1978–79 Football League
Season | 1978–79 |
---|---|
Champions | Liverpool |
New Club in League | Wigan Athletic |
← 1977–78 1979–80 → |
The 1978–79 season was the 80th completed season of the Football League.
Bob Paisley won his third league title at Liverpool as his side fought off competition from Nottingham Forest and West Bromwich Albion. Albion were in their first season under the management of Ron Atkinson, and pulled off a famous 5–3 away win over Manchester United with a team that included Bryan Robson, Brendan Batson, Cyrille Regis and Laurie Cunningham.
The three relegation places went to Queens Park Rangers, Birmingham City and Chelsea. QPR had declined since the departure of Dave Sexton in 1977 and were relegated just three years after finishing runners-up in the league. Meanwhile, Chelsea's manager Danny Blanchflower paid for his team's shortcomings by losing his job.
Money dominated the headlines during the season: Trevor Francis became England's first million-pound footballer after joining Nottingham Forest from Birmingham City. Liverpool became one of the first English clubs to have a shirt sponsor when they agreed a sponsorship deal with the Japanese hi-fi manufacturers Hitachi.
Crystal Palace won the Second Division title, followed by Brighton & Hove Albion, who were promoted to the top division for the first time, and third-placed Stoke City. Going down were Sheffield United, Millwall and Blackburn Rovers.
Shrewsbury Town were champions of the Third Division. The other two promotion spots were occupied by Watford and Swansea City. Peterborough United, Walsall, Tranmere Rovers and Lincoln City were relegated to the Fourth Division.
Reading, Grimsby Town, Wimbledon and Barnsley occupied the Fourth Division promotion places. The success came for Wimbledon in only their second season as a league club.
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] and in Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79,[2] 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[]
Season | 1978–79 |
---|---|
Champions | Liverpool (11th English title) |
Relegated | Birmingham City, Chelsea, Queens Park Rangers |
European Cup | Liverpool, Nottingham Forest (defending champions) |
FA Cup winners Cup Winners' Cup | Arsenal (5th FA Cup title) |
UEFA Cup | Everton, Ipswich Town Leeds United, West Bromwich Albion |
Matches played | 462 |
Goals scored | 1,217 (2.63 per match) |
Top goalscorer | Frank Worthington (Bolton Wanderers), 24 [3] |
Biggest home win | Liverpool – Tottenham 7–0 (2 Sep 1978) |
Biggest away win | Tottenham – Arsenal 0–5 (23 Dec 1978) |
Highest scoring | Middlesbrough – Chelsea 7–2 (16 Dec 1978) |
← 1977–78 1979–80 → |
Bob Paisley guided Liverpool to their third league title in four seasons with the highest points total (68), best home record (40 points from 21 games) and highest goals scored to conceded ratio (85 scored, 16 conceded, ratio 5.3:1) ever attained in First Division history. Nottingham Forest built on their first league title triumph by winning the European Cup and retaining the League Cup under the management of Brian Clough, who in February signed striker Trevor Francis from Birmingham City in Britain's first million-pound transfer, although Forest finished eight points behind Liverpool in second place. West Bromwich Albion's first full season under Ron Atkinson brought an impressive third-place finish and a run to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup, as well as a famous 5-3 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford just after Christmas.
Everton and Leeds United completed the top five. Seventh placed Arsenal compensated for a lack of a title challenge by beating Manchester United 3-2 in a memorable final of the FA Cup.
Chelsea, Birmingham City and QPR were relegated, while Derby County (champions just four years ago) only narrowly stayed up.
