2008–09 Football League Championship

Football League Championship
Season 2008–09
Champions Wolverhampton Wanderers
(3rd divisional title)
Promoted Wolverhampton Wanderers
Birmingham City
Burnley
Relegated Norwich City
Southampton
Charlton Athletic
Matches played 552
Goals scored 1350 (2.45 per match)
Top goalscorer Sylvan Ebanks-Blake
(25 goals)
Biggest home win Reading 6–0 Sheffield Wednesday,
Preston North End 6–0 Cardiff City
Biggest away win Charlton Athletic 2–5 Sheffield United
Highest scoring Norwich City 5–2 Wolverhampton Wanderers,
Watford 3–4 Blackpool,
Charlton Athletic 2–5 Sheffield United
Longest winning run 7 games[1]
Wolverhampton Wanderers (achieved twice)
Longest unbeaten run 13 games[1]
Cardiff City,
Swansea City
Longest winless run 18 games[1]
Charlton Athletic
Longest losing run 6 games[1]
Doncaster Rovers
Highest attendance 33,079[2]
Derby County v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Lowest attendance 6,648[2]
Blackpool v Charlton Athletic
Average attendance 17,938[2]

The 2008–09 Football League Championship (known as the Coca-Cola Championship for sponsorship reasons) was the sixth season of the league under its current title and seventeenth season under its current league division format.

Wolverhampton Wanderers won the division to return to the Premier League after a five-year absence. They secured the Championship title on 25 April, one week after having confirmed their promotion with a victory over QPR.[3][4]

Birmingham City were promoted at the first attempt following their relegation. They secured their return to the top flight on the final day of the season by winning at promotion rivals Reading 2–1.[5] Norwich City, Southampton and Charlton Athletic were relegated;[6]

Burnley won the play-offs to reach the Premier League for the first time after a 1–0 win in the play-off final against Sheffield United, who had been in with a chance of automatic promotion on the final day.[7]

Team changes from previous season

Joining the Championship

Relegated from the Premier League:

Promoted from League One:

Leaving the Championship

Promoted to the Premier League:

Relegated to League One:

Team overview

Stadium and locations

Team Stadium Capacity
Barnsley Oakwell 23,009
Birmingham City St Andrew's 30,009
Blackpool Bloomfield Road 9,788
Bristol City Ashton Gate 21,497
Burnley Turf Moor 22,546
Cardiff City Ninian Park 22,008
Charlton Athletic The Valley 27,111
Coventry City Ricoh Arena 32,609
Crystal Palace Selhurst Park 26,309
Derby County Pride Park 33,597
Doncaster Rovers Keepmoat Stadium 15,231
Ipswich Town Portman Road 30,311
Norwich City Carrow Road 26,034
Nottingham Forest City Ground 30,602
Plymouth Argyle Home Park 19,500
Preston North End Deepdale 24,500
Queens Park Rangers Loftus Road 19,128
Reading Madejski Stadium 24,161
Sheffield United Bramall Lane 32,609
Sheffield Wednesday Hillsborough 39,814
Southampton St Mary's Stadium 32,689
Swansea City Liberty Stadium 20,532
Watford Vicarage Road 19,920
Wolverhampton Wanderers Molineux 28,525

