1976–77 Football League

The 1976–77 season was the 78th completed season of The Football League.

The Football League
Season1976–77
ChampionsLiverpool
RelegatedWorkington

As of this season, goal difference (GD in league tables) was used to separate the clubs finishing level on points. The earlier system, used from the season 1894–95 until the 1975–76 had been the so-called goal average (goals scored divided by goals conceded), or more properly put, goal ratio. In case one or more teams had the same positive goal difference, this earlier system favoured those teams who had scored fewer goals. Now the system would favour the teams that had scored more goals, and it was hoped that more goals would be seen as a result of this new system.

The season was also the first in which the referee used the yellow card and the red card, with the yellow to caution the offending player, and the red to show spectators and viewers that the player had been ejected from the game. Writing in The Observer, sportswriter Bob Houston noted that the season opener was "the day the Football League went Continental, arming its referees with those coloured cards we've all learned to watch for in European and World Cup matches."[1]

On 2 October 1976, Dave Wagstaffe of Blackburn Rovers became the first player in Football League history to be shown the red card when he was sent off in a 1-0 win over Orient in a Division 2 match.[2]

Overview

Liverpool retained their league championship trophy and won their first European Cup to confirm Bob Paisley as a successful replacement for Bill Shankly in his third season at the helm. Tottenham Hotspur and Stoke City's long spells in the First Division came to an end with relegation. Stoke sacked their manager Tony Waddington. On the last day of the season, Coventry City and Bristol City played out a controversial 2–2 draw, with play virtually stopping when it was heard that Sunderland had lost to Everton. Both clubs survived while Sunderland was relegated.

After Manchester United manager Tommy Docherty had admitted his affair with the wife of the club's physiotherapist, the club's directors decided that he had broken their moral code and he was sacked.

Wolverhampton Wanderers, Chelsea and Nottingham Forest gained promotion to the First Division. Brian Clough's Forest would achieve success beyond the dreams of most supporters over the next few seasons. Carlisle United, Plymouth Argyle and Hereford United occupied the three relegation places. Hereford became the first club to finish bottom of the Second Division after winning the Third Division the previous season.

Mansfield Town, Brighton & Hove Albion and Crystal Palace were the three teams promoted to the Second Division. Palace's manager was a certain Terry Venables who would enjoy more success at Palace and elsewhere over the next 20 years. Going down were Reading, Northampton Town, Grimsby Town and York City.

Cambridge United, Exeter City, Colchester United and Bradford City occupied the four promotion places in the league's lowest division. A terrible season for Workington was compounded by their failure to gain re-election to the Football League, a humiliation which saw them slip into the Northern Premier League. In their place were Southern League champions Wimbledon, who would make amazing progress over the next decade.

The British pop star Elton John took over Fourth Division side Watford and installed Graham Taylor as manager. Former Arsenal manager Bertie Mee came out of retirement to work at Watford as assistant to Graham Taylor. John immediately asserted his ambition by promising to bring First Division football to Watford.

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[3] and in Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79,[4] 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 this season.

Re-election: 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.[4]

First Division
Main article: 1976–77 Football League First Division
First Division
Season1976–77
ChampionsLiverpool
10th English title
RelegatedSunderland
Stoke City
Tottenham Hotspur
European CupLiverpool
Cup Winners' CupManchester United
UEFA CupAston Villa
Ipswich Town
Manchester City
Newcastle United
Matches played462
Goals scored1,183 (2.56 per match)
Top goalscorerAndy Gray
Malcolm Macdonald
(25 goals each)[5]
Biggest home winIpswich Town 7–0 West Bromwich Albion
(6 November 1976)
Biggest away winLeicester City 0–5 West Bromwich Albion
(7 May 1977)
Highest scoringDerby County 8–2 Tottenham Hotspur
(16 October 1976)

Despite failing to win any of their final four matches,[6] Liverpool retained the First Division title against a strong challenge by Manchester City and went on to win the European Cup for the first time, although their bid for a unique treble was ended when they lost to Manchester United in the final of the FA Cup. Liverpool finished a point ahead of Manchester City in the league. Ipswich Town, Aston Villa and Newcastle United completed the top five. Newly promoted West Bromwich Albion finished seventh.

Tottenham Hotspur went down in bottom place after a 27-year run in the First Division, along with Stoke City who had been in the First Division continuously since 1963. The final relegation place went to Sunderland, just one year after promotion.

