2025–26 Hamilton Academical F.C. season

Hamilton Academical
2025–26 season
ChairmanJock Brown
(until 4 November)
ManagerJohn Rankin
(until 29 November)
Darian MacKinnon (interim)
(from 1 December)
StadiumBroadwood Stadium
Scottish CupThird round
League CupGroup stage
Challenge CupSecond round

The 2025–26 season is Hamilton Academical's first season back in the third tier of Scottish football, following their relegation from the Scottish Championship at the end of the 2024–25 season. Hamilton will also compete in the League Cup, Challenge Cup and the Scottish Cup.

Summary

Off the field issues

On 17 April 2025, Hamilton were deducted 15 points and fined £9,000 for multiple breaches of SPFL rules.[1][2][3] On 1 May, one day before the final round of Championship fixtures were scheduled to be played, the SPFL upheld their decision after the club had submitted an appeal, confirming Hamilton's relegation to League One.[4][5]

On 25 July, Hamilton were issued with a season-long transfer embargo by the SPFL after failing to settle the club's tax obligations on three separate occasions. As a result the club were fined £7,500 with £5,000 suspended. It also left the club unable to sign new players as well as re-register players whose contracts had expired.[6] Subsequently the club signed several players on amateur contracts in order to circumvent the embargo.

However on 22 October, Accies were deducted points and fined £22,000 after having been found in breach of several SPFL rules in relation to payments being made to players registered as amateurs or trialists. The club were deducted 5 points in League One and 1 point in the Challenge Cup league phase. Of the £22,000, £3,000 was suspended until the end of the 2026/27 season.[7][8][9]

On 4 November, Jock Brown announced he would be stepping down from his role as Chairman for health reasons, leaving director of football, Gerry Strain, as the sole director left on the club's board.[10]

On 11 November, the SFA released a statement which determined that Accies CEO and majority shareholder Serif Zengin, and Gerry Strain, were judged not to be "fit and proper" people to be involved in association football. This resulted in the pair being banned from running the day-to-day operations at the club.[11][12]

Later that same day, it was revealed that Police Scotland were investigating alleged fraud at the club, dating back to May of that year.[13]

On 16 December, the club were deducted a further 9 points for failing to maintain a bronze-level club license.[14]

Relocation to Broadwood Stadium

Between 2022 and 2025, Hamilton shared their home stadium, New Douglas Park, with Clyde following Clyde's eviction from their home ground Broadwood Stadium.[15] In May 2025 it was announced that due to a dispute with the owner of New Douglas Park, Hamilton would play their home fixtures at Broadwood until further notice.[16][17]

Results and fixtures

  Win   Draw   Loss   Postponed

Pre-season and friendlies

5 July 2025 Friendly Partick Thistle 4–1 Hamilton Academical Glasgow
14:00 Trialist 22'
Chalmers 73'
Crawford 79'
Fitzpatrick 		Report 45' Stadium: Petershill Park