Personnel and sponsoring

Team Manager Kit maker Sponsor
Barnsley Simon Davey Lotto Barnsley Building Society
Birmingham City Alex McLeish Umbro F&C Investments
Blackpool Tony Parkes Carlotti Floors 2 Go/Carbrini
Bristol City Gary Johnson Puma AG D.A.S.
Burnley Owen Coyle Errea Holland's Pies
Cardiff City Dave Jones Joma Vans Direct.co.uk
Charlton Athletic Phil Parkinson Joma Carbrini
Coventry City Chris Coleman Puma AG Cassidy Group
Crystal Palace Neil Warnock Errea GAC Logistics
Derby County Nigel Clough Adidas Bombardier
Doncaster Rovers Sean O'Driscoll Vandanel Wright Investments
Ipswich Town Roy Keane Mitre Marcus Evans
Norwich City Bryan Gunn Xara Norwich Union
Nottingham Forest Billy Davies Umbro Capital One
Plymouth Argyle Paul Sturrock Puma AG Ginsters
Preston North End Alan Irvine Diadora Enterprise Plc
Queens Park Rangers Paulo Sousa Lotto Gulf Air
Reading Steve Coppell Puma AG Waitrose
Sheffield United Kevin Blackwell Le Coq Sportif Visit Malta.com
Sheffield Wednesday Brian Laws Lotto PlusNet
Southampton Mark Wotte Umbro FlyBe
Swansea City Roberto Martínez Umbro Swansea.com
Watford Brendan Rodgers Diadora Beko
Wolverhampton Wanderers Mick McCarthy Le Coq Sportif Chaucer Consulting

Managerial changes

Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Replaced by Date of appointment Position in table
QPR Iain Dowie Contract terminated 24 October 2008[8] Paulo Sousa 19 November 2008[9] 9th
Watford Aidy Boothroyd Mutual Consent 3 November 2008[10] Brendan Rodgers 24 November 2008[11] 21st
Charlton Athletic Alan Pardew Mutual Consent 22 November 2008[12] Phil Parkinson 31 December 2008[13] 22nd
Blackpool Simon Grayson Signed by Leeds United (Mutual Consent) 23 December 2008[14] Ian Holloway 21 May 2009 16th
Nottingham Forest Colin Calderwood Contract terminated 26 December 2008[15] Billy Davies 1 January 2009[16] 22nd
Derby County Paul Jewell Resigned 28 December 2008[17] Nigel Clough 6 January 2009[18] 18th
Norwich City Glenn Roeder Contract terminated 14 January 2009[19] Bryan Gunn 21 January 2009[20] 21st
Southampton Jan Poortvliet Resigned 23 January 2009[21] Mark Wotte 23 January 2009[21] 23rd
QPR Paulo Sousa Contract terminated 9 April 2009[22] Jim Magilton 3 June 2009 10th
Ipswich Town Jim Magilton Contract terminated 22 April 2009[23] Roy Keane 23 April 2009[24] 9th
Reading Steve Coppell Resigned 12 May 2009[25] Brendan Rodgers 4 June 2009 4th, Play-off semi-final

League table

Pos
 Team
 Pld
 W
 D
 L
 GF
 GA
 GD
 Pts
Promotion or relegation
1 Wolverhampton Wanderers (C) (P) 46 27 9 10 80 52+28 90 Promotion to Premier League
2 Birmingham City (P) 46 23 14 9 54 37+17 83
3 Sheffield United 46 22 14 10 64 39+25 80 Qualification to League Championship playoffs
4 Reading 46 21 14 11 72 40+32 77
5 Burnley (P) 46 21 13 12 72 60+12 76
6 Preston North End 46 21 11 14 66 54+12 74
7 Cardiff City 46 19 17 10 65 53+12 74
8 Swansea City 46 16 20 10 63 50+13 68
9 Ipswich Town 46 17 15 14 62 53+9 66
10 Bristol City 46 15 16 15 54 540 61
11 Queens Park Rangers 46 15 16 15 42 44−2 61
12 Sheffield Wednesday 46 16 13 17 51 58−7 61
13 Watford 46 16 10 20 68 72−4 58
14 Doncaster Rovers 46 17 7 22 42 53−11 58
15 Crystal Palace 46 15 12 19 52 55−3 0561
16 Blackpool 46 13 17 16 47 58−11 56
17 Coventry City 46 13 15 18 47 58−11 54
18 Derby County 46 14 12 20 55 67−12 54
19 Nottingham Forest 46 13 14 19 50 65−15 53
20 Barnsley 46 13 13 20 45 58−13 52
21 Plymouth Argyle 46 13 12 21 44 57−13 51
22 Norwich City (R) 46 12 10 24 57 70−13 46 Relegation to League One
23 Southampton (R) 46 10 15 21 46 69−23 0452
24 Charlton Athletic (R) 46 8 15 23 52 74−22 39