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Liverpool (C) 42 23 11 8 62 33 +29 57 Qualification for the European Cup second round
2 Manchester City 42 21 14 7 60 34 +26 56 Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round
3 Ipswich Town 42 22 8 12 66 39 +27 52
4 Aston Villa 42 22 7 13 76 50 +26 51
5 Newcastle United 42 18 13 11 64 49 +15 49
6 Manchester United 42 18 11 13 71 62 +9 47 Qualification for the European Cup Winners' Cup first round[lower-alpha 1]
7 West Bromwich Albion 42 16 13 13 62 56 +6 45
8 Arsenal 42 16 11 15 64 59 +5 43
9 Everton 42 14 14 14 62 64 −2 42
10 Leeds United 42 15 12 15 48 51 −3 42
11 Leicester City 42 12 18 12 47 60 −13 42
12 Middlesbrough 42 14 13 15 40 45 −5 41
13 Birmingham City 42 13 12 17 63 61 +2 38
14 Queens Park Rangers 42 13 12 17 47 52 −5 38
15 Derby County 42 9 19 14 50 55 −5 37
16 Norwich City 42 14 9 19 47 64 −17 37
17 West Ham United 42 11 14 17 46 65 −19 36
18 Bristol City 42 11 13 18 38 48 −10 35
19 Coventry City 42 10 15 17 48 59 −11 35
20 Sunderland (R) 42 11 12 19 46 54 −8 34 Relegation to the Second Division
21 Stoke City (R) 42 10 14 18 28 51 −23 34
22 Tottenham Hotspur (R) 42 12 9 21 48 72 −24 33
Source: World Football
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. Manchester United qualified for the European Cup Winners' Cup first round as the 1976–77 FA Cup winners.

Results
Home \ Away ARS AST BIR BRI COV DER EVE IPS LEE LEI LIV MCI MUN MID NEW NWC QPR STK SUN TOT WBA WHU
Arsenal 3–0 4–0 0–1 2–0 0–0 3–1 1–4 1–1 3–0 1–1 0–0 3–1 1–1 5–3 1–0 3–2 2–0 0–0 1–0 1–2 2–3
Aston Villa 5–1 1–2 3–1 2–2 4–0 2–0 5–2 2–1 2–0 5–1 1–1 3–2 1–0 2–1 1–0 1–1 1–0 4–1 2–1 4–0 4–0
Birmingham City 3–3 2–1 3–0 3–0 5–1 1–1 2–4 0–0 1–1 2–1 0–0 2–3 3–1 1–2 3–2 2–1 2–0 2–0 1–2 0–1 0–0
Bristol City 2–0 0–0 0–1 0–0 2–2 1–2 1–2 1–0 0–1 2–1 1–0 1–1 1–2 1–1 3–1 1–0 1–1 4–1 1–0 1–2 1–1
Coventry City 1–2 2–3 2–1 2–2 2–0 4–2 1–1 4–2 1–1 0–0 0–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 5–2 1–2 1–1 1–1 1–1
Derby County 0–0 2–1 0–0 2–0 1–1 2–3 0–0 0–1 1–0 2–3 4–0 0–0 0–0 4–2 2–2 2–0 2–0 1–0 8–2 2–2 1–1
Everton 2–1 0–2 2–2 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 0–2 1–2 0–0 2–2 1–2 2–2 2–0 3–1 1–3 3–0 2–0 4–0 1–1 3–2
Ipswich Town 3–1 1–0 1–0 1–0 2–1 0–0 2–0 1–1 0–0 1–0 1–0 2–1 0–1 2–0 5–0 2–2 0–1 3–1 3–1 7–0 4–1
Leeds United 2–1 1–3 1–0 2–0 1–2 2–0 0–0 2–1 2–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–1 2–2 3–2 0–1 1–1 1–1 2–1 2–2 1–1
Leicester City 4–1 1–1 2–6 0–0 3–1 1–1 1–1 1–0 0–1 0–1 2–2 1–1 3–3 1–0 1–1 2–2 1–0 2–0 2–1 0–5 2–0
Liverpool 2–0 3–0 4–1 2–1 3–1 3–1 3–1 2–1 3–1 5–1 2–1 1–0 0–0 1–0 1–0 3–1 4–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 0–0
Manchester City 1–0 2–0 2–1 2–1 2–0 3–2 1–1 2–1 2–1 5–0 1–1 1–3 1–0 0–0 2–0 0–0 0–0 1–0 5–0 1–0 4–2
Manchester United 3–2 2–0 2–2 2–1 2–0 3–1 4–0 0–1 1–0 1–1 0–0 3–1 2–0 3–1 2–2 1–0 3–0 3–3 2–3 2–2 0–2
Middlesbrough 3–0 3–2 2–2 0–0 1–0 2–0 2–2 0–2 1–0 0–1 0–1 0–0 3–0 1–0 1–0 0–2 0–0 2–1 2–0 1–0 1–1
Newcastle United 0–2 3–2 3–2 0–0 1–0 2–2 4–1 1–1 3–0 0–0 1–0 2–2 2–2 1–0 5–1 2–0 1–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 3–0
Norwich City 1–3 1–1 1–0 2–1 3–0 0–0 2–1 0–1 1–2 3–2 2–1 0–2 2–1 1–0 3–2 2–0 1–1 2–2 1–3 1–0 1–0
Queens Park Rangers 2–1 2–1 2–2 0–1 1–1 1–1 0–4 1–0 0–0 3–2 1–1 0–0 4–0 3–0 1–2 2–3 2–0 2–0 2–1 1–0 1–1
Stoke City 1–1 1–0 1–0 2–2 2–0 1–0 0–1 2–1 2–1 0–1 0–0 0–2 3–3 3–1 0–0 0–0 1–0 0–0 0–0 0–2 2–1
Sunderland 2–2 0–1 1–0 1–0 0–1 1–1 0–1 1–0 0–1 0–0 0–1 0–2 2–1 4–0 2–2 0–1 1–0 0–0 2–1 6–1 6–0
Tottenham Hotspur 2–2 3–1 1–0 0–1 0–1 0–0 3–3 1–0 1–0 2–0 1–0 2–2 1–3 0–0 0–2 1–1 3–0 2–0 1–1 0–2 2–1
West Bromwich Albion 0–2 1–1 2–1 1–1 1–1 1–0 3–0 4–0 1–2 2–2 0–1 0–2 4–0 2–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–3 4–2 3–0
West Ham United 0–2 0–1 2–2 2–0 2–0 2–2 2–2 0–2 1–3 0–0 2–0 1–0 4–2 0–1 1–2 1–0 1–0 1–0 1–1 5–3 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 First Division London teams 1976–1977
Locations of the Football League First Division 1976–1977 teams

