# 2011–12 Football League Two

The 2011–12 Football League Two (referred to as the Npower Football League Two for sponsorship reasons) is the eighth season of the league under its current title and nineteenth season under its current league division format.

## Changes from last season
### Team changes
#### From League Two

Promoted to League One
* Chesterfield
* Bury
* Wycombe Wanderers
* Stevenage
Relegated to Conference National
* Stockport County
* Lincoln City

#### To League Two

Relegated from League One
* Dagenham & Redbridge
* Bristol Rovers
* Plymouth Argyle
* Swindon Town F.C.
Promoted from Conference National
* Crawley Town
* AFC Wimbledon

## Team overview
### Stadia and locations

| Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
| Accrington Stanley | Accrington | Crown Ground | 5,057 |
| AFC Wimbledon | London | Kingsmeadow | 4,850 |
| Aldershot Town | Aldershot | Recreation Ground | 7,100 |
| Barnet | London | Underhill Stadium | 6,200 |
| Bradford City | Bradford | Valley Parade | 25,136 |
| Bristol Rovers | Bristol | Memorial Stadium | 12,011 |
| Burton Albion | Burton upon Trent | Pirelli Stadium | 6,912 |
| Cheltenham Town | Cheltenham | Abbey Business Stadium | 7,066 |
| Crawley Town | Crawley | Broadfield Stadium | 6,134 |
| Crewe Alexandra | Crewe | Alexandra Stadium | 10,153 |
| Dagenham & Redbridge | London | Victoria Road | 6,078 |
| Gillingham | Gillingham | Priestfield Stadium | 11,582 |
| Hereford United | Hereford | Edgar Street | 5,075 |
| Macclesfield Town | Macclesfield | Moss Rose | 6,355 |
| Morecambe | Morecambe | Globe Arena | 6,476 |
| Northampton Town | Northampton | Sixfields Stadium | 7,653 |
| Oxford United | Oxford | Kassam Stadium | 12,500 |
| Plymouth Argyle | Plymouth | Home Park | 16,388 |
| Port Vale | Stoke-on-Trent | Vale Park | 19,052 |
| Rotherham United | Sheffield | Don Valley Stadium | 10,000 |
| Shrewsbury Town | Shrewsbury | Greenhous Meadow | 9,875 |
| Southend United | Southend-on-Sea | Roots Hall | 12,392 |
| Swindon Town | Swindon | County Ground | 14,700 |
| Torquay United | Torquay | Plainmoor | 6,104 |

