The 2009–10 Football League (known as the Coca-Cola Football League for sponsorship reasons) was the 111th completed season of the Football League. It began in August 2009 and concluded in May 2010, with the promotion play-off finals. The Football League is contested through three Divisions. The divisions are the League Championship, League One and League Two. The winner and the runner up of the League Championship will be automatically promoted to the Premier League and they will be joined by the winner of the League Championship playoff. The bottom two teams in League Two will be relegated to the Conference Premier.

The league was won by Newcastle United, with West Bromwich Albion as runners up. Both teams were promoted to the Premier League. Sheffield Wednesday, Plymouth Argyle and Peterborough United were relegated into League One. Grimsby Town and Darlington were relegated from the Football League. Attendance levels in the Football League in the 2009–10 season were the highest for 50 years, with 17.1m people paying to watch games in the three divisions.

Promotion and relegation

The following teams were either promoted or relegated for the 2009–10 season based upon the results of the previous year.

From Premier League Relegated to Championship Newcastle United Middlesbrough West Bromwich Albion From Championship Promoted to Premier League Wolverhampton Wanderers Birmingham City Burnley Relegated to League One Norwich City Southampton Charlton AthleticFrom Football League One Promoted to Championship Leicester City Peterborough United Scunthorpe United Relegated to League Two Northampton Town Crewe Alexandra Cheltenham Town Hereford UnitedFrom 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

Table

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsPromotion, qualification or relegation
1Newcastle United (C, P)46301249035+55102Promotion to the Premier League
2West Bromwich Albion (P)46261378948+4191
3Nottingham Forest462213116540+2579Qualification for Championship play-offs
4Cardiff City462210147354+1976
5Leicester City462113126145+1676
6Blackpool (O, P)461913147458+1670
7Swansea City461718114037+369
8Sheffield United461714156255+765
9Reading461712176863+563
10Bristol City461518135665−963
11Middlesbrough461614165850+862
12Doncaster Rovers461515165958+160
13Queens Park Rangers461415175865−757
14Derby County461511205363−1056
15Ipswich Town461220145061−1156
16Watford461412206168−754
17Preston North End461315185873−1554
18Barnsley461412205369−1654
19Coventry City461315184764−1754
20Scunthorpe United461410226284−2252
21Crystal Palace461417155053−349
22Sheffield Wednesday (R)461114214969−2047Relegation to Football League One
23Plymouth Argyle (R)46118274368−2541
24Peterborough United (R)46810284680−3434

Play-offs

Semi-finalsFinal at Wembley
6Blackpool246
3Nottingham Forest134
6Blackpool3
4Cardiff City2
5Leicester City033
4Cardiff City (p)123

First leg

Blackpool2–1Nottingham Forest
Southern 26' Adam 57' (pen.)13' Cohen
Leicester City0–1Cardiff City
13' Whittingham

Second leg

Nottingham Forest3–4Blackpool
Earnshaw 7', 66' Adebola 90+2'56', 76', 79' Campbell 72' Dobbie

Blackpool win 6–4 on aggregate

Cardiff City2 – 3 (a.e.t.)Leicester City
Chopra 21' Whittingham 69' (pen.)25' Fryatt 36' (o.g.) Hudson 49' King
Penalties
Chopra McCormack Ledley Kennedy4–3Berner Howard Solano Kermorgant Waghorn

Cardiff City 3–3 Leicester City on aggregate. Cardiff City win 4–3 on penalties

Final

Blackpool3–2Cardiff City
Adam 12' Taylor-Fletcher 39' Ormerod 45'8' Chopra 36' Ledley

Blackpool are promoted to the Premier League

Results

Fixtures for the 2009–10 season were announced by The Football League on 17 June 2009.

