II Division. No other country in the world had continental cup winners and finalists playing Second Division football – so great is English football, right? Well, there is another side – financial troubles and sometimes stubborn mismanagement was perhaps the real reason. One thing was certain, always certain: British teams fought hard no matter what. 3 teams were going up and 4 going down from the league, which made quite an exciting battle at any level of the table. One outsider and one team slightly above the rest, but 6 teams battled for promotion and 6 teams made everything possible to escape relegation. 23 teams in the league, because of the reduction of First Division. At the end – that:
Huddersfield Town was out of place this season – last with 28 points and 100 goals in their net.
Reading – 22rd with 42 points and out.
No steel enough in Sheffield United – 21nd with 46 points and relegated. Their neighbours were doing quite well in the top league and they were going down to third tier.
West Bromwich Albion could not stop its downfall, which started a few years back: 20st with 47 points and relegated.
Birmingham City survived – 19th with 48 points.
Shrewsbury Town – 18th with 49 points.
Bournemouth – 17th with 49 points.
Plymouth Argyle – 16th with 56 points.
Hull City – 15th with 57 points.
Barnsley – 14th with 57 points.
Leicester City – 13th with 59 points.
Swindon Town – 12th with 59 points.
Stoke City – 11th with 62 points.
Oldham Athletic – 10th with 65 points.
Manchester City – 9th with 65 points.
Ipswich Town – 8th with 66 points.
Leeds United – 7th with 69 points. Not a sign of recovery – looked like Leeds settled for mid-table existence in Second Division.
Crystal Palace – unlucky: 3 points short of promotion. 6th with 75 points.
Blackburn Rovers – looked like after so many years outside top league they had the appetite to climb back again. But failed – 5th with 77 points.
Bradford City – great season for them, even surprising one: they uncharacteristically fought for promotion and were unlucky to miss if by a single point. 4th with 77 points.
Middlesbrough succeeded to clinch promotion: 3rd with 78 points. Keep in mind – they were just promoted from Third Division!
Aston Villa – if not return to glory, at least return to top flight: 2nd with 78 points. Managed to come ahead of ambitious rivals at the end.
What a pleasant surprise – Millwall won the championship. Not quite a solitary favourite, but still finished 4 ahead of the tight pack of pursuers. Won 25 games, tied 7, lost 12, scored 72 goals, received 52. 82 points.
Perhaps not very impressive winners, but who would say anything against them? Just look at Leeds United, Mancester City, Ipswich Town, even Aston Villa. Millwall never played top league football, so they were going to debut next season and achieved their first ever promotion in the best way: as league champions. The team was relatively modest – which makes the victory even greater: Tony Cascarino was practically the only familiar name and he was hardly a first-rate star. But look there – young Teddy Sheringham was pushing his way up along with the team. For such a team one can only wish the best of luck. And some worthy reinforcements.