1968–69 Football League
The 1968–69 season was the 70th completed season of The Football League.
Season | 1968–69 |
---|---|
Champions | Leeds United |
← 1967–68 1969–70 → |
Leeds United won the League for the first time in their history, finishing six points ahead of Liverpool. Newly promoted Queens Park Rangers were relegated after finishing bottom along with Leicester City.
Derby County were runaway winners of the Second Division and they were joined in promotion by runners-up Crystal Palace. Despite still boasting the talents of Johnny Haynes and George Cohen, Fulham finished bottom and were relegated. They were joined in the Third Division by perennial strugglers Bury
Watford won the Third Division title on goal average from Swindon Town and both teams were duly promoted. At the bottom end Northampton Town, Hartlepool, Crewe Alexandra and Oldham Athletic were all relegated.
The Fourth Division was won by Doncaster Rovers, who were promoted along with Halifax Town, Rochdale and Bradford City. No team failed re-election so no new members were admitted to the Football League.
Final league tables and results
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.[1]
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.[2]
First Division
Season | 1968–69 |
---|---|
Champions | Leeds United 1st title |
Relegated | Leicester City Queens Park Rangers |
European Cup | Leeds United |
European Cup Winners' Cup | Manchester City |
Inter-Cities Fairs Cup | Liverpool Arsenal Southampton Newcastle United |
Matches played | 462 |
Goals scored | 1,213 (2.63 per match) |
Top goalscorer | Jimmy Greaves (27 goals)[3] |
← 1967–68 1969–70 → |
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Leeds United (C) | 42 | 27 | 13 | 2 | 66 | 26 | 2.538 | 67 | Qualification for the European Cup first round |
2 | Liverpool | 42 | 25 | 11 | 6 | 63 | 24 | 2.625 | 61 | Qualification for the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup first round |
3 | Everton | 42 | 21 | 15 | 6 | 77 | 36 | 2.139 | 57 | |
4 | Arsenal | 42 | 22 | 12 | 8 | 56 | 27 | 2.074 | 56 | Qualification for the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup first round[lower-alpha 1] |
5 | Chelsea | 42 | 20 | 10 | 12 | 73 | 53 | 1.377 | 50 | |
6 | Tottenham Hotspur | 42 | 14 | 17 | 11 | 61 | 51 | 1.196 | 45 | |
7 | Southampton | 42 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 57 | 48 | 1.188 | 45 | Qualification for the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup first round[lower-alpha 2] |
8 | West Ham United | 42 | 13 | 18 | 11 | 66 | 50 | 1.320 | 44 | |
9 | Newcastle United | 42 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 61 | 55 | 1.109 | 44 | Qualification for the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup first round[lower-alpha 3] |
10 | West Bromwich Albion | 42 | 16 | 11 | 15 | 64 | 67 | 0.955 | 43 | |
11 | Manchester United | 42 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 57 | 53 | 1.075 | 42 | |
12 | Ipswich Town | 42 | 15 | 11 | 16 | 59 | 60 | 0.983 | 41 | |
13 | Manchester City | 42 | 15 | 10 | 17 | 64 | 55 | 1.164 | 40 | Qualification for the European Cup Winners' Cup first round[lower-alpha 4] |
14 | Burnley | 42 | 15 | 9 | 18 | 55 | 82 | 0.671 | 39 | |
15 | Sheffield Wednesday | 42 | 10 | 16 | 16 | 41 | 54 | 0.759 | 36 | |
16 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 42 | 10 | 15 | 17 | 41 | 58 | 0.707 | 35 | |
17 | Sunderland | 42 | 11 | 12 | 19 | 43 | 67 | 0.642 | 34 | |
18 | Nottingham Forest | 42 | 10 | 13 | 19 | 45 | 57 | 0.789 | 33 | |
19 | Stoke City | 42 | 9 | 15 | 18 | 40 | 63 | 0.635 | 33 | |
20 | Coventry City | 42 | 10 | 11 | 21 | 46 | 64 | 0.719 | 31 | |
21 | Leicester City (R) | 42 | 9 | 12 | 21 | 39 | 68 | 0.574 | 30 | Relegation to the Second Division |
22 | Queens Park Rangers (R) | 42 | 4 | 10 | 28 | 39 | 95 | 0.411 | 18 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated
Notes:
- Everton were ineligible to participate in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup as Liverpool had already qualified. Under the rules of the cup, only one team per city could participate. Arsenal took their place as the highest-ranked team that hadn't already qualified for a European competition.
- Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur were ineligible to participate in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup as Arsenal had already qualified. Under the rules of the cup, only one team per city could participate. Southampton took their place as the highest-ranked team that hadn't already qualified for a European competition.
- West Ham United were ineligible to participate in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup as Arsenal had already qualified. Under the rules of the cup, only one team per city could participate. Newcastle United took their place as the highest-ranked team that hadn't already qualified for a European competition.
