1980–81 Football League

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The Football League
Season 1980–81
Champions Aston Villa

The 19801981 season was the 82nd completed season of The Football League.

Ron Saunders completed Aston Villa's revival, as they ended their 71-year wait for the league championship trophy. They competed in a two-horse race with Ipswich Town during the final stages of the season before pipping the Suffolk side at the post. Liverpool slipped into fifth place but compensated for this downfall by lifting the European Cup and their first-ever League Cup. But Manchester United failed to make the top five and this shortcoming cost Dave Sexton his manager's job. He was succeeded by Ron Atkinson, who had just finished fourth in the league and reached the UEFA Cup quarterfinals with an impressive West Bromwich Albion side — who would suffer a rapid decline after Atkinson's departure.

Crystal Palace endured a dreadful season with just six wins. They were joined in the Second Division by also-doomed Norwich City and Leicester City.

FA Cup holders West Ham United regained their First Division status by lifting the Second Division championship trophy. They were joined by Notts County and Swansea City, completing a meteoric rise under John Toshack, from the Fourth Division to the First in just four years.

Both Bristol clubs were relegated from the Second Division in 1980–81. They were joined in the drop zone by Preston North End.

Rotherham United, Barnsley and Charlton Athletic occupied the promotion places in the Third Division. Hull City, Blackpool and Colchester United were joined in the Third Division drop zone by Sheffield United - who just seven years earlier had finished sixth in the First Division.

Southend United, Lincoln City, Doncaster Rovers and Wimbledon occupied the four promotion places in the Fourth Division. There were no movements between the Fourth Division and the Alliance Premier League as the re-election system went in favour of the league's bottom four clubs.

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

Aston Villa came top of a hotly-contested title race to clinch their first top division title since 1910. Runners-up Ipswich Town had compensation for their failed title challenge in the shape of a UEFA Cup triumph, and were also semi-finalists in the FA Cup, their relatively small squad struggling in the final weeks of the season as a challenge for three major trophies took its toll. Arsenal finished third, while West Bromwich Albion enjoyed another strong season and finished fourth. Liverpool finished fifth but compensated for a relatively low finish in the league by winning their third European Cup and their first-ever Football League Cup.

Manchester United's failure to finish higher than eighth in the league cost manager Dave Sexton his job after four trophyless seasons in charge, and a lengthy search for a new manager saw West Bromwich Albion's Ron Atkinson named as his successor. Everton appointed their former player Howard Kendall as manager after a disappointing 15th-place finish. Tottenham, meanwhile, only finished 11th in the league but achieved a sixth triumph in the FA Cup at the expense of Manchester City, who climbed up to 12th place in the league after an upturn in fortunes brought about the October change of manager from Malcolm Allison to John Bond.

Bond's former club Norwich City went down to the Second Division along with Leicester City and Crystal Palace.

Football League, First Division
Season 1980–81
Champions Aston Villa (7th English title)
Relegated Crystal Palace,
Leicester City,
Norwich City
European Cup 1981–82 Aston Villa,
Liverpool
FA Cup winners
European Cup Winners' Cup 1981–82
Tottenham Hotspur (6th FA Cup title)
UEFA Cup 1981–82 Arsenal,
Ipswich Town,
Southampton,
West Bromwich Albion
Matches played 462
Goals scored 1228 (2.66 per match)
Top goalscorer Peter Withe (Aston Villa), 20
Steve Archibald (Tottenham Hotspur), 20 [3]
Biggest home win MiddlesbroughNorwich 6–1 (4 Oct 1980)
EvertonCrystal Palace 5–0 (20 Sep 1980)
Manchester UnitedLeicester 5–0 (13 Sep 1980)
Nottingham ForestLeicester 5–0 (20 Sep 1980)
Nottingham ForestStoke 5–0 (30 Aug 1980)
Biggest away win CoventryEverton 0–5 (27 Sep 1980)
Leeds UnitedArsenal 0–5 (8 Nov 1980)
Highest scoring TottenhamIpswich Town 5–3 (17 Dec 1980)
TottenhamSouthampton 4–4 (26 Dec 1980)
Pos Team Pld W D L F A W D L F A F A GD Pts Notes
1 Aston Villa 42 16 3 2 40 13 10 5 6 32 27 72 40 +32 60 European Cup 1981–82 First round
2 Ipswich Town 42 15 4 2 45 14 8 6 7 32 29 77 43 +34 56 UEFA Cup 1981–82 First round
3 Arsenal 42 13 8 0 36 17 6 7 8 25 28 61 45 +16 53 UEFA Cup 1981–82 First round
4 West Bromwich Albion 42 15 4 2 40 15 5 8 8 20 27 60 42 +18 52 UEFA Cup 1981–82 First round
5 Liverpool 42 13 5 3 38 15 4 12 5 24 27 62 42 +20 51 European Cup 1981–82 First round [notes 1]
6 Southampton 42 15 4 2 47 22 5 6 10 29 34 76 56 +20 50 UEFA Cup 1981–82 First round
7 Nottingham Forest 42 15 3 3 44 20 4 9 8 18 24 62 44 +18 50
8 Manchester United 42 9 11 1 30 14 6 7 8 21 22 51 36 +15 48
9 Leeds United 42 10 5 6 19 19 7 5 9 20 28 39 47 –8 44
10 Tottenham Hotspur 42 9 9 3 44 31 5 6 10 26 37 70 68 +2 43 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1981–82 First round
11 Stoke City 42 8 9 4 31 23 4 9 8 20 37 51 60 –9 42
12 Manchester City 42 10 7 4 35 25 4 4 13 21 34 56 59 –3 39
13 Birmingham City 42 11 5 5 32 23 2 7 12 18 38 50 61 –11 38
14 Middlesbrough 42 14 4 3 38 16 2 1 18 15 45 53 61 –8 37
15 Everton 42 8 6 7 32 25 5 4 12 23 33 55 58 –3 36
16 Coventry City 42 9 6 6 31 30 4 4 13 17 38 48 68 –20 36
17 Sunderland 42 10 4 7 32 19 4 3 14 20 34 52 53 –1 35
18 Wolverhampton Wanderers 42 11 2 8 26 20 2 7 12 17 35 43 55 –12 35
19 Brighton & Hove Albion 42 10 3 8 30 26 4 4 13 24 41 54 67 –13 35
20 Norwich City 42 9 7 5 34 25 4 0 17 15 48 49 73 –24 33
21 Leicester City 42 7 5 9 20 23 6 1 14 20 44 40 67 –27 32
22 Crystal Palace 42 6 4 11 32 37 0 3 18 15 46 47 83 –36 19

P = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points

  1. Liverpool won the European Cup this year for the third time within 5 years, and thus qualified for the following season's competition as defending champions.
    They also won the League cup this year.
Key
League Champions, qualified for European Cup
Qualified for European Cup
FA Cup winners, qualified for Cup Winners' Cup
Qualified for UEFA Cup
League Cup Winners, see Liverpool
Relegated

First Division results

Home ╲ Away ARS AST BIR BHA COV CRY EVE IPS LEE LEI LIV MCI MUN MID NOR NOT SOU STK SUN TOT WBA WOL
Arsenal 2–0 2–1 2–0 2–2 3–2 2–1 1–1 0–0 1–0 1–0 2–0 2–1 2–2 3–1 1–0 1–1 2–0 2–2 2–0 2–2 1–1
Aston Villa 1–1 3–0 4–1 1–0 2–1 0–2 1–2 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–0 3–3 3–0 1–0 2–0 2–1 1–0 4–0 3–0 1–0 2–1
Birmingham City 3–1 1–2 2–1 3–1 1–0 1–1 1–3 0–2 1–2 1–1 2–0 0–0 2–1 4–0 2–0 0–3 1–1 3–2 2–1 1–1 1–0
Brighton & Hove Albion 0–1 1–0 2–2 4–1 3–2 1–3 1–0 2–0 2–1 2–2 1–2 1–4 0–1 2–0 0–1 2–0 1–1 2–1 0–2 1–2 2–0
Coventry City 3–1 1–2 2–1 3–3 3–1 0–5 0–4 2–1 4–1 0–0 1–1 0–2 1–0 0–1 1–1 1–0 2–2 2–1 0–1 3–0 2–2
Crystal Palace 2–2 0–1 3–1 0–3 0–3 2–3 1–2 0–1 2–1 2–2 2–3 1–0 5–2 4–1 1–3 3–2 1–1 0–1 3–4 0–1 0–0
Everton 1–2 1–3 1–1 4–3 3–0 5–0 0–0 1–2 1–0 2–2 0–2 0–1 4–1 0–2 0–0 2–1 0–1 2–1 2–2 1–1 2–0
Ipswich Town 0–2 1–0 5–1 2–0 2–0 3–2 4–0 1–1 3–1 1–1 1–0 1–1 1–0 2–0 2–0 2–3 4–0 4–1 3–0 0–0 3–1
Leeds United 0–5 1–2 0–0 1–0 3–0 1–0 1–0 3–0 1–2 0–0 1–0 0–0 2–1 1–0 1–0 0–3 1–3 1–0 0–0 0–0 1–3
Leicester City 1–0 2–4 1–0 0–1 1–3 1–1 0–1 0–1 0–1 2–0 1–1 1–0 1–0 1–2 1–1 2–2 1–1 0–1 2–1 0–2 2–0
Liverpool 1–1 2–1 2–2 4–1 2–1 3–0 1–0 1–1 0–0 1–2 1–0 0–1 4–2 4–1 0–0 2–0 3–0 0–1 2–1 4–0 1–0
Manchester City 1–1 2–2 0–1 1–1 3–0 1–1 3–1 1–1 1–0 3–3 0–3 1–0 3–2 1–0 1–1 3–0 1–2 0–4 3–1 2–1 4–0
Manchester United 0–0 3–3 2–0 2–1 0–0 1–0 2–0 2–1 0–1 5–0 0–0 2–2 3–0 1–0 1–1 1–1 2–2 1–1 0–0 2–1 0–0
Middlesbrough 2–1 2–1 1–2 1–0 0–1 2–0 1–0 2–1 3–0 1–0 1–2 2–2 1–1 6–1 0–0 1–1 3–1 1–0 4–1 2–1 2–0
Norwich City 1–1 1–3 2–2 3–1 2–0 1–1 2–1 1–0 2–3 2–3 0–1 2–0 2–2 2–0 1–1 1–0 5–1 1–0 2–2 0–2 1–1
Nottingham Forest 3–1 2–2 2–1 4–1 1–1 3–0 1–0 1–2 2–1 5–0 0–0 3–2 1–2 1–0 2–1 2–1 5–0 3–1 0–3 2–1 1–0
Southampton 3–1 1–2 3–1 3–1 1–0 4–2 3–0 3–3 2–1 4–0 2–2 2–0 1–0 1–0 2–1 2–0 1–2 2–1 1–1 2–2 4–2
Stoke City 1–1 1–1 0–0 0–0 2–2 1–0 2–2 2–2 3–0 1–0 2–2 2–1 1–2 1–0 3–1 1–2 1–2 2–0 2–3 0–0 3–2
Sunderland 2–0 1–2 3–0 1–2 3–0 1–0 3–1 0–2 4–1 1–0 2–4 2–0 2–0 0–1 3–0 2–2 1–2 0–0 1–1 0–0 0–1
Tottenham Hotspur 2–0 2–0 1–0 2–2 4–1 4–2 2–2 5–3 1–1 1–2 1–1 2–1 0–0 3–2 2–3 2–0 4–4 2–2 0–0 2–3 2–2
West Bromwich Albion 0–1 0–0 2–2 2–0 1–0 1–0 2–0 3–1 1–2 3–1 2–0 3–1 3–1 3–0 3–0 2–1 2–1 0–0 2–1 4–2 1–1
Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–2 0–1 1–0 0–2 0–1 2–0 0–0 0–2 2–1 0–1 4–1 1–3 1–0 3–0 3–0 1–4 1–1 1–0 2–1 1–0 2–0

