Welcome to roadinet.com on July 5 2009.
This is an internet experiment running to monitor browsing habbits of individuals through wikipedia contents.

Gretna F.C.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search
This article is about about the club that existed from 1946 to 2008. For the club founded in its place, see Gretna F.C. 2008.
Gretna
Full name Gretna Football Club
Nickname(s) The Weddingmakers
The Black and Whites,
The Celebrant
The Monochrome
The Anvils
Founded 1946
Dissolved 2008
Ground Raydale Park,
Gretna
(Capacity: 3,000[1])
2007–08 Scottish Premier League, 12th (relegated)
Team colours
Team colours
Team colours
Team colours
Team colours
Home colours
Team colours
Team colours
Team colours
Team colours
Team colours
Away colours

Gretna Football Club were a Scottish football club that represented the town of Gretna, Dumfries and Galloway. Founded in 1946, the club dissolved in 2008 after coming into severe financial difficulties.

Despite being based in Scotland, the club participated in English football from 1947 until elected to the Scottish Football League at the third attempt in 2002. Due to the financial support of businessman Brooks Mileson, the club were promoted through the Scottish leagues from the Third Division side to the Scottish Premier League in less than five years.

The club struggled badly in the SPL and were placed in administration after Mileson withdrew his support due to illness.[2] At the end of the season, all of the club's staff were made redundant and the club were initially relegated to the Third Division due to their inability to guarantee fulfilment of their forthcoming fixtures. After this demotion, the one remaining offer to buy the club was withdrawn.[3] The club resigned their place in the Scottish Football League on 3 June[4] and were formally liquidated on 8 August.[5]

A supporters' trust formed a new club, Gretna 2008, who were accepted into the East of Scotland Football League on 11 July 2008. Although sharing a common fanbase and similar name, the two clubs have no legal connection.[6]

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] Beginnings

An amateur team called Gretna Green had existed in the town in the 19th century, but were bankrupt by the 1920s. This left the area without a team until Gretna Football Club was founded in 1946 by servicemen returning from the Second World War.[7] The club initially played in the Dumfries and District Junior League.

[edit] Period in English football

The following year, the club moved to the Carlisle and District League, which is run by the English Football Association. This was despite the club being based in Scotland, although Gretna is very close to the Anglo–Scottish border. They remained in this league for all but one season until 1982, when the club moved to the newly-created Second Division of the Northern League. The club won this league and were promoted immediately, before back-to-back championship wins in the First Division, in 1990–91 and 1991–92, resulted in their promotion to the first division of the Northern Premier League.

During this period, the club featured in the FA Cup, becoming the first club based in Scotland to appear in the competition proper since Rangers had done so in 1887. They managed to take Rochdale to a replay in 1991 and gave Bolton Wanderers a scare in 1993 before being beaten.[8]

The club saw its future in Scottish football and applied twice to join the Scottish League in 1993 and 1999. To help boost their later application, they played a Rangers XI in a game to raise money for victims of the Lockerbie air disaster. Gretna won 2–1 against a strong team.[citation needed]

[edit] Period back in Scottish football

[edit] Rapid rise through the leagues

Steven Pressley scores past Gretna goalkeeper Alan Main in the 2006 Scottish Cup Final penalty shootout.

In 2002, Gretna were elected to the Scottish Football League at the third attempt, taking the place of Airdrieonians. The club was soon taken over by Brooks Mileson and with his financial input Gretna's on-field fortunes rapidly improved. Gretna won the Division Three, Division Two and Division One titles in successive seasons from 2005 to 2007. During their seasons of successive promotions they scored 297 goals, 130 in the 2004–05 season alone. This was one short of the British league record of goals scored in a season.

Gretna were also runners-up in the 2006 Scottish Cup. Gretna's 3–0 win in the semi-final against Dundee[9] made them the first team from the third tier of Scottish league football to reach the final.[9] Gretna lost to Heart of Midlothian in the final on penalties after a 1–1 draw.[10] As Hearts had finished second in the Scottish Premier League and had therefore qualified for the UEFA Champions League, Gretna became the first team from the third tier of the Scottish league to qualify for the UEFA Cup. Gretna faced League of Ireland side Derry City in the second qualifying round, but lost 7–3 on aggregate.[11]

Gretna had also been promoted to the First Division in 2006, and for much of the 2006–07 season, they led the division, with a margin of 12 points at one stage.[12] However, manager Rowan Alexander was forced to step down in March 2007 due to health problems, and coach Davie Irons stepped up to the manager's position. Gretna's form dipped afterwards and second-placed St. Johnstone went on a good run, leaving Gretna with only a one point lead going into the final day of the season. Despite St. Johnstone taking an early lead in their match, Gretna beat Ross County 3–2 with a last-minute goal by James Grady, ensuring promotion to the Scottish Premier League.[12]

