2009–10 Football League Championship


The 2009–10 Football League Championship was the sixth season of the league under its current title and eighteenth season under its current league division format. It started on 7 August 2009.

Changes from previous season

Team changes

From Championship

Promoted to Premier League
Relegated to League One
Relegated from Premier League
Promoted from League One

On field rule changes

  1. 'Home Grown Players' rule which aims to encourage the development of young footballers at League clubs. The new rule will require clubs to name at least four players in their matchday squad that have been registered domestically, for a minimum of three seasons, prior to their 21st birthday
  2. For the first time clubs will also have the opportunity to name seven substitutes, three of which may enter the field of play
Note: "Amendments to the laws of the game 2009–2010" also applied

Off field rule changes

  1. Financial regulations relating to tax payments. From now on, any club that falls behind with its employee related payments to HMRC will be subject to a transfer embargo until such time as the debt is cleared

    Team overview

Stadia and locations

TeamLocationStadiumCapacity
BarnsleyBarnsleyOakwell23,009
BlackpoolBlackpoolBloomfield Road12,555
Bristol CityBristolAshton Gate21,497
Cardiff CityCardiffCardiff City Stadium26,828
Coventry CityCoventryRicoh Arena32,609
Crystal PalaceLondonSelhurst Park26,309
Derby CountyDerbyPride Park Stadium33,597
Doncaster RoversDoncasterKeepmoat Stadium15,231
Ipswich TownIpswichPortman Road30,311
Leicester CityLeicesterWalkers Stadium32,500
MiddlesbroughMiddlesbroughRiverside Stadium35,100
Newcastle UnitedNewcastle upon TyneSt James' Park52,387
Nottingham ForestNottinghamCity Ground30,602
Peterborough UnitedPeterboroughLondon Road Stadium 115,460
Plymouth ArgylePlymouthHome Park19,500
Preston North EndPrestonDeepdale24,500
Queens Park RangersLondonLoftus Road19,128
ReadingReadingMadejski Stadium24,161
Scunthorpe UnitedScunthorpeGlanford Park 19,088
Sheffield UnitedSheffieldBramall Lane32,609
Sheffield WednesdaySheffieldHillsborough Stadium39,814
Swansea CitySwanseaLiberty Stadium20,532
WatfordWatfordVicarage Road19,920
West Bromwich AlbionWest BromwichThe Hawthorns26,500

1 Ground contains some terracing

Personnel and sponsoring

Managerial changes

League table

A total of 24 teams contested the division, including 18 sides remaining in the division from last season, three relegated from the Premier League, and three promoted from League One.

Play-offs

First leg

Second leg

Blackpool win 6–4 on aggregate
Cardiff City 3–3 Leicester City on aggregate. Cardiff City win 4–3 on penalties

Final

Blackpool are promoted to the Premier League

Results

Fixtures for the 2009–10 season were announced by The Football League on 17 June 2009.

Top goalscorers and assists

RankScorerClubGoals
1Peter WhittinghamCardiff City22
2Nicky MaynardBristol City20
3Gary HooperScunthorpe United19
4Charlie AdamBlackpool18
4Michael ChopraCardiff City18
6Andy CarrollNewcastle United17
6Robert EarnshawNottingham Forest17
6Kevin NolanNewcastle United17
6Gylfi SigurðssonReading17
10Darren AmbroseCrystal Palace15
10Billy SharpDoncaster Rovers15

PosPlayerTeamAssists
1Graham DorransWest Bromwich Albion19
2Wayne RoutledgeQueens Park Rangers/Newcastle United15
3Danny GuthrieNewcastle United13
4Jay BothroydCardiff City12
5Peter WhittinghamCardiff City10
6George BoydPeterborough United/Nottingham Forest9
6Paul HayesScunthorpe United9
6Radosław MajewskiNottingham Forest9
6Jobi McAnuffReading9
6Gylfi SigurðssonReading9
11Charlie AdamBlackpool8

Season statistics

Scoring

Team of the Year

Events

Controversy

During a game between Bristol City and Crystal Palace, Freddie Sears scored a goal that ricocheted off the stanchion and went back out, but the linesman didn't see the goal and so it was disallowed. Crystal Palace manager Neil Warnock called for a replay. Following the game, the three officials were suspended until it could be solved.
The tie between Plymouth and Barnsley was abandoned after 58 minutes because of heavy rain affecting the pitch. Barnsley were winning 4–1 and manager Mark Robins argued that it was a "let off" for Plymouth and that the travelling Barnsley fans should be reimbursed. The postponed match took place on 30 March, where it ended in a 0–0 draw.

Crystal Palace administration

On 27 January 2010, the Football League had announced that Crystal Palace had been placed into administration and Sheffield firm P&A Partnership were appointed as administrators for the club. Palace were docked ten points and dropped from 9th to 21st. They managed to survive another season in the Championship, but only after drawing 2–2 with Sheffield Wednesday on the final day and confined Wednesday to League One football in 2010–11.