1977–78 Football League

The Football League
Season1977–78
ChampionsNottingham Forest
RelegatedSouthport
New Club in LeagueWimbledon

The 1977–78 season was the 79th completed season of The Football League. The season began on 20 August 1977 and ended after 42 matches on 4 May 1978.[1]

Brian Clough’s Nottingham Forest side took the First Division by storm, first winning the League Cup on 22 March and then confirming themselves as league champions the following month. They joined a small and exclusive company of clubs who have won the league championship one season after promotion.

Manchester United broke the British transfer fee record on 9 February by paying Leeds United £495,000 for Scottish defender Gordon McQueen.

Bob Latchford was the top goalscorer, winning a £10,000 prize offered by a national newspaper for the first footballer to reach 30 goals in a single season,[2] which had not happened in the First Division since the 1971–72 season and in the Second Division since the 1965–66 season.[3]

West Ham United, Newcastle United and Leicester City were relegated from the First Division.

Bolton Wanderers, Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur were promoted from the Second Division, while Blackpool, Mansfield Town and Hull City were relegated

Wrexham, Cambridge United and Preston North End were promoted from the Third Division, while Portsmouth, Port Vale, Bradford City and Hereford United were relegated.

Wimbledon played their first season in the Football League, replacing Workington. Watford, Southend United, Swansea City and Brentford were promoted, while Southport were not re-elected. Southport was the last club to leave the Football League through the re-election process.

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[4] and in Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79[5] 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.[5]

First Division

First Division
Season1977–78
ChampionsNottingham Forest
1st English title
RelegatedWest Ham United
Newcastle United
Leicester City
European CupNottingham Forest
Liverpool (defending champions)
Cup Winners' CupIpswich Town
UEFA CupEverton
Manchester City
Arsenal
West Bromwich Albion
Matches462
Goals1,231 (2.66 per match)
Top goalscorerBob Latchford
(30 goals)[3]
Biggest home winEverton 6–0 Coventry City
(26 November 1977)
Everton 6–0 Chelsea
(29 April 1978)
Biggest away winQueens Park Rangers 1–5 Everton
(8 October 1977)
Leicester 0–4 Liverpool
(26 November 1977)
Manchester United 0–4 Nottingham Forest
(17 December 1977)
Everton 2–6 Manchester United
(26 December 1977)
Leicester City 1–5 Everton
(15 April 1978)
Highest scoringCoventry City 5–4 Norwich City
(27 December 1977)
Birmingham 4–5 Chelsea
(31 December 1977)

Brian Clough became only the second manager in the history of English football to win the top division title with two clubs, when he guided Nottingham Forest to their first ever top division title. It was an incredible achievement for a Forest side who were one of just a few teams to win the First Division title a year after promotion. Forest finished seven points above Liverpool, who retained the European Cup. Everton, Manchester City and Arsenal completed the top five, while West Bromwich Albion finished sixth for the second successive season, qualifying for the UEFA Cup again. An exciting Coventry City side finished in 7th position, narrowly missing-out on UEFA Cup qualification. This was the club's second-highest ever league finish, after their sixth position in 1969–70.[6]

Manchester United dipped to 10th place in their first season under new manager Dave Sexton, while Bobby Robson successfully fought off relegation with Ipswich Town and then guided them to their first FA Cup triumph of their history.

Newcastle United, who had finished fifth a year earlier, endured a terrible season and went down bracketed together with Leicester City at the bottom of the table. The Tynesiders had been in the First Division for 13 years, while Leicester's latest run in the First Division had lasted for seven years. West Ham United occupied the final relegation place, ending their 20-year spell in the First Division.

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Nottingham Forest (C) 42 25 14 3 69 24 +45 64 Qualification for the European Cup first round[a]
2 Liverpool 42 24 9 9 65 34 +31 57
3 Everton 42 22 11 9 76 45 +31 55 Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round
4 Manchester City 42 20 12 10 74 51 +23 52
5 Arsenal 42 21 10 11 60 37 +23 52
6 West Bromwich Albion 42 18 14 10 62 53 +9 50
7 Coventry City 42 18 12 12 75 62 +13 48
8 Aston Villa 42 18 10 14 57 42 +15 46
9 Leeds United 42 18 10 14 63 53 +10 46
10 Manchester United 42 16 10 16 67 63 +4 42
11 Birmingham City 42 16 9 17 55 60 −5 41
12 Derby County 42 14 13 15 54 59 −5 41
13 Norwich City 42 11 18 13 52 66 −14 40
14 Middlesbrough 42 12 15 15 42 54 −12 39
15 Wolverhampton Wanderers 42 12 12 18 51 64 −13 36
16 Chelsea 42 11 14 17 46 69 −23 36
17 Bristol City 42 11 13 18 49 53 −4 35
18 Ipswich Town 42 11 13 18 47 61 −14 35 Qualification for the European Cup Winners' Cup first round[b]
19 Queens Park Rangers 42 9 15 18 47 64 −17 33
20 West Ham United (R) 42 12 8 22 52 69 −17 32 Relegation to the Second Division
21 Newcastle United (R) 42 6 10 26 42 78 −36 22
22 Leicester City (R) 42 5 12 25 26 70 −44 22
Source: World Football
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ Liverpool qualified for the European Cup first round as the 1977–78 European Cup winners.
  2. ^ Ipswich Town qualified for the European Cup Winners' Cup as the 1977–78 FA Cup winners.

