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2007-08 in English football
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The 2007–08 season was the 128th season of competitive football in England.
Overview
- Brighton & Hove Albion had hoped to be moving to Falmer Stadium during this season. This was following a "Yes" verdict two years ago from the former Secretary of State John Prescott. However, persistent legal challenges from Lewes District Council have delayed this and forced the Government into a fresh assessment. The new Secretary of State finally gave planning permission on 24 July 2007. The stadium is now anticipated to open in 2010.
- For the first time in their history, Leeds United will be playing in the third tier of English football. What was recently a Champions League club now plays in League One and will start the season on -15 points following their failure to reach an agreement with HM Revenue & Customs on their Creditors Voluntary Arrangement. This penalty was imposed for the first time in league history.
- Sheffield celebrate their 150th anniversary. Sheffield are trying to plan a friendly with Real Madrid to commemorate the fact that they are the only two clubs to receive the FIFA Order of Merit.[1]
- The Premier League changed the font printed on the back of players' shirts.[2]
- Shrewsbury Town moved to the New Meadow for the start of this season, leaving their old stadium, Gay Meadow.
- Milton Keynes Dons moved to their new 22,000 all seater stadium at Denbigh, Milton Keynes, known as Stadium:mk. The stadium was officially opened on 29 November 2007 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.[3]
- Both Dagenham & Redbridge and Morecambe played in The Football League for the first time, after securing promotion to League 2 from the Conference National.
- The Premier League changed its sponsored name from the Barclays Premiership to the Barclays Premier League (BPL).
- The Conference National changed its name to the Blue Square Premier, with its regional feeder leagues to be known as the Blue Square North and South respectively, after a three year sponsorship deal was announced.[4] It signals the end of a nine year association between the Conference and the Nationwide Building Society.
- Birmingham City and Sunderland played in the Premier League, returning at the first time of asking since being relegated in 2005–06. They were joined by Derby County.
- The Premier League started on 11 August 2007 and ended on 11 May 2008.
- Deloitte reports on 4 September 2007 that transfer spending by all Premier League and Football League clubs exceeds £500 million, compared to £300 million spent the season before. Deloitte attributes the rise in spending to the huge increase in broadcasting revenue and new owners buying into Premier League clubs.[5]
- England played their first international match on a synthetic pitch against Russia. England lost the game 2–1[6] leaving qualification for Euro 2008 out of their hands.
- England failed to qualify for Euro 2008 after losing 3–2 to Croatia on 21 November 2007.[7]
- Fabio Capello is confirmed as the new England manager on 14 December 2007, after weeks of rumours since Steve McClaren was sacked on 22 November 2007. Capello was unveiled by The FA on 17 December 2007, and took up his new role on 7 January 2008.[8]
- Chelsea F.C. played Manchester United F.C. in the first all-English UEFA Champions League final, which was played in Moscow.
- Oldham Athletic had planning permission accepted for a redevelopment of their Boundary Park stadium, which will now be called Oldham Arena.
- Hull City played at Wembley Stadium for the first time in their history, winning the Championship play-off final to secure promotion to the top flight for the first time in their 104-year history.[9]
Managerial changes
- See also: List of English Football League managers by date of appointment
Notes
- 1 Downing was previously caretaker manager after Ward's departure.
- 2 Scott was previously caretaker manager after Butcher's departure.
- 3 Harford was named caretaker manager for the remainder of the season.
- 4 Blackwell was named caretaker manager for the remainder of the season.
- 5 Davies' caretaker role was extended until the end of the season.
- 6 Holland's caretaker role was extended until the end of the season.
- 7 Mullen was previously caretaker manager after Money's departure.
Events
Promotion and relegation
- See also: promotion and relegation
Playoff winners in bold.
Premier League
- Champions: Manchester United
- Champions League 2008/09 Qualifiers : Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool
- UEFA Cup 2008/09 Qualifiers : Tottenham Hotspur, Everton, Manchester City and Portsmouth
- Relegated to The Championship : Derby County, Birmingham City and Reading
Championship
- Champions: West Bromwich Albion
- Promoted: Stoke City
- Playoffs : Hull City, Bristol City, Watford and Crystal Palace
- Relegated: Leicester City, Scunthorpe United and Colchester United
League One
- Champions: Swansea City
- Promoted: Nottingham Forest
- Playoffs : Doncaster Rovers, Leeds United ,Southend United and Carlisle United
- Relegated: AFC Bournemouth, Gillingham, Port Vale and Luton Town
League Two
- Champions: Milton Keynes Dons
- Promoted: Peterborough United, Hereford United
- Playoffs : Stockport County, Rochdale, Darlington and Wycombe Wanderers
- Relegated: Mansfield Town and Wrexham
Blue Square Premier
- Champions: Aldershot
- Play-offs: Cambridge United, Torquay United, Exeter City and Burton Albion
- Relegated: Altrincham*, Farsley Celtic, Stafford Rangers and Droylsden
- Promoted to: Kettering Town, Lewes, Eastbourne Borough and Barrow
*Altrincham avoided relegation after Halifax Town went into liquidation
National team
The home team is listed on the left; the visiting one on the right.
Honours
League Tables
Premier League
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Source: Barclays Premier League
Rules for classification: 1st points; 2nd goal difference; 3rd goals scored.
1 via FA Cup 2007-08
2 via UEFA Fair Play ranking
3 via Football League Cup 2007-08
For further information on European qualification see Premier League - Competition.
P = Position; Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points; (C) = Champion; (R) = Relegated; (P) = Promoted.
Football League Championship
After the disappointment of a play-off final defeat the previous year, West Bromwich Albion won the title and returned to the Premiership. Stoke City secured the other automatic promotion spot, after a twenty-three year absence from the top flight. Hull City followed them by winning the play-offs, in what would be their first venture into the top flight in their history.
Despite impressing on their Championship debut in 2006-07, Colchester United finished bottom this season and were relegated back to League One. Scunthorpe's first journey into the Championship since the 1960s proved short-lived, and they also went back down. The biggest story however was Leicester City's relegation, as a lack of stability at the club (with no fewer than eight men, including caretakers, occupying the manager's seat over the season) proved their undoing and sent them down to League One for the first time in their history.
Last updated: 4 May 2008
Source: The Football League
Rules for classification: 1st points; 2nd goal difference; 3rd goals scored.
P = Position; Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points; (C) = Champion; (R) = Relegated; (P) = Promoted.
Football League One
In a season mired by controversy and points deductions at both ends of the table, Swansea City were the clear champions. In terms of results, Leeds United were actually the best team behind Swansea, but lost 15 points pre-season for financial irregularities, and so Nottingham Forest were able to take the second automatic promotion spot. Doncaster Rovers won the play-offs, thus returning to the top two tiers for the first time since 1958.
At the opposite end of the table, Port Vale were in fact the worst team going by results, but Luton Town went into administration and lost 10 points causing them to finish bottom, though they would have been relegated even without this penalty. Bournemouth also received a 10 point deduction for going into administration, and in their case it did prove fatal, sending the club down by to League Two. Gillingham were the other team to suffer relegation.
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