1984–85 Football League

The 198485 season was the 86th completed season of The Football League.

The Football League
Season1984–85
ChampionsEverton

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
Season1984–85
ChampionsEverton
8th English title
RelegatedNorwich City
Sunderland
Stoke City
Matches played462
Goals scored1,288 (2.79 per match)
Top goalscorerGary Lineker
Kerry Dixon
(24 goals each)[3]
Biggest home winChelsea 6–2 Coventry City
(3 November 1984)
Biggest away winAston Villa 0–5 Nottingham Forest
(5 September 1984)
Highest scoringQueens Park Rangers 5–5 Newcastle United
(22 September 1984)
Longest winning run10 matches
Everton
Longest unbeaten run18 matches
Everton
Longest losing run10 matches
Stoke City

Howard Kendall’s Everton side beat neighbours Liverpool to the league championship by thirteen points with five games to spare, while Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United followed closely behind. Howard Kendall's team also collected the Cup Winners' Cup. Southampton completed the top five, but long-serving manager Lawrie McMenemy then delivered a major surprise by resigning as manager to take over at relegated Sunderland.

The season marked the return of Sheffield Wednesday to the First Division after 14 years away, Newcastle United after six years away, and Chelsea after five years. All three sides secured First Division survival comfortably.

Stoke City finished bottom of the First Division with just three league wins all season and just 17 points – a record low under the 3 points for a win system in any division, which would stand for twenty-one years. Norwich City and Sunderland – the two League Cup finalists – occupied the two other relegation places.

Liverpool manager Joe Fagan retired after the season and striker Kenny Dalglish was appointed player-manager.

The First Division's leading scorers this season were Gary Lineker at Leicester City and Kerry Dixon at Chelsea, with both players scoring 24 league goals.

Final table

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification or relegation
1Everton (C)4228688843+4590Disqualified from the European Cup[4]
2Liverpool42221196835+3377Disqualified from the UEFA Cup[5]
3Tottenham Hotspur42238117851+2777
4Manchester United[a]422210107747+3076Disqualified from the European Cup Winners' Cup[6]
5Southampton[b]421911125647+968Disqualified from the UEFA Cup[5]
6Chelsea421812126348+1566
7Arsenal42199146149+1266
8Sheffield Wednesday421714115845+1365
9Nottingham Forest42197165648+864
10Aston Villa421511166060056
11Watford421413158171+1055
12West Bromwich Albion42167195862−455
13Luton Town42159185761−454
14Newcastle United421313165570−1552
15Leicester City42156216573−851
16West Ham United421312175168−1751
17Ipswich Town421311184657−1150
18Coventry City42155224764−1750
19Queens Park Rangers421311185372−1950
20Norwich City[c] (R)421310194664−1849Relegation to the Second Division
21Sunderland (R)421010224062−2240
22Stoke City (R)4238312491−6717
Source: World Football
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated
Notes:

First Division results

Home \ AwayARSASTCHECOVEVEIPSLEILIVLUTMUNNEWNWCNOTQPRSHWSOUSTKSUNTOTWATWBAWHU
Arsenal1–11–12–11–01–12–03–13–10–12–02–01–11–01–01–04–03–21–21–14–02–1
Aston Villa0–04–21–01–12–10–10–00–13–04–02–20–55–23–02–22–01–00–11–13–10–0
Chelsea1–13–16–20–12–03–03–12–01–31–01–21–01–02–10–21–11–01–12–33–13–0
Coventry City1–20–31–04–11–02–00–21–00–31–10–01–33–01–02–14–00–11–13–12–11–2
Everton2–02–13–42–11–13–01–02–15–04–03–05–02–01–12–24–04–11–44–04–13–0
Ipswich Town2–13–02–00–00–22–00–01–11–11–12–01–01–11–20–15–10–20–33–32–00–1
Leicester City1–45–01–15–11–22–10–12–22–32–32–01–04–03–11–20–02–01–21–12–11–0
Liverpool3–02–14–33–10–12–01–21–00–13–14–01–01–10–21–12–01–10–14–30–03–0
Luton Town3–11–00–02–02–03–14–01–22–12–23–11–22–01–21–12–02–12–23–21–22–2
Manchester United4–24–01–10–11–13–02–11–12–05–02–02–03–01–20–05–02–21–01–12–05–1
Newcastle United1–33–02–10–12–33–01–40–21–01–11–11–11–02–12–12–13–12–33–11–01–1
Norwich City1–02–20–02–14–20–21–33–33–00–10–00–12–01–11–00–01–31–23–22–11–0
Nottingham Forest2–03–22–02–01–02–02–10–23–13–20–03–12–00–02–01–13–11–21–11–21–2
Queens Park Rangers1–02–02–22–10–03–04–30–22–31–35–52–23–00–00–42–01–02–22–03–14–2
Sheffield Wednesday2–11–11–11–00–12–25–01–11–11–04–21–23–13–12–12–12–22–11–12–02–1
Southampton1–02–01–02–11–23–03–11–11–00–01–02–11–01–10–30–01–01–01–24–32–3
Stoke City2–01–30–10–10–20–22–20–10–42–10–12–31–40–22–11–32–20–11–30–02–4
Sunderland0–00–40–20–01–21–20–40–33–03–20–02–10–23–00–03–11–01–01–11–10–1
Tottenham Hotspur0–20–21–14–21–22–32–21–04–21–23–13–11–05–02–05–14–02–01–52–32–2
Watford3–43–31–30–14–53–14–11–13–05–15–32–02–01–11–01–12–03–11–20–25–0
West Bromwich Albion2–21–00–15–22–11–22–00–54–01–22–10–14–10–02–20–02–01–00–12–15–1
West Ham United3–11–21–13–10–10–03–10–30–02–21–11–00–01–30–02–35–11–01–12–00–2
Source: [citation needed]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Managerial changes

TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming managerDate of appointment
Newcastle United Arthur CoxSigned by Derby County28 May 1984Pre-season Jack Charlton19 July 1984
Queens Park Rangers Terry VenablesSigned by Barcelona30 May 1984 Alan Mullery20 June 1984
Tottenham Hotspur Keith BurkinshawResigned31 May 1984 Peter Shreeves1 June 1984
Aston Villa Tony BartonSacked5 June 1984 Graham Turner2 July 1984
Queens Park Rangers Alan Mullery5 December 198413th Frank Sibley5 December 1984
Coventry City Bobby Gould28 December 198421st Don Mackay28 December 1984
Stoke City Bill AspreyResigned2 April 198522nd Tony Lacey (caretaker)2 April 1985

First Division maps

Locations of the Football League First Division London teams 1984–1985

Second Division

Second Division
Season1984–85
ChampionsOxford United
PromotedOxford United
Birmingham City
Manchester City
RelegatedNotts County
Cardiff City
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Matches played462
Goals scored1,255 (2.72 per match)
Top goalscorerJohn Aldridge
(30 goals)[3]

Jim Smith’s Oxford United side won a successive promotion as Second Division champions and reached the First Division after just 23 years as Football League members. Following them into the big time were Birmingham City and Manchester City.

Slipping out of the league’s second tier were Cardiff City, joined by Notts County and Wolverhampton Wanderers – both relegated for the second season in succession. Veteran manager Tommy Docherty had tried his hand at reversing financially troubled Wolves’ rapid decline at Molineux, but without success.

