1979–80 Football League
# 1979–80 Football League

The 1979–80 season was the 81st completed season of The Football League.

Bob Paisley's Liverpool retained their league championship trophy after fighting off a determined challenge by Dave Sexton's Manchester United. Nottingham Forest failed to make a sustained title challenge but compensated for this by retaining the European Cup.

Bristol City and Bolton Wanderers were relegated after brief, uneventful spells in the First Division notable only because Bristol City’s relegation ends the last time South West England had a team in the top tier until Swindon Town's promotion to the Premier League in 1993. On the other hand, Derby County's relegation came just five years after they had been league champions.

Kevin Keegan ended his three-year spell with Hamburger SV in Germany and returned to England in a shock £400,000 move to Southampton. Lawrie McMenemy's new signing was the transfer surprise of the season. Keegan was the current European Footballer of the Year and rated as one of the best strikers in the world, while Southampton were still struggling to establish themselves as a First Division side. But this move showed that Southampton had ambition and were determined to compete with the best.

Leicester City, Sunderland and Birmingham City ended their relatively short spells in the Second Division and occupied the division's three promotion places. Going down were Fulham, Burnley and Charlton Athletic.

Grimsby Town, Blackburn Rovers and Sheffield Wednesday all achieved some long-awaited success by gaining promotion from the Third Division. Bury, Southend United, Mansfield Town and Wimbledon occupied the Third Division's relegation places.

Fallen giants Huddersfield Town and Portsmouth finally achieved some success by gaining promotion from the Fourth Division. Newport County achieved their first promotion since 1939 and Walsall were also promoted. Re-election results are given at the end of this article.

## Final league tables and results

The tables and results below are reproduced here in the exact form that they can be found at The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation website with home and away statistics separated.

During the first five seasons of the league, that is, until the season 1893–94, re-election process concerned the clubs which finished in the bottom four of the league. From the 1894–95 season and until the 1920–21 season the re-election process was required of the clubs which finished in the bottom three of the league. From the 1922–23 season on it was required of the bottom two teams of both Third Division North and Third Division South. Since the Fourth Division was established in the 1958–59 season, the re-election process has concerned the bottom four clubs in that division.

## First Division

Liverpool won the First Division title for the fourth time in five seasons, finishing two points above Manchester United, who had their best league campaign for more than a decade. Ipswich Town, Arsenal and Nottingham Forest completed the top five, with Forest also retaining the European Cup, while Arsenal were on the losing side in the finals of both the FA Cup and the European Cup Winners' Cup. Wolves, who finished sixth, won the League Cup.

Bolton Wanderers, Derby County and Bristol City were relegated to the Second Division.

