2012–13 Football League Two
# 2012–13 Football League Two

The 2012–13 Football League Two (referred to as the Npower Football League Two for sponsorship reasons) was the ninth season of the league under its current title and twentieth season under its current league division format. It started on 18 August 2012 and finished on 27 April 2013 with all matches that day kicking off simultaneously.

## Changes from last season

### Team changes

**From League Two**

**Promoted to League One**

* Swindon Town
* Shrewsbury Town
* Crawley Town
* Crewe Alexandra

**From League Two**

**Relegated to Conference National**

* Hereford United
* Macclesfield Town

**To League Two**

**Relegated from League One**

* Wycombe Wanderers
* Chesterfield
* Exeter City
* Rochdale

**To League Two**

**Promoted from Conference National**

* Fleetwood Town
* York City

## Team overview

### Stadia and locations

Note: Table shows mathematically qualified teams as of 28 April 2012 in alphabetical order.

| Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
| - | - | - | - |
| Accrington Stanley | Accrington | Crown Ground | 5,057 |
| AFC Wimbledon | Kingston upon Thames Greater London | Kingsmeadow | 4,850 |
| Aldershot Town | Aldershot | Recreation Ground | 7,100 |
| Barnet | Barnet Greater London | Underhill Stadium | 5,260 |
| Bradford City | Bradford | Valley Parade | 25,136 |
| Bristol Rovers | Bristol | Memorial Stadium | 12,011 |
| Burton Albion | Burton upon Trent | Pirelli Stadium | 6,912 |
| Cheltenham Town | Cheltenham | Whaddon Road | 7,066 |
| Chesterfield | Chesterfield | Proact Stadium | 10,338 |
| Dagenham & Redbridge | Dagenham Greater London | Victoria Road | 6,078 |
| Exeter City | Exeter | St James Park | 8,830 |
| Fleetwood Town | Fleetwood | Highbury Stadium | 5,094 |
| Gillingham | Gillingham | Priestfield Stadium | 11,582 |
| Morecambe | Morecambe | Globe Arena | 6,476 |
| Northampton Town | Northampton | Sixfields Stadium | 7,653 |
| Oxford United | Oxford | Kassam Stadium | 12,500 |
| Plymouth Argyle | Plymouth | Home Park | 16,388 |
| Port Vale | Stoke-on-Trent | Vale Park | 19,052 |
| Rochdale | Rochdale | Spotland Stadium | 10,249 |
| Rotherham United | Rotherham | New York Stadium | 12,021 |
| Southend United | Southend-on-Sea | Roots Hall | 12,392 |
| Torquay United | Torquay | Plainmoor | 6,104 |
| Wycombe Wanderers | High Wycombe | Adams Park | 10,284 |
| York City | York | Bootham Crescent | 7,872 |

### Personnel and sponsoring

| Team | Manager | Chairman | Team captain | Kit maker | Sponsor |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Accrington Stanley | James Beattie | Peter Marsden | Dean Winnard | Samurai Sportswear | Clever Boxes |
| AFC Wimbledon | Neal Ardley | Erik Samuelson | Mat Mitchel-King | Tempest Sports | Football Manager (H) Sports Interactive (A) |
| Aldershot Town | Andy Scott | Kris Machala | Ben Herd | Erreà | EBB Paper |
| Barnet | Edgar Davids | Anthony Kleanthous | Jonathan Fortune | Surridge | Pulse Fitness |
| Bradford City | Phil Parkinson | Mark Lawn Julian Rhodes | Gary Jones | Nike | Map Group UK |
| Bristol Rovers | John Ward | Nick Higgs | Matthew Gill | Erreà | Opus Recruitment (H) CR Windows (A) |
| Burton Albion | Gary Rowett | Ben Robinson | John McGrath | TAG | Mr Cropper |
| Cheltenham Town | Mark Yates | Paul Baker | Russell Penn | Erreà | Mira Showers |
| Chesterfield | Paul Cook | Dave Allen | Sam Hird | Puma | Kick Energy |
| Dagenham & Redbridge | Wayne Burnett | Dave Andrews | Abu Ogogo | Vandanel | West & Coe Funeral Directors |
| Exeter City | Paul Tisdale | Edward Chorlton | Danny Coles | Joma | Flybe |
| Fleetwood Town | Graham Alexander | Andy Pilley | Steve McNulty | Nike | BES Commercial Gas |
| Gillingham | Martin Allen | Paul Scally | Adam Barrett | Vandanel | Medway Electrical & Mechanical Services |
| Morecambe | Jim Bentley | Peter McGuigan | Will Haining | Fila | Carbrini |
| Northampton Town | Aidy Boothroyd | David Cardoza | John Johnson | Erreà | Jackson Grundy |
| Oxford United | Chris Wilder | Ian Lenagan | Jake Wright | Nike | Bridle Insurance |
| Plymouth Argyle | John Sheridan | James Brent | Darren Purse | Puma | Bond Timber |
| Port Vale | Micky Adams | Paul Wildes | Doug Loft | Sondico | UK Windows Systems Ltd (H) |
| Rochdale | Keith Hill | Chris Dunphy | Gary Jones | Fila | Co-Operative |
| Rotherham United | Steve Evans | Tony Stewart | Johnny Mullins | Puma | Parkgate Shopping |
| Southend United | Phil Brown | Ron Martin | Chris Barker | Nike | InsureandGo |
| Torquay United | Alan Knill | Simon Baker | Lee Mansell | Sondico | Sparkworld |
| Wycombe Wanderers | Gareth Ainsworth | Ivor Beeks MBE | Gareth Ainsworth | Kukri | Dreams |
| York City | Nigel Worthington | Jason McGill | Chris Smith | Nike | benenden health |

