1971–72 Football League First Division

1971–72 season of Football League First Division

Football league season

Football League First DivisionSeason| 1971–72

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Champions| Derby County
1st English title
Relegated| Nottingham Forest
Huddersfield Town
European Cup| Derby County
European Cup Winners' Cup| Leeds United
UEFA Cup| Liverpool
Manchester City
Tottenham Hotspur
Stoke City
Watney Cup| Wolverhampton Wanderers
Sheffield United
Matches played| 462
Goals scored| 1,160 (2.51 per match)
Top goalscorer| Francis Lee
(33 goals)[1]
Biggest home win| Everton 8–0 Southampton
(20 November 1971)
Biggest away win| Sheffield United 0–5 Arsenal
(29 January 1972)
Highest scoring| Everton 8–0 Southampton
(20 November 1971)

← 1970–71

1972–73 →

Statistics of Football League First Division in the 1971–72 season.

## Overview

[edit]

Derby County won the First Division title for the first time in the club's history that season. Derby's first ever First Division title was confirmed on May 8, after title challengers Liverpool and Leeds United failed to win their final games at Arsenal and Wolverhampton Wanderers respectively. On April 26, Huddersfield Town and Nottingham Forest were relegated after Crystal Palace beat Stoke City 2-0 at Selhurst Park to ensure their survival.

## League standings

[edit]

Pos | Team  | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts | Qualification or relegation

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1  | Derby County (C) | 42  | 24  | 10  | 8  | 69  | 33  | 2.091  | 58  | Qualification for the European Cup first round
2  | Leeds United | 42  | 24  | 9  | 9  | 73  | 31  | 2.355  | 57  | Qualification for the European Cup Winners' Cup first round[a]
3  | Liverpool | 42  | 24  | 9  | 9  | 64  | 30  | 2.133  | 57  | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round
4  | Manchester City | 42  | 23  | 11  | 8  | 77  | 45  | 1.711  | 57
5  | Arsenal | 42  | 22  | 8  | 12  | 58  | 40  | 1.450  | 52  |
6  | Tottenham Hotspur | 42  | 19  | 13  | 10  | 63  | 42  | 1.500  | 51  | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round[b]
7  | Chelsea | 42  | 18  | 12  | 12  | 58  | 49  | 1.184  | 48  |
8  | Manchester United | 42  | 19  | 10  | 13  | 69  | 61  | 1.131  | 48
9  | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 42  | 18  | 11  | 13  | 65  | 57  | 1.140  | 47  | Qualification for the Watney Cup[c]
10  | Sheffield United | 42  | 17  | 12  | 13  | 61  | 60  | 1.017  | 46
11  | Newcastle United | 42  | 15  | 11  | 16  | 49  | 52  | 0.942  | 41  |
12  | Leicester City | 42  | 13  | 13  | 16  | 41  | 46  | 0.891  | 39
13  | Ipswich Town | 42  | 11  | 16  | 15  | 39  | 53  | 0.736  | 38
14  | West Ham United | 42  | 12  | 12  | 18  | 47  | 51  | 0.922  | 36
15  | Everton | 42  | 9  | 18  | 15  | 37  | 48  | 0.771  | 36
16  | West Bromwich Albion | 42  | 12  | 11  | 19  | 42  | 54  | 0.778  | 35
17  | Stoke City | 42  | 10  | 15  | 17  | 39  | 56  | 0.696  | 35  | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round
18  | Coventry City | 42  | 9  | 15  | 18  | 44  | 67  | 0.657  | 33  |
19  | Southampton | 42  | 12  | 7  | 23  | 52  | 80  | 0.650  | 31
20  | Crystal Palace | 42  | 8  | 13  | 21  | 39  | 65  | 0.600  | 29
21  | Nottingham Forest (R) | 42  | 8  | 9  | 25  | 47  | 81  | 0.580  | 25  | Relegation to the Second Division
22  | Huddersfield Town (R) | 42  | 6  | 13  | 23  | 27  | 59  | 0.458  | 25

Source: World Football
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated
Notes:

1. ^ Leeds United qualified for the European Cup Winners' Cup as the 1971-72 FA Cup winners.
2. ^ Tottenham Hotspur qualified for the UEFA Cup as the 1971-72 UEFA Cup winners.
3. ^ Wolverhampton Wanderers and Sheffield United qualified for the Watney Cup as the two teams with the most goals that hadn't already qualified for a European competition.

