The English Second Division had its ups and downs, as it should. Terrible season for the city of Bristol – its both clubs were total outsiders.
Bristol Rovers was last with 23 points.
Bristol City had 7 more points than Rovers, but still was far behind the 18th placed team with measly 30 points. The third relegated club finished with 36 points.
Preston North End was down on its luck. Nobby Stiles was a great player, but plain nothing as a manager.
Cardiff City was lucky – they finished with 36 points, equal with Preston North End, but escaped relegation thanks to better goal-difference.
Interesting clubs played in the Second Divison – some settled in the middle of the table: Sheffield Wednesday (10th), Newcastle United (11th), Queen’s Park Rangers (8th). But QPR were up and down club – two other teams were real failures:
Derby County ended 6th – nothing was left from the great squad of the first half of the 1970s, except the aging by now Roy McFarland and they seemed settling for a long spell in the obscurity of Second Division.
Chelsea was the worse, though – their free fall apparently had no end. Money were short and getting shorter, and they just collapsed – 12th this year. Oh, well, things always get worse before getting better.
Other teams went uphill.
Grimsby Town had excellent year – they finished 7th. However, it remained to be seen was it one time wonder or consistent development.
Watford was 9th – less impressive than Grimsby, but they already managed to climb from 4th division to Second in a few years, getting stronger all the time. Graham Taylor was the right manager and Elton John – the right chairman. Watford was really coming.
But the heroes of the season were other clubs: five teams competed for three promotional spots.
Luton Town eventually run out of steam and took the 5th place with 48 points.
Blackburn Rovers had a strong year at last and appeared to be on its way of returning to First Division, which they left in 1966 – but unfortunately they lost promotion on worse goal-difference. May be paid the price for too many ties – they had the record of the league: 18. One thing ties do is affecting negatively the ratio between goals scored and received. Blackburn was bumped out because of that and years passed before another attempt to join the top league was made.
Swansea City edged Blackburn, finished 3rd and was promoted – a pleasant surprise, for in 1977 they – along with Watford – played forth division football. Rapid climb for the modest Welsh club, no doubt made possible by the influx of former Liverpool players: John Toshack was playing manager, supported by David Stewart, Ian Calaghan, and Phil Boersma as a coach. ‘The Swans’ were the real wonder in the recent years.
Notts County was the other surprise – they finished 2nd with 53 points, 3 more than Swansea and Blackburn. No big names here and traditionally so-so second division team, which apparently came from nowhere, for they finished 17th in the previous season. But now – happily promoted. Surprising performance, but.. they were unable to challenge the leader, finishing 13 points behind. A warning for the next season, in a way, but also a testimony of the terrible shape of some traditionally stronger clubs, like Chelsea, QPR, Derby County, Newcastle United, Sheffield Wednesday.
As for the winners, rarely an English second division champion was so dominating. West Ham United simply left the rest of the league in the dust. Normally, the winners had a tough race against other challengers – West Ham had it easy.
Judging by the squad, this was first division team – Billy Bonds, Frank Lampard, Phil Parkes, David Cross, Stuart Pearson: tough cookies, lead by Trevor Brooking. Yet, these guys were relegated in 1978 and spent two worthless season in second division, before learning their lesson. Perhaps the previous year was the waking time for them – West Ham won the F.A. Cup, and taking it from there they just got ambitious and won the league, reaching at the same time a cup final – the Football League Cup now. Well done, for these players did not deserve to play second division football.