Hamilton Academical Football Club, often known as
Hamilton Accies, are a football club from
HamiltonHamilton is a town in South Lanarkshire, in the west-central Lowlands of Scotland. It serves as the main administrative centre of the South Lanarkshire council area...
in
South LanarkshireSouth Lanarkshire is one of 32 unitary council areas of Scotland, covering the southern part of the former county of Lanarkshire. It borders the south-east of the city of Glasgow and contains many of Glasgow's suburbs, commuter towns and smaller villages....
, Scotland. They were established in 1874 from
Hamilton AcademyHamilton Academy was a school situated in Hamilton, Scotland. It or its predecessors can trace their history back to the year 1588. For most of its existence, and certainly for most of the twentieth century, it was an elitist institution, forming the top-most layer of a four-layer public education...
.
The team won promotion from
Scottish Football LeagueThe Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division....
Division 2 to SFL Division 1 in the 2003–04 season; this was followed up by promotion to the
Scottish Premier LeagueThe Scottish Premier League is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top level of the Scottish football league system — above the Scottish Football League.Per capita, more people in Scotland watch their domestic top level league than any other nation in...
in the 2007–08 season. The club have played at
New Douglas ParkNew Douglas Park is a football stadium in Hamilton, Scotland, which serves as the home of Hamilton Academical.The pitch was converted to artificial FieldTurf in 2004. Since winning promotion to the top-flight of Scottish football in May 2008, the artificial surface has had to be replaced by grass...
since 2001, having previously played at
Douglas ParkDouglas Park was the old stadium of Hamilton Academical F.C.. The Club left the stadium in 1994 due to the ill-repair of the stadium and financial problems...
.
Hamilton Academical should not be confused with
Hamilton Football Club (1874–1878), who were connected to Hamilton Cricket Club, and competed in the early
Scottish CupThe Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the Scottish Cup, and as the Active Nation Scottish Cup for sponsorship reasons, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football...
seasons.
Hamilton Academical were formed in late 1874 by the Rector and pupils of the local school, Hamilton Academy.
Hamilton Academical Football Club, often known as
Hamilton Accies, are a football club from
HamiltonHamilton is a town in South Lanarkshire, in the west-central Lowlands of Scotland. It serves as the main administrative centre of the South Lanarkshire council area...
in
South LanarkshireSouth Lanarkshire is one of 32 unitary council areas of Scotland, covering the southern part of the former county of Lanarkshire. It borders the south-east of the city of Glasgow and contains many of Glasgow's suburbs, commuter towns and smaller villages....
, Scotland. They were established in 1874 from
Hamilton AcademyHamilton Academy was a school situated in Hamilton, Scotland. It or its predecessors can trace their history back to the year 1588. For most of its existence, and certainly for most of the twentieth century, it was an elitist institution, forming the top-most layer of a four-layer public education...
.
The team won promotion from
Scottish Football LeagueThe Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division....
Division 2 to SFL Division 1 in the 2003–04 season; this was followed up by promotion to the
Scottish Premier LeagueThe Scottish Premier League is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top level of the Scottish football league system — above the Scottish Football League.Per capita, more people in Scotland watch their domestic top level league than any other nation in...
in the 2007–08 season. The club have played at
New Douglas ParkNew Douglas Park is a football stadium in Hamilton, Scotland, which serves as the home of Hamilton Academical.The pitch was converted to artificial FieldTurf in 2004. Since winning promotion to the top-flight of Scottish football in May 2008, the artificial surface has had to be replaced by grass...
since 2001, having previously played at
Douglas ParkDouglas Park was the old stadium of Hamilton Academical F.C.. The Club left the stadium in 1994 due to the ill-repair of the stadium and financial problems...
.
Hamilton Academical should not be confused with
Hamilton Football Club (1874–1878), who were connected to Hamilton Cricket Club, and competed in the early
Scottish CupThe Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the Scottish Cup, and as the Active Nation Scottish Cup for sponsorship reasons, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football...
seasons.
