Everipedia Logo
Everipedia is now IQ.wiki - Join the IQ Brainlist and our Discord for early access to editing on the new platform and to participate in the beta testing.
1985–86 Football League

1985–86 Football League

The 1985–86 season was the 87th completed season of The Football League.

The Football LeagueFootball League, First DivisionFootball League, Second DivisionFootball League, Third DivisionFootball League, Fourth Division
Season1985–86
ChampionsLiverpool
1986–87 →
Season1985–86
ChampionsLiverpool (16th English title)
RelegatedBirmingham City
Ipswich Town
West Bromwich Albion
FA Cup winnersLiverpool (3rd FA Cup title)
1986–87 European CupNo qualifications [5][8]
1986–87 European Cup Winners' CupNo qualifications[notes 1]
1986–87 UEFA CupNo qualifications[notes 1]
Matches played462
Goals scored1,288 (2.79 per match)
Top goalscorerGary Lineker (Everton), 30[9]
Biggest home winWest Ham United – Newcastle United 8–1 (21 Apr 1986);
Luton Town – Southampton 7–0 (19 Oct 1985)
Biggest away winSheffield Wednesday – Everton 1–5 (3 Sep 1985);
West Brom – Manchester United 1–5 (21 Sep 1985);
Chelsea – Watford 1–5 (5 May 1986);
Chelsea – West Ham 0–4 (29 Mar 1986)
Highest scoringWest Ham United –Newcastle United 8–1 (21 Apr 1986)
Longest winning runManchester United (10 games)
Longest unbeaten runWest Ham United (18 games)
Longest losing runWest Bromwich Albion (9 games)
← 1984–85
1986–87 →
Season1985–86
ChampionsNorwich City (2nd title)
PromotedCharlton Athletic,
Wimbledon
RelegatedCarlisle United,
Fulham,
Middlesbrough
Matches played462
Goals scored1,264 (2.74 per match)
Top goalscorerKevin Drinkell (Norwich City), 22[9]
← 1984–85
1986–87 →
Season1985–86
ChampionsReading (1st title)
PromotedDerby County,
Plymouth Argyle
RelegatedCardiff City,
Lincoln City,
Wolverhampton Wanderers,
Swansea City
Matches played552
Goals scored1,550 (2.81 per match)
Top goalscorerTrevor Senior (Reading), 27[9]
← 1984–85
1986–87 →
Season1985–86
ChampionsSwindon Town (1st title)
PromotedChester City,
Mansfield Town,
Port Vale
Failed re-electionNone
Matches played552
Goals scored1,576 (2.86 per match)
Top goalscorerSteve Taylor (Rochdale), 25
Richard Cadette (Southend United), 25[9]
← 1984–85
1986–87 →

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,[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

In a close three-horse race, Liverpool pipped Everton and West Ham United to the First Division title, while also defeating Merseyside rivals Everton in the FA Cup Final, thereby completing a historic double. Manchester United had been ten points clear in early November after winning their first ten matches; and thirteen of their first fifteen, but injuries, loss of form and ineffective signings had seen them fall away, leaving them still waiting for their first league title since 1967.

PosTeamPldHWHDHLHGFHGAAWADALAGFAGAGDPtsQualification or relegation
1Liverpool421641581410653123+5288League Champions, but excluded from the European Cup[8][1]
2Everton421632541810563323+4686FA Cup runners-up, but excluded from the 1986–87 European Cup Winners' Cup.[3]
3West Ham United42172248169482624+3484UEFA Cup spot, but excluded
4Manchester United421254351210563524+3476
5Sheffield Wednesday42136236238492731+973
6Chelsea42124532278762529+171
7Arsenal421353291574102032+269
8Nottingham Forest42115538258673128+1668
9Luton Town42126337156692429+1766
10Tottenham Hotspur42122747257682727+2265
11Newcastle United42125446315792141−563
12Watford421164402255112940+759
13Queens Park Rangers421236332034142044−1152
14Southampton421065321824151944−1146
15Manchester City42777252645121831−1445
16Aston Villa42768272838102439−1644
17Coventry City426510313555111736−2343
18Oxford United42777342735132853−1842League Cup winners, but excluded from the UEFA Cup[2]
19Leicester City42786353534141941−2242
20Ipswich Town42858202433151231−2341Relegated
21Birmingham City425214132533151748−4329
22West Bromwich Albion423810213614161453−5424