|} Updated to games played on 3 May 2009.
Source: The Football League
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored
1 Crystal Palace were give a one-point deduction for using an ineligible player during a match against Sheffield United on 3 May 2009.[26]
2 Southampton were given a ten-point deduction for breaching insolvency regulations, regarding their holding company. As they finished in the bottom three this season, the points deduction will be applied next season.[27]
(C) = Champion; (R) = Relegated; (P) = Promoted; (E) = Eliminated; (O) = Play-off winner; (A) = Advances to a further round.
Only applicable when the season is not finished:
(Q) = Qualified to the phase of tournament indicated; (TQ) = Qualified to tournament, but not yet to the particular phase indicated; (RQ) = Qualified to the relegation tournament indicated; (DQ) = Disqualified from tournament.

Playoffs

  Semi-finals Final
                     
3  Sheffield United 1 1 2  
6  Preston North End 1 0 1  
    3  Sheffield United 0
  5  Burnley 1
4  Reading 0 0 0
5  Burnley 1 2 3  

Results

Home ╲ Away BAR BIR BLPBRIBURCARCHACOVCRYDERDONIPSNORNOTPLYPNEQPRREASHUSHWSOUSWAWATWOL
Barnsley 1–1 0–1 0–0 3–2 0–1 0–0 1–2 3–1 2–0 4–1 1–2 0–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–1 0–1 1–2 2–1 0–1 1–3 2–1 1–1
Birmingham City 2–0 0–1 1–0 1–1 1–1 3–2 0–1 1–0 1–0 1–0 2–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–2 1–0 1–3 1–0 3–1 1–0 0–0 3–2 2–0
Blackpool 1–0 2–0 0–1 0–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–2 3–2 2–3 0–1 2–0 1–1 0–1 1–3 0–3 2–2 1–3 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 2–2
Bristol City 2–0 1–2 0–0 1–2 1–1 2–1 2–0 1–0 1–1 4–1 1–1 1–0 2–2 2–2 1–1 1–1 1–4 0–0 1–1 2–0 0–0 1–1 2–2
Burnley 1–2 1–1 2–0 4–0 2–2 2–1 1–1 4–2 3–0 0–0 0–3 2–0 5–0 0–0 3–1 1–0 1–0 1–0 2–4 3–2 0–2 3–2 1–0
Cardiff City 3–1 1–2 2–0 0–0 3–1 2–0 2–1 2–1 4–1 3–0 0–3 2–2 2–0 1–0 2–0 0–0 2–2 0–3 2–0 2–1 2–2 2–1 1–2
Charlton Athletic 1–3 0–0 2–2 0–2 1–1 2–2 1–2 1–0 2–2 1–2 2–1 4–2 0–2 2–0 0–0 2–2 4–2 2–5 1–2 0–0 2–0 2–3 1–3
Coventry City 1–1 1–0 2–1 0–3 1–3 0–2 0–0 0–2 1–1 1–0 2–2 2–0 2–2 0–1 0–0 1–0 0–0 1–2 2–0 4–1 1–1 2–3 2–1
Crystal Palace 3–0 0–0 0–1 4–2 0–0 0–2 1–0 1–1 1–0 2–1 1–4 3–1 1–2 1–2 2–1 0–0 0–0 0–0 1–1 3–0 2–0 0–0 0–1