Pos | Team | Pld | HW | HD | HL | HGF | HGA | AW | AD | AL | AGF | AGA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Liverpool | 42 | 19 | 2 | 0 | 51 | 4 | 11 | 6 | 4 | 34 | 12 | +69 | 68 | League Champions, qualified for European Cup 1979–80 First round |
2 | Nottingham Forest | 42 | 11 | 10 | 0 | 34 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 3 | 27 | 16 | +35 | 60 | European Cup 1979–80 First round[a] |
3 | West Bromwich Albion | 42 | 13 | 5 | 3 | 38 | 15 | 11 | 6 | 4 | 34 | 20 | +37 | 59 | UEFA Cup 1979–80 First round |
4 | Everton | 42 | 12 | 7 | 2 | 32 | 17 | 5 | 10 | 6 | 20 | 23 | +12 | 51 | |
5 | Leeds United | 42 | 11 | 4 | 6 | 41 | 25 | 7 | 10 | 4 | 29 | 27 | +18 | 50 | |
6 | Ipswich Town | 42 | 11 | 4 | 6 | 34 | 21 | 9 | 5 | 7 | 29 | 28 | +14 | 49 | |
7 | Arsenal | 42 | 11 | 8 | 2 | 37 | 18 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 24 | 30 | +13 | 48 | FA Cup winners, qualified for UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1979–80 First round |
8 | Aston Villa | 42 | 8 | 9 | 4 | 37 | 26 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 22 | 23 | +10 | 46 | |
9 | Manchester United | 42 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 29 | 25 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 31 | 38 | −3 | 45 | |
10 | Coventry City | 42 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 41 | 29 | 3 | 9 | 9 | 17 | 39 | −10 | 44 | |
11 | Tottenham Hotspur | 42 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 19 | 25 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 29 | 36 | −13 | 41 | |
12 | Middlesbrough | 42 | 10 | 5 | 6 | 33 | 21 | 5 | 5 | 11 | 24 | 29 | +7 | 40 | |
13 | Bristol City | 42 | 11 | 6 | 4 | 34 | 19 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 13 | 32 | −4 | 40 | |
14 | Southampton | 42 | 9 | 10 | 2 | 35 | 20 | 3 | 6 | 12 | 12 | 33 | −6 | 40 | |
15 | Manchester City | 42 | 9 | 5 | 7 | 34 | 28 | 4 | 8 | 9 | 24 | 28 | +2 | 39 | |
16 | Norwich City | 42 | 7 | 10 | 4 | 29 | 19 | 0 | 13 | 8 | 22 | 38 | −6 | 37 | |
17 | Bolton Wanderers | 42 | 10 | 5 | 6 | 36 | 28 | 2 | 6 | 13 | 18 | 47 | −21 | 35 | |
18 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 42 | 10 | 4 | 7 | 26 | 26 | 3 | 4 | 14 | 18 | 42 | −24 | 34 | |
19 | Derby County | 42 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 25 | 25 | 2 | 6 | 13 | 19 | 46 | −27 | 31 | |
20 | Queens Park Rangers | 42 | 4 | 9 | 8 | 24 | 33 | 2 | 4 | 15 | 21 | 40 | −28 | 25 | Relegated |
21 | Birmingham City | 42 | 5 | 9 | 7 | 24 | 25 | 1 | 1 | 19 | 13 | 39 | −27 | 22 | |
22 | Chelsea | 42 | 3 | 5 | 13 | 23 | 42 | 2 | 5 | 14 | 21 | 50 | −48 | 20 |
Notes:
- ^ Nottingham Forest won this year's European Cup and thus qualified as defending champions. They also won the League cup for the second year running this year.
Results[]
Managerial changes[]
Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Leeds United | Jimmy Armfield | Sacked | 30 June 1978 | Pre-season | Jock Stein | 21 August 1978 |
Queens Park Rangers | Frank Sibley | Mutual consent | 11 July 1978 | Steve Burtenshaw | 10 August 1978 | |
Leeds United | Jock Stein | Signed by Scotland | 4 October 1978 | 11th | Jimmy Adamson | 25 October 1978 |
Wolverhampton Wanderers | Sammy Chung | Sacked | 8 November 1978 | 21st | John Barnwell | 20 November 1978 |
Chelsea | Ken Shellito | 13 December 1978 | 22nd | Danny Blanchflower | 14 December 1978 |
Maps[]
Second Division[]
Season | 1978–79 |
---|---|
Champions | Crystal Palace (1st title) |
Promoted | Brighton & Hove Albion, Stoke City |
Relegated | Blackburn Rovers, Millwall, Sheffield United |
Matches played | 462 |
Goals scored | 1,174 (2.54 per match) |
Top goalscorer | Pop Robson (West Ham United) 24 [3] |
Biggest home win | Luton –Cardiff City 7–1 (16 Sep 1978) Luton –Notts County 6–0 (21 Oct 1978) |
Biggest away win | Blackburn –Cardiff City 1–4 (28 Feb 1979) Cardiff City –Charlton 1–4 (4 Nov 1978) Charlton –Stoke 1–4 (14 Apr 1979) Luton –West Ham 1–4 (26 Feb 1979) Millwall –Brighton & Hove 1–4 (2 Sep 1979) Newcastle –Sunderland 1–4 (24 Feb 1979) 0–3: 9 matches |
Highest scoring | Bristol Rovers –Charlton 5–5 (18 Nov 1978) |
← 1977–78 1979–80 → |
Crystal Palace continued to excel under the management of Terry Venables as their exciting young team finished top of a hotly contested Second Division promotion race, a point ahead of Brighton (in the First Division for the first time) and Stoke City. Sunderland missed out on promotion by a single point.
