2008–09 Football League

110th season of the Football League March 2013 September 2024 The Football League 2008–09 Wolverhampton Wanderers Wolverhampton Wanderers Birmingham CityBurnley Chester CityLuton Town New clubs in league Aldershot TownExeter City 2007–08 2009–10 The 2008–09 Football League (known as the Coca-Cola Football League for sponsorship reasons) was the 110th completed season of the Football League. 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 Championship, League One and League Two. The winner and the runner-up of the League Championship are automatically promoted to the Premier League and they are joined by the winner of the Championship play-off. The bottom two teams in League Two are relegated to the Conference Premier. Promotion and relegation As a consequence of results in the 2008–09 English football season, the following promotions and relegations involving teams within, or entering or exiting the Football League occurred. These changes take effect for the 2009–10 season. From Premier League Relegated to Championship West Bromwich Albion Middlesbrough Newcastle United From Championship Promoted to Premier League Wolverhampton Wanderers Birmingham City Burnley Relegated to League One Norwich City Southampton Charlton Athletic From Football League One Promoted to Championship Leicester City Peterborough United Scunthorpe United Relegated to League Two Northampton Town Crewe Alexandra Cheltenham Town Hereford United From Football League Two Promoted to League One Brentford Exeter City Wycombe Wanderers Gillingham Relegated to Conference Premier Chester City Luton Town From Conference Premier Promoted to League Two Burton Albion Torquay United Championship 2008–09 Football League Championship Table League table Play-offs Play-offs Results Results Managerial changes Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Replaced by Date of appointment Position in table Queens Park Rangers Iain Dowie Contract terminated 24 October 2008https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/q/qpr/7689062.stm QPR part company with boss Dowie 24 October 2008 10 November 2008 BBC Sport Paulo Sousa 19 November 2008https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/q/qpr/7736118.stm Sousa is new QPR first-team coach 19 November 2008 20 November 2008 BBC Sport 9th Watford Aidy Boothroyd Mutual consent 3 November 2008http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_4536124,00.html Pardew Exits Charlton 22 November 2008 22 November 2008 Sky Sports Brendan Rodgers 24 November 2008https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/watford/7744881.stm Rodgers named new Watford manager 24 November 2008 24 November 2008 BBC Sport 21st Charlton Athletic Alan Pardew Mutual Consent 22 November 2008 Phil Parkinson 31 December 2008https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/charlton_athletic/7806330.stm Addicks appoint Parkinson as boss 31 December 2008 31 December 2008 BBC Sport 22nd Blackpool Simon Grayson Signed by Leeds United (Mutual Consent) 23 December 2008https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/leeds_united/7796182.stm Grayson appointed Leeds Manager 23 December 2008 23 December 2008 BBC Sport Ian Holloway 21 May 2009https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/b/blackpool/8061441.stm Blackpool unveil Holloway as boss 21 May 2009 22 May 2009 BBC Sport16th Nottingham Forest Colin Calderwood Contract terminated 26 December 2008https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/n/nottm_forest/7800688.stm Calderwood sacked as Forest boss 26 December 2008 26 December 2008 BBC Sport Billy Davies 1 January 2009https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/n/nottm_forest/7805993.stm Davies appointed Forest manager 1 January 2009 1 January 2009 BBC Sport22nd Derby County Paul Jewell Resigned 28 December 2008https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/d/derby_county/7802617.stm Jewell resigns as Derby manager 29 December 2008 29 December 2008 BBC Sport Nigel Clough 6 January 2009https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/d/derby_county/7813858.stm Clough takes over as Derby boss 6 January 2009 6 January 2009 BBC Sport 18th Norwich City Glenn Roeder Contract terminated 14 January 2009https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/n/norwich/7828617.stm Roeder sacked as Norwich manager 14 January 2000 14 January 2009 BBC Sport Bryan Gunn 21 January 2009https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/norwich/7841754.stm Norwich name Gunn boss for season 21 January 2009 21 January 2009 BBC Sport 21st Southampton Jan Poortvliet Resigned 23 January 2009https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/southampton/7848414.stm Poortvliet resigns as Saints boss 23 January 2009 23 January 2009 BBC Sport Mark Wotte 23 January 2009 23rd Queens Park Rangers Paulo Sousa Contract terminated 9 April 2009https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/q/qpr/7993079.stm QPR axe Sousa after just 26 games 9 April 2009 9 April 2009 BBC Sport 10th Ipswich Town Jim Magilton Contract terminated 