First Division results

Home \ AwayARSASTBIRCHECOVEVEIPSLEILIVLUTMCIMUNNEWNOTOXFQPRSHWSOUTOTWATWBAWHU
Arsenal3–20–02–03–00–11–01–02–02–11–01–20–01–12–13–11–03–20–00–22–21–0
Aston Villa1–40–33–11–10–01–01–02–23–10–11–31–21–22–01–21–10–01–24–11–12–1
Birmingham City0–10–01–20–10–20–12–10–20–21–01–10–10–13–12–00–20–21–21–20–11–0
Chelsea2–12–12–01–02–11–12–20–11–01–01–21–14–21–41–12–12–02–01–53–00–4
Coventry City0–23–34–41–11–30–13–00–31–01–11–31–20–05–22–10–13–22–30–23–00–1
Everton6–12–04–11–11–11–01–22–32–04–03–11–01–12–04–33–16–11–04–12–03–1
Ipswich Town1–20–30–10–21–03–40–22–11–10–00–12–21–03–21–02–11–11–00–01–00–1
Leicester City2–23–14–20–02–13–11–00–20–01–13–02–00–34–41–42–32–21–42–22–20–1
Liverpool2–03–05–01–15–00–25–01–03–22–01–11–12–06–04–12–21–04–13–14–13–1
Luton Town2–22–02–01–10–12–11–03–10–12–11–12–01–11–22–01–07–01–13–23–00–0
Manchester City0–12–21–10–15–11–11–11–11–01–10–31–01–20–32–01–31–02–10–12–12–2
Manchester United0–14–01–01–22–00–01–04–01–12–02–23–02–33–02–00–21–00–01–13–02–0
Newcastle United1–02–24–11–33–22–23–12–11–02–23–12–40–33–03–14–12–12–21–14–11–2
Nottingham Forest3–21–13–00–05–20–03–14–31–12–00–21–31–21–14–00–12–10–13–22–12–1
Oxford United3–01–10–12–10–11–04–35–02–21–11–01–31–21–23–30–13–01–11–12–21–2
Queens Park Rangers0–10–13–16–00–23–01–02–02–11–10–01–03–12–13–11–10–22–52–11–00–1
Sheffield Wednesday2–02–05–11–12–21–51–01–00–03–23–21–02–22–12–10–02–11–22–11–02–2
Southampton3–00–01–00–11–12–31–00–01–21–23–01–01–13–11–13–02–31–03–13–11–1
Tottenham Hotspur1–04–22–04–10–10–12–01–31–21–30–20–05–10–35–11–15–15–34–05–01–0
Watford3–01–13–03–13–00–20–02–12–31–23–21–14–11–12–22–02–11–11–05–10–2
West Bromwich Albion0–00–32–10–30–00–31–22–21–21–22–31–51–11–11–10–11–11–01–13–12–3
West Ham United0–04–12–01–21–02–12–13–02–20–11–02–18–14–23–13–11–01–02–12–14–0

First Division maps

Second Division

PosTeamPldHWHDHLHGFHGAAWADALAGFAGAGDPtsPromotion or relegation
1Norwich City42164151159573322+4784Division Champions, promoted
2Charlton Athletic42145244158673430+3377Promoted
3Wimbledon42136238168762021+2176
4Portsmouth42134443179392624+2873
5Crystal Palace42123629227682830+566
6Hull City42117339196692636+1064
7Sheffield United421074362474102839+162
8Oldham Athletic421344402845122233+160
9Millwall421236392455112541−159
10Stoke City428112291664111934−257
11Brighton & Hove Albion421056423063122234056
12Barnsley4296629265881824−356
13Bradford City421416362425141539−1254
14Leeds United42975302261142650−1653
15Grimsby Town421146352436122338−452
16Huddersfield Town421065302344132144−1652
17Shrewsbury Town421155292034142344−1251
18Sunderland421056332936121432−1450
19Blackburn Rovers421047302029102342−949
20Carlisle United421029302835131743−2446Relegated
21Middlesbrough42867262343141830−945
22Fulham428310293223161637−2436

