Halfway stage history

GOLDEN BALL - Used by the reigning champions

Only twice in the history of the SPL have the leaders at the halfway stage not gone on to lift the title - that was in 2004/05 when Rangers won the league on the last day and again in 2008/09 when the same thing happened.

Being bottom around Christmas isn't always fatal but several clubs have failed to recover from that position.

Below is the complete list of who was top and bottom at halfway - and what happened come the end of the season.

1998/99
Halfway leaders: Rangers
Champions: Rangers
Bottom at halfway: Dunfermline
Finished bottom: Dunfermline

1999/00
Halfway leaders: Rangers
Champions: Rangers
Bottom at halfway: Aberdeen
Finished bottom: Aberdeen

2000/01
Halfway leaders: Celtic
Champions: Celtic
Bottom at halfway: Dundee United
Finished bottom: St Mirren

2001/02
Halfway leaders: Celtic
Champions: Celtic
Bottom at halfway: St Johnstone
Finished bottom: St Johnstone

2002/03
Halfway leaders: Rangers
Champions: Rangers
Bottom at halfway: Motherwell
Finished bottom: Motherwell

2003/04
Halfway leaders: Celtic
Champions: Celtic
Bottom at halfway: Partick Thistle
Finished bottom: Partick Thistle

2004/05
Halfway leaders: Celtic
Champions: Rangers
Bottom at halfway: Livingston
Finished bottom: Dundee

2005/06
Halfway leaders: Celtic
Champions: Celtic
Bottom at halfway: Dunfermline
Finished bottom: Livingston

2006/07
Halfway leaders: Celtic
Champions: Celtic
Bottom at halfway: Dunfermline
Finished bottom: Dunfermline

2007/08
Halfway leaders: Celtic
Champions: Celtic
Bottom at halfway: Gretna
Finished bottom: Gretna

2008/09
Halfway leaders: Celtic
Champions: Rangers
Bottom at halfway: Hamilton
Finished bottom: Inverness CT

2009/10
Halfway leaders: Rangers
Champions: Rangers
Bottom at halfway: Falkirk
Finished bottom: Falkirk