- Manchester City qualified for the European Cup Winners' Cup as the 1968-69 FA Cup winners.
Results
Maps
Second Division
Season | 1968–69 |
---|---|
Champions | Derby County |
Promoted | Derby County Crystal Palace |
Relegated | Bury Fulham |
Cup Winners' Cup | Cardiff City |
Matches played | 462 |
Goals scored | 1,185 (2.56 per match) |
Top goalscorer | John Toshack (22 goals)[3] |
← 1967–68 1969–70 → |
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Derby County (C, P) | 42 | 26 | 11 | 5 | 65 | 32 | 2.031 | 63 | Promotion to the First Division |
2 | Crystal Palace (P) | 42 | 22 | 12 | 8 | 70 | 47 | 1.489 | 56 | |
3 | Charlton Athletic | 42 | 18 | 14 | 10 | 61 | 52 | 1.173 | 50 | |
4 | Middlesbrough | 42 | 19 | 11 | 12 | 58 | 49 | 1.184 | 49 | |
5 | Cardiff City | 42 | 20 | 7 | 15 | 67 | 54 | 1.241 | 47 | Qualification for the Cup Winners' Cup first round[lower-alpha 1] |
6 | Huddersfield Town | 42 | 17 | 12 | 13 | 53 | 46 | 1.152 | 46 | |
7 | Birmingham City | 42 | 18 | 8 | 16 | 73 | 59 | 1.237 | 44 | |
8 | Blackpool | 42 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 51 | 41 | 1.244 | 43 | |
9 | Sheffield United | 42 | 16 | 11 | 15 | 61 | 50 | 1.220 | 43 | |
10 | Millwall | 42 | 17 | 9 | 16 | 57 | 49 | 1.163 | 43 | |
11 | Hull City | 42 | 13 | 16 | 13 | 59 | 52 | 1.135 | 42 | |
12 | Carlisle United | 42 | 16 | 10 | 16 | 46 | 49 | 0.939 | 42 | |
13 | Norwich City | 42 | 15 | 10 | 17 | 53 | 56 | 0.946 | 40 | |
14 | Preston North End | 42 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 38 | 44 | 0.864 | 39 | |
15 | Portsmouth | 42 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 58 | 58 | 1.000 | 38 | |
16 | Bristol City | 42 | 11 | 16 | 15 | 46 | 53 | 0.868 | 38 | |
17 | Bolton Wanderers | 42 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 55 | 67 | 0.821 | 38 | |
18 | Aston Villa | 42 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 37 | 48 | 0.771 | 38 | |
19 | Blackburn Rovers | 42 | 13 | 11 | 18 | 52 | 63 | 0.825 | 37 | |
20 | Oxford United | 42 | 12 | 9 | 21 | 34 | 55 | 0.618 | 33 | |
21 | Bury (R) | 42 | 11 | 8 | 23 | 51 | 80 | 0.638 | 30 | Relegation to the Third Division |
22 | Fulham (R) | 42 | 7 | 11 | 24 | 40 | 81 | 0.494 | 25 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
- Cardiff City qualified for the European Cup Winners' Cup as the 1968–69 Welsh Cup winners.
Results
Third Division
Season | 1968–69 |
---|---|
Champions | Watford (1st title) |
Promoted | Swindon Town |
Relegated | Crewe Alexandra, Hartlepool, Northampton Town, Oldham Athletic |
Matches played | 552 |
Goals scored | 1,426 (2.58 per match) |
Top goalscorer | Don Rogers (Swindon Town), 22 [3] |
← 1967–68 1969–70 → |
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Watford (C) | 46 | 27 | 10 | 9 | 74 | 34 | 2.176 | 64 | Promotion to 1969–70 Second Division |
2 | Swindon Town (P) | 46 | 27 | 10 | 9 | 71 | 35 | 2.029 | 64 | |
3 | Luton Town | 46 | 25 | 11 | 10 | 74 | 38 | 1.947 | 61 | |
4 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 46 | 21 | 9 | 16 | 60 | 45 | 1.333 | 51 | |
5 | Plymouth Argyle | 46 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 53 | 49 | 1.082 | 49 | |
6 | Torquay United | 46 | 18 | 12 | 16 | 54 | 46 | 1.174 | 48 | |
7 | Tranmere Rovers | 46 | 19 | 10 | 17 | 70 | 68 | 1.029 | 48 | |
8 | Southport | 46 | 17 | 13 | 16 | 71 | 64 | 1.109 | 47 | |
9 | Stockport County | 46 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 67 | 68 | 0.985 | 46 | |
10 | Barnsley | 46 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 58 | 63 | 0.921 | 46 | |
11 | Rotherham United | 46 | 16 | 13 | 17 | 56 | 50 | 1.120 | 45 | |
