The 2015–16 Lowland League was the third season of the Lowland Football League. The season began on 1 August 2015 and ended on 19 May 2016. Edinburgh City were the defending champions. Cumbernauld Colts were elected to the league as new members.
The league was won by Edinburgh City with two matches remaining on 9 April 2016, securing their second title after a 1–0 win over Stirling University. They played the champions of the 2015–16 Highland League (Cove Rangers) in the semi-finals of the League Two play-offs, winning 4-1 on aggregate.
Edinburgh City then drew 1–1 at home in the first leg of the play-off final against East Stirlingshire, before scoring a late penalty to win 1–0 away from home in the second leg, winning 2–1 on aggregate to gain a place in Scottish League Two.
Teams
The following teams have changed division prior to the 2015–16 season.
To Lowland League Transferred from Caledonian Amateur Football League Cumbernauld Colts
Stadia and Locations
Team Location Home ground Capacity Ref. BSC Glasgow Glasgow Lochburn Park (Maryhill) 1,800 Broomhill SC Glasgow , nonleaguescotland.org.uk, Retrieved 24 June 2015. Cumbernauld Colts Cumbernauld Broadwood Stadium 7,936 Cumbernauld Colts, nonleaguescotland.org.uk, Retrieved 24 June 2015. Dalbeattie Star Dalbeattie Islecroft Stadium 3,500 Dalbeattie Star, nonleaguescotland.org.uk, Retrieved 10 August 2013. East Kilbride East Kilbride K Park Training Academy 400 East Kilbride , nonleaguescotland.org.uk, Retrieved 10 August 2013. Edinburgh City Edinburgh Meadowbank Stadium 16,500 Edinburgh City , nonleaguescotland.org.uk, Retrieved 10 August 2013. Edinburgh University Edinburgh New East Peffermill 1,000 Edinburgh University, nonleaguescotland.org.uk, Retrieved 24 June 2015. Gala Fairydean Rovers Galashiels Netherdale 4,000 Gala Fairydean Rovers, nonleaguescotland.org.uk, Retrieved 10 August 2013. Gretna 2008 Gretna Raydale Park 2,200 Gretna 2008, nonleaguescotland.org.uk, Retrieved 10 August 2013. Preston Athletic Prestonpans Pennypit Park 4,000 Preston Athletic, nonleaguescotland.org.uk, Retrieved 10 August 2013. Selkirk Selkirk Yarrow Park 1,162 Selkirk , nonleaguescotland.org.uk, Retrieved 10 August 2013. The Spartans Edinburgh Ainslie Park 3,000 Spartans, nonleaguescotland.org.uk, Retrieved 10 August 2013. Stirling University Stirling Forthbank Stadium 3,808 Stirling University, nonleaguescotland.org.uk, Retrieved 10 August 2013. Threave Rovers Castle Douglas Meadow Park 1,500 Threave Rovers, nonleaguescotland.org.uk, Retrieved 10 August 2013. Vale of Leithen Innerleithen Victoria Park 1,500 Vale of Leithen, nonleaguescotland.org.uk, Retrieved 10 August 2013. Whitehill Welfare Rosewell Ferguson Park 2,614 Whitehill Welfare, nonleaguescotland.org.uk, Retrieved 10 August 2013.
League table Threave Rovers were spared automatic relegation as neither champion of the two feeder leagues, Leith Athletic or St Cuthbert Wanderers, met licensing criteria. The club however, declined the opportunity to re-apply to the league and rejoined the South of Scotland Football League for the 2016–17 season.
Results
Lowland Football League play-off
It was proposed that the respective winners of the 2015–16 East of Scotland Football League (Leith Athletic) and 2015–16 South of Scotland Football League (St Cuthbert Wanderers) leagues would meet in a play-off, with the winner taking a place in next season's Lowland League. However, neither met licensing criteria so the play-off did not take place.
References