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 Swansea City Nottingham Forest Doncaster Rovers
Relegated to League Two Bournemouth Gillingham Port Vale Luton Town
To League One Relegated from Championship Leicester City Colchester United Scunthorpe United
Promoted from League Two Milton Keynes Dons Peterborough United Hereford United Stockport County
League table
Play-offs
Results
Top scorers Correct as of 8 May 2009 Pos Player Club Goals1 Rickie LambertBristol Rovers29 Simon CoxSwindon Town3 Matty FryattLeicester City27 Jermaine BeckfordLeeds United5 Gary HooperScunthorpe United246 Craig Mackail-SmithPeterborough United237 Lee HughesOldham Athletic18 Aaron McLeanPeterborough United Joel PorterHartlepool United10 Paul HayesScunthorpe United17
Dubious goals panel On 30 August 2008, Leeds United drew 2–2 with Bristol Rovers. The first goal was a Jermaine Beckford shot which deflected off Steve Elliott. The goal was originally an Elliott own goal, but was later awarded to Beckford. On 7 April 2009, Leyton Orient drew 2–2 with Leeds United. 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 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. 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 CapacityLeeds United Elland Road 39,460Leicester City Walkers Stadium 32,500Huddersfield Town Galpharm Stadium 24,500Milton Keynes Dons stadium:mk 22,000Millwall The Den 20,146Carlisle United Brunton Park Stadium 16,981Tranmere Rovers Prenton Park 16,567Swindon Town The County Ground 15,728Peterborough United London Road Stadium 15,460Southend United Roots Hall 12,306Bristol Rovers Memorial Stadium 11,916Walsall Bescot Stadium 11,300Stockport County Edgeley Park 10,651Oldham Athletic Boundary Park 10,638Crewe Alexandra Alexandra Stadium 10,046Colchester United Colchester Community Stadium 10,000Yeovil Town Huish Park 9,978Leyton Orient Brisbane Road 9,271Scunthorpe United Glanford Park 9,183Brighton & Hove Albion Withdean Stadium 8,850Hartlepool United Victoria Park 7,691Northampton Town Sixfields Stadium 7,653Cheltenham Town Whaddon Road 7,408Hereford 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 Roberto Di Matteo 2 July 2008 Pre-season Cheltenham Town Keith Downing Mutual consent 13 September 2008 Martin Allen 15 September 2008 24th Colchester United Geraint Williams Mutual consent 22 September 2008 Paul Lambert 24 September 2008 23rd Carlisle United John Ward Mutual consent 3 November 2008 Greg Abbott 5 December 200820th Huddersfield TownStan Ternent Mutual consent 4 November 2008 Lee Clark 11 December 200816th Swindon TownMaurice Malpas Mutual consent 14 November 2008 Danny Wilson 26 December 200816th Crewe Alexandra Steve Holland Contract terminated 18 November 2008 Guðjón Þórðarson 24 December 2008 24th Hartlepool United Danny Wilson Contract terminated 15 December 2008 Chris Turner 15 December 2008 13th Leeds United Gary McAllister Contract terminated 21 December 2008 Simon Grayson 23 December 2008 9th Walsall Jimmy Mullen Contract terminated 10 January 2009 Chris Hutchings 20 January 2009 12th Leyton Orient Martin Ling Mutual Consent 18 January 2009 Geraint Williams 5 February 2009 21st Yeovil Town Russell Slade Contract terminated 16 February 2009 Terry Skiverton 18 February 2009 16th Brighton & Hove Albion Micky Adams Contract terminated 21 February 2009Russell Slade6 March 2009 21st Oldham Athletic John Sheridan Mutual Consent 15 March 2009 Joe Royle 15 March 2009 8th
References