The 1917–18 season was the 45th season of competitive football in Scotland. During this period, the sport continued to be significantly impacted by the ongoing events of World War I. While many national competitions were suspended, the primary top-tier league continued to operate under wartime restrictions.
League Football
The Scottish Football League First Division remained the primary national competition. It consisted of 18 clubs, the same number as the previous season. Travel restrictions and the mobilization of players for military service influenced the composition of squads and the scheduling of fixtures.
Rangers finished the season as champions, securing their 15th league title. They finished with 56 points, one point ahead of runners-up Celtic. The competition was highly localized for some clubs to minimize travel. The Scottish Second Division remained suspended, as it had been since the conclusion of the 1914–15 season, and did not resume until after the war.
Cup Competitions
The Scottish Cup, the country’s premier knockout competition, was not held during the 1917–18 season. The competition had been suspended by the Scottish Football Association following the 1913–14 season due to the war effort. It did not resume until the 1919–20 season.
Regional cup competitions continued to be played, providing additional fixtures for clubs. In the Glasgow Cup, Celtic emerged as winners after defeating Partick Thistle 1–0 in the final held at Hampden Park.
International Football
The Scotland national team did not play any official international matches during the 1917–18 season. The British Home Championship was suspended for the duration of the war, and no other international fixtures were organized. International football for Scotland eventually resumed in early 1920.
Summary of Major Honors
- Scottish League First Division: Rangers
- Scottish Cup: Not held
- Glasgow Cup: Celtic
- Leading Goalscorer: Hughie Ferguson (Motherwell), 35 goals