Scottish League One

Main article: 2025–26 Scottish League One
2 August 2025 1 Hamilton Academical 2–0 Montrose Cumbernauld
15:00 Shaw 45+1'
Trialist 62'		 Report Stadium: Broadwood Stadium
Attendance: 365
Referee: Sean Murdoch
9 August 2025 2 Queen of the South 1–4 Hamilton Academical Dumfries
15:00 Lyon 46' Report Smith 28', 53'
Trialist 39'
Bradley 61'		 Stadium: Palmerston Park
Attendance: 1,246
Referee: Greg Soutar
16 August 2025 3 Hamilton Academical 1–2 East Fife Cumbernauld
15:00 Robinson 15' Report Jones 52', 53' Stadium: Broadwood Stadium
Attendance: 482
Referee: Calum Scott
23 August 2025 4 Alloa Athletic 1–0 Hamilton Academical Alloa
15:00 Devine 54' Report Stadium: Recreation Park, Alloa
Attendance: 713
Referee: George Calder
30 August 2025 5 Hamilton Academical 0–0 Cove Rangers Cumbernauld
15:00 Report Stadium: Broadwood Stadium
Attendance: 250
Referee: Calum Scott
13 September 2025 6 Peterhead 2–2 Hamilton Academical Peterhead
15:00 McGuffie 30'
Smith 62'		 Report Shaw 43'
McKinstry 89'		 Stadium: Balmoor Stadium
Attendance: 639
Referee: Euan Anderson
20 September 2025 7 Kelty Hearts 0–4 Hamilton Academical Kelty
15:00 Arnott  35' Report MacDonald 5'
Smith 12', 54'
Shaw 20 pen.'		 Stadium: New Central Park
Attendance: 457
Referee: Greg Soutar
27 September 2025 8 Hamilton Academical 2–0 Stenhousemuir Cumbernauld
15:00 Shaw 25'
O'Hara 82'		 Report Stadium: Broadwood Stadium
Attendance: 431
Referee: Connor Ashwood
4 October 2025 9 Hamilton Academical 3–1 Inverness CT Cumbernauld
15:00 O'Hara 22'
MacDonald 64'
Shaw 90+2'		 Report Bavidge 63' Stadium: Broadwood Stadium
Attendance: 384
Referee: Sean Murdoch
18 October 2025 10 Montrose 0–4 Hamilton Academical Montrose
15:00 Report MacDonald 21'
Shaw 61'
Bradley 70'
Kilday 81'		 Stadium: Links Park
Attendance: 578
Referee: Daniel Graves
25 October 2025 11 Hamilton Academical 1–2 Queen of the South Cumbernauld
15:00 Smith 71' Report Stott 18'
Loughrey 67 o.g.'		 Stadium: Broadwood Stadium
Attendance: 446
Referee: Colin Steven
1 November 2025 12 East Fife 1–1 Hamilton Academical Methil
15:00 Munro 74' Report Shaw 75' Stadium: Bayview Stadium
Attendance: 847
Referee: Iain Snedden
8 November 2025 13 Hamilton Academical 3–0 Peterhead Cumbernauld
15:00 MacDonald 21'
Shaw 41', 50'		 Report Stadium: Broadwood Stadium
Referee: Alastair Grieve
15 November 2025 14 Cove Rangers 2–1 Hamilton Academical Cove Bay
15:00 Eguaibor 38'
Megginson 43'		 Report Shaw 40' Stadium: Balmoral Stadium
Attendance: 463
Referee: Graham Grainger
22 November 2025 15 Hamilton Academical 3–1 Kelty Hearts Cumbernauld
15:00 Shaw 6', 53'
O'Hara 72'		 Report Johnston 25' Stadium: Broadwood Stadium
Referee: Peter Stuart
6 December 2025 16 Stenhousemuir 0–0 Hamilton Academical Stenhousemuir
15:00 Report Stadium: Ochilview Park
Attendance: 549
Referee: Cameron Stirling
13 December 2025 17 Inverness CT 4–0 Hamilton Academical Inverness
15:00 Robertson 3'
Zimba 41'
Bavidge 54'
Mckay 74'		 Report Stadium: Caledonian Stadium
Attendance: 2,150
Referee: Grant Irvine
20 December 2025 18 Hamilton Academical 1–0 Alloa Athletic Cumbernauld
15:00 Robinson 25' Report Stadium: Broadwood Stadium
Referee: Sean Murdoch
27 December 2025 19 Queen of the South v Hamilton Academical Dumfries
15:00 Stadium: Palmerston Park

Scottish League Cup

Main article: 2025–26 Scottish League Cup

Group stage

Main article: 2025–26 Scottish League Cup group stage § Group E
12 July 2025 Group Stage Stirling Albion 0–2 Hamilton Academical Stirling
15:00 Report Smith 52'
MacDonald 59'		 Stadium: Forthbank Stadium
Attendance: 648
Referee: Peter Stuart
15 July 2025 Group Stage Hamilton Academical 0–4 Heart of Midlothian Cumbernauld
19:45 Report Findlay 6'
Kabangu 45+1'
Wilson 69'
Braga 83'		 Stadium: Broadwood Stadium
Attendance: 1,827
Referee: Ross Hardie
22 July 2025 Group Stage Dunfermline Athletic 2–1 Hamilton Academical Dunfermline
19:45 A.Tod 39'
Kilday 70 o.g.'		 Report Shaw 69' Stadium: East End Park
Attendance: 2,582
Referee: Daniel Graves
26 July 2025 Group Stage Hamilton Academical 0–1 Dumbarton Cumbernauld
15:00 Report Roy 45' Stadium: Broadwood Stadium
Attendance: 290
Referee: Joel Kennedy

