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 will are joined by the winner of the Championship playoff. 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

From Championship

Promoted to Premier League

Relegated to League One

From Football League One

Promoted to Championship

Relegated to League Two

From Football League Two

Promoted to League One

Relegated to Conference Premier

From Conference Premier

Promoted to League Two

Championship

Table

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsPromotion, qualification or relegation
1Wolverhampton Wanderers (C, P)46279108052+2890Promotion to the Premier League
2Birmingham City (P)46231495437+1783
3Sheffield United462214106439+2580Qualification for Championship play-offs
4Reading462114117240+3277
5Burnley (O, P)462113127260+1276
6Preston North End462111146654+1274
7Cardiff City461917106553+1274
8Swansea City461620106350+1368
9Ipswich Town461715146253+966
10Bristol City461516155454061
11Queens Park Rangers461516154244−261
12Sheffield Wednesday461613175158−761
13Watford461610206872−458
14Doncaster Rovers46177224253−1158
15Crystal Palace461512195255−356
16Blackpool461317164758−1156
17Coventry City461315184758−1154
18Derby County461412205567−1254
19Nottingham Forest461314195065−1553
20Barnsley461313204558−1352
21Plymouth Argyle461312214457−1351
22Norwich City (R)461210245770−1346Relegation to Football League One
23Southampton (R)461015214669−2345
24Charlton Athletic (R)46815235274−2239

Play-offs

Semi-finalsFinal
3Sheffield United112
6Preston North End101
3Sheffield United0
5Burnley1
4Reading000
5Burnley123

Results

Home \ AwayBARBIRBLPBRIBURCARCHACOVCRYDERDONIPSNWCNOTPLYPNEQPRREASHUSHWSOUSWAWATWOL
Barnsley1–10–10–03–20–10–01–23–12–04–11–20–01–12–01–12–10–11–22–10–11–32–11–1
Birmingham City2–00–11–01–11–13–20–11–01–01–02–11–12–01–11–21–01–31–03–11–00–03–22–0
Blackpool1–02–00–10–11–12–01–12–23–22–30–12–01–10–11–30–32–21–30–21–11–10–22–2
Bristol City2–01–20–01–21–12–12–01–01–14–11–11–02–22–21–11–11–40–01–12–00–01–12–2
Burnley1–21–12–04–02–22–11–14–23–00–00–32–05–00–03–11–01–01–02–43–20–23–21–0
Cardiff City3–11–22–00–03–12–02–12–14–13–00–32–22–01–02–00–02–20–32–02–12–22–11–2
Charlton Athletic1–30–02–20–21–12–21–21–02–21–22–14–20–22–00–02–24–22–51–20–02–02–31–3
Coventry City1–11–02–10–31–30–20–00–21–11–02–22–02–20–10–01–00–01–22–04–11–12–32–1
Crystal Palace3–00–00–14–20–00–21–01–11–02–11–43–11–21–22–10–00–00–01–13–02–00–00–1
Derby County0–01–14–12–11–11–11–02–11–20–10–13–11–12–12–20–20–22–13–00–12–21–02–3
Doncaster Rovers0–10–20–01–02–11–10–11–02–02–11–01–10–01–00–22–00–10–21–00–20–01–20–1
Ipswich Town3–00–11–13–11–11–21–12–11–12–01–33–22–10–01–22–02–01–11–10–32–20–00–2
Norwich City4–01–11–11–21–12–01–01–21–21–22–12–02–31–02–20–10–21–00–12–22–32–05–2
Nottingham Forest1–01–10–03–21–20–10–01–00–21–32–41–11–22–02–12–20–00–12–13–11–13–20–1
Plymouth Argyle1–20–11–20–21–22–12–24–01–30–30–31–31–21–01–01–12–22–24–02–00–12–12–2
Preston North End2–11–00–12–02–16–02–12–12–02–01–03–21–02–11–12–12–10–01–12–30–22–01–3
Queens Park Rangers2–11–01–12–11–21–02–11–10–00–22–01–30–12–10–03–20–00–03–24–11–00–01–0
Reading0–01–21–00–23–11–12–23–14–23–02–10–12–00–12–00–00–00–16–01–24–04–01–0
Sheffield United2–12–12–23–02–30–03–11–12–24–20–12–01–00–02–01–03–00–21–20–01–02–11–3
Sheffield Wednesday0–11–11–10–04–11–04–10–12–00–11–00–03–21–00–11–11–01–21–02–00–02–00–1
Southampton0–01–20–10–12–21–02–31–11–01–11–22–22–00–20–03–10–01–11–21–12–20–31–2
Swansea City2–22–30–11–01–12–21–10–01–31–13–13–02–13–11–04–10–02–01–11–13–03–13–1
Watford1–10–13–42–43–02–21–02–12–03–11–12–12–12–11–22–13–02–20–22–22–22–02–3
Wolverhampton Wanderers2–01–12–02–02–02–22–12–12–13–01–00–03–35–10–11–31–00–31–14–13–02–13–1

