1971–72 Football League

The Football League
Season1971–72
ChampionsDerby County
RelegatedBarrow

The 1971–72 season was the 73rd completed season of The Football League.

Brian Clough, 37, won the first major trophy of his managerial career by guiding Derby County to their first ever league championship. They overcame Leeds United, Liverpool and Manchester City to win a four-horse race, with only a single point separating all four teams. There were later bribery allegations from The Sunday People newspaper regarding Leeds manager Don Revie and Leeds' final opponents Wolverhampton Wanderers.[1] The footballing authorities never investigated these allegations to decide whether they were true or not.

Nottingham Forest and Huddersfield Town lost their First Division status. By the end of the decade, Forest had made an explosive comeback to the top flight. 1971-1972 was Huddersfield's last season in the top flight until their promotion in 2016-17, and within a few seasons they would be in the Fourth Division — most of their existence since 1972 has been spent in the league's lower two divisions.

In the Second Division Norwich City and Birmingham City were promoted. This was the first time that Norwich City had reached the top flight. Charlton Athletic and Watford were relegated.

Aston Villa ended their two-year spell in the Third Division by gaining promotion as champions, and by the end of the decade would be firmly re-established as a First Division club. Brighton & Hove Albion followed Villa into the Second Division, but would not reach the heady heights that the midlanders would experience. Mansfield Town, Barnsley, Torquay United and Bradford City were relegated.

Grimsby Town, Southend United, Brentford and Scunthorpe United were promoted from the Fourth Division. Barrow were voted out of the Football League and replaced by Hereford United, who a short time earlier had achieved a shock FA Cup victory over Newcastle United.

Ernie Tagg sacked himself as manager of Crewe Alexandra because he felt that a younger manager should take charge of the club.

Final league tables and results

The tables below are reproduced here in the exact form that they can be found at The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation website[2] and in Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888-89 to 1978-79,[3] with home and away statistics separated.

Beginning with the season 1894–95, clubs finishing level on points were separated according to goal average (goals scored divided by goals conceded), or more properly put, goal ratio. In case one or more teams had the same goal difference, this system favoured those teams who had scored fewer goals. The goal average system was eventually scrapped beginning with the 1976-77 season.

Since the Fourth Division was established in the 1958–59 season, the bottom four teams of that division have been required to apply for re-election.[3]

First Division

First Division
Season1971–72
ChampionsDerby County
1st title
RelegatedNottingham Forest
Huddersfield Town
European CupDerby County
Cup Winners' CupLeeds United
UEFA CupLiverpool
Manchester City
Tottenham Hotspur
Stoke City
Watney CupWolverhampton Wanderers
Sheffield United
Matches462
Goals1,160 (2.51 per match)
Top goalscorerFrancis Lee
(33 goals)[4]
Biggest home winEverton 8–0 Southampton
(20 November 1971)
Biggest away winSheffield United 0–5 Arsenal
(29 January 1972)
Highest scoringEverton 8–0 Southampton
(20 November 1971)

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Derby County (C) 42 24 10 8 69 33 2.091 58 Qualification for the European Cup first round
2 Leeds United 42 24 9 9 73 31 2.355 57 Qualification for the Cup Winners' Cup first round[a]
3 Liverpool 42 24 9 9 64 30 2.133 57 Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round
4 Manchester City 42 23 11 8 77 45 1.711 57
5 Arsenal 42 22 8 12 58 40 1.450 52
6 Tottenham Hotspur 42 19 13 10 63 42 1.500 51 Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round[b]
7 Chelsea 42 18 12 12 58 49 1.184 48
8 Manchester United 42 19 10 13 69 61 1.131 48 Declined place in Watney Cup[5]
9 Wolverhampton Wanderers 42 18 11 13 65 57 1.140 47 Qualification for the Watney Cup[c]
10 Sheffield United 42 17 12 13 61 60 1.017 46
11 Newcastle United 42 15 11 16 49 52 0.942 41
12 Leicester City 42 13 13 16 41 46 0.891 39
13 Ipswich Town 42 11 16 15 39 53 0.736 38
14 West Ham United 42 12 12 18 47 51 0.922 36
15 Everton 42 9 18 15 37 48 0.771 36
16 West Bromwich Albion 42 12 11 19 42 54 0.778 35
17 Stoke City 42 10 15 17 39 56 0.696 35 Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round
18 Coventry City 42 9 15 18 44 67 0.657 33
19 Southampton 42 12 7 23 52 80 0.650 31
20 Crystal Palace 42 8 13 21 39 65 0.600 29
21 Nottingham Forest (R) 42 8 9 25 47 81 0.580 25 Relegation to the Second Division
22 Huddersfield Town (R) 42 6 13 23 27 59 0.458 25
Source: World Football
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ Leeds United qualified for the European Cup Winners' Cup as the 1971-72 FA Cup winners.
  2. ^ Tottenham Hotspur qualified for the UEFA Cup as the 1971-72 UEFA Cup winners.
  3. ^ Wolverhampton Wanderers and Sheffield United qualified for the Watney Cup as the two teams with the most goals that hadn't already qualified for a European competition. (Manchester United would have qualified, but declined their place in the competition.)

