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1977–78 Football League

79th season of the Football League

79th season of the Football League

FieldValue
competitionThe Football League
season[1977–78](1977-78-in-english-football)
winnersNottingham Forest
relegatedSouthport
continentalcup1New Club in League
continentalcup1 qualifiersWimbledon
prevseason[1976–77](1976-77-football-league)
nextseason[1978–79](1978-79-football-league)

The 1977–78 season was the 79th completed season of The Football League. The season began on 20 August 1977 and ended after 42 matches on 4 May 1978.

Brian Clough’s Nottingham Forest side took the First Division by storm, first winning the League Cup on 22 March and then confirming themselves as league champions the following month. They joined a small and exclusive company of clubs who have won the league championship one season after promotion.

Manchester United broke the British transfer fee record on 9 February by paying Leeds United £495,000 for Scottish defender Gordon McQueen.

Bob Latchford was the top goalscorer, winning a £10,000 prize offered by a national newspaper for the first footballer to reach 30 goals in a single season, which had not happened in the First Division since the 1971–72 season and in the Second Division since the 1965–66 season.

West Ham United, Newcastle United and Leicester City were relegated from the First Division.

Bolton Wanderers, Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur were promoted from the Second Division, while Blackpool, Mansfield Town and Hull City were relegated

Wrexham, Cambridge United and Preston North End were promoted from the Third Division, while Portsmouth, Port Vale, Bradford City and Hereford United were relegated.

Wimbledon played their first season in the Football League, replacing Workington. Watford, Southend United, Swansea City and Brentford were promoted, while Southport were not re-elected. Southport was the last club to leave the Football League through the re-election process.

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 and in Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79 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.

First Division

1st English title Newcastle United Leicester City Liverpool (defending champions) Manchester City Arsenal West Bromwich Albion (30 goals) (26 November 1977) Everton 6–0 Chelsea (29 April 1978) (8 October 1977) Leicester 0–4 Liverpool (26 November 1977) Manchester United 0–4 Nottingham Forest (17 December 1977) Everton 2–6 Manchester United (26 December 1977) Leicester City 1–5 Everton (15 April 1978) (27 December 1977) Birmingham 4–5 Chelsea (31 December 1977) Brian Clough became only the second manager in the history of English football to win the top division title with two clubs, when he guided Nottingham Forest to their first ever top division title. It was an incredible achievement for a Forest side who were one of just a few teams to win the First Division title a year after promotion. Forest finished seven points above Liverpool, who retained the European Cup. Everton, Manchester City and Arsenal completed the top five, while West Bromwich Albion finished sixth for the second successive season, qualifying for the UEFA Cup again. An exciting Coventry City side finished in 7th position, narrowly missing-out on UEFA Cup qualification. This was the club's second-highest ever league finish, after their sixth position in 1969–70.

Manchester United dipped to 10th place in their first season under new manager Dave Sexton, while Bobby Robson successfully fought off relegation with Ipswich Town and then guided them to their first FA Cup triumph of their history.

Newcastle United, who had finished fifth a year earlier, endured a terrible season and went down bracketed together with Leicester City at the bottom of the table. The Tynesiders had been in the First Division for 13 years, while Leicester's latest run in the First Division had lasted for seven years. West Ham United occupied the final relegation place, ending their 20-year spell in the First Division.

Stats

Record

  • Most wins: Nottingham Forest (25)
  • Fewest losses: Nottingham Forest (3)
  • Most goals scored: Everton (76)
  • Fewest goals conceded: Nottingham Forest (24)
  • Best goal difference ratio: Nottingham Forest (+45)
  • Most draws: Norwich City (18)
  • Fewest draws: West Ham United (8)
  • Most losses: Newcastle United (26)
  • Fewest wins: Leicester City (5)
  • Fewest goals scored: Leicester City (26)
  • Most goals conceded: Newcastle United (78)
  • Worst goal difference ratio: Leicester City (-44)

Results

Managerial changes

TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming managerDate of appointment
MiddlesbroughENG Harold ShepherdsonEnd of caretaker spell6 May 1977*Pre-season*ENG John Neal6 May 1977
Leicester CityENG Jimmy BloomfieldResigned23 May 1977SCO Frank McLintock6 June 1977
West Bromwich AlbionIRE Johnny GilesResigned26 May 1977ENG Ronnie Allen21 June 1977
ChelseaSCO Eddie McCreadieResigned1 July 1977ENG Ken Shellito6 July 1977
Manchester UnitedSCO Tommy DochertySacked4 July 1977ENG Dave Sexton14 July 1977
Queens Park RangersENG Dave SextonSigned by Manchester United14 July 1977ENG Frank Sibley14 July 1977
Birmingham CitySCO Willie BellResigned5 September 197722ndENG Alf Ramsey (caretaker)5 September 1977
Derby CountyENG Colin MurphyDemoted to coach17 September 197721stSCO Tommy Docherty17 September 1977
Newcastle UnitedENG Richard DinnisSacked9 November 197722ndENG Bill McGarry18 November 1977
West Bromwich AlbionENG Ronnie AllenResigned22 December 19774thENG Ron Atkinson12 January 1978
Birmingham CityENG Alf RamseyEnd of caretaker spell12 March 197818thENG Jim Smith12 March 1978
Leicester CitySCO Frank McLintockSacked5 April 197822ndSCO Ian MacFarlane (caretaker)5 April 1977

