List of Hamilton Academical F.C. seasons

For information on the current season, see 2023–24 Hamilton Academical F.C. season.

This is a list of Hamilton Academical F.C. seasons in Scottish football, from their foundation in 1874 onwards. It details the club's achievements in senior league and cup competitions and the top scorers for each season. The list of top scorers also chronicles how the club's scoring records have progressed throughout the club's history.

Summary

Chart of yearly table positions of the club in the Scottish league.

Hamilton Academical were formed in late 1874 by the rector and pupils of Hamilton Academy. The club soon became members of the Scottish Football Association and initially began competing in the Scottish Cup and Qualifying Cup, before joining the Scottish Football League in November 1897 following the resignation of Renton.[1]

They have twice been runners up in the Scottish Cup, in 1910–11 (losing to Celtic after a replay)[2] and in 1934–35 (losing to Rangers).[3] The 1920s and 30s was the most successful period in the history of the Accies, when they achieved a highest finish of 4th in the top tier of Scottish football (also in 1935) and reached the semi-final of the Scottish Cup on three further occasions in 1925, 1930 and 1932.[4]

They maintained their place in the highest division for 33 consecutive seasons from 1906 until the interruption of World War II in 1939; in the first season after the end of conflict, 1946–47, the club was unable to field a competitive side and finished bottom of the table with only 11 points, bringing the long run to an end.[5]

