Gretna FC
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| Full name | Gretna Football Club |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Black and Whites |
| Founded | 1946 |
| Dissolved | 2008 |
| Ground | Raydale Park |
| Capacity | 3,000 |
| 2007–08 | Scottish Premier League, 12th (relegated) |
Gretna Football Club was a Scottish professional football club that represented the town of Gretna, Dumfries and Galloway, close to the border between England and Scotland. Founded in 1946, the club had rapid and continual success in the mid-2000s, and reached the Scottish Cup Final in 2006, but the club fell into severe financial difficulties when businessman Brooks Mileson, its main financial backer, withdrew funds due to ill health. The club was forced to dissolve in 2008.
Despite being based in Scotland, the club participated in amateur and semi-professional leagues in English football from 1947 until they were elected to the Scottish Football League at the third attempt in 2002. Relying heavily on substantial financial support from Mileson, the club were promoted through the Scottish leagues from the Third Division to the Scottish Premier League in less than five years. The club also reached the 2006 Scottish Cup Final, losing in a penalty shoot-out to Hearts.
The team struggled badly in the SPL and the club were placed in administration after Mileson withdrew his support due to illness. At the end of the season, all of the club's staff were made redundant and the club were initially relegated to the Third Division due to their inability to guarantee fulfilment of their forthcoming fixtures. After this demotion, the one remaining offer to buy the club was withdrawn. The club resigned their place in the Scottish Football League on 3 June and were formally liquidated on 8 August.
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