Stats

Record

  • Most wins: Nottingham Forest (25)
  • Fewest losses: Nottingham Forest (3)
  • Most goals scored: Everton (76)
  • Fewest goals conceded: Nottingham Forest (24)
  • Best goal difference ratio: Nottingham Forest (+45)
  • Most draws: Norwich City (18)
  • Fewest draws: West Ham United (8)
  • Most losses: Newcastle United (26)
  • Fewest wins: Leicester City (5)
  • Fewest goals scored: Leicester City (26)
  • Most goals conceded: Newcastle United (78)
  • Worst goal difference ratio: Leicester City (-44)

Results

Home \ Away ARS AST BIR BRI CHE COV DER EVE IPS LEE LEI LIV MCI MUN MID NEW NWC NOT QPR WBA WHU WOL
Arsenal 0–1 1–1 4–1 3–0 1–1 1–3 1–0 1–0 1–1 2–1 0–0 3–0 3–1 1–0 2–1 0–0 3–0 1–0 4–0 3–0 3–1
Aston Villa 1–0 0–1 1–0 2–0 1–1 0–0 1–2 6–1 3–1 0–0 0–3 1–4 2–1 0–1 2–0 3–0 0–1 1–1 3–0 4–1 2–0
Birmingham City 1–1 1–0 3–0 4–5 1–1 3–1 0–0 0–0 2–3 1–1 0–1 1–4 1–4 1–2 3–0 2–1 0–2 2–1 1–2 3–0 2–1
Bristol City 0–2 1–1 0–1 3–0 1–1 3–1 0–1 2–0 3–2 0–0 1–1 2–2 0–1 4–1 3–1 3–0 1–3 2–2 3–1 3–2 2–3
Chelsea 0–0 0–0 2–0 1–0 1–2 1–1 0–1 5–3 1–2 0–0 3–1 0–0 2–2 0–0 2–2 1–1 1–0 3–1 2–2 2–1 1–1
Coventry City 1–2 2–3 4–0 1–1 5–1 3–1 3–2 1–1 2–2 1–0 1–0 4–2 3–0 2–1 0–0 5–4 0–0 4–1 1–2 1–0 4–0
Derby County 3–0 0–3 1–3 1–0 1–1 4–2 0–1 0–0 2–2 4–1 4–2 2–1 0–1 4–1 1–1 2–2 0–0 2–0 1–1 2–1 3–1
Everton 2–0 1–0 2–1 1–0 6–0 6–0 2–1 1–0 2–0 2–0 0–1 1–1 2–6 3–0 4–4 3–0 1–3 3–3 3–1 2–1 0–0
Ipswich Town 1–0 2–0 5–2 1–0 1–0 1–1 1–2 3–3 0–1 1–0 1–1 1–0 1–2 1–1 2–1 4–0 0–2 3–2 2–2 0–2 1–2
Leeds United 1–3 1–1 1–0 0–2 2–0 2–0 2–0 3–1 2–1 5–1 1–2 2–0 1–1 5–0 0–2 2–2 1–0 3–0 2–2 1–2 2–1
Leicester City 1–1 0–2 1–4 0–0 0–2 1–2 1–1 1–5 2–1 0–0 0–4 0–1 2–3 0–0 3–0 2–2 0–3 0–0 0–1 1–0 1–0
Liverpool 1–0 1–2 2–3 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–0 0–0 2–2 1–0 3–2 4–0 3–1 2–0 2–0 3–0 0–0 1–0 3–0 2–0 1–0
Manchester City 2–1 2–0 3–0 2–0 6–2 3–1 1–1 1–0 2–1 2–3 0–0 3–1 3–1 2–2 4–0 4–0 0–0 2–1 1–3 3–2 0–2
Manchester United 1–2 1–1 1–2 1–1 0–1 2–1 4–0 1–2 0–0 0–1 3–1 2–0 2–2 0–0 3–2 1–0 0–4 3–1 1–1 3–0 3–1
Middlesbrough 0–1 1–0 1–2 2–0 2–0 1–1 3–1 0–0 1–1 2–1 0–1 1–1 0–2 2–1 2–0 2–2 2–2 1–1 1–0 1–2 0–0
Newcastle United 1–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–0 1–2 1–2 0–2 0–1 3–2 2–0 0–2 2–2 2–2 2–4 2–2 0–2 0–3 0–3 2–3 4–0
Norwich City 1–0 2–1 1–0 1–0 0–0 1–2 0–0 0–0 1–0 3–0 2–0 2–1 1–3 1–3 1–1 2–1 3–3 1–1 1–1 2–2 2–1
Nottingham Forest 2–0 2–0 0–0 1–0 3–1 2–1 3–0 1–1 4–0 1–1 1–0 1–1 2–1 2–1 4–0 2–0 1–1 1–0 0–0 2–0 2–0
Queens Park Rangers 2–1 1–2 0–0 2–2 1–1 2–1 0–0 1–5 3–3 0–0 3–0 2–0 1–1 2–2 1–0 0–1 2–1 0–2 2–1 1–0 1–3
West Bromwich Albion 1–3 0–3 3–1 2–1 3–0 3–3 1–0 3–1 1–0 1–0 2–0 0–1 0–0 4–0 2–1 2–0 0–0 2–2 2–0 1–0 2–2
West Ham United 2–2 2–2 1–0 1–2 3–1 2–1 3–0 1–1 3–0 0–1 3–2 0–2 0–1 2–1 0–2 1–0 1–3 0–0 2–2 3–3 1–2
Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–1 3–1 0–1 0–0 1–3 1–3 1–2 3–1 0–0 3–1 3–0 1–3 1–1 2–1 0–0 1–0 3–3 2–3 1–0 1–1 2–2
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.