Managerial changes

TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyReplaced byDate of appointmentPosition in table
Queens Park RangersIain DowieContract terminated24 October 2008Paulo Sousa19 November 20089th
WatfordAidy BoothroydMutual consent3 November 2008Brendan Rodgers24 November 200821st
Charlton AthleticAlan PardewMutual Consent22 November 2008Phil Parkinson31 December 200822nd
BlackpoolSimon GraysonSigned by Leeds United (Mutual Consent)23 December 2008Ian Holloway21 May 200916th
Nottingham ForestColin CalderwoodContract terminated26 December 2008Billy Davies1 January 200922nd
Derby CountyPaul JewellResigned28 December 2008Nigel Clough6 January 200918th
Norwich CityGlenn RoederContract terminated14 January 2009Bryan Gunn21 January 200921st
SouthamptonJan PoortvlietResigned23 January 2009Mark Wotte23 January 200923rd
Queens Park RangersPaulo SousaContract terminated9 April 200910th
Ipswich TownJim MagiltonContract terminated22 April 2009Roy Keane23 April 20099th
ReadingSteve CoppellResigned13 May 20094th

Top scorers

PosPlayerTeamGoals
1Sylvan Ebanks-BlakeWolverhampton Wanderers25
2Jason ScotlandSwansea City21
Ross McCormackCardiff City
4Kevin DoyleReading18
5Tommy SmithWatford17
6Rob HulseDerby County15
7Chris IwelumoWolverhampton Wanderers14
Kevin PhillipsBirmingham City
Marcus TudgaySheffield Wednesday
10Dexter BlackstockNottingham Forest13
Nicky BaileyCharlton Athletic
Paul GallagherPlymouth Argyle

League One

Table

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsPromotion or relegation
1Leicester City (C, P)46271548439+4596Promotion to Football League Championship
2Peterborough United (P)46261197854+2489
3Milton Keynes Dons46269118347+3687Qualification for League One play-offs
4Leeds United46266147749+2884
5Millwall46257146353+1082
6Scunthorpe United (O, P)462210148263+1976
7Tranmere Rovers462111146249+1374
8Southend United46218175861−371
9Huddersfield Town461814146265−368
10Oldham Athletic461617136665+165
11Bristol Rovers461712177961+1863
12Colchester United46189195858063
13Walsall461710196166−561
14Leyton Orient461511204557−1256
15Swindon Town461217176871−353
16Brighton & Hove Albion461313205570−1552
17Yeovil Town461215194166−2551
18Stockport County461612185957+250
19Hartlepool United461311226679−1350
20Carlisle United461214205669−1350
21Northampton Town (R)461213216165−449Relegation to Football League Two
22Crewe Alexandra (R)461210245982−2346
23Cheltenham Town (R)46912255191−4039
24Hereford United (R)4697304279−3734

