| 1994-95 In English Football |
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OVERVIEW Premier League Blackburn Rovers ended their 81-year wait for the league title thanks to the strike partnership of Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton which scored a total of more than 50 league goals. Manchester United would have made it three league titles in a row if they had been able to turn a 1-1 draw with West Ham United into a win on the final day of the season. Newly promoted Nottingham Forest finished third and qualified for the UEFA Cup along with fourth placed Liverpool (also League Cup winners) and fifth placed Leeds United. After this season the Premier League would be reduced to 20 clubs, so there would be four relegation places this time round. They were occupied by Crystal Palace, Norwich City (who had narrowly missed out on the league title two years earlier), Leicester City and Ipswich Town. Division One The streamling of the Premier League meant that just two clubs would be promoted from Division One in 1995. Middlesbrough won the Division One title in their first season under Bryan Robson, while Bolton achieved their second promotion in three years under Bruce Rioch - as well as being League Cup runners-up. 1995 saw four clubs relegated from Division One - Swindon Town (relegated for the second straight season), Burnley, Bristol City and Notts County. Sunderland narrowly avoided the drop following the arrival of enthusiastic new manager Peter Reid, who over the next few years would bring dramatic improvements to the Wearsiders. Division Two There would only be two promotion places in Division Two for 1994-95. They were occupied by champions Birmingham City and playoff winners Huddersfield Town, both enjoying success after seasons of disappointment. Going down were Cambridge United, Plymouth Argyle, Cardiff City, Chester City and Leyton Orient. This was the first time that five clubs had been relegated from any of the league's four divisions. Division Three This season saw three clubs go up from Division Three instead of four clubs. They were champions Carlisle United, runners-up Walsall and playoff winners Chesterfield. Exeter City, who almost went out of business in mid-season, finished bottom of Division Three but kept their league status because Conference champions Macclesfield Town were unable to meet the league's stadium capacity requirements. Successful players Experienced Scottish striker John Hendrie was the driving force in Middlesbrough's return to the Premiership after a two-year absence. 36-year-old Tranmere striker John Aldridge was Division One's leading goalscorer with 24 league goals. Bolton midfielder Jason McAteer established himself as one of the most exciting young talents in England and would soon be on his way to Liverpool. Wrexham striker Gary Bennett scored a staggering 39 goals in all competitions. Walsall wingers Scott Houghton and Martin O'Connor almost single handedly earned their club's promotion to Division Two. Successful managers Bryan Robson made an excellent start to his management career by winning the Division One championship and gaining promotion to the Premiership with Middlesbrough. Bruce Rioch won the Division One playoffs and took Bolton to their first cup final in nearly 40 years. Jimmy Quinn took Reading to a second-place finish in Division One and only the streamlining of the Premiership prevented them from reaching the top flight for the very first time. Neil Warnock achieved his fourth promotion in less than a decade as he guided Huddersfield Town to glory in the Division Two playoffs. John Duncan helped Chesterfield win the Division Three playoffs and brought some long-awaited success to Saltergate. EVENTS
HONOURS ENGLISH NATIONAL TEAM ab = Abandoned after 27 minutes because of crowd violence with the Republic leading 1-0 and no official result recorded, although caps were awarded. LEAGUE TABLES FA Premier League
Football League Division One Football League Division Two Football League Division Three TRANSFER DEALS For subsequent transfer deals see 1995-96 In English Football . DEATHS Billy Wright, 70, captain of Wolves and England during the 1950s. At club level won three league championships and two F.A Cups. Was Arsenal manager from 1962 to 1966 but had little success. Made history as England's first 100-cap player. Kevin Morris, Swindon Town physiotherapist, was found dead in his fume-filled car. An inquest later recorded a verdict of suicide. Ted Drake, 82, played as a centre forward for Arsenal before the Second World War and managed Chelsea to league championship glory in 1955. Johnny Berry, 68, Manchester United winger from the 1950s who retired after being injured in the Munich Air Disaster. After retiring as a player, he ran a sports shop in Aldershot with his brother Peter. Harold Pearson, 86, kept goal for West Bromwich Albion when they won the F.A Cup in 1931 and played once for England. At the time of his death was believed to be the oldest surviving England international. |