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsRelegation
1Oxford United (C, P)4225988436+4884Promotion to the First Division
2Birmingham City (P)42257105933+2682
3Manchester City (P)422111106640+2674
4Portsmouth42201486950+1974
5Blackburn Rovers422110116641+2573
6Brighton & Hove Albion422012105434+2072
7Leeds United421912116643+2369
8Shrewsbury Town421811136653+1365
9Fulham42198156864+465
10Grimsby Town42188167264+862
11Barnsley421416124242058
12Wimbledon421610167175−458
13Huddersfield Town421510175264−1255
14Oldham Athletic42158194967−1853
15Crystal Palace421212184665−1948
16Carlisle United42138215067−1747
17Charlton Athletic421112195163−1245
18Sheffield United421014185466−1244
19Middlesbrough421010224157−1640
20Notts County (R)42107254573−2837Relegation to the Third Division
21Cardiff City (R)4298254779−3235
22Wolverhampton Wanderers (R)4289253779−4233
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated

Second Division results

Home \ AwayBARBIRBLBB&HACARCRLCHACRYFULGRIHUDLEEMCIMIDNTCOLDOXFPORSHUSHRWDNWOL
Barnsley0–11–10–02–01–31–03–11–00–02–11–00–01–00–00–13–02–21–03–10–05–1
Birmingham City0–00–21–12–02–02–13–02–22–11–01–00–03–22–10–10–00–14–10–04–21–0
Blackburn Rovers0–02–12–02–14–03–00–12–13–11–32–10–13–01–01–11–10–13–13–12–03–0
Brighton & Hove Albion0–02–03–11–04–12–11–02–00–00–11–10–01–22–12–00–01–11–01–02–15–1
Cardiff City3–01–21–22–42–10–30–30–22–43–02–10–32–11–42–20–21–21–30–01–30–0
Carlisle United2–02–10–10–30–11–11–03–01–10–12–20–00–32–22–50–13–01–12–06–10–1
Charlton Athletic5–32–11–00–11–41–11–11–24–12–22–31–31–03–02–13–32–20–01–10–11–0
Crystal Palace0–10–21–11–11–12–12–12–20–21–13–11–21–01–03–01–02–11–32–20–50–0
Fulham1–10–13–22–03–23–20–02–22–12–10–23–22–11–03–11–01–31–01–23–11–2
Grimsby Town1–01–01–12–46–31–02–11–32–45–10–24–13–12–04–11–22–30–22–12–15–1
Huddersfield Town1–10–11–11–22–12–02–12–02–20–01–00–23–11–22–10–30–22–21–52–13–1
Leeds United2–00–10–01–01–11–11–04–12–00–00–01–12–05–06–01–00–11–11–05–23–2
Manchester City1–11–02–12–02–21–35–12–12–33–01–01–21–02–00–01–02–22–04–03–04–0
Middlesbrough0–00–01–22–13–21–21–01–12–01–52–20–02–10–11–20–10–01–01–12–41–1
Notts County0–21–30–31–20–23–00–00–02–11–10–21–23–23–20–02–01–30–01–32–34–1
Oldham Athletic2–10–12–01–00–12–32–11–02–12–02–21–10–22–03–20–00–22–20–10–13–2
Oxford United4–00–32–12–14–04–05–05–03–21–03–05–23–01–01–15–21–15–11–04–03–1
Portsmouth0–01–32–21–10–03–10–11–14–43–23–23–11–21–03–15–12–12–13–01–00–1
Sheffield United3–13–41–31–12–10–01–11–20–12–30–22–10–00–33–02–01–14–10–13–02–2
Shrewsbury Town2–01–03–00–00–04–21–14–13–14–15–12–31–00–24–23–02–20–03–31–22–1
Wimbledon3–31–21–11–02–13–01–33–21–11–10–12–22–21–13–21–01–33–25–04–11–1
Wolverhampton Wanderers0–10–20–30–13–00–21–02–10–40–12–10–22–00–02–20–31–20–02–20–13–3
Source: [citation needed]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Second Division maps

Locations of the Football League Second Division London teams 1984–1985
Football League, Third Division
Season1984–85
ChampionsBradford City (1st title)
PromotedHull City,
Millwall
RelegatedBurnley,
Cambridge United,
Orient,
Preston North End
Matches played552
Goals scored1,503 (2.72 per match)
Top goalscorerTommy Tynan (Plymouth Argyle), 31 [3]

Bradford City’s Third Division championship glory was overshadowed on the final day of the season when a fire at their Valley Parade ground killed 56 spectators – including two followers of their opponents Lincoln City.

