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
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.
They have twice been runners up in the Scottish Cup, in 1910–11 (losing to Celtic after a replay) and in 1934–35 (losing to Rangers). 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.
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.
Seasons
SeasonLeagueScottish CupLeague CupOtherTop league scorerDivisionPosition1874–751874-1897: Pre-Scottish League entry, Hamilton Academical Memory BankN/AN/AFirst roundN/AN/AN/A 1875–76N/AN/ASecond roundN/AN/AN/A1876–77N/AN/AFirst roundN/AN/AN/A1877–78N/AN/ASecond roundN/AN/AN/A1878–79N/AN/ASecond roundN/AN/AN/A1879–80N/AN/AFourth roundN/AN/AN/A1880–81N/AN/ASecond roundN/AN/AN/A1881–82N/AN/ASecond roundN/ALanarkshire Cup winnersN/A1882–83N/AN/AFirst roundN/AN/AN/A1883–84N/AN/AThird roundN/AN/AN/A1884–85N/AN/AThird roundN/AN/AN/A1885–86N/AN/ADid not enterN/AN/AN/A1886–87N/AN/ASecond roundN/AN/AN/A1887–88N/AN/AFirst roundN/AN/AN/A1888–89N/AN/ASecond roundN/AN/AN/A1889–90N/AN/AFirst roundN/AN/AN/A1890–91Did not enterN/AFirst roundN/AN/AN/A1891–92Did not enterN/APre-qualification roundN/AN/AN/A1892–93Did not enterN/APre-qualification roundN/AN/AN/A1893–94Did not enterN/APre-qualification roundN/AN/AN/A1894–951894/95, Hamilton Academical Memory BankDid not enterN/APre-qualification roundN/AScottish Alliance5thUnknownUnknown1895–961895/96, Hamilton Academical Memory BankDid not enterN/ADid not enterN/AScottish Alliance5thUnknownUnknown1896–971896/97, Hamilton Academical Memory BankDid not enterN/ADid not enterN/AScottish Combination5thUnknownUnknown1897–981897/98 – 1938/39: Scottish League history pre-war, Hamilton Academical Memory BankDivision Two9thDid not enterN/AN/AUnknownUnknown1898–99Division Two5thDid not enterN/AN/AUnknownUnknown1899–1900Division Two7thFirst roundN/AN/AUnknownUnknown1900–01Division Two8thDid not enterN/AN/AUnknownUnknown1901–02Division Two4thDid not enterN/ALanarkshire Cup winnersUnknownUnknown1902–03Division Two6thSecond roundN/AN/AUnknownUnknown1903–04Division Two1stDid not enterN/AGlasgow & West of Scotland LeagueWinnersUnknownUnknown1904–05Division Two3rdDid not enterN/ALanarkshire Cup winnersUnknownUnknown1905–06Division Two4thSecond roundN/ALanarkshire Cup winnersUnknownUnknown1906–07Division One18thDid not enterN/AGlasgow & West of Scotland ShieldRunners-upUnknownUnknown1907–08Division One12thFirst roundN/AN/AUnknownUnknown1908–09Division One16thFirst roundN/AN/AUnknownUnknown1909–10Division One15thFirst roundN/ALanarkshire Cup winners (Shared)UnknownUnknown1910–11Division One16thRunners-upN/AN/AUnknownUnknown1911–12Division One12thFirst roundN/AN/AUnknownUnknown1912–13Division One10thSecond roundN/AN/AUnknownUnknown1913–14Division One18thSecond roundN/AN/AUnknownUnknown1914–15Division One8thN/AN/AN/AUnknownUnknown1915–16Division One7thN/AN/AN/AUnknownUnknown1916–17Division One9th=N/AN/AN/AUnknownUnknown1917–18Division One12thN/AN/AN/AUnknownUnknown1918–19Division One14thN/AN/AVictory Cup – Second roundUnknownUnknown1919–20Division One21stFirst roundN/ALanarkshire Cup winnersUnknownUnknown1920–21Division One14thThird roundN/AN/AUnknownUnknown1921–22Division One18thQuarter-finalN/AN/AUnknownUnknown1922–23Division One18thThird roundN/AN/AUnknownUnknown1923–24Division One12thThird roundN/ALanarkshire Cup winnersUnknownUnknown1924–25Division One13thSemi-finalN/AN/AUnknownUnknown1925–26Division One12thSecond roundN/AN/AUnknownUnknown1926–27Division One15thThird roundN/AN/AUnknownUnknown1927–28Division One18thSecond roundN/AN/AUnknownUnknown1928–29Division