# 2008–09 Hamilton Academical F.C. season

The 2008–09 season was the 122nd season of competitive football by Hamilton Academical and the first back in the top-flight of Scottish football following promotion from the Scottish Football League at the end of the 2007–08 season.

## Results and fixtures

| Win | Draw | Loss |
| Date | Venue | Opponents | Score | Competition | Hamilton scorer(s) | Match Report |
| 12 July 2008 | Glencruitten, Oban | Various (whole tournament was in 1 day) | Various | Keyline Cup | Various | Oban Saints Official Site |
| 16 July 2008 | Excelsior Stadium, Airdrie | Airdrie United | 0–1 | F | | |
| 17 July 2008 | Shielfield Park, Berwick-upon-Tweed | Berwick Rangers | 3–2 | F | Grady, Easton, McLeod | |
| 22 July 2008 | Cliftonhill, Coatbridge | Albion Rovers | 1–1 | F | Waterworth | |
| 23 July 2008 | Strathclyde Homes Stadium, Dumbarton | Dumbarton | 3–1 | F | Stevenson, McCarthy, Akins | Dumbarton Official Site |
| 24 July 2008 | Bayview Stadium, Methil | East Fife | 0–2 | F | | East Fife Official Site |
| 26 July 2008 | The PTS Stadium, Billingham | Billingham Synthonia | 3–0 | F | Taylor (2), Akins | |
| 26 July 2008 | Victoria Park, Hartlepool | Huddersfield Town | 2–1 | Hartlepool United Centenary Tournament | McArthur, Mensing | Hartlepool United Official Site |
| 27 July 2008 | Victoria Park, Hartlepool | Sunderland | 2–1 | Hartlepool United Centenary Tournament | Own goal, Graham | Hartlepool United Official Site |
| 5 August 2008 | Prestonfield, Linlithgow | Linlithgow Rose | 3–2 | F | Stevenson (pen), McArthur, McLeod | |
| 11 August 2008 | New Douglas Park, Hamilton | Dundee United | 3–1 | SPL | Stevenson, McArthur, Graham | Hamilton Official Site |
| 16 August 2008 | Caledonian Stadium, Inverness | Inverness CT | 1–0 | SPL | Offiong | Hamilton Official Site |
| 20 August 2008 | New Douglas Park, Hamilton | Liverpool Reserves | 1–2 | F | Thomas | Liverpool Official Site |
| 23 August 2008 | Rugby Park, Kilmarnock | Kilmarnock | 0–1 | SPL | | Hamilton Official Site |
| 26 August 2008 | New Douglas Park, Hamilton | Clyde | 3–1 | SLC | Grady, Thomas, Stevenson (pen) | Hamilton Official Site |
| 30 August 2008 | New Douglas Park, Hamilton | Heart of Midlothian | 1–2 | SPL | Lyle | Hamilton Official Site |
| 13 September 2008 | Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen | Aberdeen | 2–1 | SPL | Graham, McCarthy | Hamilton Official Site |
| 20 September 2008 | New Douglas Park, Hamilton | Hibernian | 0–1 | SPL | | Hamilton Official Site |
| 24 September 2008 | Fir Park, Motherwell | Motherwell | 2–1 (a.e.t.) | SLC | Graham, Ettien | Hamilton Official Site |
| 27 September 2008 | Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk | Falkirk | 1–4 | SPL | Own goal | Hamilton Official Site |
| 4 October 2008 | Celtic Park, Glasgow | Celtic | 0–4 | SPL | | Hamilton Official Site |
| 18 October 2008 | New Douglas Park, Hamilton | St Mirren | 1–2 | SPL | Corcoran | Hamilton Official Site |
| 25 October 2008 | New Douglas Park, Hamilton | Rangers | 1–3 | SPL | Easton | Hamilton Official Site |
| 28 October 2008 | Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow | Rangers | 0–2 | SLC | | Hamilton Official Site |
| 1 November 2008 | Fir Park, Motherwell | Motherwell | 0–2 | SPL | | Hamilton Official Site |
| 8 November 2008 | New Douglas Park, Hamilton | Falkirk | 1–1 | SPL | McCarthy | Hamilton Official Site |
| 12 November 2008 | Tynecastle Stadium, Edinburgh | Heart of Midlothian | 0–1 | SPL | | Hamilton Official Site |
| 16 November 2008 | New Douglas Park, Hamilton | Celtic | 1–2 | SPL | Offiong | Hamilton Official Site |
| 22 November 2008 | Tannadice Park, Dundee | Dundee United | 1–1 | SPL | Offiong | Hamilton Official Site |
| 29 November 2008 | New Douglas Park, Hamilton | Kilmarnock | 1–0 | SPL | Offiong | Hamilton Official Site |
| 6 December 2008 | Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow | Rangers | 1–7 | SPL | McArthur | Hamilton Official Site |
| 13 December 2008 | Easter Road, Edinburgh | Hibernian | 0–2 | SPL | | Hamilton Official Site |
| 20 December 2008 | New Douglas Park, Hamilton | Motherwell | 2–0 | SPL | McCarthy (2) | Hamilton Official Site |
| 27 December 2008 | Love Street, Paisley | St Mirren | 0–1 | SPL | | Hamilton Official Site |
| 3 January 2009 | New Douglas Park, Hamilton | Aberdeen | 2–0 | SPL | Mensing (pen), Offiong | Hamilton Official Site |
| 10 January 2009 | Victoria Park, Dingwall | Ross County | 1–0 | SC | Swailes | Hamilton Official Site |
| 17 January 2009 | New Douglas Park, Hamilton | Inverness CT | 1–0 | SPL | Mensing (pen) | Hamilton Official Site |
| 25 January 2009 | Rugby Park, Kilmarnock | Kilmarnock | 1–0 | SPL | Offiong | Hamilton Official Site |
| 31 January 2009 | New Douglas Park, Hamilton | Heart of Midlothian | 2–0 | SPL | Mensing (2, 1 pen) | Hamilton Official Site |
| 7 February 2009 | New Douglas Park, Hamilton | Dundee United | 2–1 | SC | Swailes (2) | Hamilton Official Site |
| 14 February 2009 | Fir Park, Motherwell | Motherwell | 0–1 | SPL | | Hamilton Official Site |
| 21 February 2009 | Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk | Falkirk | 2–1 | SPL | Mensing, McGowan | Hamilton Official Site |
| 28 February 2009 | New Douglas Park, Hamilton | Rangers | 0–1 | SPL | | Hamilton Official Site |
| 4 March 2009 | New Douglas Park, Hamilton | Hibernian | 0–1 | SPL | | Hamilton Official Site |
| 8 March 2009 | Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow | Rangers | 1–5 | SC | Quinn | Hamilton Official Site |
| 14 March 2009 | Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen | Aberdeen | 0–1 | SPL | | Hamilton Official Site |
| 21 March 2009 | New Douglas Park, Hamilton | St Mirren | 0–0 | SPL | | Hamilton Official Site |
| 4 April 2009 | Celtic Park, Glasgow | Celtic | 0–4 | SPL | | Hamilton Official Site |
| 11 April 2009 | New Douglas Park, Hamilton | Dundee United | 0–1 | SPL | | Hamilton Official Site |
| 18 April 2009 | Caledonian Stadium, Inverness | Inverness CT | 1–1 | SPL | Gibson | Hamilton Official Site |
| 2 May 2009 | New Douglas Park, Hamilton | Kilmarnock | 2–1 | SPL | McCarthy (2) | Hamilton Official Site |
| 10 May 2009 | Caledonian Stadium, Inverness | Inverness CT | 1–1 | SPL | Canning | Hamilton Official Site |
| 13 May 2009 | New Douglas Park, Hamilton | Falkirk | 0–1 | SPL | | Hamilton Official Site |
| 16 May 2009 | New Douglas Park, Hamilton | Motherwell | 0–3 | SPL | | Hamilton Official Site |
| 23 May 2009 | St Mirren Park, Paisley | St Mirren | 1–0 | SPL | Mensing | Hamilton Official Site |

