| 1971-72 In English Football |
Article Index for 1971-72 |
Website Links For English |
Information About1971-72 In English Football |
|
Brian Clough , 37, won the first major trophy of his managerial career by guiding Derby County to their first ever league championship. They overcame Leeds United to win a four-horse race also contested with Liverpool and Manchester City . The Sun newspaper later claimed that Leeds manager Don Revie had attempted to bribe Wolverhampton Wanderers to let in goals on the last day of the season so he could cheat his way to the championship. The footballing authorities never investigated these allegations to decide whether they were true or not. Nottingham Forest and Huddersfield Town lost their First Division status. By the end of the decade, Forest had made an explosive comeback to the top flight. 1971 - 72 was Huddersfield's last season in the top flight to date, and within a few seasons they would be in the Fourth Division - most of their existence since 1972 has been spent in the league's lower two divisions. SECOND DIVISION Norwich City and Birmingham City were promoted. Charlton Athletic and Watford were relegated. THIRD DIVISION Aston Villa ended their two-year spell in the Third Division by gaining promotion as champions, and by the end of the decade would be firmly re-established as a First Division club. Brighton & Hove Albion followed Villa into the Second Division, but would not reach the heady heights that the midlanders would experience. Mansfield Town , Barnsley , Torquay United and Bradford City were relegated. FOURTH DIVISION Grimsby Town , Southend United , Brentford and Scunthorpe United were promoted. Barrow were voted out of the Football League and replaced by Hereford United , who a short time earlier had achieved a shock FA Cup victory over Newcastle United . FA CUP Leeds United overcame holders Arsenal to win the FA Cup. LEAGUE CUP Stoke City won the League Cup to claim the only major trophy in their history so far. STAR PLAYERS Stoke City goalkeeper Gordon Banks added the FWA Player of the Year Award to his League Cup winners medal. Players like Norman Hunter and Billy Bremner helped Leeds win the FA Cup. Players like Roy McFarland and Colin Todd helped Derby win the league championship. STAR MANAGERS Brian Clough guided Derby to their first-ever league championship triumph. Don Revie helped Leeds lift the FA Cup for the first time. Tony Waddington ended Stoke City 's trophyless history by winning the League Cup. SIGNIFICANT EVENTS
|
|
|