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Liverpool (C) | 42 | 25 | 10 | 7 | 81 | 30 | +51 | 60 | Qualification for the European Cup first round |
| 2 | Manchester United | 42 | 24 | 10 | 8 | 65 | 35 | +30 | 58 | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round |
| 3 | Ipswich Town | 42 | 22 | 9 | 11 | 68 | 39 | +29 | 53 | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round |
| 4 | Arsenal | 42 | 18 | 16 | 8 | 52 | 36 | +16 | 52 | |
| 5 | Nottingham Forest | 42 | 20 | 8 | 14 | 63 | 43 | +20 | 48 | Qualification for the European Cup first round |
| 6 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 42 | 19 | 9 | 14 | 58 | 47 | +11 | 47 | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round |
| 7 | Aston Villa | 42 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 51 | 50 | +1 | 46 | |
| 8 | Southampton | 42 | 18 | 9 | 15 | 65 | 53 | +12 | 45 | |
| 9 | Middlesbrough | 42 | 16 | 12 | 14 | 50 | 44 | +6 | 44 | |
| 10 | West Bromwich Albion | 42 | 11 | 19 | 12 | 54 | 50 | +4 | 41 | |
| 11 | Leeds United | 42 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 46 | 50 | −4 | 40 | |
| 12 | Norwich City | 42 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 58 | 66 | −8 | 40 | |
| 13 | Crystal Palace | 42 | 12 | 16 | 14 | 41 | 50 | −9 | 40 | |
| 14 | Tottenham Hotspur | 42 | 15 | 10 | 17 | 52 | 62 | −10 | 40 | |
| 15 | Coventry City | 42 | 16 | 7 | 19 | 56 | 66 | −10 | 39 | |
| 16 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 42 | 11 | 15 | 16 | 47 | 57 | −10 | 37 | |
| 17 | Manchester City | 42 | 12 | 13 | 17 | 43 | 66 | −23 | 37 | |
| 18 | Stoke City | 42 | 13 | 10 | 19 | 44 | 58 | −14 | 36 | |
| 19 | Everton | 42 | 9 | 17 | 16 | 43 | 51 | −8 | 35 | |
| 20 | Bristol City (R) | 42 | 9 | 13 | 20 | 37 | 66 | −29 | 31 | Relegation to the Second Division |
| 21 | Derby County (R) | 42 | 11 | 8 | 23 | 47 | 67 | −20 | 30 | Relegation to the Second Division |
| 22 | Bolton Wanderers (R) | 42 | 5 | 15 | 22 | 38 | 73 | −35 | 25 | Relegation to the Second Division |

* ↑ Nottingham Forest qualified for the European Cup first round as the 1979–80 European Cup winners.
* ↑ Wolverhampton Wanderers qualified for the UEFA Cup as the 1979–80 Football League Cup winners.

### Results

| Home \ Away | ARS | AST | BOL | BHA | BRI | COV | CRY | DER | EVE | IPS | LEE | LIV | MCI | MUN | MID | NWC | NOT | SOU | STK | TOT | WBA | WOL |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Arsenal | | 3–1 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–3 |
| Aston Villa | 0–0 | | 3–1 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–3 |
| Bolton Wanderers | 0–0 | 1–1 | | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 0–0 |
| Brighton & Hove Albion | 0–4 | 1–1 | 3–1 | | 0–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 1–4 | 4–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 2–4 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 3–0 |
| Bristol City | 0–1 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 2–2 | | 1–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 1–3 | 0–0 | 2–0 |
| Coventry City | 0–1 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 4–1 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–3 | 3–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 |
| Crystal Palace | 1–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | | 4–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–0 |
| Derby County | 3–2 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 3–0 | 3–3 | 1–2 | 1–2 | | 0–1 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 4–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 0–1 |
| Everton | 0–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | | 0–4 | 5–1 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 2–3 |
| Ipswich Town | 1–2 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | | 1–0 | 1–2 | 4–0 | 6–0 | 1–0 | 4–2 | 0–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–0 |
| Leeds United | 1–1 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 3–0 |
| Liverpool | 1–1 | 4–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–0 | | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 3–0 |
| Manchester City | 0–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | | 2–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–3 |
| Manchester United | 3–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | | 2–1 | 5–0 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 4–0 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 0–1 |
| Middlesbrough | 5–0 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 1–1 | | 1–0 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 1–3 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 |
| Norwich City | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 4–2 | 0–0 | 3–3 | 2–1 | 3–5 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–0 | | 3–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 0–4 |
| Nottingham Forest | 1–1 | 2–1 | 5–2 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 4–1 | 4–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | | 2–0 | 1–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–2 |
| Southampton | 0–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 5–2 | 2–3 | 4–1 | 4–0 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 3–2 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 4–1 | | 3–1 | 5–2 | 1–1 | 0–3 |
| Stoke City | 2–3 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 3–2 | 1–2 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | | 3–1 | 3–2 | 0–1 |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 1–2 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 4–3 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 3–2 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | | 1–1 | 2–2 |
| West Bromwich Albion | 2–2 | 1–2 | 4–4 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 4–1 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 1–5 | 4–0 | 0–1 | 2–1 | | 0–0 |
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | 1–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–0 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 0–0 | |