[edit] Gretna in the SPL

During the 2007–08 season, Gretna played their home games at Motherwell's home ground of Fir Park because Raydale Park did not meet SPL standards. Their first game in the SPL was against Falkirk which ended in a 4–0 defeat for Gretna. They struggled for form, only gaining four points in their first 12 games and having to wait until 22 September 2007 for their first win in the SPL, defeating Dundee United 3–2 at Fir Park.[13]

However during this time the club's financial situation became dire. The club had accumulated debts of nearly £4m,[14] and owner Brooks Mileson fell ill and withdrew his financial support for the club[15] (Mileson would never fully recover from his health problems and died on 3 November 2008). A confused management situation did not help. Whilst Rowan Alexander was officially still manager, Davie Irons was in control of the team[citation needed]. On 6 November 2007, Gretna officially sacked Rowan Alexander as manager and formally installed Irons in his position.[citation needed]

On 18 February 2008 it was revealed that Gretna staff, including players, had not received their wages on time.[16] Irons and assistant manager Derek Collins both resigned[17] from their posts the following day. Gretna director of football Mick Wadsworth, assisted by Iain Scott and Andy Smith, took charge of first-team affairs. The club went into administration on 12 March 2008 after Mileson's withdrawal of support. This resulted in a ten point deduction, meaning they had a total of only six points from 28 games on the date of entering administration[18]. The SPL agreed to pay the players' salaries until the end of the 2007–08 season, ensuring that the club were able to complete its fixtures in the SPL.[19]

Administration led to cost-cutting and redundancies; club captain Chris Innes was made redundant on 25 March 2008, with the club explaining that he had "attracted interest from other clubs"[20]. The following day, 22 players, including eight members of the senior squad, along with coaching staff and the former owner's son were also made redundant.[21] Gretna were formally relegated from the SPL on 29 March 2008 after being defeated 2–0 by St. Mirren at Love Street, and broke the SPL's low attendance record on 5 April 2008 in their game against Inverness, when just 431 turned up for the game.[22] They won their final SPL game, a home match against Hearts 1–0 with a goal from Gavin Skelton, which meant they finished the season with 13 points, narrowly avoiding setting a record low points total for the SPL.

[edit] Demise

In the spring of 2008 it was revealed by the administrator, Wilson Field of Sheffield, that Gretna had creditors of nearly £4m and assets (Raydale Park) of less than £1m. HM Revenue and Customs was owed nearly £600,000 in total, and it was their threat to wind up the company that precipitated Gretna's move into administration. On 8 May, the administrator set a deadline of 17 May for a buyer to be found, or the club would be liquidated.[23][24]

After that deadline passed without a buyer making a firm offer, all the remaining employees were made redundant, but it was reported that the club were still negotiating with an interested buyer.[25] On 29 May, Gretna were relegated to the Third Division due to their financial struggles, with the Scottish Football League threatening expulsion should a takeover not be completed within a week. After a takeover bid fell through on 1 June,[26] the administrators confirmed the following day that they would look to sell Raydale Park to someone who will use the site for something other than football.[3]

Gretna resigned from the Scottish Football League on 3 June.[27] Near neighbours Annan Athletic won the vote to replace Gretna in the Scottish league.[28] With no ground, staff, players or a competition to play in, the club's dissolution was inevitable and the club was formally liquidated by the administrators on 8 August.[29]

[edit] Successor club

The Gretna Supporters Society, (a Supporters' trust) formed a new club, Gretna 2008 on 2 July 2008 and applied to join both the East of Scotland Football League and the South of Scotland Football League.[30] They were accepted into the East of Scotland League, though they initially played their matches at the Everholm Stadium in Annan. The club returned to Raydale Park in May 2009, although the long-term future of the ground is unclear.[31]

[edit] Honours

[edit] English football

[edit] Scottish football

[edit] Records

  • Record victory: 20–0 v Silloth (1962)
  • Record defeat: 2–9 v Ashton United (2000)
  • Most league points in a season: 98 (2004–05)
  • Most league goals in a season: 38, Kenny Deuchar (2004–05)
  • Most hat-tricks in a season: 6, Kenny Deuchar (2004–05)