The other two promotion places in the Third Division were occupied by Millwall and Hull City.

Going down from the Third Division were Cambridge United (who won just four games all season), Orient, Burnley and Preston North End. Burnley and Preston were founder members of the Football League who had reached great heights in the past – just 25 years ago Burnley had been league champions. Those successes were now very much a distant memory as both clubs slid into the league's fourth tier for the first time.

Swansea City, who had finished sixth in the First Division just three years earlier, continued to suffer as a result of their financial problems as they narrowly avoided a third successive relegation.

PosTeamPldHWHDHLHGFHGAAWADALAGFAGAGDPtsPromotion or relegation
1Bradford City461562442313463322+3294[a]Division Champions, promoted.
2Millwall46185044128782930+3190Promoted
3Hull City46164346209863229+2987
4Gillingham4615535429103102633+1883
5Bristol City46172446197792828+2781
6Bristol Rovers461562371366112935+1875
7Derby County461472402056122534+1170
8York City461355422274122835+1369
9Reading46878312911573733+669
10Bournemouth461634421638121530+1168
11Walsall4697733229682530+667
12Rotherham United461166362475111931065
13Brentford461355422739112037−262
14Doncaster Rovers461157423363143041−259
15Plymouth Argyle461175332347122942−359
16Wigan Athletic461265362238122442−459
17Bolton Wanderers461256382241183153−654
18Newport County46968303047122537−1252
19Lincoln City468114322037131831−151[a]
20Swansea City467511313956122241−2747
21Burnley46689302455133049−1346Relegated
22Orient46779303646132140−2546
23Preston North End46959334142171859−4946
24Cambridge United462318174826152047−5821
Source: [citation needed]
Notes:

Results

Home \ AwayBOLBOUBRABREBRCBRRBURCAMDERDONGILHULLEYLINMILNPCPLYPNEREAROTSWAWALWIGYOR
Bolton Wanderers2–10–21–11–40–11–30–03–03–11–20–00–01–02–03–17–24–01–22–00–03–11–02–1
Bournemouth4–04–11–02–11–01–10–01–01–32–01–11–03–11–23–01–02–00–33–01–24–11–04–0
Bradford City2–11–05–41–12–03–22–03–10–11–12–04–10–03–11–01–03–02–51–11–11–14–21–0
Brentford2–10–00–11–20–32–12–01–11–15–22–10–12–21–12–53–13–12–13–03–03–12–02–1
Bristol City3–22–02–01–13–01–03–03–01–02–02–03–22–10–12–14–34–02–30–12–21–22–01–0
Bristol Rovers1–21–02–03–01–04–02–12–11–13–21–10–10–01–12–11–03–01–01–04–20–02–01–1
Burnley3–21–11–23–10–10–02–00–10–10–11–11–11–21–12–01–12–00–27–01–11–21–21–1
Cambridge United2–31–00–41–22–30–22–30–21–11–21–32–30–21–01–21–10–30–20–20–20–11–10–4
Derby County3–22–30–01–01–00–02–21–03–11–03–11–02–01–23–33–12–04–11–11–12–02–21–0
Doncaster Rovers2–03–00–32–21–12–22–03–22–10–11–21–13–20–13–24–31–20–40–14–14–11–13–0
Gillingham2–33–22–22–01–34–11–13–03–22–11–02–03–21–41–13–34–04–12–11–13–05–11–0
Hull City2–23–00–24–02–12–02–02–13–23–22–05–11–02–12–02–21–20–00–04–11–03–10–2
Orient4–30–01–00–10–11–40–22–22–22–12–44–51–01–01–13–00–00–00–14–20–31–11–3
Lincoln City2–00–01–21–11–11–23–11–10–00–22–00–00–00–12–22–24–05–13–31–00–01–02–1
Millwall5–22–14–02–01–11–02–12–12–12–12–12–21–02–02–02–03–00–00–02–00–04–11–0
Newport County3–21–10–12–00–01–12–11–21–32–10–30–12–02–13–21–03–31–20–22–01–21–11–1
Plymouth Argyle2–00–00–01–11–03–22–22–00–12–11–10–11–12–03–11–06–41–21–01–21–31–01–1
Preston North End1–02–11–41–13–22–23–33–12–12–00–01–40–10–12–11–11–20–20–33–21–02–52–4
Reading3–10–20–30–01–03–25–13–10–01–40–24–21–11–12–20–11–13–01–00–10–11–11–2
Rotherham United3–11–01–21–12–13–33–20–12–02–31–01–12–10–00–01–00–23–03–00–10–13–34–1
Swansea City2–10–01–23–20–03–20–12–21–53–10–10–23–12–21–20–30–24–11–21–01–22–21–3
Walsall1–00–00–00–14–11–22–35–00–01–00–10–14–20–03–31–10–32–13–10–23–00–03–0
Wigan Athletic1–01–21–01–12–21–02–03–32–05–20–11–14–21–00–11–11–02–01–02–12–01–21–2
York City0–34–11–21–00–21–04–03–21–13–17–11–22–12–11–12–00–00–12–23–01–01–12–0
Source: [1] Soccerbase
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Third Division maps

