Rags, Riches and Liquidation: The Story of Gretna FC
What is the most impressive rise of a football team climbing through their respective nations league system? A quick answer would be that of Luton town currently playing in the Premier League having been sat in the non-league system as recently as the 13/14 season, or perhaps AFC Bournemouth also playing in the Premier League who in 2009 were playing in League 2. Both respectively excellent climbs through the divisions, but are they really that impressive? What if there was a team who had climbed up from the 4th tier of football in their nation, up to the top league. Stopping to pursue a European football opportunity whilst in the third tier? Pretty impressive to say the least some might say, what’s more is that this achievement reached its pinnacle in just six years.
So why do we not mention this team when we talk about exceptional climbs? Younger fans may not have heard of this club as they no longer exist. This is the story of how Gretna Football Club bulldozed their way through the Scottish league system to play in the Scottish Premier League, alongside the likes of Celtic and Rangers. A meteoric rise that ultimately ended in the dissolvement of a club, and a short story is all we have to remember them by.
So, who are Gretna Football Club? Founded in 1946, a small town based in Dumfries and Galloway, just a couple of miles above the Anglo-Scottish border the Anvils (Club nickname) were historically a small club lingering in the lower regions of football. The club played in their own region for one season before being moved to the Carlisle and District League, a part of the English football league system, and so from 1947 onwards the club were technically playing their away games in a different country. Gretna never really lit-up the English game, with their highest position being in the Northern Premier League. Along with playing in the English game, similar to the likes of Cardiff and Swansea of Wales, they also participated in the FA Cup, the first Scottish based side to take part since Queens Park in 1887, long before Gretna existed.
After two failed attempts applying to play in the Scottish league system, in 2002 Gretna were officially granted a place and from here, the story of rags to riches, to rags again really begins. Not long after their instalment into the Scottish game, the club were soon taken over by millionaire Brooks Mileson, the driving force behind the progression of Gretna FC. The club, from a town of 3,000 people were about to write history, Mileson quickly invested £8 million into the club to help boost them through the lower leagues of the Scottish game. Comparing the club to news of the current day you would be surprised to discover that they are not part of the City Football Group but just a sole investor with an almost Football Manager perception of the game. Invest money, buy players, out spend your competitors and watch the glory come to you. Early signs indicated this would occur, but the story unfortunately does not have a happy ending for the fans of the club.
The meteoric rise began its ascent, three back-to-back promotions from 2004 – 2007 had seen the club bypass all three Scottish football leagues to lift them into the Scottish Premier League. That is a total of 108 league games with the club scoring a total of 297 goals conceding just 99, almost a plus 200 goals difference in three seasons, unheard of unless you look at a rare Sunday league team. A big factor behind this prolific goal scoring was the signing of striker Kenny Deuchar, a name synonymous with Scottish football, Deuchar played football alongside being a practicing medical doctor, earning him the nickname ‘The good doctor’ from Jeff Stelling on Soccer Saturday. Deuchar played 93 times for Gretna scoring an impressive 63 goals, however, was never able to replicate this form for any of his future clubs, including a move to the United Sates to play for Real Salt Lake. Deuchar was a record breaker for Gretna holding the record for most goals in a single season with 38 and also most hat-tricks in a single season with 6.
During the 2005/06 season the club went on a very impressive Scottish cup run, playing their game in the 3rdtier of Scottish football at the time Gretna went on to reach the final of the cup. Taking a total of 12,000 fans, from a 3,000-population town, to watch them play Hearts of Midlothian, unfortunately for the travelling fans they would ultimately lose on penalties to the Edinburgh side and the dream was shattered. All was not doom and gloom though as Hearts had already qualified for Champions League participation due to their league position, therefore Gretna FC, a side from the 3rd tier of Scottish football were entered into the UEFA Cup (now the Europa League) as reward for finishing runners up in the Scottish Cup. Europe was a step too far for the newly successful club and they were easily swept aside by Derry City of Ireland, losing 7-3 on aggregate, some blame could perhaps be placed on the fact that the club had to play away from home as their stadium, Raydale Park, was unsuitable for European football, so an 80-mile trip to Motherwell was required for their home leg.
The 2007 season, Gretna found themselves at the top of the game in Scotland, the Scottish Premier League, Rangers, Celtic, Hearts, Aberdeen the list goes on. This however is where the wheels really begin to come off for the club, Raydale Park did not meet standards for the league so a ground share with Motherwell’s Fir Park was put into place and it was quick to see the squad was not up for the challenge. Gretna accumulated just 23 points all season, with their first victory a 3-2 win over Dundee United at Fir Park. So how did this club, so dominant in all other leagues of Scotland and very competitive in the Scottish Cup finish bottom of the league?
Unfortunately, the answer is not a footballing downfall but a financial one, the club had accumulated £4 million of debt and when investor Mileson withdrew funding after falling ill, and tragically passed in late 2008, the future of the club was up in the air. The decline was rapid and unstoppable, players went unpaid, and some refused to play until payments were made, the temporary manager at the time Dave Irons swiftly left the club and the financial problems led to a 10-point deduction, giving a total of 13 points at seasons end. With no backing form investors, no way to pay players or the staff, the league put together a payment package to allow the club to finish the rest of the season. 22 players were eventually made redundant, and the club were confirmed to be relegated following as 2-0 defeat to St Mirren.
The club were set a deadline in May of 2008 to find a buyer otherwise the club would be forced to fall into liquidation. No successful investors came in to save the club and therefore Gretna FC were relegated to the Third Division due to financial struggles, the club were given an extension of one week to find another investor but with no staff left at the club and a failed takeover the club had failed and were formally liquidised in early August and subsequently replaced by Annan Athletic in the league. Since that fateful day a supporter’s trust has formed a new club, Gretna 2008, and were accepted to play in the East of Scotland Football League with a ground share alongside Annan Athletic in place until 2009 when the club agreed a lease with Raydale Partnership to play in their historical home ground.
A legacy that leaves behind so many questions, is it possible to rise too quickly through the football league? Based on this evidence you could say yes, but this is less of a story of success but more of a story of a man who wanted to dominate Scottish football. Mileson came into Gretna FC, injected a huge sum of money to buy as much success as possible in the shortest time possible. Overall, this dynamic was unsustainable, and the story had too many holes in the plot. Fans are often excited when new ownership comes into their club with the promise of investment and a vision to succeed in the coming years. What fans don’t often see is what happens when that money goes away, is their club stable without the investment? Is the money the only thing left keeping their club afloat? In the story of Gretna FC this happened to be the case, as soon as the money was retracted the club were too.
A remarkable story from a small town on the Anglo-Scottish border who dreamt of their underdog story, battling through league after league with success after success to ultimately fall and disappear. From rags to riches, back to rags this was the story of Gretna Football Club, a short tale of how money does not always bring success.
Written and Researched by BSc Cavan Campbell