Derby County 0–0 1–1 4–1 2–1 1–1 1–1 1–0 2–1 1–2 0–1 0–1 3–1 1–1 2–1 2–2 0–2 0–2 2–1 3–0 0–1 2–2 1–0 2–3
Doncaster Rovers 0–1 0–2 0–0 1–0 2–1 1–1 0–1 1–0 2–0 2–1 1–0 1–1 0–0 1–0 0–2 2–0 0–1 0–2 1–0 0–2 0–0 1–2 0–1
Ipswich Town 3–0 0–1 1–1 3–1 1–1 1–2 1–1 2–1 1–1 2–0 1–3 3–2 2–1 0–0 1–2 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 0–3 2–2 0–0 0–2
Norwich City 4–0 1–1 1–1 1–2 1–1 2–0 1–0 1–2 1–2 1–2 2–1 2–0 2–3 1–0 2–2 0–1 0–2 1–0 0–1 2–2 2–3 2–0 5–2
Nottingham Forest 1–0 1–1 0–0 3–2 1–2 0–1 0–0 1–0 0–2 1–3 2–4 1–1 1–2 2–0 2–1 2–2 0–0 0–1 2–1 3–1 1–1 3–2 0–1
Plymouth Argyle 1–2 0–1 1–2 0–2 1–2 2–1 2–2 4–0 1–3 0–3 0–3 1–3 1–2 1–0 1–0 1–1 2–2 2–2 4–0 2–0 0–1 2–1 2–2
Preston North End 2–1 1–0 0–1 2–0 2–1 6–0 2–1 2–1 2–0 2–0 1–0 3–2 1–0 2–1 1–1 2–1 2–1 0–0 1–1 2–3 0–2 2–0 1–3
Queens Park Rangers 2–1 1–0 1–1 2–1 1–2 1–0 2–1 1–1 0–0 0–2 2–0 1–3 0–1 2–1 0–0 3–2 0–0 0–0 3–2 4–1 1–0 0–0 1–0
Reading 0–0 1–2 1–0 0–2 3–1 1–1 2–2 3–1 4–2 3–0 2–1 0–1 2–0 0–1 2–0 0–0 0–0 0–1 6–0 1–2 4–0 4–0 1–0
Sheffield United 2–1 2–1 2–2 3–0 2–3 0–0 3–1 1–1 2–2 4–2 0–1 2–0 1–0 0–0 2–0 1–0 3–0 0–2 1–2 0–0 1–0 2–1 1–3
Sheffield Wednesday 0–1 1–1 1–1 0–0 4–1 1–0 4–1 0–1 2–0 0–1 1–0 0–0 3–2 1–0 0–1 1–1 1–0 1–2 1–0 2–0 0–0 2–0 0–1
Southampton 0–0 1–2 0–1 0–1 2–2 1–0 2–3 1–1 1–0 1–1 1–2 2–2 2–0 0–2 0–0 3–1 0–0 1–1 1–2 1–1 2–2 0–3 1–2
Swansea City 2–2 2–3 0–1 1–0 1–1 2–2 1–1 0–0 1–3 1–1 3–1 3–0 2–1 3–1 1–0 4–1 0–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 3–0 3–1 3–1
Watford 1–1 0–1 3–4 2–4 3–0 2–2 1–0 2–1 2–0 3–1 1–1 2–1 2–1 2–1 1–2 2–1 3–0 2–2 0–2 2–2 2–2 2–0 2–3
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–2 2–1 2–1 2–1 3–0 1–0 0–0 3–3 5–1 0–1 1–3 1–0 0–3 1–1 4–1 3–0 2–1 3–1

Source: The Football League
1 ^ The home team is listed in the left-hand column.
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
For coming matches, an a indicates there is an article about the match.

Top goalscorers

PosPlayerTeamGoals
1 Sylvan Ebanks-Blake Wolverhampton Wanderers 25
2 Ross McCormack Cardiff City 21
Jason Scotland Swansea City
3 Kevin Doyle Reading 18
4 Tommy Smith Watford 16
5 Rob Hulse Derby County 14
Chris Iwelumo Wolverhampton Wanderers
Marcus Tudgay Sheffield Wednesday
Kevin Phillips Birmingham City