Home \ AwayBARBLPBRICARCOVCRYDERDONIPSLEIMIDNEWNOTPETPLYPNEQPRREASCUSHUSHWSWAWATWBA
Barnsley1–02–31–00–20–00–00–12–11–02–12–22–12–21–30–30–11–31–12–21–20–01–03–1
Blackpool1–21–11–13–02–20–02–01–01–22–02–13–12–02–01–12–22–04–13–01–25–13–22–3
Bristol City5–32–00–61–11–02–12–50–01–12–12–21–11–13–14–21–01–11–12–31–11–02–22–1
Cardiff City0–21–13–02–01–16–12–11–22–11–00–11–12–00–11–00–20–04–01–13–22–13–11–1
Coventry City3–11–11–11–21–10–11–02–11–12–20–21–03–21–11–11–01–32–13–21–10–10–40–0
Crystal Palace1–14–10–11–20–11–00–33–10–11–00–21–12–01–13–10–21–30–41–00–00–13–01–1
Derby County2–30–21–02–02–11–10–21–31–02–23–01–02–12–15–32–42–11–40–13–00–12–02–2
Doncaster Rovers0–13–31–02–00–01–12–13–30–11–40–11–03–11–21–12–01–24–31–11–00–02–12–3
Ipswich Town1–03–10–02–03–21–31–01–10–01–10–41–10–00–21–13–02–11–00–30–01–11–11–1
Leicester City1–02–11–31–02–22–00–00–01–12–00–03–01–11–01–24–01–25–12–13–02–14–11–2
Middlesbrough2–10–30–00–11–11–12–02–03–10–12–21–11–00–12–02–01–13–00–01–01–10–10–5
Newcastle United6–14–10–05–14–12–00–02–12–21–02–02–03–13–13–01–13–03–02–11–03–02–02–2
Nottingham Forest1–00–11–10–02–02–03–24–13–05–11–01–01–03–03–05–02–12–01–02–11–02–40–1
Peterborough United1–20–11–04–40–11–10–31–23–11–22–22–31–21–20–11–03–23–01–01–12–22–12–3
Plymouth Argyle0–00–23–21–30–10–11–02–11–11–10–20–20–11–21–11–14–12–10–11–31–10–10–1
Preston North End1–40–02–23–03–21–10–01–12–00–12–20–13–22–02–02–21–23–22–12–22–01–10–0
Queens Park Rangers5–21–12–10–12–21–11–12–11–21–21–50–11–11–12–04–04–10–11–11–11–11–03–1
Reading1–02–12–00–13–02–44–10–01–10–10–21–20–06–02–14–11–01–11–35–01–11–11–1
Scunthorpe United2–12–43–01–11–01–23–22–21–11–10–22–12–24–02–13–10–12–23–12–00–22–21–3
Sheffield United0–03–02–03–41–02–01–11–13–31–11–00–10–01–04–31–01–13–00–13–22–02–02–2
Sheffield Wednesday2–22–00–13–12–02–20–00–20–12–01–32–21–12–12–11–21–20–24–01–10–22–10–4
Swansea City3–10–00–03–20–00–01–00–00–01–00–31–10–11–01–02–02–00–03–02–10–01–10–2
Watford1–02–22–00–42–31–30–11–12–13–31–11–20–00–11–02–03–13–03–03–04–10–11–1
West Bromwich Albion1–13–24–10–21–00–13–13–12–03–02–01–11–32–03–13–22–23–12–03–11–00–15–0