Seasons

Season League Scottish Cup League Cup Other Top league scorer
Division Position
1874–75[6] N/A N/A First round N/A N/A N/A
1875–76 N/A N/A Second round N/A N/A N/A
1876–77 N/A N/A First round N/A N/A N/A
1877–78 N/A N/A Second round N/A N/A N/A
1878–79 N/A N/A Second round N/A N/A N/A
1879–80 N/A N/A Fourth round N/A N/A N/A
1880–81 N/A N/A Second round N/A N/A N/A
1881–82 N/A N/A Second round N/A Lanarkshire Cup winners N/A
1882–83 N/A N/A First round N/A N/A N/A
1883–84 N/A N/A Third round N/A N/A N/A
1884–85 N/A N/A Third round N/A N/A N/A
1885–86 N/A N/A Did not enter N/A N/A N/A
1886–87 N/A N/A Second round N/A N/A N/A
1887–88 N/A N/A First round N/A N/A N/A
1888–89[a] N/A N/A Second round N/A N/A N/A
1889–90 N/A N/A First round N/A N/A N/A
1890–91 Did not enter N/A First round N/A N/A N/A
1891–92 Did not enter N/A Pre-qualification round N/A N/A N/A
1892–93 Did not enter N/A Pre-qualification round N/A N/A N/A
1893–94 Did not enter N/A Pre-qualification round N/A N/A N/A
1894–95[7] Did not enter N/A Pre-qualification round N/A Scottish Alliance
5th 		Unknown Unknown
1895–96[8] Did not enter N/A Did not enter N/A Scottish Alliance
5th 		Unknown Unknown
1896–97[9] Did not enter N/A Did not enter N/A Scottish Combination
5th 		Unknown Unknown
1897–98[10] Division Two 9th[b] Did not enter N/A N/A Unknown Unknown
1898–99 Division Two 5th Did not enter N/A N/A Unknown Unknown
1899–1900 Division Two 7th First round N/A N/A Unknown Unknown
1900–01 Division Two 8th Did not enter N/A N/A Unknown Unknown
1901–02 Division Two 4th Did not enter N/A Lanarkshire Cup winners Unknown Unknown
1902–03 Division Two 6th Second round N/A N/A Unknown Unknown
1903–04 Division Two 1st Did not enter N/A Glasgow & West of Scotland League
Winners 		Unknown Unknown
1904–05 Division Two 3rd Did not enter N/A Lanarkshire Cup winners Unknown Unknown
1905–06 Division Two 4th Second round N/A Lanarkshire Cup winners Unknown Unknown
1906–07 Division One 18th Did not enter N/A Glasgow & West of Scotland Shield
Runners-up 		Unknown Unknown
1907–08 Division One 12th First round N/A N/A Unknown Unknown
1908–09 Division One 16th First round N/A N/A Unknown Unknown
1909–10 Division One 15th First round N/A Lanarkshire Cup winners (Shared) Unknown Unknown
1910–11 Division One 16th Runners-up[3] N/A N/A Unknown Unknown
1911–12 Division One 12th First round N/A N/A Unknown Unknown
1912–13 Division One 10th Second round N/A N/A Unknown Unknown
1913–14 Division One 18th Second round N/A N/A Unknown Unknown
1914–15 Division One 8th N/A[c] N/A N/A Unknown Unknown
1915–16 Division One 7th N/A[c] N/A N/A Unknown Unknown
1916–17 Division One 9th= N/A[c] N/A N/A Unknown Unknown
1917–18 Division One 12th N/A[c] N/A N/A Unknown Unknown
1918–19 Division One 14th N/A[c] N/A Victory Cup – Second round[11] Unknown Unknown
1919–20 Division One 21st First round N/A Lanarkshire Cup winners Unknown Unknown
1920–21 Division One 14th Third round N/A N/A Unknown Unknown
1921–22 Division One 18th Quarter-final N/A N/A Unknown Unknown
1922–23 Division One 18th Third round N/A N/A Unknown Unknown
1923–24 Division One 12th Third round N/A Lanarkshire Cup winners Unknown Unknown
1924–25 Division One 13th Semi-final N/A N/A Unknown Unknown
1925–26 Division One 12th Second round N/A N/A Unknown Unknown
1926–27 Division One 15th Third round N/A N/A Unknown Unknown
1927–28 Division One 18th Second round N/A N/A Unknown Unknown
1928–29 Division One 12th Second round N/A N/A Unknown Unknown
1929–30 Division One 13th Semi-final N/A N/A Unknown Unknown
1930–31 Division One 10th Second round N/A N/A Unknown Unknown
1931–32 Division One 10th Semi-final N/A N/A Unknown Unknown
1932–33 Division One 8th First round N/A N/A Unknown Unknown
1933–34 Division One 11th Second round N/A Lanarkshire Cup winners Unknown Unknown
1934–35 Division One 4th[d] Runners-up[3] N/A N/A Unknown Unknown
1935–36 Division One 6th First round N/A N/A Unknown Unknown
1936–37 Division One 8th Quarter-final N/A N/A David Wilson 34[e]
1937–38 Division One 13th Third round N/A N/A Unknown Unknown
1938–39 Division One 7th Second round N/A Lanarkshire Cup winners Unknown Unknown
1939–40[13] Emergency League West[f] 3rd N/A[c] N/A Emergency Cup – Second round Unknown Unknown
1940–41 Southern League[f] 11th N/A[c] Southern League Cup – Group stage Summer Cup – Quarter-final[14] Unknown Unknown
1941–42 Southern League[f] 16th N/A[c] Southern League Cup – Group stage Summer Cup – First round[14] Unknown Unknown
1942–43 Southern League[f] 6th N/A[c] Southern League Cup – Semi-final Summer Cup – First round[14] Unknown Unknown
1943–44 Southern League[f] 9th N/A[c] Southern League Cup – Group stage Summer Cup – First round[14] Unknown Unknown
1944–45 Southern League[f] 9th N/A[c] Southern League Cup – Group stage Summer Cup – First round[14] Unknown Unknown
1945–46 Southern League[f] 16th[15] N/A[c] Southern League Cup – Group stage Victory Cup – First round[11] Unknown Unknown
1946–47[16] Division A 16th First round Group stage N/A Unknown Unknown
1947–48 Division B 3rd First round Quarter-final N/A Unknown Unknown
1948–49 Division B 10th First round Semi-final N/A Unknown Unknown
1949–50 Division B 6th First round Group stage N/A Unknown Unknown
1950–51 Division B 7th Second round Group stage N/A Unknown Unknown
1951–52 Division B 9th Second round Group stage Lanarkshire Cup winners Unknown Unknown
1952–53 Division B 2nd Third round Group stage N/A Unknown Unknown
1953–54 Division A 16th Quarter-final Group stage N/A Unknown Unknown
1954–55 Division B 3rd Quarter-final Group stage N/A Unknown Unknown