### Managerial changes

| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Derby County | Tommy Docherty | Resigned | 20 May 1979 | Pre-season | Colin Addison | 6 July 1979 |
| Manchester City | Tony Book | Became general manager | 31 May 1979 | Pre-season | Malcolm Allison | 31 May 1979 |
| Bolton Wanderers | Ian Greaves | Sacked | 28 January 1980 | 22nd | Stan Anderson | 28 January 1980 |

## Second Division

Leicester City won the Second Division title for a record sixth time to reclaim their First Division status after a two-year exile. Birmingham City achieved an instant return to the elite in third place, while the final promotion place went to Sunderland.

Chelsea missed out on promotion on goal difference, while QPR weren't far behind. West Ham United's failure to win promotion at the second attempt was compensated for by victory in the FA Cup.

Charlton Athletic, Burnley and Fulham went down to the Third Division.

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Leicester City (C, P) | 42 | 21 | 13 | 8 | 58 | 38 | +20 | 55 | Promotion to the First Division |
| 2 | Sunderland (P) | 42 | 21 | 12 | 9 | 69 | 42 | +27 | 54 | Promotion to the First Division |
| 3 | Birmingham City (P) | 42 | 21 | 11 | 10 | 58 | 38 | +20 | 53 | Promotion to the First Division |
| 4 | Chelsea | 42 | 23 | 7 | 12 | 66 | 52 | +14 | 53 | |
| 5 | Queens Park Rangers | 42 | 18 | 13 | 11 | 75 | 53 | +22 | 49 | |
| 6 | Luton Town | 42 | 16 | 17 | 9 | 66 | 45 | +21 | 49 | |
| 7 | West Ham United | 42 | 20 | 7 | 15 | 54 | 43 | +11 | 47 | Qualification for the Cup Winners' Cup first round |
| 8 | Cambridge United | 42 | 14 | 16 | 12 | 61 | 53 | +8 | 44 | |
| 9 | Newcastle United | 42 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 53 | 49 | +4 | 44 | |
| 10 | Preston North End | 42 | 12 | 19 | 11 | 56 | 52 | +4 | 43 | |
| 11 | Oldham Athletic | 42 | 16 | 11 | 15 | 49 | 53 | −4 | 43 | |
| 12 | Swansea City | 42 | 17 | 9 | 16 | 48 | 53 | −5 | 43 | |
| 13 | Shrewsbury Town | 42 | 18 | 5 | 19 | 60 | 53 | +7 | 41 | |
| 14 | Orient | 42 | 12 | 17 | 13 | 48 | 54 | −6 | 41 | |
| 15 | Cardiff City | 42 | 16 | 8 | 18 | 41 | 48 | −7 | 40 | |
| 16 | Wrexham | 42 | 16 | 6 | 20 | 40 | 49 | −9 | 38 | |
| 17 | Notts County | 42 | 11 | 15 | 16 | 51 | 52 | −1 | 37 | |
| 18 | Watford | 42 | 12 | 13 | 17 | 39 | 46 | −7 | 37 | |
| 19 | Bristol Rovers | 42 | 11 | 13 | 18 | 50 | 64 | −14 | 35 | |
| 20 | Fulham (R) | 42 | 11 | 7 | 24 | 42 | 74 | −32 | 29 | Relegation to the Third Division |
| 21 | Burnley (R) | 42 | 6 | 15 | 21 | 39 | 73 | −34 | 27 | Relegation to the Third Division |
| 22 | Charlton Athletic (R) | 42 | 6 | 10 | 26 | 39 | 78 | −39 | 22 | Relegation to the Third Division |

* ↑ West Ham United qualified for the Cup Winners' Cup first round as the 1979–80 FA Cup winners.

