1972-73 In English Football Article Index for
1972-73
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1972-73 In English Football





FIRST DIVISION

Liverpool cruised to another championship triumph in Bill Shankly's penultimate season as manager despite competition from Arsenal, Leeds United, Ipswich Town and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Crystal Palace and West Bromwich Albion. Norwich City were spared the drop because there would not be a third relegation place for another season yet, and next time they wouldn't be so lucky.


SECOND DIVISION

Burnley and Queens Park Rangers won promotion to the First Division, while Huddersfield and Brighton & Hove Albion slipped down to the Third Division.


THIRD DIVISION

Bolton Wanderers and Notts County occupied the two promotion places in the Third Division.

Rotherham United, Brentford, Swansea City and Scunthorpe United were relegated to the Fourth Division.


FOURTH DIVISION

Southport and Aldershot were joined in the promotion zone by the league's two newest members - Cambridge United and Peterborough United.

There were no arrivals or departures in the league for 1973.


F.A CUP

An Ian Porterfield goal saw Sunderland achieve a famous 1-0 win over Leeds in the F.A Cup final.


LEAGUE CUP

Tottenham Hotspur's Bill Nicholson guided his club to a League Cup triumph and added another trophy to the club's ever-growing list of honours.


STAR PLAYERS

Tottenham goalkeeper Patrick Jennings added the FWA Player of the Year award to his League Cup winners medal.


STAR MANAGERS

Bill Shankly guided Liverpool to yet another league championship triumph.

Bob Stokoe helped Sunderland achieve a shock win against Leeds United in the F.A Cup final.

Bill Nicholson added the League Cup to his list of trophies won as Tottenham manager.


SIGNIFICANT EVENTS

  • Manchester United sacked manager Frank O'Farrell and replaced him with Tommy Docherty.

  • Manchester United legends Denis Law and Bobby Charlton played their last games for the club, while George Best's appearances were becoming increasingly rare due to off-the-field problems.

  • The Football League announced that a three-up, three-down system would operate between the top two divisions from next season.

  • Liverpool fought off competition from Arsenal and Leeds United to win the league title.

  • An Ian Porterfield goal gave Sunderland a shock 1-0 victory over Leeds United in the F.A Cup final.

  • Hereford United were promoted from the Fourth Division in their first season as a Football League club.