## Results

[edit]

Home \ Away  | ARS | CHE | COV | CRY | DER | EVE | HUD | IPS | LEE | LEI | LIV | MCI | MUN | NEW | NOT | SHU | SOU | STK | TOT | WBA | WHU | WOL

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Arsenal |  | 3–0 | 2–0  | 2–1  | 2–0  | 1–1  | 1–0  | 2–1  | 2–0  | 3–0  | 0–0  | 1–2  | 3–0  | 4–2  | 3–0  | 0–1  | 1–0  | 0–1  | 0–2 | 2–0  | 2–1  | 2–1
Chelsea | 1–2 |  | 3–3  | 2–1  | 1–1  | 4–0  | 2–2  | 2–0  | 0–0  | 2–1  | 0–0  | 2–2  | 2–3  | 3–3  | 2–0  | 2–0  | 3–0  | 2–0  | 1–0  | 1–0  | 3–1  | 3–1
Coventry City | 0–1  | 1–1  |  | 1–1  | 2–2  | 4–1  | 2–1  | 1–1  | 3–1  | 1–1 | 0–2  | 1–1  | 2–3  | 1–0  | 1–1  | 3–2  | 1–0  | 1–1  | 1–0  | 0–2 | 1–1  | 0–0
Crystal Palace | 2–2  | 2–3  | 2–2  |  | 0–1  | 2–1  | 0–0  | 1–1  | 1–1  | 1–1  | 0–1  | 1–2  | 1–3  | 2–0  | 1–1  | 5–1  | 2–3  | 2–0  | 1–1  | 0–2  | 0–3  | 0–2
Derby County | 2–1  | 1–0  | 1–0  | 3–0  |  | 2–0  | 3–0  | 1–0  | 2–0  | 3–0 | 1–0  | 3–1  | 2–2  | 0–1  | 4–0 | 3–0  | 2–2  | 4–0  | 2–2  | 0–0  | 2–0  | 2–1
Everton | 2–1  | 2–0  | 1–2  | 0–0  | 0–2  |  | 2–2 | 1–1  | 0–0 | 0–0  | 1–0 | 1–2  | 1–0  | 1–0  | 1–1  | 0–1  | 8–0  | 0–0  | 1–1  | 2–1  | 2–1  | 2–2
Huddersfield Town | 0–1  | 1–2  | 0–1  | 0–1  | 2–1  | 0–0 |  | 1–3  | 2–1 | 2–2  | 0–1 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 0–0  | 0–1  | 0–0 | 0–2  | 0–0  | 1–1  | 1–0  | 1–0  | 0–1
Ipswich Town | 0–1  | 1–2  | 3–1  | 0–2  | 0–0  | 0–0  | 1–0  |  | 0–2  | 1–2  | 0–0  | 2–1  | 0–0  | 0–0  | 1–1  | 0–0  | 1–1  | 2–1  | 2–1  | 2–3  | 1–0  | 2–1
Leeds United | 3–0  | 2–0  | 1–0  | 2–0  | 3–0  | 3–2  | 3–1 | 2–2  |  | 2–1  | 1–0 | 3–0 | 5–1 | 5–1  | 6–1  | 1–0 | 7–0  | 1–0  | 1–1  | 3–0  | 0–0  | 0–0
Leicester City | 0–0  | 1–1  | 1–0 | 0–0  | 0–2 | 0–0  | 2–0  | 1–0  | 0–0  |  | 1–0  | 0–0  | 2–0  | 3–0  | 2–1 | 0–1  | 0–1  | 2–1  | 0–1  | 0–1  | 2–0  | 1–2
Liverpool | 3–2  | 0–0  | 3–1  | 4–1  | 3–2  | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–0  | 0–2 | 3–2  |  | 3–0 | 2–2 | 5–0  | 3–1  | 2–0  | 1–0  | 2–1  | 0–0  | 2–0  | 1–0  | 3–2
Manchester City | 2–0  | 1–0  | 4–0  | 4–0  | 2–0  | 1–0  | 1–0 | 4–0  | 0–1 | 1–1  | 1–0 |  | 3–3 | 2–1  | 2–2  | 2–1  | 3–0  | 1–2  | 4–0  | 2–1  | 3–1  | 5–2
Manchester United | 3–1  | 0–1  | 2–2  | 4–0  | 1–0  | 0–0  | 2–0 | 1–0  | 0–1 | 3–2  | 0–3 | 1–3 |  | 0–2  | 3–2  | 2–0  | 3–2  | 3–0  | 3–1  | 3–1  | 4–2  | 1–3
Newcastle United | 2–0  | 0–0  | 4–2  | 1–2  | 0–1  | 0–0  | 0–0  | 0–1  | 1–0  | 2–0  | 3–2  | 0–0  | 0–1  |  | 2–1  | 1–2  | 3–1  | 0–0  | 3–1  | 4–2  | 2–2  | 2–0
Nottingham Forest | 1–1  | 2–1  | 4–0  | 0–1  | 0–2 | 1–0  | 1–2  | 0–2  | 0–2  | 1–2 | 2–3  | 2–2  | 0–0  | 1–0  |  | 2–3  | 2–3  | 0–0  | 0–1  | 4–1  | 1–0  | 1–3
Sheffield United | 0–5  | 1–0  | 2–0  | 1–0  | 0–4  | 1–1  | 3–1 | 7–0  | 3–0 | 1–1  | 1–1  | 3–3  | 1–1  | 1–0  | 2–1  |  | 3–1  | 2–3  | 2–2  | 0–0  | 3–0  | 2–2
Southampton | 0–1  | 2–2  | 3–1  | 1–0  | 1–2  | 0–1  | 1–2  | 0–0  | 2–1  | 1–0  | 0–1  | 2–0  | 2–5  | 1–2  | 4–1  | 3–2  |  | 3–1  | 0–0  | 1–1  | 3–3  | 1–2
Stoke City | 0–0  | 0–1  | 1–0  | 3–1  | 1–1  | 1–1  | 1–0  | 3–3  | 0–3  | 3–1  | 0–0  | 1–3  | 1–1  | 3–3  | 0–2  | 2–2  | 3–1  |  | 2–0  | 1–1 | 0–0  | 0–1
Tottenham Hotspur | 1–1 | 3–0  | 1–0  | 3–0  | 0–1  | 3–0  | 4–1  | 2–1  | 1–0  | 4–3  | 2–0  | 1–1  | 2–0  | 0–0  | 6–1  | 2–0  | 1–0  | 2–0  |  | 3–2  | 0–1  | 4–1
West Bromwich Albion | 0–1  | 4–0  | 1–1 | 1–1  | 0–0  | 2–0  | 1–1  | 1–2  | 0–1  | 0–1  | 1–0  | 0–2  | 2–1  | 0–3  | 1–0  | 2–2  | 3–2  | 0–1 | 1–1  |  | 0–0  | 2–3
West Ham United | 0–0  | 2–1  | 4–0  | 1–1  | 3–3  | 1–0  | 3–0  | 0–0  | 2–2  | 1–1  | 0–2  | 0–2  | 3–0  | 0–1  | 4–2  | 1–2  | 1–0  | 2–1  | 2–0  | 0–1  |  | 1–0
Wolverhampton Wanderers | 5–1  | 0–2  | 1–1 | 1–0  | 2–1  | 1–1  | 2–2  | 2–2  | 2–1  | 0–1  | 0–0  | 2–1  | 1–1  | 2–0  | 4–2  | 1–2  | 4–2  | 2–0 | 2–2  | 0–1 | 1–0  |

Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: Ian Laschke: Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79. Macdonald and Jane’s, London & Sydney, 1980.
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

## Managerial changes

[edit]

Team  | Outgoing manager  | Manner of departure  | Date of vacancy  | Position in table  | Incoming manager  | Date of appointment

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Manchester United |  Matt Busby | End of caretaker spell  | 6 June 1971  | Pre-season |  Frank O'Farrell | 6 June 1971
Leicester City |  Frank O'Farrell | Signed by Manchester United  | 6 June 1971  |  Jimmy Bloomfield | 23 June 1971
West Bromwich Albion |  Alan Ashman | Sacked  | 1 July 1971  |  Don Howe | 8 July 1971
Manchester City |  Joe Mercer | Resigned  | 7 October 1971  | 4th  |  Malcolm Allison | 7 October 1971
Coventry City |  Noel Cantwell | Sacked  | 12 March 1972  | 18th  |  Bob Dennison (caretaker)  | 12 March 1972

## Team locations

[edit]

Arsenal

Chelsea

Coventry

Crystal Palace

Derby County

Everton

Huddersfield

Ipswich Town

Leeds United

Leicester City

Liverpool

Manchester City

Manchester United

Newcastle

Nottingham Forest

Sheffield United

Southampton

Stoke

Tottenham

West Bromwich Albion

West Ham

Wolverhampton Wanderers

class=notpageimage|

Locations of the Football League First Division 1971–1972 teams

Arsenal

Chelsea

Crystal Palace

Tottenham

West Ham

class=notpageimage|

Locations of the Football League First Division London teams 1971–1972

## Top scorers

[edit]

