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Gretna F.C.

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This article is about the club that existed from 1946 to 2008. For the club founded in its place, seeGretna F.C. 2008.

Gretna
Full nameGretna Football Club
Nickname(s)Black and Whites; Anvils
Founded1946;78 years ago(1946)
Dissolved2008;16 years ago(2008)
GroundRaydale Park
Capacity3,000[1]
2007–08Scottish Premier League,12th (relegated)

Gretna Football Clubwas a Scottish professionalfootballclub based in the town ofGretna, Dumfries and Galloway,close to the border between England and Scotland, that last competed in theScottish Premier League,the then top flight ofScottish football.Nicknamed the Black and Whites or the Anvils the club was founded in 1946, and had rapid and continual success in the mid-2000s, and reached theScottish Cup Finalin 2006, but the club fell into severe financial difficulties when businessmanBrooks Mileson,its main financial backer, withdrew funds due to ill health. The club was forced to dissolve in 2008 due to money issues.

Despite being based in Scotland, the club participated in amateur and semi-professional leagues inEnglish footballfrom 1947 until they were elected to theScottish Football Leagueat the third attempt in 2002. Relying heavily on substantial financial support from Mileson, the club werepromotedthrough the Scottish leagues from theThird Divisionto theScottish Premier Leaguein less than five years. The club also reached the2006 Scottish Cup Final,losing in apenalty shoot-outtoHearts.

Gretnastruggled badly in the SPLand the club were placed inadministrationafter 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 theThird Divisiondue to their inability to guarantee fulfilment of theirforthcoming fixtures.After this demotion, the one remaining offer to buy the club was withdrawn.[3]The club resigned their place in theScottish Football Leagueon 3 June 2008[4]and were formally liquidated on 8 August.[5]

The club'ssupporters' trustthen decided to establish a new club,Gretna 2008,who were accepted into theEast of Scotland Football Leagueon 11 July 2008. Whilst sharing the same fanbase and a similar name, the new club has no legal connection with the original Gretna Football Club.[6]

History[edit]

Formation[edit]

An amateur club 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 local workers and servicemen returning from theSecond World War.[7][8][self-published source?]Former professional footballerJames Kerrwas one of the club's founders and as part of the club's committee, his opinion held sway when picking the team.[8]The club initially played in the Dumfries and District Junior League.

Period in English football[edit]

The following year, the club moved to the Carlisle and District League. This was despite the club being based in Scotland, albeit very close to theAnglo-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 theNorthern 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 theNorthern Premier League.

During this period, the club featured in theFA Cup,becoming the first club based in Scotland to appear in the competition proper sinceQueens Parkin 1887. They managed to takeRochdaleto areplayin1991and gaveBolton Wanderersa scare in1993before being beaten.[9]

The club saw its future inScottish footballand applied twice to join theScottish Leaguein 1993 and 1999. To help boost their later application, they played aRangersXI in a game to raise money for victims of theLockerbie bombing.Gretna won 2–1 against a strong team.[citation needed]

Period back in Scottish football[edit]

Rapid rise through the leagues[edit]

Steven Pressleyscores past GretnagoalkeeperAlan Mainin the2006 Scottish Cup Finalpenalty shoot-out

In 2002, Gretna were elected to theScottish Football Leagueat the third attempt, taking the place ofAirdrieonians.The club was soon taken over byBrooks Milesonand with his financial input Gretna's on-field fortunes improved. Gretna won theDivision Three,Division TwoandDivision Onetitles in successive seasons from 2005 to 2007. During their seasons of successive promotions they scored 297 goals, 130 in the2004–05season alone.

Gretna were also runners-up in the2006 Scottish Cup.Gretna's 3–0 win in the semi-final againstDundee[10]made them the first team from the third tier of Scottish league football to reach the final.[10]Gretna lost toHeart of Midlothianinthe finalonpenaltiesafter a 1–1 draw.[11]As Hearts had finished second in theScottish Premier Leagueand had therefore qualified for theUEFA Champions League,Gretna became the first team from the third tier of the Scottish league to qualify for theUEFA Cup.Gretna facedLeague of IrelandsideDerry Cityin the second qualifying round, but lost 7–3 on aggregate, losing the first leg 5–1 atFir Park,Motherwell(Raydale Parkwas deemed unsuitable for European football).[12]

