# 2008–09 Football League Two

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 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 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 for the 2009–10 season.
Before the season started, Luton Town, Rotherham United and AFC Bournemouth 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 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
* Mansfield Town

### To League Two

Relegated from League One
* Bournemouth
* Gillingham
* Port Vale
* Luton Town
Promoted from Conference National
* Aldershot Town
* Exeter City

## League table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Brentford (C, P) | 46 | 23 | 16 | 7 | 65 | 36 | +29 | 85 | Promotion to Football League One |
| 2 | Exeter City (P) | 46 | 22 | 13 | 11 | 65 | 50 | +15 | 79 | Promotion to Football League One |
| 3 | Wycombe Wanderers (P) | 46 | 20 | 18 | 8 | 54 | 33 | +21 | 78 | Promotion to Football League One |
| 4 | Bury | 46 | 21 | 15 | 10 | 63 | 43 | +20 | 78 | Qualification for League Two play-offs |
| 5 | Gillingham (O, P) | 46 | 21 | 12 | 13 | 58 | 55 | +3 | 75 | Qualification for League Two play-offs |
| 6 | Rochdale | 46 | 19 | 13 | 14 | 70 | 59 | +11 | 70 | Qualification for League Two play-offs |
| 7 | Shrewsbury Town | 46 | 17 | 18 | 11 | 61 | 44 | +17 | 69 | Qualification for League Two play-offs |
| 8 | Dagenham & Redbridge | 46 | 19 | 11 | 16 | 77 | 53 | +24 | 68 | |
| 9 | Bradford City | 46 | 18 | 13 | 15 | 66 | 55 | +11 | 67 | |
| 10 | Chesterfield | 46 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 62 | 57 | +5 | 63 | |
| 11 | Morecambe | 46 | 15 | 18 | 13 | 53 | 56 | −3 | 63 | |
| 12 | Darlington | 46 | 20 | 12 | 14 | 61 | 44 | +17 | 62 | |
| 13 | Lincoln City | 46 | 14 | 17 | 15 | 53 | 52 | +1 | 59 | |
| 14 | Rotherham United | 46 | 21 | 12 | 13 | 60 | 46 | +14 | 58 | |
| 15 | Aldershot Town | 46 | 14 | 12 | 20 | 59 | 80 | −21 | 54 | |
| 16 | Accrington Stanley | 46 | 13 | 11 | 22 | 42 | 59 | −17 | 50 | |
| 17 | Barnet | 46 | 11 | 15 | 20 | 56 | 74 | −18 | 48 | |
| 18 | Port Vale | 46 | 13 | 9 | 24 | 44 | 66 | −22 | 48 | |
| 19 | Notts County | 46 | 11 | 14 | 21 | 49 | 69 | −20 | 47 | |
| 20 | Macclesfield Town | 46 | 13 | 8 | 25 | 45 | 77 | −32 | 47 | |
| 21 | Bournemouth | 46 | 17 | 12 | 17 | 59 | 51 | +8 | 46 | |
| 22 | Grimsby Town | 46 | 9 | 14 | 23 | 51 | 69 | −18 | 41 | |
| 23 | Chester City (R) | 46 | 8 | 13 | 25 | 43 | 81 | −38 | 37 | Relegated to Conference National |
| 24 | Luton Town (R) | 46 | 13 | 17 | 16 | 58 | 65 | −7 | 26 | Relegated to Conference National |
* ↑ Darlington deducted 10 points for entering administration.
* ↑ Rotherham United deducted 17 points for leaving administration without a Company Voluntary Agreement.
* ↑ Bournemouth deducted 17 points for leaving administration without a Company Voluntary Agreement.
* ↑ Luton Town deducted 30 points; 20 points for leaving administration without a Company Voluntary Agreement, and 10 points for making illegal payments to agents.

### Play-offs

| Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final at Wembley | Final at Wembley | Final at Wembley |
| 7 | Shrewsbury Town | 0 | 1 (4) | 1 | | | |
| 4 | Bury | 1 | 0 (3) | 1 | | | |
| 4 | Bury | 1 | 0 (3) | 1 | Shrewsbury Town | Shrewsbury Town | 0 |
| | | | | | Gillingham | Gillingham | 1 |
| 6 | Rochdale | 0 | 1 | 1 | Gillingham | Gillingham | 1 |
| 5 | Gillingham | 0 | 2 | 2 | | | |

## Stadia and locations

| Team | Stadium | Capacity |
| Darlington | The Darlington Arena | 25,294* |
| Bradford City | Valley Parade | 25,136 |
| Rotherham United | Don Valley Stadium | 25,000 |
| Port Vale | Vale Park | 22,356 |
| Notts County | Meadow Lane | 19,588 |
| Brentford | Griffin Park | 12,763 |
| Bury | Gigg Lane | 11,840 |
| Gillingham | Priestfield Stadium | 11,582 |
| Bournemouth | Dean Court | 10,700 |
| Luton Town | Kenilworth Road | 10,260 |
| Rochdale | Spotland Stadium | 10,249 |
| Lincoln City | Sincil Bank | 10,127 |
| Wycombe Wanderers | Adams Park | 10,000 |
| Shrewsbury Town | New Meadow | 9,875 |
| Grimsby Town | Blundell Park | 9,106 |
| Exeter City | St James Park | 9,036 |
| Chesterfield | Saltergate | 8,504 |
| Aldershot Town | Recreation Ground | 7,100 |
| Morecambe | Christie Park | 6,400 |
| Macclesfield Town | Moss Rose | 6,335 |
| Dagenham & Redbridge | Victoria Road | 6,000 |
| Barnet | Underhill Stadium | 5,568 |
| Chester City | Deva Stadium | 5,376 |
| Accrington Stanley | Crown Ground | 5,057 |
*Capacity limited to 6,000 because of planning regulations