Newcastle United and Leicester City surprisingly failed to feature in the Second Division promotion race.
Blackburn Rovers, Millwall and Sheffield United went down to the Third Division.
Pos | Team | Pld | HW | HD | HL | HGF | HGA | AW | AD | AL | AGF | AGA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Crystal Palace | 42 | 12 | 7 | 2 | 30 | 11 | 7 | 12 | 2 | 21 | 13 | +27 | 57 | Division Champions, promoted |
2 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 42 | 16 | 3 | 2 | 44 | 11 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 28 | 28 | +33 | 56 | Promoted |
3 | Stoke City | 42 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 35 | 15 | 9 | 9 | 3 | 23 | 16 | +27 | 56 | |
4 | Sunderland | 42 | 13 | 3 | 5 | 39 | 19 | 9 | 8 | 4 | 31 | 25 | +26 | 55 | |
5 | West Ham United | 42 | 12 | 7 | 2 | 46 | 15 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 24 | 24 | +31 | 50 | |
6 | Notts County | 42 | 8 | 10 | 3 | 23 | 15 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 25 | 45 | −12 | 44 | |
7 | Preston North End | 42 | 7 | 11 | 3 | 36 | 23 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 23 | 34 | +2 | 42 | |
8 | Newcastle United | 42 | 13 | 3 | 5 | 35 | 24 | 4 | 5 | 12 | 16 | 31 | −4 | 42 | |
9 | Cardiff City | 42 | 12 | 5 | 4 | 34 | 23 | 4 | 5 | 12 | 22 | 47 | −14 | 42 | |
10 | Fulham | 42 | 10 | 7 | 4 | 35 | 19 | 3 | 8 | 10 | 15 | 28 | +3 | 41 | |
11 | Orient | 42 | 11 | 5 | 5 | 32 | 18 | 4 | 5 | 12 | 19 | 33 | 0 | 40 | |
12 | Cambridge United | 42 | 7 | 10 | 4 | 22 | 15 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 22 | 37 | −8 | 40 | |
13 | Burnley | 42 | 11 | 6 | 4 | 31 | 22 | 3 | 6 | 12 | 20 | 40 | −11 | 40 | |
14 | Oldham Athletic | 42 | 10 | 7 | 4 | 36 | 23 | 3 | 6 | 12 | 16 | 38 | −9 | 39 | |
15 | Wrexham | 42 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 31 | 16 | 2 | 8 | 11 | 14 | 26 | +3 | 38 | UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1979–80 First round[a] |
16 | Bristol Rovers | 42 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 34 | 23 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 14 | 37 | −12 | 38 | |
17 | Leicester City | 42 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 28 | 23 | 3 | 9 | 9 | 15 | 29 | −9 | 37 | |
18 | Luton Town | 42 | 11 | 5 | 5 | 46 | 24 | 2 | 5 | 14 | 14 | 33 | +3 | 36 | |
19 | Charlton Athletic | 42 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 28 | 28 | 5 | 5 | 11 | 32 | 41 | −9 | 35 | |
20 | Sheffield United | 42 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 34 | 24 | 2 | 6 | 13 | 18 | 45 | −17 | 34 | Relegated |
21 | Millwall | 42 | 7 | 4 | 10 | 22 | 29 | 4 | 6 | 11 | 20 | 32 | −19 | 32 | |
22 | Blackburn Rovers | 42 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 24 | 29 | 5 | 2 | 14 | 17 | 43 | −31 | 30 |
Notes:
- ^ Wrexham were runners-up in the Welsh Cup final, and since winners Shrewsbury Town are an English club, Wrexham were awarded the right to participate in the European Cup Winners' Cup.