Rank  | Player  | Club  | Goals

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1 |  Francis Lee |  Manchester City | 33
2 |  Martin Chivers | Tottenham Hotspur | 25
3 |  Peter Lorimer | Leeds United | 23
= |  Malcolm Macdonald | Newcastle United | 23
4 |  George Best | Manchester United | 18
= |  Ian Storey-Moore | Nottingham Forest / Manchester United | 18
= |  Peter Osgood | Chelsea | 18
5 |  Tony Brown | West Bromwich Albion | 17
= |  Clyde Best | West Ham United | 17

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "English League Leading Goalscorers". RSSSF. Retrieved 2010-10-31.

* RSSSF

* v
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Football League First Division

First Level|

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Second Level|

* 1992–93
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* 1998–99
* 1999–2000
* 2000–01
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* v
* t
* e

1971–72 in English football

« 1970–71

1972–73 »

National teams|

* Alf Ramsey
* Home Championship
* UEFA Euro 1972 (qualification)

League competitions|

| Levels 1–4|

* Football League (First Division, Second Division, Third Division, Fourth Division)

|

Levels 5–6|

* Isthmian League (level 5 only)
* Northern Premier League (level 5 only)
* Southern League (Premier, One North, One South)

Levels 7–9|

* Athenian League (Premier, One, Two)
* Cheshire County League (level 7 only)
* Eastern Counties League (level 7 only)
* Essex Senior League (level 7 only)
* Hellenic League (Premier, One A, One B)
* Kent League (level 7 only)
* Lancashire Combination (level 7 only)
* Midland Football Combination (level 7 only)
* Midland League (level 7 only)
* Northern League (level 7 only)
* South Midlands League (Premier, One)
* Spartan League (level 7 only)
* Sussex County League (One, Two)
* United Counties League (One, Two, Three)
* West Midlands (Regional) League (level 7 only)
* Western League (level 7 only)
* Yorkshire League (One, Two, Three)

Cup competitions|

| FA cups|

* FA Cup (Qualifying rounds, Final)
* Charity Shield
* FA Trophy (Final)
* FA Amateur Cup

|

Football League cups|

* League Cup (Final)
* Watney Cup

European competitions|

* European Cup
* UEFA Cup (Final)
* European Cup Winners' Cup
* Anglo-Italian Cup
* Texaco Cup

Club seasons

First Division|

* Arsenal
* Chelsea
* Coventry City
* Crystal Palace
* Derby County
* Everton
* Huddersfield Town
* Ipswich Town
* Leeds United
* Leicester City
* Liverpool
* Manchester City
* Manchester United
* Newcastle United
* Nottingham Forest
* Queens Park Rangers
* Sheffield United
* Southampton
* Stoke City
* Tottenham Hotspur
* West Bromwich Albion
* West Ham United
* Wolverhampton Wanderers

Second Division|

* Birmingham City
* Blackpool
* Bristol City
* Burnley
* Cardiff City
* Carlisle United
* Charlton Athletic
* Fulham
* Hull City
* Leyton Orient
* Luton Town
* Middlesbrough
* Millwall
* Norwich City
* Oxford United
* Portsmouth
* Preston North End
* Sheffield Wednesday
* Sunderland
* Swindon Town
* Watford

Third Division|

* Aston Villa
* Barnsley
* Blackburn Rovers
* Bolton Wanderers
* Bournemouth
* Bradford City
* Brighton & Hove Albion
* Bristol Rovers
* Chesterfield
* Halifax Town
* Mansfield Town
* Notts County
* Oldham Athletic
* Plymouth Argyle
* Port Vale
* Rochdale
* Rotherham United
* Shrewsbury Town
* Swansea City
* Torquay United
* Tranmere Rovers
* Walsall
* Wrexham
* York City

Fourth Division|

* Aldershot
* Barrow
* Brentford
* Bury
* Cambridge United
* Chester
* Colchester United
* Crewe Alexandra
* Darlington
* Doncaster Rovers
* Exeter City
* Gillingham
* Grimsby Town
* Hartlepool United
* Lincoln City
* Newport County
* Northampton Town
* Peterborough United
* Reading
* Scunthorpe United
* Southend United
* Southport
* Stockport County
* Workington

*[Pos]: Position
*[Pld]: Played
*[W]: Won
*[D]: Drawn
*[L]: Lost
*[GF]: Goals for
*[GA]: Goals against
*[GAv]: Goal average
*[Pts]: Points
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template