### Personnel and sponsoring

| Team | Manager | Chairman | Team captain | Kit maker | Sponsor |
| Accrington Stanley | Paul Cook | Ilyas Khan | Dean Winnard | Samurai Sportswear | Clever Boxes |
| AFC Wimbledon | Terry Brown | Erik Samuelson | Jamie Stuart | Tempest Sports | Sports Interactive (H) Football Manager (A) |
| Aldershot Town | Dean Holdsworth | Kris Machala | Ben Herd | Erreà | EBB Paper |
| Barnet | Martin Allen | Anthony Kleanthous | Mark Hughes | Surridge | Pulse Fitness |
| Bradford City | Phil Parkinson | Mark Lawn and Julian Rhodes | Michael Flynn | Nike | Map Group UK |
| Bristol Rovers | Mark McGhee | Nick Higgs | Matthew Gill | Erreà | McCarthy Waste (H) ITS (A) |
| Burton Albion | Gary Rowett (caretaker) Kevin Poole (caretaker) | Ben Robinson | John McGrath | TAG | Mr Cropper |
| Cheltenham Town | Mark Yates | Paul Baker | Alan Bennett | Erreà | Mira Showers |
| Crawley Town | Craig Brewster (caretaker) | Victor Manley | Pablo Mills | Puma best team ever | |
| Crewe Alexandra | Steve Davis | John Bowler | David Artell Lee Bell | Carbrini | Mornflake Cereal |
| Dagenham & Redbridge | John Still | Dave Andrews | Mark Arber | Vandanel | West & Coe Funeral Directors |
| Gillingham | Andy Hessenthaler | Paul Scally | Andy Frampton | Vandanel | Medway Electrical & Mechanical Services |
| Hereford United | Richard O'Kelly | David Keyte | Stefan Stam | Admiral | Cargill |
| Macclesfield Town | Glyn Chamberlain | Mike Rance | Paul Morgan | adidas | Voi Jeans |
| Morecambe | Jim Bentley | Peter McGuigan | Will Haining | Puma | Bench |
| Northampton Town | Aidy Boothroyd | David Cardoza | John Johnson | Erreà | Jackson Grundy |
| Oxford United | Chris Wilder | Kelvin Thomas | Jake Wright | Nike | Bridle Insurance |
| Plymouth Argyle | Carl Fletcher | James Brent | Simon Walton | Puma | Bond Timber |
| Port Vale | Micky Adams | Vacant | Marc Richards | Vandanel | Harlequin Property |
| Rotherham United | Steve Evans | Tony Stewart | Ryan Cresswell | Puma | Parkgate Shopping |
| Shrewsbury Town | Graham Turner | Roland Wycherley | Ian Sharps | Joma | Greenhous |
| Southend United | Paul Sturrock | Ron Martin | Chris Barker | Nike | InsureandGo |
| Swindon Town | Paolo Di Canio | Jeremy Wray | Paul Caddis | Adidas | Samsung (H) FIFA 12 (A) |
| Torquay United | Martin Ling | Simon Baker | Lee Mansell | Vandanel | Sparkworld |

#### Managerial changes

| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
| Bristol Rovers | Dave Penney | Sacked | 7 March 2011 | Pre-season | Paul Buckle | 30 May 2011 |
| Swindon Town | Paul Hart | Sacked | 28 April 2011 | Pre-season | Paolo Di Canio | 20 May 2011 |
| Morecambe | Sammy McIlroy | Mutual consent | 9 May 2011 | Pre-season | Jim Bentley | 13 May 2011 |
| Barnet | Giuliano Grazioli | End of tenure as caretaker | 13 May 2011 | Pre-season | Lawrie Sanchez | 13 May 2011 |
| Torquay United | Paul Buckle | Signed by Bristol Rovers | 30 May 2011 | Pre-season | Martin Ling | 13 June 2011 |
| Bradford City | Peter Jackson | Resigned | 25 August 2011 | 21st | Phil Parkinson | 28 August 2011 |
| Plymouth Argyle | Peter Reid | Sacked | 18 September 2011 | 24th | Carl Fletcher | 18 September 2011 |
| Crewe Alexandra | Dario Gradi | Resigned | 10 November 2011 | 18th | Steve Davis | 10 November 2011 |
| Northampton Town | Gary Johnson | Mutual consent | 14 November 2011 | 20th | Aidy Boothroyd | 30 November 2011 |
| Bristol Rovers | Paul Buckle | Sacked | 3 January 2012 | 19th | Mark McGhee | 18 January 2012 |
| Accrington Stanley | John Coleman | Signed by Rochdale | 24 January 2012 | 10th | Paul Cook | 13 February 2012 |
| Hereford United | Jamie Pitman | Sacked | 5 March 2012 | 21st | Richard O'Kelly | 5 March 2012 |
| Burton Albion | Paul Peschisolido | Sacked | 17 March 2012 | 17th | Gary Rowett (caretaker) Kevin Poole (caretaker) | 17 March 2012 |
| Macclesfield | Gary Simpson | Mutual consent | 18 March 2012 | 21st | Brian Horton | 19 March 2012 |
| Rotherham United | Andy Scott | Sacked | 19 March 2012 | 11th | Steve Evans | 9 April 2012 |
| Crawley Town | Steve Evans | Signed by Rotherham United | 9 April 2012 | 4th | Craig Brewster (caretaker) | 9 April 2012 |
| Barnet | Lawrie Sanchez | Sacked | 16 April 2012 | 22nd | Martin Allen | 16 April 2012 |
| Macclesfield | Brian Horton | Resigned | 30 April 2012 | 24th | Glyn Chamberlain | 30 April 2012 |

