1970–71 in English football

(Redirected from 1970-71 in English football)

The 1970–71 season was the 91st season of competitive football in England.

Football in England
Season1970–71
Men's football
First DivisionArsenal
Second DivisionLeicester City
Third DivisionPreston North End
Fourth DivisionNotts County
FA CupArsenal
League CupTottenham Hotspur
Charity ShieldEverton
← 1969–70England1971–72 →

Honours

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CompetitionWinnerRunner-up
First DivisionArsenal (8*)Leeds United
Second DivisionLeicester CitySheffield United
Third DivisionPreston North EndFulham
Fourth DivisionNotts CountyBournemouth & Boscombe Athletic
FA Cup FinalArsenal (4)Liverpool
League CupTottenham Hotspur (1)Aston Villa
Charity ShieldEvertonChelsea
Home Championship  England  Northern Ireland

Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour. * indicates new record for competition

FA Cup

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The 1971 FA Cup Final saw Arsenal beat Liverpool 2–1 to become only the fourth club in history and the second club this century to have won the league championship and FA Cup double.

Stoke City beat Everton 3–2 at Selhurst Park in a third-place playoff, held the day before the final. The biggest FA Cup shock, however, was Fourth Division Colchester United's 3–2 victory over Don Revie's Leeds United at Layer Road in the fifth round.

Barnet equalled the record for the biggest win by a non-league team over a Football League team by beating Newport County 6–1 in the First Round.

League Cup

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The final was held at Wembley Stadium, London. Tottenham Hotspur beat Aston Villa to win the 1971 Football League Cup Final and add to their list of trophies won under the management of Bill Nicholson.

Football League

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First Division

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Arsenal won the league championship at the end of a season which would soon be followed by their FA Cup final tie with Liverpool. Arsenal secured the league title at White Hart Lane, the home of bitter rivals Tottenham. They narrowly overcame Leeds to win the league, with a 12-point gap separating Leeds from third-placed Tottenham. Wolves and Liverpool joined these two teams in the UEFA Cup. Chelsea missed out on the top five on goal average but compensated for this shortcoming by achieving European Cup Winners' Cup glory over Real Madrid.

Burnley and Blackpool (who won this year's Anglo-Italian Cup) were relegated to the Second Division. Burnley returned from 1973–74 to 1975–76 but Blackpool had to wait 39 years to regain their top flight status for the 2010–11 season.

Wilf McGuinness was sacked at the end of 1970 after 18 unsuccessful months as manager of Manchester United. Sir Matt Busby was re-appointed as manager on a temporary basis, but never considered returning to his old job on a permanent basis. Leicester City manager Frank O'Farrell was appointed at the end of the season, ahead of more reputable candidates including Jock Stein and Don Revie.

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGRPtsQualification or relegation
1Arsenal42297671292.44865Qualified for the European Cup
2Leeds United422710572302.40064Qualified for the UEFA Cup
3Tottenham Hotspur421914954331.63652
4Wolverhampton Wanderers422281264541.18552
5Liverpool421717842241.75051Qualified for the Cup Winners' Cup[a]
6Chelsea421815952421.23851
7Southampton4217121356441.27346Qualified for the UEFA Cup
8Manchester United4216111565660.98543
9Derby County4216101656541.03742
10Coventry City4216101637380.97442
11Manchester City4212171347421.11941
12Newcastle United4214131544460.95741
13Stoke City4212131744480.91737
14Everton4212131754600.90037
15Huddersfield Town4211141740490.81636
16Nottingham Forest421482042610.68936
17West Bromwich Albion4210151758750.77335
18Crystal Palace4212111939570.68435
19Ipswich Town4212102042480.87534
20West Ham United4210141847600.78334
21Burnley427132229630.46027Relegated to the Second Division
22Blackpool424152334660.51523
Source: rsssf.com
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
Notes:
  1. ^ Chelsea qualified for the Cup Winners' Cup as the trophy holders.

Second Division

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Leicester City and Sheffield United were promoted to the First Division. Blackburn Rovers and Bolton Wanderers, two of the most famous and historic names in English football, were relegated to the Third Division.

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGRPtsQualification or relegation
1Leicester City422313657301.90059Promoted to the First Division
2Sheffield United422114773391.87256
3Cardiff City422013964411.56153
4Carlisle United422013965431.51253
5Hull City4219131054411.31751
6Luton Town4218131162431.44249
7Middlesbrough4217141160431.39548
8Millwall421991459421.40547
9Birmingham City4217121358481.20846
10Norwich City4215141354521.03844
11Queens Park Rangers4216111558531.09443
12Swindon Town4215121561511.19642
13Sunderland4215121552540.96342
14Oxford United4214141441480.85442
15Sheffield Wednesday4212121851690.73936
16Portsmouth4210141846610.75434
17Orient429161729510.56934
18Watford4210131938600.63333
19Bristol City4210112146640.71931
20Charlton Athletic428142041650.63130
21Blackburn Rovers426152137690.53627Relegated to the Third Division
22Bolton Wanderers427102535740.47324
Source: rsssf.com
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.

