First Division. Two outsiders, both Slovak teams, and two strong leaders, but separated, so one team dominated the championship, like most of the 1980s. Still 2 points for a win.
ZVL Povazska Bystrica – the debutantes were clearly not up to the task: they finished last as hopeless outsiders with 12 points and were relegated immediately after promotion.
Spartak ZTS Trnava – also an outsider: 15th with 18 points and relegated. They won only 4 games this season, the least in the league. It was hard to believe Spartak was one of the strongest and most successful clubs in the 1960s and first half of the 1970s – so much they declined during the 1980s.
DAC Dunajska Streda – 14th with 24 points. Not in danger of relegation, but still they slipped down the table – which was not surprising since DAC was small small heroically playing top league football.
Dukla Banska Bystrica – 13th with 25 points. Nothing much as usual. They also signified the decline and thus firm secondary position of Slovak football in the 1980s – starting with them, Slovak clubs took the last 4 positions in the championship.
Zbrojovka Brno – 12th with 27 points. Zbrojovka sharply declined in the 1980s and struggled in Second Division – they just managed to return to top flight, but recovery is a long process, so for the moment the maximum was to stay in First Division and they achieved the goal.
Ruda Hvezda Cheb – 11th with 27 points. Their usual. Political changes were going to change the name of the club, so far a Communist symbol – ‘red star’.
Slavia Prague – 10th with 28 points. Popular, but still weak as they normally were for years, thus, bitter.
TJ Vitkovice – 9th with 29 points.
Sigma ZTS Olomouc – 8th with 31 points. Not bad.
Dukla Prague – 7th with 31 points. Perhaps the second strongest squad in the league, but political changes were against them – people did not like the prime symbol of Communist rule. Rightly or wrongly, the club suffered from that and this was practically their last strong season. There was more, but it was still in future.
Plastika Nitra – 6th with 34 points. Very strong season for a club traditionally meandering between First and Second divisions.
Slovan CHZJD Bratislava – 5th with 35 points. Nothing like the leading team were until the end of the 1970s, but keeping in mind that their decline lead them to Second Division, this season looked like full recovery was almost completed.
Bohemians CKD Prague – 4th with 35 points. Pretty much the last hurrah of the small endearing club – political changes affected them badly, although not because of the stigma plunging down Dukla to destruction.
Internacional Slovnaft ZTS Bratislava – 3rd with 37 points. On the surface, they seemingly recovered even better than rivals Slovan, but who would know what the future brings… this was almost the last time Inter succeeded. In the new reality they joined Dukla and Bohemians on the thorny road to oblivion, going even further down the their Czech counterparts.
Banik Ostrava OKD – 2nd with 41 points. Now, this was a traditionally strong club seemingly going to stay strong and smoothly moving from one political reality to another. Much stronger than most of the league, but not really capable to fight for the title and their squad tells why – good, but not exceptional. Dukla Prague had stronger squad, for example.
Sparta CKD Prague – well, no surprise they won: 21 wins, 4 ties, 5 losses, 77-27 scoring record, 46 points. They had the strongest and most balanced squad and not for the first time – Sparta dominated the 1980s, this was their 4th consecutive title, a team without a rival. Political changes were not going to affect them negatively, but rather positively, for they were old and popular club. The exodus of players to foreign lands was unlikely to weaken them either, for now they were going to make their own transfers – selling and buying. And with money there was little doubt who would be able to get the best new Czech talent. Sparta won its 22nd title this season – already they were the most successful Czechoslovakian club, so it was just adding more and more to their record, becoming practically unreachable.
Confident champions again and looking for even better future – the players for good foreign contracts, the club – for the next success.
TJ RH Spartak ZVU Hradec Kralove easily won the championship with 47 points: 21 wins, 5 ties, 4 losses, 54-16. Climbing back to First Division and hoping to settle there.
Just returning to Second Division, Lokomotive finished 12th with 28 points. It was not just them, but actually the whole city of Kosice: their other club, now renamed to Jednota, was also down in Second Division and suffering: Jednota finished 3rd, but distant 3rd with 39 points.
TJ Montostroj Senec – formerly PZN, the other newcomer from third level, did much better than Lokomotiva: 6th with 30 points.