Second Division results

Home \ AwayBARBLBBRAB&HACRLCHACRYFULGRIHUDHULLEEMIDMILNWCOLDPORSHUSHRSTKSUNWDN
Barnsley1–12–23–21–22–12–42–01–01–31–43–00–02–12–21–00–12–12–00–01–10–1
Blackburn Rovers0–33–01–42–00–01–21–03–10–12–22–00–11–22–10–01–06–11–10–12–02–0
Bradford City2–03–23–21–01–21–03–10–13–04–20–12–10–20–21–02–11–43–13–12–01–1
Brighton & Hove Albion0–13–12–16–13–52–02–32–24–33–10–13–31–01–11–12–30–00–22–03–12–0
Carlisle United1–12–11–22–02–32–22–11–22–02–11–21–01–00–43–10–11–00–23–01–22–3
Charlton Athletic2–13–01–12–23–03–12–02–03–01–24–02–03–31–01–11–22–04–12–02–10–0
Crystal Palace1–02–02–11–01–12–10–02–12–30–23–02–12–11–23–22–11–10–10–11–01–3
Fulham2–03–34–11–00–10–32–32–12–11–13–10–31–20–12–20–12–32–11–01–20–2
Grimsby Town1–25–22–00–21–02–23–01–01–10–11–03–25–11–01–41–00–13–13–31–10–1
Huddersfield Town1–10–02–01–03–30–20–01–32–22–13–10–34–30–02–01–23–11–02–02–00–1
Hull City0–12–21–02–04–01–11–25–02–03–12–10–03–01–04–22–20–04–30–21–11–1
Leeds United0–21–12–12–32–01–21–31–01–12–01–11–03–10–23–12–11–11–14–01–10–0
Middlesbrough0–00–01–10–11–31–30–21–03–10–11–22–23–01–13–21–01–23–11–12–01–0
Millwall2–20–12–10–13–12–23–21–11–02–15–03–13–04–20–10–43–02–02–31–00–1
Norwich City1–13–00–03–02–13–14–32–13–24–12–04–02–06–11–02–04–03–11–10–01–2
Oldham Athletic1–13–10–14–02–12–12–02–12–11–13–13–11–00–01–32–01–54–32–42–22–1
Portsmouth1–13–04–01–24–01–01–01–13–14–11–12–31–02–12–01–20–34–03–03–01–1
Sheffield United3–13–33–13–01–01–10–02–11–11–13–13–20–11–32–52–00–01–11–21–04–0
Shrewsbury Town3–02–02–02–10–02–10–22–10–23–00–01–32–11–10–32–01–13–11–01–21–1
Stoke City0–02–23–11–10–00–00–01–01–13–00–16–23–20–01–12–02–01–32–21–00–0
Sunderland2–00–21–12–12–21–21–14–23–31–01–14–21–01–20–20–31–32–12–02–02–1
Wimbledon1–01–11–00–04–13–11–11–03–02–23–10–33–01–12–10–01–35–02–11–03–0

Second Division maps

Third Division

PosTeamPldHWHDHLHGFHGAAWADALAGFAGAGDPtsPromotion or relegation
1Reading461634392213462829+1694Division Champions, promoted
2Plymouth Argyle46173356209683233+3587Promoted
3Derby County461373452010853521+3984
4Wigan Athletic461742541761072831+3483
5Gillingham46145448178873337+2779
6Walsall461571592372143141+2675
7York City461643491747122841+1971
8Notts County46126542267882934+1171
9Bristol City461454431949102641+968
10Brentford46887292910492932−366
11Doncaster Rovers46710620219682531−764
12Blackpool461166381966112836+1163
13Darlington461076393356122245−1758
14Rotherham United461355441827141741+257
15Bournemouth46968413163142441−754
16Bristol Rovers46986272154142454−2454
17Chesterfield461067413038122034−353
18Bolton Wanderers461049353054141938−1453
19Newport County46788353341091732−1351
20Bury461175462616161741−449
21Lincoln City46797333437132243−2246Relegated
22Cardiff City467511222954143154−3045
23Wolverhampton Wanderers466611294754142851−4143
24Swansea City46968272724171660−4443

