1980–81 Football League

The 1980–81 season was the 82nd completed season of The Football League.

The Football League
Season1980–81
ChampionsAston Villa

Ron Saunders completed the revival of Birmingham club Aston Villa, as they won the First Division for the first time in 71 years. Villa competed in a two-horse race with Ipswich Town during the final stages of the season, eventually finishing four points ahead of the Suffolk side. Defending champions Liverpool slipped to fifth place, but compensated for this by winning the European Cup and their first League Cup. Manchester United failed to finish in the top five, a shortcoming that cost Dave Sexton his job as manager; he was succeeded by Ron Atkinson, who had finished fourth in the league and reached the UEFA Cup quarter-finals 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, all at home. They were joined in relegation to the Second Division by Norwich City and Leicester City.

FA Cup holders West Ham United returned to the First Division by becoming Second Division champions. Also promoted were Notts County and Swansea City, the Welsh club completing a meteoric rise under John Toshack by going from the Fourth Division to the First in just four years. Both Bristol clubs were relegated, along with Preston North End.

In the Third Division, Rotherham United were champions, with Barnsley and Charlton Athletic also promoted. Hull City, Blackpool and Colchester United were relegated, as were Sheffield United, who just seven years earlier had finished sixth in the First Division.

The Fourth Division saw Southend United finish as champions, with Lincoln City, Doncaster Rovers and Wimbledon occupying the other promotion places. 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
First Division
Season1980–81
ChampionsAston Villa
7th English title
RelegatedNorwich City
Leicester City
Crystal Palace
European CupAston Villa
Liverpool (as defending champions)
European Cup Winners' CupTottenham Hotspur
UEFA CupIpswich Town
Arsenal
West Bromwich Albion
Southampton
Matches played462
Goals scored1,228 (2.66 per match)
Top goalscorerPeter Withe
Steve Archibald
(20 goals each)[3]
Biggest home winNottingham Forest 5–0 Stoke City
(30 August 1980)
Manchester United 5–0 Leicester City
(13 September 1980)
Nottingham Forest 5–0 Leicester City
(20 September 1980)
Everton 5–0 Crystal Palace
(20 September 1980)
Middlesbrough 6–1 Norwich City
(4 October 1980)
Biggest away winCoventry City 0–5 Everton
(27 September 1980)
Leeds United 0–5 Arsenal
(8 November 1980)
Highest scoringTottenham Hotspur 5–3 Ipswich Town
(17 December 1980)
Tottenham Hotspur 4–4 Southampton
(26 December 1980)

Aston Villa came top of a hotly contested title race to clinch their first top division title since 1910, using only 14 players throughout the season, with only eight scorers. 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 won their third European Cup and their first 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 10th 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.

Final table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Aston Villa (C) 42 26 8 8 72 40 +32 60 Qualification for the European Cup first round
2 Ipswich Town 42 23 10 9 77 43 +34 56 Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round
3 Arsenal 42 19 15 8 61 45 +16 53
4 West Bromwich Albion 42 20 12 10 60 42 +18 52
5 Liverpool 42 17 17 8 62 42 +20 51 Qualification for the European Cup first round[lower-alpha 1]
6 Southampton 42 20 10 12 76 56 +20 50 Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round
7 Nottingham Forest 42 19 12 11 62 44 +18 50
8 Manchester United 42 15 18 9 51 36 +15 48
9 Leeds United 42 17 10 15 39 47 −8 44
10 Tottenham Hotspur 42 14 15 13 70 68 +2 43 Qualification for the European Cup Winners' Cup first round[lower-alpha 2]
11 Stoke City 42 12 18 12 51 60 −9 42
12 Manchester City 42 14 11 17 56 59 −3 39
13 Birmingham City 42 13 12 17 50 61 −11 38
14 Middlesbrough 42 16 5 21 53 61 −8 37
15 Everton 42 13 10 19 55 58 −3 36
16 Coventry City 42 13 10 19 48 68 −20 36
17 Sunderland 42 14 7 21 52 53 −1 35
18 Wolverhampton Wanderers 42 13 9 20 43 55 −12 35
19 Brighton & Hove Albion 42 14 7 21 54 67 −13 35
20 Norwich City (R) 42 13 7 22 49 73 −24 33 Relegation to the Second Division
21 Leicester City (R) 42 13 6 23 40 67 −27 32
22 Crystal Palace (R) 42 6 7 29 47 83 −36 19
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 1980–81 European Cup winners.
  2. Tottenham Hotspur qualified for the European Cup Winners' Cup first round as the 1980–81 FA Cup winners.