Managerial changes

Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of appointment
Middlesbrough Harold Shepherdson End of caretaker spell 6 May 1977 Pre-season John Neal 6 May 1977
Leicester City Jimmy Bloomfield Resigned 23 May 1977 Frank McLintock 6 June 1977
West Bromwich Albion Johnny Giles Resigned 26 May 1977 Ronnie Allen 21 June 1977
Chelsea Eddie McCreadie Resigned 1 July 1977 Ken Shellito 6 July 1977
Manchester United Tommy Docherty Sacked 4 July 1977 Dave Sexton 14 July 1977
Queens Park Rangers Dave Sexton Signed by Manchester United 14 July 1977 Frank Sibley 14 July 1977
Birmingham City Willie Bell Resigned 5 September 1977 22nd Alf Ramsey (caretaker) 5 September 1977
Derby County Colin Murphy Demoted to coach 17 September 1977 21st Tommy Docherty 17 September 1977
Newcastle United Richard Dinnis Sacked 9 November 1977 22nd Bill McGarry 18 November 1977
West Bromwich Albion Ronnie Allen Resigned 22 December 1977 4th Ron Atkinson 12 January 1978
Birmingham City Alf Ramsey End of caretaker spell 12 March 1978 18th Jim Smith 12 March 1978
Leicester City Frank McLintock Sacked 5 April 1978 22nd Ian MacFarlane (caretaker) 5 April 1977

Maps

Locations of the Football League First Division London teams 1977–1978
Locations of the Football League First Division 1977–1978 teams

Second Division

Second Division
Season1977–78
ChampionsBolton Wanderers
PromotedBolton Wanderers
Southampton
Tottenham Hotspur
RelegatedBlackpool
Mansfield Town
Hull City
Matches462
Goals1,235 (2.67 per match)
Top goalscorerBob Hatton
(22 goals)[3]
Biggest home winTottenham Hotspur 9–0 Bristol Rovers
(22 October 1977)
Biggest away winCardiff City 1–6 Sheffield United
(3 December 1977)
Highest scoringBolton Wanderers 6–3 Cardiff City
(10 December 1977)

Bolton Wanderers ended their 14-year exile from the top flight by clinching the Second Division title in a tight promotion race between the top four teams. Southampton went up as runners-up, while Tottenham clinched the final promotion place following a final day draw with Southampton. Brighton missed out on a First Division place on goal difference, forcing them to prepare for a fresh assault on reaching the First Division for the first time in their history in 1979.

Hull City, Mansfield Town and Blackpool went down to the Third Division.

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Relegation
1 Bolton Wanderers (C, P) 42 24 10 8 63 33 +30 58 Promotion to the First Division
2 Southampton (P) 42 22 13 7 70 39 +31 57
3 Tottenham Hotspur (P) 42 20 16 6 83 49 +34 56
4 Brighton & Hove Albion 42 22 12 8 63 38 +25 56
5 Blackburn Rovers 42 16 13 13 56 60 −4 45
6 Sunderland 42 14 16 12 67 59 +8 44
7 Stoke City 42 16 10 16 53 49 +4 42
8 Oldham Athletic 42 13 16 13 54 58 −4 42
9 Crystal Palace 42 13 15 14 50 47 +3 41
10 Fulham 42 14 13 15 49 49 0 41
11 Burnley 42 15 10 17 56 64 −8 40
12 Sheffield United 42 16 8 18 62 73 −11 40
13 Luton Town 42 14 10 18 54 52 +2 38
14 Orient 42 10 18 14 43 49 −6 38
15 Notts County 42 11 16 15 54 62 −8 38
16 Millwall 42 12 14 16 49 57 −8 38
17 Charlton Athletic 42 13 12 17 55 68 −13 38
18 Bristol Rovers 42 13 12 17 61 77 −16 38
19 Cardiff City 42 13 12 17 51 71 −20 38
20 Blackpool (R) 42 12 13 17 59 60 −1 37 Relegation to the Third Division
21 Mansfield Town (R) 42 10 11 21 49 69 −20 31
22 Hull City (R) 42 8 12 22 34 52 −18 28
Source:
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated

Results

Home \ Away BLB BLP BOL B&HA BRR BUR CAR CHA CRY FUL HUL LUT MAN MIL NTC OLD ORI SHU SOU STK SUN TOT
Blackburn Rovers 1–2 0–1 0–1 0–1 0–1 3–0 2–1 3–0 4–0 1–1 2–0 3–1 2–1 1–0 4–2 1–0 1–1 2–1 2–1 1–1 0–0
Blackpool 5–2 0–2 0–1 3–1 1–1 3–0 5–1 3–1 1–2 3–0 2–1 1–2 2–2 2–2 1–1 0–0 1–1 0–1 1–1 1–1 0–2
Bolton Wanderers 4–2 2–1 1–1 3–0 1–2 6–3 2–1 2–0 0–0 1–0 2–1 2–0 2–1 2–0 1–0 2–0 2–1 0–0 1–1 2–0 1–0
Brighton & Hove Albion 2–2 2–1 1–2 1–1 2–1 4–0 1–0 1–1 2–0 2–1 3–2 5–1 3–2 2–1 1–1 1–0 2–1 1–1 2–1 2–1 3–1
Bristol Rovers 4–1 2–0 0–1 0–4 2–2 3–2 2–2 3–0 0–0 1–1 1–2 3–1 2–0 2–2 0–0 2–1 4–1 0–0 4–1 3–2 2–3
Burnley 2–3 0–1 0–1 0–0 3–1 4–2 1–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–1 2–0 0–2 3–1 4–1 0–0 4–1 3–3 1–0 0–0 2–1
Cardiff City 1–1 2–1 1–0 1–0 1–1 2–1 1–0 2–2 3–1 0–0 1–4 1–1 4–1 2–1 1–0 0–1 1–6 1–0 2–0 5–2 0–0
Charlton Athletic 2–2 3–1 2–1 4–3 3–1 3–2 0–0 1–0 0–1 0–1 0–0 2–2 0–2 0–0 2–2 2–1 3–0 1–3 3–2 3–2 4–1
Crystal Palace 5–0 2–2 2–1 0–0 1–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–3 0–1 3–3 3–1 1–0 2–0 0–0 1–0 1–0 1–2 0–1 2–2 1–2
Fulham 0–0 1–1 2–0 2–1 1–1 4–1 1–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–0 0–2 0–1 5–1 0–2 1–2 2–0 1–1 3–0 3–3 1–1
Hull City 0–1 2–0 0–0 1–1 0–1 1–3 4–1 0–2 1–0 0–1 1–1 0–2 3–2 1–1 0–1 2–2 2–3 0–3 0–0 3–0 2–0
Luton Town 0–0 4–0 2–1 1–0 1–1 1–2 3–1 7–1 1–0 1–0 1–1 1–1 1–0 2–0 0–1 1–0 4–0 1–2 1–2 1–3 1–4
Mansfield Town 2–2 1–3 0–1 1–2 3–0 4–1 2–2 0–3 1–3 2–1 1–0 3–1 0–0 1–3 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–2 2–1 1–2 3–3
Millwall 1–1 2–0 1–0 0–1 1–3 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–3 0–3 1–1 1–0 1–0 0–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 3–0 0–0 3–1 1–3
Notts County 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–0 3–2 3–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–1 2–0 1–0 1–1 3–2 1–1 1–2 2–3 2–0 2–2 3–3
Oldham Athletic 0–2 2–1 2–2 1–1 4–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–1 1–0 0–1 2–2 2–1 2–1 3–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1
Orient 0–0 1–4 1–1 0–1 2–1 3–0 2–1 0–0 0–0 1–1 2–1 0–0 4–2 0–0 0–0 5–3 3–1 1–1 2–0 2–2 1–1
Sheffield United 2–0 0–0 1–5 2–0 1–1 2–1 0–1 1–0 0–2 2–1 2–0 4–1 2–0 5–2 4–1 1–0 2–0 3–2 1–2 1–1 2–2
Southampton 5–0 2–0 2–2 1–1 3–1 3–0 3–1 4–1 2–0 2–0 1–0 0–1 1–0 2–3 3–1 2–2 1–0 2–1 1–0 4–2 0–0
Stoke City 4–2 1–2 0–0 1–0 3–2 2–1 2–0 4–0 0–2 2–0 1–0 0–0 1–1 2–1 1–1 3–0 5–1 4–0 1–0 0–0 1–3
Sunderland 0–1 2–1 0–2 0–2 5–1 3–0 1–1 3–0 0–0 2–2 2–0 1–1 1–0 2–0 3–1 3–1 1–1 5–1 0–0 1–0 1–2
Tottenham Hotspur 4–0 2–2 1–0 0–0 9–0 3–0 2–1 2–1 2–2 1–0 1–0 2–0 1–1 3–3 2–1 5–1 1–1 4–2 0–0 3–1 2–3
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.

Managerial changes

Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of appointment
Orient George Petchey Resigned 26 August 1977 21st Jimmy Bloomfield 12 September 1977
Hull City John Kaye Sacked 29 September 1977 13th Bobby Collins 1 October 1977
Notts County Ron Fenton Sacked 5 October 1977 21st Jimmy Sirrel 9 October 1977
Sheffield United Jimmy Sirrel Signed by Notts County 9 October 1977 15th Cec Coldwell (caretaker) 9 October 1977
Bristol Rovers Don Megson Sacked 22 November 1977 21st Bobby Campbell 22 November 1977
Millwall Gordon Jago Resigned 5 December 1977 18th George Petchey 4 January 1978
Stoke City George Eastham Sacked 9 January 1978 14th Alan Durban 13 February 1978
Sheffield United Cec Coldwell End of caretaker spell 23 January 1978 11th Harry Haslam 23 January 1978
Luton Town Harry Haslam Signed by Sheffield United 23 January 1978 7th David Pleat 23 January 1978
Blackpool Allan Brown Mutual consent 6 February 1978 7th Jimmy Meadows 7 March 1978
Hull City Bobby Collins Sacked 10 February 1978 18th Wilf McGuinness (caretaker) 10 February 1978
Mansfield Town Peter Morris Sacked 22 February 1978 22nd Billy Bingham 25 February 1978
Blackburn Rovers Jim Smith Signed by Birmingham City 12 March 1978 5th Jim Iley 14 April 1978
Hull City Wilf McGuinness End of caretaker spell 17 April 1978 21st Ken Houghton 17 April 1978

Maps

Locations of the Football League Second Division London teams 1977–1978
Locations of the Football League Second Division 1977–1978 teams

Third Division

Football League
Third Division
Season1977–78
ChampionsWrexham (1st title)
PromotedCambridge United
Preston North End
RelegatedBradford City
Hereford United
Portsmouth
Port Vale
Matches552
Goals1,373 (2.49 per match)
Top goalscorerAlex Bruce (Preston North End), 27 [3]