As many times before, Tatran – now with slightly changed name to Tatran Agro from Presov won the championship with 47 points: 23 wins, 1 tie, 6 losses, 78-27. It was so familiar: Tatran and ZVL Zilina meandered constantly between First and Second Division. When in Second Division, they instantly won and went back to the top league, only to drop down just as quickly. Now ZVL Zilina was weak and out of the game, so Tatran practically had no rival, eventually finishing 3 points ahead of the next pursuer and earning promotion.
BK Hacken were so unfortunate this season – reached the Cup final and lost it. Won their Second Division group and lost the promotion play-off. Twice second instead of becoming a sensation. Good try, though.
Djurgardens IF did not have particularly strong league season, but still ended with a trophy in their hands. Yes, they met inferior opponent at the Cup final, but so what? It was significant victory: in their long and successful history Djurgardens IF never won the Cup so far – this was their first Cup, a remarkable event, a day to remember with pride.
Hammarby IF – last with 19 points and relegated.
Orgryte IS – 11th with 21 points and relegated.
IK Brage – 10th with 24 points and relegated.
Halmstads BK – 9th with 26 points.
AIK – 8th with 27 points.
GAIS – 7th with 28 points. Finished with curious – and low – scoring record: 17-17.
Malmo FF – 6th with 28 points. Rather weak season for them.
Djurgardens IF – 5th with 33 points.
Orebro SK lost to IFK Goteborg 1-1 and 1-2.
Osters IF was eliminated by IFK Norrkoping 4-3 and 1-2. Away goals decided their fate.
IFK Norrkoping – strong season, no doubts about it, but really the second-best team.
IFK Goteborg – consistently strong from start to finish, permitting no surprises. Well, the strongest and internationally most successful Swedish club continued to be very strong and collected their 12th title.
Karlskrona AIF – last with 21 points and relegated.
Mjallby AIF – 13th with 28 points and relegated.
Landskrona BoIS – 12th with 29 points.
Gunnilse IS (Angered) – 11th with 29 points.
IF Elfsborg (Boras) – 10th with 30 points.
Markaryds IF – 9th with 31 points.
Kalmar FF – 8th with 32 points.
IK Oddevold (Uddevalla) – 7th with 33 points.
Kalmar AIK – 6th with 36 points.
Jonsereds IF – 5th with 38 points.
Trelleborgs FF – 4th with 42 points.
Vastra Frolunda IF – 3rd with 49 points.
Helsingborgs IF – 2nd with 50 points. Lost the battle for top place by a points, but had the best defense in the whole Second Division: they permitted only 19 goals.
BK Hacken (Goteborg) – clinched the top position with 51 points from 14 wins, 9 ties, and 3 losses. 52-23 goal-difference. Alas, they lost the promotion play-off against GIF Sundsvall 1-0 and 1-4 and were not promoted to the top league. They were so close to success this season – twice – and no luck.
Tyreso FF – last with 7 points and relegated. They won just 1 match this season and allowed 78 goals in their net during 26 games.
IFK Holmsund – 13th with 12 points and relegated. But their troubles were much bigger: the club folded because of financial reason and therefore not going to play in Third Division next season.
IFK Eskilstuna – 12th with 28 points.
Vasby IK FK (Upplands-Vasby) – 11th with 32 points.
Motala AIF – 10th with 34 points.
BK Forward (Orebro) – 9th with 35 points.
Gefle IF (Gavle) – 8th with 38 points.
IFK Lulea – 7th with 38 points.
Kiruna FF – 6th with 38 points.
Vasteras SK – 5th with 41 points.
Sparvagens GoIF (Stockholm) – 4th with 45 points.
IF Brommapojkarna (Bromma) – 3rd with 49 points.
Vasalunds IF (Solna) – 2nd with 49 points.
GIF Sundsvall – group winners with 61 points after 19 wins, 4 ties, and 3 losses. Scored 69 goals, permitted in their net 27. Without challengers this season, but it was not over: they went to promotion play-off against the winner of the other group and lost the first leg 0-1. At home, they destroyed BK Hacken 4-1 and were happily promoted to the top league. Much deserved promotion too.
Too bad the underdog lost the final – Oldham really had great performance in the Cups: semi-finalists in the FA Cup, finalists in the League Cup. Nothing top be ashamed of, but it would have been wonderful if they won the trophy. At the end, there was a player going to win trophies, but not with Oldham – Denis Irwin.
