1979–80 Football League

The Football League
Season1979–80
ChampionsLiverpool

The 1979–80 season was the 81st completed season of The Football League.

Bob Paisley's Liverpool retained their league championship trophy after fighting off a determined challenge by Dave Sexton's Manchester United. Nottingham Forest failed to make a sustained title challenge but compensated for this by retaining the European Cup.

Bristol City and Bolton Wanderers were relegated after brief, uneventful spells in the First Division notable only because Bristol City’s relegation ends the last time South West England had a team in the top tier until Swindon Town's promotion to the Premier League in 1993. On the other hand, Derby County's relegation came just five years after they had been league champions.

Kevin Keegan ended his three-year spell with Hamburger SV in Germany and returned to England in a shock £400,000 move to Southampton. Lawrie McMenemy's new signing was the transfer surprise of the season. Keegan was the current European Footballer of the Year and rated as one of the best strikers in the world, while Southampton were still struggling to establish themselves as a First Division side. But this move showed that Southampton had ambition and were determined to compete with the best.

Leicester City, Sunderland and Birmingham City ended their relatively short spells in the Second Division and occupied the division's three promotion places. Going down were Fulham, Burnley and Charlton Athletic.

Grimsby Town, Blackburn Rovers and Sheffield Wednesday all achieved some long-awaited success by gaining promotion from the Third Division. Bury, Southend United, Mansfield Town and Wimbledon occupied the Third Division's relegation places.

Fallen giants Huddersfield Town and Portsmouth finally achieved some success by gaining promotion from the Fourth Division. Newport County achieved their first promotion since 1939 and Walsall were also promoted. Re-election results are given at the end of this article.

Final league tables and results

The tables and results below are reproduced here in the exact form that they can be found at The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation website[1] with home and away statistics separated.

During the first five seasons of the league, that is, until the season 1893–94, re-election process concerned the clubs which finished in the bottom four of the league. From the 1894–95 season and until the 1920–21 season the re-election process was required of the clubs which finished in the bottom three of the league. From the 1922–23 season on it was required of the bottom two teams of both Third Division North and Third Division South. Since the Fourth Division was established in the 1958–59 season, the re-election process has concerned the bottom four clubs in that division.[2]

First Division

First Division
Season1979–80
ChampionsLiverpool
12th English title
RelegatedBristol City
Derby County
Bolton Wanderers
European CupLiverpool
Nottingham Forest (as defending champions)
UEFA CupManchester United
Ipswich Town
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Matches played462
Goals scored1,159 (2.51 per match)
Top goalscorerPhil Boyer
(23 goals)[3]
Biggest home winIpswich Town 6–0 Manchester United
(1 March 1980)
Biggest away winBrighton & Hove Albion 0–4 Arsenal
(18 August 1979)
West Bromwich Albion 1–5 Nottingham Forest
(1 September 1979)
Everton 0–4 Ipswich Town
(9 February 1980)
Norwich City 0–4 Wolverhampton Wanderers
(23 February 1980)
Highest scoringNorwich City 3–5 Liverpool
(9 February 1980)

Liverpool won the First Division title for the fourth time in five seasons, finishing two points above Manchester United, who had their best league campaign for more than a decade. Ipswich Town, Arsenal and Nottingham Forest completed the top five, with Forest also retaining the European Cup, while Arsenal were on the losing side in the finals of both the FA Cup and the European Cup Winners' Cup. Wolves, who finished sixth, won the League Cup.

Bolton Wanderers, Derby County and Bristol City were relegated to the Second Division.

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Liverpool (C) 42 25 10 7 81 30 +51 60 Qualification for the European Cup first round
2 Manchester United 42 24 10 8 65 35 +30 58 Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round
3 Ipswich Town 42 22 9 11 68 39 +29 53
4 Arsenal 42 18 16 8 52 36 +16 52
5 Nottingham Forest 42 20 8 14 63 43 +20 48 Qualification for the European Cup first round[a]
6 Wolverhampton Wanderers 42 19 9 14 58 47 +11 47 Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round[b]
7 Aston Villa 42 16 14 12 51 50 +1 46
8 Southampton 42 18 9 15 65 53 +12 45
9 Middlesbrough 42 16 12 14 50 44 +6 44
10 West Bromwich Albion 42 11 19 12 54 50 +4 41
11 Leeds United 42 13 14 15 46 50 −4 40
12 Norwich City 42 13 14 15 58 66 −8 40
13 Crystal Palace 42 12 16 14 41 50 −9 40
14 Tottenham Hotspur 42 15 10 17 52 62 −10 40
15 Coventry City 42 16 7 19 56 66 −10 39
16 Brighton & Hove Albion 42 11 15 16 47 57 −10 37
17 Manchester City 42 12 13 17 43 66 −23 37
18 Stoke City 42 13 10 19 44 58 −14 36
19 Everton 42 9 17 16 43 51 −8 35
20 Bristol City (R) 42 9 13 20 37 66 −29 31 Relegation to the Second Division
21 Derby County (R) 42 11 8 23 47 67 −20 30
22 Bolton Wanderers (R) 42 5 15 22 38 73 −35 25
Source: World Football
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ Nottingham Forest qualified for the European Cup first round as the 1979–80 European Cup winners.
  2. ^ Wolverhampton Wanderers qualified for the UEFA Cup as the 1979–80 Football League Cup winners.