Third Division maps

Fourth Division

PosTeamPldHWHDHLHGFHGAAWADALAGFAGAGDPtsPromotion or relegation
1Swindon Town462021521912473024+39102Division Champions, promoted
2Chester City461553441681053934+3384Promoted
3Mansfield Town461382431710493130+2781
4Port Vale46139142118782526+3079
5Orient46116639219684043+1572
6Colchester United46126551227793741+2570
7Hartlepool United461562412054142747+170
8Northampton Town46977442993113529+2164
9Southend United461346432756122640+264
10Hereford United461562553034161943+164
11Stockport County46995352884112843−864
12Crewe Alexandra461067352683121935−763
13Wrexham461157342464133456−1260Welsh Cup winners, qualified for the 1986–87 European Cup Winners' Cup First round[4]
14Burnley461139353058102535−559
15Scunthorpe United461175332347121732−559
16Aldershot461256452552162149−858
17Peterborough United469113311946132145−1256
18Rochdale461274412926151648−2055
19Tranmere Rovers46911346416892832+154
20Halifax Town461085352744152544−1154
21Exeter City461049262531192134−1254Re-elected
22Cambridge United461229453837132042−1554
23Preston North End467412324146132248−3543
24Torquay United468510293215171456−4537

Fourth Division maps

Election/Re-election to the Football League

As champions of the Alliance Premier League, Enfield won the right to apply for election to the Football League, to replace one of the four bottom teams in the 1985–86 Football League Fourth Division. The vote went as follows:

ClubFinal PositionVotes
Exeter City21st (Fourth Division)64
Preston North End23rd (Fourth Division)62.5
Cambridge United22nd (Fourth Division)61
Torquay United24th (Fourth Division)61
Enfield1st (Alliance Premier League)7.5

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

This was the last season in which the Alliance Premier League champions had to apply for election to the Football League. From the 1986–87 season, when the Alliance Premier League was re-branded as the Football Conference, the champions were automatically promoted, provided that they met the criteria set by the Football League.

See also

  • 1985–86 in English football

References

[1]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgLiverpool also won the 1986 FA Cup.
Sep 19, 2019, 9:30 AM
[2]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgOxford United won the 1986 League Cup and therefore should have claimed a place in the 1986–87 UEFA Cup.
Sep 19, 2019, 9:30 AM
[3]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgEverton were the runners-up in the FA Cup, and Liverpool having won the Double, they should have claimed a place in the 1986–87 European Cup Winners' Cup.
Sep 19, 2019, 9:30 AM
[4]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgWrexham won the 1986 Welsh Cup and thus claimed a place in the 1986–87 European Cup Winners' Cup, Welsh clubs still being allowed to compete in UEFA's competitions.
Sep 19, 2019, 9:30 AM
[5]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgEnglish teams were banned by UEFA from its competitions from the 1985–86 season until the 1990–91 season because of the Heysel disaster in 1985, involving Liverpool fans.
Sep 19, 2019, 9:30 AM
[6]
Citation Linkwww.rsssf.com"England 1985–86". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 27 January 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
Sep 19, 2019, 9:30 AM
[7]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgIan Laschke: Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79. Macdonald and Jane’s, London & Sydney, 1980.
Sep 19, 2019, 9:30 AM
[8]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgEnglish teams were banned by UEFA from its competitions from the 1985–86 season until the 1990–91 season because of the Heysel disaster in 1985, involving Liverpool fans.
Sep 19, 2019, 9:30 AM
[9]
Citation Linkwww.rsssf.com"English League Leading Goalscorers". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 31 October 2010.
Sep 19, 2019, 9:30 AM
[10]
Citation Linkwww.oxfordunited-mad.co.uk1985–86 League Tables
Sep 19, 2019, 9:30 AM
[11]
Citation Linkweb.archive.org"England 1985–86"
Sep 19, 2019, 9:30 AM
[12]
Citation Linkwww.rsssf.comthe original
Sep 19, 2019, 9:30 AM
[13]
Citation Linkwww.rsssf.com"English League Leading Goalscorers"
Sep 19, 2019, 9:30 AM
[14]
Citation Linkwww.oxfordunited-mad.co.uk1985–86 League Tables
Sep 19, 2019, 9:30 AM
[15]
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 19, 2019, 9:30 AM