Play-offs

Semi-finalsFinal
6Scunthorpe United10 (7)1
3Milton Keynes Dons10 (6)1
6Scunthorpe United3
5Millwall2
5Millwall112
4Leeds United011

Results

Home \ AwayB&HABRRCRLCHLCOLCREHARHERHUDLEELEILEYMILMKDNOROLDPETSCUSTDSTPSWITRAWALYEO
Brighton & Hove Albion1–10–23–31–20–42–10–00–10–23–20–04–12–41–13–12–41–41–31–02–30–00–15–0
Bristol Rovers1–22–33–20–00–04–16–11–22–20–12–14–21–21–02–00–11–24–22–02–22–01–33–0
Carlisle United3–11–11–00–24–20–11–23–00–21–21–32–03–21–11–13–31–12–11–21–11–21–14–1
Cheltenham Town2–22–11–14–31–02–02–31–20–10–40–11–33–50–11–13–61–20–02–22–01–00–01–0
Colchester United0–10–15–03–10–11–11–20–00–10–11–01–20–32–12–20–10–00–11–03–20–10–21–0
Crewe Alexandra1–21–11–21–22–00–02–13–12–30–30–20–12–21–30–31–13–23–40–31–02–12–12–0
Hartlepool United1–01–12–24–14–21–44–25–30–12–20–12–31–32–03–31–22–33–00–13–32–12–20–0
Hereford United1–20–31–03–00–22–01–10–12–01–32–10–20–10–25–00–11–20–10–11–12–20–01–2
Huddersfield Town2–21–11–02–22–23–21–12–01–02–30–11–21–33–21–11–02–00–11–12–11–22–10–0
Leeds United3–12–20–22–01–25–24–11–01–21–12–12–02–03–00–23–13–22–01–01–03–13–04–0
Leicester City0–02–12–24–01–12–11–02–14–21–03–00–12–00–00–04–02–23–01–11–13–12–21–0
Leyton Orient2–11–20–01–22–11–01–02–11–12–21–30–01–21–32–12–32–21–10–31–20–10–10–1
Millwall0–13–21–02–00–10–02–01–02–13–10–12–10–41–02–32–01–21–11–01–11–03–11–1
Milton Keynes Dons2–02–13–13–11–12–23–13–01–13–12–21–20–11–06–21–20–22–01–21–21–00–13–0
Northampton Town2–20–01–04–21–25–11–02–11–12–11–21–10–00–10–11–13–32–34–03–41–10–23–0
Oldham Athletic1–10–20–04–00–11–12–14–01–11–11–11–14–32–02–11–23–01–13–10–00–23–20–2
Peterborough United0–05–41–01–12–14–21–22–04–02–02–03–01–00–01–02–22–11–21–02–22–21–01–3
Scunthorpe United2–00–22–13–03–03–03–03–01–21–21–22–13–20–14–42–01–01–12–13–31–11–12–0
Southend United0–21–03–02–03–30–13–21–00–11–00–23–00–10–21–01–21–02–01–12–12–12–00–1
Stockport County2–03–13–01–01–24–32–14–11–11–30–00–12–20–11–13–11–30–33–11–10–01–20–0
Swindon Town0–22–11–12–21–30–00–13–01–31–32–20–11–21–12–12–02–24–23–01–13–13–22–3
Tranmere Rovers1–02–04–12–03–42–01–02–13–12–12–00–01–31–14–10–11–12–02–22–11–02–11–1
Walsall3–00–52–11–12–01–12–31–12–31–01–40–21–20–33–11–21–22–15–21–02–10–12–0
Yeovil Town1–12–21–11–10–23–22–32–21–01–10–20–02–00–01–02–20–11–21–22–41–01–01–1