Results
Home \ Away ARS AST BIR BHA COV CRY EVE IPS LEE LEI LIV MCI MUN MID NWC 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
Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: Soccerbase
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
Leeds United England Jimmy Adamson Resigned 7 September 1980 21st England Maurice Lindley (caretaker) 7 September 1980
Leeds United England Maurice Lindley End of caretaker spell 16 September 1980 21st England Allan Clarke 16 September 1980
Crystal Palace England Terry Venables Signed by Queens Park Rangers 3 October 1980 22nd Wales Ernie Walley (caretaker) 3 October 1980
Manchester City England Malcolm Allison Sacked 8 October 1980 21st England John Bond 17 October 1980
Norwich City England John Bond Signed by Manchester City 17 October 1980 20th England Ken Brown 17 October 1980
Crystal Palace Wales Ernie Walley End of caretaker spell 5 December 1980 21st England Malcolm Allison 5 December 1980
Crystal Palace England Malcolm Allison Sacked 1 February 1981 22nd England Dario Gradi 3 February 1981
Sunderland England Ken Knighton 1 April 1981 15th Scotland Mick Docherty (caretaker) 1 April 1981
Manchester United England Dave Sexton 30 April 1981 8th England Jack Crompton (caretaker) 30 April 1981

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

Second Division
Second Division
Season1980–81
ChampionsWest Ham United
PromotedWest Ham United
Notts County
Swansea City
RelegatedPreston North End
Bristol City
Bristol Rovers
Matches played462
Goals scored1,073 (2.32 per match)
Top goalscorerDavid Cross
(22 goals)[3]
Biggest home winChelsea 6–0 Newcastle United
(25 October 1980)
Biggest away winWrexham 0–4 Chelsea
(15 November 1980)
Grimsby Town 1–5 West Ham United
(11 April 1981)
Highest scoringBolton Wanderers 6–1 Cambridge United
(1 November 1980)

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.

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 West Ham United (C, P) 42 28 10 4 79 29 +50 66 Promotion to the First Division
2 Notts County (P) 42 18 17 7 49 38 +11 53
3 Swansea City (P) 42 18 14 10 64 44 +20 50 Cup Winners' Cup first round and promotion to the First Division
4 Blackburn Rovers 42 16 18 8 42 29 +13 50
5 Luton Town 42 18 12 12 61 46 +15 48
6 Derby County 42 15 15 12 57 52 +5 45
7 Grimsby Town 42 15 15 12 44 42 +2 45
8 Queens Park Rangers 42 15 13 14 56 46 +10 43
9 Watford 42 16 11 15 50 45 +5 43
10 Sheffield Wednesday 42 17 8 17 53 51 +2 42
11 Newcastle United 42 14 14 14 30 45 −15 42
12 Chelsea 42 14 12 16 46 41 +5 40
13 Cambridge United 42 17 6 19 53 65 −12 40
14 Shrewsbury Town 42 11 17 14 46 47 −1 39
15 Oldham Athletic 42 12 15 15 39 48 −9 39
16 Wrexham 42 12 14 16 43 45 −2 38
17 Orient 42 13 12 17 52 56 −4 38
18 Bolton Wanderers 42 14 10 18 61 66 −5 38
19 Cardiff City 42 12 12 18 44 60 −16 36
20 Preston North End (R) 42 11 14 17 41 62 −21 36 Relegation to the Third Division
21 Bristol City (R) 42 7 16 19 29 51 −22 30
22 Bristol Rovers (R) 42 5 13 24 34 65 −31 23
Source:
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated

Results
Home \ Away BLB BOL BRI BRR 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
Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: Soccerbase
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

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

Third Division
Football League
Third Division
Season1980–81
ChampionsRotherham United (1st title)
PromotedBarnsley,
Charlton Athletic
RelegatedBlackpool,
Colchester United,
Hull City,
Sheffield United
Matches played552
Goals scored1,337 (2.42 per match)
Top goalscorerTony Kellow (Exeter City), 25 [3]

