2008–09 Football League One

Football league season
Football League One
Season2008–09
ChampionsLeicester City
PromotedLeicester City
Peterborough United
Scunthorpe United
RelegatedNorthampton Town
Crewe Alexandra
Cheltenham Town
Hereford United

The Football League 2008–09 (named Coca-Cola Football League for sponsorship reasons), was the seventeenth season under its current league division format. It began in August 2008 and concluded in May 2009, with the promotion play-off finals.

The Football League is contested through three Divisions. The second division of these is League One. The winner and the runner up of League One will be automatically promoted to the Football League Championship and they will be joined by the winner of the League One playoff. The bottom four teams in the league will be relegated to the third division, League Two.

Leicester City played at this level for the first time in their history having spent all their time in the top two divisions. In the opposite direction, Hereford United made their first appearance in the third tier since 1978, after many seasons in non-league and lower-league football.

Changes from last season

From League One

Promoted to Championship

Relegated to League Two

To League One

Relegated from Championship

Promoted from League Two

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
1 Leicester City (C, P) 46 27 15 4 84 39 +45 96 Promotion to Football League Championship
2 Peterborough United (P) 46 26 11 9 78 54 +24 89
3 Milton Keynes Dons 46 26 9 11 83 47 +36 87 Qualification for League One play-offs
4 Leeds United 46 26 6 14 77 49 +28 84
5 Millwall 46 25 7 14 63 53 +10 82
6 Scunthorpe United (O, P) 46 22 10 14 82 63 +19 76
7 Tranmere Rovers 46 21 11 14 62 49 +13 74
8 Southend United 46 21 8 17 58 61 −3 71
9 Huddersfield Town 46 18 14 14 62 65 −3 68
10 Oldham Athletic 46 16 17 13 66 65 +1 65
11 Bristol Rovers 46 17 12 17 79 61 +18 63
12 Colchester United 46 18 9 19 58 58 0 63
13 Walsall 46 17 10 19 61 66 −5 61
14 Leyton Orient 46 15 11 20 45 57 −12 56
15 Swindon Town 46 12 17 17 68 71 −3 53
16 Brighton & Hove Albion 46 13 13 20 55 70 −15 52
17 Yeovil Town 46 12 15 19 41 66 −25 51
18 Stockport County 46 16 12 18 59 57 +2 50[a]
19 Hartlepool United 46 13 11 22 66 79 −13 50
20 Carlisle United 46 12 14 20 56 69 −13 50
21 Northampton Town (R) 46 12 13 21 61 65 −4 49 Relegation to Football League Two
22 Crewe Alexandra (R) 46 12 10 24 59 82 −23 46
23 Cheltenham Town (R) 46 9 12 25 51 91 −40 39
24 Hereford United (R) 46 9 7 30 42 79 −37 34
Updated to match(es) played on 2 May 2009. Source: The Football League
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ Stockport County deducted 10 points for entering administration.[1]

Play-offs

Semi-finals Final
        
6 Scunthorpe United 1 0 (7) 1
3 Milton Keynes Dons 1 0 (6) 1
6 Scunthorpe United 3
5 Millwall 2
5 Millwall 1 1 2
4 Leeds United 0 1 1