Results

Home \ Away ARS AST BOL BHA BRI COV CRY DER EVE IPS LEE LIV MCI MUN MID NWC NOT SOU STK TOT WBA WOL
Arsenal 3–1 2–0 3–0 0–0 3–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 0–2 0–1 0–0 0–0 0–0 2–0 1–1 0–0 1–1 0–0 1–0 1–1 2–3
Aston Villa 0–0 3–1 2–1 0–2 3–0 2–0 1–0 2–1 1–1 0–0 1–3 2–2 0–3 0–2 2–0 3–2 3–0 2–1 1–0 0–0 1–3
Bolton Wanderers 0–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–2 1–1 0–1 1–1 1–1 0–1 1–3 2–2 1–0 1–0 2–1 2–1 2–1 0–0 0–0
Brighton & Hove Albion 0–4 1–1 3–1 0–1 1–1 3–0 2–0 0–0 2–0 0–0 1–4 4–1 0–0 2–1 2–4 1–0 0–0 0–0 0–2 0–0 3–0
Bristol City 0–1 1–3 2–1 2–2 1–0 0–2 0–2 2–1 0–3 2–2 1–3 1–0 1–1 3–1 2–3 1–1 0–1 0–0 1–3 0–0 2–0
Coventry City 0–1 1–2 3–1 2–1 3–1 2–1 2–1 2–1 4–1 3–0 1–0 0–0 1–2 2–0 2–0 0–3 3–0 1–3 1–1 0–2 1–3
Crystal Palace 1–0 2–0 3–1 1–1 1–1 0–0 4–0 1–1 4–1 1–0 0–0 2–0 0–2 1–2 0–0 1–0 0–0 0–1 1–1 2–2 1–0
Derby County 3–2 1–3 4–0 3–0 3–3 1–2 1–2 0–1 0–1 2–0 1–3 3–1 1–3 1–0 0–0 4–1 2–2 2–2 2–1 2–1 0–1
Everton 0–1 1–1 3–1 2–0 0–0 1–1 3–1 1–1 0–4 5–1 1–2 1–2 0–0 0–2 2–4 1–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 0–0 2–3
Ipswich Town 1–2 0–0 1–0 1–1 1–0 3–0 3–0 1–1 1–1 1–0 1–2 4–0 6–0 1–0 4–2 0–1 3–1 3–1 3–1 4–0 1–0
Leeds United 1–1 0–0 2–2 1–1 1–3 0–0 1–0 1–0 2–0 2–1 1–1 1–2 2–0 2–0 2–2 1–2 2–0 3–0 1–2 1–0 3–0
Liverpool 1–1 4–1 0–0 1–0 4–0 4–0 3–0 3–0 2–2 1–1 3–0 2–0 2–0 4–0 0–0 2–0 1–1 1–0 2–1 3–1 3–0
Manchester City 0–3 1–1 2–2 3–2 3–1 3–0 0–0 3–0 1–1 2–1 1–1 0–4 2–0 1–0 0–0 1–0 0–1 1–1 1–1 1–3 2–3
Manchester United 3–0 2–1 2–0 2–0 4–0 2–1 1–1 1–0 0–0 1–0 1–1 2–1 1–0 2–1 5–0 3–0 1–0 4–0 4–1 2–0 0–1
Middlesbrough 5–0 0–0 3–1 1–1 1–0 1–2 1–1 3–0 2–1 1–1 3–1 1–0 3–0 1–1 1–0 0–0 0–1 1–3 0–0 2–1 1–0
Norwich City 2–1 1–1 2–1 2–2 2–0 1–0 2–1 4–2 0–0 3–3 2–1 3–5 2–2 0–2 0–0 3–1 2–1 2–2 4–0 1–1 0–4
Nottingham Forest 1–1 2–1 5–2 0–1 0–0 4–1 4–0 1–0 1–0 2–0 0–0 1–0 4–0 2–0 2–2 2–0 2–0 1–0 4–0 3–1 3–2
Southampton 0–1 2–0 2–0 5–1 5–2 2–3 4–1 4–0 1–0 0–1 1–2 3–2 4–1 1–1 4–1 2–0 4–1 3–1 5–2 1–1 0–3
Stoke City 2–3 2–0 1–0 1–0 1–0 3–2 1–2 3–2 2–3 0–1 0–2 0–2 0–0 1–1 0–0 2–1 1–1 1–2 3–1 3–2 0–1
Tottenham Hotspur 1–2 1–2 2–0 2–1 0–0 4–3 0–0 1–0 3–0 0–2 2–1 2–0 2–1 1–2 1–3 3–2 1–0 0–0 1–0 1–1 2–2
West Bromwich Albion 2–2 1–2 4–4 2–2 3–0 4–1 3–0 0–0 1–1 0–0 2–1 0–2 4–0 2–0 0–0 2–1 1–5 4–0 0–1 2–1 0–0
Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–2 1–1 3–1 1–3 3–0 0–3 1–1 0–0 0–0 3–0 3–1 1–0 1–2 3–1 0–2 1–0 3–1 0–0 3–0 1–2 0–0
Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: [1] Soccerbase
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Managerial changes

Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of appointment
Derby County Scotland Tommy Docherty Resigned 20 May 1979 Pre-season England Colin Addison 6 July 1979
Manchester City England Tony Book Became general manager 31 May 1979 England Malcolm Allison 31 May 1979
Bolton Wanderers England Ian Greaves Sacked 28 January 1980 22nd England Stan Anderson 28 January 1980

Maps

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Locations of the Football League First Division London teams 1979–1980
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Locations of the Football League First Division 1979–1980 teams

Second Division

Second Division
Season1979–80
ChampionsLeicester City
PromotedLeicester City
Sunderland
Birmingham City
RelegatedFulham
Burnley
Charlton Athletic
Cup Winners' CupWest Ham United
Matches played462
Goals scored1,162 (2.52 per match)
Top goalscorerClive Allen
(28 goals)[3]
Biggest home winQueens Park Rangers 7–0 Burnley
(27 October 1979)
Biggest away winOrient 0–4 West Ham United
(1 January 1980)
Charlton Athletic 0–4 Sunderland
(15 March 1980)
Highest scoringOrient 3–7 Chelsea
(10 November 1979)

Leicester City won the Second Division title for a record sixth time to reclaim their First Division status after a two-year exile. Birmingham City achieved an instant return to the elite in third place, while the final promotion place went to Sunderland.

Chelsea missed out on promotion on goal difference, while QPR weren't far behind. West Ham United's failure to win promotion at the second attempt was compensated for by victory in the FA Cup.

Charlton Athletic, Burnley and Fulham went down to the Third Division.

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Leicester City (C, P) 42 21 13 8 58 38 +20 55 Promotion to the First Division
2 Sunderland (P) 42 21 12 9 69 42 +27 54
3 Birmingham City (P) 42 21 11 10 58 38 +20 53
4 Chelsea 42 23 7 12 66 52 +14 53
5 Queens Park Rangers 42 18 13 11 75 53 +22 49
6 Luton Town 42 16 17 9 66 45 +21 49
7 West Ham United 42 20 7 15 54 43 +11 47 Qualification for the Cup Winners' Cup first round[a]
8 Cambridge United 42 14 16 12 61 53 +8 44
9 Newcastle United 42 15 14 13 53 49 +4 44
10 Preston North End 42 12 19 11 56 52 +4 43
11 Oldham Athletic 42 16 11 15 49 53 −4 43
12 Swansea City 42 17 9 16 48 53 −5 43
13 Shrewsbury Town 42 18 5 19 60 53 +7 41
14 Orient 42 12 17 13 48 54 −6 41
15 Cardiff City 42 16 8 18 41 48 −7 40
16 Wrexham 42 16 6 20 40 49 −9 38
17 Notts County 42 11 15 16 51 52 −1 37
18 Watford 42 12 13 17 39 46 −7 37
19 Bristol Rovers 42 11 13 18 50 64 −14 35
20 Fulham (R) 42 11 7 24 42 74 −32 29 Relegation to the Third Division
21 Burnley (R) 42 6 15 21 39 73 −34 27
22 Charlton Athletic (R) 42 6 10 26 39 78 −39 22
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ West Ham United qualified for the Cup Winners' Cup first round as the 1979–80 FA Cup winners.

