During the 2008–09 English football season, Tranmere Rovers F.C. competed in Football League One.
Season summary In the 2007–08 season, Tranmere finished 11th and their ambition for 2008–09 was the play-offs. Their form in the first half of the season was mixed, but they found themselves in 8th place at Christmas. Tranmere finished 7th, missing out on the play-offs by one point. Despite this 7th-placed finish, manager Ronnie Moore was sacked and replaced by John Barnes in mid-June. A run of 5 games unbeaten in March/April led rovers into the play-off positions with 3 games remaining, but 7th placed Scunthorpe were two points behind and had played two games less. Tranmere lost to fellow play-off contenders Leeds United, but Scunthorpe lost too, leaving Rovers in 6th place. They failed to win their final 2 games, meaning they finished 7th.
Kit Tranmere's kits were manufactured by Vandanel and sponsored by the Wirral Metropolitan Council.
Squad Squad at end of season
Left club during season
Competitions League One League table
Matches + League One match detailsDateOpponentsVenueResultScoreF–AScorersAttendanceSwindon TownAL1–3Savage 85'7,975Hartlepool UnitedHW1–0Curran 23'5,418Leicester CityAL1–3Shuker 80'17,798Northampton TownHW4–1Savage 35', Kay 38', Curran 45', Thomas-Moore 90'5,034Oldham AthleticHL0–16,082Huddersfield TownAW2–1Sonko 39', Shotton 49'12,128Peterborough UnitedAD2–25,735Colchester UnitedHL3–4Kay 12', Taylor 76', Shotton 78'5,713Carlisle UnitedAW2–1Thomas-Moore 1', Shotton 80'6,093MillwallHL1–3Savage 90'5,863Leyton OrientAW1–0Shuker 39'5,568Cheltenham TownHW2–0Savage 69', Sonko 89'4,535Crewe AlexandraHW2–0Jennings 51', Shuker 74'5,790Stockport CountyAD0–06,121Milton Keynes DonsAL0–18,185Southend UnitedHD2–2Thomas-Moore 8', Savage 14'5,019Yeovil TownAL0–13,445Scunthorpe UnitedHW2–0Sonko 41', Shotton 75'4,564Leeds UnitedHW2–1Kay 17', Moore 49'8,700Bristol RoversAL0–26,217Brighton & Hove AlbionHW1–0Kay 90'4,885Hereford UnitedAD2–2Sonko 37', 61'3,495WalsallHW2–1Goodison 42', Kay 90'5,913MillwallAL0–18,257Carlisle UnitedHW4–1Thomas-Moore 49', 77', Edds 53', Jennings 66'5,924Stockport CountyHW2–1Edds 57', Thomas-Moore 90' pen.5,259Crewe AlexandraAL1–2Kay 26'4,936Leyton OrientHD0–04,892Colchester UnitedAW1–0Shotton 50'3,588Southend UnitedAL1–2Thomas-Moore 63' pen.6,507Peterborough UnitedHD1–1Barnett 16'4,862Milton Keynes DonsHL1–1Gornell 83'5,625Swindon TownHW1–0Kay 48'5,153Hartlepool UnitedAL1–2Chorley 70'3,033Northampton TownAD1–1Savage 32'4,546Leicester CityHW2–0Kay 47', Jennings 83' pen.6,032Huddersfield TownHW3–1Kay 6', 53', Savage 50'5,515Cheltenham TownAL0–13,445Oldham AthleticAW2–0Barnett 57', Thomas-Moore 75' pen.7,489Brighton & Hove AlbionAD0–05,819Bristol RoversHW2–0Cresswell 37', Thomas-Moore 64'8,119WalsallAW1–0Savage 80'4,206Hereford UnitedHW2–1Savage 8', Barnett 27'5,945Leeds UnitedAL1–3Sodje 27' o.g.24,360Yeovil TownHD1–1Kay 78'8,306Scunthorpe UnitedAD1–1Curran 39'8,029
FA Cup +FA Cup match detailsRoundDateOpponentsVenueResultScoreF–AScorersAttendanceFirst roundAccrington StanleyAD0–02,126First round replayAccrington StanleyHW1–0Shuker 69'2,560Second roundPeterborough UnitedAD0–05,980Second round replayPeterborough UnitedHL1–2Kay 47'3,139
League Cup +League Cup match detailsRoundDateOpponentsVenueResultScoreF–AScorersAttendanceFirst roundGrimsby TownAL0–21,858
Football League Trophy +Football League Trophy match detailsRoundDateOpponentsVenueResultScoreF–AScorersAttendanceFirst roundAccrington StanleyHW1–0Sonko 49'2,410Second roundCrewe AlexandraHW1–0Shuker 86'2,626Northern quarter-finalMorecambeHW1–0Shotton 45'2,110Northern semi-finalScunthorpe UnitedAL1–2Thomas-Moore 53'2,669
References