## League table

A total of 24 teams contest the division: 18 sides remaining in the division from last season, four relegated from League One, and two promoted from Conference National.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Swindon Town (C, P) | 46 | 29 | 6 | 11 | 75 | 32 | +43 | 93 | Promotion to Football League One |
| 2 | Shrewsbury Town (P) | 46 | 26 | 10 | 10 | 66 | 41 | +25 | 88 | Promotion to Football League One |
| 3 | Crawley Town (P) | 46 | 23 | 15 | 8 | 76 | 54 | +22 | 84 | Promotion to Football League One |
| 4 | Southend United | 46 | 25 | 8 | 13 | 77 | 48 | +29 | 83 | Qualification for League Two play-offs |
| 5 | Torquay United | 46 | 23 | 12 | 11 | 63 | 50 | +13 | 81 | Qualification for League Two play-offs |
| 6 | Cheltenham Town | 46 | 23 | 8 | 15 | 66 | 50 | +16 | 77 | Qualification for League Two play-offs |
| 7 | Crewe Alexandra (O, P) | 46 | 20 | 12 | 14 | 67 | 59 | +8 | 72 | Qualification for League Two play-offs |
| 8 | Gillingham | 46 | 20 | 10 | 16 | 79 | 62 | +17 | 70 | |
| 9 | Oxford United | 46 | 17 | 17 | 12 | 59 | 48 | +11 | 68 | |
| 10 | Rotherham United | 46 | 18 | 13 | 15 | 67 | 63 | +4 | 67 | |
| 11 | Aldershot Town | 46 | 19 | 9 | 18 | 54 | 52 | +2 | 66 | |
| 12 | Port Vale | 46 | 20 | 9 | 17 | 68 | 60 | +8 | 59 | |
| 13 | Bristol Rovers | 46 | 15 | 12 | 19 | 60 | 70 | −10 | 57 | |
| 14 | Accrington Stanley | 46 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 54 | 66 | −12 | 57 | |
| 15 | Morecambe | 46 | 14 | 14 | 18 | 63 | 57 | +6 | 56 | |
| 16 | AFC Wimbledon | 46 | 15 | 9 | 22 | 62 | 78 | −16 | 54 | |
| 17 | Burton Albion | 46 | 14 | 12 | 20 | 54 | 81 | −27 | 54 | |
| 18 | Bradford City | 46 | 12 | 14 | 20 | 54 | 59 | −5 | 50 | |
| 19 | Dagenham & Redbridge | 46 | 14 | 8 | 24 | 50 | 72 | −22 | 50 | |
| 20 | Northampton Town | 46 | 12 | 12 | 22 | 56 | 79 | −23 | 48 | |
| 21 | Plymouth Argyle | 46 | 10 | 16 | 20 | 47 | 64 | −17 | 46 | |
| 22 | Barnet | 46 | 12 | 10 | 24 | 52 | 79 | −27 | 46 | |
| 23 | Hereford United (R) | 46 | 10 | 14 | 22 | 50 | 70 | −20 | 44 | Relegation to the Conference Premier |
| 24 | Macclesfield Town (R) | 46 | 8 | 13 | 25 | 39 | 64 | −25 | 37 | Relegation to the Conference Premier |
* ↑ Four teams play for one spot and promotion to Football League One.
* ↑ On 9 March Port Vale were deducted ten points for entering administration.