Nottingham Forest won their 4th League Cup. Great, considering that Forest remained a small club – Brian Clough somehow maintained strong and competitive squad and success was deserved And also needed for the trophy room. However, there was a bit of irritation: Cough himself built a culture of easy excuse early in the 80s, when he said that his team won everything already and there was nothing to fight for anymore. Add to this the objective excuse, that Forest was small club with little cash – what can you expect, they already did miracles just staying along with the big rich clubs. But such attitude very likely stifled ambition: the squad was more than solid and capable of more than winning occasional Cup.
One can imagine the sorrow of Crystal Palace – so close and no luck. Would have been great for them to win, for real success hardly ever came to them, but… they only came close to success.
Difficult victory to be celebrated even more because of the dramatic way it came, but… Statistically, Manchester United won its 7th Cup. They finished with a trophy in their hands. But it was not exactly cups Manchester United considered big success – the championship title was out of their reach for so long and the team had disappointing season in the bottom half the league table. And that with – arguably – a squad almost strong as Liverpool’s. The FA Cup was consolation, perhaps saving the head of Alex Ferguson, but he knew that the only good think about winning the Cup was saving heads, saving the season and boosting moral. However, there was something very important in this victory: UEFA was carefully going to permit English clubs back in the European competitions. Liverpool and Nottingham Forest still had their own bans and could not play, but Manchester United had clean sheet and was permitted. This victory opened the road to Europe, making the next season crucial: now there was big chance, a big aim, a reason to get worthy new players, to boost ambitions. Suddenly, the Cup victory had much bigger significance than saving face and adding one more trophy.
The Red Devils practically had the squad capable of more. Now they also had a big aim ahead of them. The glory days were coming and that mostly thanks to this victory.
Millwall – the outsider this season, winning only 5 matches. Bright young Teddy Sheringham and aging Tony Cascarino was all they had… Last and relegated with 26 points.
Charlton Atheltic – 19th with 30 points. Better than Millwall, but also a weak outsider – the squad tells it all… Relegated.
Sheffield Wedenesday – 18th with 43 points and relegated. Unlucky to be relegated only on 2-goals worse goal-difference, but… something wrong happened to them, which had nothing to do with luck – only ‘yesterday’ Wednesday was bright, promising team going up and expected to go even higher. What clipped their wings? Ron Atkinson?
Luton Town – 17th with 43 points. Lucky survivors on 2-goals better goal-difference than Sheffield Wednesday. Well, nothing more than that was expected from modest Luton.
Derby County – 16th with 46 points. Escaped relegation and that was the most expected from them Peter Shilton, still the number one goalkeeper of England, was the big name – the only big name. What a difference time makes… once upon a time Roy McFarland and Shilton played together for England, but in that time Derby County, with McFarland in defense, Derby was winning titles. Now, with Shilton (who was playing for solid and competitive, yet not winning teams back in the 1970s) avoiding Second Division was the best hope for the team.
Crystal Palace – 15th with 48 points. The usual… however, with squad like that, they managed quite well this season.
Manchester City – 14th with 48 points. Perhaps the only bright thing about them was that they finished with the same points Manchester United earned. Looked like Manchester City settled in mediocrity for ever.
Manchester United – 13th with 48 points. Ahead of bitter rivals Manchester City only on goal-difference, but even that was negative: United finished with -1. Seemingly, there was no way out even with ambitious and able manager like Ferguson… once again United had strong squad which did nothing. Less than nothing… One can easily go back almost year after year seeing the same – strong on paper squad, which underperformed terribly. However… this time may have been slightly different.
Coventry City – 12th with 49 points. Hardly ever noticed, but what amazing story Coventry was: never strong, yet, always sturdy enough to stay away from trouble. Other clubs, great clubs, went down and were relegated, some unable to recover for years; Coventry remained. Year after year, no matter the fate of others, they stayed – in the lower half of the table, but rarely in real danger of relegation.
Queens Park Rangers – 11th with 50 points. The never ending ups and downs of QPR… Now, it was up – at least on paper. With Trevor Frances as playing manager and Don Howe as his assistant and Kenny Sansom, Peter Reid, Mark Falco, David Seaman, Leslie Ferdinand… this team should have been in better position in the league. Instead, it was so-so season.