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
1 Wrexham (C, P) 46 23 15 8 78 45 +33 61 Cup Winners' Cup first round and promotion to the Second Division[a]
2 Cambridge United (P) 46 23 12 11 72 51 +21 58 Promotion to the Second Division
3 Preston North End (P) 46 20 16 10 63 38 +25 56
4 Peterborough United 46 20 16 10 47 33 +14 56
5 Chester 46 16 22 8 59 56 +3 54
6 Walsall 46 18 17 11 61 50 +11 53
7 Gillingham 46 15 20 11 67 60 +7 50
8 Colchester United 46 15 18 13 55 44 +11 48
9 Chesterfield 46 17 14 15 58 49 +9 48
10 Swindon Town 46 16 16 14 67 60 +7 48
11 Shrewsbury Town 46 16 15 15 63 57 +6 47
12 Tranmere Rovers 46 16 15 15 57 52 +5 47
13 Carlisle United 46 14 19 13 59 59 0 47
14 Sheffield Wednesday 46 15 16 15 50 52 −2 46
15 Bury 46 13 19 14 62 56 +6 45
16 Lincoln City 46 15 15 16 53 61 −8 45
17 Exeter City 46 15 14 17 49 59 −10 44
18 Oxford United 46 13 14 19 64 67 −3 40
19 Plymouth Argyle 46 11 17 18 61 68 −7 39
20 Rotherham United 46 13 13 20 51 68 −17 39
21 Port Vale (R) 46 8 20 18 46 67 −21 36 Relegation to the Fourth Division
22 Bradford City (R) 46 12 10 24 56 86 −30 34
23 Hereford United (R) 46 9 14 23 34 60 −26 32
24 Portsmouth (R) 46 7 17 22 41 75 −34 31
Source: rsssf.com
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ Wrexham qualified for the European Cup Winners' Cup as the Welsh Cup winners.

Results

Home \ Away BRA BRY CAM CRL CHE CHF COL EXE GIL HER LIN OXF PET PLY POR PTV PNE ROT SHW SHR SWI TRA WAL WRE
Bradford City 2–1 4–0 2–2 2–2 1–3 1–2 1–2 2–1 0–0 2–2 2–3 2–1 0–1 1–0 1–1 1–1 3–0 3–2 2–0 2–1 2–0 2–3 2–1
Bury 2–2 5–2 1–1 1–1 0–0 1–1 5–0 2–2 1–1 1–0 3–2 0–0 1–1 0–0 3–0 1–1 1–1 3–0 0–3 0–0 1–0 0–1 2–3
Cambridge United 4–1 3–0 2–0 0–0 2–0 2–0 2–1 2–3 2–0 5–0 2–1 1–0 3–0 1–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 3–0 2–0 5–2 1–0 2–1 1–0
Carlisle United 1–1 0–3 1–1 0–0 2–1 1–3 2–0 1–0 2–0 2–3 2–2 0–0 0–0 3–1 1–1 3–1 2–1 1–0 1–0 2–2 2–2 2–0 1–4
Chester 3–2 1–0 0–0 2–2 2–1 2–1 2–1 2–2 4–1 2–2 3–1 4–3 1–1 2–0 2–1 1–2 2–1 2–1 1–0 1–0 0–0 1–1 1–1
Chesterfield 2–0 2–1 2–1 2–1 1–2 0–0 0–0 5–2 2–1 0–0 3–0 2–0 4–1 3–0 2–0 0–1 0–0 2–2 3–1 3–1 1–1 0–1 1–0
Colchester United 3–0 1–0 2–1 2–2 2–0 2–0 3–1 1–1 0–0 1–1 1–1 3–0 3–1 4–0 2–3 0–0 0–0 1–1 1–2 2–0 0–0 1–1 1–1
Exeter City 1–0 2–2 2–4 0–1 1–1 0–0 0–0 2–1 1–0 3–0 2–1 1–0 0–0 0–1 4–1 2–0 1–0 2–1 1–1 0–0 4–2 1–1 0–1
Gillingham 4–1 1–4 3–1 1–1 1–0 3–0 1–3 1–0 4–0 0–0 2–1 0–0 1–1 0–0 1–1 2–1 2–1 2–1 1–1 2–2 1–1 3–1 0–0
Hereford United 2–1 1–0 0–0 1–0 2–2 2–1 1–0 4–0 2–0 1–1 2–1 0–0 1–3 0–2 1–1 0–0 2–3 0–1 1–1 1–1 0–1 3–2 1–1
Lincoln City 3–2 0–0 4–1 2–1 2–1 1–0 0–0 1–2 0–2 0–0 1–0 0–1 2–2 1–0 3–0 2–2 3–3 3–1 1–3 3–1 1–1 2–2 0–1
Oxford United 3–1 0–0 2–3 0–0 4–1 1–1 3–0 0–0 1–1 3–0 1–0 3–3 2–1 0–0 1–1 1–0 2–3 1–0 1–1 3–3 1–0 3–1 2–1
Peterborough United 5–0 2–1 2–0 2–1 0–0 2–0 1–0 1–1 1–1 2–1 0–1 1–0 1–0 0–0 1–1 1–0 1–0 2–1 2–1 2–0 1–0 0–0 2–2
Plymouth Argyle 6–0 0–1 0–1 0–1 2–2 2–0 1–1 2–2 1–3 2–0 1–2 2–1 1–0 3–1 3–2 0–0 1–1 1–1 2–2 0–2 0–1 3–3 0–1
Portsmouth 3–1 1–1 2–2 3–3 0–0 3–0 0–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 0–2 2–2 1–5 1–1 0–2 3–3 2–2 2–0 1–2 2–5 1–2 0–1
Port Vale 1–0 1–2 1–1 0–1 0–0 1–3 0–3 4–0 2–2 1–0 2–1 1–1 0–0 3–3 2–0 0–0 3–0 0–0 1–2 1–0 1–1 2–2 1–1
Preston North End 3–1 4–0 2–0 2–1 2–1 0–0 4–0 0–0 2–0 0–0 4–0 3–2 0–1 5–2 3–1 2–0 3–2 2–1 2–2 1–1 2–1 1–0 1–3
Rotherham United 2–1 0–3 1–0 0–0 1–1 1–2 1–0 1–0 2–0 1–0 0–0 2–0 0–1 1–2 0–1 2–0 2–1 1–2 0–0 1–3 2–0 3–0 2–2
Sheffield Wednesday 2–0 3–2 0–0 3–1 1–1 1–0 1–2 2–1 0–0 1–0 2–0 2–1 0–1 1–1 0–0 3–1 1–0 1–0 0–1 1–1 1–0 0–0 2–1
Shrewsbury Town 4–0 5–3 3–3 0–3 0–0 1–1 1–0 0–2 1–2 3–0 0–1 1–0 0–0 3–1 6–1 3–0 0–0 4–1 0–0 2–3 3–1 0–0 2–1
Swindon Town 0–1 1–1 0–0 2–2 1–1 2–1 0–0 4–0 3–2 1–0 1–0 3–2 2–0 3–1 3–1 1–1 0–2 2–0 2–2 5–0 1–0 2–3 1–2
Tranmere Rovers 0–0 0–0 0–1 3–2 5–0 1–1 1–0 2–1 1–1 2–1 3–1 4–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 2–1 1–0 2–2 3–1 2–0 1–1 0–1 3–1
Walsall 1–1 1–2 0–0 0–0 3–0 2–2 4–2 1–3 2–1 2–0 3–1 2–1 1–0 1–0 1–1 2–0 0–0 3–1 1–1 3–0 2–0 0–0 0–1
Wrexham 2–0 3–1 4–1 3–1 1–2 1–1 2–1 2–1 3–3 2–1 1–0 2–2 0–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 0–0 7–1 1–1 0–0 2–1 6–1 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 Second Division London teams 1977–1978
Locations of the Football League Third Division teams 1977–1978

