1982–83 Football League

The 198283 season was the 84th completed season of the English Football League.

The Football League
Season1982–83
ChampionsLiverpool

Bob Paisley’s last season as Liverpool manager ended on a high as they topped the First Division with a comfortable lead. Paisley retired as Liverpool manager with a record 21 prizes in nine years.[citation needed] His successor was the club's long-serving coach Joe Fagan. Newly promoted Watford were the shock of the season, finishing in second place in their first season in the top flight.

Manchester City were relegated despite a four-year spending spree totalling around £5million. Swansea City were also relegated after only their second season as a First Division club. They had finished sixth a year earlier and at several stages had topped the league table. Brighton & Hove Albion joined them on the way down.

Queens Park Rangers, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leicester City won promotion to the First Division. Rotherham United, Burnley and Bolton Wanderers were relegated to the Third Division. It was another blow for Bolton, who had been relegated from the First Division three years earlier.

Charlton Athletic and Wolverhampton Wanderers both came within hours of going bankrupt but were both saved by respective new owners.

Portsmouth’s revival continued as they ran away with the Third Division championship, followed closely behind by runners-up Cardiff City and third-placed Huddersfield Town. Newport County finished 4th, their highest post-World War II position in the Football League. Occupying the four relegation places were Reading, Wrexham, Doncaster Rovers and Chesterfield.

Wimbledon were crowned Fourth Division champions. Hull City, Port Vale and Scunthorpe United occupied the other three promotion places. The re-election system went in favour of the bottom four sides in the Fourth Division, all of whom were re-elected for the following season, but had things gone differently then Blackpool could have gone out of the Football League little over a decade after they had been a First Division side.[citation needed]

At the end of the season, Fourth Division strugglers Crewe Alexandra appointed Milan-born ex-Wimbledon manager Dario Gradi as their new manager.

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
Season1982–83
ChampionsLiverpool
14th English title
RelegatedManchester City
Swansea City
Brighton & Hove Albion
European CupLiverpool
Cup Winners' CupManchester United
Swansea City
UEFA CupAston Villa
Nottingham Forest
Tottenham Hotspur
Watford
Matches played462
Goals scored1,264 (2.74 per match)
Top goalscorerLuther Blissett
(27 goals)[3]
Biggest home winWatford 8–0 Sunderland
(25 September 1982)
Biggest away winNotts County 0–6 Ipswich Town
(25 September 1982)
Highest scoringLuton Town 5–3 Notts County
(4 September 1982)
Stoke City 4–4 Luton Town
(25 September 1982)
Watford 8–0 Sunderland
(25 September 1982)
Watford 5–3 Notts County
(12 March 1983)
Longest winning run6 matches
Liverpool
Longest unbeaten run19 matches
Liverpool
Longest losing run6 matches
West Bromwich Albion

Liverpool were dominant throughout Bob Paisley's final season as manager, retaining the league title and winning a third successive League Cup. Paisley, who had won 21 major trophies in nine seasons as manager, handed over the reins to his assistant Joe Fagan.

Second place in the league went to Watford, who took the First Division by storm in their first season at this level. Manchester United won the FA Cup in Ron Atkinson's second season as manager, and also finished third in the league for the second consecutive season. Tottenham Hotspur continued to thrive, finishing fourth and qualifying for the UEFA Cup, although they failed to add any silverware to the FA Cup victories of 1981 and 1982. Nottingham Forest finished fifth and secured a place in the UEFA Cup.

Brighton, who took Manchester United to a replay in the FA Cup final, went down in bottom place after four seasons in the First Division. Swansea City, who had finished sixth on their First Division debut a year earlier, were unable to maintain their fine form for a second season, and went down in second place from bottom. The final relegation place went to Manchester City, whose 17-year stay in the First Division was ended in the final minutes of the final game of the season, when a Raddy Antic goal gave visitors Luton Town a 1-0 victory and saved them from an immediate return to the Second Division.

For the first time in eight years, there were no English clubs winning European trophies this season.

