuir	Almondvale Stadium, Livingston
19:45	Todorov  24'	Report		Attendance: 531 Referee: Barry Cook

25 March 2017 30	Livingston	4 – 2	Airdrieonians	Almondvale Stadium, Livingston
15:00	Mullen  8', 62' Gallagher  10' Cadden  85'	Report	Conroy  34' Ryan  90 pen.'	Attendance: 832 Referee: Crawford Allan

1 April 2017 31	Brechin City	0 – 2	Livingston	Glebe Park, Brechin
15:00		Report	Buchanan  11', 59'	Attendance: 523 Referee: Scott Millar

8 April 2017 32	Livingston	2 – 1	Alloa Athletic	Almondvale Stadium, Livingston
15:00	Pittman  19' Longridge  49'	Report	Mackin  67'	Attendance: 1,099 Referee: Greg Aitken

15 April 2017 33	Stenhousemuir	0 – 1	Livingston	Ochilview Park, Stenhousemuir
15:00		Report	Buchanan  54'	Attendance: 472 Referee: Colin Steven

22 April 2017 34	Livingston	4 – 0	Queen's Park	Almondvale Stadium, Livingston
15:00	Todorov  18' Mullen  70' Mullin  80' Cadden  90'	Report		Attendance: 821 Referee: Grant Irvine

29 April 2017 35	Livingston	4 – 1	Peterhead	Almondvale Stadium, Livingston
15:00	Buchanan  12' Pittman  21' Mullin  42' Mullen  81'	Report	Redman  61'	Attendance: 891 Referee: Kevin Graham

6 May 2017 36	Albion Rovers	0 – 2	Livingston	Cliftonhill, Coatbridge
15:00		Report	Pittman  19' De Vita  44'	Attendance: 454 Referee: Steven Kirkland

Scottish League Cup

Group Stage

Results

16 July 2016 Group Stage	Livingston	2 – 3	St Mirren	Almondvale Stadium, Livingston
15:00	Cadden  50' Carrick  68'	Report	Clarkson  13', 81' Morgan  74'	Attendance: 894 Referee: Gavin Duncan

20 July 2016 Group Stage	Edinburgh City	0 – 3	Livingston	Ainslie Park, Edinburgh
19:45		Report	Mullin  27' Mullen  45' Buchanan  76'	Attendance: 595 Referee: Gavin Duncan

26 July 2016 Group Stage	Livingston	0 – 2	Ayr United	Almondvale Stadium, Livingston
19:45		Report	Murphy  19' McGuffie  78'	Attendance: 643 Referee: David Lowe

20 July 2016 Group Stage	Hamilton Academical	2 – 1	Livingston	New Douglas Park, Hamilton
19:45	D'Acol  22' Longridge  55'	Report	Matthews  41 o.g.'	Attendance: 764 Referee: Euan Anderson

Group G Table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	PW	PL	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification		HAM	AYR	STM	LIV	EDI
1	Hamilton Academical (Q)	4	3	0	0	1	10	5	+5	9	Qualification for the Second Round		—	—	3–0	2–1	—
2	Ayr United (Q)	4	3	0	0	1	5	2	+3	9			2–1	—	—	—	1–0
3	St Mirren	4	3	0	0	1	7	5	+2	9			—	1–0	—	—	3–0
4	Livingston	4	1	0	0	3	6	7	−1	3			—	0–2	2–3	—	—
5	Edinburgh City	4	0	0	0	4	2	11	−9	0			2–4	—	—	0–3	—

Source: SPFL
(Q) Qualified to the phase indicated.

Scottish Challenge Cup

3 September 2016 Third Round	Livingston	5 – 1	Celtic Colts	Almondvale Stadium, Livingston
15:00	Buchanan  5', 14 pen.', 40' Crighton  17' Mullen  35'	Report	Hendry  43'	Attendance: 1,214 Referee: Steven Kirkland

7 October 2016	Crusaders	Void^[A]	Livingston	Belfast, Northern Ireland
19:45	Owens  87'	SPFL	Buchanan  74' Pittman  90+4'	Stadium: Seaview Referee: David Morgan

1 November 2016 Fourth Round	Crusaders	0 – 3	Livingston	Seaview, Belfast
19:45		Report	Cadden  66' De Vita  74' Buchanan  89'	Referee: Nick Pratt

13 November 2016 Quarter-Final	Livingston	0 – 3	The New Saints	Almondvale Stadium, Livingston
19:45		Report	Parry  36' Saunders  58' Quigley  70'	Attendance: 733 Referee: Raymond Change