**Managerial changes**

| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Burton Albion | Paul Peschisolido | Sacked | 17 March 2012 | Pre-season | Gary Rowett | 10 May 2012 |
| Gillingham | Andy Hessenthaler | Resigned | 8 May 2012 | Pre-season | Martin Allen | 5 July 2012 |
| Barnet | Martin Allen | End of contract | 31 May 2012 | Pre-season | Mark Robson Edgar Davids | 11 June 2012 11 October 2012 |
| Chesterfield | John Sheridan | Sacked | 28 August 2012 | 18th | Paul Cook | 25 October 2012 |
| AFC Wimbledon | Terry Brown | Sacked | 19 September 2012 | 21st | Neal Ardley | 10 October 2012 |
| Wycombe Wanderers | Gary Waddock | Sacked | 22 September 2012 | 21st | Gareth Ainsworth | 8 November 2012 |
| Accrington Stanley | Paul Cook | Signed by Chesterfield | 25 October 2012 | 16th | Leam Richardson | 1 November 2012 |
| Fleetwood Town | Micky Mellon | Sacked | 1 December 2012 | 8th | Graham Alexander | 6 December 2012 |
| Bristol Rovers | Mark McGhee | Sacked | 15 December 2012 | 23rd | John Ward | 17 December 2012 |
| Barnet | Mark Robson | Mutual consent | 29 December 2012 | 22nd | Edgar Davids | 29 December 2012 |
| Plymouth Argyle | Carl Fletcher | Sacked | 1 January 2013 | 21st | John Sheridan | 6 January 2013 |
| Rochdale | John Coleman | Sacked | 21 January 2013 | 14th | Keith Hill | 22 January 2013 |
| Aldershot Town | Dean Holdsworth | Sacked | 20 February 2013 | 20th | Andy Scott | 22 February 2013 |
| Dagenham & Redbridge | John Still | Signed by Luton Town | 26 February 2013 | 16th | Wayne Burnett | 2 May 2013 |
| York City | Gary Mills | Sacked | 2 March 2013 | 18th | Nigel Worthington | 4 March 2013 |
| Southend United | Paul Sturrock | Sacked | 24 March 2013 | 9th | Phil Brown | 25 March 2013 |
| Torquay United | Martin Ling | Sacked | 29 April 2013 | 19th | Alan Knill | 7 May 2013 |
| Accrington Stanley | Leam Richardson | Signed by Chesterfield | 30 April 2013 | 18th | James Beattie | 13 May 2013 |

## League table

Twenty-four teams contest the division: 18 sides remaining in the division from last season, four relegated from League One, and two promoted from Conference National.