Results

Home \ Away BIR BRR BUR CAM CAR CHA CHE FUL LEI LUT NEW NTC OLD ORI PNE QPR SHR SUN SWA WAT WHU WRE
Birmingham 1–1 2–0 1–0 2–1 1–0 5–1 3–4 1–2 1–0 0–0 3–3 2–0 3–1 0–0 2–1 1–0 2–0 1–0 2–0 0–0 2–0
Bristol Rovers 1–0 0–0 0–0 1–1 3–0 3–0 1–0 1–1 3–2 1–1 2–3 2–0 1–2 3–3 1–3 2–1 4–1 2–2 1–1 0–2 1–0
Burnley 0–0 1–1 5–3 0–2 1–1 0–1 2–1 1–2 0–0 3–2 0–1 1–1 1–2 1–1 0–3 0–0 0–0 1–1 1–0 0–1 1–0
Cambridge United 2–1 4–1 3–1 2–0 1–0 0–1 4–0 1–1 1–2 0–0 2–3 3–3 1–1 3–2 2–1 2–0 0–1 3–3 2–2 2–0 2–0
Cardiff City 1–2 0–1 2–1 0–0 3–1 1–2 1–0 0–1 2–1 1–1 3–2 1–0 0–0 0–2 1–0 1–0 1–1 1–1 1–0 0–1 1–0
Charlton Athletic 0–1 4–0 3–3 1–1 3–2 1–2 0–1 2–0 1–4 1–1 0–0 2–1 0–1 0–3 2–2 2–1 0–4 1–2 0–0 1–0 1–2
Chelsea 1–2 1–0 2–1 1–1 1–0 3–1 0–2 1–0 1–1 4–0 1–0 3–0 1–0 2–0 0–2 2–4 3–0 0–0 2–0 2–1 3–1
Fulham 3–4 1–1 3–1 1–2 2–1 1–0 1–2 0–0 1–3 1–0 1–3 0–1 0–0 1–0 0–2 2–1 1–2 0–1 0–0 1–2 0–2
Leicester City 2–1 3–0 1–1 2–1 0–0 2–1 1–0 3–3 1–3 1–0 1–0 0–1 2–2 1–2 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–1 2–0 1–2 2–0
Luton Town 2–3 3–1 1–1 1–1 1–2 3–0 3–3 4–0 0–0 1–1 2–1 0–0 2–1 1–1 1–1 0–0 5–0 2–0 1–0 1–1 2–0
Newcastle United 0–0 3–1 1–1 2–0 1–0 2–0 2–1 2–0 3–2 2–2 2–2 3–2 2–0 0–0 4–2 1–0 3–1 1–3 0–2 1–1 2–0
Notts County 1–1 0–0 2–3 0–0 4–1 0–0 2–3 1–1 0–1 0–0 2–2 1–1 1–1 2–1 1–0 5–2 0–0 0–1 1–2 0–1 2–0
Oldham Athletic 1–0 2–1 2–1 1–1 0–3 4–3 1–0 0–1 1–1 2–1 1–0 1–0 1–0 3–2 0–0 0–2 4–1 3–0 1–1 0–0 2–3
Orient 2–2 2–1 2–2 2–0 1–1 1–1 3–7 1–0 0–1 2–2 1–4 1–0 1–1 2–2 1–1 0–1 0–0 2–1 1–0 0–4 4–0
Preston North End 0–0 3–2 3–2 2–2 2–0 1–1 1–1 3–2 1–1 1–1 1–0 2–0 0–1 2–2 0–3 3–0 1–1 2–1 1–2 1–1 0–0
Queens Park Rangers 1–1 2–0 7–0 2–2 3–0 4–0 2–2 3–0 1–4 2–2 2–1 1–3 4–3 0–0 1–1 2–1 3–2 0–0 1–1 3–0 2–2
Shrewsbury Town 1–0 3–1 2–0 1–2 1–2 3–1 3–0 5–2 2–2 1–2 3–1 1–1 0–1 1–0 1–3 3–0 2–2 1–2 1–0 3–0 3–1
Sunderland 2–0 3–2 5–0 2–0 2–1 4–0 2–1 2–1 0–0 1–0 1–0 3–1 4–2 1–1 1–1 3–0 2–1 1–1 5–0 2–0 1–1
Swansea City 0–1 2–0 2–1 2–4 2–1 1–0 1–1 4–1 0–2 2–0 2–3 0–1 2–0 0–1 1–0 1–2 2–0 3–1 1–0 2–1 1–0
Watford 1–0 0–0 4–0 0–0 1–1 2–1 2–3 4–0 1–3 0–1 2–0 2–1 1–0 0–3 0–0 1–2 0–1 1–1 0–0 2–0 3–1
West Ham United 1–2 2–1 2–1 3–1 3–0 4–1 0–1 2–3 3–1 1–2 1–1 1–2 1–0 2–0 2–0 2–1 1–3 2–1 2–0 1–1 1–0
Wrexham 1–0 1–2 1–0 1–0 0–1 3–2 2–0 1–1 0–1 3–1 1–0 1–0 1–1 2–1 2–0 1–3 0–1 0–1 1–0 3–0 1–0
Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: [2] Soccerbase
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Maps