22 April 2009https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/i/ipswich_town/8012301.stm Magilton sacked as Ipswich boss 22 April 2009 22 April 2009 BBC Sport Roy Keane 23 April 2009https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/i/ipswich_town/8013572.stm Keane appointed Ipswich manager 23 April 2009 BBC Sport 23 April 2009 9th Reading Steve Coppell Resigned 13 May 2009http://www.readingfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~1656205,00.html Coppell departs as manager 13 May 2009 14 May 2009 Reading FC dead https://web.archive.org/web/20090515022225/http://www.readingfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10306~1656205%2C00.html 15 May 2009 4th Top scorers PosPlayerTeamGoals1Sylvan Ebanks-BlakeWolverhampton Wanderers252Jason ScotlandSwansea City21Ross McCormackCardiff City4Kevin DoyleReading185Tommy SmithWatford176Rob HulseDerby County157Chris IwelumoWolverhampton Wanderers14Kevin PhillipsBirmingham CityMarcus TudgaySheffield Wednesday10Dexter BlackstockNottingham Forest13Nicky BaileyCharlton AthleticPaul GallagherPlymouth Argyle League One 2008–09 Football League One Table League table Play-offs Play-offs Results Results 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 2008https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/b/blackburn_rovers/7457696.stm Blackburn appoint Ince as manager BBC Sport 22 June 2008 10 August 2008 Roberto Di Matteo 2 July 200830 June 2008 https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/milton_keynes_dons/7484484.stm Di Matteo appointed MK Dons coach BBC Sport 10 August 2008 Pre-season Cheltenham Town Keith Downing Mutual consent 13 September 2008https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/cheltenham_town/7614259.stm Manager Downing leaves Cheltenham BBC Sport 13 September 2008 14 September 2008 Martin Allen 15 September 2008https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/cheltenham_town/7615732.stm Allen named new Cheltenham boss BBC Sport 15 September 2008 15 September 2008 24th Colchester United Geraint Williams Mutual consent 22 September 2008https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/colchester_united/7629198.stm Boss Williams departs Colchester BBC Sport 22 September 2008 23 September 2008 Paul Lambert 9 October 2008https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/colchester_united/7661952.stm Lambert named as Colchester boss BBC Sport 8 October 2008 12 October 2008 23rd Carlisle United John Ward Mutual consent 3 November 2008https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/carlisle_united/7705853.stm Carlisle part company with Ward 3 November 2008 10 November 2008 BBC Sport Greg Abbott 5 December 2008https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/carlisle_united/7767539.stm Abbott appointed Carlisle manager 5 December 2008 5 December 2008 BBC Sport 20th Huddersfield Town Stan Ternent Contract terminated 4 November 2008https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/h/huddersfield_town/7707920.stm Huddersfield sack manager Ternent 4 November 2008 10 November 2008 BBC Sport Lee Clark 11 December 2008https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/h/huddersfield_town/7775201.stm Clark named new Huddersfield boss 11 December 2008 11 December 2008 BBC Sport 16th Swindon Town Maurice Malpas Mutual consent 14 November 2008https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/s/swindon_town/7728908.stm Swindon part company with Malpas 14 November 2008 15 November 2008 BBC Sport Danny Wilson 26 December 2008https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/swindon_town/7800303.stm Wilson appointed Swindon manager 26 December 2008 26 December 2008 BBC Sport 17th Crewe Alexandra Steve Holland 18 November 2008https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/crewe_alexandra/7736343.stm Gradi replaces Holland at Crewe 18 November 2008 19 November 2008 BBC Sport Guðjón Thórðarson 24 December 2008https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/crewe_alexandra/7799134.stm Thordarson appointed Crewe boss 24 December 2008 24 December 2008 BBC Sport 24th Hartlepool United Danny Wilson Contract terminated 15 December 2008https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/h/hartlepool_united/7784326.stm Hartlepool dismiss manager Wilson 15 December 2008 15 December 2008 BBC Sport 13th Leeds United Gary McAllister Contract terminated 21 December 2008https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/leeds_united/7794419.stm Leeds dismiss manager McAllister 21 December 2008 21 December 2008 BBC Sport Simon Grayson 23 December 2008 9th Walsall Jimmy Mullen Contract terminated 10 January 2009https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/w/walsall/7822043.stm Mullen sacked as Walsall manager 10 January 2009 10 January 2009 BBC Sport Chris Hutchings 20 January 2009https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/w/walsall/7838623.stm Walsall appoint Hutchings as boss 20 January 2009 20 January 2009 BBC Sport 12th Leyton Orient Martin Ling Mutual Consent 18 January 