Norwich City – 10th with 53 points. Given the squad, Norwich should have been desperately fighting for survival – but sometimes one can do more with less: the boys played better than ‘promising’ QPR, not to mention studded with stars Manchester United.
Nottingham Forest – 9th with 54 points. Maintained respectful, if not strong performance.
Wimbledon – 8th with 55 points. The spirit of the team cannot be denied – and perhaps thanks to it, Wimbledon was overachieving.
Southampton – 7th with 55 points. As usual, they had veterans – Osman and Case – but also younger talent this time: Shearer, Le Tissier, and Flowers.
Everton – 6th with 59 points. Running strong still, but looked like the club fell in its own trap of lamenting imagined possibilities – this squad should have played bigger role. Even with unfortunate Norman Whiteside.
Chelsea – 5th with 60 points. Apparently, the terrible years were over and the club was stable again – and ambitious, as result. Did not have really strong team, though, and at least for the moment was close to Wimbledon: overachievers.
Arsenal – 4th with 62 points. George Graham was the right man and he built strong squad – hence, the good results. But there was still need for reinforcements.
Tottenham Hotspur – 3rd with 63 points. An illusionary season: the Spurs clinched bronze medals, although they were not up to compete for more. Yet, it was a squad capable of more – on paper. Just look at the wealth of this team: Lineker and Gascoigne together is enough of an example. And that was the illusion.
Aston Villa – 2nd with 70 points. Challenging Liverpool was not up to them, but they were much stronger than the rest of the league and finished 7 points ahead of Tottenham Hotspur. A come back? Nigel Spink was the only link to the team which won the European Champions Cup, providing inspiration for current talent like Paul McGrath and David Platt. Well, not enough for true comeback.
Familiar and irritating: Liverpool dominated the championship again, collecting easily one more title – after 23 wins, 10 ties, 5 losses, and 78-37 scoring record, they finished with 79 points – 7 points ahead of Aston Villa and 14 points ahead of Tottenham Hotspur. Can’t deny the talent of the squad, can’t deny the talent of Dalglish, can’t deny the wise policies and ambition of the club. The only problem was boredom – year after years it was just Liverpool. And another problem was lurking bellow the surface: was this vintage truly strong compared to the top European clubs? Without playing in the European competitions there was no way to know and may be without noticing the club already took wrong direction in selecting new players. But who can blame dominant champions? This was their 18th title!
Stoke City – last with 37 points and relegated.
Bradford City – 23rd with 41 points and relegated.
Bournemouth – 22nd with 48 points and relegated.
Middlesbrough – 21st with 50 points. Survived.
West Bromwich Albion – 20th with 51 points.
Barnsley – 19th with 54 points.
Brighton & Hove Albion – 18th with 54 points.
Oxford United – 17th with 54 points.
Plymouth Argyle – 16th with 55 points.
Watford – 15th with 57 points.
Hull City – 14th with 58 points.
Leicester City – 13th with 59 points.
Portsmouth – 12th with 61 points.
Port Vale – 11th with 61 points.
Wolverhamton Wanderers – 10th with 67 points.
Ipswich Town – 9th with 69 points.
Oldham Athletic – 8th with 71 points. Great season they had, although unable to win anything.
West Ham United – 7th with 72 points. Missed promotion play-offs by 2 points, but they were not the team they used to be in the 1960s and half of the 1970s, although having some well known players – Liam Brady and Phil Parkes, for instance. And bright young talent – Paul Ince.
Sunderland – called them lucky. They finished 6th with 74 points and thus qualified to promotion play-offs. In the first round they eliminated Newcastle United 0-0 and 2-0, but lost the decisive final against Swindon Town 0-1. But then Swindon Town was found guilty of 36 breaches of rules and punished. Sunderland was promoted to top flight in their place – well, it is not everyday the loser actually wins.
Blackburn Rovers – 5th with 74 points. Qualified to promotion play-offs, but lost in the first round to Swindon Town 1-2 ans 1-2. Obviously, an ascending club, but still nobody was able to envision what will happened in the very near future.
Swindon Town – 4th with 74 points. They qualified and won the promotion play-offs – eliminated Blackburn Rovers 2-1 and 2-1 at first and then prevailed over Sunderland at the fianl 1-0. Going up, a rare and, therefore, great success… but there was no going up. Found guilty of long list of breaches of rules, almost entirely related to payments, they were punished with staying in the Second Division. One can be sorry for Ossie Ardiles, who coached them.