Locations of the Football League Third Division London teams 1984–1985
Football League, Fourth Division
Season1984–85
ChampionsChesterfield (2nd title)
PromotedBlackpool,
Bury,
Darlington
Failed re-electionNone
Matches played552
Goals scored1,478 (2.68 per match)
Top goalscorerJohn Clayton (Tranmere Rovers), 31 [3]

Chesterfield, Blackpool, Darlington and Bury were promoted to the Third Division after occupying the Fourth Division's top four places.

The bottom four clubs, Halifax Town, Stockport County, Northampton Town (who had spent a season in the First Division some 20 years earlier) and Torquay United, all retained their league status after a successful re-election campaign at the expense of Alliance Premier League side Bath City who were placed 4th in the Alliance Premier League and were the highest placed team there that would have met the Football League's requirements. Re-election results are given at the end of this article.

PosTeamPldHWHDHLHGFHGAAWADALAGFAGAGDPtsPromotion
1Chesterfield461661401310762422+2991Division Champions, promoted
2Blackpool46157142159773124+3486Promoted
3Darlington46164341228962527+1785
4Bury46156246209683030+2684
5Hereford United46162538216982726+1877
6Tranmere Rovers461715502172143345+1775
7Colchester United46137349297793836+2274
8Swindon Town461643422155132037+472
9Scunthorpe United461463613358102229+2171
10Crewe Alexandra461076322885103341−466
11Peterborough United461175292157112532+162
12Port Vale4611843924310102235+260
13Aldershot461166332062152343−759
14Mansfield Town4610852515310101623+357
15Wrexham461067392753152843−354
16Chester City461139353046132542−1254
17Rochdale46878333057112239−1453
18Exeter City46977302747122752−2253
19Hartlepool United461067342944152038−1352
20Southend United46887303453152849−2550
21Halifax Town469311263262151637−2750Re-elected
22Stockport County461157402623181853−2147
23Northampton Town4610112323244152142−2147
24Torquay United465117182443162039−2541
Source: [citation needed]

