2008–09 in Scottish football

The 2008–09 season is the 112th season of competitive football in Scotland. The season commenced in August 2008.

Notable events

*July 3: Annan Athletic, formerly of the East of Scotland League were admitted to the SFL,cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_div_1/7487357.stm|publisher=BBC Sport|title=Annan voted into Scottish league|date=2008-07-03|accessdate=2008-07-03] beating Cove Rangers, Edinburgh City, Preston Athletic and Spartans. [cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/scotland/7449665.stm|publisher=BBC Sport|title=Who's next for Division Three?|date=2008-06-15|accessdate=2008-06-30] They replaced Gretna, who resigned their league status on June 3.cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/g/gretna/7433470.stm|title=Gretna relinquish league status|date=2008-06-03|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=2008-06-05]
*July 11: Gretna 2008, founded by the supporters of the bankrupt Gretna, join the East of Scotland League First Division.cite news|url=http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/Gretna-given-place-in-the.4279463.jp|title=Gretna given place in the East of Scotland League|Publisher=Edinburgh Evening News|date=2008-07-11|accessdate=2008-09-15]
*August 8: Former SPL members and Scottish Cup finalists Gretna are formally liquidated by the club's administrators. [cite news|url=http://www.cumberland-news.co.uk/1.218555|title=Liquidation signals the final nail in Gretna coffin|work=The Cumberland News|date=2008-08-08]

Overview

* Hamilton Academical are competing in the Scottish Premier League for the first time, their first season in the top-flight since the 1988–89 season, after being promoted as First Division champions last season. [cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_div_1/7353608.stm|publisher=BBC Sport|title=Hamilton Accies 2-0 Clyde|date=2008-04-19|accessdate=2008-04-19]
* Gretna were due to play in the First Division after being relegated from the SPL. However, on May 29 2008, they were demoted to the Third Division due to their failure to guarantee that they would fufill their fixtures.cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/g/gretna/7426281.stm|publisher=BBC Sport|title=Gretna demoted to Division Three|date=2008-05-29|accessdate=2008-05-29] Gretna resigned from the SFL on June 3 2008 with the club's administrators warning of the threat of liquidation, creating an opening in the Third Division for a new SFL member. [cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_div_1/7428328.stm|publisher=BBC Sport|title= Four clubs wait for Gretna fate|date=2008-05-30|accessdate=2008-06-02] Following Gretna's demise a new club, Gretna 2008 was formed, they were given a place in the East of Scotland League, filling the gap left by Annan Athletic.
* Ross County are competing in the First Division after being promoted as Second Division champions. Airdrie United were also promoted into the First Division, filling Gretna's space, as they were the losing play-off finalists.
* Stirling Albion are competing in the Second Division after being relegated from the First Division as the bottom team. [cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_div_1/7334953.stm|publisher=BBC Sport|title=Partick Thistle 1-0 Stirling Alb|date=2008-04-08|accessdate=2008-04-08]
* East Fife [cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_div_1/7296314.stm|publisher=BBC Sport|title=East Stirlingshire 0-3 East Fife|date=1 June 2007] and Arborath [cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_div_1/7390697.stm|publisher=BBC Sport|title=Stranraer 1-0 Arbroath (1-2)|date=2008-05-10|accessdate=2008-05-22] are competing in the Second Division after being promoted as Third Division champions and Second Division play-off winners, respectively. Stranraer were also promoted into the Second Division, filling the empty space following Gretna's relegation, as they were the losing play-off finalists.
* Berwick Rangers [cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_div_1/7317734.stm|publisher=BBC Sport|title=Berwick Rangers 2-2 Peterhead|date=2008-03-28] and Cowdenbeath [cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_div_1/7379026.stm|title=Cowdenbeath 1-2 Arbroath (2-3)|date=2008-05-03|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=2008-06-05] are competing in the Third Division after being relegated from the Second Division as the bottom team and through the Second Division play-offs, respectively.
* Annan Athletic are competing in the Third Division after being admitted to the SFL. They replaced Gretna, who resigned their league status on June 3.
* St. Mirren will move into their new 8,000 seater stadium, New St Mirren Park, at some point during the season. [cite news|url=http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/display.var.1352950.0.st_mirren_finalise_deal_to_sell_love_street_stadium_to_tesco.php|title=St Mirren finalise deal to sell Love Street stadium to Tesco|date=2008-04-24|publisher=Evening Times|accessdate=2008-06-16] [cite news|url=http://www.saintmirren.premiumtv.co.uk/page/TheNewStadium/0,,10295,00.html|title=From Love Street to Greenhill Road|publisher=St. Mirren F.C.|accessdate=2008-06-16]

Managerial changes

Rangers

Hibernian

Deaths

*2008-07-19 – George Niven, 79, former Rangers and Partick Thistle goalkeeper. [cite news|url=http://sport.scotsman.com/football/Ibrox-custodian-was-clubs-rock.4305162.jp|publisher=The Scotsman|title=Ibrox custodian was club's rock during transition from 50s side to 60s|date=2008-07-19|accessdate=2008-07-19]
*2008-07-28 – Bob Crampsey, 78, broadcaster who contributed to sports programmes on BBC Scotland, STV and Radio Clyde. [cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/scotland/7527655.stm|title=Broadcasting legend Crampsey dies|date=2008-07-28|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=2008-07-31]
*2008-08-28 – Bobby Cummings, 72, former Aberdeen player. Also played for Newcastle United, Darlington and Hartlepool [cite news|url=http://www.afc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/clubNewsDetail/0,,10284~1378825,00.html|title=Bobby Cummings|date=2008-08-29|publisher=Aberdeen F.C.|accessdate=2008-08-30] [cite news|url=http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-evening-chronicle/2008/08/28/death-of-a-pitman-with-the-toon-in-his-blood-72703-21624951/|title=Death of a pitman with the Toon in his blood|date=2008-08-28|publisher=Chronicle Live|accessdate=2008-08-30]
*2008-08-31 – Jamie Dolan, 39, former Motherwell, Dundee United, Dunfermline Athletic, Livingston, Forfar and Partick Thistle player. [cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/motherwell/7591749.stm|title=Motherwell mourn death of Dolan|date=2008-09-01|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=2008-09-01]
*2008-09-25 – Jimmy Sirrel, 86, former Celtic player. also played for Bradford Park Avenue, Brighton & Hove Albion and Aldershot, and managed Brentford, Notts County and Sheffield United. [cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/n/notts_county/7635181.stm|title=Magpies legend Sirrel dies at 86|date=2008-09-26|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=2008-10-01]

Notes and references