Results

Home \ Away ARS CHE COV CRY DER EVE HUD IPS LEE LEI LIV MCI MUN NEW NOT SHU SOU STK TOT WBA WHU WOL
Arsenal 3–0 2–0 2–1 2–0 1–1 1–0 2–1 2–0 3–0 0–0 1–2 3–0 4–2 3–0 0–1 1–0 0–1 0–2 2–0 2–1 2–1
Chelsea 1–2 3–3 2–1 1–1 4–0 2–2 2–0 0–0 2–1 0–0 2–2 2–3 3–3 2–0 2–0 3–0 2–0 1–0 1–0 3–1 3–1
Coventry City 0–1 1–1 1–1 2–2 4–1 2–1 1–1 3–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–3 1–0 1–1 3–2 1–0 1–1 1–0 0–2 1–1 0–0
Crystal Palace 2–2 2–3 2–2 0–1 2–1 0–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–1 1–2 1–3 2–0 1–1 5–1 2–3 2–0 1–1 0–2 0–3 0–2
Derby County 2–1 1–0 1–0 3–0 2–0 3–0 1–0 2–0 3–0 1–0 3–1 2–2 0–1 4–0 3–0 2–2 4–0 2–2 0–0 2–0 2–1
Everton 2–1 2–0 1–2 0–0 0–2 2–2 1–1 0–0 0–0 1–0 1–2 1–0 1–0 1–1 0–1 8–0 0–0 1–1 2–1 2–1 2–2
Huddersfield Town 0–1 1–2 0–1 0–1 2–1 0–0 1–3 2–1 2–2 0–1 1–1 0–3 0–0 0–1 0–0 0–2 0–0 1–1 1–0 1–0 0–1
Ipswich Town 0–1 1–2 3–1 0–2 0–0 0–0 1–0 0–2 1–2 0–0 2–1 0–0 0–0 1–1 0–0 1–1 2–1 2–1 2–3 1–0 2–1
Leeds United 3–0 2–0 1–0 2–0 3–0 3–2 3–1 2–2 2–1 1–0 3–0 5–1 5–1 6–1 1–0 7–0 1–0 1–1 3–0 0–0 0–0
Leicester City 0–0 1–1 1–0 0–0 0–2 0–0 2–0 1–0 0–0 1–0 0–0 2–0 3–0 2–1 0–1 0–1 2–1 0–1 0–1 2–0 1–2
Liverpool 3–2 0–0 3–1 4–1 3–2 4–0 2–0 2–0 0–2 3–2 3–0 2–2 5–0 3–1 2–0 1–0 2–1 0–0 2–0 1–0 3–2
Manchester City 2–0 1–0 4–0 4–0 2–0 1–0 1–0 4–0 0–1 1–1 1–0 3–3 2–1 2–2 2–1 3–0 1–2 4–0 2–1 3–1 5–2
Manchester United 3–1 0–1 2–2 4–0 1–0 0–0 2–0 1–0 0–1 3–2 0–3 1–3 0–2 3–2 2–0 3–2 3–0 3–1 3–1 4–2 1–3
Newcastle United 2–0 0–0 4–2 1–2 0–1 0–0 0–0 0–1 1–0 2–0 3–2 0–0 0–1 2–1 1–2 3–1 0–0 3–1 4–2 2–2 2–0
Nottingham Forest 1–1 2–1 4–0 0–1 0–2 1–0 1–2 0–2 0–2 1–2 2–3 2–2 0–0 1–0 2–3 2–3 0–0 0–1 4–1 1–0 1–3
Sheffield United 0–5 1–0 2–0 1–0 0–4 1–1 3–1 7–0 3–0 1–1 1–1 3–3 1–1 1–0 2–1 3–1 2–3 2–2 0–0 3–0 2–2
Southampton 0–1 2–2 3–1 1–0 1–2 0–1 1–2 0–0 2–1 1–0 0–1 2–0 2–5 1–2 4–1 3–2 3–1 0–0 1–1 3–3 1–2
Stoke City 0–0 0–1 1–0 3–1 1–1 1–1 1–0 3–3 0–3 3–1 0–0 1–3 1–1 3–3 0–2 2–2 3–1 2–0 1–1 0–0 0–1
Tottenham Hotspur 1–1 3–0 1–0 3–0 0–1 3–0 4–1 2–1 1–0 4–3 2–0 1–1 2–0 0–0 6–1 2–0 1–0 2–0 3–2 0–1 4–1
West Bromwich Albion 0–1 4–0 1–1 1–1 0–0 2–0 1–1 1–2 0–1 0–1 1–0 0–2 2–1 0–3 1–0 2–2 3–2 0–1 1–1 0–0 2–3
West Ham United 0–0 2–1 4–0 1–1 3–3 1–0 3–0 0–0 2–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 3–0 0–1 4–2 1–2 1–0 2–1 2–0 0–1 1–0
Wolverhampton Wanderers 5–1 0–2 1–1 1–0 2–1 1–1 2–2 2–2 2–1 0–1 0–0 2–1 1–1 2–0 4–2 1–2 4–2 2–0 2–2 0–1 1–0
Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: Ian Laschke: Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79. Macdonald and Jane’s, London & Sydney, 1980.
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Maps

Locations of the Football League First Division London teams 1971–1972
Locations of the Football League First Division 1971–1972 teams