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Gillingham (C, P) | 46 | 23 | 14 | 9 | 66 | 39 | +27 | 83 | Promotion to Football League One |
| 2 | Rotherham United (P) | 46 | 24 | 7 | 15 | 74 | 59 | +15 | 79 | Promotion to Football League One |
| 3 | Port Vale (P) | 46 | 21 | 15 | 10 | 87 | 52 | +35 | 78 | Promotion to Football League One |
| 4 | Burton Albion | 46 | 22 | 10 | 14 | 71 | 65 | +6 | 76 | Qualification for League Two play-offs |
| 5 | Cheltenham Town | 46 | 20 | 15 | 11 | 58 | 51 | +7 | 75 | Qualification for League Two play-offs |
| 6 | Northampton Town | 46 | 21 | 10 | 15 | 64 | 55 | +9 | 73 | Qualification for League Two play-offs |
| 7 | Bradford City (O, P) | 46 | 18 | 15 | 13 | 63 | 52 | +11 | 69 | Qualification for League Two play-offs |
| 8 | Chesterfield | 46 | 18 | 13 | 15 | 60 | 45 | +15 | 67 | |
| 9 | Oxford United | 46 | 19 | 8 | 19 | 59 | 60 | −1 | 65 | |
| 10 | Exeter City | 46 | 18 | 10 | 18 | 63 | 62 | +1 | 64 | |
| 11 | Southend United | 46 | 16 | 13 | 17 | 61 | 55 | +6 | 61 | |
| 12 | Rochdale | 46 | 16 | 13 | 17 | 68 | 70 | −2 | 61 | |
| 13 | Fleetwood Town | 46 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 55 | 57 | −2 | 60 | |
| 14 | Bristol Rovers | 46 | 16 | 12 | 18 | 60 | 69 | −9 | 60 | |
| 15 | Wycombe Wanderers | 46 | 17 | 9 | 20 | 50 | 60 | −10 | 60 | |
| 16 | Morecambe | 46 | 15 | 13 | 18 | 55 | 61 | −6 | 58 | |
| 17 | York City | 46 | 12 | 19 | 15 | 50 | 60 | −10 | 55 | |
| 18 | Accrington Stanley | 46 | 14 | 12 | 20 | 51 | 68 | −17 | 54 | |
| 19 | Torquay United | 46 | 13 | 14 | 19 | 55 | 62 | −7 | 53 | |
| 20 | AFC Wimbledon | 46 | 14 | 11 | 21 | 54 | 76 | −22 | 53 | |
| 21 | Plymouth Argyle | 46 | 13 | 13 | 20 | 46 | 55 | −9 | 52 | |
| 22 | Dagenham & Redbridge | 46 | 13 | 12 | 21 | 55 | 62 | −7 | 51 | |
| 23 | Barnet (R) | 46 | 13 | 12 | 21 | 47 | 59 | −12 | 51 | Relegation to the Conference Premier |
| 24 | Aldershot Town (R) | 46 | 11 | 15 | 20 | 42 | 60 | −18 | 48 | Relegation to the Conference Premier |

* ↑ Four teams play for one spot and promotion to Football League One.

## Play-offs

| Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final | Final |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 4 | Burton Albion | 3 | 1 | 4 | | | |
| 7 | Bradford City | 2 | 3 | 5 | | | |
| 7 | Bradford City | 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 | Northampton Town | 0 |
| | | | | | 7 | Bradford City | 3 |
| 5 | Cheltenham Town | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | Bradford City | 3 |
| 6 | Northampton Town | 1 | 1 | 2 | | | |