Fourth Division

Football League
Fourth Division
Season1977–78
ChampionsWatford (1st title)
PromotedBrentford
Southend United
Swansea City
Failed re-electionSouthport
New club in the leagueWimbledon
Matches552
Goals1,427 (2.59 per match)
Top goalscorerAlan Curtis (Swansea City), 32
Steve Phillips (Brentford), 32 [3]

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
1 Watford (C, P) 46 30 11 5 85 38 +47 71 Promotion to the Third Division
2 Southend United (P) 46 25 10 11 66 39 +27 60
3 Swansea City (P) 46 23 10 13 87 47 +40 56
4 Brentford (P) 46 21 14 11 86 54 +32 56
5 Aldershot 46 19 16 11 67 47 +20 54
6 Grimsby Town 46 21 11 14 57 51 +6 53
7 Barnsley 46 18 14 14 61 49 +12 50
8 Reading 46 18 14 14 55 52 +3 50
9 Torquay United 46 16 15 15 57 56 +1 47
10 Northampton Town 46 17 13 16 63 68 −5 47
11 Huddersfield Town 46 15 15 16 63 55 +8 45
12 Doncaster Rovers 46 14 17 15 52 65 −13 45
13 Wimbledon 46 14 16 16 66 67 −1 44
14 Scunthorpe United 46 14 16 16 50 55 −5 44
15 Crewe Alexandra 46 15 14 17 50 69 −19 44
16 Newport County 46 16 11 19 65 73 −8 43
17 Bournemouth 46 14 15 17 41 51 −10 43
18 Stockport County 46 16 10 20 56 56 0 42
19 Darlington 46 14 13 19 52 59 −7 41
20 Halifax Town 46 10 21 15 52 62 −10 41
21 Hartlepool United 46 15 7 24 51 84 −33 37 Re-elected
22 York City 46 12 12 22 50 69 −19 36
23 Southport (R) 46 6 19 21 52 76 −24 31 Failed re-election and demoted to the Northern Premier League
24 Rochdale 46 8 8 30 43 85 −42 24 Re-elected
Source:
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated

Results

Home \ Away BOU ALD BAR BRE CRE DAR DON GRI HAL HAR HUD NPC NOR REA ROC SCU STD SOU STP SWA TOR WAT WDN YOR
AFC Bournemouth 0–0 2–2 3–2 1–0 2–0 0–1 1–0 0–0 1–0 1–0 4–2 1–1 1–0 1–0 1–1 0–3 3–1 1–0 0–1 1–1 1–2 1–2 2–1
Aldershot 2–0 0–0 1–0 2–0 3–2 1–0 4–2 0–0 3–0 3–3 2–2 2–1 1–1 2–0 4–0 3–0 0–0 2–1 2–2 3–0 1–0 3–1 1–1
Barnsley 3–0 2–0 0–0 4–0 2–1 0–0 1–2 3–2 3–2 1–1 1–0 2–3 4–1 4–0 3–0 1–1 2–1 0–1 0–2 2–0 1–0 3–2 2–1
Brentford 1–1 2–0 2–0 5–1 2–0 2–2 3–1 4–1 2–0 1–1 3–3 3–0 1–1 4–0 2–0 1–0 0–0 4–0 0–2 3–0 0–3 4–1 1–0
Crewe Alexandra 3–1 0–2 2–1 4–6 2–2 2–0 0–2 0–0 1–0 1–1 2–0 3–2 1–1 2–1 1–1 0–1 2–0 1–1 2–1 2–0 2–2 0–0 1–0
Darlington 1–0 1–1 0–2 1–3 2–0 1–1 1–2 2–1 1–2 2–2 2–1 2–0 2–0 1–0 1–1 2–0 3–0 2–2 1–1 0–0 0–0 3–1 0–2
Doncaster Rovers 0–0 4–3 2–1 3–1 2–0 1–2 0–1 1–1 2–0 4–3 2–2 4–2 2–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–1 1–0 1–1 1–0 0–1 0–2 1–1
Grimsby Town 0–2 1–0 1–0 2–1 2–2 2–0 0–0 0–0 2–1 1–0 1–0 0–1 0–1 2–1 0–0 2–0 2–0 0–0 2–1 3–1 1–1 3–1 3–2
Halifax Town 0–0 2–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–1 0–0 3–0 0–0 3–1 0–1 2–4 3–1 2–2 0–1 2–1 1–1 3–1 0–0 1–1 1–2 2–0
Hartlepool 0–1 2–2 1–2 3–1 1–1 2–1 0–2 3–1 1–1 3–2 1–1 0–2 2–1 1–0 1–0 1–0 2–1 2–0 0–4 1–2 1–2 2–0 4–2
Huddersfield Town 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–3 3–0 2–1 4–1 1–3 2–2 3–1 2–0 0–1 0–2 3–1 4–1 2–0 3–1 0–0 0–0 1–1 1–0 3–0 1–2
Newport County 3–2 2–1 3–1 1–2 1–0 1–1 1–0 3–0 2–0 4–2 2–0 5–3 0–0 3–0 3–1 1–2 1–1 2–2 1–0 0–0 2–2 0–1 2–1
Northampton Town 1–0 1–1 1–1 2–2 0–0 2–2 0–0 2–1 1–2 5–3 3–1 2–4 0–2 3–1 1–2 0–0 1–0 2–1 3–1 1–0 0–2 0–3 1–1
Reading 0–0 1–0 0–0 0–0 2–0 2–1 3–0 0–0 2–1 2–3 1–0 2–0 0–0 4–3 1–0 0–1 3–1 2–1 1–4 3–3 1–3 2–2 1–0
Rochdale 1–1 0–0 1–1 1–2 0–2 2–0 3–1 1–3 3–1 0–1 0–0 0–1 1–1 1–0 1–1 1–2 2–1 2–1 2–1 1–3 2–3 3–0 1–2
Scunthorpe United 0–0 1–1 1–0 1–1 3–0 3–0 0–0 2–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–2 0–1 1–0 1–2 0–2 3–0 1–0 0–1 0–1 3–0 2–1
Southend United 5–1 3–1 0–0 2–1 1–0 2–0 4–0 1–1 5–0 1–1 1–3 4–2 0–0 0–2 3–1 2–0 4–2 0–2 2–1 4–0 1–0 1–0 0–0
Southport 0–0 1–1 1–1 1–3 1–2 1–0 1–1 2–2 1–2 1–1 1–1 3–3 3–1 1–1 3–1 1–1 0–0 2–0 0–3 0–0 2–2 0–5 4–1
Stockport County 2–1 2–1 3–0 1–1 1–2 1–0 1–1 2–0 1–3 6–0 0–1 2–0 1–2 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–0 2–1 2–0 3–0 1–3 2–2 2–0
Swansea City 1–0 1–0 2–1 2–1 5–0 1–2 3–0 2–0 2–0 8–0 1–0 4–0 2–4 2–1 3–0 3–1 0–0 1–1 3–1 1–1 3–3 3–0 1–1
Torquay United 1–1 1–2 3–1 2–1 1–2 0–0 2–0 3–1 2–2 0–0 2–1 2–0 2–1 3–0 3–0 4–2 0–1 2–2 2–0 2–4 2–3 1–1 3–0
Watford 2–1 1–0 0–0 1–1 5–2 2–1 6–0 1–0 1–1 1–0 2–0 2–0 3–0 1–0 1–0 4–1 1–1 3–2 1–0 2–1 1–0 2–0 1–3
Wimbledon 3–1 1–2 0–0 1–1 0–0 1–1 3–3 2–2 3–3 3–0 2–0 3–0 2–0 1–1 5–1 0–0 1–3 2–2 2–0 1–1 0–1 1–3 2–1
York City 0–0 1–2 1–2 3–2 1–1 1–2 2–1 1–2 1–1 1–0 1–1 2–0 0–3 2–0 2–2 0–2 1–2 2–1 2–1 2–1 0–0 0–4 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 London teams 1977–1978
Locations of the Football League Fourth Division teams 1977–1978

Attendances

Source:[7]

