Hamilton academical- lanarkshires finest

Return to the Premiership

After a hard-fought campaign during the 2013–14 Scottish Championship season, Accies finished in second position on the final day of the season following a 10–2 home victory over Morton. Despite the disappointment of missing out on automatic promotion to Dundee, they went on to defeat Falkirk 2–1 on aggregate in the first stage of their Premiership play-off to face top-flight Hibernian over two legs for a place in the 2014-15 Scottish Premiership. Hamilton lost the first leg 0–2 at New Douglas Park, but two away goals in the return leg at Easter Road, including an injury time strike, forced the tie to extra time and penalty-kicks. Hamilton converted all of their spot-kicks and gained promotion back to the top flight.Neil left the club in January 2015, to take up a position at English club Norwich.
The Club has only one major honour to date,that being the old Scottish First Division title back in 2007/08.

CLUB INFORMATION

NAME-Hamilton Academical Football Club
NICKNAME-The Accies
YEAR FOUNDED-1874
CHAIRMAN-Les Gray
MANAGER-Steff Mcallister
CAPTAIN-
DIVISION-Scottish Premiership Football League(SPFL)
LAST SEASON-Championship Play Off Winners Vs Hibs
MEDIA PREDICTION-7th
FIERCE RIVALS-Motherwell
OTHER RIVALS-Airdrie,Albion Rovers



Hamilton accepted a bid for McCarthy from Wigan Athletic on 16 July 2009.He completed the move to Wigan on 21 July, on a five-year deal, believed to be worth just under £1.2 million. The club could get additional payments depending on appearances.McCarthy made his debut for Wigan on 22 August 2009, as a 74th minute substitute in a 5–0 defeat to Manchester United. He scored his first goal for Wigan in the FA Cup third round victory against fellow Premier League team Hull City on 2 January 2010,and marked his first Premier League start with a goal in a 2–0 victory away to Wolverhampton Wanderers on 16 January 2010.

After an impressive start to the 2010–11 season, he picked up a serious ankle injury against Bolton Wanderers on 23 October 2010,keeping him out of action for three months. He scored on his return to the line-up against Aston Villa on 25 January 2011.On 5 February 2011, McCarthy scored twice in a 4–3 victory against Blackburn Rovers.Later in the month, McCarthy was at the centre of controversy in Wigan's 4–0 defeat to Manchester United after being elbowed by United striker Wayne Rooney. A free kick was awarded to Wigan for the incident, but Rooney received no further punishment. Although McCarthy was praised for staying on his feet following the clash,Wigan team mate and captain Gary Caldwell felt that Rooney would have been sent off had McCarthy reacted by going to ground.

In August 2012, McCarthy signed a new five-year contract at the club.He was part of the Wigan Athletic team that overcame Manchester City in the 2013 FA Cup Final, the first outfield Irishman to win an FA Cup in seven years; afterwards he hailed manager Roberto Martínez as "a tactical genius".



Born in Glasgow, McArthur joined Hamilton Academical as a youth in 2003. He made his debut in January 2005 against Ross County. He established himself in the Hamilton team the following season and scored his first goal in April 2006 against St. Johnstone.

Such was his progress that he was given the captaincy for Hamilton against Aberdeen in February 2008 for a Scottish Cup tie and nominated for the First Division Player of the Year for the 2007–08 season.In May 2008 after helping his side to the Scottish First Division, McArthur was awarded with a new three-year contract.

In the 2009–10 season, several English Championship and Premier League clubs, including Sheffield United, West Bromwich Albion, Leeds United and Sunderland, showed an interest in McArthur. On 5 April 2010, McArthur went on a three-day visit to Premier League club Wigan Athletic with a view to a permanent move in the summer.He signed a four-year contract at the DW Stadium on 23 July for a fee of around £500,000.The move reunited him with former Hamilton team-mate James McCarthy, who transferred to Wigan at the beginning of the 2009–10 season. On 31 January 2012, McArthur scored his first goal for Wigan in a 3–1 loss to Tottenham Hotspur, and followed it up two games later with a winning goal over Bolton Wanderers at the Reebok Stadium in a game which finished 2–1 to Wigan. McArthur extended his contract with Wigan in May 2012, with the new deal due to run until 2016.On 11 May 2013 McArthur won the FA Cup with Wigan, playing the whole game in an 1–0 upset win against Manchester City.However, only three days later, Wigan were relegated from the Premier League following a 4–1 defeat against Arsenal.

Wigan rejected a first offer of £5 million from Leicester City for McArthur in August 2014, but then accepted a proposed valuation of nearly £7 million.A payment schedule was not agreed and the proposed transfer collapsed, with Leicester signing Esteban Cambiasso instead.On the last day of the summer 2014 transfer window, Wigan accepted a £7 million offer from Crystal Palace for McArthur.



STADIUM AND FACILITIES

Construction of the stadium was completed by Ballast Nedam in 2001.The pitch was converted to artificial FieldTurf in 2004. After Hamilton was promoted to the Scottish Premier League in May 2008, the artificial surface had to be replaced by grass due to league rules. In addition to the turf replacement, a temporary stand was erected in March 2008 to bring the stadium's capacity up to the league requirement of 6,000 all seater.

At the beginning of season 2013-14 Hamilton returned to an artificial playing surface.

During the 2013-14 season, Albion Rovers played Scottish Cup ties against Motherwell and Rangers at the stadium.

NAME-New Douglas Park
YEAR BUILT-2001
CAPACITY-6,000
RECORD ATTENDANCE-6,000 Vs Celtic (17th January 2015)

PRE SEASON SO FAR