Gretna F.C. 2008
Encyclopedia
Gretna F.C. 2008 is a football club from the town of Gretna, Dumfries and Galloway
. It was founded in 2008 after the bankruptcy and demise of Gretna F.C.
, which had existed since 1946. Gretna 2008 is not a direct continuation of the old club, being under a completely different management and setup; the club trades under the name Gretna FC 2008 Ltd to avoid confusion with the old Gretna.
The club currently play in the East of Scotland Football League
Premier Division. The team played for most of the 2008–09 season at the Everholm Stadium
in Annan
. Late in the season, however, the new owners of Raydale Park
allowed Gretna 2008 to move to the ground in their home town. In May 2011 the Raydale Community Partnership, of which Gretna FC 2008 is a member negotiated the purchase of the site.
were founded in 1946, and joined the Scottish Football League
in 2002. After being taken over by the late millionaire Brooks Mileson
, the club had a meteoric rise, gaining promotion three years in a row to make the Scottish Premier League
in 2007. However, the club could not financially support itself and following Mileson's illness and withdrawal of financial support, the club slipped into administration and then bankruptcy in the summer of 2008. The club were relegated from the SPL and then forced to resign their place in the Scottish Football League.
With Gretna heading out of business, on 2 July 2008 the Gretna Supporters' Society, a supporters' trust
, founded "a new Gretna Football Club", and appointed Anton Hodge
as chairman. In August 2009, the Trust amended its articles of governance and Gretna FC 2008 is now managed directly by the members of the Trust Board, whose chairman is Craig Williamson. The new club is wholly owned by the Society and its board elected by the Society's members. The club appointed the University of Cumbria
's football officer Stuart Rome as team manager and recruited much of the playing squad from Workington
's reserve team. Technically, Gretna 2008 coexisted briefly with the old Gretna, which was not formally liquidated until 8 August 2008.
Unable to play at the old Gretna's home ground of Raydale Park
, they instead moved into the Everholm Stadium
in Annan
. Gretna 2008 played their first match, against Workington on 12 July 2008. Four days later, they were successfully accepted into the East of Scotland Football League
First Division, and on 9 August won their first competitive match as a new club, beating Kelso United
3–0 away in their first match of the league season. The new owners of Raydale Park
allowed Gretna 2008 to move to the ground in their home town in May 2009 and the Raydale Community Partnership, of which Gretna FC 2008 is a member, negotiated purchase of the site in May 2011. They finished their first season as a new club in fourth place in the league. They narrowly missed promotion again in their second season but finished their third, in 2010–2011 being promoted as first division champions.
took control of the club, but black and white hoops were the club's traditional colours.
The badge of the club is largely similar to that of Gretna, except that 2008 has been added to reflect the change of status in that year. The anvil
represents the famous Blacksmith's Shop wedding site at Gretna Green
, and the thistle
s represent the club's Scottish location. The administrator of Gretna sold the rights of their badge to the owners of Gretna 2008.
Gretna, Dumfries and Galloway
Gretna is a town in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. Because they are near the Anglo-Scottish border, nearby Gretna Green and to a lesser extent Gretna, are historically linked to weddings because of the more liberal marriage laws in Scotland...
. It was founded in 2008 after the bankruptcy and demise of Gretna F.C.
Gretna F.C.
Gretna Football Club was a Scottish football club that represented the town of Gretna, Dumfries and Galloway, close to the border between England and Scotland...
, which had existed since 1946. Gretna 2008 is not a direct continuation of the old club, being under a completely different management and setup; the club trades under the name Gretna FC 2008 Ltd to avoid confusion with the old Gretna.
The club currently play in the East of Scotland Football League
East of Scotland Football League
The East of Scotland Football League is a league of football teams from south-east Scotland formed in 1923. It is one of Scotland's three "senior" non-leagues which sit below the Scottish Football League , the other two being the Highland Football League and the South of Scotland Football League...
Premier Division. The team played for most of the 2008–09 season at the Everholm Stadium
Everholm Stadium
Everholm Stadium is an athletics and football stadium in Annan, Dumfries and Galloway. It was the home ground of Gretna F.C. 2008 for most of the 2008–09 season, although the club's management stated their desire to move the club to Raydale Park in Gretna, home to the club's defunct...
in Annan
Annan, Dumfries and Galloway
The royal burgh of Annan is a well-built town, red sandstone being the material mainly used. Each year in July, Annan celebrates the Royal Charter and the boundaries of the Royal Burgh are confirmed when a mounted cavalcade undertakes the Riding of the Marches. Entertainment includes a...
. Late in the season, however, the new owners of Raydale Park
Raydale Park
Raydale Park is a football stadium in Gretna, Scotland, that served as the home ground of Gretna F.C. until the club resigned from the Scottish Football League in 2008. Gretna played most of their home games at Raydale during their existence in English non-league football and then during their...
allowed Gretna 2008 to move to the ground in their home town. In May 2011 the Raydale Community Partnership, of which Gretna FC 2008 is a member negotiated the purchase of the site.
History
The original Gretna F.C.Gretna F.C.
Gretna Football Club was a Scottish football club that represented the town of Gretna, Dumfries and Galloway, close to the border between England and Scotland...
were founded in 1946, and joined the Scottish Football League
Scottish Football League
The Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division. From the league's foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, the Scottish Football League...
in 2002. After being taken over by the late millionaire Brooks Mileson
Brooks Mileson
Brooks John Joseph Mileson was an English businessman and the former owner of Scottish football club Gretna as well as being a philanthropist to 70 non-league clubs.-Early life:...