Third Division

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Preston North End and Fulham finally had something to shout about by getting promoted to the Second Division. Reading, Bury, Doncaster Rovers and Gillingham slid into the Fourth Division.

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGRPtsQualification or relegation
1Preston North End462217763391.61561Promoted to the Second Division
2Fulham4624121068411.65960
3Halifax Town4622121274551.34556
4Aston Villa4619151254461.17453
5Chesterfield4617171266381.73751
6Bristol Rovers4619131469501.38051
7Mansfield Town4618151364621.03251
8Rotherham United4617161364601.06750
9Wrexham4618131572651.10849
10Torquay United4619111654570.94749
11Swansea City4615161559561.05446
12Barnsley4617111849520.94245
13Shrewsbury Town4616131758620.93545
14Brighton & Hove Albion4614161650471.06444
15Plymouth Argyle4612191563631.00043
16Rochdale4614151761680.89743
17Port Vale4615121952590.88142
18Tranmere Rovers4610221445550.81842
19Bradford City4613141949620.79040
20Walsall4614112151570.89539
21Reading4614112148850.56539Relegated to the Fourth Division
22Bury4612132152600.86737
23Doncaster Rovers461392445660.68235
24Gillingham4610132342670.62733
Source: rsssf.com
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.

Fourth Division

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Notts County, Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic, Oldham Athletic and York City were promoted to the Third Division. Newport County set a new Football League record by not winning any of their first 25 matches. The Football League voted for the league's four bottom clubs to maintain their status.

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGRPtsQualification or relegation
1Notts County46309789362.47269Promoted to the Third Division
2Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic4624121081461.76160
3Oldham Athletic4624111188631.39759
4York City4623101378541.44456
5Chester462471569551.25555
6Colchester United4621121370541.29654
7Northampton Town4619131463591.06851
8Southport462161963571.10548
9Exeter City4617141567680.98548
10Workington4618121648490.98048
11Stockport County4616141649650.75446
12Darlington4617111858571.01845
13Aldershot4614171566710.93045
14Brentford461882066621.06544
15Crewe Alexandra461882075760.98744
16Peterborough United461872170710.98643
17Scunthorpe United4615131856610.91843
18Southend United4614151753660.80343
19Grimsby Town461872157710.80343
20Cambridge United4615131851660.77343
21Lincoln City4613132070710.98639Re-elected
22Newport County461082855850.64728
23Hartlepool468122634740.45928
24Barrow46783151900.56722
Source: rsssf.com
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.

Top goalscorers

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First Division

Second Division

Third Division

Fourth Division

European football

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Leeds United won the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup against Juventus in the two leg Final and also took part in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup Trophy Play-Off which they lost 2–1 to Barcelona.

There was also success in London for Chelsea, who beat Real Madrid in the European Cup Winners Cup final to win their first ever European trophy.

Deaths

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Ford Sporting League

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The Ford Sporting League was a short-lived reward scheme sponsored by the Ford Motor Company. Its only season was that of 1970–71. Clubs were awarded a point for every goal scored at home and two points for every goal scored away, but lost 5 points if a player was booked and 10 points if a player was sent off.[3]

Points could be earned over the first 42 league games (it did not apply to cup ties) only, so that the First and Second divisions were on an equal footing with the Third and Fourth.

Oldham Athletic won the competition, winning a pot of £70,000. League rules stipulated the prize money be used on stadium improvements, so the money went to build a stand in the stadium.[4]

The £70,000 prize fund was made up of 8 monthly prizes of £2,500 and then a final prize of £50,000. The points total was cumulative, which resulted in Oldham winning each prize available, as they picked up only four bookings and no red cards over the 42 game period.

Ford's sponsorship of the competition is notable, with the 1970–71 season marking a watershed for sponsorship in English football. In addition to the Ford Sporting League, the season saw the first Watney Cup and first Texaco Cup, although The Football League itself turned down an offer of £600,000 to sponsor the Football League Cup.

Star players

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Frank McLintock was credited for his key role in Arsenal's double triumph with the FWA Footballer of the Year award.