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Locations of the Football League Second Division London teams 1979–1980
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Locations of the Football League Second Division 1979–1980 teams

Third Division

Football League
Third Division
Season1979–80
ChampionsGrimsby Town (1st title)
PromotedBlackburn Rovers,
Sheffield Wednesday
RelegatedBury,
Mansfield Town,
Southend United,
Wimbledon
Matches played552
Goals scored1,422 (2.58 per match)
Top goalscorerTerry Curran (Sheffield Wednesday), 22 [3]

Pos Team Pld HW HD HL HGF HGA AW AD AL AGF AGA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
1 Grimsby Town 46 18 2 3 46 16 8 8 7 27 26 +31 62 Division Champions, promoted
2 Blackburn Rovers 46 13 5 5 34 17 12 4 7 24 19 +22 59 Promoted
3 Sheffield Wednesday 46 12 6 5 44 20 9 10 4 37 27 +34 58
4 Chesterfield 46 16 5 2 46 16 7 6 10 25 30 +25 57
5 Colchester United 46 10 10 3 39 20 10 2 11 25 36 +8 52
6 Carlisle United 46 13 6 4 45 26 5 6 12 21 30 +10 48
7 Reading 46 14 6 3 43 19 2 10 11 23 46 +1 48
8 Exeter City 46 14 5 4 38 22 5 5 13 22 46 −8 48
9 Chester 46 14 6 3 29 18 3 7 13 20 39 −8 47
10 Swindon Town 46 15 4 4 50 20 4 4 15 21 43 +8 46
11 Barnsley 46 10 7 6 29 20 6 7 10 24 36 −3 46
12 Sheffield United 46 13 5 5 35 21 5 5 13 25 45 −6 46
13 Rotherham United 46 13 4 6 38 24 5 6 12 20 42 −8 46
14 Millwall 46 14 6 3 49 23 2 7 14 16 36 +6 45
15 Plymouth Argyle 46 13 7 3 39 17 3 5 15 20 38 +4 44
16 Gillingham 46 8 9 6 26 18 6 5 12 23 33 −2 42
17 Oxford United 46 10 4 9 34 24 4 9 10 23 38 −5 41
18 Blackpool 46 10 7 6 39 34 5 4 14 23 40 −12 41
19 Brentford 46 10 6 7 33 26 5 5 13 26 47 −14 41
20 Hull City 46 11 7 5 29 21 1 9 13 22 48 −18 40
21 Bury 46 10 4 9 30 23 6 3 14 15 36 −14 39 Relegated
22 Southend United 46 11 6 6 33 23 3 4 16 14 35 −11 38
23 Mansfield Town 46 9 9 5 31 24 1 7 15 16 34 −11 36
24 Wimbledon 46 6 8 9 34 38 4 6 13 18 43 −29 34
Source: rsssf.com

