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1983–84 Football League

1983–84 Football League

The 1983–84 season was the 85th completed season of the English Football League.

Liverpool had a successful first season under the management of Joe Fagan as they wrapped up their third successive league title and the 15th in their history. They overcame strong competition from Southampton, Nottingham Forest and Manchester United to lift the championship trophy. Liverpool had an extremely strong season, as they also won the European Cup and the League Cup.

Southampton finished second in the league to record their highest-ever final position and achieve a UEFA Cup place, claiming six points from the last two games (both away) to climb up from fifth place.

The First Division relegation places were occupied by Birmingham City, Notts County and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The £1 rescue deal of Chelsea by chairman Ken Bates paid off as they won the Second Division title and were promoted to the First Division along with Sheffield Wednesday and Newcastle United.

Cambridge United finished bottom of the Second Division and were relegated to the Third Division. They were joined by two clubs who had been enjoying better fortunes only a short time ago — Swansea City, who had finished sixth in the First Division just two years earlier, and Derby County, who had been league champions just nine years earlier. Derby's Peter Taylor retired as manager and his surprise successor was Arthur Cox, who had just taken Newcastle into the First Division.

Dave Bassett agreed to take charge of Crystal Palace at the end of the season, but changed his mind three days later — without signing the contract — and returned to Wimbledon. Palace installed former Manchester United winger Steve Coppell, 29, as their new manager.

Oxford United, Wimbledon and Sheffield United continued their rise through the league by gaining promotion to the Second Division.

Scunthorpe United, Southend United, Port Vale and Exeter City slipped out of the Third Division.

Narrowly avoiding the Third Division drop zone were Plymouth Argyle, who compensated for their league form by reaching the FA Cup semi finals for the first time in their history.

York City, Doncaster Rovers, Reading and Bristol City occupied the Fourth Division promotion places. York City became the first team in English league football to gain more than 100 points in a season, with 101. It was Bristol City's first successful season for a long time and a reversal of fortune after their recent fall from the First to Fourth Division in successive seasons.

The re-election system voted in favour of the bottom four clubs in the Fourth Division once again.

The Football LeagueFootball League, First DivisionFootball League, Second DivisionFootball League, Third DivisionFootball League, Fourth Division
Season1983–84
ChampionsLiverpool
← 1982–83
Season1983–84
ChampionsLiverpool (15th English title)
RelegatedBirmingham City
Notts County
Wolverhampton Wanderers
1984–85 European CupLiverpool
1984–85 European Cup Winners' CupEverton
1984–85 UEFA CupManchester United
Nottingham Forest
Queens Park Rangers
Southampton
Tottenham Hotspur
Matches played462
Goals scored1,250 (2.71 per match)
Top goalscorerIan Rush (Liverpool),32[8]
Biggest home winSouthampton – Coventry City 8–2 (28 Apr 1984)
Biggest away winAston Villa – Arsenal 2–6 (29 Oct 1983)
Highest scoringSouthampton – Coventry City 8–2 (28 Apr 1984)
Longest winning runQPR (6 games)
Longest unbeaten runManchester United (16 games)
Longest losing runIpswich Town
Notts County (7 games)
← 1982–83
1984–85 →
Season1983–84
ChampionsChelsea (1st title)
PromotedNewcastle United,
Sheffield Wednesday
RelegatedCambridge United,
Derby County,
Swansea City
Matches played462
Goals scored1,233 (2.67 per match)
Top goalscorerKerry Dixon (Chelsea), 28[8]
← 1982–83
1984–85 →
Season1983–84
ChampionsOxford United (2nd title)
PromotedSheffield United,
Wimbledon
RelegatedExeter City,
Port Vale,
Scunthorpe United,
Southend United
Matches played552
Goals scored1,586 (2.87 per match)
Top goalscorerKeith Edwards (Sheffield United), 33[8]
← 1982–83
1984–85 →
Season1983–84
ChampionsYork City (1st title)
PromotedBristol City,
Doncaster Rovers,
Reading
Failed re-electionNone
Matches played552
Goals scored1,505 (2.73 per match)
Top goalscorerTrevor Senior (Reading), 36[8]
← 1982–83
1984–85 →

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 [9] website,[6] 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.[7]