Awards

Month Manager of the Month Player of the Month Notes
Manager Club Player Club
August Mick McCarthy Wolverhampton Wanderers Richard Chaplow Preston North End [28][29]
September Owen Coyle Burnley Kevin Doyle Reading [30][31]
October Dave Jones Cardiff City Rob Hulse Derby County [32][33]
November Mick McCarthy Wolverhampton Wanderers Chris Iwelumo Wolverhampton Wanderers [34][35]
December Steve Coppell Reading Stephen Hunt Reading [36][37]
January Roberto Martínez Swansea City Joe Ledley Cardiff City [38][39]
February Chris Coleman Coventry City Jason Scotland Swansea City [40]
March Kevin Blackwell Sheffield United Robbie Blake Burnley [41][42]
April Alan Irvine Preston North End Kyle Naughton Sheffield United
PFA Team of the Year[43]
Pos.PlayerClub
GK Keiren Westwood Coventry City
DF Kyle Naughton Sheffield United
DF Roger Johnson Cardiff City
DF Richard Stearman Wolverhampton Wanderers
DF Danny Fox Coventry City
MF Michael Kightly Wolverhampton Wanderers
MF Stephen Hunt Reading
MF Joe Ledley Cardiff City
MF Jordi Gómez Swansea City
FW Sylvan Ebanks-Blake Wolverhampton Wanderers
FW Jason Scotland Swansea City