12 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 46 | 16 | 13 | 17 | 72 | 65 | 1.108 | 45 | |
13 | Walsall | 46 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 50 | 49 | 1.020 | 44 | |
14 | Reading | 46 | 15 | 13 | 18 | 67 | 66 | 1.015 | 43 | |
15 | Mansfield Town | 46 | 16 | 11 | 19 | 58 | 62 | 0.935 | 43 | |
16 | Bristol Rovers | 46 | 16 | 11 | 19 | 63 | 71 | 0.887 | 43 | |
17 | Shrewsbury Town | 46 | 16 | 11 | 19 | 51 | 67 | 0.761 | 43 | |
18 | Orient | 46 | 14 | 14 | 18 | 51 | 58 | 0.879 | 42 | |
19 | Barrow | 46 | 17 | 8 | 21 | 56 | 75 | 0.747 | 42 | |
20 | Gillingham | 46 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 54 | 63 | 0.857 | 41 | |
21 | Northampton Town (R) | 46 | 14 | 12 | 20 | 54 | 61 | 0.885 | 40 | Relegation to 1969–70 Fourth Division |
22 | Hartlepool (R) | 46 | 10 | 19 | 17 | 40 | 70 | 0.571 | 39 | |
23 | Crewe Alexandra (R) | 46 | 13 | 9 | 24 | 52 | 76 | 0.684 | 35 | |
24 | Oldham Athletic (R) | 46 | 13 | 9 | 24 | 50 | 83 | 0.602 | 35 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal average; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Results
Fourth Division
Season | 1968–69 |
---|---|
Champions | Doncaster Rovers (2nd title) |
Promoted | Bradford City, Halifax Town, Rochdale |
Failed re-election | none |
Matches played | 552 |
Goals scored | 1,372 (2.49 per match) |
Top goalscorer | Gary Talbot (Chester), 22 [3] |
← 1967–68 1969–70 → |
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Doncaster Rovers (C) | 46 | 21 | 17 | 8 | 65 | 38 | 1.711 | 59 | Promotion to 1969–70 Third Division |
2 | Halifax Town (P) | 46 | 20 | 17 | 9 | 53 | 37 | 1.432 | 57 | |
3 | Rochdale (P) | 46 | 18 | 20 | 8 | 68 | 35 | 1.943 | 56 | |
4 | Bradford City (P) | 46 | 18 | 20 | 8 | 65 | 46 | 1.413 | 56 | |
5 | Darlington | 46 | 17 | 18 | 11 | 62 | 45 | 1.378 | 52 | |
6 | Colchester United | 46 | 20 | 12 | 14 | 57 | 53 | 1.075 | 52 | |
7 | Southend United | 46 | 19 | 13 | 14 | 78 | 61 | 1.279 | 51 | |
8 | Lincoln City | 46 | 17 | 17 | 12 | 54 | 52 | 1.038 | 51 | |
9 | Wrexham | 46 | 18 | 14 | 14 | 61 | 52 | 1.173 | 50 | |
10 | Swansea Town | 46 | 19 | 11 | 16 | 58 | 54 | 1.074 | 49 | |
11 | Brentford | 46 | 18 | 12 | 16 | 64 | 65 | 0.985 | 48 | |
12 | Workington | 46 | 15 | 17 | 14 | 40 | 43 | 0.930 | 47 | |
13 | Port Vale | 46 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 46 | 46 | 1.000 | 46 | |
14 | Chester | 46 | 16 | 13 | 17 | 76 | 66 | 1.152 | 45 | |
15 | Aldershot | 46 | 19 | 7 | 20 | 66 | 66 | 1.000 | 45 | |
16 | Scunthorpe United | 46 | 18 | 8 | 20 | 61 | 60 | 1.017 | 44 | |
17 | Exeter City | 46 | 16 | 11 | 19 | 66 | 65 | 1.015 | 43 | |
18 | Peterborough United | 46 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 60 | 57 | 1.053 | 42 | |
19 | Notts County | 46 | 12 | 18 | 16 | 48 | 57 | 0.842 | 42 | |
20 | Chesterfield | 46 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 43 | 50 | 0.860 | 41 | |
21 | York City | 46 | 14 | 11 | 21 | 53 | 75 | 0.707 | 39 | Re-elected |
22 | Newport County | 46 | 11 | 14 | 21 | 49 | 74 | 0.662 | 36 | |
23 | Grimsby Town | 46 | 9 | 15 | 22 | 47 | 69 | 0.681 | 33 | |
24 | Bradford Park Avenue | 46 | 5 | 10 | 31 | 32 | 106 | 0.302 | 20 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal average; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted
Results
See also
References
- "England 1968-69". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 2010-02-24.
- Ian Laschke: Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79. Macdonald and Jane’s, London & Sydney, 1980.
- "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.