Managerial changes

TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyReplaced byDate of appointmentPosition in table
Milton Keynes DonsPaul InceSigned by Blackburn Rovers (Mutual Consent)22 June 2008Roberto Di Matteo2 July 2008Pre-season
Cheltenham TownKeith DowningMutual consent13 September 2008Martin Allen15 September 200824th
Colchester UnitedGeraint WilliamsMutual consent22 September 2008Paul Lambert9 October 200823rd
Carlisle UnitedJohn WardMutual consent3 November 2008Greg Abbott5 December 200820th
Huddersfield TownStan TernentContract terminated4 November 2008Lee Clark11 December 200816th
Swindon TownMaurice MalpasMutual consent14 November 2008Danny Wilson26 December 200817th
Crewe AlexandraSteve Holland18 November 2008Guðjón Thórðarson24 December 200824th
Hartlepool UnitedDanny WilsonContract terminated15 December 200813th
Leeds UnitedGary McAllisterContract terminated21 December 2008Simon Grayson23 December 20089th
WalsallJimmy MullenContract terminated10 January 2009Chris Hutchings20 January 200912th
Leyton OrientMartin LingMutual Consent18 January 2009Geraint Williams5 February 200921st
Yeovil TownRussell SladeMutual Consent16 February 2009Terry Skiverton18 February 200916th
Brighton & Hove AlbionMicky AdamsMutual Consent21 February 2009Russell Slade6 March 200921st
Oldham AthleticJohn SheridanMutual Consent15 March 2009Joe Royle15 March 20098th

Top scorers

PosPlayerClubGoals
1Rickie LambertBristol Rovers29
Simon CoxSwindon Town
3Jermaine BeckfordLeeds United27
Matty FryattLeicester City
5Gary HooperScunthorpe United24
6Craig Mackail-SmithPeterborough United23
7Aaron McLeanPeterborough United18
Joel PorterHartlepool United
9Paul HayesScunthorpe United17
10Aaron WilbrahamMilton Keynes Dons16

League Two

Table

PosTeamvtePldWDLGFGAGDPtsPromotion, qualification or relegation
1Brentford (C, P)46231676536+2985Promotion to Football League One
2Exeter City (P)462213116550+1579
3Wycombe Wanderers (P)46201885433+2178
4Bury462115106343+2078Qualification for League Two play-offs
5Gillingham (O, P)462112135855+375
6Rochdale461913147059+1170
7Shrewsbury Town461718116144+1769
8Dagenham & Redbridge461911167753+2468
9Bradford City461813156655+1167
10Chesterfield461615156257+563
11Morecambe461518135356−363
12Darlington462012146144+1762
13Lincoln City461417155352+159
14Rotherham United462112136046+1458
15Aldershot Town461412205980−2154
16Accrington Stanley461311224259−1750
17Barnet461115205674−1848
18Port Vale46139244466−2248
19Notts County461114214969−2047
20Macclesfield Town46138254577−3247
21Bournemouth461712175951+846
22Grimsby Town46914235169−1841
23Chester City (R)46813254381−3837Relegated to Conference National
24Luton Town (R)461317165865−726

Play-offs

SemifinalsFinal at Wembley
7Shrewsbury Town01 (4)1
4Bury10 (3)1
Shrewsbury Town0
Gillingham1
6Rochdale011
5Gillingham022