Second Division

Second Division
Season1971–72
ChampionsNorwich City
PromotedNorwich City
Birmingham City
RelegatedCharlton Athletic
Watford
Watney CupBlackpool
Burnley
Matches462
Goals1,194 (2.58 per match)
Top goalscorerBob Latchford
(23 goals)[4]
Biggest home winBurnley 6–1 Orient
(28 September 1971)
Cardiff City 6–1 Charlton Athletic
(23 October 1971)
Blackpool 5–0 Watford
(1 January 1972)
Orient 5–0 Sunderland
(8 January 1972)
Sunderland 5–0 Watford
(17 April 1972)
Blackpool 5–0 Charlton Athletic
(29 April 1972)
Biggest away winSheffield Wednesday 1–5 Bristol City
(21 April 1972)
Highest scoringPortsmouth 6–3 Fulham
(23 October 1971)
Birmingham City 6–3 Portsmouth
(8 January 1972)

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Norwich City (C, P) 42 21 15 6 60 36 1.667 57 Promotion to the First Division
2 Birmingham City (P) 42 19 18 5 60 31 1.935 56
3 Millwall 42 19 17 6 64 46 1.391 55
4 Queens Park Rangers 42 20 14 8 57 28 2.036 54
5 Sunderland 42 17 16 9 67 57 1.175 50
6 Blackpool 42 20 7 15 70 50 1.400 47 Qualification for the Watney Cup
7 Burnley 42 20 6 16 70 55 1.273 46
8 Bristol City 42 18 10 14 61 49 1.245 46
9 Middlesbrough 42 19 8 15 50 48 1.042 46
10 Carlisle United 42 17 9 16 61 57 1.070 43
11 Swindon Town 42 15 12 15 47 47 1.000 42
12 Hull City 42 14 10 18 49 53 0.925 38
13 Luton Town 42 10 18 14 43 48 0.896 38
14 Sheffield Wednesday 42 13 12 17 51 58 0.879 38
15 Oxford United 42 12 14 16 43 55 0.782 38
16 Portsmouth 42 12 13 17 59 68 0.868 37
17 Orient 42 14 9 19 50 61 0.820 37
18 Preston North End 42 12 12 18 52 58 0.897 36
19 Cardiff City 42 10 14 18 56 69 0.812 34
20 Fulham 42 12 10 20 45 68 0.662 34
21 Charlton Athletic (R) 42 12 9 21 55 77 0.714 33 Relegation to the Third Division
22 Watford (R) 42 5 9 28 24 75 0.320 19
Source:
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated

Results

Home \ Away BIR BLP BRI BUR CAR CRL CHA FUL HUL LUT MID MIL NWC ORI OXF POR PNE QPR SHW SUN SWI WAT
Birmingham City 2–1 1–0 2–0 3–0 3–2 4–1 3–1 2–0 1–0 1–1 1–0 4–0 2–0 0–0 6–3 2–2 0–0 0–0 1–1 4–1 4–1
Blackpool 1–1 1–0 4–2 3–0 2–0 5–0 2–1 1–1 0–1 3–1 0–0 1–2 4–1 2–0 1–2 1–1 1–1 1–0 1–1 4–1 5–0
Bristol City 1–0 4–0 0–2 2–0 1–4 2–0 1–2 4–0 0–0 2–1 3–3 0–1 5–3 4–2 1–1 4–1 2–0 1–0 3–1 1–0 2–1
Burnley 1–1 2–1 1–1 3–0 3–1 3–1 1–1 0–2 2–1 5–2 2–0 1–0 6–1 1–1 1–3 1–0 1–0 5–3 0–1 1–2 3–0
Cardiff City 0–0 3–4 2–3 2–2 3–1 6–1 1–0 1–1 1–1 1–0 1–2 0–0 1–0 1–1 3–2 5–2 0–0 3–2 1–2 0–1 2–0
Carlisle United 2–2 2–0 2–0 0–3 2–1 5–2 3–1 2–1 0–0 3–0 3–3 3–0 2–0 2–1 1–0 0–0 1–4 2–2 1–2 0–0 2–0
Charlton Athletic 1–1 2–3 2–0 2–0 2–2 1–1 2–2 1–0 2–0 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–2 3–0 1–1 2–1 2–1 2–2 2–2 3–1 2–0
Fulham 0–0 2–1 2–0 0–2 4–3 0–1 1–0 1–0 3–1 2–2 1–0 0–0 2–1 1–1 1–1 0–0 0–3 4–0 0–0 2–4 3–0
Hull City 1–0 1–0 1–1 1–2 0–0 2–0 2–3 4–0 0–0 4–3 0–0 1–2 1–1 1–0 1–3 3–2 1–1 1–0 2–3 2–0 4–0
Luton Town 0–0 1–4 0–0 1–0 2–2 0–2 1–2 2–0 0–1 3–2 2–1 1–1 2–0 1–2 3–2 1–1 1–1 3–1 1–2 0–0 0–0
Middlesbrough 0–0 1–0 1–0 1–0 1–0 2–2 2–2 2–0 3–0 0–0 1–0 1–0 1–0 2–1 2–1 0–1 3–2 2–1 2–0 2–0 2–1
Millwall 3–0 1–0 3–1 1–1 1–1 2–1 2–1 4–1 2–1 2–2 1–0 2–1 2–1 2–0 1–0 2–0 0–0 1–1 1–1 2–2 3–2
Norwich City 2–2 5–1 2–2 3–0 2–1 1–0 3–0 2–1 2–0 3–1 2–0 2–2 0–0 3–2 3–1 1–1 0–0 1–0 1–1 1–0 1–1
Orient 0–1 0–1 2–0 1–0 4–1 2–1 3–2 1–0 1–0 0–0 1–1 2–2 1–2 1–1 2–1 3–2 2–0 0–3 5–0 0–1 1–0
Oxford United 0–1 3–1 0–0 2–1 1–0 3–1 2–1 1–0 2–2 1–1 0–0 1–2 0–2 1–1 2–2 2–0 3–1 1–0 2–0 1–1 0–0
Portsmouth 1–0 1–3 1–1 1–2 2–0 1–0 0–0 6–3 0–0 0–3 2–1 1–1 2–1 3–2 2–0 1–1 1–0 1–2 2–2 1–2 2–2
Preston North End 0–0 1–4 1–0 1–3 1–2 3–0 2–1 2–0 3–1 0–1 1–0 4–0 0–2 1–1 1–0 4–0 1–1 1–0 1–3 2–2 2–0
Queens Park Rangers 1–0 0–1 3–0 3–1 3–0 3–0 2–0 0–0 2–1 1–0 1–0 1–1 0–0 1–0 4–2 1–1 2–1 3–0 2–1 3–0 3–0
Sheffield Wednesday 1–2 1–2 1–5 2–1 2–2 2–1 2–1 4–0 2–1 2–2 1–0 1–1 1–1 3–1 0–0 1–1 1–0 0–0 3–0 1–0 2–1
Sunderland 1–1 0–0 1–1 4–3 1–1 0–3 3–0 2–1 0–1 2–2 4–1 3–3 1–1 2–0 3–0 3–2 4–3 0–1 2–0 1–0 5–0
Swindon Town 1–1 1–0 0–1 0–1 3–1 0–0 2–1 4–0 2–1 2–1 0–1 0–2 0–1 2–2 4–0 3–1 1–1 0–0 1–0 1–1 2–0
Watford 0–1 1–0 0–2 2–1 2–2 1–2 0–3 1–2 1–2 2–1 0–1 0–1 1–1 0–1 0–1 1–0 1–0 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–0
Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: Ian Laschke: Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79. Macdonald and Jane’s, London & Sydney, 1980.
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Maps