Results

Home \ Away BAR BLB BLP BRE BRY CRL CHE CHF COL EXE GIL GRI HUL MAN MIL OXF PLY REA ROT SHU SHW STD SWI WDN
Barnsley 1–1 2–1 1–0 2–1 1–1 1–1 0–1 1–2 2–2 2–0 0–1 3–1 1–0 2–1 2–0 0–0 2–0 0–0 0–0 0–3 1–2 1–2 4–0
Blackburn Rovers 0–1 2–0 3–0 1–2 1–2 2–0 1–0 3–0 1–1 3–1 0–0 1–0 0–0 1–1 2–1 1–0 4–2 0–3 1–0 1–2 1–1 2–0 3–0
Blackpool 1–1 2–1 5–4 1–2 2–1 0–0 2–2 1–0 1–0 2–1 0–3 2–2 1–1 2–2 1–2 1–3 5–2 3–2 2–3 1–1 1–0 0–1 3–0
Brentford 3–1 2–0 2–1 0–0 0–3 2–2 3–1 1–0 0–2 0–2 1–0 7–2 2–0 1–0 1–1 0–0 2–2 0–1 1–2 2–2 1–4 1–3 0–1
Bury 2–2 1–2 3–0 4–2 0–2 2–0 2–0 0–1 3–0 0–2 1–1 0–1 0–2 3–0 1–2 2–1 1–0 1–0 1–2 1–0 1–1 0–0 1–2
Carlisle United 3–1 1–1 2–0 3–1 1–0 2–2 0–2 2–0 4–1 1–2 0–2 3–2 1–1 4–0 2–2 2–1 3–3 3–1 1–0 0–2 4–0 2–1 1–1
Chester 1–1 0–0 1–0 1–1 1–0 1–0 1–0 2–1 1–3 0–2 3–1 2–1 1–0 2–0 1–0 1–0 0–2 3–1 1–1 2–2 2–1 1–0 3–1
Chesterfield 2–0 0–1 0–0 1–0 2–0 3–2 2–0 3–0 3–0 0–0 2–3 1–1 2–0 3–2 2–2 3–1 7–1 3–0 2–1 2–1 1–0 2–1 0–0
Colchester United 0–0 0–1 3–1 6–1 2–1 1–1 1–1 0–1 0–0 2–2 2–1 1–1 2–1 0–0 3–0 5–2 1–1 1–1 1–0 0–0 2–1 2–3 4–0
Exeter City 2–1 2–0 1–0 0–0 1–0 1–2 1–0 1–2 3–1 3–1 1–2 2–2 2–1 2–1 0–0 2–1 1–0 1–1 3–1 1–0 4–2 4–1 0–2
Gillingham 1–1 1–2 1–1 0–1 2–1 1–1 2–2 0–1 2–2 1–0 0–1 1–0 2–0 1–1 4–0 0–1 1–1 0–1 3–0 1–1 1–0 0–0 1–0
Grimsby Town 3–0 1–2 4–3 5–1 1–0 2–0 0–2 1–1 1–2 4–1 1–0 1–1 2–1 2–0 2–0 1–0 2–1 2–0 4–0 3–1 1–0 2–0 1–0
Hull City 0–2 0–1 3–1 2–1 0–1 2–0 1–0 2–1 0–2 2–2 0–0 2–2 3–1 1–0 2–2 1–0 0–1 1–1 3–1 1–1 1–0 1–0 1–1
Mansfield Town 1–4 0–1 1–1 0–0 1–0 2–1 2–1 3–2 0–1 0–1 2–0 0–0 1–1 1–0 1–0 0–0 2–2 5–1 3–4 1–1 3–1 1–1 1–1
Millwall 2–2 1–0 2–0 3–1 0–1 1–0 3–1 2–0 1–2 5–1 2–0 2–0 3–2 2–2 3–0 2–1 2–0 0–0 1–1 3–3 1–2 6–2 2–2
Oxford United 1–0 0–1 0–2 0–2 3–1 1–0 0–1 1–2 0–2 2–0 1–1 0–1 3–0 3–1 1–2 1–1 4–0 5–1 1–1 0–2 1–0 2–2 4–1
Plymouth Argyle 2–1 0–1 2–2 0–1 2–0 4–2 1–0 1–0 2–0 2–0 2–2 1–1 5–1 0–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–0 4–1 1–3 0–0 2–0 0–0
Reading 7–0 1–0 0–1 2–2 3–1 2–0 2–1 2–2 2–0 2–1 1–3 1–1 3–0 1–0 2–0 2–0 1–0 1–1 2–1 0–2 1–1 2–1 3–0
Rotherham United 1–1 1–3 0–2 4–2 0–2 4–1 2–0 2–0 3–0 2–0 2–1 0–0 2–1 2–1 2–1 0–2 3–1 1–1 1–2 1–2 2–1 3–0 0–0
Sheffield United 2–0 2–1 3–1 0–2 0–0 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–2 3–1 4–0 1–1 1–1 1–0 0–1 3–1 3–2 2–0 1–0 1–1 2–0 2–1 2–1
Sheffield Wednesday 0–2 0–3 4–1 0–2 5–1 0–0 3–0 3–3 3–0 0–1 1–0 2–0 0–0 0–0 2–0 2–2 0–1 1–1 5–0 4–0 2–0 4–2 3–1
Southend 2–1 0–1 0–1 3–2 0–0 1–0 4–1 0–0 0–1 4–0 0–3 1–0 3–0 1–1 1–0 1–1 4–1 2–2 0–2 2–1 1–1 1–0 1–3
Swindon Town 0–1 2–0 2–1 4–0 8–0 0–0 3–1 2–1 2–3 2–3 3–0 3–0 0–0 2–1 1–0 1–1 2–1 0–0 6–2 3–2 1–2 1–0 2–1
Wimbledon 1–2 1–0 1–2 0–0 0–1 0–0 2–3 1–1 3–3 2–2 1–0 3–6 3–2 3–2 2–2 1–3 3–1 1–1 0–1 1–1 3–4 0–1 2–0
Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: [3] Soccerbase
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Maps

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Locations of the Football League Third Division London teams 1979–1980
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Locations of the Football League Third Division teams 1979–1980

Fourth Division

Football League
Fourth Division
Season1979–80
ChampionsHuddersfield Town (1st title)
PromotedNewport County,
Portsmouth,
Walsall
Failed re-electionNone
Matches played552
Goals scored1,460 (2.64 per match)
Top goalscorerColin Garwood (Portsmouth / Aldershot), 27 [3]

