in May 2006 with Celtic as champions. Livingston were relegated to the First Division and First Division winners St Mirren were promoted. For the first time in 11 years, when Celtic finished fourth behind Rangers, Motherwell and Hibernian, the Old Firm were separated with Rangers finishing third behind Hearts. Kris Boyd was the top scorer with 32 goals (15 for Kilmarnock and 17 for Rangers). Attendances went up to 3.7 million, the highest figure in top-flight Scottish football since the 1960s. Scottish First Division Scottish Second Division Scottish Third Division Other honours Cup honours Hearts became the first non-Old Firm club to win the Scottish Cup since they themselves lifted the trophy in 1998. Second Division side Gretna became the first club in history from the third-tier of Scottish football to reach the final. Celtic meanwhile lifted the League Cup in what was manager Gordon Strachan's first trophy as manager. St Mirren were winners of the Challenge Cup in a season that would eventually see them promoted to the SPL. Auchinleck Talbot lifted the Junior Cup. Non-league honours Senior honours Junior honours Individual honours SPFA awards SFWA awards Scottish clubs in Europe Summary Average coefficient – 4.250 Rangers Celtic Hibernian Dundee United Scotland national team Scotland failed in their attempt to qualify for the 2006 World Cup, eventually finishing third in their group. However, significant improvement was shown in results with just two defeats from nine matches, compared with four defeats from nine during the previous season. Wins against Moldova and Norway and a draw at home to Italy had raised hopes that Scotland could gain second place behind Italy and therefore enter the play-offs. However a 1–0 defeat at home to Belarus ended their hopes of qualification. They finished the season strongly, however, with a victory over Slovenia and also lifted the Kirin Cup — beating Bulgaria and drawing with hosts Japan. Key (A) = Away match (H) = Home match WCQ5 = World Cup Qualifying – Group 5 Deaths 14 July: Matt Patrick, 86, Cowdenbeath forward. 30 August: John Brown, 90, Clyde and Scotland goalkeeper. 25 November: George Best, 59, Hibs winger. 30 December: Fred "Jock" Smith, 79, Aberdeen and Montrose inside forward. 17 January: Wallace Mercer, 59, Hearts chairman. 10 February: John Prentice, 79, Scotland manager. 13 March: Jimmy Johnstone, 61, Celtic (Lisbon Lions) and Scotland winger. 3 April: Ewan Fenton, 76, Scottish defender for Blackpool 19