Locations of the Football League Second Division London teams 1971–1972
Locations of the Football League Second Division 1971–1972 teams

Third Division

Third Division
Season1971–72
ChampionsAston Villa
PromotedAston Villa
Brighton & Hove Albion
RelegatedMansfield Town
Barnsley
Torquay United
Bradford City
Cup Winners' CupWrexham
Watney CupNotts County
Bristol Rovers
Matches552
Goals1,407 (2.55 per match)
Top goalscorerTed MacDougall
(35 goals)[4]
Highest attendance48,110, Aston Villa v Bournemouth [6]

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Aston Villa (C, P) 46 32 6 8 85 32 2.656 70 Promotion to the Second Division
2 Brighton & Hove Albion (P) 46 27 11 8 82 47 1.745 65
3 Bournemouth 46 23 16 7 73 37 1.973 62
4 Notts County 46 25 12 9 74 44 1.682 62 Qualification for the Watney Cup
5 Rotherham United 46 20 15 11 69 52 1.327 55
6 Bristol Rovers 46 21 12 13 75 56 1.339 54 Qualification for the Watney Cup
7 Bolton Wanderers 46 17 16 13 51 41 1.244 50
8 Plymouth Argyle 46 20 10 16 74 64 1.156 50
9 Walsall 46 15 18 13 62 57 1.088 48
10 Blackburn Rovers 46 19 9 18 54 57 0.947 47
11 Oldham Athletic 46 17 11 18 59 63 0.937 45
12 Shrewsbury Town 46 17 10 19 73 65 1.123 44
13 Chesterfield 46 18 8 20 57 57 1.000 44
14 Swansea City 46 17 10 19 46 59 0.780 44
15 Port Vale 46 13 15 18 43 59 0.729 41
16 Wrexham 46 16 8 22 59 63 0.937 40 Qualification for the Cup Winners' Cup first round
17 Halifax Town 46 13 12 21 48 61 0.787 38
18 Rochdale 46 12 13 21 57 83 0.687 37
19 York City 46 12 12 22 57 66 0.864 36
20 Tranmere Rovers 46 10 16 20 50 71 0.704 36
21 Mansfield Town (R) 46 8 20 18 41 63 0.651 36 Relegation to the Fourth Division
22 Barnsley (R) 46 9 18 19 32 64 0.500 36
23 Torquay United (R) 46 10 12 24 41 69 0.594 32
24 Bradford City (R) 46 11 10 25 45 77 0.584 32
Source:
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated

Results

Home \ Away BOU AST BAR BLB BOL BRA B&HA BRR CHF HAL MAN NTC OLD PLY PTV ROC ROT SHR SWA TOR TRA WAL WRE YOR
AFC Bournemouth 3–0 0–0 1–0 1–2 3–0 1–1 2–0 1–0 3–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–0 3–2 4–1 3–1 3–1 2–1 1–0 0–0 0–0 4–0 2–2
Aston Villa 2–1 2–0 4–1 3–2 3–0 2–0 2–1 1–0 1–0 0–1 1–0 1–0 3–1 2–0 2–0 1–2 3–0 2–0 5–1 2–0 0–0 2–0 1–0
Barnsley 0–0 0–4 0–0 1–0 0–2 0–1 0–0 1–4 1–2 1–1 2–1 2–1 2–2 0–0 3–3 1–1 1–3 0–1 0–0 0–0 4–2 2–1 2–1
Blackburn Rovers 2–1 1–1 4–0 0–3 1–0 2–2 1–2 1–0 2–0 1–1 0–2 0–1 3–2 3–1 3–0 2–1 1–0 1–2 1–0 4–1 1–1 2–1 3–0
Bolton Wanderers 0–0 2–0 0–0 1–0 0–0 1–1 0–0 1–0 1–1 2–0 1–2 2–1 2–1 3–0 2–1 2–2 2–0 0–0 2–0 1–0 0–1 0–2 0–1
Bradford City 2–2 0–1 0–2 1–2 0–3 2–1 1–1 2–2 2–1 2–2 2–3 2–2 0–1 0–0 1–1 1–0 2–1 0–2 0–1 1–1 3–0 0–2 3–1
Brighton & Hove Albion 2–0 2–1 0–0 3–0 1–1 3–1 3–1 2–1 2–1 1–0 1–1 0–1 3–0 1–1 1–1 2–1 2–0 1–0 3–1 2–0 1–2 3–2 0–2
Bristol Rovers 1–2 0–1 3–0 3–0 2–0 7–1 2–2 3–1 1–0 2–1 0–2 1–0 2–2 2–1 5–2 1–2 3–1 2–1 2–0 2–1 2–1 3–1 5–4
Chesterfield 0–0 0–4 0–0 2–0 2–1 0–1 0–1 1–3 2–1 2–0 1–2 0–1 2–1 2–1 2–0 0–1 0–0 1–2 2–0 2–2 1–1 1–0 2–1
Halifax Town 1–0 0–1 2–0 0–1 0–1 2–1 0–5 2–1 2–0 1–1 3–1 0–0 0–1 2–0 2–2 1–1 0–0 0–1 0–0 3–2 3–1 4–1 3–1
Mansfield Town 0–5 1–1 0–0 1–0 1–0 1–1 0–3 0–0 2–1 0–0 1–1 2–1 2–3 0–1 3–1 0–1 2–2 0–2 0–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–0
Notts County 1–1 0–3 3–0 1–0 1–2 2–0 1–0 2–3 1–4 3–1 2–0 2–0 1–0 2–1 4–0 1–1 1–0 5–0 2–1 1–0 3–0 1–0 2–2
Oldham Athletic 3–1 0–6 6–0 1–1 2–2 0–2 2–4 3–2 1–1 0–0 2–1 0–1 0–1 1–0 3–2 5–1 1–4 1–0 1–0 3–1 1–3 0–2 1–0
Plymouth Argyle 1–1 3–2 2–1 1–0 2–0 1–4 1–2 2–1 1–0 1–1 3–1 1–1 0–0 0–0 4–1 2–1 1–2 4–1 3–1 2–2 3–2 1–2 4–0
Port Vale 1–1 4–4 1–0 0–0 1–1 1–0 1–1 0–0 0–2 1–0 1–0 0–3 1–0 0–0 1–1 1–2 2–1 3–0 0–0 2–1 1–1 1–0 4–3
Rochdale 1–1 1–0 0–2 2–1 2–2 0–1 1–2 3–1 0–2 3–2 2–1 1–1 1–1 3–2 3–2 2–1 0–0 1–1 5–0 2–1 0–0 1–0 1–2
Rotherham United 0–0 0–2 3–0 2–1 2–0 2–0 2–4 0–0 0–1 3–2 3–1 2–2 3–1 4–3 3–0 5–1 2–1 4–0 2–2 0–0 1–1 2–2 1–1
Shrewsbury Town 3–2 1–1 1–0 7–1 1–0 3–0 3–5 2–2 3–4 3–0 4–2 1–1 2–4 1–2 0–0 2–1 0–1 3–0 2–0 0–0 4–1 2–1 2–1
Swansea City 1–2 1–2 2–0 0–1 3–2 2–0 2–1 2–0 1–3 3–0 1–1 1–1 0–0 1–1 0–1 1–0 0–2 1–0 0–0 1–1 2–0 0–2 2–1
Torquay United 0–2 2–1 1–2 3–1 1–1 2–1 2–2 1–1 3–2 2–0 0–1 1–1 0–2 2–1 3–0 1–1 0–1 2–0 1–4 0–1 2–2 2–3 0–1
Tranmere Rovers 1–2 0–1 0–0 1–3 0–0 4–1 2–0 0–1 1–2 2–3 2–2 2–1 2–2 3–2 3–2 2–0 0–0 0–4 0–0 2–0 3–3 2–1 2–0
Walsall 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–0 1–1 3–0 0–1 2–0 1–1 0–0 2–1 1–2 2–3 1–0 2–0 3–0 0–0 4–1 4–0 1–0 4–1 2–1 2–1
Wrexham 1–3 0–2 2–0 1–1 1–2 2–1 1–2 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 3–1 0–2 1–2 1–3 0–0 2–1 2–0 1–2 3–0 3–1 2–0
York City 0–2 0–1 1–1 0–1 0–0 3–1 1–2 0–0 4–1 1–1 1–2 0–2 0–0 2–3 2–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 3–1 5–0 2–0 1–1
Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: Ian Laschke: Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79. Macdonald and Jane’s, London & Sydney, 1980.
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
  • The match between Tranmere Rovers and Walsall on the 27th of March 1972 looked to be heading towards a dull and boring 0-0 draw, when 6 goals were scored in the final 16 minutes of the match, resulting in a 3-3 draw.[7]