Club history
Hamilton Academical were formed in late 1874 by the Rector and pupils of the local school, Hamilton Academy. Membership of the
Scottish Football LeagueThe Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division....
came in November 1897 when
RentonRenton Football Club was a prominent team in the early history of Scottish football. The club was based in the village of Renton, West Dunbartonshire...
were forced to resign.
In the 1905–06 season they were promoted into the old First Division, despite finishing 4th place (although they had won the championship two years before, they had not been promoted due to the ballot-promotion system in place then). The club reached the
Scottish CupThe Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the Scottish Cup, and as the Active Nation Scottish Cup for sponsorship reasons, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football...
Final twice during this period, losing to
CelticThe Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. Since the club's formation in 1888, Celtic have won the Scottish championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the 2007/08 season, and the Scottish...
and
RangersRangers Football Club are an association football team based in Glasgow, Scotland, who currently play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
in 1911 and 1935, respectively, but never made much of an impact in the League, often hovering at mid-table or below. They were finally relegated in the 1946–47 season. Returns for the 1953–54 and 1965–66 seasons proved ephemeral and they were relegated after one season each time.
In 1971 Accies became the first football club in the United Kingdom to recruit players from behind the
Iron CurtainThe concept of the Iron Curtain symbolized the ideological and physical boundary dividing Europe into two separate areas from the end of World War II in 1945 until the end of the Cold War in 1991...
when three
PolishThe Polish people, or Poles , are a Western Slavic ethnic group of Central Europe, living predominantly in Poland. Poles are sometimes defined as people who share a common Polish culture and are of Polish descent. Their religion is predominantly Roman Catholic...
players were signed to the club amid great publicity.
Another era of success came in the late 1980s when Hamilton were promoted to the Premier Division twice (in 1986 and 1988), but, again, both spells in the top division lasted for one season only. In 1991 and 1992 the club won the Scottish League Challenge Cup. In 1994 new ground regulations saw the club vacate
Douglas ParkDouglas Park was the old stadium of Hamilton Academical F.C.. The Club left the stadium in 1994 due to the ill-repair of the stadium and financial problems...
, their home since 1888, and sell the land to make way for a retail park. The club shared a ground with Albion Rovers and
Partick ThistlePartick Thistle Football Club are a professional association football club from Glasgow, Scotland. Despite their name, the club are based in the Maryhill area of the city, and have not played in Partick since 1908. They are members of the Scottish Football League, and currently play in the First...
(2 spells) for the next seven years.
In 1996, Hamilton were relegated to the third tier (Second Division) for the first time in their history, and although they won promotion the next season, they were relegated again two years later. Hamilton also endured a much publicised forced relegation to the Third at the end of the 1999–2000 season. This was because of a 15-point deduction imposed on them by the league for failing to turn up to a match at
StenhousemuirStenhousemuir Football Club is a Scottish football team, based in the small town of Stenhousemuir. They are members of the Scottish Football League and currently play in the Second Division.-Background:...
on 1 April; at the time, the players were on strike over a pay dispute.
The club's fortunes have since turned: in the 2001–02 season the club finally returned to Hamilton, to a stadium just yards from the old site, and also secured a place in Division One for the 2004–05 season. Hamilton remained in the First Division over the next few seasons and achieved a 4th place position in the 2006–07 season. The 2007–08 season saw the Accies gain promotion to the
Scottish Premier LeagueThe Scottish Premier League is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top level of the Scottish football league system — above the Scottish Football League.Per capita, more people in Scotland watch their domestic top level league than any other nation in...
. On 19 April Hamilton secured the championship and promotion to the Scottish Premier League, for a sixth stint in the Scottish top flight. In the league 2008–09 Accies have signed a few new players like
Lucas AkinsLucas-Jordan Jeremiah "LJ" Akins is a professional footballer currently playing for Scottish Premier League side Hamilton Academical. He attended St. Patricks Junior and Infants School where he was very talented in many sports which, included athletics, rugby and basketball but was a prolific...