Gretna had also been promoted to the First Division in 2006, and for much of the2006–07season, they led the division, with a margin of 12 points at one stage.[13]ManagerRowan Alexanderwas forced to step down in March 2007 due to unspecified health problems,[14]though he later claimed that he had had no medical issues and had been asked to take time away by the club chairman.[15]CoachDavie Ironsstepped up to the manager's position and Gretna's form dipped; second-placedSt Johnstonewent on a good run, leaving Gretna with only a one-point lead going into the final day of the season. Gretna beatRoss County3–2 with a last-minute goal byJames Grady,ensuringpromotionto the Scottish Premier League.[13]

Gretna in the Scottish Premier League[edit]

During the2007–08 season,Gretna had to play all their home games atMotherwell's home ground ofFir ParkbecauseRaydale Parkdid not meetSPLstandards. Their first game in the SPL was againstFalkirkwhich ended in a 4–0 defeat for Gretna. They continued to struggle, only gaining four points in their first 12 games and having to wait until 22 September 2007 for their first win in the SPL, defeatingDundee United3–2 atFir Park.[16]

Far worse news was that during this time the club's financial situation became dire. The club had accumulated debts of nearly £4m,[17]and ownerBrooks Milesonfell ill and withdrew his financial support for the club[18](Mileson never fully recovered from his health problems and died on 3 November 2008). A confused management situation did not help. WhilstRowan Alexanderwas officially stillmanager,Davie Ironswas in control of the team. On 6 November 2007, Gretna officially sacked Alexander as manager and formally installed Irons in his position.[14]

On 18 February 2008 it was revealed that Gretna staff, including players, had not received their wages on time.[19]Irons and assistant managerDerek Collinsboth resigned[20]from their posts the following day. Gretna director of footballMick Wadsworth,assisted by Iain Scott andAndy Smith,took charge of first-team affairs. The club went intoadministrationon 12 March 2008 after Mileson's withdrawal of support. Under SPL regulations, this resulted in an automatic ten point deduction, meaning they had a total of only six points from 28 games on the date of entering administration.[21]The SPL agreed to pay the players' wages until the end of the 2007–08 season, ensuring that the club were able to complete its fixtures in the SPL.[22]

Administration led to cost-cutting and redundancies; club captainChris Inneswas made redundant on 25 March 2008, with the club explaining that he had "attracted interest from other clubs".[23]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.[24]Gretna were mathematically relegated from the SPL on 29 March 2008 after being defeated 2–0 bySt MirrenatLove Street,and broke the SPL's low attendance record on 5 April 2008 in their game againstInverness,when just 431 turned up for the match.[25]They won their final SPL game, a home match againstHearts1–0 with a goal fromGavin Skelton,which meant they finished the season with 13 points, narrowly avoiding setting a record low points total for the Scottish top-flight. Even without the point deduction, Gretna would have still been relegated by a 17-point margin behindKilmarnock.

Liquidation[edit]

In early 2008 it was revealed by theadministrator,Wilson Field ofSheffield,that Gretna hadcreditorsof nearly £4m andassets(Raydale Park) of £812,000.HM Revenue and Customswas 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 beliquidated.[26][27]

After that deadline passed without a buyer making a firm offer, all the remainingemployeeswere made redundant, but it was reported that the club were still negotiating with an interested buyer.[28]On 29 May, Gretna were relegated to theThird Divisiondue to their financial struggles, with theScottish Football Leaguethreatening expulsion should a takeover not be completed within a week. After a takeover bid fell through on 1 June,[29]the administrators confirmed the following day that they would look to sellRaydale Parkto someone who will use the site for something other than football.[3]

Gretna resigned from the Scottish Football League on 3 June.[30]Near neighboursAnnan Athleticwon the vote to replace Gretna in the Scottish league.[31]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.[5]

Successor club[edit]

The Gretna Supporters Society, (aSupporters' trust) formed a new club,Gretna 2008on 2 July 2008 and applied to join both theEast of Scotland Football Leagueand theSouth of Scotland Football League.[32]They were accepted into the East of Scotland League, though they initially played their matches at theEverholm StadiuminAnnan.The club returned to Raydale Park in May 2009 which it now leases from the Raydale Partnership, a community group of which Gretna Supporters Society is a member.[33]

Seasons[edit]

Main article:List of Gretna F.C. seasons

This is a list of seasons from the 1987–88 season from their time in England'sNorthern Football Leagueand later theNorthern Premier Leagueand from 2002 to 2003, when the club was admitted to theScottish Football Leagueto 2007–08, when the club resigned its membership from the league and was liquidated following financial difficulties. The list details Gretna's record in major league and cup competitions, and the club's top league goal scorer of each season where available. Top scorers inboldwere also the top scorers in Gretna's division that season. Records of minor competitions are not included.