Scottish Challenge Cup

Main article: 2025–26 Scottish Challenge Cup

League phase

13 August 2025 1 Hamilton Academical 0–0 Motherwell B Cumbernauld
19:45 Report Stadium: Broadwood Stadium
Attendance: 215
Referee: Connor Ashwood
27 August 2025 2 Hamilton Academical 2–3 Edinburgh City Cumbernauld
19:45 McKinstry 19'
O'Hara 52'
Shiels  81'		 Report Jarvis 29'
Lawson 73'
Duncan 75'		 Stadium: Broadwood Stadium
Attendance: 208
Referee: Cameron Stirling
6 September 2025 3 East Kilbride 2–4 Hamilton Academical East Kilbride
15:00 Breen  30'
Robertson 53 pen.', 82'		 Report Shaw 40'
O'Hara 45+1', 66'
McKinstry 87'		 Stadium: K-Park Training Academy
Attendance: 602
Referee: Dan McFarlane
24 September 2025 4 Hamilton Academical 3–1 St Mirren B Cumbernauld
19:45 O'Hara 17'
Shaw 34', 35'		 Report Lavery 63' Stadium: Broadwood Stadium
Attendance: 325
Referee: Josh Hay
11 October 2025 5 Hamilton Academical 1–2 Annan Athletic Cumbernauld
15:00 Morgan 47' Report Dixon 81'
Hooper 90+3'		 Stadium: Broadwood Stadium
Attendance: 250
Referee: Iain Snedden
11 November 2025 6 Hamilton Academical 3–0 Rangers B Cumbernauld
19:45 O'Hara 59'
Bradley 77'
Hynd 79 o.g.'		 Report Stadium: Broadwood Stadium
Attendance: 268
Referee: Gavin Duncan

Knockout phase

9 December 2025 Second round Raith Rovers 5–2 Hamilton Academical Kirkcaldy
19:45 O'Connor 5'
Brown 51'
Rowe 58', 81', 87'		 Report Cameron 40', 79' Stadium: Stark's Park
Attendance: 596
Referee: Graham Grainger

Scottish Cup

Main article: 2025–26 Scottish Cup
29 November 2025 Third round Airdrieonians 4–0 Hamilton Academical Airdrie
15:00 McGrattan 47', 72'
Mochrie 55'
Henderson 58 pen.'		 Report Stadium: Excelsior Stadium
Attendance: 345
Referee: Duncan Nicolson

Squad statistics

Appearances

As of 20 December 2025[18]

No. Pos Nat Player Total League One League Cup Challenge Cup Scottish Cup
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1 GK  ENG Dean Lyness 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
2 DF  SCO Zander Hutton 16 0 13 0 0 0 2 0 1 0
4 DF  SCO Lee Kilday 22 1 17 1 2 0 2 0 1 0
6 DF  AUS Dylan McGowan 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
7 FW  SCO Kevin O'Hara 27 7 18 3 3+1 0 3+1 4 1 0
8 MF  SCO Connor Smith 27 6 18 5 4 1 2+2 0 1 0
9 FW  SCO Oli Shaw 26 15 17 11 4 1 3+1 3 1 0
10 MF  SCO Steven Bradley 18 3 10+2 2 3+1 0 0+1 1 1 0
11 MF  SCO Bobby McLuckie 14 0 2+11 0 0 0 0 0 0+1 0
12 DF  SCO Luke Rathie 6 0 2+1 0 0 0 3 0 0 0
13 FW  NGA Idris Munir 1 0 0+1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
14 MF  SCO Barry Maguire 7 0 1+2 0 2 0 2 0 0 0
15 DF  SCO Cian Newbury 10 0 1+4 0 0 0 3+2 0 0 0
16 DF  SCO Kyle MacDonald 26 5 18 4 3 1 3+1 0 1 0
17 MF  SCO Scott Robinson 24 2 16 2 3+1 0 1+2 0 1 0
18 FW  SCO Liam Morgan 13 1 0+5 0 1+2 0 4 1 0+1 0
19 MF  SCO Ewan Simpson 5 0 1+2 0 0 0 2 0 0 0
20 MF  SCO Ben Williamson 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
22 DF  CAN Cale Loughrey 23 0 18 0 0 0 3+1 0 1 0
23 MF  ENG Mikey Stone 5 0 0+3 0 0 0 2 0 0 0
27 MF  SCO Stuart McKinstry 27 3 5+12 1 1+2 0 5+1 2 0+1 0
30 DF  SCO Tony Gallacher 22 0 10+4 0 2+1 0 5 0 0 0
31 GK  SCO Jamie Smith 22 0 17 0 3 0 1 0 1 0
32 DF  SCO Aaron Eadie 14 0 0+3 0 1+2 0 5+2 0 0+1 0
33 DF  SCO Stephen Hendrie 21 0 10+4 0 3+1 0 1+1 0 1 0
34 MF  SCO Marcus Syme 2 0 0+1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
40 MF  SCO Darian MacKinnon 4 0 0+2 0 0 0 2 0 0 0
42 MF  SCO Lennon Lyons 3 0 0 0 0 0 2+1 0 0 0
43 MF  SCO Ben Reilly 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0
44 MF  SCO Kayden Aitken 5 0 0 0 0+1 0 3+1 0 0 0
45 MF  SCO Finlay Cameron 4 2 0+1 0 0 0 1+2 2 0 0
47 MF  SCO Josh Carson 8 0 0 0 1+2 0 4+1 0 0 0
48 MF  SCO Jamie Herd 4 0 0 0 0 0 2+2 0 0 0
49 MF  SCO Dominic Shiels 6 0 0+1 0 0 0 3+2 0 0 0
52 GK  SCO Michael Marks 4 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0
MF  SCO Kyle Bannatyne 1 0 0 0 0 0 0+1 0 0 0
MF  SCO Kai Black 1 0 0 0 0 0 0+1 0 0 0
MF  SCO Cole Stirling 1 0 0 0 0 0 0+1 0 0 0
Players who left the club during the 2025–26 season
41 GK  SCO Josh Lane 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
51 GK  SCO Neil Stafford 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Team statistics