2009https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/leyton_orient/7836234.stm Leyton Orient manager Ling leaves 10 January 2009 18 January 2009 BBC Sport Geraint Williams 5 February 2009https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/leyton_orient/7871651.stm Orient appoint Williams as boss 5 February 2009 5 February 2009 BBC Sport 21st Yeovil Town Russell Slade Mutual Consent 16 February 2009https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/y/yeovil/7892607.stm Yeovil split with manager Slade 16 February 2009 16 February 2009 BBC Sport Terry Skiverton 18 February 2009https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/y/yeovil/7898362.stm Skiverton appointed Yeovil boss 18 February 2009 18 February 2009 BBC Sport 16th Brighton & Hove Albion Micky Adams Mutual Consent 21 February 2009https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/b/brighton/7903287.stm Brighton part company with Adams 21 February 2009 21 February 2009 BBC Sport Russell Slade 6 March 2009https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/brighton/7927704.stm Slade appointed new Brighton boss 6 March 2009 6 March 2009 BBC Sport 21st Oldham Athletic John Sheridan Mutual Consent 15 March 2009https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/o/oldham_athletic/7944877.stm Oldham boss Sheridan leaves club 15 March 2009 15 March 2009 BBC Sport Joe Royle 15 March 2009https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/o/oldham_athletic/7945172.stm Royle replaces Sheridan at Oldham 15 March 2009 15 March 2009 BBC Sport 8th Top scorers Pos Player Club Goals1Rickie LambertBristol Rovers29Simon CoxSwindon Town3Jermaine BeckfordLeeds United27Matty FryattLeicester City5Gary HooperScunthorpe United246Craig Mackail-SmithPeterborough United237Aaron McLeanPeterborough United18Joel PorterHartlepool United9Paul HayesScunthorpe United1710Aaron WilbrahamMilton Keynes Dons16 League Two 2008–09 Football League Two Table Play-offs Play-offs Results Results Managerial changes Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Replaced by Date of appointment Position in table AFC Bournemouth Kevin Bond Contract terminated 1 September 2008https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/b/bournemouth/7592896.stm Bond sacked as Bournemouth boss BBC Sport 1 September 2008 3 September 2008 Jimmy Quinn 2 September 2008https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/b/bournemouth/7593850.stm Bournemouth name Quinn as manager BBC Sport 2 September 2008 3 September 2008 23rd Grimsby Town Alan Buckley Contract terminated 15 September 2008http://www.grimsby-townfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10417~1393011,00.html GTFC Statement Grimsby Town official website 15 September 2008 15 September 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080918015859/http://www.grimsby-townfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10417~1393011,00.html 18 September 2008 dead Mike Newell 6 October 2008https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/g/grimsby_town/7654352.stm Newell takes over as Grimsby boss 6 October 2008 10 November 2008 BBC Sport 20th Port Vale Lee Sinnott Mutual consent 22 September 2008https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/7629851.stm Sinnott parts company with Vale BBC Sport 22 September 2008 23 September 2008 Dean Glover 6 October 2008https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/7653984.stm Glover named new Port Vale boss 6 October 2008 10 November 2008 BBC Sport 16th Chester City Simon Davies Contract terminated 11 November 2008https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/chester/7721512.stm Chester part company with Davies BBC Sport 11 November 2008 11 November 2008 Mark Wright 14 November 2008https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/chester/7730031.stm Chester reappoint Wright as boss BBC Sport 14 November 2008 15 November 2008 19th Barnet Paul Fairclough Resigned 28 December 2008https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/b/barnet/7801204.stm Fairclough stands down at Barnet 27 December 2008 27 December 2008 BBC Sport 21st AFC Bournemouth Jimmy Quinn Contract terminated 31 December 2008https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bournemouth/7806809.stm Quinn parts company with Cherries 1 January 2009 1 January 2009 BBC Sport Eddie Howe 31 December 2008https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/b/bournemouth/7837089.stm Cherries appoint Howe for season 19 January 2009 19 January 2009 BBC Sport 23rd Top scorers PosPlayerTeamGoals1Simeon Jackson Gillingham212Grant HoltShrewsbury Town20Jack LesterChesterfield4Reuben ReidRotherham United185Paul BensonDagenham & Redbridge17John O'FlynnBarnetAdam Le FondreRochdalePeter ThorneBradford CityBrett PitmanAFC Bournemouth10Andy BishopBury16Ryan LoweChester CityCharlie MacDonaldBrentford Notes Luton (−30), Bournemouth (−17) and Rotherham (−17) began the League Two season on negative points. References 30em External links Football League website Soccerbase results database BBC Sport football pagesSeptember 2025 medicmedic 2008–09 2–4