Results

Home \ Away B&HA BRR CRL CHL COL CRE HAR HER HUD LEE LEI LEY MIL MKD NOR OLD PET SCU STD STP SWI TRA WAL YEO
Brighton & Hove Albion 1–1 0–2 3–3 1–2 0–4 2–1 0–0 0–1 0–2 3–2 0–0 4–1 2–4 1–1 3–1 2–4 1–4 1–3 1–0 2–3 0–0 0–1 5–0
Bristol Rovers 1–2 2–3 3–2 0–0 0–0 4–1 6–1 1–2 2–2 0–1 2–1 4–2 1–2 1–0 2–0 0–1 1–2 4–2 2–0 2–2 2–0 1–3 3–0
Carlisle United 3–1 1–1 1–0 0–2 4–2 0–1 1–2 3–0 0–2 1–2 1–3 2–0 3–2 1–1 1–1 3–3 1–1 2–1 1–2 1–1 1–2 1–1 4–1
Cheltenham Town 2–2 2–1 1–1 4–3 1–0 2–0 2–3 1–2 0–1 0–4 0–1 1–3 3–5 0–1 1–1 3–6 1–2 0–0 2–2 2–0 1–0 0–0 1–0
Colchester United 0–1 0–1 5–0 3–1 0–1 1–1 1–2 0–0 0–1 0–1 1–0 1–2 0–3 2–1 2–2 0–1 0–0 0–1 1–0 3–2 0–1 0–2 1–0
Crewe Alexandra 1–2 1–1 1–2 1–2 2–0 0–0 2–1 3–1 2–3 0–3 0–2 0–1 2–2 1–3 0–3 1–1 3–2 3–4 0–3 1–0 2–1 2–1 2–0
Hartlepool United 1–0 1–1 2–2 4–1 4–2 1–4 4–2 5–3 0–1 2–2 0–1 2–3 1–3 2–0 3–3 1–2 2–3 3–0 0–1 3–3 2–1 2–2 0–0
Hereford United 1–2 0–3 1–0 3–0 0–2 2–0 1–1 0–1 2–0 1–3 2–1 0–2 0–1 0–2 5–0 0–1 1–2 0–1 0–1 1–1 2–2 0–0 1–2
Huddersfield Town 2–2 1–1 1–0 2–2 2–2 3–2 1–1 2–0 1–0 2–3 0–1 1–2 1–3 3–2 1–1 1–0 2–0 0–1 1–1 2–1 1–2 2–1 0–0
Leeds United 3–1 2–2 0–2 2–0 1–2 5–2 4–1 1–0 1–2 1–1 2–1 2–0 2–0 3–0 0–2 3–1 3–2 2–0 1–0 1–0 3–1 3–0 4–0
Leicester City 0–0 2–1 2–2 4–0 1–1 2–1 1–0 2–1 4–2 1–0 3–0 0–1 2–0 0–0 0–0 4–0 2–2 3–0 1–1 1–1 3–1 2–2 1–0
Leyton Orient 2–1 1–2 0–0 1–2 2–1 1–0 1–0 2–1 1–1 2–2 1–3 0–0 1–2 1–3 2–1 2–3 2–2 1–1 0–3 1–2 0–1 0–1 0–1
Millwall 0–1 3–2 1–0 2–0 0–1 0–0 2–0 1–0 2–1 3–1 0–1 2–1 0–4 1–0 2–3 2–0 1–2 1–1 1–0 1–1 1–0 3–1 1–1
Milton Keynes Dons 2–0 2–1 3–1 3–1 1–1 2–2 3–1 3–0 1–1 3–1 2–2 1–2 0–1 1–0 6–2 1–2 0–2 2–0 1–2 1–2 1–0 0–1 3–0
Northampton Town 2–2 0–0 1–0 4–2 1–2 5–1 1–0 2–1 1–1 2–1 1–2 1–1 0–0 0–1 0–1 1–1 3–3 2–3 4–0 3–4 1–1 0–2 3–0
Oldham Athletic 1–1 0–2 0–0 4–0 0–1 1–1 2–1 4–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 4–3 2–0 2–1 1–2 3–0 1–1 3–1 0–0 0–2 3–2 0–2
Peterborough United 0–0 5–4 1–0 1–1 2–1 4–2 1–2 2–0 4–0 2–0 2–0 3–0 1–0 0–0 1–0 2–2 2–1 1–2 1–0 2–2 2–2 1–0 1–3
Scunthorpe United 2–0 0–2 2–1 3–0 3–0 3–0 3–0 3–0 1–2 1–2 1–2 2–1 3–2 0–1 4–4 2–0 1–0 1–1 2–1 3–3 1–1 1–1 2–0
Southend United 0–2 1–0 3–0 2–0 3–3 0–1 3–2 1–0 0–1 1–0 0–2 3–0 0–1 0–2 1–0 1–2 1–0 2–0 1–1 2–1 2–1 2–0 0–1
Stockport County 2–0 3–1 3–0 1–0 1–2 4–3 2–1 4–1 1–1 1–3 0–0 0–1 2–2 0–1 1–1 3–1 1–3 0–3 3–1 1–1 0–0 1–2 0–0
Swindon Town 0–2 2–1 1–1 2–2 1–3 0–0 0–1 3–0 1–3 1–3 2–2 0–1 1–2 1–1 2–1 2–0 2–2 4–2 3–0 1–1 3–1 3–2 2–3
Tranmere Rovers 1–0 2–0 4–1 2–0 3–4 2–0 1–0 2–1 3–1 2–1 2–0 0–0 1–3 1–1 4–1 0–1 1–1 2–0 2–2 2–1 1–0 2–1 1–1
Walsall 3–0 0–5 2–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–3 1–1 2–3 1–0 1–4 0–2 1–2 0–3 3–1 1–2 1–2 2–1 5–2 1–0 2–1 0–1 2–0
Yeovil Town 1–1 2–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 3–2 2–3 2–2 1–0 1–1 0–2 0–0 2–0 0–0 1–0 2–2 0–1 1–2 1–2 2–4 1–0 1–0 1–1
Source: The Football League
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Top scorers