Source: [1] Soccerbase
^ The home team is listed in the left-hand column.
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

First Division maps

Locations of the Football League First Division London teams 1980–1981

Second Division

A year after winning the FA Cup, West Ham ended their three-year exile from the First Division by clinching the Second Division title. Notts County, who finished second, went up after 55 years away from the First Division. Third placed Swansea City completed an unprecedented four-season climb from the Fourth Division to the First Division, where they had never previously played. Blackburn Rovers missed out on promotion on goal difference, and then lost their promising young player-manager Howard Kendall to Everton.

Both Bristol clubs went down along with Preston North End.

Football League, Second Division
Season 1980–81
Champions West Ham United (2nd title)
Promoted Notts County,
Swansea City
Relegated Bristol City,
Bristol Rovers,
Preston North End
Matches played 462
Goals scored 1073 (2.32 per match)
Top goalscorer David Cross (West Ham United), 22 [3]
Biggest home win ChelseaNewcastle 6–0 (25 Oct 1980)
Biggest away win Grimsby TownWest Ham 1–5 (11 Apr 1981)
WrexhamChelsea 0–4 (15 Nov 1980)
Highest scoring BoltonCambridge United 6–1 (1 Nov 1980)
Pos Team Pld W D L F A W D L F A F A GD Pts Notes
1 West Ham United 42 19 1 1 53 12 9 9 3 26 17 79 29 +50 66
2 Notts County 42 10 8 3 26 15 8 9 4 23 23 49 38 +11 53
3 Swansea City 42 12 5 4 39 19 6 9 6 25 25 64 44 +20 50 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1981–82
First round
[notes2 1]
4 Blackburn Rovers 42 12 8 1 28 7 4 10 7 14 22 42 29 +13 50
5 Luton Town 42 10 6 5 35 23 8 6 7 26 23 61 46 +15 48
6 Derby County 42 9 8 4 34 26 6 7 8 23 26 57 52 +5 45
7 Grimsby Town 42 10 8 3 21 10 5 7 9 23 32 44 42 +2 45
8 Queens Park Rangers 42 11 7 3 36 12 4 6 11 20 34 56 46 +10 43
9 Watford 42 13 5 3 34 18 3 6 12 16 27 50 45 +5 43
10 Sheffield Wednesday 42 14 4 3 38 14 3 4 14 15 37 53 51 +2 42
11 Newcastle United 42 11 7 3 22 13 3 7 11 8 32 30 45 –15 42
12 Chelsea 42 8 6 7 27 15 6 6 9 19 26 46 41 +5 40
13 Cambridge United 42 13 1 7 36 23 4 5 12 17 42 53 65 –12 40
14 Shrewsbury Town 42 9 7 5 33 22 2 10 9 13 25 46 47 –1 39
15 Oldham Athletic 42 7 9 5 19 16 5 6 10 20 32 39 48 –9 39
16 Wrexham 42 5 8 8 22 24 7 6 8 21 21 43 45 –2 38
17 Orient 42 9 8 4 34 20 4 4 13 18 36 52 56 –4 38
18 Bolton Wanderers 42 10 5 6 40 27 4 5 12 21 39 61 66 –5 38
19 Cardiff City 42 7 7 7 23 24 5 5 11 21 36 44 60 –16 36
20 Preston North End 42 8 7 6 28 26 3 7 11 13 36 41 62 –21 36
21 Bristol City 42 6 10 5 19 15 1 6 14 10 36 29 51 –22 30
22 Bristol Rovers 42 4 9 8 21 24 1 4 16 13 41 34 65 –31 23

P = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points

  1. Swansea City qualified for European Cup Winners' Cup First round as Welsh Cup winners.
Key
Division Champions, promoted
Promoted
Welsh Cup winners, qualified for Cup Winners' Cup, also promoted
Relegated

Second Division results

Home ╲ Away BLB BOL BRI BRO CAM CAR CHE DER GRI LUT NEW NTC OLD ORI PNE QPR SHW SHR SWA WAT WHU WRE
Blackburn Rovers 0–0 1–0 2–0 2–0 2–3 1–1 1–0 2–0 3–0 3–0 0–0 1–0 2–0 0–0 2–1 3–1 2–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 1–1
Bolton Wanderers 1–2 1–1 2–0 6–1 4–2 2–3 3–1 1–1 0–3 4–0 3–0 2–0 3–1 2–1 1–2 0–0 0–2 1–4 2–1 1–1 1–1
Bristol City 2–0 3–1 0–0 0–1 0–0 0–0 2–2 1–1 2–1 2–0 0–1 1–1 3–1 0–0 0–1 1–0 1–1 0–1 0–0 1–1 0–2
Bristol Rovers 0–1 2–1 0–0 0–1 0–1 1–0 1–1 2–2 2–4 0–0 1–1 0–0 1–1 2–0 1–2 3–3 1–1 1–2 3–1 0–1 0–1
Cambridge United 0–0 2–3 2–1 1–3 2–0 0–1 3–0 5–1 1–3 2–1 1–2 3–1 1–0 1–0 1–0 0–2 3–1 3–1 3–1 1–2 1–0
Cardiff City 1–2 1–1 2–3 2–1 1–2 0–1 0–0 1–1 1–0 1–0 0–1 0–2 4–2 1–3 1–0 0–0 2–2 3–3 1–0 0–0 1–0
Chelsea 0–0 2–0 0–0 2–0 3–0 0–1 1–3 3–0 0–2 6–0 0–2 1–0 0–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 3–0 0–0 0–1 0–1 2–2
Derby County 2–2 1–0 1–0 2–1 0–3 1–1 3–2 2–1 2–2 2–0 2–2 4–1 1–1 1–2 3–3 3–1 1–1 0–1 1–1 2–0 0–1
Grimsby Town 0–0 4–0 1–0 2–0 3–1 0–1 2–0 0–1 0–0 0–0 2–1 0–0 2–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 1–0 1–0 1–1 1–5 1–0
Luton Town 3–1 2–2 3–1 1–0 0–0 2–2 2–0 1–2 0–2 0–1 0–1 1–2 2–1 4–2 3–0 3–0 1–1 2–2 1–0 3–2 1–1
Newcastle United 0–0 2–1 0–0 0–0 2–1 2–1 1–0 0–2 1–1 2–1 1–1 0–0 3–1 2–0 1–0 1–0 1–0 1–2 2–1 0–0 0–1
Notts County 2–0 2–1 2–1 3–1 2–0 4–2 1–1 0–0 0–0 0–1 0–0 0–2 1–0 0–0 2–1 2–0 0–0 2–1 1–2 1–1 1–1
Oldham Athletic 1–0 1–1 2–0 1–0 2–2 2–0 0–0 0–2 1–2 0–0 0–0 0–1 0–1 1–1 1–0 2–0 0–0 2–2 2–1 0–0 1–3
Orient 1–1 2–2 3–1 2–2 3–0 2–2 0–1 1–0 2–0 0–0 1–1 0–2 2–3 4–0 4–0 2–0 1–0 1–1 1–1 0–2 2–1
Preston North End 0–0 1–2 1–1 0–0 2–0 3–1 1–0 0–3 2–4 1–0 2–3 2–2 1–2 3–0 3–2 2–1 0–0 1–3 2–1 0–0 1–1
Queens Park Rangers 1–1 3–1 4–0 4–0 5–0 2–0 1–0 3–1 1–0 3–2 1–2 1–1 2–0 0–0 1–1 1–2 0–0 0–0 0–0 3–0 0–1
Sheffield Wednesday 2–1 2–0 2–1 4–1 4–1 2–0 0–0 0–0 1–2 3–1 2–0 1–2 3–0 2–2 3–0 1–0 1–1 2–0 1–0 0–1 2–1
Shrewsbury Town 1–1 1–2 4–0 3–1 2–1 2–0 2–2 1–0 1–0 0–1 1–0 1–1 2–2 1–2 3–0 3–3 2–0 0–0 2–1 0–2 1–2
Swansea City 2–0 3–0 0–0 2–1 1–1 1–1 3–0 3–1 1–0 2–2 4–0 1–1 3–0 0–2 3–0 1–2 2–3 2–1 1–0 1–3 3–1
Watford 1–1 3–1 1–0 3–1 0–0 4–2 2–3 1–1 3–1 0–1 0–0 2–0 2–1 2–0 2–1 1–1 2–1 1–0 2–1 1–2 1–0
West Ham United 2–0 2–1 5–0 2–0 4–2 1–0 4–0 3–1 2–1 1–2 1–0 4–0 1–1 2–1 5–0 3–0 2–1 3–0 2–0 3–2 1–0
Wrexham 0–1 0–1 1–0 3–1 0–0 0–1 0–4 2–2 0–2 0–0 0–0 1–1 3–2 3–1 0–1 1–1 4–0 1–2 1–1 0–1 2–2