### Results

| Home \ Away | BIR | BRR | BUR | CAM | CAR | CHA | CHE | FUL | LEI | LUT | NEW | NTC | OLD | ORI | PNE | QPR | SHR | SUN | SWA | WAT | WHU | WRE |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Birmingham | | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 5–1 | 3–4 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 2–0 |
| Bristol Rovers | 1–0 | | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 3–3 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 4–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–0 |
| Burnley | 0–0 | 1–1 | | 5–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 3–2 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 1–0 |
| Cambridge United | 2–1 | 4–1 | 3–1 | | 2–0 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 3–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 |
| Cardiff City | 1–2 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 0–0 | | 3–1 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 1–0 |
| Charlton Athletic | 0–1 | 4–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 3–2 | | 1–2 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 0–3 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 0–4 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–2 |
| Chelsea | 1–2 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 3–1 | | 0–2 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 |
| Fulham | 3–4 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–2 | | 0–0 | 1–3 | 1–0 | 1–3 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 0–2 |
| Leicester City | 2–1 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 3–3 | | 1–3 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 2–0 |
| Luton Town | 2–3 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 3–3 | 4–0 | 0–0 | | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 |
| Newcastle United | 0–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–2 | | 2–2 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 4–2 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 |
| Notts County | 1–1 | 0–0 | 2–3 | 0–0 | 4–1 | 0–0 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 2–2 | | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 5–2 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 2–0 |
| Oldham Athletic | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 4–3 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | | 1–0 | 3–2 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 2–3 |
| Orient | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–7 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 1–4 | 1–0 | 1–1 | | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 0–4 | 4–0 |
| Preston North End | 0–0 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 2–2 | | 0–3 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 0–0 |
| Queens Park Rangers | 1–1 | 2–0 | 7–0 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 1–4 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 4–3 | 0–0 | 1–1 | | 2–1 | 3–2 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 2–2 |
| Shrewsbury Town | 1–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 5–2 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 1–3 | 3–0 | | 2–2 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 3–1 |
| Sunderland | 2–0 | 3–2 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 2–1 | | 1–1 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 |
| Swansea City | 0–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–4 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 |
| Watford | 1–0 | 0–0 | 4–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–3 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 0–3 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | | 2–0 | 3–1 |
| West Ham United | 1–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 4–1 | 0–1 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | | 1–0 |
| Wrexham | 1–0 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 1–0 | |

