Irn Bru Scottish First Division 2012 - 2013
On 16 June the SFA stated, "Someone has to take the lead and sort out the internal bickering...and ensure that the Rangers situation never occurs again." Their plan was to merge the SPL and SFL, introduce a new method of revenue distribution and form a national pyramid that would allow non-league clubs to win promotion to the Third Division. When the "newco" Rangers were denied admission to the SPL, the SFA pressed the SFL members to accept them into the second tier with the structural reforms as a carrot and dire warnings of imminent financial collapse. To their credit, the SFL membership refused to buckle under pressure and instead listened to their supporters, voting Rangers into the Third Division.
(Contributors are credited in brackets. Opinions expressed on this page are those of HFK and not contributors.)
Home
Away
Third
Designer: Puma
Sponsor: tba (H), Advance Construction Scotland (A, 3rd)
Airdrie (they have dropped "United") find themselves back in the second tier as a result of the reshuffle brought about by Rangers' admission to the Third Division. They finished as runners-up in the play-offs last season.
The new home strip is based on that worn by Airdrieonians twenty years ago, when they qualified for Europe, and is a further attempt to identify the modern club (originally Clydebank) with its older predecessor. Shirt sponsorship had not been arranged at the start of the season. The black third strip has not been registered with the SFL as it was gifted to the club by Puma who were unable to deliver the away kit on time and it remains to be seen if it will be used.
(Willie Kay, Martin Gooday, Alasdair MacNeill, Ann Marie Ballantyne - AFC)
Home
Away
Designer: Umbro
Sponsor: Subsea Pressure Controls
The Blue Brazil are Second Division champions so it's no surprise that they have retained the same colour scheme as last season for the home shirt. The only difference is in the collar detailing. The away kit has the familiar Brazilian look but, and we're slightly disappointed about this, the shirt trim is blue rather than green.
(Russel Campbell, Alasdair MacNeill)
Home
Away
Designer: 1872
Sponsor: Bet Butler
HFK regular Gary Black has every reason to be pleased with the new Dumbarton strips as he had a hand in their design. They revive the style worn in the Seventies and are likely to be very popular given the team's promotion back into the second tier. The kits are marketed under the club's own 1872 brand, which includes two stars, commemorating the Son's two Scottish League titles back in Victorian times.
(Gary Black, Alasdair MacNeill)
Home
Away
Designer: Joma
Sponsor: Purvis Group
Relegated after just one season in the SPL, Dunfermline have changed their kit supplier and reinstated white shorts with their traditional striped home shirts.
(Andrew Sunter)
Home
Away
Designer: Puma
Sponsor: Central Demolitions
Falkirk's home kit is updated from last season's retro look to something more modern. The away shirt is based on a strip worn in 1994: the colour is supposedly an exact match to the original version and is described as "Brockville Gold." Looks like yellow to me, mate. The white sponsorship that appears on the prototypes is practically invisible and we would not be surprised if it is changed to navy at some point.
(Andrew Mihaleff)
Home
Away
Designer: Puma
Sponsor: Millions Chews
Morton's home kit is updated to the new Puma template and the hoops are extended to the sleeves once more. Last season's yellow and blue third strip is retained for use as a change kit this time round.
(David Watson)
Home
Away
Designer: Nike
Sponsor: M&H Logistics (H), Life Skills Centres (A)
Hamilton have as usual updated their home shirt to the latest Nike hooped template. They rather like to wear away strips based on famous teams so this season, they will be Inter Milan when a change is needed.
(Willie Kay)
Home
Away
Designer: Rangers
Sponsor: Fasteq
Livingston are going with Adidas this time round, with two workmanlike kits. Putting white trimmings on the yellow home shirt is, I fear, a mistake.
(Alasdair MacNeill)
Home
Away
Designer: Puma
Sponsor: macb
Thistle maintain their reputation for wearing unusual and distinctive away strips with a rather fine all-black number with purple thistles. Their shirt sponsor dropped out last season after going into administration but is back for 2012-13. The home kit is unchanged but the club seem taken with the black strip, which was worn in all their games at the start of the season.
(Graeme Houston, Russel Campbell)
Home
Away
Designer: Puma
Sponsor: Kitty's Styx (Home), Live Sport (Away)
Raith's home kit is unchanged and an all-red away strip is introduced.
(Calum Rolland)