Notes

1. ^
   A- Livingston's 2–1 win against Crusaders on Friday, 7 October was ordered to be replayed after Livingston plead guilty to a breach of SPFL rules in the original fixture. The club was fined £4,000 after they played Alan Lithgow for the full 90 minutes. Lithgow was ineligible for the match as he was still under an SFA suspension at the time.[4]

Scottish Cup

26 November 2016 Third Round	Airdrieonians	1 – 2	Livingston	Excelsior Stadium, Airdrie
15:00	Ryan  18'	Report	Cadden  30' Mullen  62'	Attendance: 780 Referee: Barry Cook

21 January 2017 Fourth Round	Livingston	0 – 1	East Fife	Almondvale Stadium, Livingston
15:00		Report	Paterson  27'	Attendance: 726 Referee: Colin Steven

Player statistics

As of 6 May 2017 (UTC)[5]

No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Total		League One		League Cup		Scottish Cup		Other
				Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
1	GK		Liam Kelly	40	0	34+0	0	4+0	0	2+0	0	0+0	0
2	DF		Michael Miller	22	4	13+1	3	4+0	1	1+0	0	3+0	0
3	DF		Jackson Longridge	38	4	24+6	3	4+0	0	1+0	0	3+0	1
4	DF		Alan Lithgow	41	3	31+0	3	4+0	0	2+0	0	4+0	0
5	DF		Sean Crighton	42	2	29+3	1	4+0	0	2+0	0	4+0	1
6	MF		Shaun Byrne	39	2	26+4	2	2+1	0	2+0	0	3+1	0
7	MF		Josh Mullin	37	5	18+9	4	4+0	1	1+1	0	2+2	0
8	FW		Scott Pittman	43	10	36+0	9	1+1	0	2+0	0	3+0	1
9	FW		Liam Buchanan	45	27	32+4	22	2+1	1	2+0	0	3+1	4
10	FW		Danny Mullen	42	17	28+4	14	4+0	1	2+0	1	3+1	1
11	MF		Nicky Cadden	43	9	22+12	6	3+1	1	1+1	1	2+1	1
14	MF		Keaghan Jacobs	4	0	3+1	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
15	DF		Morgyn Neill	9	0	3+4	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	1+1	0
16	FW		Matthew Knox	12	1	3+5	0	0+3	0	0+0	1	1+0	0
17	MF		Jordan Sinclair	10	0	6+0	0	2+0	0	0+0	0	2+0	0
18	MF		Mark Millar	13	0	12+1	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
19	FW		Dale Carrick	20	4	4+10	3	2+1	1	0+1	0	1+1	0
20	GK		Gary Maley	6	0	2+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	4+0	0
21	MF		Liam Watt	15	0	2+9	0	0+2	0	0+0	0	1+1	0
22	MF		Nikolay Todorov	14	4	7+7	4	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
23	MF		Raffaele De Vita	27	4	18+5	3	0+0	0	1+1	0	1+1	1
26	DF		Craig Halkett	43	1	33+0	1	4+0	0	2+0	0	4+0	0
28	MF		Jack Ogilvie	3	0	0+3	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
31	DF		Declan Gallagher	16	2	14+1	2	0+0	0	1+0	0	0+0	0
33	FW		Kyle Sampson	3	0	0+3	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
Players who left the club during the 2016–17 season
1	GK		Darren Jamieson	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
14	FW		Thomas Orr	3	0	0+1	0	0+2	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
18	FW		Lewis Allan	4	0	0+3	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+1	0

Team Statistics

League table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Promotion, qualification or relegation
1	Livingston (C, P)	36	26	3	7	80	32	+48	81	Promotion to Scottish Championship
2	Alloa Athletic	36	17	11	8	69	44	+25	62	Qualification to Championship play-offs
3	Airdrieonians	36	16	4	16	61	66	−5	52
4	Brechin City (O, P)	36	15	5	16	43	49	−6	50
5	East Fife	36	12	10	14	41	44	−3	46

Updated to match(es) played on 6 May 2017. Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(C) Champion; (O) Play-off winner; (P) Promoted.