## Third Division

| Pos | Team | Pld | HW | HD | HL | HGF | HGA | AW | AD | AL | AGF | AGA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Grimsby Town | 46 | 18 | 2 | 3 | 46 | 16 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 27 | 26 | +31 | 62 | Division Champions, promoted |
| 2 | Blackburn Rovers | 46 | 13 | 5 | 5 | 34 | 17 | 12 | 4 | 7 | 24 | 19 | +22 | 59 | Promoted |
| 3 | Sheffield Wednesday | 46 | 12 | 6 | 5 | 44 | 20 | 9 | 10 | 4 | 37 | 27 | +34 | 58 | Promoted |
| 4 | Chesterfield | 46 | 16 | 5 | 2 | 46 | 16 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 25 | 30 | +25 | 57 | |
| 5 | Colchester United | 46 | 10 | 10 | 3 | 39 | 20 | 10 | 2 | 11 | 25 | 36 | +8 | 52 | |
| 6 | Carlisle United | 46 | 13 | 6 | 4 | 45 | 26 | 5 | 6 | 12 | 21 | 30 | +10 | 48 | |
| 7 | Reading | 46 | 14 | 6 | 3 | 43 | 19 | 2 | 10 | 11 | 23 | 46 | +1 | 48 | |
| 8 | Exeter City | 46 | 14 | 5 | 4 | 38 | 22 | 5 | 5 | 13 | 22 | 46 | −8 | 48 | |
| 9 | Chester | 46 | 14 | 6 | 3 | 29 | 18 | 3 | 7 | 13 | 20 | 39 | −8 | 47 | |
| 10 | Swindon Town | 46 | 15 | 4 | 4 | 50 | 20 | 4 | 4 | 15 | 21 | 43 | +8 | 46 | |
| 11 | Barnsley | 46 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 29 | 20 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 24 | 36 | −3 | 46 | |
| 12 | Sheffield United | 46 | 13 | 5 | 5 | 35 | 21 | 5 | 5 | 13 | 25 | 45 | −6 | 46 | |
| 13 | Rotherham United | 46 | 13 | 4 | 6 | 38 | 24 | 5 | 6 | 12 | 20 | 42 | −8 | 46 | |
| 14 | Millwall | 46 | 14 | 6 | 3 | 49 | 23 | 2 | 7 | 14 | 16 | 36 | +6 | 45 | |
| 15 | Plymouth Argyle | 46 | 13 | 7 | 3 | 39 | 17 | 3 | 5 | 15 | 20 | 38 | +4 | 44 | |
| 16 | Gillingham | 46 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 26 | 18 | 6 | 5 | 12 | 23 | 33 | −2 | 42 | |
| 17 | Oxford United | 46 | 10 | 4 | 9 | 34 | 24 | 4 | 9 | 10 | 23 | 38 | −5 | 41 | |
| 18 | Blackpool | 46 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 39 | 34 | 5 | 4 | 14 | 23 | 40 | −12 | 41 | |
| 19 | Brentford | 46 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 33 | 26 | 5 | 5 | 13 | 26 | 47 | −14 | 41 | |
| 20 | Hull City | 46 | 11 | 7 | 5 | 29 | 21 | 1 | 9 | 13 | 22 | 48 | −18 | 40 | |
| 21 | Bury | 46 | 10 | 4 | 9 | 30 | 23 | 6 | 3 | 14 | 15 | 36 | −14 | 39 | Relegated |
| 22 | Southend United | 46 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 33 | 23 | 3 | 4 | 16 | 14 | 35 | −11 | 38 | Relegated |
| 23 | Mansfield Town | 46 | 9 | 9 | 5 | 31 | 24 | 1 | 7 | 15 | 16 | 34 | −11 | 36 | Relegated |
| 24 | Wimbledon | 46 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 34 | 38 | 4 | 6 | 13 | 18 | 43 | −29 | 34 | Relegated |

### Results

| Home \ Away | BAR | BLB | BLP | BRE | BRY | CRL | CHE | CHF | COL | EXE | GIL | GRI | HUL | MAN | MIL | OXF | PLY | REA | ROT | SHU | SHW | STD | SWI | WDN |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Barnsley | | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 4–0 |
| Blackburn Rovers | 0–1 | | 2–0 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 4–2 | 0–3 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–0 |
| Blackpool | 1–1 | 2–1 | | 5–4 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 5–2 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 3–0 |
| Brentford | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | | 0–0 | 0–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 7–2 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 1–4 | 1–3 | 0–1 |
| Bury | 2–2 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 4–2 | | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 3–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–2 |
| Carlisle United | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–0 | | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 3–3 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 |
| Chester | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 3–1 |
| Chesterfield | 2–0 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–0 | | 3–0 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 7–1 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 0–0 |
| Colchester United | 0–0 | 0–1 | 3–1 | 6–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | | 0–0 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 5–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 2–3 | 4–0 |
| Exeter City | 2–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 3–1 | | 3–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 0–2 |
| Gillingham | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 1–0 | | 0–1 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 |
| Grimsby Town | 3–0 | 1–2 | 4–3 | 5–1 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 4–1 | 1–0 | | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 |
| Hull City | 0–2 | 0–1 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 2–2 | | 3–1 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 |
| Mansfield Town | 1–4 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 3–2 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | | 1–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 5–1 | 3–4 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 |
| Millwall | 2–2 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–2 | | 3–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–2 | 6–2 | 2–2 |
| Oxford United | 1–0 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 1–2 | | 1–1 | 4–0 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 4–1 |
| Plymouth Argyle | 2–1 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | | 2–0 | 1–0 | 4–1 | 1–3 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 0–0 |
| Reading | 7–0 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 3–0 |
| Rotherham United | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | | 1–2 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 0–0 |
| Sheffield United | 2–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 1–0 | | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 |
| Sheffield Wednesday | 0–2 | 0–3 | 4–1 | 0–2 | 5–1 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 3–3 | 3–0 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 4–0 | | 2–0 | 4–2 | 3–1 |
| Southend | 2–1 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 3–2 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 4–1 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 4–0 | 0–3 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 1–1 | | 1–0 | 1–3 |
| Swindon Town | 0–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 4–0 | 8–0 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 6–2 | 3–2 | 1–2 | 1–0 | | 2–1 |
| Wimbledon | 1–2 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 3–6 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 3–4 | 0–1 | 2–0 | |