Managerial changes

TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyReplaced byDate of appointmentPosition in table
BlackpoolSimon GraysonSigned by Leeds United23 December 2008Ian Holloway21 May 2009Pre-season
Queens Park RangersPaulo SousaSacked9 April 2009Jim Magilton3 June 2009Pre-season
ReadingSteve CoppellResigned13 May 2009Brendan Rodgers5 June 2009Pre-season
WatfordBrendan RodgersSigned by Reading5 June 2009Malky Mackay15 June 2009Pre-season
Swansea CityRoberto MartínezSigned by Wigan Athletic15 June 2009Paulo Sousa23 June 2009Pre-season
West Bromwich AlbionTony MowbraySigned by Celtic16 June 2009Roberto Di Matteo30 June 2009Pre-season
BarnsleySimon DaveyMutual Consent29 August 2009Mark Robins9 September 200924th
MiddlesbroughGareth SouthgateSacked21 October 2009Gordon Strachan26 October 20094th
Peterborough UnitedDarren FergusonMutual Consent10 November 2009Mark Cooper14 November 200924th
Plymouth ArgylePaul SturrockSacked10 December 2009Paul Mariner10 December 200923rd
Sheffield WednesdayBrian LawsMutual Consent13 December 2009Alan Irvine8 January 201022nd
Queens Park RangersJim MagiltonMutual Consent16 December 2009Paul Hart17 December 200912th
ReadingBrendan RodgersMutual Consent17 December 2009Brian McDermott27 January 201021st
Preston North EndAlan IrvineSacked29 December 2009Darren Ferguson6 January 201016th
Queens Park RangersPaul HartMutual Consent15 January 2010Neil Warnock2 March 201010th
Peterborough UnitedMark CooperSacked1 February 2010Jim Gannon2 February 201024th
Crystal PalaceNeil WarnockSigned by Queens Park Rangers2 March 2010Paul Hart4 March 201021st
Bristol CityGary JohnsonMutual Consent18 March 2010Steve Coppell22 April 201015th
Peterborough UnitedJim GannonMutual Consent6 April 2010Gary Johnson6 April 201024th
Coventry CityChris ColemanSacked4 May 2010Aidy Boothroyd22 May 201019th
Plymouth ArgylePaul MarinerMutual Consent6 May 2010Peter Reid24 June 201023rd
Crystal PalacePaul HartEnd of Contract17 June 2010George Burley17 June 201021st

League One

Table

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsPromotion, qualification or relegation
1Norwich City (C, P)4629898947+4295Promotion to Football League Championship
2Leeds United (P)462511107744+3386
3Millwall (O, P)46241397644+3285Qualification for League One play-offs
4Charlton Athletic46231587148+2384
5Swindon Town46221687357+1682
6Huddersfield Town462311128256+2680
7Southampton46231498547+3873
8Colchester United462012146452+1272
9Brentford461420125552+362
10Walsall461614166063−362
11Bristol Rovers46195225970−1162
12Milton Keynes Dons46179206068−860
13Brighton & Hove Albion461514175660−459
14Carlisle United461513186366−358
15Yeovil Town461314195559−453
16Oldham Athletic461313203957−1852
17Leyton Orient461312215363−1051
18Exeter City461118174860−1251
19Tranmere Rovers46149234572−2751
20Hartlepool United461411215967−850
21Gillingham (R)461214204864−1650Relegation to Football League Two
22Wycombe Wanderers (R)461015215676−2045
23Southend United (R)461013235172−2143
24Stockport County (R)46510313595−6025

Play-offs

Semi-finalsFinal at Wembley
6Huddersfield Town000
3Millwall022
3Millwall1
5Swindon Town0
5Swindon Town (p)213
4Charlton Athletic123

First leg

Swindon Town2–1Charlton Athletic
Austin 52' Ward 60'65' Burton
Huddersfield Town0–0Millwall

Second leg

Charlton Athletic2 – 1 (a.e.t.)Swindon Town
Ferry 27' (o.g.) Mooney 45+3' Miguel Llera 90+3'67' Greer 74' Ward
Penalties
Burton Bailey Forster Dailly Richardson4–5McGovern Austin Amankwaah Ward Darby

Charlton Athletic 3–3 Swindon Town on aggregate. Swindon Town win 5–4 on penalties.

Millwall2–0Huddersfield Town
Morison 23' Robinson 82'

Millwall win 2–0 on aggregate.