Second Division
Second Division
Season1976–77
ChampionsWolverhampton Wanderers
PromotedWolverhampton Wanderers
Chelsea
Nottingham Forest
RelegatedCarlisle United
Plymouth Argyle
Hereford United
Cup Winners' CupCardiff City
Matches played462
Goals scored1,290 (2.79 per match)
Top goalscorerMickey Walsh
(26 goals)[5]
Biggest home winBlackburn Rovers 6–1 Notts County
(9 October 1976)
Nottingham Forest 6–1 Sheffield United
(9 October 1976)
Fulham 5–0 Oldham Athletic
(4 December 1976)
Fulham 6–1 Orient
(7 March 1977)
Luton Town 5–0 Carlisle United
(26 March 1977)
Biggest away winCarlisle United 0–6 Southampton
(22 January 1977)
Highest scoringCharlton Athletic 6–2 Southampton
(24 September 1976)
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–6 Southampton
(5 October 1976)
Burnley 4–4 Charlton Athletic
(16 October 1976)
Oldham Athletic 3–5 Hereford United
(16 April 1977)

Wolverhampton Wanderers achieved an instant return to the First Division as champions of the Second Division, while runners-up Chelsea regained their top flight status two years after losing it. Brian Clough steered Nottingham Forest into the final promotion place, while Bolton Wanderers and Blackpool missed out by a single point.

Hereford United, Plymouth Argyle and Carlisle United went down to the Third Division.

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Wolverhampton Wanderers (C, P) 42 22 13 7 84 45 +39 57 Promotion to the First Division
2 Chelsea (P) 42 21 13 8 73 53 +20 55
3 Nottingham Forest (P) 42 21 10 11 77 43 +34 52
4 Bolton Wanderers 42 20 11 11 75 54 +21 51
5 Blackpool 42 17 17 8 58 42 +16 51
6 Luton Town 42 21 6 15 67 48 +19 48
7 Charlton Athletic 42 16 16 10 71 58 +13 48
8 Notts County 42 19 10 13 65 60 +5 48
9 Southampton 42 17 10 15 72 67 +5 44
10 Millwall 42 15 13 14 57 53 +4 43
11 Sheffield United 42 14 12 16 54 63 −9 40
12 Blackburn Rovers 42 15 9 18 42 54 −12 39
13 Oldham Athletic 42 14 10 18 52 64 −12 38
14 Hull City 42 10 17 15 45 53 −8 37
15 Bristol Rovers 42 12 13 17 53 68 −15 37
16 Burnley 42 11 14 17 46 64 −18 36
17 Fulham 42 11 13 18 54 61 −7 35
18 Cardiff City 42 12 10 20 56 67 −11 34 Qualification for the Cup Winners' Cup first round
19 Orient 42 9 16 17 37 55 −18 34
20 Carlisle United (R) 42 11 12 19 49 75 −26 34 Relegation to the Third Division
21 Plymouth Argyle (R) 42 8 16 18 46 65 −19 32
22 Hereford United (R) 42 8 15 19 57 78 −21 31
Source:
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated

Results
Home \ Away BLB BLP BOL BRR BUR CAR CRL CHA CHE FUL HER HUL LUT MIL NOT NTC OLD ORI PLY SHU SOU WOL
Blackburn Rovers 0–1 3–1 0–0 2–2 2–1 1–3 0–0 0–2 1–0 1–0 1–0 1–0 2–0 1–3 6–1 2–0 2–2 2–0 1–0 3–0 0–2
Blackpool 1–1 1–0 4–0 1–1 1–0 0–0 2–2 0–1 3–2 2–1 0–0 1–0 4–2 1–0 1–1 0–2 3–0 0–2 1–0 1–0 2–2
Bolton Wanderers 3–1 0–3 1–0 2–1 2–1 3–4 1–0 2–2 2–1 3–1 5–1 2–1 3–1 1–1 4–0 3–0 2–0 3–0 1–2 3–0 0–1
Bristol Rovers 0–0 1–4 2–2 1–1 1–1 2–1 1–1 2–1 2–1 2–3 3–0 1–0 0–0 1–1 5–1 0–0 1–0 1–1 3–1 2–3 1–5
Burnley 3–1 0–0 0–0 1–1 0–0 2–0 4–4 1–0 3–1 1–1 0–0 1–2 1–3 0–1 3–1 1–0 3–3 0–2 1–0 2–0 0–0
Cardiff City 2–1 2–2 3–2 1–2 0–1 1–1 1–1 1–3 3–0 3–1 1–1 4–2 0–0 0–3 2–3 3–1 0–1 0–1 0–2 1–0 2–2
Carlisle United 1–1 1–1 0–1 2–3 2–1 4–3 4–2 0–1 1–2 2–2 1–1 1–1 0–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–0 3–1 4–1 0–6 2–1
Charlton Athletic 4–0 1–2 1–1 4–3 5–2 0–2 1–0 4–0 1–1 1–1 3–1 4–3 3–2 2–1 1–1 2–1 2–0 3–1 3–2 6–2 1–1
Chelsea 3–1 2–2 2–1 2–0 2–1 2–1 2–1 2–1 2–0 5–1 4–0 2–0 1–1 2–1 1–1 4–3 1–1 2–2 4–0 3–1 3–3
Fulham 2–0 0–0 0–2 1–0 2–2 1–2 2–0 1–1 3–1 4–1 0–0 1–2 2–3 2–2 1–5 5–0 6–1 2–0 3–2 1–1 0–0
Hereford United 1–0 1–1 3–3 1–1 3–0 2–2 0–0 1–2 2–2 1–0 1–0 0–1 3–1 0–1 1–4 0–0 2–3 1–1 2–2 2–0 1–6
Hull City 1–0 2–2 2–2 0–1 4–1 1–2 3–1 0–0 1–1 1–0 1–1 3–1 0–0 1–0 0–1 0–1 1–1 3–1 1–1 4–0 2–0
Luton Town 2–0 0–0 1–1 4–2 2–0 2–1 5–0 2–0 4–0 0–2 2–0 2–1 1–2 1–1 4–2 1–0 0–0 1–1 2–0 1–4 2–0
Millwall 0–1 1–1 3–0 2–0 2–0 0–2 1–1 1–1 3–0 0–0 4–2 2–1 4–2 0–2 2–5 2–1 0–1 3–0 0–1 0–0 1–1
Nottingham Forest 3–0 3–0 3–1 4–2 5–2 0–1 5–1 1–1 1–1 3–0 4–3 2–0 1–2 1–0 1–2 3–0 3–0 1–1 6–1 2–1 1–3
Notts County 0–0 2–0 0–1 2–1 5–1 1–0 2–1 0–1 2–1 0–0 3–2 1–1 0–4 1–2 1–1 1–0 0–1 2–0 2–1 3–1 1–1
Oldham Athletic 2–0 1–0 2–2 4–0 3–1 3–2 4–1 1–1 0–0 1–0 3–5 3–0 1–2 2–1 1–0 1–1 0–0 2–2 1–2 2–1 0–2
Orient 0–1 0–1 2–2 2–0 0–1 3–0 0–0 0–0 0–1 0–0 1–1 1–1 1–0 1–1 0–1 1–0 0–2 2–2 0–2 2–3 2–4
Plymouth Argyle 4–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 0–1 2–2 0–1 1–0 2–3 2–2 2–1 1–2 1–0 2–2 1–2 1–2 2–2 1–2 0–0 1–1 0–0
Sheffield United 1–1 1–5 2–3 2–3 1–0 3–0 3–0 3–0 1–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–3 1–1 2–0 1–0 2–1 1–1 1–0 2–2 2–2
Southampton 2–0 3–3 1–3 2–1 2–0 3–2 1–2 2–1 1–1 4–1 1–0 2–2 1–0 0–2 1–1 2–1 4–0 2–2 4–1 1–1 1–0
Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–2 2–1 1–0 1–0 0–0 4–1 4–0 3–0 1–1 5–1 2–1 2–1 1–2 3–1 2–1 2–2 5–0 1–0 4–0 2–1 2–6
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 1976–1977
Locations of the Football League Second Division 1976–1977 teams