Final table

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification or relegation
1Liverpool (C)42241088737+5082Qualification for the European Cup first round
2Watford42225157457+1771Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round
3Manchester United421913105638+1870Qualification for the Cup Winners' Cup first round[a]
4Tottenham Hotspur42209136550+1569Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round
5Nottingham Forest42209136250+1269
6Aston Villa42215166250+1268
7Everton421810146648+1864
8West Ham United42204186862+664
9Ipswich Town421513146450+1458
10Arsenal421610165856+258
11West Bromwich Albion421512155149+257
12Southampton421512155458−457
13Stoke City42169175364−1157
14Norwich City421412165258−654
15Notts County42157205571−1652
16Sunderland421214164861−1350
17Birmingham City421214164055−1550
18Luton Town421213176584−1949
19Coventry City42139204859−1148
20Manchester City (R)42138214770−2347Relegation to the Second Division
21Swansea City (R)421011215169−1841Cup Winners' Cup preliminary round and relegation to the Second Division[b]
22Brighton & Hove Albion (R)42913203868−3040Relegation to the Second Division
Source: World Football
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated
Notes:

Results

Home \ AwayARSASTBIRBHACOVEVEIPSLIVLUTMCIMUNNWCNOTNTCSOUSTKSUNSWATOTWATWBAWHU
Arsenal2–10–03–12–11–12–20–24–13–03–01–10–02–00–03–00–12–12–02–42–02–3
Aston Villa2–11–01–04–02–01–12–44–11–12–13–24–12–02–04–01–32–04–03–01–01–0
Birmingham City2–13–01–11–01–00–00–02–32–21–20–41–13–00–21–42–11–12–01–12–13–0
Brighton & Hove Albion1–00–01–01–01–21–12–22–40–11–03–01–10–20–11–23–21–12–11–10–03–1
Coventry City0–20–00–12–04–21–10–04–24–03–02–01–21–01–02–01–00–01–10–10–12–4
Everton2–35–00–02–21–01–10–55–02–12–01–13–13–02–03–13–12–23–11–00–02–0
Ipswich Town0–11–23–12–01–10–21–03–01–01–12–32–00–02–12–34–13–11–23–16–11–2
Liverpool3–11–11–03–14–00–01–03–35–20–00–24–35–15–05–11–03–03–03–12–03–0
Luton Town2–22–13–15–01–21–51–11–33–11–10–10–25–33–30–01–33–11–11–00–00–2
Manchester City2–10–10–01–13–20–00–10–40–11–24–11–20–12–01–02–22–12–21–02–12–0
Manchester United0–03–13–01–13–02–13–11–13–02–23–02–04–01–11–00–02–11–02–00–02–1
Norwich City3–11–05–12–11–10–10–01–01–01–21–10–11–21–14–22–01–00–03–01–31–1
Nottingham Forest3–01–21–14–04–22–02–11–00–13–00–32–22–11–21–00–02–12–22–00–01–0
Notts County1–04–10–01–05–11–00–61–21–11–03–22–23–21–24–00–10–03–03–22–11–2
Southampton2–21–00–10–01–13–20–13–22–24–10–14–01–11–01–02–02–11–21–44–13–0
Stoke City2–10–31–13–00–31–01–01–14–41–01–01–01–01–01–10–14–12–04–00–35–2
Sunderland3–02–01–21–12–12–12–30–01–13–20–04–10–11–11–12–21–10–12–21–11–0
Swansea City1–22–10–01–22–10–31–10–32–04–10–04–00–32–03–21–13–02–01–32–11–5
Tottenham Hotspur5–02–02–12–04–02–13–12–02–21–22–00–04–14–26–04–11–11–00–11–12–1
Watford2–12–12–14–10–02–02–12–15–22–00–12–21–35–32–01–08–02–10–13–02–1
West Bromwich Albion0–01–02–05–02–02–24–10–11–00–23–11–02–12–21–01–13–03–30–11–31–2
West Ham United1–32–05–02–10–32–01–13–12–34–13–11–01–22–01–11–12–13–23–02–10–1
Source: [1] Soccerbase
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Managerial changes

TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming managerDate of appointment
Ipswich Town Bobby RobsonSigned by England30 May 1982Pre-season Bobby Ferguson1 June 1982
West Bromwich Albion Ronnie AllenBecame general manager1 June 1982 Ron Wylie1 June 1982
Notts County Jimmy Sirrel8 June 1982 Howard Wilkinson8 June 1982
Brighton & Hove Albion Mike BaileySacked6 December 198218th Jimmy Melia6 December 1982
Manchester City John Bond3 February 19839th John Benson3 February 1983

Maps

Locations of the Football League First Division London teams 1982–1983

Second Division

Second Division
Season1982–83
ChampionsQueens Park Rangers
PromotedQueens Park Rangers
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Leicester City
RelegatedRotherham United
Burnley
Bolton Wanderers
Matches played462
Goals scored1,244 (2.69 per match)
Top goalscorerGary Lineker
(26 goals)[3]

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsRelegation
1Queens Park Rangers (C, P)4226797736+4185Promotion to the First Division
2Wolverhampton Wanderers (P)42201576844+2475
3Leicester City (P)422010127244+2870
4Fulham42209136447+1769
5Newcastle United421813117553+2267
6Sheffield Wednesday421615116047+1363
7Oldham Athletic42141996447+1761
8Leeds United42132185146+560
9Shrewsbury Town421514134848059
10Barnsley421415135755+257
11Blackburn Rovers421512155858057
12Cambridge United421312174260−1851
13Derby County421019134958−949
14Carlisle United421212186870−248
15Crystal Palace421212184352−948
16Middlesbrough421115164667−2148
17Charlton Athletic42139206386−2348
18Chelsea421114175161−1047
19Grimsby Town421211194570−2547
20Rotherham United (R)421015174568−2345Relegation to the Third Division
21Burnley (R)42128225666−1044
22Bolton Wanderers (R)421111204261−1944
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated

Results

Home \ AwayBARBLBBOLBURCAMCRLCHACHECRYDERFULGRILEELEIMIDNEWOLDQPRROTSHWSHRWOL
Barnsley2–23–13–02–32–20–01–13–11–14–34–02–11–22–00–51–10–12–10–02–22–1
Blackburn Rovers1–11–12–13–13–22–03–03–02–00–02–10–03–11–11–22–21–33–02–31–02–2
Bolton Wanderers0–21–03–02–01–04–10–11–00–20–10–01–23–13–13–12–33–22–20–21–40–1
Burnley3–10–10–02–14–17–13–02–11–11–01–11–22–41–11–01–22–11–24–11–20–1
Cambridge United1–12–00–02–01–13–20–11–00–01–01–00–03–12–01–01–41–42–02–20–02–1
Carlisle United1–13–15–01–12–24–12–14–13–03–22–32–20–11–32–00–01–02–24–22–30–2
Charlton Athletic3–23–04–12–12–10–05–22–11–13–00–10–12–12–32–04–11–31–50–30–13–3
Chelsea0–32–02–12–16–04–23–10–01–30–05–20–01–10–00–22–00–21–11–11–20–0
Crystal Palace1–12–03–01–00–02–11–10–04–11–12–01–11–03–00–21–00–31–12–02–13–4
Derby County1–11–20–02–01–10–31–11–01–11–02–03–30–41–12–12–22–03–00–02–31–1
Fulham1–03–14–03–11–12–02–11–11–02–14–03–20–11–02–20–31–11–11–02–11–3
Grimsby Town1–25–01–03–21–02–11–12–14–11–10–41–12–00–32–20–21–11–21–12–01–1
Leeds United0–02–11–13–12–11–11–23–32–12–11–11–02–20–03–10–00–12–21–21–10–0
Leicester City1–00–10–00–04–06–01–23–00–11–12–02–00–11–02–22–10–13–10–23–25–0
Middlesbrough2–01–51–01–40–11–03–03–12–02–31–41–40–01–11–11–12–11–11–12–10–0
Newcastle United1–23–22–23–02–02–24–21–11–01–01–44–02–12–21–11–01–04–02–14–01–1
Oldham Athletic1–10–02–33–03–04–32–22–22–02–21–01–12–21–23–02–20–11–11–11–04–1
Queens Park Rangers3–02–21–03–22–11–05–11–20–04–13–14–01–02–26–12–01–04–00–24–02–1
Rotherham United1–03–11–11–12–01–21–01–02–21–10–13–00–11–31–11–51–30–00–30–31–1
Sheffield Wednesday0–10–03–11–13–11–15–43–22–12–02–12–02–32–23–11–11–10–10–10–00–0
Shrewsbury Town3–10–01–01–22–12–10–02–01–11–10–10–00–00–22–22–10–00–02–01–00–2
Wolverhampton Wanderers2–02–10–02–01–12–15–02–11–02–12–43–03–00–34–02–20–04–02–01–02–2
Source: [2] Soccerbase
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Maps