Source: [2] Soccerbase
^ The home team is listed in the left-hand column.
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Second Division maps

Locations of the Football League Second Division London teams 1980–1981

Third Division

Football League, Third Division
Season 1980–81
Champions Rotherham United (1st title)
Promoted Barnsley,
Charlton Athletic
Relegated Blackpool,
Colchester United,
Hull City,
Sheffield United
Matches played 552
Goals scored 1337 (2.42 per match)
Top goalscorer Tony Kellow (Exeter City), 25 [3]
Pos Team Pld W D L F A W D L F A F A GD Pts
1 Rotherham United 46 17 6 0 43 8 7 7 9 19 24 62 32 +30 61
2 Barnsley 46 15 5 3 46 19 6 12 5 26 26 72 45 +27 59
3 Charlton Athletic 46 14 6 3 36 17 11 3 9 27 27 63 44 +19 59
4 Huddersfield Town 46 14 6 3 40 11 7 8 8 31 29 71 40 +31 56
5 Chesterfield 46 17 4 2 42 16 6 6 11 30 32 72 48 +24 56
6 Portsmouth 46 14 5 4 35 19 8 4 11 20 28 55 47 +8 53
7 Plymouth Argyle 46 14 5 4 35 18 5 9 9 21 26 56 44 +12 52
8 Burnley 46 13 5 5 37 21 5 9 9 23 27 60 48 +12 50
9 Brentford 46 7 9 7 30 25 7 10 6 22 24 52 49 +3 47
10 Reading 46 13 5 5 39 22 5 5 13 23 40 62 62 ±0 46
11 Exeter City 46 9 9 5 36 30 7 4 12 26 36 62 66 –4 45
12 Newport County 46 11 6 6 38 22 4 7 12 26 39 64 61 +3 43
13 Fulham 46 8 7 8 28 29 7 6 10 29 35 57 64 –7 43
14 Oxford United 46 7 8 8 20 24 6 9 8 19 23 39 47 –8 43
15 Gillingham 46 9 8 6 23 19 3 10 10 25 39 48 58 –10 42
16 Millwall 46 10 9 4 30 21 4 5 14 13 39 43 60 –17 42
17 Swindon Town 46 10 6 7 35 27 3 9 11 16 29 51 56 –5 41
18 Chester 46 11 5 7 25 17 4 6 13 13 31 38 48 –10 41
19 Carlisle United 46 8 9 6 32 29 6 4 13 24 41 56 70 –14 41
20 Walsall 46 8 9 6 43 43 5 6 12 16 31 59 74 –15 41
21 Sheffield United 46 12 6 5 38 20 2 6 15 27 43 65 63 +2 40
22 Colchester United 46 12 7 4 35 22 2 4 17 10 43 45 65 –20 39
23 Blackpool 46 5 9 9 19 28 4 5 14 26 47 45 75 –30 32
24 Hull City 46 7 8 8 23 22 1 8 14 17 49 40 71 –31 32

P = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points

Key
Division Champions, promoted
Promoted
Relegated

Third Division results

Home ╲ Away BAR BLP BRE BUR CRL CHA CHE CHF COL EXE FUL GIL HUD HUL MIL NPC OXF PLY POR REA ROT SHU SWI WAL
Barnsley 2–0 0–1 3–2 3–1 0–0 2–0 1–1 3–0 1–0 2–2 3–3 1–0 5–0 2–0 4–1 1–1 2–1 1–2 2–3 1–0 2–1 2–0 3–0
Blackpool 1–0 0–3 0–0 0–1 0–2 2–3 0–3 1–1 0–0 0–2 4–0 1–2 2–2 0–0 2–4 1–1 1–0 0–2 0–0 0–0 2–1 1–1 1–0
Brentford 1–1 2–0 0–0 1–1 0–1 0–1 3–2 2–1 0–1 1–3 3–3 0–0 2–2 1–0 0–1 3–0 0–1 2–2 1–2 2–1 1–1 1–1 4–0
Burnley 0–1 4–1 2–0 0–3 0–1 1–0 1–0 1–0 1–0 3–0 3–2 4–2 2–0 5–0 1–1 1–1 2–1 1–3 1–2 1–1 3–2 0–0 0–0
Carlisle United 2–2 2–0 1–2 3–2 1–2 3–0 2–6 4–0 1–1 2–2 0–0 1–1 2–0 2–1 1–4 0–0 2–0 0–0 0–0 0–1 0–3 2–1 1–1
Charlton Athletic 1–1 2–1 3–1 2–0 2–1 1–0 1–0 1–2 1–0 1–1 2–1 1–2 3–2 0–0 3–0 0–0 1–1 1–2 4–2 2–0 2–0 0–0 2–0
Chester 2–2 2–1 0–0 0–0 1–0 4–0 2–1 0–0 1–0 0–1 1–2 0–2 4–1 0–1 1–1 0–1 1–0 0–1 1–0 0–1 3–2 1–0 1–0
Chesterfield 0–0 3–2 2–1 3–0 1–0 0–1 2–0 3–0 1–0 0–0 2–0 2–1 1–0 3–0 3–2 2–1 2–2 3–0 3–2 2–0 1–0 2–2 1–2
Colchester United 2–2 3–2 0–2 2–1 1–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–2 3–2 2–1 1–2 2–0 3–0 1–0 3–0 2–2 1–0 1–2 0–0 1–1 1–0 1–1
Exeter City 0–1 0–0 0–0 0–0 2–0 4–3 2–2 2–2 4–0 1–0 2–1 1–4 1–3 2–0 2–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 3–1 2–1 1–1 3–4 0–3
Fulham 2–3 1–2 1–1 0–2 2–3 1–0 0–1 1–1 1–0 0–1 3–2 2–2 0–0 1–1 2–1 0–4 0–0 3–0 1–2 1–1 2–1 2–0 2–1
Gillingham 1–1 3–1 2–0 0–0 0–1 0–1 2–1 1–0 0–0 1–5 1–0 0–0 2–0 1–2 3–2 1–1 0–1 0–1 2–0 0–0 2–2 0–0 1–0
Huddersfield Town 1–0 1–1 3–0 0–0 1–1 0–1 0–0 2–0 2–0 5–0 4–2 1–0 5–0 0–1 1–4 2–0 2–0 0–0 4–1 1–0 1–0 0–2 1–1
Hull City 1–2 2–1 0–0 0–0 0–1 0–2 0–0 0–0 0–1 3–3 0–1 2–2 2–1 3–1 3–1 0–1 1–0 2–1 2–0 1–2 1–1 0–0 0–1
Millwall 1–1 0–0 2–2 2–2 3–0 2–0 1–0 0–2 3–1 1–0 3–1 0–0 2–1 1–1 0–0 2–1 1–1 0–0 2–1 0–1 1–4 3–1 0–1
Newport County 0–0 3–1 1–1 1–2 4–0 1–2 1–1 5–1 1–0 2–1 2–1 1–1 3–2 4–0 2–1 0–1 0–2 2–1 0–0 0–1 4–0 0–2 1–1
Oxford United 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–2 1–0 1–0 0–3 2–1 1–2 2–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–0 0–1 0–0 1–2 2–1 1–1 2–0 0–0 1–1
Plymouth Argyle 1–3 0–2 0–1 2–1 4–1 1–1 2–0 1–0 1–1 0–2 2–1 4–1 0–0 0–0 2–0 3–2 3–0 1–0 2–1 3–1 1–0 0–0 2–0
Portsmouth 0–1 3–3 0–2 4–2 2–1 1–0 2–0 1–0 2–1 5–0 1–0 0–0 1–2 2–1 2–1 0–0 1–1 1–3 0–0 3–1 1–0 1–0 2–0
Reading 3–2 3–0 0–0 1–3 3–1 1–3 3–0 2–3 1–0 2–1 0–0 0–1 2–1 2–0 4–1 1–1 0–1 1–1 2–1 1–1 1–0 4–1 2–0
Rotherham United 2–0 4–0 4–1 1–0 3–0 3–0 0–0 0–0 2–0 3–1 2–2 2–0 0–0 1–1 3–0 1–0 0–0 2–1 3–0 2–0 2–1 1–0 2–1
Sheffield United 1–1 4–2 0–0 0–0 2–2 3–2 2–0 2–0 3–0 3–1 1–2 0–1 2–2 3–1 2–3 2–0 1–0 0–0 1–0 2–0 1–2 3–0 0–1
Swindon Town 2–0 1–2 0–0 0–3 1–1 0–3 1–2 0–1 3–0 2–2 3–4 0–0 1–0 3–1 0–0 1–1 1–0 3–0 0–2 3–1 2–1 5–2 3–1
Walsall 1–1 2–2 2–3 3–1 4–3 2–2 2–1 4–3 3–1 1–3 1–2 3–3 2–2 1–1 0–0 1–0 0–3 1–3 2–0 2–2 0–2 4–4 2–1

Source: [3] Soccerbase
^ The home team is listed in the left-hand column.
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Third Division maps