Pos Team Pld HW HD HL HGF HGA AW AD AL AGF AGA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
1 Rotherham United 46 17 6 0 43 8 7 7 9 19 24 +30 61 Division Champions, promoted
2 Barnsley 46 15 5 3 46 19 6 12 5 26 26 +27 59 Promoted
3 Charlton Athletic 46 14 6 3 36 17 11 3 9 27 27 +19 59
4 Huddersfield Town 46 14 6 3 40 11 7 8 8 31 29 +31 56
5 Chesterfield 46 17 4 2 42 16 6 6 11 30 32 +24 56
6 Portsmouth 46 14 5 4 35 19 8 4 11 20 28 +8 53
7 Plymouth Argyle 46 14 5 4 35 18 5 9 9 21 26 +12 52
8 Burnley 46 13 5 5 37 21 5 9 9 23 27 +12 50
9 Brentford 46 7 9 7 30 25 7 10 6 22 24 +3 47
10 Reading 46 13 5 5 39 22 5 5 13 23 40 0 46
11 Exeter City 46 9 9 5 36 30 7 4 12 26 36 −4 45
12 Newport County 46 11 6 6 38 22 4 7 12 26 39 +3 43
13 Fulham 46 8 7 8 28 29 7 6 10 29 35 −7 43
14 Oxford United 46 7 8 8 20 24 6 9 8 19 23 −8 43
15 Gillingham 46 9 8 6 23 19 3 10 10 25 39 −10 42
16 Millwall 46 10 9 4 30 21 4 5 14 13 39 −17 42
17 Swindon Town 46 10 6 7 35 27 3 9 11 16 29 −5 41
18 Chester 46 11 5 7 25 17 4 6 13 13 31 −10 41
19 Carlisle United 46 8 9 6 32 29 6 4 13 24 41 −14 41
20 Walsall 46 8 9 6 43 43 5 6 12 16 31 −15 41
21 Sheffield United 46 12 6 5 38 20 2 6 15 27 43 +2 40 Relegated
22 Colchester United 46 12 7 4 35 22 2 4 17 10 43 −20 39
23 Blackpool 46 5 9 9 19 28 4 5 14 26 47 −30 32
24 Hull City 46 7 8 8 23 22 1 8 14 17 49 −31 32
Source: rsssf.com

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
Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: Soccerbase
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

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

Fourth Division
Football League
Fourth Division
Season1980–81
ChampionsSouthend United (1st title)
PromotedDoncaster Rovers,
Lincoln City,
Wimbledon
Failed re-electionNone
Matches played552
Goals scored1,364 (2.47 per match)
Top goalscorerAlan Cork (Wimbledon), 23 [3]

Pos Team Pld HW HD HL HGF HGA AW AD AL AGF AGA GD Pts Promotion
1 Southend United 46 19 4 0 47 6 11 3 9 32 25 +48 67 Division Champions, promoted
2 Lincoln City 46 15 7 1 44 11 10 8 5 22 14 +41 65 Promoted
3 Doncaster Rovers 46 15 4 4 36 20 7 8 8 23 29 +10 56
4 Wimbledon 46 15 4 4 42 17 8 5 10 22 29 +18 55
5 Peterborough United 46 11 8 4 37 21 6 10 7 31 33 +14 52
6 Aldershot 46 12 9 2 28 11 6 5 12 15 30 +2 50
7 Mansfield Town 46 13 5 5 36 15 7 4 12 22 29 +14 49
8 Darlington 46 13 6 4 43 23 6 5 12 22 36 +6 49
9 Hartlepool United 46 14 3 6 42 22 6 6 11 22 39 +3 49
10 Northampton Town 46 11 7 5 42 26 7 6 10 23 41 −2 49
11 Wigan Athletic 46 13 4 6 29 16 5 7 11 22 39 −4 47
12 Bury 46 10 8 5 38 21 7 3 13 32 41 +8 45
13 Bournemouth 46 9 8 6 30 21 7 5 11 17 27 −1 45
14 Bradford City 46 9 9 5 30 24 5 7 11 23 36 −7 44
15 Rochdale 46 11 6 6 33 25 3 9 11 27 45 −10 43
16 Scunthorpe United 46 8 12 3 40 31 3 8 12 20 38 −9 42
17 Torquay United 46 13 2 8 38 26 5 3 15 17 37 −8 41
18 Crewe Alexandra 46 10 7 6 28 20 3 7 13 20 41 −13 40
19 Port Vale 46 10 8 5 40 23 2 7 14 17 47 −13 39
20 Stockport County 46 10 5 8 29 25 6 2 15 15 32 −13 39
21 Tranmere Rovers 46 12 5 6 41 24 1 5 17 18 49 −14 36 Re-elected
22 Hereford United 46 8 8 7 29 20 3 5 15 9 42 −24 35
23 Halifax Town 46 9 3 11 28 32 2 9 12 16 39 −27 34
24 York City 46 10 2 11 31 23 2 7 14 16 43 −19 33
Source:

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
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 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
Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: Soccerbase
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Maps
Locations of the Football League Fourth Division teams 1980–1981
1980–81 Football League is located in Greater London
1980–81 Football League
Locations of the Football League Fourth Division London teams 1980–1981

Election/Re-election to the Football League

Altrincham 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 Rovers21st (Fourth Division)48
Hereford United22nd (Fourth Division)46
York City24th (Fourth Division)46
Halifax Town23rd (Fourth Division)41
Altrincham1st (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
  1. "England 1980–81". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 25 January 2010. Retrieved 2010-02-24.
  2. Ian Laschke: Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79. Macdonald and Jane’s, London & Sydney, 1980.
  3. "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.
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