Results

Home \ AwayALDBLPBRYCHECHFCOLCREDAREXEHALHARHERMANNORPETPTVROCSCUSTDSTPSWITORTRAWRE
Aldershot1–00–11–21–11–01–13–41–12–01–00–10–00–00–01–05–01–26–22–10–11–03–22–1
Blackpool1–00–03–11–01–16–10–03–01–12–12–01–02–14–21–13–01–01–04–11–03–31–20–0
Bury2–11–04–10–04–32–21–02–23–01–02–10–03–11–14–02–20–12–02–12–03–13–02–3
Chester City2–00–02–31–11–20–25–21–32–01–02–10–31–01–32–00–11–15–12–12–00–12–42–1
Chesterfield2–12–10–13–11–13–10–05–13–00–03–10–02–12–00–00–01–02–13–01–01–04–22–1
Colchester United2–01–11–01–13–14–11–23–41–31–02–22–14–13–13–21–11–13–33–01–12–12–14–1
Crewe Alexandra1–10–21–02–01–11–42–20–00–12–00–31–13–22–10–03–11–10–22–13–23–01–33–0
Darlington1–10–41–12–11–34–02–12–12–00–11–13–14–02–11–11–02–13–13–11–01–02–12–1
Exeter City3–01–10–21–10–11–50–21–11–03–20–00–05–00–12–11–12–12–10–21–14–30–12–0
Halifax Town1–20–24–10–41–30–01–10–12–32–32–11–01–00–02–10–21–21–02–12–10–12–11–2
Hartlepool United1–00–20–12–11–02–13–01–21–10–12–20–00–00–32–20–23–22–15–12–23–12–42–0
Hereford United2–12–15–30–00–12–13–20–11–23–03–03–01–11–01–01–21–03–02–00–31–02–12–1
Mansfield Town1–21–10–22–00–00–10–22–02–22–12–01–12–00–01–15–10–11–01–00–01–00–01–0
Northampton Town4–00–10–10–21–31–31–32–15–20–12–00–31–00–31–00–00–21–24–04–03–12–00–4
Peterborough United1–22–01–43–10–00–12–11–10–02–03–11–11–00–00–01–13–11–43–10–11–01–02–1
Port Vale1–21–10–00–00–03–22–00–25–13–11–13–10–10–33–13–11–14–13–22–02–22–10–0
Rochdale1–21–11–11–23–11–11–31–22–02–04–30–12–13–02–11–23–32–20–00–10–02–10–2
Scunthorpe United2–11–12–22–12–42–22–30–17–14–02–01–12–22–12–13–34–22–11–06–22–05–25–2
Southend United1–01–43–31–10–12–53–11–11–02–11–10–01–32–12–11–10–21–11–13–21–02–30–1
Stockport County6–01–32–05–10–11–00–10–01–00–34–12–11–14–21–13–11–12–01–22–11–20–22–2
Swindon Town2–14–11–04–44–02–11–11–02–02–12–10–31–02–01–10–12–10–02–04–01–32–12–1
Torquay United1–30–20–22–00–11–10–01–11–11–10–11–01–00–20–01–31–00–02–20–00–01–14–3
Tranmere Rovers4–33–03–21–00–13–13–13–03–21–01–20–10–01–24–04–13–12–02–03–00–23–13–1
Wrexham1–01–23–02–02–02–21–31–12–00–11–11–12–20–31–31–12–02–11–23–44–02–04–0
Updated to match(es) played on compreat. Source: [2]Soccerbase
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Fourth Division maps

Election/Re-election to the Football League

This year Wealdstone, the winners of the Alliance Premier League, could not apply for election because they did not meet Football League requirements. 2nd placed Nuneaton could not apply either for the same reasons, and neither could 3rd placed Dartford, so 4th placed Bath City won the right to apply for election to the Football League to replace one of the four bottom sides in the 1984–85 Football League Fourth Division. The vote went as follows:

ClubFinal PositionVotes
Northampton Town23rd (Fourth Division)52
Stockport County22nd (Fourth Division)50
Torquay United24th (Fourth Division)50
Halifax Town21st (Fourth Division)48
Bath City4th (Alliance Premier League)8

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

See also

References

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