The 2008–09 Scottish First Division was the 15th season of the First Division in its current format of ten teams.
Promotion and relegation from 2007–08
SPL & First Division Promoted from First Division to Scottish Premier League Hamilton Academical
First & Second Divisions Relegated from First Division to Second Division Stirling Albion Promoted from Second Division to First Division Ross County (champions) Airdrie United (losing play-off finalists, promoted due to Gretna's relegation to Division Three)
League table
Results Teams play each other four times in this league. In the first half of the season each team plays every other team twice (home and away) and then do the same in the second half of the season.
First half of season
Second half of season
Top scorers Rank Scorer Team Goals1 Stephen DobbieQueen of the South242 Leigh GriffithsLivingston183 Andy KirkDunfermline Athletic154 Steven MilneSt Johnstone14 Mickaël Antoine-CurierDundee6 Pat ClarkeClyde117 Simon LynchAirdrie United10 Steven CraigRoss County Sean HigginsRoss County10 Peter WeathersonGreenock Morton9 Brian WakeGreenock Morton Gary HarkinsPartick Thistle13 Nick PhinnDunfermline Athletic814 Colin McMenaminDundee715 William McLarenClyde6 Ruari MacLennanClyde
Source: The League Insider
Attendance TeamStadium Capacity Highest Lowest AverageDundeeDens Park 11,856 6,537 2,831 3,995St JohnstoneMcDiarmid Park 10,673 7,238 2,259 3,502Dunfermline AthleticEast End Park 11,998 4,998 1,371 3,255Partick ThistleFirhill Stadium 10,887 3,378 2,296 2,956Queen of the SouthPalmerston Park 6,412 3,339 2,029 2,720Greenock MortonCappielow 11,612 3,323 1,685 2,279Ross CountyVictoria Park 6,310 3,444 1,625 2,279LivingstonAlmondvale Stadium 10,016 2,169 1,068 1,728Airdrie UnitedNew Broomfield 10,171 2,165 633 1,356ClydeBroadwood Stadium 8,006 2,114 776 1,236
Source: The League Insider
Kits and shirt sponsors Team Kit supplier Shirt sponsor(s) NotesAirdrie UnitedSurridgeSt. Andrew's HospiceNew home strip.ClydeSurridgeOptical Express/Reface ScotlandNew kit supplier and new away kit sponsor. Reface Scotland are away kit sponsor.DundeeBuktaBuktaNew home kit, Bukta replace as sponsor.Dunfermline AthleticPumaThe Purvis GroupNew kit supplier, return to traditional black and white striped home kit.Greenock MortonBuktaMillionsNew home kitLivingstonMacronRDF ConsultingNew kit supplier Macron replacing Nike with a new yellow home kit, while IT solutions provider RDF Consulting sponsor the Lions for the next two seasons.Partick ThistlePumaIgnis Asset ManagementPuma replace Diadora as kit supplier.Queen of the SouthSurridgeJB Houston Butchers/Maxwelltown BuildersNew home and away kits. Home kit is traditional blue and Away kit is red. JB Houston Butchers displayed on front of shirt, Maxwelltown Builders at the back.Ross CountyAdidasHIGHnetSt JohnstoneSurridgeGeorge WimpeyNew home kit
Managerial changes
Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Replaced by Date of appointment Table positionShows position in table at time when manager departed. Dundee Alex Rae Sacked 20 October Jocky Scott 30 October 8 Livingston Roberto Landi Sacked 1 December Paul Hegarty 5 December 5 Livingston Paul Hegarty Suspended 25 April John Murphy 30 June 6
Monthly awards
MonthFirst Division managerSFL PlayerSFL Young playerManagerClubPlayerClubPlayerClub August Roberto Landi Livingston Stephen Robertson Airdrie United Leigh Griffiths Livingston September Jim McIntyre Dunfermline Athletic Paul McManus East Fife Calum Elliot Livingston October Derek McInnes St Johnstone Steven Milne St Johnstone Dominic Shimmin Greenock Morton November Jocky Scott Dundee Bryan Prunty Ayr United Kyle Benedictus Dundee December John Brown Clyde Alan Main St Johnstone Chris McMenamin Berwick Rangers January Ian McCall Partick Thistle Willie McLaren Clyde Bobby Barr Albion Rovers February Jocky Scott Dundee Gary Harkins Partick Thistle Fraser McLaren Berwick Rangers March Paul Hegarty Livingston Kevin Rutkiewicz St Johnstone Leigh Griffiths Livingston April Gordon Chisholm Queen of the South Stephen Dobbie Queen of the South Kevin Moon St Johnstone
First Division play-offs
Semi-finals The ninth placed team in the First Division played the fourth placed team in the Second Division and third placed team in the Second Division played the second placed team in the Second Division. The play-offs were played over two legs, the winning team in each semi-final advanced to the final.
First legs
Second legs
Final The two semi-final winners played each other over two legs. The winning team was awarded a place in the 2009–10 First Division.
First leg
Second leg
References