Correct as of 8 May 2009[2]

Pos Player Club Goals
1 Rickie Lambert Bristol Rovers 29
Simon Cox Swindon Town
3 Matty Fryatt Leicester City 27
Jermaine Beckford Leeds United
5 Gary Hooper Scunthorpe United 24
6 Craig Mackail-Smith Peterborough United 23
7 Lee Hughes Oldham Athletic 18
Aaron McLean Peterborough United
Joel Porter Hartlepool United
10 Paul Hayes Scunthorpe United 17

Dubious goals panel

  • On 30 August 2008 Leeds drew 2–2 with Bristol Rovers. The first goal was a Jermaine Beckford shot which deflected off Steven Elliot. The goal was originally an Elliot own goal, but was later awarded to Beckford.
  • On 7 April 2009 Leyton Orient drew 2–2 with Leeds United. Leyton Orient's first goal was from a Sean Thornton Free Kick but it took a slight deflection from Simon Church on its way in. BBC Sport awarded the goal to Sean Thornton but it is still unclear what the final decision will be regarding the actual scorer. Church later claimed the goal and stated that he definitely got a vital touch on the ball.
  • On 11 April 2009 Leyton Orient beat Colchester United 2–1. Leyton Orient's second goal was credited to Jimmy Smith, but it looked to have been put over the line by Scott McGleish, but it is unclear what the decision on the goalscorer will be at present.

Key events

30 April 2009 – Stockport County are docked 10 points by the FA for entering administration

Stadiums

Team Stadium Capacity
Leeds United Elland Road 39,460
Leicester City Walkers Stadium 32,500
Huddersfield Town Galpharm Stadium 24,500
Milton Keynes Dons stadium:mk 22,000
Millwall The Den 20,146
Carlisle United Brunton Park Stadium 16,981
Tranmere Rovers Prenton Park 16,567
Swindon Town The County Ground 15,728
Peterborough United London Road Stadium 15,460
Southend United Roots Hall 12,306
Bristol Rovers Memorial Stadium 11,916
Walsall Bescot Stadium 11,300
Stockport County Edgeley Park 10,651
Oldham Athletic Boundary Park 10,638
Crewe Alexandra Alexandra Stadium 10,046
Colchester United Colchester Community Stadium 10,000
Yeovil Town Huish Park 9,978
Leyton Orient Brisbane Road 9,271
Scunthorpe United Glanford Park 9,183
Brighton & Hove Albion Withdean Stadium 8,850
Hartlepool United Victoria Park 7,691
Northampton Town Sixfields Stadium 7,653
Cheltenham Town Whaddon Road 7,408
Hereford United Edgar Street 7,100

Managerial changes

Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Replaced by Date of appointment Position in table
Milton Keynes Dons Paul Ince Signed by Blackburn Rovers (mutual consent) 22 June 2008[3] Roberto Di Matteo 2 July 2008[4] Pre-season
Cheltenham Town Keith Downing Mutual consent 13 September 2008[5] Martin Allen 15 September 2008[6] 24th
Colchester United Geraint Williams Mutual consent 22 September 2008[7] Paul Lambert 24 September 2008[8] 23rd
Carlisle United John Ward Mutual consent 3 November 2008[9] Greg Abbott 5 December 2008[10] 20th
Huddersfield Town Stan Ternent Mutual consent 4 November 2008[11] Lee Clark 11 December 2008[12] 16th
Swindon Town Maurice Malpas Mutual consent 14 November 2008[13] Danny Wilson 26 December 2008[14] 16th
Crewe Alexandra Steve Holland Contract terminated[15] 18 November 2008[16] Guðjón Þórðarson 24 December 2008[17] 24th
Hartlepool United Danny Wilson Contract terminated 15 December 2008[18] Chris Turner 15 December 2008[18] 13th
Leeds United Gary McAllister Contract terminated 21 December 2008[19] Simon Grayson 23 December 2008[20] 9th
Walsall Jimmy Mullen Contract terminated 10 January 2009[21] Chris Hutchings 20 January 2009[22] 12th
Leyton Orient Martin Ling Mutual Consent 18 January 2009[23] Geraint Williams 5 February 2009[24] 21st
Yeovil Town Russell Slade Contract terminated 16 February 2009[25] Terry Skiverton 18 February 2009[26] 16th
Brighton & Hove Albion Micky Adams Contract terminated 21 February 2009[27] Russell Slade 6 March 2009[28] 21st
Oldham Athletic John Sheridan Mutual Consent 15 March 2009[29] Joe Royle 15 March 2009[30] 8th