Maps

Locations of the Football League Third Division teams 1971–1972

Fourth Division

Football League
Fourth Division
Season1971–72
ChampionsGrimsby Town (1st title)
PromotedBrentford,
Scunthorpe United,
Southend United
Failed re-electionBarrow
Matches552
Goals1,496 (2.71 per match)
Top goalscorerPeter Price (Peterborough United), 28 [4]

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts Promotion or relegation
1 Grimsby Town (C, P) 46 28 7 11 88 56 1.571 63 Promotion to the Third Division
2 Southend United (P) 46 24 12 10 81 55 1.473 60
3 Brentford (P) 46 24 11 11 76 44 1.727 59
4 Scunthorpe United (P) 46 22 13 11 56 37 1.514 57
5 Lincoln City 46 21 14 11 77 59 1.305 56 Qualified for the Watney Cup[a]
6 Workington 46 16 19 11 50 34 1.471 51
7 Southport 46 18 14 14 66 46 1.435 50
8 Peterborough United 46 17 16 13 82 64 1.281 50 Qualified for the Watney Cup[a]
9 Bury 46 19 12 15 73 59 1.237 50
10 Cambridge United 46 17 14 15 62 60 1.033 48
11 Colchester United 46 19 10 17 70 69 1.014 48
12 Doncaster Rovers 46 16 14 16 56 63 0.889 46
13 Gillingham 46 16 13 17 61 67 0.910 45
14 Newport County 46 18 8 20 60 72 0.833 44
15 Exeter City 46 16 11 19 61 68 0.897 43
16 Reading 46 17 8 21 56 76 0.737 42
17 Aldershot 46 9 22 15 48 54 0.889 40
18 Hartlepool 46 17 6 23 58 69 0.841 40
19 Darlington 46 14 11 21 64 82 0.780 39
20 Chester 46 10 18 18 47 56 0.839 38
21 Northampton Town 46 12 13 21 66 79 0.835 37 Re-elected
22 Barrow (R) 46 13 11 22 40 71 0.563 37 Failed re-election and demoted to the Northern Premier League
23 Stockport County 46 9 14 23 55 87 0.632 32 Re-elected
24 Crewe Alexandra 46 10 9 27 43 69 0.623 29
Source: rsssf.com
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ a b The two teams who scored the most goals in each division, and did not qualify for Europe and were not promoted, qualified for the Watney Cup.

