The 2008–09 season was the 122nd season of competitive football by Hamilton Academical and the first back in the top-flight of Scottish football following their promotion from the Scottish First Division at the end of the 2007–08 season.

Results and fixtures WinDrawLoss +DateVenueOpponentsScoreHamilton's score is shown first.CompetitionHamilton scorer(s)Match Report12 July 2008Glencruitten, ObanVarious (whole tournament was in 1 day)VariousKeyline CupVariousOban Saints Official Site16 July 2008Excelsior Stadium, AirdrieAirdrie United0–1F17 July 2008Shielfield Park, Berwick-upon-TweedBerwick Rangers3–2FGrady, Easton, McLeod22 July 2008Cliftonhill, CoatbridgeAlbion Rovers1–1FWaterworth23 July 2008Strathclyde Homes Stadium, DumbartonDumbarton3–1FStevenson, McCarthy, AkinsDumbarton Official Site24 July 2008Bayview Stadium, MethilEast Fife0–2FEast Fife Official Site26 July 2008The PTS Stadium, BillinghamBillingham Synthonia3–0FTaylor (2), Akins26 July 2008Victoria Park, HartlepoolHuddersfield Town2–1Hartlepool United Centenary TournamentMcArthur, MensingHartlepool United Official Site27 July 2008Victoria Park, HartlepoolSunderland2–1Hartlepool United Centenary TournamentOwn goal, GrahamHartlepool United Official Site 5 August 2008Prestonfield, LinlithgowLinlithgow Rose3–2FStevenson (pen), McArthur, McLeod11 August 2008New Douglas Park, HamiltonDundee United3–1SPLStevenson, McArthur, GrahamHamilton Official Site16 August 2008Caledonian Stadium, InvernessInverness CT1–0SPLOffiongHamilton Official Site20 August 2008New Douglas Park, HamiltonLiverpool Reserves1–2FThomasLiverpool Official Site23 August 2008Rugby Park, KilmarnockKilmarnock0–1SPLHamilton Official Site26 August 2008New Douglas Park, HamiltonClyde3–1SLCGrady, Thomas, Stevenson (pen)Hamilton Official Site30 August 2008New Douglas Park, HamiltonHeart of Midlothian1–2SPLLyleHamilton Official Site13 September 2008Pittodrie Stadium, AberdeenAberdeen2–1SPLGraham, McCarthyHamilton Official Site20 September 2008New Douglas Park, HamiltonHibernian0–1SPLHamilton Official Site24 September 2008Fir Park, MotherwellMotherwell2–1 (a.e.t.)SLCGraham, EttienHamilton Official Site27 September 2008Falkirk Stadium, FalkirkFalkirk1–4SPLOwn goalHamilton Official Site4 October 2008Celtic Park, GlasgowCeltic0–4SPLHamilton Official Site18 October 2008New Douglas Park, HamiltonSt Mirren1–2SPLCorcoranHamilton Official Site25 October 2008New Douglas Park, HamiltonRangers1–3SPLEastonHamilton Official Site28 October 2008Ibrox Stadium, GlasgowRangers0–2SLCHamilton Official Site1 November 2008Fir Park, MotherwellMotherwell0–2SPLHamilton Official Site8 November 2008New Douglas Park, HamiltonFalkirk1–1SPLMcCarthyHamilton Official Site12 November 2008Tynecastle Stadium, EdinburghHeart of Midlothian0–1SPLHamilton Official Site16 November 2008New Douglas Park, HamiltonCeltic1–2SPLOffiongHamilton Official Site22 November 2008Tannadice Park, DundeeDundee United1–1SPLOffiongHamilton Official Site29 November 2008New Douglas Park, HamiltonKilmarnock1–0SPLOffiongHamilton Official Site6 December 2008Ibrox Stadium, GlasgowRangers1–7SPLMcArthurHamilton Official Site13 December 2008Easter Road, EdinburghHibernian0–2SPLHamilton Official Site20 December 2008New Douglas Park, HamiltonMotherwell2–0SPLMcCarthy (2)Hamilton Official Site27 December 2008Love Street, PaisleySt Mirren0–1SPLHamilton Official Site3 January 2009New Douglas Park, HamiltonAberdeen2–0SPLMensing (pen), OffiongHamilton Official Site10 January 2009Victoria Park, DingwallRoss County1–0SCSwailesHamilton Official Site17 January 2009New Douglas Park, HamiltonInverness CT1–0SPLMensing (pen)Hamilton Official Site25 January 2009Rugby Park, KilmarnockKilmarnock1–0SPLOffiongHamilton Official Site31 January 2009New Douglas Park, HamiltonHeart of Midlothian2–0SPLMensing (2, 1 pen)Hamilton Official Site7 February 2009New Douglas Park, HamiltonDundee United2–1SCSwailes (2)Hamilton Official Site14 February 2009Fir Park, MotherwellMotherwell0–1SPLHamilton Official Site21 February 2009Falkirk Stadium, FalkirkFalkirk2–1SPLMensing, McGowanHamilton Official Site28 February 2009New Douglas Park, HamiltonRangers0–1SPLHamilton Official Site4 March 2009New Douglas Park, HamiltonHibernian0–1SPLHamilton Official Site8 March 2009Ibrox Stadium, GlasgowRangers1–5SCQuinnHamilton Official Site14 March 2009Pittodrie Stadium, AberdeenAberdeen0–1SPLHamilton Official Site21 March 2009New Douglas Park, HamiltonSt Mirren0–0SPLHamilton Official Site4 April 2009Celtic Park, GlasgowCeltic0–4SPLHamilton Official Site11 April 2009New Douglas Park, HamiltonDundee United0–1SPLHamilton Official Site18 April 2009Caledonian Stadium, InvernessInverness CT1–1SPLGibsonHamilton Official Site2 May 2009New Douglas Park, HamiltonKilmarnock2–1SPLMcCarthy (2)Hamilton Official Site10 May 2009Caledonian Stadium, InvernessInverness CT1–1SPLCanningHamilton Official Site13 May 2009New Douglas Park, HamiltonFalkirk0–1SPLHamilton Official Site16 May 2009New Douglas Park, HamiltonMotherwell0–3SPLHamilton Official Site23 May 2009St Mirren Park, PaisleySt Mirren1–0SPLMensingHamilton Official Site

Scottish League Cup

The Accies entered the Scottish League Cup at the second round and were again knocked out in the same stage and by the same opponents as the Scottish Cup.

Scottish Cup

Hamilton Academical entered the Scottish Cup at the fourth round where they faced Ross County on 10 January 2009. After a 1–0 win courtesy of a goal from defender Chris Swailes, the club progressed to the quarter-finals and were drawn against Rangers at Ibrox. On 8 March 2009, the club were eliminated from the competition by eventual champion Rangers, following to a 5–1 defeat.

Team statistics League table

References