[edit] Former managers

[edit] References

  1. ^ Scottish Football Ground Guide
  2. ^ Neil Drysdale (23 March 2008). "End of a romantic dream for the Roman Abramovich of Gretna". http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/mar/23/newsstory.sport1. 
  3. ^ a b Gretna no longer in existence, BBC News, 2 June 2008.
  4. ^ Death knell for crisis club, Setanta Sports, 3 June 2008.
  5. ^ "Liquidation signals the final nail in Gretna coffin". The Cumberland News. 2008-08-08. http://www.cumberland-news.co.uk/1.218555. 
  6. ^ "Gretna given place in the East of Scotland League". The Scotsman. 2008-07-11. http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/Gretna-given-place-in-the.4279463.jp. "'We are obviously a new club carrying on the traditions of the old club and there is no connection with the old club other than the similarity in name,' said Hodge." 
  7. ^ Last Post sounds for Gretna, set up by war heroes to give village hope, The Scotsman, 3 June 2008
  8. ^ Gretna grit forged in FA Cup battle with Bolton, The Scotsman, 13 May 2006
  9. ^ a b "Gretna 3–0 Dundee". BBC Sport website. 1 April 2006. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_cups/4860972.stm. 
  10. ^ "Hearts 1–1 Gretna (4–2 on pens)". BBC Sport website. 13 May 2006. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_cups/4764967.stm. 
  11. ^ "Derry City 2–2 Gretna (7–3 agg)". BBC Sport website. 24 August 2006. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/5280926.stm. 
  12. ^ a b "Ross County 2–3 Gretna". BBC Sport. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_div_1/6599245.stm. 
  13. ^ "Gretna 3–2 Dundee United". BBC Sport. 2007-09-22. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/7005516.stm. Retrieved on 2007-09-22. 
  14. ^ "Gretna FC debt level almost £4m". BBC Sport. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/south_of_scotland/7361405.stm. 
  15. ^ Gordon, Phil (2008-03-12). "End is nigh as Gretna face cash deadline". Times Online. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/scotland/article3543281.ece. Retrieved on 2008-03-21. 
  16. ^ Gretna players hit by pay delay, BBC Sport
  17. ^ Irons quits Gretna for Morton job, BBC Sport
  18. ^ Gretna edging closer to closure
  19. ^ SPL money to help stricken Gretna
  20. ^ "Gretna's Innes is made redundant". BBC Sport. 25 March. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/g/gretna/7312756.stm. Retrieved on 2008. 
  21. ^ "Gretna make 22 players redundant". BBC Sport. 26 March. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/g/gretna/7312756.stm. Retrieved on 2008. 
  22. ^ Attendance statistics, Scottish Premier League official website
  23. ^ Gretna administrator racks up £253,000 in fees for six weeks of work at crisis club, The Scotsman.
  24. ^ "Gretna deadline at season's end". BCC News. 2008-05-08. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/south_of_scotland/7388156.stm. Retrieved on 2008-05-08. 
  25. ^ "Gretna lay off remaining 40 staff". BBC Sport. 2008-05-19. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/g/gretna/7408191.stm. Retrieved on 2008-05-19. 
  26. ^ Hannan, Martin. Gretna's dream is crushed as funds bid fails, Scotland on Sunday, 1 June 2008.
  27. ^ "Gretna relinquish league status". BBC Sport. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/g/gretna/7433470.stm. 
  28. ^ "Annan win SFL place". Press Association. http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5i_VMae0C2Ffm_kImWgtQhDZtZjjQ. 
  29. ^ "Liquidation signals the final nail in Gretna coffin". The Cumberland News. 2008-08-08. http://www.cumberland-news.co.uk/1.218555. 
  30. ^ "Rome: I'll be proud when Gretna tackle Reds". http://www.news-and-star.co.uk/1.137529. 
  31. ^ "Gretna enjoys football homecoming". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/south_of_scotland/8028885.stm. 
  32. ^ A pipe dream come true: Gretna's romance of the cup - Scottish, Football - Independent.co.uk

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Football in Scotland
Overview
International
League competitions
Cup competitions

Abercorn | Airdrieonians | Armadale | Arthurlie | Ayr | Ayr Parkhouse | Bathgate | Beith | Bo'ness | Broxburn United | Cambuslang | Clackmannan | Clydebank | Cowlairs | Dumbarton Harp | Dundee Wanderers | Dykehead | Edinburgh City | Galston | Gretna | Helensburgh | Johnstone | King's Park | Leith Athletic | Linthouse | Lochgelly United | Mid-Annandale | Nithsdale Wanderers | Northern | Peebles Rovers | Port Glasgow Athletic | Renton | Royal Albert | Solway Star | St Bernard's | Third Lanark | Thistle | Vale of Leven
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gretna_F.C."
Personal tools
Visit joltnews for the latest headlines
Visit bloit.com for company information
Geed Media does computer consulting on long island.
This page viewed times. See Logs