Newcastle United – 3rd with 80 points. Under the old rules, they would have been promoted, but now the battle was not finished. Well, it was finished after the first round of promotion play-offs in which Newcastle, the highest scoring team (along with West Ham United) during the season was unable to score even once. They lost to Sunderland 0-0 and 0-2. Really, Newcastle had only themselves to blame: stronger than most of the league and finishing 6 points ahead of Swindon Town, they were unable to keep their strength when really mattered. Too bad.
Sheffield United lost – they ended 2nd with 85 points. 24 wins, 13 ties, 9 losses, 78-58 scoring record, which gave them +20 goal-difference – worse than the goal-difference of their rivals. Lost the Second Division title, but got promoted to the top league, which was much more important – especially because their city rivals were relegated in the same time.
Leeds United clinched the title on better goal-difference – otherwise, the records of them and Sheffield United were almost the same: 24 wins, 13 ties, 9 losses, 85 points, 79-52 scoring record. Not only the rivals had the same record of wins, ties, and lost matches, but they scored practically the same number of goals – Leeds scored only 1 goal more than Sheffield United, so the difference depended on received goals – and here Leeds was better, giving them +27 goal-difference to Sheffield’s +20. Dramatic victory, somewhat amusingly pronounced by the adds on their shirts – ‘Top man’ indeed.
Great moment, of course – the club was finally climbing back to First Division. As for glory… the old days when Leeds was one the best teams not just in England, but in Europe, were not envisioned: yes, the squad had talent, but a great team it was not – rather, a squad in promising rebuilding and that only if the process was continued: Gordon Strachan, Imre Varadi (Hungary), Mervyn Day, Gary Speed, John Hendrie, Vinnie Jones… not bad, but not exactly great. Rather, a solid backbone in need of additional good players and that only if keeping the backbone intact and in form. To stay in First Division, Leeds United seemingly needed more good players – and that to stay, not to win. However, the moment of victory was wonderful: only a year or two ago it looked like the club and even its fans were resigned to mid-table Second Division existence for good.
Walsall – last with 41 points and out.
Blackpool – 23rd with 46 points and relegated.
Northampton Town – 22nd with 47 points and relegated.
Cardiff City – 21st with 50 points and relegated.
Fulham – 20th with 51 points.
Preston North End – 19th with 52 points.
Wigan Athletic – 18th with 53 points.
Swansea City – 17th with 54 points.
Chester City – 16th with 54 points.
Mansfield Town – 15th with 55 points.
Brentford – 13th with 61 points.
Shrewsbury Town – 11th with 63 points.
Reading – 10th with 64 points.
Rotherham United – 9th with 64 points.
Huddersfield Town – 8th with 65 points. Back: Mulhall (trainer), Shelton, Trevitt, O’Doherty, Cecere, Hardwick, Onuora, Leake, Mitchell, Duggan, Byrne, May, Bray, Williams (physio).
Bolton Wanderers – 6th with 69 points. Qualified to promotion play-offs, but was eliminated by Notts County 1-1 and 0-2.
Bury – 5th with 74 points and qualified to promotion play-offs. Eliminated in the first round by Tranmere Rovers 0-0 and 0-2.
Tranmere Rovers – 4th with 80 points. They reached the final of promotion play-offs after eliminating Bury, but at Wembley lost to superior Notts County 0-2 and remained in the league.
Strong season for Notts County, but they finished 3rd with 87 points and did not achieve direct promotion. However, they won the promotion play-offs – first eliminated Bolton Wanderers and after that – Tranmere Rovers.
Bristol City lost the battle by 2 points and finished 2nd. 27 wins (one more than Rovers), 10 ties, but 9 losses (4 more than their rivals). Scored more goals than Rovers – 76 – but also allowed more in their own net – 40. Yet, both teams ended with the same goal-difference: +36. City lost the championship, but was promoted to Second Division, so nothing was really lost and the battle will continue next season in the higher league.
Bristol Rovers enjoyed dramatic victory over their city rivals by 2 points: they finished with 93 and won the championship. 26 wins, 15 ties, only 5 lost games, 71-35 scoring record.
The sweetest of victories, for they snatched the title from their city rivals. Promoted up, of course, and naturally wanting to do better than City again – but that remains to be seen. Champions at the moment and enjoying it.