Third Division
Football League
Third Division
Season1976–77
ChampionsMansfield Town (1st title)
PromotedBrighton & Hove Albion,
Crystal Palace
RelegatedGrimsby Town,
Northampton Town,
Reading,
York City
Matches played552
Goals scored1,462 (2.65 per match)
Top goalscorerPeter Ward (Brighton & Hove Albion), 32 [5]

Pos Team Pld HW HD HL HGF HGA AW AD AL AGF AGA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
1 Mansfield Town 46 17 6 0 52 13 11 2 10 26 29 +36 64 Division Champions, promoted
2 Brighton & Hove Albion 46 19 3 1 63 14 6 8 9 20 26 +43 61 Promoted
3 Crystal Palace 46 17 5 1 46 15 6 8 9 22 25 +28 59
4 Rotherham United 46 11 9 3 30 15 11 6 6 39 29 +25 59
5 Wrexham 46 15 6 2 47 22 9 4 10 33 32 +26 58
6 Preston North End 46 15 4 4 48 21 6 8 9 16 22 +21 54
7 Bury 46 15 2 6 41 21 8 6 9 23 38 +5 54
8 Sheffield Wednesday 46 15 4 4 39 18 7 5 11 26 37 +10 53
9 Lincoln City 46 12 9 2 50 30 7 5 11 27 40 +7 52
10 Shrewsbury Town 46 13 7 3 40 21 5 4 14 25 38 +6 47 Welsh Cup winners, not qualified for Cup Winners' Cup[lower-alpha 1]
11 Swindon Town 46 12 6 5 48 33 3 9 11 20 42 −7 45
12 Gillingham 46 11 8 4 31 21 5 4 14 24 43 −9 44
13 Chester 46 14 3 6 28 20 4 5 14 20 38 −10 44
14 Tranmere Rovers 46 10 7 6 31 23 3 10 10 20 30 −2 43
15 Walsall 46 8 7 8 39 32 5 8 10 18 33 −8 41
16 Peterborough United 46 11 4 8 33 28 2 11 10 22 37 −10 41
17 Oxford United 46 9 8 6 34 29 3 7 13 21 36 −10 39
18 Chesterfield 46 10 6 7 30 20 4 4 15 26 44 −8 38
19 Port Vale 46 9 7 7 29 28 2 9 12 18 43 −24 38
20 Portsmouth 46 8 9 6 28 26 3 5 15 25 44 −17 36
21 Reading 46 10 5 8 29 24 3 4 16 20 49 −24 35 Relegated
22 Northampton Town 46 9 4 10 33 29 4 4 15 27 46 −15 34
23 Grimsby Town 46 10 6 7 29 22 2 3 18 16 47 −24 33
24 York City 46 7 8 8 25 34 3 4 16 25 55 −39 32
Source: rsssf.com
Notes:
  1. Shrewsbury Town were winners of the Welsh Cup this season, but as they are an English club, they did not earn a place in the Cup Winners' Cup.