Results

Home \ AwayACCALDBARBOUBRABREBRYCHECHFD&RDAREXEGILGRILINLUTMACMORNTCPTVROCROTSHRWYC
Accrington Stanley0–11–13–02–31–11–20–11–00–01–02–10–23–10–20–02–01–01–12–01–31–32–10–1
Aldershot Town3–11–11–13–21–13–32–21–11–22–11–02–12–22–02–11–10–22–21–02–40–10–03–2
Barnet2–10–31–04–10–11–23–11–31–10–10–12–23–33–21–11–31–10–41–22–12–00–01–1
Bournemouth1–02–00–24–10–12–01–01–12–13–10–11–12–10–11–10–10–00–10–04–00–01–03–1
Bradford City1–15–03–31–31–11–00–03–21–10–04–12–22–01–11–11–04–02–10–12–03–00–01–0
Brentford3–03–01–02–02–11–03–00–12–11–11–11–14–01–12–01–03–11–12–01–20–01–13–3
Bury1–02–11–01–01–01–01–11–22–22–20–14–00–23–11–23–02–12–03–02–11–22–10–0
Chester City2–00–15–10–20–03–01–11–32–21–20–00–11–10–22–20–21–22–01–20–21–51–10–2
Chesterfield1–15–11–11–00–20–11–31–11–10–02–10–12–11–12–22–41–23–12–13–01–02–20–1
Dagenham & Redbridge0–03–12–00–13–03–11–36–03–00–11–22–04–00–32–12–10–26–11–13–21–11–20–1
Darlington3–02–02–22–12–11–32–21–20–03–01–11–21–02–05–11–20–01–02–11–21–01–11–2
Exeter City2–13–22–11–31–00–20–02–01–62–12–03–00–02–10–14–02–22–21–04–11–10–11–0
Gillingham1–04–40–21–00–21–10–02–02–12–11–01–03–01–20–13–15–02–21–01–14–02–21–1
Grimsby Town0–11–00–13–31–30–11–21–30–11–11–22–23–05–12–20–02–30–13–00–03–01–01–1
Lincoln City5–10–22–03–30–02–21–11–13–11–30–10–12–01–10–01–01–11–10–11–10–10–01–0
Luton Town1–23–13–13–33–30–11–21–10–02–11–21–20–02–13–21–01–11–11–31–12–43–10–1
Macclesfield Town0–24–22–10–20–22–01–13–11–10–40–61–40–11–01–22–10–11–10–20–11–23–00–0
Morecambe1–12–02–10–42–12–00–03–12–21–21–01–10–11–11–11–24–11–01–11–11–31–00–0
Notts County1–12–12–01–13–11–10–11–20–10–30–02–10–10–20–10–21–11–04–21–20–32–20–2
Port Vale0–20–00–03–10–20–31–13–00–10–13–11–31–32–10–11–31–42–11–22–10–01–11–1
Rochdale3–13–13–11–13–01–21–16–12–10–20–22–20–12–02–22–01–11–13–01–01–22–10–1
Rotherham United0–01–23–41–00–20–01–13–13–01–10–10–12–04–11–01–02–03–22–11–02–21–20–0
Shrewsbury Town2–01–02–24–12–01–31–01–02–12–11–01–17–01–10–03–04–00–03–21–21–11–00–1
Wycombe Wanderers2–13–01–13–11–00–02–12–01–12–11–11–11–00–11–00–04–01–11–24–20–10–01–1

Managerial changes

TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyReplaced byDate of appointmentPosition in table
AFC BournemouthKevin BondContract terminated1 September 2008Jimmy Quinn2 September 200823rd
Grimsby TownAlan BuckleyContract terminated15 September 2008Mike Newell6 October 200820th
Port ValeLee SinnottMutual consent22 September 2008Dean Glover6 October 200816th
Chester CitySimon DaviesContract terminated11 November 2008Mark Wright14 November 200819th
BarnetPaul FaircloughResigned28 December 200821st
AFC BournemouthJimmy QuinnContract terminated31 December 2008Eddie Howe31 December 200823rd

Top scorers

PosPlayerTeamGoals
1Simeon JacksonGillingham21
2Grant HoltShrewsbury Town20
Jack LesterChesterfield
4Reuben ReidRotherham United18
5Paul BensonDagenham & Redbridge17
John O'FlynnBarnet
Adam Le FondreRochdale
Peter ThorneBradford City
Brett PitmanAFC Bournemouth
10Andy BishopBury16
Ryan LoweChester City
Charlie MacDonaldBrentford

Notes

  • Luton (−30), Bournemouth (−17) and Rotherham (−17) began the League Two season on negative points.

External links

  • [dead link]