1955–56 Division Two 11th Fifth round Quarter-final N/A Unknown Unknown
1956–57 Division Two 11th Sixth round Group stage N/A Unknown Unknown
1957–58 Division Two 10th First round Quarter-final N/A Unknown Unknown
1958–59 Division Two 7th Third round Group stage N/A Unknown Unknown
1959–60 Division Two 4th First round Group stage N/A Unknown Unknown
1960–61 Division Two 6th Third round Semi-final N/A Unknown Unknown
1961–62 Division Two 13th Second round Quarter-final N/A Unknown Unknown
1962–63 Division Two 4th Third round Group stage N/A Unknown Unknown
1963–64 Division Two 13th Second round Group stage N/A Unknown Unknown
1964–65 Division Two 2nd First round Quarter-final N/A Unknown Unknown
1965–66 Division One 18th First round Group stage N/A Unknown Unknown
1966–67 Division Two 4th Quarter-final Group stage N/A Unknown Unknown
1967–68 Division Two 11th First round Group stage N/A Unknown Unknown
1968–69 Division Two 15th Preliminary round 2 Quarter-final N/A Unknown Unknown
1969–70 Division Two 19th First round Group stage N/A Unknown Unknown
1970–71 Division Two 18th Second round Group stage N/A Unknown Unknown
1971–72 Division Two 19th Third round Group stage N/A Unknown Unknown
1972–73 Division Two 8th Fourth round Group stage N/A Unknown Unknown
1973–74 Division Two 3rd First round Group stage N/A Unknown Unknown
1974–75 Division Two 4th[g] Fourth round Quarter-final N/A Unknown Unknown
1975–76 First Division 9th Third round Group stage Spring Cup
Quarter-final 		Unknown Unknown
1976–77 First Division 10th Third round Group stage N/A Unknown Unknown
1977–78 First Division 7th Third round Third round N/A Unknown Unknown
1978–79 First Division 5th Third round Third round N/A Unknown Unknown
1979–80 First Division 7th Third round Semi-final N/A Unknown Unknown
1980–81 First Division 7th Third round Third round N/A Unknown Unknown
1981–82 First Division 7th Third round Quarter-final N/A Unknown Unknown
1982–83 First Division 11th Third round Group stage N/A Unknown Unknown
1983–84 First Division 9th Fourth round[h] Second round N/A Unknown Unknown
1984–85 First Division 4th Third round Second round N/A Unknown Unknown
1985–86 First Division 1st Fourth round Quarter-final Lanarkshire Cup winners Unknown Unknown
1986–87 Premier Division 12th Fourth round Third round N/A Unknown Unknown
1987–88 First Division 1st Fourth round Second round N/A Unknown Unknown
1988–89 Premier Division 10th Third round Third round N/A Unknown Unknown
1989–90 First Division 6th Third round Quarter-final N/A Unknown Unknown
1990–91 First Division 6th Fourth round Third round Challenge Cup
Second round 		Unknown Unknown
1991–92 First Division 3rd Third round Third round Challenge Cup
Winners 		Unknown Unknown
1992–93 First Division 5th Third round Second round Challenge Cup
Winners 		Unknown Unknown
1993–94[i] First Division 4th[j] Third round Second round Challenge Cup
Second round 		Unknown Unknown
1994–95[k][17] First Division 6th Third round Third round Challenge Cup
Second round 		Unknown Unknown
1995–96[k] First Division 9th Third round Second round Challenge Cup
Second round 		Unknown Unknown
1996–97[k] Second Division 2nd Fourth round Second round Challenge Cup
Second round 		Unknown Unknown
1997–98[l] First Division 8th Third round Second round
Unknown Unknown
1998–99[l] First Division 9th Fourth round Second round N/A[m] Unknown Unknown
1999–2000[k] Second Division 9th[n] Third round Second round Challenge Cup
Second round 		Unknown Unknown
2000–01[k] Third Division 1st Second round First round
Unknown Unknown
2001–02[o][19] Second Division 5th Fourth round Second round Challenge Cup
First round 		Unknown Unknown
2002–03 Second Division 8th Fourth round Second round Challenge Cup
First round 		Unknown Unknown
2003–04 Second Division 2nd Fourth round Second round Challenge Cup
First round 		Unknown Unknown
2004–05 First Division 7th Third round Second round Challenge Cup
First round 		Unknown Unknown
2005–06 First Division 3rd Quarter-final Second round
Unknown Unknown
2006–07 First Division 4th Third round First round Challenge Cup
Second round 		Unknown Unknown
2007–08 First Division 1st Fourth round Quarter-final Challenge Cup
First round 		Unknown Unknown
2008–09 SPL 9th Quarter-final Quarter-final Lanarkshire Cup winners James McCarthy,
Simon Mensing,
Richard Offiong,[20] 		6
2009–10 SPL 7th Fourth round Second round N/A Simon Mensing[20] 8
2010–11 SPL 12th Fifth round Second round N/A Mickaël Antoine-Curier[20] 4
2011–12 First Division 4th Fourth round Second round
Jon McShane[20] 9
2012–13 First Division 5th Quarter-final Third round Challenge Cup
First round 		Stevie May[20] 25[p]
2013–14 Championship[q] 2nd[r] Third round Third round Challenge Cup
First round 		Tony Andreu,
James Keatings[20] 		13
2014–15 Premiership 7th Fourth round Quarter-final N/A Tony Andreu[20] 12
2015–16 Premiership 10th Fourth round Second round N/A Carlton Morris[20] 8
2016–17 Premiership 11th[s] Quarter-final Second round N/A Ali Crawford[20] 8
2017–18 Premiership 10th Fourth round Second round N/A Dougie Imrie,
David Templeton[20] 		8
2018–19 Premiership 10th Fourth round Group Stage N/A Mickel Miller[20] 5
2019–20 Premiership 11th[t] Fifth round Second round N/A Marios Ogkmpoe[20] 6
2020–21 Premiership 12th Third round Group Stage N/A Ross Callachan[20] 8
2021–22 Championship 6th Third round Group Stage Challenge Cup
Quarter-final 		Andy Ryan[20] 9
2022–23 Championship 9th[u] Fifth round Group Stage Challenge Cup
Winners 		Connor Smith,
Daniel O'Reilly[20] 		5
2023–24 League One tbd tbd tbd Challenge Cup