Division One

No. Club Average Highest Lowest
1 Manchester United 51,860 58,398 41,625
2 Liverpool FC 45,546 51,668 38,249
3 Manchester City FC 41,687 50,856 32,412
4 Everton FC 39,513 52,759 33,402
5 Aston Villa FC 35,464 45,436 25,493
6 Arsenal FC 35,446 47,110 23,506
7 Nottingham Forest FC 32,501 47,218 21,743
8 Leeds United FC 29,186 46,727 16,531
9 Chelsea FC 28,734 44,093 18,108
10 West Ham United FC 25,620 37,448 19,260
11 Newcastle United FC 24,729 41,612 7,986
12 West Bromwich Albion FC 24,126 36,067 17,053
13 Birmingham City FC 23,911 33,679 14,302
14 Ipswich Town FC 23,586 30,384 16,952
15 Bristol City FC 23,357 31,506 16,993
16 Coventry City FC 23,353 36,894 13,910
17 Derby County FC 23,345 33,384 18,189
18 Wolverhampton Wanderers FC 22,311 30,644 15,466
19 Queens Park Rangers FC 19,941 26,267 12,925
20 Middlesbrough FC 19,874 30,805 13,247
21 Norwich City FC 19,375 29,168 12,836
22 Leicester City FC 17,768 26,051 11,530

Division Two

No. Club Average Highest Lowest
1 Tottenham Hotspur FC 33,417 50,097 24,636
2 Brighton & Hove Albion FC 25,265 33,431 18,969
3 Bolton Wanderers FC 22,877 36,384 16,232
4 Sunderland AFC 22,276 31,960 11,161
5 Southampton FC 21,167 28,846 15,789
6 Crystal Palace FC 19,636 40,522 11,509
7 Sheffield United FC 15,489 31,207 11,595
8 Stoke City FC 15,038 21,012 10,992
9 Blackburn Rovers FC 12,227 27,835 6,316
10 Burnley FC 11,581 27,427 7,242
11 Charlton Athletic FC 11,307 30,706 5,139
12 Fulham FC 10,550 24,763 6,064
13 Blackpool FC 10,118 25,789 4,695
14 Oldham Athletic FC 9,583 22,184 6,452
15 Notts County FC 9,268 15,718 7,200
16 Luton Town FC 9,252 17,024 5,913
17 Mansfield Town FC 8,982 14,268 5,859
18 Leyton Orient FC 8,365 24,131 4,427
19 Cardiff City FC 8,365 12,538 5,663
20 Millwall FC 8,197 15,216 3,322
21 Bristol Rovers FC 8,108 17,708 4,550
22 Hull City AFC 6,835 16,189 3,645

Division Three

No. Club Average Highest Lowest
1 Wrexham AFC 11,651 23,451 5,260
2 Sheffield Wednesday FC 11,592 18,973 8,661
3 Portsmouth FC 9,678 13,152 5,825
4 Preston North End FC 8,799 16,078 5,319
5 Swindon Town FC 7,367 11,265 4,135
6 Gillingham FC 7,178 10,978 3,450
7 Plymouth Argyle FC 6,763 12,635 4,639
8 Peterborough United FC 5,974 10,156 3,943
9 Cambridge United FC 5,633 10,998 3,397
10 Carlisle United FC 5,319 11,309 3,693
11 Walsall FC 5,317 8,341 4,218
12 Bradford City AFC 5,103 12,825 3,203
13 Bury FC 4,979 9,783 2,536
14 Oxford United FC 4,972 9,083 3,382
15 Rotherham United FC 4,913 12,630 3,244
16 Hereford United FC 4,900 10,183 3,441
17 Exeter City FC 4,887 8,334 3,156
18 Lincoln City FC 4,878 8,811 3,205
19 Chesterfield FC 4,866 12,495 2,748
20 Colchester United FC 4,572 6,447 2,554
21 Chester City FC 4,165 9,801 2,121
22 Port Vale FC 3,947 6,912 3,220
23 Tranmere Rovers 3,926 7,224 2,035
24 Shrewsbury Town FC 3,378 6,116 1,727

Division Four

No. Club Average Highest Lowest
1 Watford FC 11,352 18,947 6,850
2 Brentford FC 8,578 14,496 5,492
3 Swansea City AFC 8,108 16,152 4,240
4 Southend United FC 7,287 11,810 3,693
5 Barnsley FC 5,659 8,797 2,642
6 Grimsby Town FC 4,696 7,434 2,731
7 Reading FC 4,567 7,384 2,457
8 Huddersfield Town AFC 4,508 7,583 1,638
9 Aldershot Town FC 4,347 8,175 2,190
10 Newport County AFC 4,074 8,520 2,112
11 Stockport County FC 4,010 6,177 2,168
12 Northampton Town FC 3,517 8,041 2,278
13 AFC Bournemouth 3,348 6,532 2,221
14 Scunthorpe United FC 3,281 7,771 1,959
15 Doncaster Rovers FC 3,228 7,971 1,440
16 Wimbledon FC 3,135 7,324 1,440
17 Torquay United FC 2,878 6,398 1,845
18 Hartlepool United FC 2,833 5,299 1,926
19 Crewe Alexandra FC 2,290 4,652 1,462
20 York City FC 2,284 4,192 1,389
21 Halifax Town AFC 2,199 4,956 1,077
22 Darlington FC 1,993 3,372 1,115
23 Southport FC 1,873 2,834 838
24 Rochdale AFC 1,275 2,668 734

See also

References

  1. ^ Smailes, Gordon (2000). The Breedon Book of Football Records. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 140. ISBN 1859832148.
  2. ^ Bob Latchford Archived 2014-06-20 at the Wayback Machine, Everton F.C. website
  3. ^ a b c d e "English League Leading Goalscorers". RSSSF. Retrieved 2010-10-31.
  4. ^ "England 1977–78". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 30 January 2010. Retrieved 2010-02-24.
  5. ^ a b Ian Laschke: Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79. Macdonald and Jane’s, London & Sydney, 1980.
  6. ^ "Coventry City". Football Club History Database. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
  7. ^ https://www.european-football-statistics.co.uk/attn/archive/eng/aveeng1978.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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