Key
Champions Runners-up Promoted Relegated
Season League FA Cup FA Trophy Challenge Cup
Division P W D L F A Pts Pos
1987–88 NFL 1 38 17 6 15 69 46 57 7th QR2 QR1
1988–89 NFL 1 38 23 6 9 79 44 75 3rd QR2 R2
1989–90 NFL 1 38 23 6 9 79 44 75 2nd QR1 R1
1990–91 NFL 1 38 30 5 3 86 23 95 1st QR3 R2
1991–92 NFL 1 38 25 10 3 81 33 85 1st R1 R1
1992–93 NPL 1 40 17 12 11 64 47 63 6th QR1 R1 ?
1993–94 NPL 1 40 16 7 17 64 65 55 10th R1 R2 ?
1994–95 NPL 1 42 14 13 15 64 66 55 11th QR1 R1 ?
1995–96 NPL 1 40 13 13 14 75 65 52 12th PR QR3 ?
1996–97 NPL 1 42 11 17 14 55 67 50 16th QR1 QR1 R2
1997–98 NPL 1 42 13 9 20 58 64 48 15th QR3 QR1 R1
1998–99 NPL 1 42 16 10 16 73 80 58 12th QR1 R2 R1
1999–00 NPL 1 42 11 7 24 48 78 40 19th QR2 R2 First Group Stage
2000–01 NPL 1 42 12 12 18 72 82 48 16th PR R2 Group Stage
2001–02 NPL 1 42 19 7 16 66 6 63 7th QR2 R2 Group Stage
Season League Scottish Cup League Cup Challenge Cup Europe Top league goal scorer
Division P W D L F A Pts Pos Name Goals
2002–03 SFL 3 36 11 12 13 50 50 45 6th R3 R1 R1 Dobie 10
2003–04 SFL 3 36 20 8 8 59 39 68 3rd R2 R1 R1 Cameron 17
2004–05 SFL 3 36 32 2 2 130 29 98 1st R3 R1 QF Deuchar 38
2005–06 SFL 2 36 28 4 4 97 30 88 1st Runners-up R2 R1 Deuchar 18
2006–07 SFL 1 36 19 9 8 70 40 66 1st R4 R3 QF UEFA Cup QR2 McMenamin 24
2007–08 SPL 38 5 8 25 32 83 13 12th R4 R3 NE Deuchar 6

Honours[edit]

English football[edit]

  • Northern League Division One
    • Champions(2): 1990–91, 1991–92
    • Runners-up(1): 1989–90
  • Northern League Division Two
    • Runners-up(1): 1982–83
  • Cumberland Senior Cup
    • Champions(11): 1958–59, 1959–60, 1966–67, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1987–88, 1988–89, 1991–92, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1996–97
    • Runners-up(8): 1952–53, 1956–57, 1960–61, 1967–68, 1974–75, 1977–78, 1985–86, 1992–93

Scottish football[edit]

Club records[edit]

  • Record victory– 20–0v.Silloth (1962)
  • Record defeat– 2–9v.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)

European record[edit]

Gretna qualified for a UEFA club competition on one occasion. In 2006, Gretna reachedthe final of the Scottish Cupwhilst competing in the Scottish Second Division and were beaten byHeart of Midlothian.The winner of theScottish Cupwould normally qualify for theUEFA Cup,but because Hearts had already qualified for theUEFA Champions Leaguethrough their league ranking in theScottish Premier League,the place was passed to Gretna as runners-up. They were eliminated in thesecond qualifying roundbyDerry City,representing the Republic of Ireland, in atwo-legged tie.