Notes

  1. ^ First season playing home matches at Douglas Park.
  2. ^ Hamilton Academical took Renton's place in the league and fulfilled the club's remaining fixtures.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l The Scottish Cup was not held in the 1914–15, 1915–16, 1916–17, 1917–18 or 1918–19 seasons due to World War I, or the 1939–40, 1940–41, 1941–42, 1942–43, 1943–44, 1944–45 or 1945–46 seasons due to World War II.[3]
  4. ^ 4th place in the 1934–35 Scottish Division One is Hamilton's highest-ever league finish.
  5. ^ Top scorer in division.[12]
  6. ^ a b c d e f g The official Scottish Football League was suspended from 1939 to 1946 due to World War II. Unofficial competitions were held.
  7. ^ The teams placed 1st–6th were added to the new First Division, but it remained the 2nd tier below the new Premier Division.
  8. ^ First Scottish Cup tie won in 9 years (since 1974–75).
  9. ^ Last season playing home matches at Douglas Park.
  10. ^ The teams placed 8th–12th were relegated to the Second Division, with a new Third Division below.
  11. ^ a b c d e Home matches played at Firhill Stadium, Glasgow.
  12. ^ a b Home matches played at Cliftonhill Stadium, Coatbridge.
  13. ^ The Scottish Challenge Cup was not held in the 1998–99 season.
  14. ^ Hamilton Academical were penalised 15 points for breaking league rules (failing to fulfil a fixture against Stenhousemuir, after their players went on strike due to non-payments of wages);[18] they would otherwise have finished 7th.
  15. ^ First season playing home matches at New Douglas Park.
  16. ^ Top scorer in division.[21]
  17. ^ The leagues were renamed for the 2013–14 season, but the divisions remained as before.
  18. ^ Promoted via play-offs
  19. ^ Won in relegation play-offs
  20. ^ 2019–20 Scottish Premiership postponed in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland; season curtailed and standings at time of postponement declared final on 18 May 2020.[22]
  21. ^ Relegated via play-offs