Results[]
Maps[]
Third Division[]
Season | 1978–79 |
---|---|
Champions | Shrewsbury Town (1st title) |
Promoted | Swansea City, Watford |
Relegated | Lincoln City, Peterborough United, Tranmere Rovers, Walsall |
Matches played | 552 |
Goals scored | 1,388 (2.51 per match) |
Top goalscorer | Ross Jenkins (Watford), 29 [3] |
← 1977–78 1979–80 → |
Pos | Team | Pld | HW | HD | HL | HGF | HGA | AW | AD | AL | AGF | AGA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Shrewsbury Town | 46 | 14 | 9 | 0 | 36 | 11 | 7 | 10 | 6 | 25 | 30 | +20 | 61 | Division Champions, promoted; Welsh Cup winners, not qualified for the Cup Winners' Cup[a] |
2 | Watford | 46 | 15 | 5 | 3 | 47 | 22 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 36 | 30 | +31 | 60 | Promoted |
3 | Swansea City | 46 | 16 | 6 | 1 | 57 | 32 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 26 | 29 | +22 | 60 | |
4 | Gillingham | 46 | 15 | 7 | 1 | 39 | 15 | 6 | 10 | 7 | 26 | 27 | +23 | 59 | |
5 | Swindon Town | 46 | 17 | 2 | 4 | 44 | 14 | 8 | 5 | 10 | 30 | 38 | +22 | 57 | |
6 | Carlisle United | 46 | 11 | 10 | 2 | 31 | 13 | 4 | 12 | 7 | 22 | 29 | +11 | 52 | |
7 | Colchester United | 46 | 13 | 9 | 1 | 35 | 19 | 4 | 8 | 11 | 25 | 36 | +5 | 51 | |
8 | Hull City | 46 | 12 | 9 | 2 | 36 | 14 | 7 | 2 | 14 | 30 | 47 | +5 | 49 | |
9 | Exeter City | 46 | 14 | 6 | 3 | 38 | 18 | 3 | 9 | 11 | 23 | 38 | +5 | 49 | |
10 | Brentford | 46 | 14 | 4 | 5 | 35 | 19 | 5 | 5 | 13 | 18 | 30 | +4 | 47 | |
11 | Oxford United | 46 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 27 | 20 | 4 | 10 | 9 | 17 | 30 | −6 | 46 | |
12 | Blackpool | 46 | 12 | 5 | 6 | 38 | 19 | 6 | 4 | 13 | 23 | 40 | +2 | 45 | |
13 | Southend United | 46 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 30 | 17 | 4 | 9 | 10 | 21 | 32 | +2 | 45 | |
14 | Sheffield Wednesday | 46 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 30 | 22 | 4 | 11 | 8 | 23 | 31 | 0 | 45 | |
15 | Plymouth Argyle | 46 | 11 | 9 | 3 | 40 | 27 | 4 | 5 | 14 | 27 | 41 | −1 | 44 | |
16 | Chester | 46 | 11 | 9 | 3 | 42 | 21 | 3 | 7 | 13 | 15 | 40 | −4 | 44 | |
17 | Rotherham United | 46 | 13 | 3 | 7 | 30 | 23 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 19 | 32 | −6 | 44 | |
18 | Mansfield Town | 46 | 7 | 11 | 5 | 30 | 24 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 21 | 28 | −1 | 43 | |
19 | Bury | 46 | 6 | 11 | 6 | 35 | 32 | 5 | 9 | 9 | 24 | 33 | −6 | 42 | |
20 | Chesterfield | 46 | 10 | 5 | 8 | 35 | 34 | 3 | 9 | 11 | 16 | 31 | −14 | 40 | |
21 | Peterborough United | 46 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 26 | 24 | 3 | 7 | 13 | 18 | 39 | −19 | 36 | Relegated |
22 | Walsall | 46 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 34 | 32 | 3 | 6 | 14 | 22 | 39 | −15 | 32 | |
23 | Tranmere Rovers | 46 | 4 | 12 | 7 | 26 | 31 | 2 | 4 | 17 | 19 | 47 | −33 | 28 | |
24 | Lincoln City | 46 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 26 | 38 | 2 | 4 | 17 | 15 | 50 | −47 | 25 |
Notes:
- ^ Shrewsbury Town were winners of the Welsh Cup winners this season, but as they are an English club, they did not earn a place in the Cup Winners' Cup.