References

  1. ^ "Stockport in Administration". The Football League. 30 April 2009. Archived from the original on 7 May 2009. Retrieved 30 April 2009.
  2. ^ "League One Top Scorers". Football-League.co.uk. 15 December 2008. Archived from the original on 26 March 2009. Retrieved 2 March 2009.
  3. ^ "Blackburn appoint Ince as manager". BBC Sport. 22 June 2008. Archived from the original on 10 December 2008. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
  4. ^ "Di Matteo appointed MK Dons coach". BBC Sport. 30 June 2008. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
  5. ^ "Manager Downing leaves Cheltenham". BBC Sport. 13 September 2008. Archived from the original on 14 September 2008. Retrieved 14 September 2008.
  6. ^ "Allen named new Cheltenham boss". BBC Sport. 15 September 2008. Archived from the original on 15 September 2008. Retrieved 15 September 2008.
  7. ^ "Boss Williams departs Colchester". BBC Sport. 22 September 2008. Archived from the original on 23 September 2008. Retrieved 23 September 2008.
  8. ^ "Us appoint Lambert as manager". Colchester United website. 24 September 2008. Archived from the original on 12 October 2008. Retrieved 26 December 2008.
  9. ^ "Carlisle part company with Ward". BBC Sport. 3 November 2008. Retrieved 26 December 2008.
  10. ^ "Abbott appointed Carlisle manager". BBC Sport. 5 December 2008. Archived from the original on 8 December 2008. Retrieved 5 December 2008.
  11. ^ "Ternent leaves Huddersfield post". BBC Sport. 4 November 2008. Archived from the original on 18 December 2008. Retrieved 26 December 2008.
  12. ^ "Clark named new Huddersfield boss". BBC Sport. 11 December 2008. Archived from the original on 13 December 2008. Retrieved 11 December 2008.
  13. ^ "Swindon part company with Malpas". BBC Sport. 14 November 2008. Archived from the original on 28 December 2008. Retrieved 26 December 2008.
  14. ^ "Wilson appointed Swindon manager". BBC Sport. 26 December 2008. Archived from the original on 27 December 2008. Retrieved 26 December 2008.
  15. ^ "Crewe Board to meet over new boss". BBC Sport. 11 December 2008. Archived from the original on 15 December 2008. Retrieved 15 December 2008.
  16. ^ "Gradi replaces Holland at Crewe". BBC Sport. 18 November 2008. Archived from the original on 27 December 2008. Retrieved 19 November 2008.
  17. ^ "Thordarson appointed Crewe boss". BBC Sport. 24 December 2008. Archived from the original on 27 December 2008. Retrieved 26 December 2008.
  18. ^ a b "Hartlepool dismiss manager Wilson". BBC Sport. 15 December 2008. Archived from the original on 16 December 2008. Retrieved 15 December 2008.
  19. ^ "Leeds dismiss manager McAllister". BBC Sport. 21 December 2008. Archived from the original on 31 December 2008. Retrieved 21 December 2008.
  20. ^ "Grayson appointed Leeds manager". BBC Sport. 23 December 2008. Archived from the original on 23 December 2008. Retrieved 23 December 2008.
  21. ^ "Mullen sacked as Walsall manager". BBC Sport. 10 January 2009. Retrieved 10 January 2009.
  22. ^ "Walsall appoint Hutchings as boss". BBC Sport. 20 January 2009. Archived from the original on 22 January 2009. Retrieved 20 January 2009.
  23. ^ "Leyton Orient manager Ling leaves". BBC Sport. 18 January 2009. Archived from the original on 19 January 2009. Retrieved 18 January 2009.
  24. ^ "Orient appoint Williams as boss". BBC Sport. 5 February 2009. Archived from the original on 8 February 2009. Retrieved 5 February 2009.
  25. ^ "Yeovil split with manager Slade". BBC Sport. 16 February 2009. Archived from the original on 18 February 2009. Retrieved 16 February 2009.
  26. ^ "Skiverton appointed Yeovil boss". BBC Sport. 18 February 2009. Archived from the original on 20 February 2009. Retrieved 18 February 2009.
  27. ^ "Brighton part company with Adams". BBC Sport. 21 February 2009. Archived from the original on 24 February 2009. Retrieved 21 February 2009.
  28. ^ "Slade appointed new Brighton boss". BBC Sport. 6 March 2009. Archived from the original on 9 March 2009. Retrieved 6 March 2009.
  29. ^ "Oldham boss Sheridan leaves club". BBC Sport. 15 March 2009. Archived from the original on 21 March 2009. Retrieved 15 March 2009.
  30. ^ "Royle replaces Sheridan at Oldham". BBC Sport. 15 March 2009. Archived from the original on 20 March 2009. Retrieved 15 March 2009.
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