2008–09 Burnley F.C. season
The 2008–09 season was Burnley's 9th season in the second tier of English football. They were managed by Owen Coyle – his second season since he replaced Steve Cotterill on 8 November 2007. Burnley finished fifth in the league but was able to return to the top flight of British Football, The Premier League through the Football League Championship playoffs. It was the first time the club was in the top division if English Football for 33 years.
First-team squad
Updated 30 June 2008.Current squad
Transfers
In
Out
Match details
Football League Championship
League table
Matches
Football League Championship play-offs
| Round | Date | Opponents | Venue | Result | Score F–A | Scorers | Attendance | Ref |
| Semi-final first leg | 9 May 2009 | Reading | H | W | 1–0 | Alexander 84' pen. | 18,853 | |
| Semi-final second leg | 12 May 2009 | Reading | A | W | 2–0 | Paterson 50', Thompson 58' | 19,909 | |
| Final | 25 May 2009 | Sheffield United | N | W | 1–0 | Elliott 13' | 80,518 |
FA Cup
| Round | Date | Opponents | Venue | Result | Score F–A | Scorers | Attendance | Ref |
| Third round | 03 01 2009 | Queens Park Rangers | A | D | 0–0 | 8,896 | ||
| Third round replay | 13 01 2009 | Queens Park Rangers | H | W | 2–1 | Thompson 60', Rodriguez 120' | 3,760 | |
| Fourth round | 24 01 2009 | West Bromwich Albion | A | D | 2–2 | Alexander 25' pen., Paterson 89' | 18,294 | |
| Fourth round replay | 03 02 2009 | West Bromwich Albion | H | W | 3–1 | Elliott 44', Thompson 52', 88' | 6,635 | |
| Fifth round | 08 03 2009 | Arsenal | A | L | 0–3 | 57,454 |
Football League Cup
| Round | Date | Opponents | Venue | Result | Score F–A | Scorers | Attendance | Ref |
| First round | 12 8 2008 | Bury | A | W | 2–0 | Paterson 40', 90' | 4,276 | |
| Second round | 26 8 2008 | Oldham Athletic | H | W | 3–0 | McCann 12', Paterson 63', 79' | 5,528 | |
| Third round | 23 09 2008 | Fulham | H | W | 1–0 | Rodriguez 88' | 7,119 | |
| Fourth round | 12 11 2008 | Chelsea | A | D | 1–1 | Akinbiyi 69' | 41,369 | |
| Quarter final | 02 12 2008 | Arsenal | H | W | 2–0 | McDonald 6', 57' | 19,045 | |
| Semi final first leg | 06 01 2009 | Tottenham Hotspur | A | L | 1–4 | Paterson 15' | 31,377 | |
| Semi final second leg | 21 01 2009 | Tottenham Hotspur | H | W | 3–2 | Blake 34', McCann 73', Rodriguez 88' | 19,533 |
Appearances and goals
Player of the Year Awards 2009
| # | Pos | Winner | Award |
| N/A | FW |  Wes Fletcher | Youth Player of the Year |
| 1 | GK |  Brian Jensen | League Cup Player of the Tournament |
| 19 | FW | Jay Rodriguez v Nottingham Forest, 14 March 2009 | Goal of the Season |
| 16 | MF |  Chris McCann | Young Player of the Year |
| 2 | DF |  Graham Alexander | Players' Player of the Year |
| 20 | FW | Robbie Blake | Player of the Year |