## Competitions
### Scottish Premier League
#### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 7 | Motherwell | 38 | 13 | 9 | 16 | 46 | 51 | −5 | 48 | Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round |
| 8 | Kilmarnock | 38 | 12 | 8 | 18 | 38 | 48 | −10 | 44 | |
| 9 | Hamilton Academical | 38 | 12 | 5 | 21 | 30 | 53 | −23 | 41 | |
| 10 | Falkirk | 38 | 9 | 11 | 18 | 37 | 52 | −15 | 38 | Qualification for the Europa League second qualifying round |
| 11 | St Mirren | 38 | 9 | 10 | 19 | 33 | 52 | −19 | 37 | |
* ↑ Teams played each other three times (33 matches), before the league split into two groups (the top six and the bottom six) for the last five matches.
* ↑ Scotland were awarded an additional Europa League place as the association finished in third place of the UEFA Fair Play ranking. Motherwell earned this place as winners of the Scottish Fair Play ranking.
* ↑ Since Rangers, the winners of the Scottish Cup, already qualified for the Champions League via their league position, Falkirk, the losing finalist, earned a spot in the Europa League.

### Scottish Cup

Hamilton Academical entered the Scottish Cup at the fourth round where they faced Ross County on 10 January 2009. After a 1–0 win courtesy of a goal from defender Chris Swailes, the club progressed to the quarter-finals and were drawn against Rangers at Ibrox. On 8 March 2009, the club were eliminated from the competition by eventual champion Rangers, following to a 5–1 defeat.

### Scottish League Cup

The Accies entered the Scottish League Cup at the second round and were again knocked out in the same stage and by the same opponents as the Scottish Cup.