First Division

PosTeamPldHWHDHLHGFHGAAWADALAGFAGAGDPtsQualification or relegation
1Liverpool42145250128942320+4180European Cup 1984–85 First round[1]
2Southampton42154244177772221+2877UEFA Cup 1984–85 First round
3Nottingham Forest42144347178492928+3174
4Manchester United421434431861142823+3074
5Queens Park Rangers421443371283103025+3073
6Arsenal42105641298493331+1463
7Everton4299321127592330+262European Cup Winners' Cup 1984–85 First round[2]
8Tottenham Hotspur42114631246693341−161UEFA Cup 1984–85 First round[3]
9West Ham United42104739247592131+560
10Aston Villa421434342236122539−260
11Watford42975363172123246−957
12Ipswich Town421146342344132134−253
13Sunderland42894261854121635−1152
14Norwich City42984342037111429−151
15Leicester City421155403027122538−351
16Luton Town42759303374102333−1351
17West Bromwich Albion421047302545121837−1451
18Stoke City421146302327121440−1950
19Coventry City42858333356102444−2050
20Birmingham City42777191855112032−1148Relegated
21Notts County42678313644131936−2241
22Wolverhampton Wanderers42489152823161252−5329

First Division results

Home \ AwayARSASTBIRCOVEVEIPSLEILIVLUTMUNNWCNOTNTCQPRSOUSTKSUNTOTWATWBAWHUWOL
Arsenal1–11–10–12–14–12–10–22–12–33–04–11–10–22–23–11–23–23–10–13–34–1
Aston Villa2–61–02–00–24–03–11–30–00–31–01–03–12–11–01–11–00–02–14–31–04–0
Birmingham City1–12–11–20–21–02–10–01–12–20–11–20–00–20–01–00–10–12–02–13–00–0
Coventry City1–43–30–11–11–22–14–02–21–12–12–12–11–00–02–32–12–41–21–21–22–1
Everton0–01–11–10–01–01–11–10–11–10–21–04–13–11–01–00–02–11–00–00–12–0
Ipswich Town1–02–11–23–13–00–01–13–00–22–02–21–00–20–35–01–03–10–03–40–33–1
Leicester City3–02–02–31–12–02–03–30–31–12–12–10–42–12–12–20–20–34–11–14–15–1
Liverpool2–12–11–05–03–02–22–26–01–11–11–05–02–01–11–00–13–13–03–06–00–1
Luton Town1–21–01–12–40–32–10–00–00–52–22–33–20–03–10–14–12–41–22–00–14–0
Manchester United4–01–21–04–10–11–22–01–02–00–01–23–33–13–21–02–14–24–13–00–03–0
Norwich City1–13–11–10–01–10–03–10–10–03–32–30–10–31–02–23–02–16–12–01–03–0
Nottingham Forest0–12–25–13–01–02–13–20–11–02–03–03–13–20–10–01–12–25–13–13–05–0
Notts County0–45–22–12–10–10–22–50–00–31–01–10–00–31–31–16–10–03–51–12–24–0
Queens Park Rangers2–02–12–12–12–01–02–00–10–11–12–00–11–04–06–03–02–11–11–11–12–1
Southampton1–02–22–18–23–13–22–22–02–13–02–10–10–20–03–11–15–01–01–02–01–0
Stoke City1–01–02–11–31–11–00–12–02–40–12–01–11–01–21–12–11–10–43–13–14–0
Sunderland2–20–12–11–02–11–11–10–02–00–11–11–10–01–00–22–21–13–03–00–13–2
Tottenham Hotspur2–42–10–11–11–22–03–22–22–11–12–02–11–03–20–01–03–02–30–10–21–0
Watford2–13–21–02–34–42–23–30–21–20–01–33–23–11–01–12–02–12–33–10–00–0
West Bromwich Albion1–33–11–21–11–12–11–01–23–02–00–00–52–01–20–23–03–11–12–01–01–3
West Ham United3–10–14–05–20–12–13–11–33–11–10–01–23–02–20–13–00–14–12–41–01–1
Wolverhampton Wanderers1–21–11–10–03–00–31–01–11–21–12–01–00–10–40–10–00–02–30–50–00–3