Pos Team Pld HW HD HL HGF HGA AW AD AL AGF AGA GD Pts Promotion
1 Huddersfield Town 46 16 5 2 61 18 11 7 5 40 30 +53 66 Division Champions, promoted
2 Walsall 46 12 9 2 43 23 11 9 3 32 24 +28 64 Promoted
3 Newport County 46 16 5 2 47 22 11 2 10 36 28 +33 61 Welsh Cup winners, qualified for UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1980–81 First round
4 Portsmouth 46 15 5 3 62 23 9 7 7 29 26 +42 60 Promoted
5 Bradford City 46 14 6 3 44 14 10 6 7 33 36 +27 60
6 Wigan Athletic 46 13 5 5 42 26 8 8 7 34 35 +15 55
7 Lincoln City 46 14 8 1 43 12 4 9 10 21 30 +22 53
8 Peterborough United 46 14 3 6 39 22 7 7 9 19 25 +11 52
9 Torquay United 46 13 7 3 47 25 2 10 11 23 44 +1 47
10 Aldershot 46 10 7 6 35 23 6 6 11 27 30 +9 45
11 Bournemouth 46 8 9 6 32 25 5 9 9 20 26 +1 44
12 Doncaster Rovers 46 11 6 6 37 27 4 8 11 25 36 −1 44
13 Northampton Town 46 14 5 4 33 16 2 7 14 18 50 −15 44
14 Scunthorpe United 46 11 9 3 37 23 3 6 14 21 52 −17 43
15 Tranmere Rovers 46 10 4 9 32 24 4 9 10 18 32 −6 41
16 Stockport County 46 9 7 7 30 31 5 5 13 18 41 −24 40
17 York City 46 9 6 8 35 34 5 5 13 30 48 −17 39
18 Halifax Town 46 11 9 3 29 20 2 4 17 17 52 −26 39
19 Hartlepool United 46 10 7 6 36 28 4 3 16 23 36 −5 38
20 Port Vale 46 8 6 9 34 24 4 6 13 22 46 −14 36
21 Hereford United 46 8 7 8 22 21 3 7 13 16 31 −14 36 Re-elected
22 Darlington 46 7 11 5 33 26 2 6 15 17 48 −24 35
23 Crewe Alexandra 46 10 6 7 25 27 1 7 15 10 41 −33 35
24 Rochdale 46 6 7 10 20 28 1 6 16 13 51 −46 27
Source: [citation needed]