Division summary

Round	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34	35	36
Ground	H	A	H	A	A	H	A	A	H	H	A	H	H	A	A	A	H	H	A	A	H	A	H	A	A	H	H	A	H	H	A	H	A	H	H	A
Result	W	W	W	L	W	W	L	W	L	W	W	W	L	W	W	W	W	L	L	W	W	D	D	W	D	W	L	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W
Position	1	2	1	3	3	3	2	3	2	3	2	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1

Updated to match(es) played on 6 May 2017. Source: [6]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Transfers

Players in Player From Fee Alan Lithgow Airdrieonians Free[7] Sean Crighton Airdrieonians Free[8] Nicky Cadden Airdrieonians Free[9] Liam Watt Airdrieonians Free[10] Jordan Sinclair Hibernian Free[11] Shaun Byrne Dunfermline Athletic Free[12] Michael Miller Greenock Morton Free[13] Thomas Orr Greenock Morton Loan[14] Dale Carrick Kilmarnock Free[15] Liam Kelly Rangers Loan[16] Lewis Allan Hibernian Loan[17] Raffaele De Vita Ross County Free[18] Mark Millar Queen of the South Free[19] Keaghan Jacobs Bidvest Wits Free[20] Nikolay Todorov Hearts Loan[21]

Players out Player To Fee Ben Gordon St Mirren Free[22] Jordyn Sheerin Berwick Rangers Free[23] Gary Glen Cowdenbeath Free[24] Spas Georgiev Dunav Ruse Free Kieran Gibbons East Kilbride Free[25] Mark Fotheringham Retired Marc McCallum Plymouth Argyle Free[26] Darren Jamieson Hamilton Academical Free[27] Craig Sives Cowdenbeath Free[28] Morgyn Neill Stranraer Loan[29]

See also

• List of Livingston F.C. seasons

References

1. "Livingston 4–3 Stranraer (6–8 agg)". BBC Sport. BBC. 7 May 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
2. "Livington 4-1 Peterhead". livingstonfc.co.uk. Livingston FC. 29 April 2017. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
3. "Livingston escape with replay and £4000 fine for Irn-Bru Cup blunder". heraldscotland.com. The Herald. 24 October 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
4. "Livingston charged by SPFL at disciplinary hearing". spfl.co.uk. SPFL. 24 October 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
5. "Livingston 2016/2017 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
6. "Scottish League One 2016/17". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
7. "Two new faces arrive". livingstonfc.co.uk. Livingston FC. 16 May 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
8. "Two new faces arrive". livingstonfc.co.uk. Livingston FC. 16 May 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
9. "Nicky Cadden signs on". livingstonfc.co.uk. Livingston FC. 17 July 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
10. "Livingston FC: New Signings Liam Watt and Jordan Sinclair admit chance to play for Lions was too good to turn down". dailyrecord.co.uk. Daily Record. 18 May 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
11. "Livingston FC: New Signings Liam Watt and Jordan Sinclair admit chance to play for Lions was too good to turn down". dailyrecord.co.uk. Daily Record. 18 May 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
12. "Byrne is lastest Livingston signing". spfl.co.uk. SPFL. 20 May 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
13. "Miller is latest Livingston recruit". spfl.co.uk. SPFL. 24 May 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
14. "New striker comes in on loan". livingstonfc.co.uk. Livingston FC. 14 July 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
15. "Dale Carrick signs on". livingstonfc.co.uk. Livingston FC. 15 July 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
16. "Kelly moves on loan". rangers.co.uk. Rangers FC. 15 July 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
17. "SPFL Signings Update". spfl.co.uk. SPFL. 12 August 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
18. "Rafa's Back!". livingstonfc.co.uk. Livingston FC. 18 October 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
19. "Mark Millar signs up". livingstonfc.co.uk. Livingston FC. 6 January 2017. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
20. "Back to the Future as Keaghan Jacobs Returns". livingstonfc.co.uk. Livingston FC. 20 January 2017. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
21. "Change of heart for Nikolay Todorov". livingstonfc.co.uk. Livingston FC. 23 January 2017. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
22. "New Signing:Ben Gordon". saintmirren.net. St Mirren FC. 2 June 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
23. "Jordyn Sheerin signs for Berwick Rangers". berwickrangers.com. Berwick Rangers FC. 2 June 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
24. "Three New Signings". cowdenbeathfc.com. Cowdenbeath FC. 30 June 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
25. "Scottish League One Ins & Outs". BBC Sport. BBC. 1 July 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
26. "Plymouth Argyle sign Marc McCallum". Sky Sports News. Sky Sports. 1 August 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
27. "Goalie Signs". hamiltonacciesfc.co.uk. Hamilton Academical FC. 25 September 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
28. "Craig Sives". cowdenbeathfc.com. Cowdenbeath FC. 7 January 2017. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
29. "Neill steps to Stair Park". livingstonfc.co.uk. Livingston FC. 12 January 2017. Retrieved 6 June 2020.