Results

Home \ Away ALD BRW BRE BRY CAM CHE COL CRE DAR DON EXE GIL GRI HAR LIN NPC NOR PET REA SCU STD SOU STP WRK
Aldershot 1–1 1–2 2–2 1–1 0–0 0–2 0–0 3–0 3–0 0–0 0–2 1–1 2–0 0–0 3–0 0–2 1–1 1–2 1–1 0–0 1–1 4–0 2–2
Barrow 1–1 0–3 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–2 2–1 0–4 1–2 0–0 1–0 0–0 2–0 2–2 1–0 0–1 0–2 0–0 0–1 2–1 0–2 3–2 2–0
Brentford 1–1 4–0 2–0 2–1 1–1 0–2 1–0 6–2 2–1 1–0 1–3 2–0 6–0 2–0 3–1 6–1 5–1 1–2 0–3 1–2 1–0 2–0 2–0
Bury 3–1 4–0 0–2 0–1 3–1 3–0 2–0 3–2 3–3 4–3 5–0 1–1 1–1 0–1 3–0 4–2 1–1 2–1 3–1 2–0 2–1 4–0 2–0
Cambridge United 1–1 1–0 1–1 0–2 2–0 4–2 3–2 6–0 1–1 0–1 2–1 3–1 2–1 0–0 0–1 1–1 2–5 4–1 2–0 1–1 0–0 2–0 0–0
Chester 0–0 0–0 0–0 2–0 1–1 2–1 0–0 2–1 1–1 1–2 5–1 1–2 4–0 2–1 3–0 3–2 1–1 2–0 0–0 1–1 1–1 0–0 2–1
Colchester United 1–0 0–1 1–1 0–0 1–1 1–0 4–2 4–3 1–2 3–0 2–2 0–1 1–0 5–2 2–3 2–0 1–1 2–1 1–1 1–0 1–0 3–2 1–0
Crewe Alexandra 2–1 1–0 2–1 0–0 1–1 3–1 2–4 1–1 0–1 0–1 0–1 0–1 1–2 3–1 1–2 0–1 2–0 2–0 0–2 1–2 2–1 3–1 0–0
Darlington 4–2 0–1 0–0 0–0 2–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 4–1 2–1 0–0 3–2 1–2 3–3 0–0 5–2 1–1 1–0 0–1 2–3 0–0 1–2 4–0
Doncaster Rovers 2–1 0–1 0–3 4–1 1–1 0–0 2–0 0–0 4–0 2–1 1–1 2–1 2–1 2–0 4–2 1–1 3–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–1 2–2 0–0
Exeter City 1–0 7–1 0–1 3–2 3–4 1–1 3–3 3–1 3–0 1–0 1–1 3–4 1–0 1–2 1–0 1–3 3–2 0–0 1–0 0–0 1–3 2–0 0–2
Gillingham 0–1 1–1 0–1 2–0 2–0 1–0 0–2 2–1 4–2 2–0 0–2 0–1 1–0 3–3 1–2 4–1 1–1 4–2 0–1 0–0 2–1 3–2 0–0
Grimsby Town 3–3 2–0 3–1 4–1 2–1 1–0 3–0 2–3 2–0 3–1 3–0 2–1 3–2 2–2 4–2 4–2 3–2 2–0 4–1 4–1 0–1 4–1 1–1
Hartlepool 0–1 4–3 1–2 3–1 1–2 2–1 3–2 1–0 2–3 0–0 1–0 3–1 0–1 2–1 0–1 2–0 1–0 3–1 1–0 2–2 1–0 5–0 1–3
Lincoln City 2–2 3–2 4–1 2–0 3–1 4–0 2–0 0–0 0–1 2–0 4–1 1–1 3–0 2–1 3–1 2–0 3–2 0–0 1–0 0–0 2–1 2–1 1–0
Newport County 2–3 2–1 0–0 2–1 3–0 1–0 2–1 2–0 4–0 1–3 0–0 1–2 2–1 0–2 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–1 1–0 2–0 2–2 1–0 0–1
Northampton Town 2–3 2–0 0–0 2–2 1–2 4–2 1–1 4–1 1–2 1–1 1–1 6–1 3–0 2–1 2–3 1–1 1–1 5–0 0–2 1–1 0–0 2–0 1–2
Peterborough United 0–0 7–0 2–2 2–0 2–0 2–0 4–0 2–0 1–3 2–0 3–3 2–1 0–2 2–2 4–4 3–1 1–0 3–2 0–1 2–0 2–0 4–2 1–1
Reading 2–0 1–0 2–1 0–2 1–0 1–0 2–4 1–0 2–0 3–1 3–1 1–2 1–3 3–0 0–1 4–2 2–1 2–1 2–0 1–4 1–1 2–2 0–0
Scunthorpe United 1–0 2–1 0–0 3–0 2–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 3–1 0–0 3–0 3–3 1–2 2–2 2–1 1–0 0–0 0–0 1–1 1–1 1–0 0–2 2–0
Southend 1–0 1–0 3–1 0–0 1–2 4–2 1–4 4–1 3–0 2–1 3–0 2–2 3–1 3–1 2–1 3–1 4–1 2–1 4–1 2–3 2–1 4–2 2–0
Southport 0–0 1–0 0–0 0–1 4–1 4–3 3–0 4–2 2–1 3–0 4–0 1–0 1–0 1–0 1–1 4–2 4–0 2–4 5–2 1–1 0–1 1–0 2–2
Stockport County 0–0 1–3 0–1 2–2 3–0 0–0 2–2 3–1 2–1 1–2 0–4 2–1 0–2 2–1 4–2 4–4 3–1 0–0 0–1 0–0 2–2 1–1 1–1
Workington 5–0 0–1 3–0 1–0 0–1 0–0 1–0 1–0 0–0 2–0 0–0 1–1 0–0 0–0 0–0 3–0 2–0 4–1 5–0 2–1 3–1 0–0 1–1
Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: Ian Laschke: Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79. Macdonald and Jane’s, London & Sydney, 1980.
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Maps

Locations of the Football League Fourth Division teams 1971–1972

Attendances

Source:[8]

Division One

No. Club Average ± Highest Lowest
1 Liverpool FC 47,687 4,6% 55,634 39,538
2 Manchester United 45,999 4,7% 56,362 23,146
3 Arsenal FC 40,500 -7,5% 52,102 27,172
4 Tottenham Hotspur FC 38,834 8,9% 54,814 19,631
5 Chelsea FC 38,783 -1,9% 54,663 23,443
6 Manchester City FC 38,573 24,3% 63,326 25,677
7 Everton FC 37,242 -9,4% 56,293 21,513
8 Leeds United FC 35,637 -9,1% 46,565 18,417
9 Sheffield United FC 33,189 31,4% 45,045 23,250
10 Derby County FC 33,087 5,5% 39,159 26,738
11 Newcastle United FC 32,664 9,8% 55,603 18,927
12 West Ham United FC 30,005 0,1% 41,892 18,479
13 Leicester City FC 28,536 10,0% 37,564 19,769
14 Wolverhampton Wanderers FC 27,983 1,4% 53,379 17,041
15 Crystal Palace FC 26,973 -6,6% 43,720 17,699
16 West Bromwich Albion FC 25,786 0,4% 46,992 16,702
17 Stoke City FC 24,204 21,6% 43,007 13,907
18 Coventry City FC 23,724 -8,9% 37,798 16,309
19 Nottingham Forest FC 21,433 -8,1% 42,750 9,872
20 Southampton FC 21,191 -4,8% 30,323 16,958
21 Ipswich Town FC 20,924 2,4% 29,213 15,524
22 Huddersfield Town AFC 15,940 -31,4% 33,458 9,459