Star managers

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Events of the season

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  • 15 August 1970 – The Football League season begins.[5]
  • 31 August 1970: The first month of the First Division campaign ends with Leeds United, champions two seasons ago, top of the league, having won their first five matches. Manchester City are second, with Liverpool, Derby County, Nottingham Forest and Chelsea just behind them and level on points. Wolverhampton Wanderers, Burnley and Ipswich Town are level on points at the bottom of the division.[6]
  • 26 September 1970: Arsenal slip to fourth place in the First Division after they are thrashed 5–0 by Stoke City.[7]
  • 30 September 1970: September ends with Leeds United still top of the First Division, two points ahead of their nearest rivals Manchester City. The challenge at the top remains a close one, with Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Chelsea all level on points. Burnley are bottom of the table with no wins from their opening ten games.[8]
  • 31 October 1970: Leeds United remain top of the First Division as October draws to a close, with Arsenal – two points behind them – now their closest challengers, as Manchester City have slipped to fourth place and the third place is now occupied by Tottenham Hotspur. Crystal Palace, in only their second season in the top flight, are sixth in the league and emerging as surprise outsiders for a possible title challenge. Blackpool and Burnley continue to prop up the rest of the First Division.[9]
  • 30 November 1970: November ends with Leeds United still First Division leaders. They now have a four-point lead over Arsenal. Blackpool and Burnley continue their barren run and are still occupying the relegation places.[10]
  • 26 December 1970: A thrilling league game at the Baseball Ground sees Derby County and Manchester United fight out a thrilling 4–4 draw.[11] Derby occupy 17th place in the First Division in their second season since promotion, while United stand 18th just over two years after European Cup glory and just over three years since their last league title win. Blackpool and Burnley's dismal form has yet to improve and they still occupy the two relegation places. At the top end of the table, Leeds United remain top, three points ahead of Arsenal.[12]
  • 29 December 1970: Wilf McGuinness is sacked after 18 months as manager of Manchester United. Legendary former manager and current director Sir Matt Busby is placed in charge of the first team until the end of the season.[13]
  • 2 January 1971: Ten ties fall victim to the cold weather on FA Cup third round day. On the upset front, York City of the Fourth Division topple second-tier Bolton Wanderers while West Bromwich Albion of the top flight fail to beat Division Four club Scunthorpe United at home. In an all-Welsh clash, Swansea City beat Rhyl 6–1, and Jimmy Husband marks his return to the Everton ranks after an injury-enforced absence with a brace in his club's 2–0 win against Blackburn Rovers. In the capital, Crystal Palace and Chelsea draw while Wolverhampton Wanderers' four goals in the second half help them defeat Norwich City 5–1.[14]
  • 31 January 1971: Leeds United now have a five-point lead over Arsenal, who have a game in hand, at the top of the First Division. The challenge from Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Wolverhampton Wanderers is becoming increasingly distant, while Manchester City's title hopes are fading even quicker as they now occupy seventh place. Last season's champions Everton stand 13th, level on points with Manchester United, with Blackpool and Burnley still unable to form a good run and climb out of the relegation zone.[15]
  • 27 February 1971: Tottenham Hotspur beat Aston Villa 2–0 in the Football League Cup final.[16] In the league, Leeds United now have a seven-point lead over Arsenal, although the North Londoners have two games in hand. Manchester City have fallen away to eighth place, while Manchester United are enjoying something of a resurgence under the temporary leadership of Sir Matt Busby and have climbed from 18th place to 11th in the last two months. However, Burnley and Blackpool both remain in the relegation zone as their dismal form has continued.[17]
  • 31 March 1971: With the league season now in its final quarter, Leeds United are six points ahead of Arsenal at the top of the First Division table, but Arsenal have three games in hand. At the bottom end of the table, Burnley and Blackpool's dismal season continues to show no sign of improvement as they still occupy the drop zone.[18]
  • 17 April 1971: Arsenal overhaul Leeds United at the top of the First Division as they beat Newcastle United 1–0[7] and Leeds are controversially beaten 2–1 at home by struggling West Bromwich Albion.[19] Arsenal and Leeds are now level on points, but the Gunners have a superior goal average and two games in hand.
  • 24 April 1971: Arsenal are held to a 2–2 draw by West Bromwich Albion, but are a point ahead of Leeds United, with the Gunners having three games remaining and the Yorkshire side only two. Burnley have their relegation confirmed when they lose 2–1 at home to Derby County. They join Blackpool in the Second Division next season.[7][20]
  • 26 April 1971: Leeds United keep their slender title hopes alive by beating Arsenal 1–0 at Elland Road. Arsenal need to win their last two fixtures to be sure of the title.[7]
  • 3 May 1971: A Ray Kennedy goal gives Arsenal a 1–0 away win over North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane and confirms them as First Division champions.[21]
  • 8 May 1971: Arsenal become only the second club this century – and the fourth in history – to complete the double of the league title and FA Cup with a 2–1 win over Liverpool in the Wembley final in extra time, with substitute Eddie Kelly (the first to score in an FA Cup final) scoring their first goal and young forward Charlie George scoring a late winner.[22]
  • 10 May 1971: Liverpool sign 20-year-old striker Kevin Keegan from Scunthorpe United for £33,000.[23]
  • 19 May 1971: Chelsea draw 1–1 with Real Madrid of Spain in the European Cup Winners' Cup final in Athens.
  • 21 May 1971: Chelsea win the European Cup Winners' Cup final replay 2–1 with goals from John Dempsey and Peter Osgood.[24]
  • 28 May 1971: Leeds United draw 2–2 with Juventus in Turin as they contest the first leg of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup final. The original match had been abandoned two days before, due to heavy rain.[25]
  • 3 June 1971: Leeds United lift the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup on away goals after drawing the second leg of the final 1–1 at Elland Road.[26]
  • 8 June 1971: Manchester United appoint Leicester City's Frank O'Farrell as their new manager.[27]

