| Competition: | Football League Two |
| Season: | 2012–13 |
| Winners: | Gillingham (2nd divisional title) |
| Promoted: | 1st Gillingham 2nd Rotherham United 3rd Port Vale 7th Bradford City |
| Relegated: | Barnet Aldershot Town |
| Matches: | 552 |
| Total Goals: | 1415 |
| Most Wins: | Rotherham United |
| League Topscorer: | Tom Pope (31 goals)[1] |
| Biggest Home Win: | Port Vale 7–1 Burton Albion |
| Biggest Away Win: | Morecambe 0–4 Fleetwood Town AFC Wimbledon 0–4 Southend United Fleetwood Town 0–4 Burton Albion Oxford United 0–4 Rotherham United |
| Highest Scoring: | 8 goals Burton Albion 6–2 AFC Wimbledon Port Vale 6–2 Rotherham United Port Vale 7–1 Burton Albion |
| Longest Wins: | 5 games Rotherham United |
| Longest Unbeaten: | 10 games Southend United |
| Longest Winless: | 16 games York City |
| Longest Losses: | 7 games Torquay United |
| Highest Attendance: | 13,461[2] Bradford City v Rotherham United (16 April 2013) |
| Lowest Attendance: | 1,031 Accrington Stanley v Dagenham & Redbridge (5 January 2013) |
| Average Attendance: | 4,390 |
| Prevseason: | 2011–12 |
| Nextseason: | 2013–14 |
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.
Note: Table shows mathematically qualified teams as of 28 April 2012 in alphabetical order.[3]
| Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5,057 | ||||
| 4,850 | ||||
| 7,100 | ||||
| 5,260 | ||||
| 25,136 | ||||
| 12,011 | ||||
| 6,912 | ||||
| 7,066 | ||||
| 10,338 | ||||
| 6,078 | ||||
| 8,830 | ||||
| 5,094 | ||||
| 11,582 | ||||
| 6,476 | ||||
| 7,653 | ||||
| 12,500 | ||||
| 16,388 | ||||
| 19,052 | ||||
| 10,249 | ||||
| 12,021 | ||||
| 12,392 | ||||
| 6,104 | ||||
| 10,284 | ||||
| 7,872 |
| 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 |
| 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[4] | Pre-season | Gary Rowett | 10 May 2012[5] | |
| Gillingham | Andy Hessenthaler | Resigned | 8 May 2012[6] | Pre-season | Martin Allen | 5 July 2012[7] | |
| Barnet | Martin Allen | End of contract | 31 May 2012 | Pre-season | Mark Robson Edgar Davids | 11 June 2012[8] 11 October 2012[9] | |
| Chesterfield | John Sheridan | Sacked | 28 August 2012[10] | 18th | Paul Cook | 25 October 2012[11] | |
| AFC Wimbledon | Terry Brown | Sacked | 19 September 2012[12] | 21st | Neal Ardley | 10 October 2012[13] | |
| Wycombe Wanderers | Gary Waddock | Sacked | 22 September 2012[14] | 21st | Gareth Ainsworth | 8 November 2012[15] | |
| Accrington Stanley | Paul Cook | Signed by Chesterfield | 25 October 2012 | 16th | Leam Richardson | 1 November 2012[16] | |
| Fleetwood Town | Micky Mellon | Sacked | 1 December 2012[17] | 8th | Graham Alexander | 6 December 2012 | |
| Bristol Rovers | Mark McGhee | Sacked | 15 December 2012[18] | 23rd | John Ward | 17 December 2012 | |
| Barnet | Mark Robson | Mutual consent | 29 December 2012 | 22nd | Edgar Davids | 29 December 2012[19] | |
| Plymouth Argyle | Carl Fletcher | Sacked | 1 January 2013[20] | 21st | John Sheridan | 6 January 2013[21] | |
| Rochdale | John Coleman | Sacked | 21 January 2013[22] | 14th | Keith Hill | 22 January 2013[23] | |
| Aldershot Town | Dean Holdsworth | Sacked | 20 February 2013[24] | 20th | Andy Scott | 22 February 2013[25] | |
| Dagenham & Redbridge | John Still | Signed by Luton Town | 26 February 2013[26] | 16th | Wayne Burnett | 2 May 2013[27] | |
| York City | Gary Mills | Sacked | 2 March 2013[28] | 18th | Nigel Worthington | 4 March 2013[29] | |
| Southend United | Paul Sturrock | Sacked | 24 March 2013[30] | 9th | Phil Brown | 25 March 2013[31] | |
| Torquay United | Martin Ling | Sacked | 29 April 2013[32] | 19th | Alan Knill | 7 May 2013[33] | |
| Accrington Stanley | Leam Richardson | Signed by Chesterfield | 30 April 2013[34] | 18th | James Beattie | 13 May 2013[35] |
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.
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tom Pope | Port Vale | 31 |
| 2 | Jamie Cureton | Exeter City | 21 |
| 3 | Daniel Nardiello | Rotherham United | 19 |
| 4 | Nahki Wells | Bradford City | 18 |
| 5 | Adebayo Akinfenwa | Northampton Town | 16 |
| Rene Howe | Torquay United | ||
| 7 | Britt Assombalonga | Southend United | 15 |
| Robert Grant | Rochdale | ||
| Jacques Maghoma | Burton Albion | ||
| Jack Redshaw | Morecambe |
| Rank | Player | Club | Assists[36] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kevan Hurst | Southend United | 14 |
| 2 | Chris Hackett | Northampton Town | 13 |
| 3 | Ben Tozer | Northampton Town | 12 |
| 4 | Tom Pope | Port Vale | 11 |
| Matthew Saunders | Dagenham and Redbridge | ||
| 6 | Billy Jones | Cheltenham Town | 10 |
| 7 | Mark Byrne | Barnet | 9 |
| Kevin Ellison | Morecambe | ||
| Jason Kennedy | Rochdale | ||
| Jennison Myrie-Williams | Port Vale |
| Player | For ! | Against | Result | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Port Vale | Rotherham United | 6–2[37] | 8 September 2012 | |
| Tom Pope | Port Vale | Bristol Rovers | 4–0[38] | 20 November 2012 | |
| Tom Pope | Port Vale | Cheltenham Town | 3–2[39] | 29 March 2013 | |
| Fleetwood Town | Morecambe | 0–4[40] | 8 September 2012 | ||
| 4 | Oxford United | Accrington Stanley | 5–0[41] | 20 October 2012 | |
| Barnet | Burton Albion | 3–2[42] | 21 December 2012 | ||
| Morecambe | AFC Wimbledon | 3–1[43] | 24 November 2012 |
| Month | Manager of the Month | Player of the Month | Reference | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manager | Club | Player | Club | |||
| August | Martin Allen | Gillingham | Jake Wright | Oxford United | [49] [50] | |
| September | Micky Adams | Port Vale | Tom Pope | Port Vale | [51] [52] | |
| October | Mark Yates | Cheltenham Town | Ashley Vincent | Port Vale | [53] [54] | |
| November | Paul Sturrock | Southend United | Adebayo Akinfenwa | Northampton Town | [55] [56] | |
| December | Gary Rowett | Burton Albion | Ashley Grimes | Rochdale | [57] [58] | |
| January | Martin Allen | Gillingham | Tom Parkes | Bristol Rovers | [59] [60] | |
| February | Gary Rowett | Burton Albion | Jacques Maghoma | Burton Albion | ||
| March | John Sheridan | Plymouth Argyle | Jason Banton | Plymouth Argyle | [61] [62] | |
| April | Nigel Worthington | York City | Chris Smith | York City | [63] [64] | |