## Play-offs

| Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final | Final |
| 4 | Southend United | 0 | 2 | 2 | | | |
| 7 | Crewe Alexandra | 1 | 2 | 3 | | | |
| 7 | Crewe Alexandra | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | Cheltenham Town | 0 |
| | | | | | 7 | Crewe Alexandra | 2 |
| 5 | Torquay United | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7 | Crewe Alexandra | 2 |
| 6 | Cheltenham Town | 2 | 2 | 4 | | | |

## Results

The fixtures for the League Two were released on 17 June 2011. The season started on 6 August 2011, and is scheduled to conclude on 5 May 2012.
| Home \ Away | ACC | WIM | ALD | BAR | BRA | BRR | BRT | CHL | CRA | CRE | D&R | GIL | HER | MAC | MOR | NOR | OXF | PLY | PTV | ROT | SHR | STD | SWI | TOR |
| Accrington Stanley | | 2–1 | 3–2 | 0–3 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 3–0 | 4–3 | 2–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 |
| AFC Wimbledon | 0–2 | | 1–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–3 | 4–0 | 4–1 | 2–5 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 3–2 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 2–0 |
| Aldershot Town | 0–0 | 1–1 | | 4–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 0–3 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 0–1 |
| Barnet | 0–0 | 4–0 | 2–1 | | 0–4 | 2–0 | 3–6 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 0–3 | 0–2 | 0–1 |
| Bradford City | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 4–2 | | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 |
| Bristol Rovers | 5–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 2–1 | | 7–1 | 1–3 | 0–0 | 2–5 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 2–3 | 0–3 | 5–2 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 |
| Burton Albion | 0–2 | 3–2 | 0–4 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | | 0–2 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 3–2 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–4 |
| Cheltenham Town | 4–1 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | | 3–1 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 0–1 |
| Crawley Town | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 3–0 | 4–2 | | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 0–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 0–3 | 0–1 |
| Crewe Alexandra | 2–0 | 3–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 3–2 | 1–0 | 1–1 | | 4–1 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 0–3 |
| Dagenham & Redbridge | 2–1 | 0–2 | 2–5 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 2–1 | | 2–1 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 2–3 | 1–2 | 3–2 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 1–0 | 1–1 |
| Gillingham | 1–1 | 3–4 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 0–0 | 4–1 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 3–4 | 1–2 | | 5–4 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–3 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 |
| Hereford United | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 1–6 | | 0–4 | 0–3 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 1–2 | 3–2 |
| Macclesfield Town | 1–1 | 4–0 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 2–2 | | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–2 |
| Morecambe | 1–2 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 6–0 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 1–0 | | 1–2 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 3–3 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 1–2 |
| Northampton Town | 0–0 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 3–2 | 0–2 | | 2–1 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–7 | 2–5 | 1–2 | 0–0 |
| Oxford United | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | | 5–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 |
| Plymouth Argyle | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 1–1 | | 0–2 | 1–4 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 1–2 |
| Port Vale | 4–1 | 1–2 | 4–0 | 1–2 | 3–2 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 0–4 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 1–0 | | 2–0 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 0–0 |
| Rotherham United | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 0–1 | | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–2 | 0–1 |
| Shrewsbury Town | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 3–1 | | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 |
| Southend United | 2–2 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 3–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 4–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 0–2 | 3–0 | | 1–4 | 4–1 |
| Swindon Town | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 5–0 | 3–2 | 2–1 | 2–0 | | 2–0 |
| Torquay United | 1–0 | 4–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–5 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 3–3 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | |

## Statistics

    As of 14 April 2012

## Monthly awards

| Month | Manager of the Month | Manager of the Month | Player of the Month | Player of the Month | Notes |
| Month | Manager | Club | Player | Club | Notes |
| August | Andy Scott | Rotherham United | Mark Arber | Dagenham & Redbridge | |
| September | Paul Sturrock | Southend United | Danny Carlton | Morecambe | |
| October | Steve Evans | Crawley Town | Danny Hylton | Aldershot Town | |
| November | Mark Yates | Cheltenham Town | Billy Kee | Burton Albion | |
| December | Phil Parkinson | Bradford City | Bryan Hughes | Accrington | |
| January | Martin Ling | Torquay United | Mark Ellis | Torquay United | |
| February | Paolo Di Canio | Swindon Town | Paul Benson | Swindon Town | |
| March | Martin Ling | Torquay United | Lee Mansell | Torquay United | |
| April | Graham Turner | Shrewsbury Town | Bilel Mohsni | Southend United | |