The 2008–09 Scottish Football League Third Division (also known as the 2008–09 Irn-Bru Scottish Football League Third Division for sponsorship reasons) was the 15th season in the format of ten teams in the fourth-tier of Scottish football. The season started on 2 August 2008 and ended on 9 May 2009. Dumbarton F.C. finished top and were promoted alongside Stenhousemuir F.C. as play-off winners. Cowdenbeath F.C. were also promoted due to Livingston being demoted to the Third Division.
Teams for 2008–09
East Fife as champions of the 2007–08 season were directly promoted to the 2008–09 Scottish Second Division. They were replaced by Berwick Rangers who finished bottom of the 2007–08 Scottish Second Division.
A second promotion place was available via a play-off tournament between the ninth-placed team of the 2007–08 Scottish Second Division, Cowdenbeath, and the sides ranked second, third and fourth in the 2007–08 Scottish Third Division, Stranraer, Montrose and Arbroath respectively. The play off was won by Arbroath who defeated Stranraer in the final. Cowdenbeath were therefore relegated. However, due to Gretna's expulsion from the Football League, an extra promotion place was awarded, thus Stranraer as losing play-off finalists were also promoted.
Annan Athletic, formerly of the East of Scotland League, were admitted to the SFL to replace Gretna, who resigned their league status on 3 June.) The SFL voted on the matter on 3 July, with 5 clubs having put forward applications. Annan, who like Gretna are from the Dumfries and Galloway region, were chosen above other applicants Cove Rangers, Edinburgh City, Preston Athletic and Spartans.
Overview Relegated from Second Division to Third Division Berwick Rangers Cowdenbeath (via play-offs)
Promoted from Third Division to Second Division East Fife Arbroath (via play-offs) Stranraer (losing play-off finalists, promoted due to Gretna's demotion to Third Division)
Newly admitted into SFL Annan Athletic
Stadia and attendances TeamStadium Capacity Highest Lowest AverageAnnan AthleticGalabank Stadium 3,500 1,343 422 734DumbartonStrathclyde Homes Stadium 2,025 1,398 462 716StenhousemuirOchilview Park 2,624 805 311 496Forfar AthleticStation Park 5,177 621 362 460East StirlingshireOchilview Park 2,624 812 343 450CowdenbeathCentral Park 2,000 1,181 193 415Berwick RangersShielfield Park 4,131 570 288 414Elgin CityBorough Briggs 3,927 537 276 392MontroseLinks Park 3,292 570 294 379Albion RoversCliftonhill 1,249 452 237 312
Source: The League Insider A.East Stirlingshire ground shared with Stenhousemuir., eaststirlingshirefc.com Retrieved 25 May 2011.
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. Albion Rovers John McCormack Resigned 28 June Paul Martin 9 July pre-season Montrose Jim Weir Sacked 19 October Steven Tweed 15 January 2009 4 Berwick Rangers Alan McGonigal Resigned 13 November Jimmy Crease 26 December 9 Elgin City Robbie Williamson Resigned 20 December 2008 Ross Jack 23 January 10
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 Mike Jack Annan Athletic15 Scott Dalziel Stenhousemuir3 Darren Gribben Berwick Rangers14 Ross Clark Dumbarton Andy Rodgers East Stirlingshire Brian Graham East Stirlingshire7 Ross Campbell Forfar Athletic138 John Gemmell Cowdenbeath12 Kevin Motion Stenhousemuir10 Bobby Barr Albion Rovers11 Derek Carcary Dumbarton
Source: The League Insider
Events
3 July – Annan Athletic, formerly of the East of Scotland League were admitted to the SFL, beating Cove Rangers, Edinburgh City, Preston Athletic and Spartans. They replaced Gretna, who resigned their league status on 3 June. 13 November – A consortium led by Berwick Rangers Supporters Club agreed a deal to take over the club. Following a poor run of form, manager Allan McGonigal resigned at the same time saying "I made up my mind that when the current directors left I would move on."
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
References