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
6 East Fife 17 7 4 6 20 22 −2 25
7 Montrose 18 6 3 9 20 30 −10 21
8 Hamilton Academical 18 9 4 5 32 17 +15 16[a]
9 Cove Rangers 18 3 4 11 17 25 −8 13 Qualification for the League One play-offs
10 Kelty Hearts 18 2 3 13 17 42 −25 9 Relegation to League Two
Updated to match(es) played on 20 December 2025. Source: [19]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Play-off (only for deciding promotion, play-off participation and relegation).[20]
Notes:
  1. ^ Hamilton Academical were deducted six points for breaching SPFL rules regarding amateur players and then deducted a further nine points for failure to hold at least a bronze level licence.

League Cup table

Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification HOM DNF DUM HAM STI
1 Heart of Midlothian 4 4 0 0 0 16 1 +15 12 Qualification for the second round — 4–1 4–0 — —
2 Dunfermline Athletic 4 3 0 0 1 9 5 +4 9 — — — 2–1 2–0
3 Dumbarton 4 2 0 0 2 2 8 −6 6 — 0–4 — — 1–0
4 Hamilton Academical 4 1 0 0 3 3 7 −4 3 0–4 — 0–1 — —
5 Stirling Albion 4 0 0 0 4 0 9 −9 0 0–4 — — 0–2 —
Source: [21]
Rules for classification: 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) away goals scored, 4) matches won, 5) away matches won, 6) drawing of lots.[22]

Challenge Cup table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
15 Clyde 6 3 1 2 14 12 +2 10 Advance to Second round
16 Queen of the South 6 3 1 2 12 10 +2 10
17 Hamilton Academical 6 3 1 2 13 8 +5 9[a]
18 Stirling Albion 6 3 0 3 9 9 0 9
19 Cove Rangers 6 2 2 2 9 6 +3 8
Source: SPFL
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-to head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Play-off (only for deciding qualification).[23]
Notes:
  1. ^ Hamilton Academical were deducted 1 point for breaching SPFL rules regarding amateur players.

Transfers

Main articles: List of Scottish football transfers summer 2025 and List of Scottish football transfers winter 2025–26