Maps

Arsenal Chelsea Queens Park Rangers West Ham

Arsenal Aston Villa Birmingham Bristol City Chelsea Coventry Derby County Everton Ipswich Town Leeds United Leicester City Liverpool Middlesbrough Manchester City Manchester United Newcastle Norwich City Nottingham Forest QPR West Bromwich Albion West Ham Wolverhampton Wanderers

Second Division

Southampton Tottenham Hotspur Mansfield Town Hull City (22 goals) (22 October 1977) (3 December 1977) (10 December 1977) Bolton Wanderers ended their 14-year exile from the top flight by clinching the Second Division title in a tight promotion race between the top four teams. Southampton went up as runners-up, while Tottenham clinched the final promotion place following a final day draw with Southampton. Brighton missed out on a First Division place on goal difference, forcing them to prepare for a fresh assault on reaching the First Division for the first time in their history in 1979.

Hull City, Mansfield Town and Blackpool went down to the Third Division.

Results

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|match_BRR_B&HA=0–4

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|match_FUL_B&HA=2–1

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|match_TOT_B&HA=0–0

Managerial changes

TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming managerDate of appointment
OrientENG George PetcheyResigned26 August 197721stENG Jimmy Bloomfield12 September 1977
Hull CityENG John KayeSacked29 September 197713thSCO Bobby Collins1 October 1977
Notts CountyENG Ron FentonSacked5 October 197721stSCO Jimmy Sirrel9 October 1977
Sheffield UnitedSCO Jimmy SirrelSigned by Notts County9 October 197715thENG Cec Coldwell (caretaker)9 October 1977
Bristol RoversENG Don MegsonSacked22 November 197721stSCO Bobby Campbell22 November 1977
MillwallENG Gordon JagoResigned5 December 197718thENG George Petchey4 January 1978
Stoke CityENG George EasthamSacked9 January 197814thWAL Alan Durban13 February 1978
Sheffield UnitedENG Cec ColdwellEnd of caretaker spell23 January 197811thENG Harry Haslam23 January 1978
Luton TownENG Harry HaslamSigned by Sheffield United23 January 19787thENG David Pleat23 January 1978
BlackpoolSCO Allan BrownMutual consent6 February 19787thENG Jimmy Meadows7 March 1978
Hull CitySCO Bobby CollinsSacked10 February 197818thENG Wilf McGuinness (caretaker)10 February 1978
Mansfield TownENG Peter MorrisSacked22 February 197822ndNIR Billy Bingham25 February 1978
Blackburn RoversENG Jim SmithSigned by Birmingham City12 March 19785thENG Jim Iley14 April 1978
Hull CityENG Wilf McGuinnessEnd of caretaker spell17 April 197821stENG Ken Houghton17 April 1978

Maps

Charlton Athletic Crystal Palace Fulham Orient Millwall Tottenham

Blackburn Rovers Blackpool Bolton Brighton & Hove Bristol Rovers Burnley Cardiff City Charlton Crystal Palace Fulham Hull Orient Luton Town Mansfield Town Millwall Notts County Oldham Sheffield United Southampton Stoke Sunderland Tottenham

Third Division

Third Division Preston North End Hereford United Portsmouth Port Vale

Results

Maps

Charlton Athletic Crystal Palace Fulham Orient Millwall Tottenham

Bradford City Bury Cambridge Utd Carlisle United Chester Chesterfield Colchester Exeter City Gillingham Hereford United Lincoln City Oxford Peterborough Plymouth Argyle Portsmouth Port Vale Preston North End Rotherham Sheffield Wednesday Shrewsbury Swindon Tranmere Walsall Wrexham

Fourth Division

Fourth Division Southend United Swansea City Steve Phillips (Brentford), 32

Results

Maps

Brentford Wimbledon Watford

Aldershot Barnsley Bournemouth Brentford Crewe Alexandra Darlington Doncaster Grimsby Town Halifax Town Hartlepool Huddersfield Newport County Northampton Town Reading Rochdale Scunthorpe & Lindsey Southend Southport Stockport Swansea City Torquay Watford Wimbledon York City

Attendances

Source:

Division One

No.ClubAverageHighestLowest
1Manchester United51,86058,39841,625
2Liverpool FC45,54651,66838,249
3Manchester City FC41,68750,85632,412
4Everton FC39,51352,75933,402
5Aston Villa FC35,46445,43625,493
6Arsenal FC35,44647,11023,506
7Nottingham Forest FC32,50147,21821,743
8Leeds United FC29,18646,72716,531
9Chelsea FC28,73444,09318,108
10West Ham United FC25,62037,44819,260
11Newcastle United FC24,72941,6127,986
12West Bromwich Albion FC24,12636,06717,053
13Birmingham City FC23,91133,67914,302
14Ipswich Town FC23,58630,38416,952
15Bristol City FC23,35731,50616,993
16Coventry City FC23,35336,89413,910
17Derby County FC23,34533,38418,189
18Wolverhampton Wanderers FC22,31130,64415,466
19Queens Park Rangers FC19,94126,26712,925
20Middlesbrough FC19,87430,80513,247
21Norwich City FC19,37529,16812,836
22Leicester City FC17,76826,05111,530

Division Two

No.ClubAverageHighestLowest
1Tottenham Hotspur FC33,41750,09724,636
2Brighton & Hove Albion FC25,26533,43118,969
3Bolton Wanderers FC22,87736,38416,232
4Sunderland AFC22,27631,96011,161
5Southampton FC21,16728,84615,789
6Crystal Palace FC19,63640,52211,509
7Sheffield United FC15,48931,20711,595
8Stoke City FC15,03821,01210,992
9Blackburn Rovers FC12,22727,8356,316
10Burnley FC11,58127,4277,242
11Charlton Athletic FC11,30730,7065,139
12Fulham FC10,55024,7636,064
13Blackpool FC10,11825,7894,695
14Oldham Athletic FC9,58322,1846,452
15Notts County FC9,26815,7187,200
16Luton Town FC9,25217,0245,913
17Mansfield Town FC8,98214,2685,859
18Leyton Orient FC8,36524,1314,427
19Cardiff City FC8,36512,5385,663
20Millwall FC8,19715,2163,322
21Bristol Rovers FC8,10817,7084,550
22Hull City AFC6,83516,1893,645

Division Three

No.ClubAverageHighestLowest
1Wrexham AFC11,65123,4515,260
2Sheffield Wednesday FC11,59218,9738,661
3Portsmouth FC9,67813,1525,825
4Preston North End FC8,79916,0785,319
5Swindon Town FC7,36711,2654,135
6Gillingham FC7,17810,9783,450
7Plymouth Argyle FC6,76312,6354,639
8Peterborough United FC5,97410,1563,943
9Cambridge United FC5,63310,9983,397
10Carlisle United FC5,31911,3093,693
11Walsall FC5,3178,3414,218
12Bradford City AFC5,10312,8253,203
13Bury FC4,9799,7832,536
14Oxford United FC4,9729,0833,382
15Rotherham United FC4,91312,6303,244
16Hereford United FC4,90010,1833,441
17Exeter City FC4,8878,3343,156
18Lincoln City FC4,8788,8113,205
19Chesterfield FC4,86612,4952,748
20Colchester United FC4,5726,4472,554
21Chester City FC4,1659,8012,121
22Port Vale FC3,9476,9123,220
23Tranmere Rovers3,9267,2242,035
24Shrewsbury Town FC3,3786,1161,727

Division Four

No.ClubAverageHighestLowest
1Watford FC11,35218,9476,850
2Brentford FC8,57814,4965,492
3Swansea City AFC8,10816,1524,240
4Southend United FC7,28711,8103,693
5Barnsley FC5,6598,7972,642
6Grimsby Town FC4,6967,4342,731
7Reading FC4,5677,3842,457
8Huddersfield Town AFC4,5087,5831,638
9Aldershot Town FC4,3478,1752,190
10Newport County AFC4,0748,5202,112
11Stockport County FC4,0106,1772,168
12Northampton Town FC3,5178,0412,278
13AFC Bournemouth3,3486,5322,221
14Scunthorpe United FC3,2817,7711,959
15Doncaster Rovers FC3,2287,9711,440
16Wimbledon FC3,1357,3241,440
17Torquay United FC2,8786,3981,845
18Hartlepool United FC2,8335,2991,926
19Crewe Alexandra FC2,2904,6521,462
20York City FC2,2844,1921,389
21Halifax Town AFC2,1994,9561,077
22Darlington FC1,9933,3721,115
23Southport FC1,8732,834838
24Rochdale AFC1,2752,668734

References

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

References

  1. Smailes, Gordon. (2000). "The Breedon Book of Football Records". Breedon Books.
  2. [http://www.evertonfc.com/history/bob-latchford.html Bob Latchford] {{Webarchive. link. (2014-06-20 , Everton F.C. website)
  3. "English League Leading Goalscorers".
  4. "England 1977–78". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation.
  5. Ian Laschke: ''Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79''. Macdonald and Jane’s, London & Sydney, 1980.
  6. "Coventry City". Football Club History Database.
  7. https://www.european-football-statistics.co.uk/attn/archive/eng/aveeng1978.htm
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