The Football League 2008–09 (named Coca-Cola Football League for sponsorship reasons), was the seventeenth season under its current league division format. 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 second division of these is
League One. The winner and the runner up of League One will be automatically promoted to the
Football League Championship
The English Football League Championship (often referred to as the Championship for short or the Sky Bet Championship for sponsorship purposes) is the highest division of the English Football League (EFL) and second-highest overall in the En ...
and they will be joined by the winner of the League One playoff. The bottom four teams in the league will be relegated to the third division,
League Two.
Leicester City played at this level for the first time in their history having spent all their time in the top two divisions. In the opposite direction, Hereford United made their first appearance in the third tier since 1978, after many seasons in non-league and lower-league football.
Changes from last season
From League One
Promoted to
Championship
*
Swansea City
Swansea City Association Football Club (; cy, Clwb Pêl-droed Cymdeithas Dinas Abertawe) is a professional football club based in Swansea, Wales that plays in the Championship, the second tier of English football. Swansea have played their ho ...
*
Nottingham Forest
*
Doncaster Rovers
Relegated to
League Two
*
Bournemouth
Bournemouth () is a coastal resort town in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council area of Dorset, England. At the 2011 census, the town had a population of 183,491, making it the largest town in Dorset. It is situated on the Southern ...
*
Gillingham
*
Port Vale
*
Luton Town
To League One
Relegated from
Championship
*
Leicester City
*
Colchester United
*
Scunthorpe United
Scunthorpe United Football Club is a professional association football club based in the town of Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, England. The side currently competes in the National League, the fifth tier of the English football league system. The tea ...
Promoted from
League Two
*
Milton Keynes Dons
*
Peterborough United
*
Hereford United
*
Stockport County
League table
Play-offs
Results
Top scorers
''Correct as of 8 May 2009''
Dubious goals panel
*On 30 August 2008 Leeds drew 2–2 with Bristol Rovers. The first goal was a
Jermaine Beckford shot which deflected off
Steven Elliot. The goal was originally an Elliot own goal, but was later awarded to Beckford.
*On 7 April 2009
Leyton Orient drew 2–2 with Leeds United. Leyton Orient's first goal was from a Sean Thornton Free Kick but it took a slight deflection from
Simon Church on its way in. BBC Sport awarded the goal to
Sean Thornton but it is still unclear what the final decision will be regarding the actual scorer. Church later claimed the goal and stated that he definitely got a vital touch on the ball.
*On 11 April 2009 Leyton Orient beat
Colchester United 2–1. Leyton Orient's second goal was credited to
Jimmy Smith, but it looked to have been put over the line by
Scott McGleish
Scott McGleish (born 10 February 1974) is an English footballer who plays for Leverstock Green. In a career spanning 29 years across four decades, McGleish has made over 900 league appearances. He is one of five outfield players in English footb ...
, but it is unclear what the decision on the goalscorer will be at present.
Key events
30 April 2009 – Stockport County are docked 10 points by the FA for entering administration
Stadiums
Managerial changes
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:2008-09 Football League One
EFL League One seasons
2008–09 Football League
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