Final

Millwall1–0Swindon Town
Robinson 39'

Millwall are promoted to the Football League Championship

Results

Home \ AwayBREB&HABRRCRLCHACOLEXEGILHARHUDLEELEYMILMKDNWCOLDSOUSTDSTPSWITRAWALWYCYEO
Brentford0–01–33–11–11–00–04–00–03–00–01–02–23–32–11–11–12–12–02–32–11–11–11–1
Brighton & Hove Albion3–02–11–20–21–22–02–03–30–00–30–00–10–11–20–22–22–32–40–13–00–11–01–0
Bristol Rovers0–01–13–22–13–21–02–12–01–00–41–22–01–00–31–01–54–31–03–00–00–12–31–2
Carlisle United1–30–23–13–12–10–12–03–21–21–32–21–35–00–11–21–12–10–00–13–01–11–01–0
Charlton Athletic2–01–24–21–01–02–12–22–12–11–00–14–45–10–10–01–11–02–02–21–12–03–22–0
Colchester United3–30–01–02–13–02–22–12–01–01–21–01–22–00–51–02–12–02–03–01–12–11–12–1
Exeter City3–00–11–02–31–12–01–13–12–12–00–01–11–21–11–11–11–00–11–12–12–11–11–1
Gillingham0–11–11–00–01–10–03–00–12–03–21–12–02–21–11–02–13–03–15–00–10–03–21–0
Hartlepool United0–02–01–24–10–23–11–11–10–22–21–03–00–50–22–11–33–03–00–11–03–01–11–1
Huddersfield Town0–07–10–01–11–12–14–02–12–12–24–01–01–01–32–03–12–10–02–23–34–36–02–1
Leeds United1–11–12–11–10–02–02–14–13–12–21–00–24–12–12–01–02–02–00–33–01–21–14–0
Leyton Orient2–11–15–02–21–20–11–13–11–30–21–11–01–22–11–22–21–22–00–02–12–02–02–0
Millwall1–11–12–00–04–02–11–04–01–03–12–12–13–22–12–01–12–05–03–25–02–10–20–0
Milton Keynes Dons0–10–02–13–40–12–11–12–00–02–30–11–01–32–10–00–33–14–12–11–01–02–32–2
Norwich City1–04–15–10–22–21–73–12–02–13–01–04–02–01–12–00–22–12–11–02–00–05–23–0
Oldham Athletic2–30–22–12–00–22–22–01–00–30–10–22–00–12–10–11–32–20–02–20–01–02–20–0
Southampton1–11–32–33–21–00–03–14–13–25–01–02–11–13–12–20–03–12–00–13–05–11–02–0
Southend United2–20–12–12–21–21–20–01–03–22–20–03–00–02–10–30–11–32–12–21–13–01–10–0
Stockport County0–11–10–21–21–22–21–30–02–20–62–42–10–41–31–30–11–10–20–10–31–14–31–3
Swindon Town3–22–10–42–01–11–11–13–10–22–13–03–21–10–01–14–21–02–14–13–01–11–13–1
Tranmere Rovers1–02–12–00–00–41–13–14–20–00–21–42–12–00–13–10–12–12–00–11–42–30–32–1
Walsall2–11–20–02–21–11–03–00–03–12–11–22–22–22–11–23–01–32–22–01–12–12–10–1
Wycombe Wanderers1–02–52–10–01–21–12–23–02–01–20–10–11–00–10–12–20–01–12–12–20–12–31–4
Yeovil Town2–02–20–33–11–10–12–10–04–00–11–23–31–11–03–33–00–11–02–20–12–01–34–0

Managerial changes

TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyReplaced byDate of appointmentPosition in table
Tranmere RoversRonnie MooreSacked5 June 2009John Barnes21 May 2009Pre-season
Milton Keynes DonsRoberto Di MatteoSigned by West Brom30 June 2009Paul Ince3 July 2009Pre-season
Stockport CountyJim GannonReleased, Consequently, Joined Motherwell6 May 2009Gary Ablett8 July 2009Pre-season
SouthamptonMark WotteSacked9 July 2009Alan Pardew17 July 2009Pre-season
Norwich CityBryan GunnSacked14 August 2009Paul Lambert18 August 200922nd
Colchester UnitedPaul LambertSigned by Norwich City18 August 2009Aidy Boothroyd2 September 20091st
Tranmere RoversJohn BarnesSacked9 October 2009Les Parry16 December 200922nd
Wycombe WanderersPeter TaylorMutual Consent10 October 2009Gary Waddock13 October 200923rd
Brighton & Hove AlbionRussell SladeSacked1 November 2009Gustavo Poyet10 November 200920th
Leyton OrientGeraint WilliamsSacked3 April 2010Russell Slade5 April 201019th
Oldham AthleticDave PenneySacked6 May 2010Paul Dickov9 June 201017th
GillinghamMark StimsonMutual Consent10 May 2010Andy Hessenthaler22 May 201021st
Milton Keynes DonsPaul InceSacked10 May 2010Karl Robinson10 May 201012th
Colchester UnitedAidy BoothroydSigned by Coventry City22 May 2010John Ward31 May 20108th