, the club had a meteoric rise, gaining promotion three years in a row to make the Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
in 2007. However, the club could not financially support itself and following Mileson's illness and withdrawal of financial support, the club slipped into administration and then bankruptcy in the summer of 2008. The club were relegated from the SPL and then forced to resign their place in the Scottish Football League.
With Gretna heading out of business, on 2 July 2008 the Gretna Supporters' Society, a supporters' trust
Supporters' trust
In British sports, a supporters' trust is a formal, democratic and not-for-profit organisation of fans who attempt to strengthen the influence of supporters over the running of the club they support...
, founded "a new Gretna Football Club", and appointed Anton Hodge
Anton Hodge
Anton Hodge is a British writer, born in Dunfermline, Scotland, but now living in Cumbria, England. He also helped to form Gretna Football Club 2008 from the ashes of the now defunct Gretna FC and became the club's first Chairman in its inaugural year. His first book, The Great Wall of Britain is...
as chairman. In August 2009, the Trust amended its articles of governance and Gretna FC 2008 is now managed directly by the members of the Trust Board, whose chairman is Craig Williamson. The new club is wholly owned by the Society and its board elected by the Society's members. The club appointed the University of Cumbria
University of Cumbria
The University of Cumbria is a university in Cumbria, England. Its headquarters are in Carlisle. and other major campuses are at Lancaster, Ambleside and Penrith. It was established in 2007, with roots extending back to the Society for the Encouragement of Fine Arts established in 1822 and...
's football officer Stuart Rome as team manager and recruited much of the playing squad from Workington
Workington A.F.C.
Workington A.F.C. is an English football club from Workington, Cumbria. They are in the Conference North, and play their home matches at Borough Park, which has a capacity of 3,101 . The club play in red, and are known locally as the Reds...
's reserve team. Technically, Gretna 2008 coexisted briefly with the old Gretna, which was not formally liquidated until 8 August 2008.
Unable to play at the old Gretna's home ground of Raydale Park
Raydale Park
Raydale Park is a football stadium in Gretna, Scotland, that served as the home ground of Gretna F.C. until the club resigned from the Scottish Football League in 2008. Gretna played most of their home games at Raydale during their existence in English non-league football and then during their...
, they instead moved into the Everholm Stadium
Everholm Stadium
Everholm Stadium is an athletics and football stadium in Annan, Dumfries and Galloway. It was the home ground of Gretna F.C. 2008 for most of the 2008–09 season, although the club's management stated their desire to move the club to Raydale Park in Gretna, home to the club's defunct...
in Annan
Annan, Dumfries and Galloway
The royal burgh of Annan is a well-built town, red sandstone being the material mainly used. Each year in July, Annan celebrates the Royal Charter and the boundaries of the Royal Burgh are confirmed when a mounted cavalcade undertakes the Riding of the Marches. Entertainment includes a...
. Gretna 2008 played their first match, against Workington on 12 July 2008. Four days later, they were successfully accepted into the East of Scotland Football League
East of Scotland Football League
The East of Scotland Football League is a league of football teams from south-east Scotland formed in 1923. It is one of Scotland's three "senior" non-leagues which sit below the Scottish Football League , the other two being the Highland Football League and the South of Scotland Football League...
First Division, and on 9 August won their first competitive match as a new club, beating Kelso United
Kelso United F.C.
Kelso United F.C. are a senior football club based in Kelso, Scotland, currently playing in the East of Scotland League.Founded in around 1924, they play their home matches at Woodside Park on Dry House Lane. The first league the club played in was the Border Junior League. Their first notable...
3–0 away in their first match of the league season. The new owners of Raydale Park
Raydale Park
Raydale Park is a football stadium in Gretna, Scotland, that served as the home ground of Gretna F.C. until the club resigned from the Scottish Football League in 2008. Gretna played most of their home games at Raydale during their existence in English non-league football and then during their...
allowed Gretna 2008 to move to the ground in their home town in May 2009 and the Raydale Community Partnership, of which Gretna FC 2008 is a member, negotiated purchase of the site in May 2011. They finished their first season as a new club in fourth place in the league. They narrowly missed promotion again in their second season but finished their third, in 2010–2011 being promoted as first division champions.
Colours and badge
Gretna 2008's colours are black and white hoops. Gretna F.C. had used white shirts after Brooks MilesonBrooks Mileson
Brooks John Joseph Mileson was an English businessman and the former owner of Scottish football club Gretna as well as being a philanthropist to 70 non-league clubs.-Early life:...
took control of the club, but black and white hoops were the club's traditional colours.
The badge of the club is largely similar to that of Gretna, except that 2008 has been added to reflect the change of status in that year. The anvil
Anvil
An anvil is a basic tool, a block with a hard surface on which another object is struck. The inertia of the anvil allows the energy of the striking tool to be transferred to the work piece. In most cases the anvil is used as a forging tool...
represents the famous Blacksmith's Shop wedding site at Gretna Green
Gretna Green
Gretna Green is a village in the south of Scotland famous for runaway weddings. It is in Dumfries and Galloway, near the mouth of the River Esk and was historically the first village in Scotland, following the old coaching route from London to Edinburgh. Gretna Green has a railway station serving...
, and the thistle
Thistle
Thistle is the common name of a group of flowering plants characterised by leaves with sharp prickles on the margins, mostly in the family Asteraceae. Prickles often occur all over the plant – on surfaces such as those of the stem and flat parts of leaves. These are an adaptation that protects the...
s represent the club's Scottish location. The administrator of Gretna sold the rights of their badge to the owners of Gretna 2008.
Honours
- Alex Jack Cup: 2008/09
- Image Printers Cup 2009/10
- East of Scotland League Division 1 Champions 2010/11