Results[]
Maps[]
Fourth Division[]
Season | 1978–79 |
---|---|
Champions | Reading (1st title) |
Promoted | Barnsley, Grimsby Town, Wimbledon |
Failed re-election | None |
New club in the league | Wigan Athletic |
Matches played | 552 |
Goals scored | 1,409 (2.55 per match) |
Top goalscorer | John Dungworth (Aldershot), 26 [3] |
← 1977–78 1979–80 → |
Pos | Team | Pld | HW | HD | HL | HGF | HGA | AW | AD | AL | AGF | AGA | GD | Pts | Promotion |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Reading | 46 | 19 | 3 | 1 | 49 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 6 | 27 | 27 | +41 | 65 | Division Champions, promoted |
2 | Grimsby Town | 46 | 15 | 5 | 3 | 51 | 23 | 11 | 4 | 8 | 31 | 26 | +33 | 61 | Promoted |
3 | Wimbledon | 46 | 18 | 3 | 2 | 50 | 20 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 28 | 26 | +32 | 61 | |
4 | Barnsley | 46 | 15 | 5 | 3 | 47 | 23 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 26 | 19 | +31 | 61 | |
5 | Aldershot | 46 | 16 | 5 | 2 | 38 | 14 | 4 | 12 | 7 | 25 | 33 | +16 | 57 | |
6 | Wigan Athletic[a] | 46 | 14 | 5 | 4 | 40 | 24 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 23 | 24 | +15 | 55 | |
7 | Portsmouth | 46 | 13 | 7 | 3 | 35 | 12 | 7 | 5 | 11 | 27 | 36 | +14 | 52 | |
8 | Newport County | 46 | 12 | 5 | 6 | 39 | 28 | 9 | 5 | 9 | 27 | 27 | +11 | 52 | |
9 | Huddersfield Town | 46 | 13 | 8 | 2 | 32 | 15 | 5 | 3 | 15 | 25 | 38 | +4 | 47 | |
10 | York City | 46 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 33 | 24 | 7 | 5 | 11 | 18 | 31 | −4 | 47 | |
11 | Torquay United | 46 | 14 | 4 | 5 | 38 | 24 | 5 | 4 | 14 | 20 | 41 | −7 | 46 | |
12 | Scunthorpe United | 46 | 12 | 3 | 8 | 33 | 30 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 21 | 30 | −6 | 45 | |
13 | Hartlepool United | 46 | 7 | 12 | 4 | 35 | 28 | 6 | 6 | 11 | 22 | 38 | −9 | 44 | |
14 | Hereford United | 46 | 12 | 8 | 3 | 35 | 18 | 3 | 5 | 15 | 18 | 35 | 0 | 43 | |
15 | Bradford City | 46 | 11 | 5 | 7 | 38 | 26 | 6 | 4 | 13 | 24 | 42 | −6 | 43 | |
16 | Port Vale | 46 | 8 | 10 | 5 | 29 | 28 | 6 | 4 | 13 | 28 | 42 | −13 | 42 | |
17 | Stockport County | 46 | 11 | 5 | 7 | 33 | 21 | 3 | 7 | 13 | 25 | 39 | −2 | 40 | |
18 | Bournemouth | 46 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 34 | 19 | 3 | 5 | 15 | 13 | 29 | −1 | 39 | |
19 | Northampton Town | 46 | 12 | 4 | 7 | 40 | 30 | 3 | 5 | 15 | 24 | 46 | −12 | 39 | |
20 | Rochdale | 46 | 11 | 4 | 8 | 25 | 26 | 4 | 5 | 14 | 22 | 38 | −17 | 39 | |
21 | Darlington | 46 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 25 | 21 | 3 | 7 | 13 | 24 | 45 | −17 | 37 | Re-elected |
22 | Doncaster Rovers | 46 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 25 | 22 | 5 | 3 | 15 | 25 | 51 | −23 | 37 | |
23 | Halifax Town | 46 | 7 | 5 | 11 | 24 | 32 | 2 | 3 | 18 | 15 | 40 | −33 | 26 | |
24 | Crewe Alexandra | 46 | 3 | 7 | 13 | 24 | 41 | 3 | 7 | 13 | 19 | 49 | −47 | 26 |
Notes:
- ^ New club in the league
Results[]
Maps[]
See also[]
- 1978-79 in English football
References[]
- ^ "England 1978–79". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 27 January 2010. Retrieved 2010-02-24.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Ian Laschke: Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79. Macdonald and Jane’s, London & Sydney, 1980.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d "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.
- 1978–79 Football League
- English Football League seasons
- 1978–79 in English football leagues