Locations of the Football League Third Division London teams 1980–1981

Fourth Division

Football League, Fourth Division
Season 1980–81
Champions Southend United (1st title)
Promoted Doncaster Rovers,
Lincoln City,
Wimbledon
Failed re-election None
Matches played 552
Goals scored 1364 (2.47 per match)
Top goalscorer Alan Cork (Wimbledon), 23 [3]
Pos Team Pld W D L F A W D L F A F A GD Pts
1 Southend United 46 19 4 0 47 6 11 3 9 32 25 79 31 +48 67
2 Lincoln City 46 15 7 1 44 11 10 8 5 22 14 66 25 +41 65
3 Doncaster Rovers 46 15 4 4 36 20 7 8 8 23 29 59 49 +10 56
4 Wimbledon 46 15 4 4 42 17 8 5 10 22 29 64 46 +18 55
5 Peterborough United 46 11 8 4 37 21 6 10 7 31 33 68 54 +14 52
6 Aldershot 46 12 9 2 28 11 6 5 12 15 30 43 41 +2 50
7 Mansfield Town 46 13 5 5 36 15 7 4 12 22 29 58 44 +14 49
8 Darlington 46 13 6 4 43 23 6 5 12 22 36 65 59 +6 49
9 Hartlepool United 46 14 3 6 42 22 6 6 11 22 39 64 61 +3 49
10 Northampton Town 46 11 7 5 42 26 7 6 10 23 41 65 67 –2 49
11 Wigan Athletic 46 13 4 6 29 16 5 7 11 22 39 51 55 –4 47
12 Bury 46 10 8 5 38 21 7 3 13 32 41 70 62 +8 45
13 Bournemouth 46 9 8 6 30 21 7 5 11 17 27 47 48 –1 45
14 Bradford City 46 9 9 5 30 24 5 7 11 23 36 53 60 –7 44
15 Rochdale 46 11 6 6 33 25 3 9 11 27 45 60 70 –10 43
16 Scunthorpe United 46 8 12 3 40 31 3 8 12 20 38 60 69 –9 42
17 Torquay United 46 13 2 8 38 26 5 3 15 17 37 55 63 –8 41
18 Crewe Alexandra 46 10 7 6 28 20 3 7 13 20 41 48 61 –13 40
19 Port Vale 46 10 8 5 40 23 2 7 14 17 47 57 70 –13 39
20 Stockport County 46 10 5 8 29 25 6 2 15 15 32 44 57 –13 39
21 Tranmere Rovers 46 12 5 6 41 24 1 5 17 18 49 59 73 –14 36
22 Hereford United 46 8 8 7 29 20 3 5 15 9 42 38 62 –24 35
23 Halifax Town 46 9 3 11 28 32 2 9 12 16 39 44 71 –27 34
24 York City 46 10 2 11 31 23 2 7 14 16 43 47 66 –19 33

P = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points

Key
Division Champions, promoted
Promoted
New club in the league (none)
Re-elected
Failed re-election (none)