One12thSecond roundN/AN/AUnknownUnknown1929–30Division One13thSemi-finalN/AN/AUnknownUnknown1930–31Division One10thSecond roundN/AN/AUnknownUnknown1931–32Division One10thSemi-finalN/AN/AUnknownUnknown1932–33Division One8thFirst roundN/AN/AUnknownUnknown1933–34Division One11thSecond roundN/ALanarkshire Cup winnersUnknownUnknown1934–35Division One4thRunners-upN/AN/AUnknownUnknown1935–36Division One6thFirst roundN/AN/AUnknownUnknown1936–37Division One8thQuarter-finalN/AN/ADavid Wilson341937–38Division One13thThird roundN/AN/AUnknownUnknown1938–39Division One7thSecond roundN/ALanarkshire Cup winnersUnknownUnknown1939–401939/40 – 1945/46: Wartime games, Hamilton Academical Memory BankEmergency League West3rdN/AN/AEmergency Cup – Second roundUnknownUnknown1940–41Southern League11thN/ASouthern League Cup – Group stageSummer Cup – Quarter-finalUnknownUnknown1941–42Southern League16thN/ASouthern League Cup – Group stageSummer Cup – First roundUnknownUnknown1942–43Southern League6thN/ASouthern League Cup – Semi-finalSummer Cup – First roundUnknownUnknown1943–44Southern League9thN/ASouthern League Cup – Group stageSummer Cup – First roundUnknownUnknown1944–45Southern League9thN/ASouthern League Cup – Group stageSummer Cup – First roundUnknownUnknown1945–46Southern League16thN/ASouthern League Cup – Group stageVictory Cup – First roundUnknownUnknown1946–471946/47 – 1993/94: Post-war Douglas Park era , Hamilton Academical Memory BankDivision A16thFirst roundGroup stageN/AUnknownUnknown1947–48Division B3rdFirst roundQuarter-finalN/AUnknownUnknown1948–49Division B10thFirst roundSemi-finalN/AUnknownUnknown1949–50Division B6thFirst roundGroup stageN/AUnknownUnknown1950–51Division B7thSecond roundGroup stageN/AUnknownUnknown1951–52Division B9thSecond roundGroup stageLanarkshire Cup winnersUnknownUnknown1952–53Division B2ndThird roundGroup stageN/AUnknownUnknown1953–54Division A16thQuarter-finalGroup stageN/AUnknownUnknown1954–55Division B3rdQuarter-finalGroup stageN/AUnknownUnknown1955–56Division Two11thFifth roundQuarter-finalN/AUnknownUnknown1956–57Division Two11thSixth roundGroup stageN/AUnknownUnknown1957–58Division Two10thFirst roundQuarter-finalN/AUnknownUnknown1958–59Division Two7thThird roundGroup stageN/AUnknownUnknown1959–60Division Two4thFirst roundGroup stageN/AUnknownUnknown1960–61Division Two6thThird roundSemi-finalN/AUnknownUnknown1961–62Division Two13thSecond roundQuarter-finalN/AUnknownUnknown1962–63Division Two4thThird roundGroup stageN/AUnknownUnknown1963–64Division Two13thSecond roundGroup stageN/AUnknownUnknown1964–65Division Two2ndFirst roundQuarter-finalN/AUnknownUnknown1965–66Division One18thFirst roundGroup stageN/AUnknownUnknown1966–67Division Two4thQuarter-finalGroup stageN/AUnknownUnknown1967–68Division Two11thFirst roundGroup stageN/AUnknownUnknown1968–69Division Two15thPreliminary round 2Quarter-finalN/AUnknownUnknown1969–70Division Two19thFirst roundGroup stageN/AUnknownUnknown1970–71Division Two18thSecond roundGroup stageN/AUnknownUnknown1971–72Division Two19thThird roundGroup stageN/AUnknownUnknown1972–73Division Two8thFourth roundGroup stageN/AUnknownUnknown1973–74Division Two3rdFirst roundGroup stageN/AUnknownUnknown1974–75Division Two4thFourth roundQuarter-finalN/AUnknownUnknown1975–76First Division9thThird roundGroup stageSpring CupQuarter-finalUnknownUnknown1976–77First Division10thThird roundGroup stageN/AUnknownUnknown1977–78First Division7thThird roundThird roundN/AUnknownUnknown1978–79First Division5thThird roundThird roundN/AUnknownUnknown1979–80First Division7thThird