First Division maps

Second Division

PosTeamPldHWHDHLHGFHGAAWADALAGFAGAGDPtsPromotion or relegation
1Chelsea421542551710923523+5088Division Champions, promoted
2Sheffield Wednesday421641471610652518+3888Promoted
3Newcastle United42162351188673435+3280
4Manchester City42133543217772327+1870
5Grimsby Town42136236156782432+1370
6Blackburn Rovers42911135198582227+1167
7Carlisle United42109229136781928+764
8Shrewsbury Town421353341845121535−461Welsh Cup winners[4]
9Brighton & Hove Albion421164421763122743+960
10Leeds United421344331638102240−160
11Fulham4296635246692529+757
12Huddersfield Town4286727206962929+757
13Charlton Athletic421344402635131338−1157
14Barnsley42966332361142430+452
15Cardiff City421137322743142139−1351
16Portsmouth428310463264112732+949
17Middlesbrough42984261835131529−649
18Crystal Palace42858181846112434−1047
19Oldham Athletic421065332732161446−2647
20Derby County42957262624151046−3642Relegated
21Swansea City427410202804171657−4929
22Cambridge United42471020330516844−4924

Second Division results

Home \ AwayBARBLBB&HACAMCARCRLCHACHECRYDERFULGRIHUDLEEMCIMIDNEWOLDPORSHWSHRSWA
Barnsley0–03–12–02–32–12–00–01–15–13–03–12–20–21–10–21–10–10–30–13–03–2
Blackburn Rovers1–12–21–01–14–11–10–02–15–10–11–12–21–12–11–01–13–12–10–01–14–1
Brighton & Hove Albion1–01–13–03–11–17–01–23–11–01–12–03–13–01–13–00–14–00–11–32–21–1
Cambridge United0–32–03–40–20–22–20–11–30–11–12–20–32–20–00–01–02–11–31–21–01–1
Cardiff City0–30–12–25–02–02–13–30–21–00–43–13–10–12–12–10–22–00–00–22–03–2
Carlisle United4–20–11–20–01–13–00–02–22–12–01–10–01–02–01–13–12–00–01–11–02–0
Charlton Athletic3–22–02–05–22–01–01–11–01–03–43–31–22–01–02–01–32–12–11–12–42–2
Chelsea3–12–11–02–12–00–03–22–25–04–02–33–15–00–10–04–03–02–23–23–06–1
Crystal Palace0–10–20–21–11–01–22–00–10–11–10–10–00–00–21–03–12–12–11–01–12–0
Derby County0–21–10–31–02–31–40–11–23–01–01–21–11–11–01–03–22–22–01–11–02–1
Fulham1–00–13–11–00–20–00–13–51–12–21–10–22–15–12–12–23–00–21–13–05–0
Grimsby Town1–03–25–00–01–01–12–10–12–02–12–12–12–01–10–01–13–03–41–01–13–0
Huddersfield Town0–10–20–13–04–00–00–02–32–13–02–00–02–21–32–22–20–12–10–11–01–0
Leeds United1–21–03–23–11–03–01–01–11–10–01–02–11–21–24–10–12–02–11–13–01–0
Manchester City3–26–04–05–02–13–10–10–23–11–10–02–12–31–12–11–22–02–11–21–02–1
Middlesbrough2–11–20–01–12–00–11–02–11–30–00–21–10–02–20–03–23–20–02–04–01–0
Newcastle United1–01–13–12–13–15–12–11–13–14–03–20–15–21–05–03–13–04–20–10–12–0
Oldham Athletic1–00–01–00–02–12–30–01–13–23–03–02–10–33–22–22–11–23–21–30–13–3
Portsmouth2–12–45–15–01–10–14–02–20–13–01–44–01–12–31–20–11–43–40–14–15–0
Sheffield Wednesday2–04–22–11–05–22–04–12–11–03–11–11–00–03–10–00–24–23–02–01–16–1
Shrewsbury Town3–21–02–11–01–00–01–12–41–13–00–01–21–05–11–31–02–22–02–02–12–0
Swansea City1–00–11–32–13–20–01–01–31–02–00–30–12–22–20–22–11–20–01–20–10–2

Second Division maps

Third Division

PosTeamPldHWHDHLHGFHGAAWADALAGFAGAGDPtsPromotion or relegation
1Oxford United461751582211663328+4195Division Champions, promoted
2Wimbledon461553583511483941+2187Promoted
3Sheffield United461472561810493035+3383
4Hull City46165242117972927+3383
5Bristol Rovers46165247216892133+1479
6Walsall461445442285102439+775
7Bradford City461193463092122735+871
8Gillingham461346502976102440+570
9Millwall461643421829122947+667
10Bolton Wanderers461346361756122043−464
11Orient461355402754143154−1063
12Burnley461256522549102436+1562
13Newport County461193352755132348−1762
14Lincoln City461148422966111733−361
15Wigan Athletic461157261858102038−1061
16Preston North End461256422736142439056
17Bournemouth461157382752162546−1055
18Rotherham United461058291754142847−754
19Plymouth Argyle461184381724171845−651
20Brentford46896413037132849−1049
21Scunthorpe United469954031010131442−1946Relegated
22Southend United46896342425162152−2144
23Port Vale461049332916161854−3243
24Exeter City464811273927142345−3433