Fourth Division results

Home ╲ Away ALD BOU BRA BRY CRE DAR DON HAL HAR HER LIN MAN NOR PET PTV ROC SCU STD STP TOR TRA WIG WDN YOR
Aldershot 0–0 1–1 1–0 2–0 2–1 1–0 2–1 2–1 4–0 0–0 1–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 1–2 3–0 2–1 3–2 0–1 2–0 1–1
AFC Bournemouth 0–2 4–0 2–2 0–0 3–3 1–2 2–1 1–0 1–0 0–1 0–1 0–0 4–1 0–0 2–1 2–2 2–1 0–1 1–1 1–0 3–0 0–1 1–1
Bradford City 1–0 1–1 0–2 2–2 3–0 1–1 0–0 2–0 0–1 1–2 0–2 3–1 1–1 2–1 2–1 0–0 2–1 1–1 2–0 0–3 3–3 2–0 1–1
Bury 0–0 3–0 2–2 1–3 1–2 2–0 0–0 0–0 2–1 1–1 4–1 1–2 1–1 2–1 3–1 6–1 1–2 0–1 3–0 2–2 0–0 1–0 2–0
Crewe Alexandra 0–0 0–2 1–0 2–2 1–1 0–0 2–1 2–0 5–0 0–3 1–2 3–1 1–0 0–0 1–0 1–0 1–1 2–0 0–1 3–0 1–2 0–3 1–1
Darlington 1–2 1–2 2–1 2–1 2–1 5–0 3–1 3–0 2–1 0–0 2–2 1–0 2–0 1–1 4–4 0–1 0–2 2–2 1–0 2–0 3–1 4–1 0–0
Doncaster Rovers 1–0 2–1 2–0 1–0 1–1 2–0 0–0 1–2 5–1 0–1 2–1 1–1 0–4 2–0 1–2 1–0 1–0 2–1 2–0 1–0 1–1 2–1 3–2
Halifax Town 1–0 1–2 2–0 4–2 1–0 1–2 0–3 1–2 0–0 1–3 0–2 0–1 2–3 2–2 2–0 1–0 1–5 2–0 2–1 1–1 0–1 0–1 3–1
Hartlepool United 1–0 1–0 2–2 1–2 6–2 2–0 1–0 3–0 2–0 2–0 0–1 2–3 1–1 3–0 2–2 2–0 1–3 1–0 0–2 3–0 3–1 2–3 1–0
Hereford United 0–0 1–0 4–0 0–1 0–0 0–1 1–3 0–1 3–0 0–2 2–1 4–1 1–1 2–3 3–0 2–1 0–0 2–0 0–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1
Lincoln City 0–1 2–0 1–1 2–1 2–1 1–0 1–1 3–0 2–0 1–0 1–1 8–0 1–1 1–0 3–0 2–2 2–1 1–0 5–0 2–0 2–0 0–0 1–1
Mansfield Town 1–2 1–1 1–0 2–0 4–1 1–0 1–1 0–1 0–1 4–0 2–0 2–0 2–1 5–0 2–2 1–0 0–1 1–0 1–1 1–1 3–1 1–0 0–1
Northampton Town 2–0 0–1 0–1 5–3 4–1 2–2 0–2 2–1 3–1 0–0 1–1 0–1 2–2 5–1 3–2 3–3 2–0 0–1 1–0 3–1 1–1 1–1 2–0
Peterborough United 0–0 1–0 2–2 2–0 2–1 1–0 0–1 2–2 1–1 3–0 1–0 1–0 3–0 1–1 2–2 0–2 5–2 1–2 1–3 4–1 0–0 1–1 3–0
Port Vale 0–1 0–2 2–1 1–3 2–2 4–2 3–0 0–0 1–1 4–0 0–1 0–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–2 1–0 2–0 3–1 5–1 3–0 2–3 2–0
Rochdale 2–0 0–0 0–2 2–1 2–0 0–0 2–2 1–1 1–1 0–0 1–0 1–4 0–1 2–3 2–1 4–0 0–2 2–1 2–1 3–1 3–0 2–0 3–2
Scunthorpe United 2–2 1–1 1–0 2–2 1–1 3–0 1–1 2–2 3–3 3–1 2–2 2–0 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–1 2–0 0–2 2–0 4–4 1–2 3–2
Southend United 3–0 2–1 3–1 1–0 3–0 1–0 0–0 5–1 4–0 2–0 0–0 2–0 0–0 1–0 5–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 3–1 2–0 1–0 1–0 3–0
Stockport County 1–0 2–1 1–2 1–2 1–3 0–1 2–1 1–1 0–2 0–0 0–0 2–1 1–2 3–4 2–1 2–2 2–0 1–0 4–1 1–0 0–1 0–0 2–0
Torquay United 2–0 2–0 2–0 3–1 1–0 0–2 2–3 1–0 2–1 0–1 1–2 1–1 3–3 2–0 4–0 2–0 2–1 0–3 1–2 2–1 2–0 2–3 1–2
Tranmere 3–1 0–1 1–1 3–1 0–1 3–1 1–1 2–0 2–2 2–1 0–0 1–0 3–2 1–2 1–2 3–1 1–2 2–2 1–0 1–0 2–3 3–0 5–0
Wigan Athletic 1–0 0–1 0–1 2–1 0–0 3–1 3–0 4–1 0–3 1–0 0–2 2–0 3–0 1–1 1–0 0–1 1–1 0–1 2–1 2–0 1–1 1–0 1–0
Wimbledon 4–0 2–0 2–2 2–4 2–0 1–1 1–0 3–0 5–0 0–0 0–1 2–1 1–0 2–1 1–0 4–1 2–2 0–1 1–2 1–0 2–1 1–0 3–0
York City 4–1 4–0 0–3 0–1 2–0 1–2 0–1 1–1 0–1 1–2 1–0 2–0 1–2 1–2 4–1 1–2 1–0 0–1 1–0 0–0 4–1 2–1 0–1

Source: [4] Soccerbase
^ The home team is listed in the left-hand column.
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Fourth Division maps

Locations of the Football League Fourth Division London teams 1980–1981

Election/Re-election to the Football League

Altrincham F.C. won the Alliance Premier League for the second season running and earned the right to apply for election to the Football League to replace one of the four bottom sides in the 1980–81 Football League Fourth Division. The vote went as follows:

Club Final Position Votes
Tranmere Rovers 21st (Fourth Division) 48
Hereford United 22nd (Fourth Division) 46
York City 24th (Fourth Division) 46
Halifax Town 23rd (Fourth Division) 41
Altrincham 1st (Alliance Premier League) 15

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

See also

References

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  2. Ian Laschke: Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79. Macdonald and Jane’s, London & Sydney, 1980.
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  • Ian Laschke: Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79. Macdonald and Jane’s, London & Sydney, 1980.

de:Football League First Division 1980/81

es:Anexo:1980-81 en el fútbol de Inglaterra fr:Championnat d'Angleterre de football 1980-1981 it:Campionato di calcio inglese 1980-1981 nl:Engels voetbalkampioenschap 1980/81