,
Mark CorcoranMark Corcoran is a Scottish professional footballer currently playing for Scottish First Division club Partick Thistle...
,
Derek LyleDerek Lyle is a footballer, currently playing as a Striker for Hamilton Accies in the Scottish Premier League.-Career:...
,
Sean MurdochSean Murdoch is a Scottish professional football player. He is a goalkeeper, and currently plays for Hamilton Academical in the Scottish Premier League.-Career:He started his career playing in the youth teams at Hearts...
,
Sebastian SorsaSebastian 'Seba' Sorsa is a Finnish footballer who is under contract by HJK Helsinki.- Career :After a successful winter trial, Sorsa signed for Leeds United, joining on an 18-month contract in a Bosman transfer from Finnish side HJK Helsinki on 2 January 2008.Sorsa failed to break into the Leeds...
,
Brian CarriganBrian Carrigan is a Scottish footballer who currently plays as a striker for from Linlithgow Rose.-Career:...
and
Kenny DeucharDr Kenneth Robert John "Kenny" Deuchar is a Scottish professional footballer currently playing as a striker for St. Johnstone. In 2005, Deuchar equalled Jimmy Greaves's British record of six league hat-tricks in a single season...
.
On 16 May 2009, despite a 3–0 defeat to local rivals
MotherwellMotherwell Football & Athletic Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Motherwell. The club competes in the Scottish Premier League and is one of only seven teams to have remained in this league since it was founded in 1998...
, other results confirmed Hamilton's SPL survival, ensuring more than one year in a top flight stint for the first time in 70 years.
Honours
- Scottish First Division
The Irn-Bru Scottish Football League First Division Championship is the highest division of the Scottish Football League and the second highest in the Scottish football league system....
':
- Winners (4): 1903–04, 1985–86, 1987–88, 2007–08
- Runners-up (2): 1952–53, 1964–65
- Scottish Second Division
The Scottish Football League Second Division is the second highest division of the Scottish Football League and the third highest overall in the Scottish football league system....
:
- Runners-up (2): 1996–97, 2003–04
- Scottish Third Division
The Scottish Football League Third Division is the lowest division of the Scottish Football League and the fourth overall in the Scottish football league system....
:
- Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the Scottish Cup, and as the Active Nation Scottish Cup for sponsorship reasons, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football...
:
- Runners-up (2): 1910–11, 1934–35
- Scottish Challenge Cup:
- Winners (2): 1991–92, 1992–93
- Runners-up (1): 2005–06
- Lanarkshire Cup
The Lanarkshire Cup was an annual competition open to football teams in the Lanarkshire area. The competition is now defunct.-List of winners:1879–80 - Stonelaw
1880–81 - Thistle
1881–82 -
1882–83 - Benhar
...
:
- Winners (10): 1901–02, 1904–05, 1905–06, 1909–10, 1919–20, 1923–24, 1933–34, 1938–39, 1951–52, 1985–86
Minor honours
- Reserve League Cup:
- Winners (1): 1983–84
- Runners-up (1): 1992–93 and 2000-01
- Reserve League West:
- Winners (1):1978-79, 1979-80 and 1997–98
Player honours
- 1985–86 First Division Player of the Year: John Brogan
John Brogan is a former Scottish footballer who played for several Scottish clubs in the 1970s and 1980s. He is perhaps best known for his spell as a prolific goalscorer for his second senior club St. Johnstone...
- 1987–88 First Division Player of the Year: Alex Taylor
Alexander Taylor is a Scottish former footballer who played as a midfielder.-Career:Taylor began his career with Dundee United and played over thirty league games for the Tannadice team before leaving for Hamilton Academical in 1986...