## Fourth Division

| Pos | Team | Pld | HW | HD | HL | HGF | HGA | AW | AD | AL | AGF | AGA | GD | Pts | Promotion |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Huddersfield Town | 46 | 16 | 5 | 2 | 61 | 18 | 11 | 7 | 5 | 40 | 30 | +53 | 66 | Division Champions, promoted |
| 2 | Walsall | 46 | 12 | 9 | 2 | 43 | 23 | 11 | 9 | 3 | 32 | 24 | +28 | 64 | Promoted |
| 3 | Newport County | 46 | 16 | 5 | 2 | 47 | 22 | 11 | 2 | 10 | 36 | 28 | +33 | 61 | Welsh Cup winners, qualified for UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1980–81 First round |
| 4 | Portsmouth | 46 | 15 | 5 | 3 | 62 | 23 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 29 | 26 | +42 | 60 | Promoted |
| 5 | Bradford City | 46 | 14 | 6 | 3 | 44 | 14 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 33 | 36 | +27 | 60 | |
| 6 | Wigan Athletic | 46 | 13 | 5 | 5 | 42 | 26 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 34 | 35 | +15 | 55 | |
| 7 | Lincoln City | 46 | 14 | 8 | 1 | 43 | 12 | 4 | 9 | 10 | 21 | 30 | +22 | 53 | |
| 8 | Peterborough United | 46 | 14 | 3 | 6 | 39 | 22 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 19 | 25 | +11 | 52 | |
| 9 | Torquay United | 46 | 13 | 7 | 3 | 47 | 25 | 2 | 10 | 11 | 23 | 44 | +1 | 47 | |
| 10 | Aldershot | 46 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 35 | 23 | 6 | 6 | 11 | 27 | 30 | +9 | 45 | |
| 11 | Bournemouth | 46 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 32 | 25 | 5 | 9 | 9 | 20 | 26 | +1 | 44 | |
| 12 | Doncaster Rovers | 46 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 37 | 27 | 4 | 8 | 11 | 25 | 36 | −1 | 44 | |
| 13 | Northampton Town | 46 | 14 | 5 | 4 | 33 | 16 | 2 | 7 | 14 | 18 | 50 | −15 | 44 | |
| 14 | Scunthorpe United | 46 | 11 | 9 | 3 | 37 | 23 | 3 | 6 | 14 | 21 | 52 | −17 | 43 | |
| 15 | Tranmere Rovers | 46 | 10 | 4 | 9 | 32 | 24 | 4 | 9 | 10 | 18 | 32 | −6 | 41 | |
| 16 | Stockport County | 46 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 30 | 31 | 5 | 5 | 13 | 18 | 41 | −24 | 40 | |
| 17 | York City | 46 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 35 | 34 | 5 | 5 | 13 | 30 | 48 | −17 | 39 | |
| 18 | Halifax Town | 46 | 11 | 9 | 3 | 29 | 20 | 2 | 4 | 17 | 17 | 52 | −26 | 39 | |
| 19 | Hartlepool United | 46 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 36 | 28 | 4 | 3 | 16 | 23 | 36 | −5 | 38 | |
| 20 | Port Vale | 46 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 34 | 24 | 4 | 6 | 13 | 22 | 46 | −14 | 36 | |
| 21 | Hereford United | 46 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 22 | 21 | 3 | 7 | 13 | 16 | 31 | −14 | 36 | Re-elected |
| 22 | Darlington | 46 | 7 | 11 | 5 | 33 | 26 | 2 | 6 | 15 | 17 | 48 | −24 | 35 | Re-elected |
| 23 | Crewe Alexandra | 46 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 25 | 27 | 1 | 7 | 15 | 10 | 41 | −33 | 35 | Re-elected |
| 24 | Rochdale | 46 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 20 | 28 | 1 | 6 | 16 | 13 | 51 | −46 | 27 | Re-elected |