League performance summary

The Scottish Football League was founded in 1890 and, other than during seven years of hiatus during World War II,[a] the national top division has been played every season since.[b] The following is a summary of Hamilton's divisional status:

  • 123 total eligible seasons (including 2019–20)
  • 47 seasons in top level[c]
  • 63 seasons in second level[d]
  • 5 seasons in third level[e]
  • 1 seasons in fourth level[f]
  • 7 seasons not involved – before club was league member
  1. ^ The incomplete 1939–40 edition has not been counted in the totals.
  2. ^ The top tier became the Scottish Premier League in 1998, and all four divisions became the Scottish Professional Football League in 2013.
  3. ^ Has existed between 1890–1939, and since 1946.
  4. ^ Has existed between 1893–1915, 1921–1939 and since 1946.
  5. ^ Has existed between 1923–1926, 1946–1949, and since 1976.
  6. ^ Has existed since 1994.

References

  1. ^ "Accies News". Hamilton Academical F.C. 26 February 2012. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
  2. ^ "Scottish Cup – Replayed Final". Glasgow Herald. 17 April 1911. Retrieved 11 August 2018 – via The Celtic Wiki (scan).
  3. ^ a b c d "Scottish Cup - Past Winners". Scottish Football Association. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
  4. ^ "Accies in the Quarter Final". Hamilton Academical F.C. 3 March 2017. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
  5. ^ Andy McGilvray (12 January 2018). "Former Hamilton Accies secretary Scott Struthers makes[sic] a nostalgic look back on club's glory days in 1930s". Daily Record. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
  6. ^ 1874-1897: Pre-Scottish League entry, Hamilton Academical Memory Bank
  7. ^ 1894/95, Hamilton Academical Memory Bank
  8. ^ 1895/96, Hamilton Academical Memory Bank
  9. ^ 1896/97, Hamilton Academical Memory Bank
  10. ^ 1897/98 – 1938/39: Scottish League history pre-war, Hamilton Academical Memory Bank
  11. ^ a b "Victory Cup". Scottish Football Historical Archive. Archived from the original on 11 August 2018. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
  12. ^ "Scotland - List of Topscorers". RSSSF. 7 June 2018. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  13. ^ 1939/40 – 1945/46: Wartime games, Hamilton Academical Memory Bank
  14. ^ a b c d e "Summer Cup". Scottish Football Historical Archive. Archived from the original on 11 August 2018. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
  15. ^ "Southern Football League". Scottish Football History. Archived from the original on 21 October 2009. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
  16. ^ 1946/47 – 1993/94: Post-war Douglas Park era, Hamilton Academical Memory Bank
  17. ^ 1994/95 – 2000/01: Groundless seasons, Hamilton Academical Memory Bank
  18. ^ Accies down as appeal fails, BBC News, 5 May 2000
  19. ^ 2001-02 to 2010-11: New Douglas Park era, Hamilton Academical Memory Bank
  20. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Squad". Soccerway. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  21. ^ "May: I've loved my time at Accies". Daily Record. 9 May 2013. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
  22. ^ "Celtic champions & Hearts relegated after SPFL ends season". BBC Sport. 18 May 2020. Retrieved 18 May 2020.

Sources