Results
Home \ Away B&HA BRY CHE CHF CRY GIL GRI LIN MAN NOR OXF PET POR PTV PNE REA ROT SHW SHR SWI TRA WAL WRE YOR
Brighton & Hove Albion 1–1 3–0 2–1 1–1 2–0 3–0 4–0 3–1 2–0 3–2 1–0 4–0 1–0 2–0 2–0 3–1 3–2 4–0 4–0 1–1 7–0 0–2 7–2
Bury 3–0 2–0 3–1 0–1 3–1 2–0 3–0 2–0 1–1 2–1 4–1 1–0 3–0 3–2 1–0 1–1 1–3 0–1 0–1 2–1 0–2 0–2 4–2
Chester 0–1 1–0 1–2 2–1 1–0 2–0 1–0 1–0 2–1 1–3 2–1 1–1 1–1 0–0 3–1 1–3 1–0 1–2 2–1 1–0 1–0 1–2 1–0
Chesterfield 1–1 7–0 1–0 0–2 1–0 0–1 1–4 0–1 0–0 2–0 0–0 1–2 4–0 1–1 4–0 1–0 2–0 1–1 0–1 0–0 1–0 0–6 2–0
Crystal Palace 3–1 2–1 1–2 0–0 3–1 2–1 4–1 2–0 1–1 2–2 0–0 2–1 2–0 1–0 1–1 2–1 4–0 2–1 5–0 1–0 3–0 2–1 1–0
Gillingham 0–1 1–0 1–0 2–1 0–3 1–1 0–1 3–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–1 1–1 1–1 2–2 1–2 1–0 2–1 2–2 3–0 1–0 2–0 2–0
Grimsby Town 2–0 2–0 0–0 1–2 0–1 1–1 1–2 0–1 0–1 1–2 2–2 1–0 2–4 1–0 2–1 1–1 1–1 2–1 2–0 1–0 2–2 3–0 1–0
Lincoln City 2–2 2–3 3–3 3–2 3–2 4–0 2–0 3–2 5–4 0–1 1–1 2–1 2–0 2–0 3–1 2–2 1–1 1–1 0–0 2–2 4–1 1–1 2–0
Mansfield Town 1–1 5–0 1–1 2–1 1–0 2–2 3–0 3–1 3–0 3–0 1–1 2–0 2–1 3–1 4–0 3–1 1–0 1–0 1–1 1–1 3–0 2–0 4–1
Northampton Town 0–2 3–0 0–0 2–1 3–0 1–2 0–0 1–0 0–1 1–0 2–2 3–1 3–0 0–1 1–2 1–4 0–2 5–3 1–1 3–4 0–1 0–2 3–0
Oxford United 1–0 2–2 2–0 3–2 0–1 3–1 5–2 1–2 0–3 1–0 2–3 2–1 0–0 2–2 1–0 1–2 1–1 4–2 0–0 1–1 0–0 2–2 0–2
Peterborough United 2–0 0–1 3–2 0–3 0–0 0–1 3–1 1–2 2–1 3–1 2–0 4–2 1–1 0–0 2–1 0–2 1–2 2–1 1–0 0–0 3–5 0–2 3–0
Portsmouth 1–0 1–1 2–1 0–1 0–0 3–2 1–2 1–1 2–2 2–1 1–1 0–0 1–1 0–0 0–2 5–1 0–3 2–0 2–1 0–3 1–1 0–1 3–1
Port Vale 2–2 0–1 1–0 1–1 4–1 1–2 2–0 1–0 1–4 2–1 2–1 1–1 1–0 0–0 1–0 1–4 2–0 1–2 2–2 1–1 0–0 2–3 0–2
Preston North End 1–1 0–1 3–4 2–2 2–1 1–0 2–1 3–0 1–2 3–0 2–1 6–2 0–0 4–0 3–0 0–0 4–1 2–1 2–0 1–0 0–1 2–1 4–2
Reading 2–3 1–3 2–0 2–0 0–0 1–2 2–0 1–2 1–0 2–4 2–0 1–0 2–0 1–1 0–2 0–3 0–1 0–0 4–1 0–0 2–1 2–0 1–1
Rotherham United 0–0 3–0 1–1 1–0 1–1 1–0 3–2 1–0 3–0 2–0 1–1 0–0 2–2 1–1 2–0 1–2 0–1 1–0 1–1 1–2 1–0 2–0 1–1
Sheffield Wednesday 0–0 1–0 3–0 4–1 1–0 2–0 1–0 1–1 0–2 2–1 2–0 4–0 1–1 1–2 1–0 2–1 1–3 0–1 3–1 3–1 0–0 3–1 3–2
Shrewsbury Town 1–0 0–1 2–0 3–0 1–1 4–2 2–1 2–1 0–0 3–0 1–0 2–1 4–1 1–1 1–2 2–0 0–0 1–1 2–2 2–2 1–2 3–2 2–1
Swindon Town 2–1 0–1 2–1 3–0 1–1 2–2 4–1 2–2 0–1 5–1 1–0 0–4 4–3 1–0 0–1 2–2 2–4 5–2 1–0 1–1 2–2 3–2 5–1
Tranmere Rovers 1–3 1–2 0–1 2–1 1–0 2–0 2–0 2–2 4–0 2–1 1–1 2–0 1–3 1–1 0–0 2–1 0–1 1–0 2–1 0–1 0–0 0–0 4–4
Walsall 1–0 3–3 1–0 2–2 0–0 1–2 1–0 1–3 1–2 0–3 2–2 1–1 1–1 3–1 0–1 6–1 0–1 5–1 3–3 2–0 2–0 2–3 1–2
Wrexham 0–0 0–0 4–2 3–1 2–4 2–1 3–2 3–0 0–1 3–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 6–2 2–0 3–1 2–1 2–2 1–0 2–2 2–0 1–0 1–1
York City 0–1 2–2 0–2 2–1 2–1 2–2 1–1 2–2 0–1 1–4 2–1 2–1 1–4 1–0 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–3 4–2 1–0 0–0 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 Third Division teams 1976–1977