League Two

Table

PosTeamvtePldWDLGFGAGDPtsPromotion, qualification or relegation
1Notts County (C, P)46271279631+6593Promotion to Football League One
2Bournemouth (P)46258136144+1783
3Rochdale (P)46257148248+3482
4Morecambe462013137364+973Qualification to League Two play-offs
5Rotherham United462110155552+373
6Aldershot Town462012146956+1372
7Dagenham & Redbridge (O, P)462012146958+1172
8Chesterfield46217186162−170
9Bury461912155459−569
10Port Vale461717126150+1168
11Northampton Town461813156253+967
12Shrewsbury Town461712175554+163
13Burton Albion461711187171062
14Bradford City461614165962−362
15Accrington Stanley46187216274−1261
16Hereford United46178215465−1159
17Torquay United461415176455+957
18Crewe Alexandra461510216873−555
19Macclesfield Town461218164958−954
20Lincoln City461311224265−2350
21Barnet461212224763−1648
22Cheltenham Town461018185471−1748
23Grimsby Town (R)46917204571−2644Relegation to Conference National
24Darlington (R)4686323387−5430

Play-offs

Semi-finalsFinal at Wembley
7Dagenham & Redbridge617
4Morecambe022
7Dagenham & Redbridge3
5Rotherham United2
6Aldershot Town000
5Rotherham United123

First leg

Aldershot Town0–1Rotherham United
Le Fondre 88'
Dagenham & Redbridge6–0Morecambe
Benson 4', 66' Scott 35', 48', 54', 69'

Second leg

Rotherham United2–0Aldershot Town
Le Fondre 43' Ellison 68'

Rotherham United win 3–0 on aggregate.

Morecambe2–1Dagenham & Redbridge
Duffy 81' David Artell 90+1'Benson 85'

Dagenham & Redbridge win 7–2 on aggregate.

Final

Dagenham & Redbridge3–2Rotherham United
Benson38' Green 56' Nurse 70'Taylor 39', 61'

Dagenham & Redbridge are promoted to Football League One.