Events

Goal controversies

Southampton administration

On 23 April 2009, The Football League announced that Southampton had been placed into administration. The ruling occurred after the deadline for immediate points deduction application, so the ten-point deduction would have to await whether or not Southampton, in 22nd place at the time of the announcement, were relegated.[47] If they had finished above the relegation zone, then the points would have been deducted from their total for the current year to thereby relegate them. However, since their relegation was confirmed following their penultimate match, their point penalty would be applied the next season in League One.[48]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "English League Championship Stats – 2011–12". ESPN (ESPN).
  2. 1 2 3 "Football League Attendance Report" (PDF). The Football League. 25 July 2012.
  3. ↑ "Wolves 1–0 QPR". BBC Sport. 18 April 2009.
  4. ↑ "Barnsley 1–1 Wolves". BBC Sport. 25 April 2009.
  5. ↑ "Birmingham clinch top-flight spot". BBC Sport. 3 May 2009.
  6. ↑ "Ups and downs". BBC Sport. 24 May 2009.
  7. ↑ "Burnley 1–0 Sheff Utd". BBC Sport. 25 May 2009.
  8. ↑ "QPR part company with boss Dowie". BBC Sport. 24 October 2008. Archived from the original on 28 October 2008. Retrieved 1 November 2008.
  9. ↑ "Sousa is new QPR first-team coach". BBC Sport. 19 November 2008. Retrieved 20 November 2008.
  10. ↑ "Boothroyd and Watford part company". BBC Sport. 3 November 2008. Retrieved 22 April 2009.
  11. ↑ "Rodgers named new Watford manager". BBC Sport. 24 November 2008. Archived from the original on 4 December 2008. Retrieved 24 November 2008.
  12. ↑ "Alan Pardew leaves The Valley". Charlton Athletics. 22 November 2008. Archived from the original on 25 April 2009. Retrieved 22 April 2009.
  13. ↑ "Addicks appoint Parkinson as boss". BBC Sport. 31 December 2008. Archived from the original on 1 January 2009. Retrieved 31 December 2008.
  14. ↑ "Grayson appointed Leeds Manager". BBC Sport. 23 December 2008. Archived from the original on 23 December 2008. Retrieved 23 December 2008.
  15. ↑ "Calderwood sacked as Forest boss". BBC Sport. 26 December 2008. Archived from the original on 27 December 2008. Retrieved 26 December 2008.
  16. ↑ "Davies appointed Forest manager". BBC Sport. 1 January 2009. Archived from the original on 31 December 2008. Retrieved 1 January 2009.
  17. ↑ "Jewell resigns as Derby manager". BBC Sport. 29 December 2008. Archived from the original on 30 December 2008. Retrieved 29 December 2008.
  18. ↑ "Clough takes over as Derby boss". BBC Sport. 6 January 2009. Archived from the original on 7 January 2009. Retrieved 6 January 2009.
  19. ↑ "Roeder sacked as Norwich manager". BBC Sport. 14 January 2000. Archived from the original on 20 January 2009. Retrieved 14 January 2009.
  20. ↑ "Norwich name Gunn boss for season". BBC Sport. 21 January 2009. Archived from the original on 22 January 2009. Retrieved 21 January 2009.
  21. 1 2 "Poortvliet resigns as Saints boss". BBC Sport. 23 January 2009. Archived from the original on 25 January 2009. Retrieved 23 January 2009.
  22. ↑ "QPR axe Sousa after just 26 games". BBC Sport. 9 April 2009. Archived from the original on 10 April 2009. Retrieved 9 April 2009.
  23. ↑ "Magilton sacked as Ipswich boss". BBC Sport. 22 April 2009. Archived from the original on 24 April 2009. Retrieved 22 April 2009.
  24. ↑ "Keane appointed Ipswich manager". BBC Sport. 23 April 2009. Archived from the original on 23 April 2009. Retrieved 23 April 2009.
  25. ↑ "Magilton sacked as Ipswich boss". BBC Sport. 22 April 2009. Archived from the original on 15 May 2009. Retrieved 22 April 2009.
  26. ↑ "Crystal Palace have one point deduction for fielding ineligible Rui Fonte". The Guardian. 1 June 2009. Archived from the original on 12 June 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2009.
  27. ↑ "Southampton Football Club". The Football League. 23 April 2009. Archived from the original on 26 April 2009. Retrieved 23 April 2009.
  28. ↑ "Wolves boss scoops monthly award". BBC Sport. 9 August 2008. Retrieved 9 August 2008.
  29. ↑ "Player of the Month Awards announced". Setanta Sports. 9 August 2008. Retrieved 9 August 2008.
  30. ↑ "Coyle named manager of the month". BBC Sport. 2 October 2008. Archived from the original on 5 October 2008. Retrieved 2 October 2008.
  31. ↑ "Doyle is Championship Payer of the Month". Skysports. 7 October 2008. Retrieved 7 October 2008.
  32. ↑ "Dave is manager of the month – and Chops is back". News Wales. 6 November 2008. Retrieved 6 November 2008.
  33. ↑ "Rob Hulse Wins in Championship". Barnsley Official Site. 8 November 2008. Retrieved 8 November 2008.
  34. ↑ "McCarthy is pick of the bunch". Football League. 4 December 2008. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
  35. ↑ "Iwelumo is Championship's top man". Football League. 9 December 2008. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
  36. ↑ "Coppell crowned championship's best". Football League. 4 December 2008. Retrieved 17 January 2009.
  37. ↑ "Hunt named player of the month". Football League. 9 December 2008. Archived from the original on 28 February 2009. Retrieved 17 January 2009.
  38. ↑ "Martinez named championship's best". Football League. 5 February 2009. Archived from the original on 22 February 2009. Retrieved 5 February 2009.
  39. ↑ "Ledley the Championship's best". Football League. 9 February 2008. Archived from the original on 30 March 2009. Retrieved 17 February 2009.
  40. ↑ "Coleman hoping to silence oggy". Football League. 6 March 2009. Retrieved 9 March 2009.
  41. ↑ "Blackwell speeds to award". Football League. 2 April 2009. Archived from the original on 27 April 2009. Retrieved 8 April 2009.
  42. ↑ "Blake wins monthly accolade". Football League. 6 April 2008. Archived from the original on 26 April 2009. Retrieved 8 April 2009.
  43. ↑ Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2009). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2009–10. Mainstream Publishing. p. 480. ISBN 978-1-84596-474-0.
  44. ↑ "Watford 2–2 Reading". BBC Sport. 20 September 2008. Archived from the original on 16 January 2009.
  45. ↑ "Coppell happy to replay Watford". BBC Sport. 21 September 2008. Archived from the original on 3 February 2009.
  46. ↑ "Bristol City boss Johnson calls for introduction of goalline technology". 8 December 2008. Archived from the original on 25 April 2009.
  47. ↑ "Penalised Saints face relegation". BBC Sport. 23 April 2009.
  48. ↑ Statement on Southampton Football Club from The Football League, 23 April 2009
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