- 1996–97 Second Division Player of the Year: Paul Ritchie
- 2007–08 First Division Player of the Year: Richard Offiong
Richard Offiong is an English footballer who plays for Carlisle United as a striker.-Career:Offiong started his career with Newcastle United as a youth but never made a first team appearance for the club. During his time at Newcastle, Offiong was capped by England at under-20 level and loaned out...
- 2007–08 SFL Young Player of the Year: James McCarthy
James McCarthy is a professional association football player who plays as a midfielder for Premier League side Wigan Athletic....
2008-09 PFA Scotland Young Player of the Year - James McCarthy
Club records
- Record Attendances
This article lists Scottish football attendance records under the categories listed below. The highest ever attendance for a UEFA competition match was in the 1969–70 European Cup semi-final at Hampden Park, Scotland's National stadium. A record 136,505 people attended that Cup semi-final....
:
- 28,690 v Heart of Midlothian
Heart of Midlothian F.C. is a football club from Edinburgh, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. They are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian....
, 1937 (Douglas ParkDouglas Park was the old stadium of Hamilton Academical F.C.. The Club left the stadium in 1994 due to the ill-repair of the stadium and financial problems...
)
- 5,895 v Rangers
Rangers Football Club are an association football team based in Glasgow, Scotland, who currently play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
, 28 February 2009 (New Douglas ParkNew Douglas Park is a football stadium in Hamilton, Scotland, which serves as the home of Hamilton Academical.The pitch was converted to artificial FieldTurf in 2004. Since winning promotion to the top-flight of Scottish football in May 2008, the artificial surface has had to be replaced by grass...
)http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/scottishpremier/rangers/4904331/Dogged-Barry-Ferguson-keeps-Rangers-in-the-hunt.html
- Record Victory: 11–1 v Chryston, 1885
- Record Defeat: 1–11 v Hibernian
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their rivals Hearts, who Hibernian play in the Edinburgh derby...
, 1965
- Most League Goals in a Season: 35, David Wilson, 1936–37
- Most International Caps: 29, Colin Miller
Colin Fyfe Miller is a Scottish-born Canadian professional football coach who captained the Canadian national team several times while earning 61 caps in total....
, (CanadaThe Canadian men's national soccer team represent Canada in international competitions at the senior men's level. They are overseen by the Canadian Soccer Association....
)
Current squad
- As of 1 September 2009.
Former players
- The following players have represented their respective nations at international level Colin Miller Robert Howe James King
James King was a Scottish international footballer who spent the majority of his career with Hamilton Academical.He was born in Craigneuk, Wishaw on 16 April 1906. King could play equally well on either of the two extreme wing positions. He was introduced to Juvenile football with Carfin Harp by...
Non-playing staff
- Manager: Billy Reid
Billy Reid is a Scottish former footballer and is currently manager of Scottish Premier League club Hamilton Academical....
- Assistant Manager:
- First Team Coach: Stuart Taylor
Stuart Taylor is a Scottish footballer currently playing for Scottish Premier League club Hamilton Academical.-Honours:Hamilton Academical*Scottish Football League First Division: 2007-08-External links:...
- Chief Executive: George Paterson
- Secretary: Scott Struthers
- Sports Therapist: Avril Downs
- Physiotherapist: Alan Rankin
- Sports Scientist: Ross Hughes
- Kit Man: Danny Cunning
- Academy Director: Frankie MacAvoy
- Academy Manager: George Cairns
- Club Development Officer: Andy Goldie
- Chief Scout: Denis McDaid
Previous managers
Alex RaisbeckAlexander "Alex" Galloway Raisbeck was a Scottish international footballer who played for Liverpool in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, leading them to two Football League Championships.-Life and playing career:...
, 1914–1922 David Buchanon, 1922–1923 Scott DuncanAdam Scott Mattheson Duncan was a Scottish professional footballer and manager.-Playing career:Scott Duncan was born in Dumbarton, was working as a law clerk when he joined his home-town club Dumbarton in 1906. He moved to Newcastle United in March 1908 for a fee of £150...