Results

Home \ AwayACCALDBARBOUBRABRTBRYCHLCHFCRED&RDARGRIHERLINMACMORNORNTCPTVROCROTSHRTOR
Accrington Stanley2–11–00–12–00–22–44–02–05–30–12–12–31–21–01–13–20–30–31–22–42–11–34–2
Aldershot Town3–14–02–11–00–22–34–11–01–12–33–11–12–23–10–04–12–11–11–11–13–02–00–2
Barnet1–23–01–12–21–10–01–13–11–22–03–03–00–01–21–22–00–01–00–01–00–12–21–1
Bournemouth2–01–03–01–01–01–20–01–21–00–02–03–12–13–11–11–00–22–14–00–41–01–02–1
Bradford City1–12–12–11–11–10–11–13–02–33–31–00–01–00–21–22–02–00–00–00–32–41–32–0
Burton Albion0–26–12–00–21–10–05–62–21–20–11–23–03–21–01–15–23–21–41–01–00–11–10–2
Bury0–21–22–00–32–13–00–12–13–00–01–10–11–02–02–10–02–23–31–11–02–11–00–3
Cheltenham Town1–11–25–10–14–50–15–20–10–41–13–32–10–11–01–22–02–21–11–11–41–11–21–1
Chesterfield1–00–11–02–11–15–21–01–02–32–25–23–21–22–14–11–11–02–10–52–00–10–11–0
Crewe Alexandra5–11–22–21–20–12–12–31–20–11–23–04–21–00–02–11–23–20–11–22–22–30–31–1
Dagenham & Redbridge3–12–54–11–02–12–13–10–22–12–02–02–02–13–03–11–10–10–31–11–20–15–05–3
Darlington0–01–21–20–20–11–00–11–12–30–10–20–20–11–10–10–41–20–51–30–22–02–11–3
Grimsby Town2–21–22–03–20–31–21–10–02–20–41–11–11–02–21–11–11–20–11–20–21–23–00–3
Hereford United2–02–02–12–12–03–41–31–11–01–11–12–10–12–00–20–10–20–22–22–13–02–11–0
Lincoln City2–11–01–02–12–10–21–01–12–11–11–13–00–03–10–01–31–10–31–21–31–20–20–0
Macclesfield Town0–01–11–11–22–21–12–01–02–04–12–20–20–03–10–12–20–20–42–00–11–30–12–1
Morecambe1–21–02–15–00–03–23–01–00–14–31–02–01–12–23–12–22–42–11–03–32–01–12–0
Northampton Town4–00–31–32–02–21–11–12–10–02–21–02–00–01–31–00–02–00–11–11–23–12–00–0
Notts County1–20–02–02–25–01–15–05–01–02–03–04–01–15–03–11–04–15–23–11–01–01–12–2
Port Vale2–21–10–20–02–13–10–11–11–20–13–11–04–02–04–00–00–21–32–11–11–21–12–2
Rochdale1–21–02–10–01–31–23–00–12–32–03–10–14–14–11–13–04–11–02–10–04–04–02–1
Rotherham United1–00–03–01–31–22–21–00–03–10–02–01–22–11–12–03–10–01–00–01–22–11–11–1
Shrewsbury Town0–13–12–01–01–23–11–10–01–12–02–10–20–03–11–02–22–33–00–10–10–12–01–1
Torquay United2–11–10–11–21–22–31–13–02–01–10–05–00–21–02–31–02–21–00–01–25–00–22–1

Managerial changes

TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyReplaced byDate of appointmentPosition in table
Burton AlbionRoy McFarlandResigned18 May 2009Paul Peschisolido18 May 2009Pre-season
DarlingtonDave PenneySigned by Oldham Athletic30 April 2009Colin Todd20 May 2009Pre-season
Port ValeDean GloverSacked21 May 2009Micky Adams5 June 2009Pre-season
ChesterfieldLee RichardsonEnd of Contract6 May 2009John Sheridan9 June 2009Pre-season
Lincoln CityPeter JacksonSacked2 September 2009Chris Sutton28 September 200917th
Northampton TownStuart GraySacked8 September 2009Ian Sampson5 October 200916th
Rotherham UnitedMark RobinsSigned by Barnsley9 September 2009Ronnie Moore24 September 20091st
DarlingtonColin ToddMutual Consent26 September 2009Steve Staunton5 October 200924th
Crewe AlexandraGuðjón ÞórðarsonSacked2 October 2009Dario Gradi2 October 200914th
Notts CountyIan McParlandSacked12 October 2009Hans Backe27 October 20095th
Aldershot TownGary WaddockSigned by Wycombe Wanderers13 October 2009Kevin Dillon9 November 20096th
Grimsby TownMike NewellSacked18 October 2009Neil Woods23 November 200923rd
Cheltenham TownMartin AllenMutual Consent11 December 2009Mark Yates22 December 200920th
Notts CountyHans BackeResigned15 December 2009Steve Cotterill23 February 20106th
Bradford CityStuart McCallResigned8 February 2010Peter Taylor17 February 201016th
Macclesfield TownKeith AlexanderDeath3 March 2010Gary Simpson14 April 201021st
DarlingtonSteve StauntonSacked22 March 2010Simon Davey5 April 201024th
BarnetIan HendonSacked28 April 2010Mark Stimson1 June 201022nd
Shrewsbury TownPaul SimpsonSacked30 April 2010Graham Turner11 June 201012th
Notts CountySteve CotterillEnd of Contract27 May 2010Craig Short6 June 20101st