## Results

| Home \ Away | ACC | ALD | BAR | BOU | BRA | BRE | BRY | CHE | CHF | D&R | DAR | EXE | GIL | GRI | LIN | LUT | MAC | MOR | NTC | PTV | ROC | ROT | SHR | WYC |
| Accrington Stanley | | 0–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 0–1 |
| Aldershot Town | 3–1 | | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 2–4 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 3–2 |
| Barnet | 2–1 | 0–3 | | 1–0 | 4–1 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 |
| Bournemouth | 1–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | | 4–1 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 4–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 3–1 |
| Bradford City | 1–1 | 5–0 | 3–3 | 1–3 | | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 4–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 |
| Brentford | 3–0 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | | 1–0 | 3–0 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 |
| Bury | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 0–0 |
| Chester City | 2–0 | 0–1 | 5–1 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 1–1 | | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 |
| Chesterfield | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | | 1–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–4 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 0–1 |
| Dagenham & Redbridge | 0–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 6–0 | 3–0 | | 0–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 0–3 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 6–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 0–1 |
| Darlington | 3–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 3–0 | | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 |
| Exeter City | 2–1 | 3–2 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 1–6 | 2–1 | 2–0 | | 3–0 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–0 |
| Gillingham | 1–0 | 4–4 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | | 3–0 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 3–1 | 5–0 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
| Grimsby Town | 0–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 3–3 | 1–3 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 3–0 | | 5–1 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 2–3 | 0–1 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 |
| Lincoln City | 5–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 |
| Luton Town | 1–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 3–2 | | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 3–1 | 0–1 |
| Macclesfield Town | 0–2 | 4–2 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 0–6 | 1–4 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | | 0–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 0–0 |
| Morecambe | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 0–4 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 4–1 | | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–0 | 0–0 |
| Notts County | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 0–3 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 | | 4–2 | 1–2 | 0–3 | 2–2 | 0–2 |
| Port Vale | 0–2 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 1–3 | 1–4 | 2–1 | 1–2 | | 2–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 |
| Rochdale | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 6–1 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 1–0 | | 1–2 | 2–1 | 0–1 |
| Rotherham United | 0–0 | 1–2 | 3–4 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 2–2 | | 1–2 | 0–0 |
| Shrewsbury Town | 2–0 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 7–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 4–0 | 0–0 | 3–2 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 | | 0–1 |
| Wycombe Wanderers | 2–1 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 4–2 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | |

## Top scorers

| Pos | Player | Team | Goals |
| 1 | Simeon Jackson | Gillingham | 20 |
| 1 | Grant Holt | Shrewsbury Town | 20 |
| 1 | Jack Lester | Chesterfield | 20 |
| 4 | Adam Le Fondre | Rochdale | 17 |
| 4 | John O'Flynn | Barnet | 17 |
| 4 | Reuben Reid | Rotherham United | 17 |
| 7 | Charlie MacDonald | Brentford | 16 |
| 8 | Andy Bishop | Bury | 15 |
| 8 | Peter Thorne | Bradford City | 15 |
| 10 | Paul Benson | Dagenham & Redbridge | 14 |
| 10 | Ryan Lowe | Chester City | 14 |
| 10 | Brett Pitman | Bournemouth | 14 |
| 10 | Jamie Ward | Chesterfield | 14 |

## 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 | Mark Robins | Rotherham United | Solomon Taiwo | Dagenham & Redbridge | |
| September | Alan Knill | Bury | Matthew Gill | Exeter City | |
| October | Peter Jackson | Lincoln City | Jamie Ward | Chesterfield | |
| November | Peter Taylor | Wycombe Wanderers | Grant Holt | Shrewsbury Town | |
| December | John Still | Dagenham & Redbridge | Marcus Bean | Brentford | |
| January | Alan Knill | Bury | Dany N'Guessan | Lincoln City | |
| February | Sammy McIlroy | Morecambe | Charlie MacDonald | Brentford | |
| March | Lee Richardson | Chesterfield | Reuben Reid | Rotherham United | |
| April | Andy Scott | Brentford | Sam Saunders | Dagenham & Redbridge | |

## 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

| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Replaced by | Date of appointment | Position in table |
| Bournemouth | Kevin Bond | Contract terminated | 1 September 2008 | Jimmy Quinn | 2 September 2008 | 23rd |
| Grimsby Town | Alan Buckley | Contract terminated | 15 September 2008 | Mike Newell | 6 October 2008 | 20th |
| Port Vale | Lee Sinnott | Mutual consent | 22 September 2008 | Dean Glover | 6 October 2008 | 16th |
| Chester City | Simon Davies | Contract terminated | 11 November 2008 | Mark Wright | 14 November 2008 | 19th |
| Barnet | Paul Fairclough | Resigned | 28 December 2008 | Ian Hendon | 21 April 2009 | 16th |
| Bournemouth | Jimmy Quinn | Contract terminated | 31 December 2008 | Eddie Howe | 31 December 2008 | 23rd |