, 1923–1925 Willie McAndrew, 1925–1946 Jimmy McStayJames Frederick "Jimmy" McStay is a former Scottish footballer and manager. He spent most of his career at Celtic, and was a captain and manager for the club. He took over the club captaincy from his brother, Willie McStay, in 1929.McStay managed the club between 9 February, 1940, and 23 July, 1945...
, 1946–1951 Andrew WylieAndrew Wylie was the manager of Reading Football Club, England between 1926 and 1931.-References:...
, 1951–1953 Jacky Cox, 1953 - 1956 John Lowe, 1956–1958 Andy Paton, 1959–1968 John Crines, 1968–1969 Billy Lamont, 1969 (Player/Manager) Tommy EwingThomas Ewing was a Scottish professional footballer. He represented the Scottish Football League and was capped twice by Scotland....
, 1969–1970 Bobby ShearerBobby Shearer was a Scottish professional footballer. He represented Scotland twice in 1961, in games against the English and Irish football leagues and won four full international caps....
, 1970–1971 Ronnie SimpsonRonald "Ronnie" Campbell Simpson was a Scottish football goalkeeper.He is mainly remembered for his time with Celtic, where he was one of the Lisbon Lions, the first British team to win the European Cup in 1967...
, 1971–1972 Billy Lamont, 1972 (Caretaker) Eric SmithEric Smith was a Scottish former professional footballer who played as a right half for Celtic, Leeds United and Greenock Morton in the 1950s and 1960s...
, 1972–1978 |
|
Davie McParland, 1978–1982 John Blackley John Henderson Blackley is a Scottish football coach and former player, currently First Team Coach at Plymouth Argyle....
, 1982–1983 Bertie AuldRobert "Bertie" Auld is a Scottish former football player and manager, most notable as member of Celtic's Lisbon Lions side of 1967. He also earned three caps for Scotland early in his career....
, 1983–1984 John Lambie, 1984–1988 Jim DempseyJim Dempsey is a Scottish former football player and manager.As a player Dempsey, who was known as a hard man., was most associated with Hamilton Academical, with whom he had two spells, and Raith Rovers, although he also turned out for Stirling Albion, Albion Rovers and Larkhall Thistle.He had a...
, 1988–1989 George MillerGeorge Miller was a Scottish former football player and manager, most notable for being a member of the first Dunfermline Athletic side to win a major honour, the 1961 Scottish Cup.-Playing career:...
, 1989 (Caretaker) John Lambie, 1989–1990 George MillerGeorge Miller was a Scottish former football player and manager, most notable for being a member of the first Dunfermline Athletic side to win a major honour, the 1961 Scottish Cup.-Playing career:...
, 1990 (Caretaker) Billy McLaren, 1990–1992 Iain MunroAlexander Iain Fordyce Munro is a Scottish former professional footballer. Munro was also a manager.- Playing career :...
, 1992–1996 Sandy ClarkAlexander "Sandy" Clark is a former professional football player and currently a pundit for BBC Scotland. He was a centre forward....
, 1996–1998 Colin MillerColin Fyfe Miller is a Scottish-born Canadian professional football coach who captained the Canadian national team several times while earning 61 caps in total....
, 1998–1999 (Player/Manager) Ally DawsonAlastair Dawson is a retired Scottish professional football defender who spent most of his career at Rangers.-Playing career:...
, 1999–2002 Chris Hillcoat, 2002–2003 Allan MaitlandAllan Maitland is a Scottish football manager currently in charge of Alloa Athletic.- Career :Maitland became the manager of Clyde in 1999 where he guided them to the Scottish Second Division title in his first season on charge, winning Clyde promotion to the Scottish First Division...
, 2003–2005 Billy ReidBilly Reid is a Scottish former footballer and is currently manager of Scottish Premier League club Hamilton Academical....
, 2005–present |
External links
Official
Unofficial