The Football League 2008–09, known as the Coca-Cola Football League for sponsorship reasons, was the 17th 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
The English Football League (EFL) is a league of professional football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888 as the Football League, it is the oldest football league in the world, and was the top-level football league in England from ...
is contested through three Divisions. The third division of these is
League Two. The winner, runner up and third-placed team of League Two will be automatically promoted to
Football League One
The English Football League One, known as Sky Bet League One for sponsorship reasons, or simply League One, is a professional association football league in England. EFL League One is the second-highest division of the English Football League an ...
and they will be joined by the winner of the League Two playoff. The bottom two teams in the league will be relegated from the Football League to the
Conference National
The National League, officially known as Vanarama National League for sponsorship reasons, is a professional association football league in England. The National League is the first division of the National League (English football), National Le ...
for the
2009–10 season.
Before the season started,
Luton Town
Luton Town Football Club is a professional association football, football club from Luton, Bedfordshire, England. The club currently competes in EFL League One, the third level of the English football league system. Nicknamed "The Hatters", L ...
,
Rotherham United and
AFC Bournemouth
AFC Bournemouth ( ) is a professional association football club based in Kings Park, Boscombe, a suburb of Bournemouth, Dorset, England. The club compete in the Premier League, the top tier of English football league system, English football. ...
were all docked points for the League Two season for, in all cases, financial problems and additionally, in the case of Luton, for criminal matters regarding transfers of players. Bournemouth and Rotherham both started on −17 points while Luton had to begin on −30 points. On 25 January,
Darlington
Darlington is a market town in the Borough of Darlington, County Durham, England. It lies on the River Skerne, west of Middlesbrough and south of Durham. Darlington had a population of 107,800 at the 2021 Census, making it a "large town" ...
were docked ten points after going into administration.
Changes from last season
From League Two
Promoted to League One
*
Milton Keynes Dons
*
Peterborough United
*
Hereford United
*
Stockport County
Relegated to Conference National
*
Wrexham
Wrexham ( ; ) is a city status in the United Kingdom, city in the North East Wales, north-east of Wales. It lies between the Cambrian Mountains, Welsh mountains and the lower River Dee, Wales, Dee Valley, near the England–Wales border, borde ...
*
Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town Football Club is a professional association football club based in the town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, England. The team competes in , the third level of the English football league system.
The club was formed in 1897 as Mans ...
To League Two
Relegated from League One
*
Bournemouth
Bournemouth ( ) is a coastal resort town in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole unitary authority area, in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. At the 2021 census, the built-up area had a population of 196,455, making it the largest ...
*
Gillingham
*
Port Vale
*
Luton Town
Luton Town Football Club is a professional association football, football club from Luton, Bedfordshire, England. The club currently competes in EFL League One, the third level of the English football league system. Nicknamed "The Hatters", L ...
Promoted from Conference National
*
Aldershot Town
Aldershot Town Football Club is a professional association football club based in Aldershot, Hampshire, England. The team competes in the National League, the fifth level of the English football league system.
The club was founded in the spr ...
*
Exeter City
League table
Play-offs
Stadia and locations
*Capacity limited to 6,000 because of planning regulations
Results
Top scorers
Monthly awards
Key events
25 February 2009 – Darlington are docked 10 points by the FA for entering administration
2 May 2009 – Brentford crowned Champions of League 2 after 3–1 win at Darlington.
Managerial changes
See also
*
2008–09 Football League
*
2008–09 in English football
*
2008–09 Aldershot Town F.C. season
*
2008–09 Bradford City A.F.C. season
*
2008–09 Grimsby Town F.C. season
*
2008–09 Luton Town F.C. season
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:2008-09 Football League Two
EFL League Two seasons
3
4
Eng