References

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  1. ^ a b "English League Leading Goalscorers". RSSSF. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
  2. ^ a b "English League Leading Goalscorers". RSSSF. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
  3. ^ Graham Kelly (4 February 2002). "British cup faces fight against odds". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007.
  4. ^ "Stadium sponsor sought". Oldham Athletic A.F.C. Archived from the original on 5 August 2012.
  5. ^ Fixtures/Results – Manchester United FC – United Mad. Manchesterunited-mad.co.uk. Retrieved on 2011-191903-1923.
  6. ^ Manchester United FC News – United Mad. Manchesterunited-mad.co.uk (1970-191908-1929). Retrieved on 2011-191903-1923.
  7. ^ a b c d Smailes, Gordon (2000). The Breedon Book of Football Records. Derby: Breedon Books. ISBN 1859832148.
  8. ^ Manchester United FC News – United Mad. Manchesterunited-mad.co.uk (1970-191909-1926). Retrieved on 2011-191903-1923.
  9. ^ Manchester United FC News – United Mad. Manchesterunited-mad.co.uk (1970-1910-1931). Retrieved on 2011-191903-1923.
  10. ^ Manchester United FC News – United Mad. Manchesterunited-mad.co.uk (1970-1911-1928). Retrieved on 2011-191903-1923.
  11. ^ Derby County 4 – 4 Manchester United (Sat 26 Dec 1970). Therams.co.uk. Retrieved on 2011-191903-1923.
  12. ^ Manchester United FC News – United Mad. Manchesterunited-mad.co.uk (1970-1912-1926). Retrieved on 2011-191903-1923.
  13. ^ Wilf McGuinness | Latest Betting Odds. Soccer Base. Retrieved on 2011-191903-1923.
  14. ^ "Chelsea draw with Palace". The Sydney Morning Herald. 4 January 1971. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  15. ^ Manchester United FC News – United Mad. Manchesterunited-mad.co.uk (1971-191901-1930). Retrieved on 2011-191903-1923.
  16. ^ 1971 final TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 2 ASTON VILLA 0 (unused) – £14.99 : Rare Match Tickets, Quality Used and Unused Football Tickets Archived 25 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Rarematchtickets.co.uk (2007-191902-1927). Retrieved on 2011-191903-1923.
  17. ^ Manchester United FC News – United Mad. Manchesterunited-mad.co.uk (1971-191902-1927). Retrieved on 2011-191903-1923.
  18. ^ Manchester United FC News – United Mad. Manchesterunited-mad.co.uk (1971-191903-1920). Retrieved on 2011-191903-1923.
  19. ^ "17 April 1971: 'Leeds will go mad. They have every right to'". The Guardian. 17 April 2009. Archived from the original on 29 November 2022.
  20. ^ Manchester United FC News – United Mad. Manchesterunited-mad.co.uk (1971-191904-1924). Retrieved on 2011-191903-1923.
  21. ^ "Arsenal web site". Archived from the original on 4 November 2014. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
  22. ^ "Great Games – The 1971 FA Cup Final". 11 March 2010. Retrieved 2011-03-06.[dead link]
  23. ^ "A timeline for Liverpool Football Club - LFChistory - Stats galore for Liverpool FC!".
  24. ^ 1971 European Cup-Winners' Cup final replay Chelsea 2–1 Real Madrid: unseen pictures of Peter Osgood, John Dempsey, Peter Bonetti and co, plus original Daily Mirror match reports and features from the time – Archive. MirrorFootball.co.uk. Retrieved on 2011-191903-1923.
  25. ^ Inter-Cities Fairs Cup 1970–1971 Results, Friday 28 May 1971[permanent dead link]. statto.com (1971-191905-1928). Retrieved on 2011-191903-1923.
  26. ^ Leeds United nostalgia: 1971 Inter Cities Fairs Cup final – Sport. Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved on 2011-191903-1923.
  27. ^ Frank O'Farrell | Latest Betting Odds. Soccer Base. Retrieved on 2011-191903-1923.