## Results

| Home \ Away | ACC | WIM | ALD | BAR | BRA | BRR | BRT | CHL | CHF | D&R | EXE | FLE | GIL | MOR | NOR | OXF | PLY | PTV | ROC | ROT | STD | TOR | WYC | YOR |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Accrington Stanley | | 4–0 | 1–0 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 3–3 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 0–3 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 0–1 |
| AFC Wimbledon | 1–2 | | 1–1 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 0–4 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 3–2 |
| Aldershot Town | 2–0 | 0–1 | | 1–0 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 3–2 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 4–2 | 0–3 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 0–2 |
| Barnet | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 4–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–4 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–3 |
| Bradford City | 2–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | | 4–1 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 |
| Bristol Rovers | 0–1 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 3–3 | | 3–0 | 0–1 | 3–2 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 0–3 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 1–0 | 0–0 |
| Burton Albion | 1–0 | 6–2 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | | 3–1 | 0–1 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 0–1 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 4–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 |
| Cheltenham Town | 0–3 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | | 1–0 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 |
| Chesterfield | 4–3 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | | 1–2 | 4–0 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–0 |
| Dagenham & Redbridge | 1–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 4–3 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 2–3 | 2–1 | 5–0 | 0–3 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 0–1 |
| Exeter City | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 4–1 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0–1 | | 2–2 | 0–0 | 0–3 | 3–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 3–0 | 0–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 |
| Fleetwood Town | 1–3 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 0–3 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 0–0 | | 2–2 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 2–5 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 0–0 |
| Gillingham | 1–0 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 0–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 4–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–3 | 2–2 | | 2–1 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 |
| Morecambe | 0–0 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 4–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 0–4 | 1–1 | | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–3 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 2–2 |
| Northampton Town | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–3 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 3–0 | | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 3–3 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 0–2 |
| Oxford United | 5–0 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | | 2–1 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 0–0 |
| Plymouth Argyle | 0–0 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 3–2 | 0–1 | | 1–3 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 2–0 |
| Port Vale | 3–0 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 4–0 | 7–1 | 3–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 4–0 | | 2–2 | 6–2 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–2 |
| Rochdale | 0–3 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 2–2 | | 1–2 | 4–2 | 1–0 | 4–1 | 2–3 |
| Rotherham United | 4–1 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 3–0 | 4–2 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 4–1 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 2–3 | | 0–3 | 1–0 | 2–3 | 1–1 |
| Southend United | 0–1 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 |
| Torquay United | 3–1 | 2–3 | 4–3 | 3–2 | 1–3 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 4–2 | 1–3 | 1–4 | | 1–2 | 2–1 |
| Wycombe Wanderers | 0–1 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 0–3 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 2–1 | | 4–0 |
| York City | 1–1 | 0–3 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | |

## Season statistics

### Hat-tricks

| Player | For | Against | Result | Date |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Tom $Pope^4$ | Port Vale | Rotherham United | 6–2 | 8 September 2012 |
| Tom Pope | Port Vale | Bristol Rovers | 4–0 | 20 November 2012 |
| Tom Pope | Port Vale | Cheltenham Town | 3–2 | 29 March 2013 |
| Jon Parkin | Fleetwood Town | Morecambe | 0–4 | 8 September 2012 |
| Tom $Craddock^4$ | Oxford United | Accrington Stanley | 5–0 | 20 October 2012 |
| Ricky Holmes | Barnet | Burton Albion | 3–2 | 21 December 2012 |
| Kevin Ellison | Morecambe | AFC Wimbledon | 3–1 | 24 November 2012 |

* $^4$ Player scored 4 goals

### Scoring

* First goal of the season: Troy Brown for Aldershot Town against Plymouth Argyle (18 August 2012)
* Fastest goal of the season: 14 seconds, Sam Morsy for Port Vale against Morecambe (25 August 2012)
* Latest goal of the season: 94 minutes and 17 seconds, Jason Walker for York City against Chesterfield (8 September 2012) and Oliver Norburn for Bristol Rovers against Cheltenham Town (5 February 2013)
* Largest winning margin: 6 goals
   * Port Vale 7–1 Burton Albion (5 April 2013)

### Most league wins

Rotherham United 24

### Clean sheets

* Most clean sheets: 13
   * Fleetwood Town
* Fewest clean sheets: 6
   * AFC Wimbledon

### Discipline

* Most yellow cards (club): 44
   * Fleetwood Town
* Most yellow cards (player): 7
   * Tom Parkes (Bristol Rovers)
   * Kevin Ellison (Morecambe)
   * Josh Scowen (Wycombe Wanderers)
   * Junior Brown (Fleetwood Town)
   * Rene Howe (Torquay United)
* Most red cards (club): 6
   * Bristol Rovers
* Most red cards (player): 2
   * Edgar Davids (Barnet)

## Monthly awards

| Month | Manager of the Month | Manager of the Month | Player of the Month | Player of the Month | Reference |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Month | Manager | Club | Player | Club | Reference |
| August | Martin Allen | Gillingham | Jake Wright | Oxford United | |
| September | Micky Adams | Port Vale | Tom Pope | Port Vale | |
| October | Mark Yates | Cheltenham Town | Ashley Vincent | Port Vale | |
| November | Paul Sturrock | Southend United | Adebayo Akinfenwa | Northampton Town | |
| December | Gary Rowett | Burton Albion | Ashley Grimes | Rochdale | |
| January | Martin Allen | Gillingham | Tom Parkes | Bristol Rovers | |
| February | Gary Rowett | Burton Albion | Jacques Maghoma | Burton Albion | |
| March | John Sheridan | Plymouth Argyle | Jason Banton | Plymouth Argyle | |
| April | Nigel Worthington | York City | Chris Smith | York City | |