Third Division maps

Fourth Division

PosTeamPldHWHDHLHGFHGAAWADALAGFAGAGDPtsPromotion or qualification
1York City461841581613463823+57101Division Champions, promoted
2Doncaster Rovers46156246229773632+2885Promoted
3Reading461760511451083342+2882
4Bristol City461832511767101927+2682
5Aldershot461463492983122740+775
6Blackpool461544471965122333+1872
7Peterborough United461553521639112032+2468
8Colchester United461472451439112439+1667
9Torquay United461373321856122746−567
10Tranmere Rovers461157332661072027066
11Hereford United46116631215992332+163
12Stockport County461256342556122639−462
13Chesterfield4610112342454142537−260
14Darlington461346311944151831−159
15Bury46977343267102732−359
16Crewe Alexandra461085352763142140−1159
17Swindon Town461175342346132433+258
18Northampton Town461085323236142146−2553
19Mansfield Town46977442746132243−452
20Wrexham467610343349102541−1548UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1984–85 First round[5]
21Halifax Town461166362516161964−3448Re-elected
22Rochdale46896353134161749−2846
23Hartlepool United46788312832181657−3840
24Chester City467511233508152247−3734

Fourth Division maps

Election/Re-election to the Football League

As champions of the Alliance Premier League, Maidstone United (1897) won for the second time the right to apply for election to the Football League, to replace one of the four bottom teams in the 1983–84 Football League Fourth Division. The vote went as follows:

ClubFinal PositionVotes
Chester City24th (Fourth Division)52
Halifax Town21st (Fourth Division)52
Rochdale22nd (Fourth Division)50
Hartlepool United23rd (Fourth Division)32
Maidstone United (1897)1st (Alliance Premier League)22

Hence, all four Football League teams were re-elected, and Maidstone United were again denied membership of the League.

See also

References

[1]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgLiverpool won the European Cup this year for the fourth time in less than a decade, and thus qualified for the following season's competition as defending champions.They also won the League cup this year, in a rematch against Everton.
Sep 24, 2019, 11:24 PM
[2]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgFA Cup winners.
Sep 24, 2019, 11:24 PM
[3]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgTottenham qualified for the 1984–85 UEFA Cup as winners of the 1983–84 UEFA Cup.
Sep 24, 2019, 11:24 PM
[4]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgShrewsbury 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.
Sep 24, 2019, 11:24 PM
[5]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgWrexham lost this year’s Welsh Cup final to Shrewsbury Town, but as the latter are an English side, Wrexham went on to represent Wales in the European Cup Winners' Cup.
Sep 24, 2019, 11:24 PM
[6]
Citation Linkweb.archive.org"England 1983–84". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 25 January 2010. Retrieved 2010-02-24.
Sep 24, 2019, 11:24 PM
[7]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgIan Laschke: Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79. Macdonald and Jane’s, London & Sydney, 1980.
Sep 24, 2019, 11:24 PM
[8]
Citation Linkwww.rsssf.com"English League Leading Goalscorers". RSSSF. Retrieved 31 October 2010.
Sep 24, 2019, 11:24 PM
[9]
Citation Linkwww.rsssf.comThe Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation
Sep 24, 2019, 11:24 PM
[10]
Citation Linkwww.rsssf.com"England 1983–84"
Sep 24, 2019, 11:24 PM
[11]
Citation Linkweb.archive.orgArchived
Sep 24, 2019, 11:24 PM
[12]
Citation Linkwww.rsssf.com"English League Leading Goalscorers"
Sep 24, 2019, 11:24 PM
[13]
Citation Linken.wikipedia.orgThe original version of this page is from Wikipedia, you can edit the page right here on Everipedia.Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Additional terms may apply.See everipedia.org/everipedia-termsfor further details.Images/media credited individually (click the icon for details).
Sep 24, 2019, 11:24 PM