Division Two

No. Club Average ± Highest Lowest
1 Birmingham City 32,337 33,6% 45,181 22,410
2 Norwich City 23,037 82,0% 34,914 10,967
3 Middlesbrough FC 17,943 -3,2% 34,446 9,539
4 Sheffield Wednesday 17,087 8,3% 31,890 12,350
5 Millwall 16,262 64,9% 24,376 11,569
6 Sunderland AFC 15,906 0,8% 28,129 8,273
7 Cardiff City 15,510 -27,9% 23,667 10,143
8 Bristol City 15,225 7,5% 23,525 10,207
9 Preston North End 15,136 9,8% 27,284 9,538
10 Queens Park Rangers 14,367 9,9% 25,257 7,616
11 Hull City 13,972 -29,2% 26,091 9,933
12 Swindon Town 13,579 -15,9% 21,595 8,802
13 Blackpool FC 13,483 -34,1% 22,610 8,432
14 Burnley FC 12,893 -20,2% 22,015 8,695
15 Portsmouth FC 11,918 -13,4% 16,058 5,885
16 Luton Town 11,384 -34,4% 17,280 7,270
17 Fulham 11,147 -7,1% 21,187 7,406
18 Watford FC 10,908 -24,0% 22,421 5,384
19 Leyton Orient 10,817 18,6% 33,383 5,202
20 Charlton Athletic 10,430 -5,0% 26,643 7,371
21 Oxford United 9,530 -12,4% 18,990 6,604
22 Carlisle United 9,479 -11,1% 12,279 6,067

Division Three

No. Club Average ± Highest Lowest
1 Aston Villa 31,953 21,9% 48,110 23,004
2 Brighton & Hove Albion 17,661 79,8% 34,644 4,509
3 Notts County 13,941 29,6% 34,208 8,921
4 AFC Bournemouth 12,991 49,7% 22,550 8,856
5 Plymouth Argyle 10,799 24,1% 20,129 6,943
6 Bristol Rovers 9,340 -17,4% 20,442 5,427
7 Blackburn Rovers 8,256 2,8% 15,562 5,643
8 Bolton Wanderers 8,173 -6,1% 13,602 5,465
9 Oldham Athletic 8,016 -16,0% 14,530 4,640
10 Chesterfield FC 7,992 -17,1% 12,510 4,542
11 Rotherham United 7,313 -7,3% 15,743 4,161
12 Swansea City 6,412 -20,2% 24,404 2,541
13 Wrexham AFC 6,083 -25,2% 17,162 2,547
14 Mansfield Town 5,988 -12,8% 16,784 3,549
15 Torquay United 5,677 -0,8% 11,165 2,139
16 York City 5,597 6,5% 9,419 3,858
17 Walsall FC 5,445 4,5% 13,092 3,121
18 Barnsley FC 5,341 -21,8% 8,632 2,185
19 Shrewsbury Town 5,265 3,8% 16,336 2,329
20 Bradford City 5,042 -15,9% 9,289 2,468
21 Rochdale AFC 4,387 -9,9% 10,926 2,643
22 Port Vale 4,366 -19,7% 11,106 2,475
23 Tranmere Rovers 4,355 10,3% 12,054 2,320
24 Halifax Town 3,839 -25,2% 7,462 2,021

Division Four

No. Club Average ± Highest Lowest
1 Brentford FC 11,738 73,2% 18,521 8,712
2 Grimsby Town 11,315 161,4% 22,660 6,939
3 Southend United 10,461 63,2% 17,303 5,389
4 Lincoln City 7,603 38,3% 16,498 3,033
5 Scunthorpe United 6,099 52,2% 11,754 4,012
6 Reading FC 5,531 -19,7% 11,689 3,136
7 Colchester United 5,429 -3,1% 9,807 3,772
8 Gillingham FC 5,412 27,6% 11,795 3,538
9 Peterborough United 5,115 4,7% 7,118 4,025
10 Cambridge United 4,891 -0,6% 8,591 3,207
11 Northampton Town 4,486 -32,0% 6,220 2,625
12 Doncaster Rovers 4,125 -7,9% 12,320 2,126
13 Aldershot Town 4,056 -24,6% 8,634 2,152
14 Exeter City 3,857 -18,0% 5,144 2,970
15 Hartlepool United 3,793 54,2% 7,156 2,128
16 Bury FC 3,502 -12,3% 5,719 2,557
17 Newport County 3,462 35,8% 7,698 2,367
18 Southport FC 3,254 13,8% 5,371 1,343
19 Chester City 3,002 -41,0% 4,539 1,868
20 Darlington FC 2,552 -15,2% 8,809 1,611
21 Workington AFC 2,487 12,6% 4,329 1,342
22 Stockport County 2,477 -24,3% 3,926 1,596
23 Barrow AFC 2,307 -1,1% 3,656 1,031
24 Crewe Alexandra 2,104 -30,5% 3,710 1,028

See also

References

  1. ^ Corbett, James (2007-11-25). "James Corbett on Don Revie". The Guardian. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
  2. ^ "England 1971–72". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 1 June 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
  3. ^ a b Ian Laschke: Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79. Macdonald and Jane’s, London & Sydney, 1980.
  4. ^ a b c d "English League Leading Goalscorers". RSSSF. Retrieved 2010-10-31.
  5. ^ "Watney Cup". FootballSite.co.uk.
  6. ^ Aston Villa Greats Leon Hickman, 1989, ISBN 0 85976 313 7
  7. ^ Ward, Andrew (2010). Football's Strangest Matches: Extraordinary but true stories from over a century of football. London: Portico. pp. 100–101. ISBN 1907554084.
  8. ^ https://www.european-football-statistics.co.uk/attn/archive/eng/aveeng1972.htm
  • Ian Laschke: Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79. Macdonald and Jane's, London & Sydney, 1980.
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