roundSemi-finalN/AUnknownUnknown1980–81First Division7thThird roundThird roundN/AUnknownUnknown1981–82First Division7thThird roundQuarter-finalN/AUnknownUnknown1982–83First Division11thThird roundGroup stageN/AUnknownUnknown1983–84First Division9thFourth roundSecond roundN/AUnknownUnknown1984–85First Division4thThird roundSecond roundN/AUnknownUnknown1985–86First Division1stFourth roundQuarter-finalLanarkshire Cup winnersUnknownUnknown1986–87Premier Division12thFourth roundThird roundN/AUnknownUnknown1987–88First Division1stFourth roundSecond roundN/AUnknownUnknown1988–89Premier Division10thThird roundThird roundN/AUnknownUnknown1989–90First Division6thThird roundQuarter-finalN/AUnknownUnknown1990–91First Division6thFourth roundThird roundChallenge CupSecond roundUnknownUnknown1991–92First Division3rdThird roundThird roundChallenge CupWinnersUnknownUnknown1992–93First Division5thThird roundSecond roundChallenge CupWinnersUnknownUnknown1993–94First Division4thThird roundSecond roundChallenge CupSecond roundUnknownUnknown1994–951994/95 – 2000/01: Groundless seasons, Hamilton Academical Memory BankFirst Division6thThird roundThird roundChallenge CupSecond roundUnknownUnknown1995–96First Division9thThird roundSecond roundChallenge CupSecond roundUnknownUnknown1996–97Second Division2ndFourth roundSecond roundChallenge CupSecond roundUnknownUnknown1997–98First Division8thThird roundSecond roundUnknownUnknown1998–99First Division9thFourth roundSecond roundN/AUnknownUnknown1999–2000Second Division9thThird roundSecond roundChallenge CupSecond roundUnknownUnknown2000–01Third Division1stSecond roundFirst roundUnknownUnknown2001–022001-02 to 2010-11: New Douglas Park era, Hamilton Academical Memory BankSecond Division5thFourth roundSecond roundChallenge CupFirst roundUnknownUnknown2002–03Second Division8thFourth roundSecond roundChallenge CupFirst roundUnknownUnknown2003–04Second Division2ndFourth roundSecond roundChallenge CupFirst roundUnknownUnknown2004–05First Division7thThird roundSecond roundChallenge CupFirst roundUnknownUnknown2005–06First Division3rdQuarter-finalSecond roundUnknownUnknown2006–07First Division4thThird roundFirst roundChallenge CupSecond roundUnknownUnknown2007–08First Division1stFourth roundQuarter-finalChallenge CupFirst roundUnknownUnknown2008–09SPL9thQuarter-finalQuarter-finalLanarkshire Cup winnersJames McCarthy,Simon Mensing,Richard Offiong,62009–10SPL7thFourth roundSecond roundN/ASimon Mensing82010–11SPL12thFifth roundSecond roundN/AMickaël Antoine-Curier42011–12First Division4thFourth roundSecond roundJon McShane92012–13First Division5thQuarter-finalThird roundChallenge CupFirst roundStevie May252013–14Championship2ndThird roundThird roundChallenge CupFirst roundTony Andreu,James Keatings132014–15Premiership7thFourth roundQuarter-finalN/ATony Andreu122015–16Premiership10thFourth roundSecond roundN/ACarlton Morris82016–17Premiership11thQuarter-finalSecond roundN/AAli Crawford82017–18Premiership10thFourth roundSecond roundN/ADougie Imrie,David Templeton82018–19Premiership10thFourth roundGroup StageN/AMickel Miller52019–20Premiership11thFifth roundSecond roundN/AMarios Ogkmpoe62020–21Premiership12thThird roundGroup StageN/ARoss Callachan82021–22Championship6thThird roundGroup StageChallenge CupQuarter-finalAndy Ryan92022–23Championship9thFifth roundGroup StageChallenge CupWinnersConnor Smith,Daniel O'Reilly52023–24League One2ndThird roundGroup stage Challenge CupQuarter-final Kevin O'Hara 172024–25Championship10thFifth roundGroup stage Challenge CupFourth round Oli Shaw 11
Notes
League performance summary