Season Competition Round Opponent Home Away Aggregate
2006–07 UEFA Cup Second qualifying round Derry City 1–5 2–2 3–7

Managerial history[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^"Scottish Football Ground Guide – Raydale Park, Gretna Football Club".www.scottishgrounds.co.uk.Archived fromthe originalon 16 February 2012.Retrieved1 June2017.
  2. ^Neil Drysdale (23 March 2008)."End of a romantic dream for the Roman Abramovich of Gretna".The Guardian.London.
  3. ^abGretna no longer in existence,BBC News,2 June 2008.
  4. ^Death knell for crisis club[permanent dead link],Setanta Sports,3 June 2008.
  5. ^ab"Liquidation signals the final nail in Gretna coffin".The Cumberland News.8 August 2008. Archived fromthe originalon 14 March 2009.
  6. ^"Gretna given place in the East of Scotland League".The Scotsman.11 July 2008.'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. ^abTait, Jon (5 January 2016).Anvil – A Record of Gretna FC in the Scottish Football League.Lulu.com.ISBN9781326285371.[self-published source]
  9. ^Gretna grit forged in FA Cup battle with Bolton,The Scotsman,13 May 2006
  10. ^ab"Gretna 3–0 Dundee".BBC Sport website. 1 April 2006.Retrieved5 January2010.
  11. ^"Hearts 1–1 Gretna (4–2 on pens)".BBC Sport website. 13 May 2006.Retrieved5 January2010.
  12. ^"Derry City 2–2 Gretna (7–3 agg)".BBC Sport website. 24 August 2006.Retrieved5 January2010.
  13. ^ab"Ross County 2–3 Gretna".BBC Sport.28 April 2007.Retrieved5 January2010.
  14. ^abSPL – Gretna finally sack AlexanderYahoo! Eurosport UK. 6 November 2007. Retrieved 30 December 2009
  15. ^Alexander refused Fir Park accessBBC Sport. 4 August 2007. Retrieved 30 December 2009
  16. ^"Gretna 3–2 Dundee United".BBC Sport.22 September 2007.Retrieved22 September2007.
  17. ^"Gretna FC debt level almost £4m".BBC Sport.23 April 2008.Retrieved5 January2010.
  18. ^Gordon, Phil (12 March 2008)."End is nigh as Gretna face cash deadline".London: Times Online.Retrieved21 March2008.
  19. ^"BBC SPORT – Football – My Club – Gretna – Gretna players hit by pay delay".news.bbc.co.uk.18 February 2008.Retrieved1 June2017.
  20. ^"BBC SPORT – Football – My Club – Gretna – Irons quits Gretna for Morton job".news.bbc.co.uk.19 February 2008.Retrieved1 June2017.
  21. ^"BBC SPORT – Football – My Club – Gretna – Gretna edging closer to closure".news.bbc.co.uk.13 March 2008.Retrieved1 June2017.
  22. ^"BBC SPORT – Football – My Club – Gretna – SPL money to help stricken Gretna".news.bbc.co.uk.20 March 2008.Retrieved1 June2017.
  23. ^"Gretna's Innes is made redundant".BBC Sport. 25 March 2008.Retrieved3 January2018.
  24. ^"Gretna make 22 players redundant".BBC Sport. 26 March 2008.Retrieved3 January2018.
  25. ^Attendance statisticsArchived17 April 2008 at theWayback Machine,Scottish Premier Leagueofficial website
  26. ^Gretna administrator racks up £253,000 in fees for six weeks of work at crisis club,The Scotsman.
  27. ^"Gretna deadline at season's end".BCC News. 8 May 2008.Retrieved8 May2008.
  28. ^"Gretna lay off remaining 40 staff".BBC Sport. 19 May 2008.Retrieved19 May2008.
  29. ^Hannan, Martin.Gretna's dream is crushed as funds bid fails,Scotland on Sunday,1 June 2008.
  30. ^"Gretna relinquish league status".BBC Sport.3 June 2008.Retrieved5 January2010.
  31. ^"Annan win SFL place".Press Association.[dead link]
  32. ^"Rome: I'll be proud when Gretna tackle Reds".Archived fromthe originalon 7 September 2012.
  33. ^"Gretna enjoys football homecoming".BBC News.2 May 2009.Retrieved5 January2010.
  34. ^"A pipe dream come true: Gretna's romance of the cup".The Independent.London. 3 April 2006. Archived fromthe originalon 13 October 2007.Retrieved4 May2010.

External links[edit]

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