Locations of the Football League Second Division London teams 1982–1983

Third Division

Football League
Third Division
Season1982–83
ChampionsPortsmouth (2nd title)
PromotedCardiff City,
Huddersfield Town
RelegatedReading,
Wrexham,
Doncaster Rovers,
Chesterfield
Matches played552
Goals scored1,617 (2.93 per match)
Top goalscorerKerry Dixon (Reading), 26[3]

PosTeamPldHWHDHLHGFHGAAWADALAGFAGAGDPtsPromotion or relegation
1Portsmouth461643431911663122+3391Division Champions, promoted
2Cardiff City46175145148693136+2686Promoted
3Huddersfield Town461580561885102831+3582
4Newport County4613734020102113634+2278
5Oxford United4612924123103103030+1878
6Lincoln City461715552266112229+2676
7Bristol Rovers461643552165122937+2675
8Plymouth Argyle461526372346132443−565
9Brentford461445502846133849+1164
10Walsall461454381938122644+164
11Sheffield United461634442034161844−264
12Bradford City461175412756122742−161
13Gillingham461247372949102130−161
14Bournemouth461175352056122448−961
15Southend United461085412856122537+159
16Preston North End4611102351743162552−958
17Millwall461274412426152353−1355
18Wigan Athletic461049353355132539−1254
19Exeter City461247494328133261−2354
20Orient461067443853152050−2454
21Reading461085372829122751−1553Relegated
22Wrexham461166402619131650−2051
23Doncaster Rovers46689384433171953−4038
24Chesterfield466611282827141540−2537
Source: [citation needed]