Results

Home \ Away ALD BOU BRA CRE DAR DON HAL HAR HER HUD LIN NPC NOR PET POR PTV ROC SCU STP TOR TRA WAL WIG YOR
Aldershot 0–1 3–1 3–0 1–1 1–1 3–1 0–2 3–3 0–2 2–0 0–1 2–0 2–0 1–2 3–1 3–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 0–0 1–1 0–3 2–2
Bournemouth 3–1 1–1 0–1 1–0 0–0 0–1 2–1 2–2 1–3 0–0 3–2 2–2 0–0 0–1 3–1 4–0 3–3 2–0 1–2 2–1 1–1 1–2 0–0
Bradford City 2–0 2–2 4–0 3–0 3–1 2–0 2–0 1–0 0–0 1–1 3–0 3–1 1–1 0–0 2–0 1–2 2–0 6–1 1–1 2–0 0–1 2–1 1–2
Crewe Alexandra 1–0 0–0 2–0 0–0 1–2 2–1 2–1 1–0 1–3 0–2 0–3 2–1 1–4 1–1 0–2 2–1 1–1 1–0 2–2 0–0 1–2 2–1 2–0
Darlington 0–0 0–1 3–4 0–0 2–1 1–1 0–1 1–1 2–3 1–1 1–1 0–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–1 3–1 3–0 2–0 3–1 1–3 2–2 2–1
Doncaster Rovers 1–1 1–0 0–3 1–1 0–1 2–1 0–2 1–0 1–2 1–1 1–3 2–1 2–1 2–0 2–3 2–0 5–0 1–1 5–3 1–1 1–1 3–1 2–0
Halifax Town 1–0 2–0 0–1 3–1 1–1 1–1 2–1 1–0 2–1 1–0 2–1 2–1 0–0 1–2 0–0 1–0 2–2 1–3 3–3 0–0 2–0 0–0 1–1
Hartlepool 1–0 3–1 0–1 3–1 3–1 1–2 1–2 3–0 1–1 0–0 0–0 2–1 1–2 0–3 2–1 1–1 3–2 1–2 2–2 2–1 2–2 1–1 3–1
Hereford United 0–1 2–1 0–2 2–0 1–0 2–2 2–0 2–1 1–3 0–0 0–2 0–1 0–1 0–0 0–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–0 1–2 0–1 2–1 3–1
Huddersfield Town 2–0 2–0 0–0 3–0 2–1 3–0 5–0 2–1 0–1 3–2 2–1 5–0 0–0 1–3 7–1 5–1 2–1 5–0 4–2 1–1 1–1 4–0 2–2
Lincoln City 1–1 1–1 1–0 3–0 2–1 1–1 4–0 3–3 2–0 2–0 2–1 0–0 0–1 1–0 3–0 0–0 4–0 1–0 2–0 3–0 2–2 4–0 1–1
Newport County 4–2 0–0 1–2 1–1 4–0 2–1 5–2 1–0 1–0 2–2 1–1 2–1 1–1 4–3 2–1 1–0 2–1 3–1 3–0 2–0 0–1 3–2 2–0
Northampton Town 2–1 0–1 1–2 1–0 2–0 1–0 0–0 2–1 2–0 4–2 0–0 3–2 1–0 0–2 3–1 0–0 0–0 2–0 3–0 2–1 1–2 1–1 2–0
Peterborough United 1–3 2–0 1–0 3–0 3–0 3–2 2–1 2–0 2–0 1–3 3–1 0–1 0–0 0–0 3–0 2–0 3–1 1–1 2–1 1–2 1–3 1–2 2–1
Portsmouth 1–3 4–0 4–1 1–1 4–3 2–0 3–1 2–1 0–0 4–1 4–0 0–2 6–1 4–0 2–2 3–0 6–1 1–0 3–0 1–1 1–2 1–1 5–2
Port Vale 0–2 1–1 1–2 2–0 2–0 3–0 1–0 1–1 0–1 1–1 1–2 2–0 5–0 0–1 2–3 5–1 1–0 1–2 1–1 0–1 2–2 1–1 1–2
Rochdale 2–1 0–2 0–1 0–0 2–2 3–2 2–2 1–0 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–0 3–2 0–0 1–2 0–2 0–1 0–1 0–0 2–0 1–1 0–2 0–2
Scunthorpe United 1–1 2–1 3–3 1–1 3–0 0–0 1–0 1–3 1–0 1–1 1–0 1–3 3–0 1–0 1–0 1–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–2 2–2 1–3 6–1
Stockport County 0–4 1–1 2–2 2–1 1–1 0–3 4–1 0–0 2–1 1–2 2–1 0–5 2–0 1–0 1–1 0–1 1–1 1–2 4–0 2–2 1–0 1–2 1–0
Torquay United 2–1 0–0 2–3 1–0 4–0 2–2 3–0 3–1 1–1 3–1 2–5 2–0 2–2 2–0 2–1 1–1 3–0 3–0 0–0 3–1 0–1 2–2 4–3
Tranmere 1–2 0–5 4–0 2–0 1–2 1–0 2–0 1–0 0–0 0–0 1–0 0–2 1–1 3–0 4–1 1–1 5–1 1–2 0–1 2–0 0–1 1–3 1–2
Walsall 1–1 0–0 1–1 1–0 1–1 3–1 2–0 3–1 3–2 1–1 3–0 2–4 5–1 2–3 1–1 2–1 2–0 1–1 2–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 3–1
Wigan Athletic 2–1 2–1 4–1 2–0 4–1 0–0 3–1 2–1 1–1 1–2 2–1 0–1 0–0 2–1 1–2 3–1 1–1 4–1 3–1 0–3 0–0 3–0 2–5
York City 1–1 1–1 2–2 2–2 3–1 1–3 2–2 2–1 0–4 3–1 0–2 2–1 1–2 0–2 1–0 5–1 3–2 2–0 2–2 1–0 0–1 0–1 1–2
Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: [4] Soccerbase
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Maps

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Locations of the Football League Fourth Division teams 1979–1980

Election/Re-election to the Football League

Winners of the Alliance Premier League, Altrincham, won the right to apply for election to the Football League to replace one of the four bottom teams in the 1979–80 Football League Division Four. The vote went as follows:

Club Final Position Votes
Darlington 22nd (Division Four) 49
Crewe Alexandra 23rd (Division Four) 48
Hereford United 21st (Division Four) 48
Rochdale 24th (Division Four) 26
Altrincham 1st (Alliance Premier League) 25

As a result of this, all four Football League teams were re-elected, and Altrincham were denied membership of the League.

See also

References

  1. ^ "England 1979–80". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 27 January 2010. Retrieved 2010-02-24.
  2. ^ Ian Laschke: Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79. Macdonald and Jane’s, London & Sydney, 1980.
  3. ^ a b c d "English League Leading Goalscorers". RSSSF. Retrieved 2010-10-31.
  • Ian Laschke: Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79. Macdonald and Jane’s, London & Sydney, 1980.