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.
| 2008–09 season | |
|---|---|
| Chairman | Ronnie MacDonald |
| Manager | Billy Reid |
| Stadium | New Douglas Park |
| Scottish Premier League | 9th |
| Scottish Cup | Quarter-finals |
| League Cup | Quarter-finals |
| Top goalscorer | James McCarthy Simon Mensing Richard Offiong (6 each) |
Results and fixtures
| Win | Draw | Loss |
Competitions
Scottish Premier League
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation[a] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Motherwell | 38 | 13 | 9 | 16 | 46 | 51 | −5 | 48 | Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round[b] |
| 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[c] |
| 11 | St Mirren | 38 | 9 | 10 | 19 | 33 | 52 | −19 | 37 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
Notes:
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.[2][3]
| 10 January 2009 Fourth round | Ross County | 0–1 | Hamilton Academical | Victoria Park, Dingwall |
| 15:00 | Report | Swailes  22' McArthur  90' | Attendance: 2,300 Referee: C Allan |
| 8 March 2009 Quarter-finals | Rangers | 5–1 | Hamilton Academical | Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow |
| 15:00 | Whittaker 15' Lafferty 35', 81'Ñíguez 45' (pen.)Davis 53' | Report | Quinn 26' | Attendance: 27,588[2] Referee: I Brines |
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.[4]
| 26 August 2008 Second round | Hamilton Academical | 3–1 | Clyde | New Douglas Park, Hamilton |
| 19:45 | Grady 17' Thomas 81' Stevenson 90' (pen) | Report | Clarke 19' Ohnesorge  1'  66' | Attendance: 1,146 Referee: David Somers |
| 24 September Third round | Motherwell | 1–2 (a.e.t.) | Hamilton Academical | Fir Park, Motherwell |
| 19:45 | Murphy 66' Porter 45' | Report | Graham 53' Ettien 95'Mensing 45' 112' | Attendance: 5,590 Referee: I Brines |
| 28 October 2008 Quarter-finals | Rangers | 2–0 | Hamilton Academical | Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow |
| 19:45 | Boyd 24' Lafferty 50' | Report | Attendance: 32,083 Referee: E Smith |