Results

Home \ AwayBOUBRABREBRRCARCHFDONEXEGILHUDLINMILNPCORIOXFPLYPORPNEREASHUSTDWALWIGWRE
Bournemouth2–24–30–03–12–12–22–00–10–11–03–00–12–02–01–00–24–01–10–00–23–02–21–1
Bradford City2–30–12–04–21–01–03–31–13–11–10–04–22–33–24–02–21–23–22–01–01–10–10–0
Brentford2–10–25–11–34–21–04–01–11–02–01–12–05–21–12–01–13–11–22–14–22–31–34–1
Bristol Rovers1–14–12–01–13–02–04–42–11–01–24–01–32–10–12–05–13–23–02–12–22–04–04–0
Cardiff City1–11–03–13–11–13–02–01–01–11–03–03–22–03–00–01–03–10–02–04–13–13–21–2
Chesterfield0–03–02–10–00–13–31–31–20–11–30–13–11–21–21–20–11–10–03–10–20–02–05–1
Doncaster Rovers2–11–24–41–22–20–06–10–20–42–22–10–00–30–12–20–22–07–52–00–01–33–61–1
Exeter City4–22–11–70–10–22–33–02–23–43–12–10–12–03–11–01–15–12–20–34–34–32–13–3
Gillingham2–53–02–21–02–33–11–14–41–30–21–02–04–00–12–11–02–11–00–21–03–00–21–1
Huddersfield Town0–06–32–03–14–03–13–01–13–21–15–11–06–02–02–01–11–13–10–02–12–21–14–1
Lincoln City9–01–02–12–12–12–05–14–13–11–23–11–42–01–11–20–33–04–03–00–12–12–12–0
Millwall2–01–11–01–10–41–13–05–24–13–02–13–00–12–12–20–21–01–11–23–12–22–01–1
Newport County5–11–10–02–01–01–01–21–12–12–11–02–24–11–22–20–33–01–03–11–11–11–04–0
Orient5–00–13–31–54–02–01–05–12–01–31–12–31–51–50–22–12–13–34–11–12–11–10–0
Oxford United2–05–12–24–22–21–03–01–11–11–11–01–00–32–21–11–13–21–20–01–04–22–02–0
Plymouth Argyle2–03–12–00–43–22–01–21–02–02–10–23–12–42–02–10–11–13–03–11–00–00–22–0
Portsmouth0–20–12–11–00–04–02–13–21–03–24–12–01–22–21–02–13–12–24–12–01–00–03–0
Preston North End0–10–03–02–22–11–14–12–20–00–01–03–20–02–11–22–20–02–01–01–11–04–13–0
Reading2–12–11–11–21–20–02–03–10–01–11–13–34–23–00–33–21–22–32–01–11–12–11–0
Sheffield United2–22–11–22–12–03–13–13–00–22–00–11–12–03–03–23–12–12–11–10–13–12–02–0
Southend United0–01–14–21–01–22–03–21–11–10–12–01–11–41–11–23–14–02–34–23–11–12–02–2
Walsall3–11–12–15–01–20–11–03–20–02–01–14–02–12–01–02–00–32–12–10–01–32–01–1
Wigan Athletic1–23–23–20–50–02–20–31–02–22–02–13–10–10–10–13–00–10–12–23–24–01–33–1
Wrexham1–00–43–40–00–00–05–01–21–01–10–14–31–01–01–12–30–23–14–04–13–24–01–1
Source: [3] Soccerbase
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Maps

Locations of the Football League Third Division London teams 1982–1983

Fourth Division

Football League
Fourth Division
Season1982–83
ChampionsWimbledon (1st title)
PromotedHull City,
Port Vale,
Scunthorpe United
Failed re-electionNone
Matches played552
Goals scored1,502 (2.72 per match)
Top goalscorerSteve Cammack (Scunthorpe United), 25[3]

PosTeamPldHWHDHLHGFHGAAWADALAGFAGAGDPtsPromotion
1Wimbledon461742572312743922+5198Division Champions, promoted
2Hull City461481481411752720+4190Promoted
3Port Vale461544371611663018+3388
4Scunthorpe United461373411710763025+2983
5Bury46154443208873126+2881
6Colchester United461751511974122436+2081
7York City461841591949102939+3079
8Swindon Town461436452758101627+768
9Peterborough United461364382347122029+664
10Mansfield Town461166322657112944−961
11Halifax Town46986312374122843−760
12Torquay United461238383054141835−958
13Chester City46869282475112736−556
14Bristol City461085322539112745−1156
15Northampton Town461085432944152246−1054
16Stockport County461184413134161948−1954
17Darlington468510273058103441−1052
18Aldershot4611574035110122147−2151
19Tranmere Rovers46887302953151942−2250
20Rochdale461184382508151748−1849
21Blackpool461085322334162351−1949[a]Re-elected
22Hartlepool United461157302424171652−3048
23Crewe Alexandra46959353223181839−1841
24Hereford United46869192332182356−3741
Source: [citation needed]
Notes:

Results

Home \ AwayALDBLPBRIBRYCHECOLCREDARHALHARHERHULMANNORPETPTVROCSCUSTPSWITORTRAWDNYOR
Aldershot2–10–01–11–20–10–01–66–10–22–11–22–13–02–01–46–41–12–11–12–11–01–12–3
Blackpool4–11–41–11–11–22–02–00–01–25–11–12–10–00–32–01–03–10–02–11–00–21–11–1
Bristol City2–00–02–10–00–22–12–23–02–01–12–13–11–31–01–30–00–22–21–10–11–04–22–2
Bury3–14–12–23–21–00–13–02–04–03–22–31–01–11–00–10–01–03–20–03–03–01–32–1
Chester City1–11–21–00–11–11–02–32–02–15–00–01–32–11–11–05–21–20–20–10–00–01–20–1
Colchester United0–04–13–12–11–04–32–21–04–13–20–02–03–11–01–24–15–13–01–01–03–33–00–0
Crewe Alexandra0–03–14–13–33–20–12–51–13–03–10–31–21–00–31–21–10–13–03–01–10–10–22–1
Darlington1–10–12–21–20–21–31–11–22–12–11–20–02–04–30–03–00–13–11–00–21–00–21–3
Halifax Town1–32–02–21–00–04–00–32–01–12–21–20–02–01–20–20–03–11–01–03–01–21–12–2
Hartlepool United1–12–13–10–11–01–41–02–01–20–10–00–42–10–02–23–00–03–21–20–24–01–02–0
Hereford United2–10–01–30–25–20–01–00–02–01–02–00–21–10–10–21–00–20–01–20–11–01–40–0
Hull City2–23–11–02–12–03–01–00–01–11–12–02–24–04–11–02–11–17–00–04–10–11–14–0
Mansfield Town4–12–11–11–42–11–11–00–21–23–00–13–12–00–00–22–10–21–01–02–11–12–22–2
Northampton Town1–12–17–10–31–12–14–03–33–13–12–11–21–20–02–21–12–12–30–12–01–02–21–1
Peterborough United0–03–13–01–10–12–12–11–12–12–14–01–13–22–00–01–00–11–04–31–33–00–32–2
Port Vale2–11–01–10–02–10–01–12–12–13–02–01–04–11–22–14–00–12–33–01–00–11–02–1
Rochdale3–13–11–00–00–12–10–11–12–22–04–11–32–22–01–13–30–11–01–12–24–20–21–0
Scunthorpe United1–14–31–10–12–02–12–02–22–03–01–20–12–25–13–01–01–13–02–02–02–10–00–0
Stockport County2–13–02–22–13–33–03–22–14–21–12–11–11–10–11–10–22–21–11–21–03–21–32–1
Swindon Town2–03–32–01–12–33–01–01–20–13–03–20–14–01–51–01–04–12–22–02–14–20–13–2
Torquay United4–21–30–22–30–12–02–11–01–33–22–10–03–12–10–13–21–13–01–13–00–11–3
Tranmere Rovers1–11–12–21–12–42–41–12–01–21–12–10–13–02–11–00–20–00–41–12–02–00–23–0
Wimbledon6–15–02–12–14–02–13–23–12–42–01–01–21–11–12–11–03–02–22–10–04–14–04–3
York City4–02–03–03–11–03–02–05–23–25–15–11–06–15–21–10–01–02–13–10–01–12–11–4
Source: [4] Soccerbase
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Maps

Locations of the Football League Fourth Division London teams 1982–1983

Election/Re-election to the Football League

This year Enfield, the winners of the Alliance Premier League, could not apply for election because they did not meet Football League requirements, so 2nd placed Maidstone United won the right to apply for election to the Football League to replace one of the four bottom sides in the 1982–83 Football League Fourth Division. The vote went as follows:

ClubFinal PositionVotes
Blackpool21st (Fourth Division)52
Crewe Alexandra23rd (Fourth Division)49
Hereford United24th (Fourth Division)49
Hartlepool United22nd (Fourth Division)36
Maidstone United2nd (Alliance Premier League)26

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

See also

References