Gretna F.C. 2008


Gretna Football Club 2008 is a football club from the town of Gretna. It was founded in 2008 after the bankruptcy and demise of Gretna, which had existed since 1946. Gretna 2008 is not a direct continuation of the old club, being under a completely different management and set-up; the club trades under the name Gretna FC 2008 Ltd to avoid confusion with the old Gretna.
In 2013, the club became founder members of the Lowland League, having previously played 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.

History

The original Gretna Football Club 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 2008, 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 the 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 2010–11 being promoted as First Division champions.
In 2013, Gretna FC 2008 were elected founder members of the new Lowland Football League.

Colours and badge

Gretna 2008's colours are black and grey with white dashes Gretna F.C. had used white shirts after Brooks Mileson 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 thistles represent the club's Scottish location.

Current squad

Seasons

YearLeagueLevelPWDLFAGDPtsPositionScottish Cup
2008–09East of Scotland First Division2213545022+28444th of 12DNP
2009–10East of Scotland First Division2213455320+33434th of 12DNP
2010–11East of Scotland First Division2219128518+67581st of 12
Promoted as champions		DNP
2011–12East of Scotland Premier Division229674046-6336th of 12DNP
2012–13East of Scotland Premier Division229763425+9344th of 12
Transferred to Lowland League		DNP
2013–14Lowland Football League5228774033+7317th of 12DNP
2014–15Lowland Football League52613676232+30453rd of 142R
2015–16Lowland Football League528113143850−123610th of 151R
2016–17Lowland Football League530124144465-21409th of 162R
2017–18Lowland Football League530124145056-6408th of 161R
2018–19Lowland Football League52892174267-252912th of 152R
2019-20Lowland Football League52426162162-411213th of 16†2R

† Season curtailed due to 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic.

Honours