Division 3. English football could be best appreciated in the lower divisions – former champions would descent there, strong clubs just a few years ago, famous clubs… and relatively unknown clubs could go up in the same time. It was still that time, it was still not just possible, but regularly happening. And everything was still the same – 4 teams relegated, 3 teams promoted.
Swansea City – last and out with 43 points. Just for the perspective: in 1981-82 ‘The Swans” were 6th in First Division. In the same year Jimmy Rimmer won the European Champions Cup with Aston Villa. Now it was going to Forth Division.
Wolverhampton Wanderers – 23rd with 43 points. Well, that was a real shame. In 1983-84 they were still in the First Division – but will play Forth Division in 1986-87.
Cardiff City – 22nd with 45 points and relegated. Cardiff mostly played second division football in the last ten years, dropping to the third occasionally, but Forth Division? Well, there they went.
Lincoln City – 21st with 46 points. The best among the relegated and the only modest name among the unfortunate.
Bury – lucky 20th with 49 points. Good for another season.
Newport County – 19th with 51 points.
Bolton Wanderers – 18th with 53 points. England was perhaps the only country in Europe where one can see famous names playing in the lower divisions: Asa Hartford here, for example. True, they were veterans, but elsewhere big names hardly ever played lower than second level, even at their last legs.
Chesterfield – 17th with 53 points.
Bristol Rovers – 16th with 54 points.
Bournemouth – 15th with 54 points.
Darlington – 14th with 58 points.
Rotherham United – 13th with 57 points.
Blackpool – 12th with 63 points.
Doncaster Rovers – 11th with 64 points.
Brentford – 10th with 66 points.
Bristol City – 9th with 68 points. At least ahead of city rivals Bristol Rovers.
Notts County – 8th with 71 points.
York City – 7th with 71 points.
Walsall – 6th with75 points.
Gillingham – 5th with 79 points. The best of the bulk of the league, but short of aiming at promotion.
Wigan Athletic – 4th with 83 points. Unlucky – they tried hard, but missed promotion by a point.
Derby County – clinched 3rd place with 84 points and achieved their aim to climb up to Second Division. However… one can laugh: ‘spending spree pays off’ with clinching third place. A project for going back to top flight? Strangely, it was.
Now, Plymouth Argyle harboured no similar to Derby’s ambitions and certainly had no money or mind for ‘spending spree’, but they finished comfortably 2nd with 87 points. They spent the last 10 years in Third Division, seemingly glued to it, but finally managed to climb up and were going to play second level football for the first time since their relegation in 1976-77.
Reading had fantastic season and won the championship with 94 points. 29 wins, 7 ties, 10 losses, 67-50 goal-difference. Hard to recall what exactly made them ‘record breakers’ – possibly something counted only in their own minds – but it was nice victory. They were going back to Second Division for the first time since their relegation in 1930-31 and won Third Division for the first time since 1925-26.