Fourth Division
Football League
Fourth Division
Season1976–77
ChampionsCambridge United (1st title)
PromotedBradford City,
Colchester United,
Exeter City
Failed re-electionWorkington
Matches played552
Goals scored1,423 (2.58 per match)
Top goalscorerBrian Joicey (Barnsley), 25 [5]

Pos Team Pld HW HD HL HGF HGA AW AD AL AGF AGA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
1 Cambridge United 46 16 5 2 57 18 10 8 5 30 22 +47 65 Division Champions, promoted
2 Exeter City 46 17 5 1 40 13 8 7 8 30 33 +24 62 Promoted
3 Colchester United 46 19 2 2 51 14 6 7 10 26 29 +34 59
4 Bradford City 46 16 7 0 51 18 7 6 10 27 33 +27 59
5 Swansea City 46 18 3 2 60 30 7 5 11 32 38 +24 58
6 Barnsley 46 16 5 2 45 18 7 4 12 17 21 +23 55
7 Watford 46 15 7 1 46 13 3 8 12 21 37 +17 51
8 Doncaster Rovers 46 16 2 5 47 25 5 7 11 24 40 +6 51
9 Huddersfield Town 46 15 5 3 36 15 4 7 12 24 34 +11 50
10 Southend United 46 11 9 3 35 19 4 10 9 17 26 +7 49
11 Darlington 46 13 5 5 37 25 5 8 10 22 39 −5 49
12 Crewe Alexandra 46 16 6 1 36 15 3 5 15 11 45 −13 49
13 AFC Bournemouth 46 13 8 2 39 13 2 10 11 15 31 +10 48
14 Stockport County 46 10 10 3 29 19 3 9 11 24 38 −4 45
15 Brentford 46 14 3 6 48 27 4 4 15 29 49 +1 43
16 Torquay United 46 12 5 6 33 22 5 4 14 26 45 −8 43
17 Aldershot 46 10 8 5 29 19 6 3 14 20 40 −10 43
18 Rochdale 46 8 7 8 32 25 5 5 13 18 34 −9 38
19 Newport County 46 11 6 6 33 21 3 4 16 9 37 −16 38
20 Scunthorpe United 46 11 6 6 32 24 2 5 16 17 49 −24 37
21 Halifax Town 46 11 6 6 36 18 0 8 15 11 40 −11 36 Re-elected
22 Hartlepool 46 8 9 6 30 20 2 3 18 17 53 −26 32
23 Southport 46 3 12 8 17 28 0 7 16 16 49 −44 25
24 Workington 46 3 7 13 23 42 1 4 18 18 60 −61 19 Failed re-election
Source:

Results
Home \ Away BOU ALD BAR BRA BRE CAM COL CRE DAR DON EXE HAL HAR HUD NPC ROC SCU STD SOU STP SWA TOR WAT WRK
AFC Bournemouth 4–1 1–0 1–1 3–1 0–1 0–0 0–0 0–1 3–1 2–0 3–0 2–0 1–0 1–0 1–1 2–2 2–0 5–0 3–0 1–1 1–1 2–1 1–1
Aldershot 1–0 0–1 2–1 1–1 1–3 1–1 1–1 1–2 1–0 2–2 0–0 3–0 1–0 4–0 0–2 1–1 0–0 1–0 2–0 2–2 0–1 2–1 2–0
Barnsley 3–1 1–0 2–2 2–0 2–1 0–1 2–2 1–1 1–1 3–4 1–0 3–0 2–1 2–0 2–0 5–1 3–1 1–0 1–0 1–0 2–1 1–1 4–0
Bradford City 1–1 3–1 0–0 3–2 0–0 1–0 1–0 3–1 3–1 1–1 3–0 2–2 3–1 3–1 3–0 4–0 2–0 1–0 3–3 4–1 3–2 0–0 4–1
Brentford 3–2 0–1 0–1 4–0 0–2 1–4 0–0 0–3 2–2 1–0 2–1 3–1 1–3 1–1 3–2 4–2 1–0 3–0 4–0 4–0 3–2 3–0 5–0
Cambridge United 2–0 4–1 0–0 2–1 3–2 2–0 2–0 4–0 3–0 1–1 4–0 2–0 1–1 3–1 0–0 1–0 2–3 5–1 2–2 2–3 4–1 4–0 4–1
Colchester United 1–0 1–0 1–0 2–1 2–1 0–1 3–2 4–0 1–0 3–1 3–0 6–2 3–1 5–0 1–0 1–1 0–1 4–1 1–0 1–1 4–0 1–0 3–1
Crewe Alexandra 2–1 1–0 1–0 1–0 3–2 1–0 1–0 1–1 1–2 2–0 3–1 3–1 0–0 2–0 1–1 2–1 1–1 0–0 2–1 3–1 2–1 2–0 1–1
Darlington 4–0 2–1 2–1 0–0 2–2 0–2 2–0 4–0 1–3 2–1 0–0 3–1 2–0 1–0 0–2 5–2 0–0 2–1 0–2 0–4 2–1 0–0 3–2
Doncaster Rovers 0–0 1–2 2–1 2–3 5–0 1–1 3–2 3–0 4–0 0–3 3–0 2–1 2–0 1–0 2–0 3–0 0–3 3–1 1–0 2–1 0–4 1–0 6–3
Exeter City 1–1 3–0 1–0 0–0 3–2 1–1 1–0 3–0 1–0 0–2 1–0 3–1 2–0 1–0 2–1 2–0 3–1 3–1 2–1 2–0 3–0 2–2 0–0
Halifax Town 2–3 2–0 0–1 2–1 0–0 0–2 1–2 3–0 2–1 6–0 1–2 1–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–1 3–1 1–1 2–1 1–0 2–0 1–1 6–1
Hartlepool 0–1 0–2 0–2 0–1 2–0 2–2 2–2 3–0 1–1 0–0 2–2 1–0 0–1 0–1 2–0 3–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–2 4–0 1–0 2–0
Huddersfield Town 0–0 2–0 1–0 3–0 1–0 1–2 0–0 0–1 3–1 2–1 0–1 1–0 4–1 3–0 2–1 1–0 1–1 1–0 2–0 2–2 2–1 2–2 2–1
Newport County 1–0 2–1 1–1 2–0 3–1 4–2 1–2 2–1 0–1 1–2 0–3 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–0 0–0 3–0 3–1 0–1 0–2 0–0 3–0 1–0
Rochdale 0–0 2–1 2–3 0–1 2–3 2–2 1–0 0–1 2–2 1–0 1–2 4–1 0–1 2–2 0–0 5–0 0–0 3–0 1–1 1–0 0–1 3–1 0–3
Scunthorpe United 0–0 1–3 1–2 2–1 2–1 0–2 2–0 4–0 3–0 1–1 4–1 2–1 2–0 0–4 1–0 0–1 1–0 1–1 2–2 0–3 0–0 0–0 3–1
Southend United 2–2 5–0 1–1 4–1 2–1 0–1 0–0 1–0 0–0 2–1 2–0 1–1 1–0 1–1 1–1 3–0 1–1 3–2 0–0 1–2 0–3 2–1 2–0
Southport 0–0 0–1 1–0 0–4 1–2 0–0 1–3 0–0 0–0 2–2 1–1 0–0 1–2 2–2 0–1 1–1 2–1 0–0 1–0 1–3 1–1 1–3 1–1
Stockport County 1–0 0–0 2–1 1–1 2–0 0–0 1–1 1–2 2–2 2–1 0–0 1–1 1–0 2–3 2–1 0–1 1–0 0–0 2–2 3–0 2–1 2–2 1–0
Swansea City 3–0 4–2 2–1 2–3 5–3 3–1 2–1 3–0 2–1 1–1 0–0 2–1 4–2 2–1 3–1 3–2 2–0 2–0 2–1 4–4 4–1 1–4 4–0
Torquay United 2–1 0–1 1–0 0–3 1–1 2–2 2–2 5–0 2–0 0–1 0–1 3–2 1–0 1–0 1–0 2–0 1–3 0–0 0–0 1–2 2–1 3–1 3–1
Watford 1–1 1–1 1–0 1–1 0–1 2–0 2–1 3–1 1–1 5–1 4–1 0–0 4–0 2–0 2–0 3–1 2–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 4–0 2–0
Workington 1–1 1–1 0–1 0–1 1–3 0–2 2–4 1–0 2–3 1–1 1–3 1–1 1–1 3–2 0–1 0–2 1–0 0–3 2–2 2–2 1–3 2–4 0–1
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 1976–1977
Locations of the Football League Fourth Division teams 1976–1977

See also

References
  1. "Football Round-up", by Bob Houston, The Observer (London), 3 October 1976, p. 18
  2. "How English football came to love and curse the red card", by Martin Winch, BBC News], 10 August 2013
  3. "England 1976–77". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 30 January 2010. Retrieved 2010-02-24.
  4. Ian Laschke: Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79. Macdonald and Jane’s, London & Sydney, 1980.
  5. "English League Leading Goalscorers". RSSSF. Retrieved 2010-10-31.
  6. "Liverpool football club match record: 1977". 11v11.com. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
  • Ian Laschke: Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79. Macdonald and Jane's, London & Sydney, 1980.
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