References

  1. ^ "SPFL statement – Hamilton Academical FC". SPFL. 17 April 2025. Retrieved 18 April 2025.
  2. ^ "Club Statement: SPFL Tribunal". Hamilton Academical FC. 17 April 2025. Retrieved 18 April 2025.
  3. ^ "'Astonished' Hamilton face relegation after 15-point deduction". BBC Sport. 17 April 2025. Retrieved 18 April 2025.
  4. ^ "Hamilton relegation confirmed as appeal dismissed". BBC Sport. 1 May 2025. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  5. ^ "Hamilton relegation confirmed as appeal against points deduction dismissed". STV News. 1 May 2025. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  6. ^ "SPFL statement – Hamilton Academical". SPFL. 25 July 2025. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  7. ^ "SPFL statement – Hamilton Academical". spfl.co.uk. 22 October 2025. Retrieved 23 October 2025.
  8. ^ "Hamilton lose points and fined after transfer embargo breach". bbc.co.uk. 22 October 2025. Retrieved 23 October 2025.
  9. ^ "Club Statement - 22/10/25". hamiltonacciesfc.co.uk. 22 October 2025. Retrieved 23 October 2025.
  10. ^ "Club Statement - Jock Brown". hamiltonacciesfc.co.uk. 4 November 2025. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  11. ^ "Scottish FA Statement: Hamilton Academical FC". scottishfa.co.uk. 11 November 2025. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  12. ^ "SFA strip Hamilton owner and only director of fit and proper status". scottishfa.co.uk. 11 November 2025. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  13. ^ "Police Scotland investigating alleged fraud at Hamilton Academical FC". news.stv.tv. 11 November 2025. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  14. ^ "SPFL statement – Hamilton Academical". spfl.co.uk. 16 December 2025. Retrieved 19 December 2025.
  15. ^ "Clyde to leave Broadwood and play at Hamilton's stadium next season". BBC Sport. 21 April 2022. Retrieved 18 April 2025.
  16. ^ "Club Statement". hamiltonacciesfc.co.uk. 1 May 2025. Retrieved 11 May 2025.
  17. ^ "Temporary Relocation to Broadwood Stadium Approved". hamiltonacciesfc.co.uk. 19 June 2025. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
  18. ^ "Hamilton FC Player Appearances". soccerbase.com. Soccerbase. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
  19. ^ "League One Table". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 20 December 2025.
  20. ^ "The Rules of the Scottish Professional Football League" (PDF). SPFL. pp. 38–39. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  21. ^ "Summary - League Cup". Soccerway. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  22. ^ "Format". SPFL. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  23. ^ "The Rules of the Scottish Professional Football League" (PDF). SPFL. pp. 38–39. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  24. ^ "Welcome To Hamilton, Idris Munir". Hamilton Academical FC. 2 August 2025. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
  25. ^ "Welcome to Hamilton, Mikey Stone". Hamilton Academical FC. 2 August 2025. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
  26. ^ "Welcome to Hamilton, Cale Loughrey". Hamilton Academical FC. 2 August 2025. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
  27. ^ a b "Sean McGinty & Nikolay Todorov depart". Hamilton Academical FC. 26 May 2025. Retrieved 26 May 2025.
  28. ^ "Defender McGinty agrees terms". Airdrieonians FC. 5 June 2025. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
  29. ^ "Todorov Joins!". Arbroath FC. 20 June 2025. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  30. ^ "Reghan Tumilty Departs". Hamilton Academical FC. 3 June 2025. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
  31. ^ "Reghan Tumilty joins the Saints". perthstjohnstonefc.co.uk. St Johnstone FC. 17 June 2025. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  32. ^ "Charlie Albinson Departs". Hamilton Academical FC. 10 June 2025. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
  33. ^ "Euan Henderson Departs". Hamilton Academical FC. 12 June 2025. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
  34. ^ "Henderson joins the Diamonds". Airdrieonians FC. 11 June 2025. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
  35. ^ "Connor Murray joins Coleraine". Hamilton Academical FC. 12 June 2025. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
  36. ^ "Henderson stays put". Coleraine FC. 12 June 2025. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
  37. ^ a b c d e f g "Retained List". Hamilton Academical FC. 20 June 2025. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
  38. ^ "Midfielder Barjonas Checks in". Airdrieonians FC. 20 June 2025. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
  39. ^ "New Signing: Gravine Kalala". Annan Athletic FC. 29 August 2025. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
  40. ^ "Livingston snap up Hamilton Accies youngster Lewis Latona". Yahoo Sport. 30 June 2025. Retrieved 9 July 2025.
  41. ^ "Jackson Longridge checks in at Cappielow". Greenock Morton FC. 25 June 2025. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
  42. ^ "Chris Neeson signs on for season 25/26". Albion Rovers FC. 3 July 2025. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
  43. ^ "Daire O'Connor Joins Ballymena United". Hamilton Academical FC. 26 June 2025. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  44. ^ "Welcome to Clydebank FC, Arran Preston!". Clydebank FC. 1 July 2025. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
  45. ^ "Kerr Reynolds Makes Hull City Move". Hamilton Academical FC. 26 June 2025. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  46. ^ "Welcome to Hamilton, Ewan Simpson". Hamilton Academical FC. 23 August 2025. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  47. ^ "Welcome to Hamilton, Bobby McLuckie". Hamilton Academical FC. 30 August 2025. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  48. ^ "Welcome to Hamilton, Zander Hutton". Hamilton Academical FC. 6 September 2025. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  49. ^ "Loan confirmed for Lane". Stranraer FC. 12 July 2025. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
  50. ^ "Welcome to the Loons - Neil Stafford". Forfar Athletic FC. 12 July 2025. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
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