Hamilton Academicals FC

[DavidMc]

Hamilton Academical is a football club from Hamilton, Scotland. They were established in 1874 from Hamilton Academy. More commonly known as "Hamilton Accies" the team won promotion from SFL Division 2 to SFL Division 1 in the 2003-04 season. This was followed up by promotion to the Scottish Premier League in the 2007-08 season. The club have played at New Douglas Park from 2001, having previously played at Douglas Park.

Hamilton Academical FC were formed in late 1874 by the Rector and pupils of the local school, Hamilton Academy. Membership of the Scottish Football League came in November 1897 when Renton were forced to resign.

The club has reached the Scottish Cup Final twice in their history, losing to Celtic and Rangers in 1911 and 1935, respectively.

In 1971 Accies became the first football club in the United Kingdom to recruit players from behind the Iron Curtain when three Polish players were signed to the club amid great publicity.

Success came in the late 1980s when Hamilton was promoted to the Premier League twice (in 1986 and 1988), but both spells in the top division lasted for one season only. In 1991 and 1992 the club won the Scottish League Challenge Cup. In 1994 new ground regulations saw the club vacate Douglas Park, their home since 1888, and sell the land to make way for a retail park. The club shared a ground with Albion Rovers and Partick Thistle (2 spells) for the next seven years. Hamilton also endured a much publicised forced relegation to the Third at the end of the 1999-2000 season.

The club's fortunes have since turned: in the 2001-02 season the club finally returned to Hamilton to a stadium just yards from the old site, and also secured a place in Division One for the 2004-05 season. Hamilton remained in the Scottish First Division over the next few seasons and achieved a very respectable 4th place position in the 2006-2007 season. The 2007-08 season has seen the Accies gain promotion to the Scottish Premier League. On 19 April Hamilton secured the championship and promotion to the Scottish Premier League, for the first time since 1988.

[DavidMc]

Pre-season schedule 08/09

Hamilton's squad return for pre-season training on 30 June.

The SPL newcomcers face a busy July with friendlies scheduled against Airdrie United (16 July), Berwick Rangers (17 July), Albion Rovers (22 July), Dumbarton (23 July) and East Fife (24 July) - all away from home.



Accies will field two sides against Billingham Synthonia and Huddersfield on 26 July.

Hamilton will take part in Hartlepool United's pre-season Centenary Tournament at the Victoria Ground - taking on either the home side or Sunderland (27 July)

Accies then take on Newcastle Blue Star (28 July) and Linlithgow Rose (5 August).

[DavidMc]

Going to be a tough season for them. Although I think they will surprise a few teams. They will be fighting relegation but not a certainty that they will go back down.

I can see them giving a few sides outwith the Old Firm a run for their money.