1981-82 In English Football Article Index for
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1981-82 In English Football
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FIRST DIVISION

Liverpool made up for the previous season's slip in league form by winning the league championship for the 13th time in their history, fighting off competition from Ipswich Town , Manchester United and Arsenal . Surprise contenders for the league title were Swansea City , in the First Division for the first time in their history. They topped the league at several stages throughout the season before finishing in a still impressive sixth place.

Middlesbrough and Wolves were relegated as financial problems at both clubs began to mount. They were joined by Leeds United , who had gradually fallen apart in the eight years since Don Revie 's departure.

West Bromwich Albion felt the loss of manager Ron Atkinson and key players Bryan Robson and Remi Moses as they slumped to 19th in the league and narrowly avoided relegation. This was just the beginning of a sharp decline for a club who had been UEFA Cup quarter finalists the previous season.

Defending champions Aston Villa failed to get anywhere near the top of the league but more than compensated for this shortcoming by winning the European Cup.


SECOND DIVISION

Luton Town and Norwich City ended their long absences from the top flight by winning promotion from the Second Division. They were joined by Watford , owned by Elton John and managed by Graham Taylor , who would begin 1982-83 as First Division members for the first time in their history.

Cardiff City , Wrexham and Orient were the unfortunate three clubs to lose their Second Division status at the end of the 1981-82 season.


THIRD DIVISION

Burnley , Carlisle United and Fulham enjoyed some success after a string of disappointments by winning promotion to the Second Division.

Going down were Wimbledon , Swindon Town , Bristol City and Chester . Bristol had completed a unique succession of three relegations, while Swindon had been League Cup winners little over a decade earlier. Wimbledon, meanwhile, would not be enduring any more disappointing season for many years after 1982.


FOURTH DIVISION

Sheffield United began the first phase of their revival by winning the Fourth Division championship. Also promoted were Bradford City , Wigan Athletic and Bournemouth .

Crewe Alexandra endured a terrible season and propped up the league with just 27 league points, but the other league members voted in their favour and they maintained their league status.


FA CUP

Tottenham Hotspur retained the FA Cup by beating Second Division QPR in a replay after drawing the first match.


LEAGUE CUP

Liverpool added to their league title triumph by retaining the League Cup.


SUCCESSFUL PLAYERS

Southampton striker Kevin Keegan marked his return to English football by scoring more goals than any other player in the Football League and being voted Player Of The Year by the PFA .

Tottenham's Steve Perryman added to his FA Cup winners medal with the FWA Player Of The Year award.

Southampton's promising youngster Steve Moran was elected Young Player Of The Year by the PFA.

Peter Withe scored the only goal of the European Cup final to give Aston Villa victory over Bayern Munich.

Bryan Robson gave some strong performances for Manchester United to help justify his English record fee of £1.75million.


SUCCESSFUL MANAGERS

Bob Paisley retained the League Cup and won the league title for Liverpool.

Tony Barton kicked off his management career by winning the European Cup for Aston Villa.

Keith Burkinshaw helped Tottenham win the FA Cup for the second year running.

David Pleat ended Luton Town's absence from the top flight by guiding them to the Second Division title.

John Toshack helped Swansea City finish a remarkable sixth in their first season as a top division club.


SIGNIFICANT EVENTS

  • Manchester United paid a British record fee of £1.75million for West Bromwich Albion's 24-year-old England midfielder Bryan Robson.

  • Just three months after succeeding Ron Saunders as manager, Tony Barton guided Aston Villa to a 1-0 victory over Bayern Munich to achieve glory in the European Cup.

  • Tottenham Hotspur retained the F.A Cup by defeating Queens Park Rangers at Wembley. Their opponents were

    • managed by former Tottenham player Terry Venables!

  • Swansea City finished sixth in their first season as a First Division club.

  • Former player Howard Kendall returned to Everton as their new manager.

  • Former Everton player Joe Royle was named as the new manager of Oldham Athletic.

  • Ron Greenwood retired as England manager after the World Cup and was succeeded by Ipswich manager

    • Bobby Robson.

  • Leeds United, who had never looked like serious title challengers since Don Revie's departure in 1974,

    • were finally relegated to the Second Division.

  • Watford, owned by Elton John and managed by Graham Taylor, were promoted to the First Division for the first time in their history.

  • Runcorn won the Alliance Premier League championship but were denied promotion to the Football League because the majority of the Football League clubs had voted against them going up.