### Results

| Home \ Away | ALD | BOU | BRA | CRE | DAR | DON | HAL | HAR | HER | HUD | LIN | NPC | NOR | PET | POR | PTV | ROC | SCU | STP | TOR | TRA | WAL | WIG | YOR |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Aldershot | | 0–1 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 2–2 |
| Bournemouth | 3–1 | | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–0 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 0–0 |
| Bradford City | 2–0 | 2–2 | | 4–0 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 6–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 1–2 |
| Crewe Alexandra | 1–0 | 0–0 | 2–0 | | 0–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–3 | 2–1 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 2–0 |
| Darlington | 0–0 | 0–1 | 3–4 | 0–0 | | 2–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–1 |
| Doncaster Rovers | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 0–1 | | 2–1 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 5–0 | 1–1 | 5–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 |
| Halifax Town | 1–0 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | | 2–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–3 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 |
| Hartlepool | 1–0 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 1–2 | | 3–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 0–3 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
| Hereford United | 0–1 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–1 | | 1–3 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 |
| Huddersfield Town | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 5–0 | 2–1 | 0–1 | | 3–2 | 2–1 | 5–0 | 0–0 | 1–3 | 7–1 | 5–1 | 2–1 | 5–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 |
| Lincoln City | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | | 2–1 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 4–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 |
| Newport County | 4–2 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 5–2 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | | 2–1 | 1–1 | 4–3 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 |
| Northampton Town | 2–1 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 0–0 | 3–2 | | 1–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 |
| Peterborough United | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 3–2 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 | | 0–0 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 2–1 |
| Portsmouth | 1–3 | 4–0 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 4–3 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 4–1 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 6–1 | 4–0 | | 2–2 | 3–0 | 6–1 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 5–2 |
| Port Vale | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 5–0 | 0–1 | 2–3 | | 5–1 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 |
| Rochdale | 2–1 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 0–2 | | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 |
| Scunthorpe United | 1–1 | 2–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–3 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–3 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 6–1 |
| Stockport County | 0–4 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 4–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 0–5 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 1–0 |
| Torquay United | 2–1 | 0–0 | 2–3 | 1–0 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–5 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 0–0 | | 3–1 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 4–3 |
| Tranmere | 1–2 | 0–5 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 2–0 | | 0–1 | 1–3 | 1–2 |
| Walsall | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | | 1–1 | 3–1 |
| Wigan Athletic | 2–1 | 2–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 3–1 | 0–3 | 0–0 | 3–0 | | 2–5 |
| York City | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 1–2 | |

## Election/Re-election to the Football League

Winners of the Alliance Premier League, Altrincham, won the right to apply for election to the Football League to replace one of the four bottom teams in the 1979–80 Football League Division Four. The vote went as follows:

| Club | Final Position | Votes |
| - | - | - |
| Darlington | 22nd (Division Four) | 49 |
| Crewe Alexandra | 23rd (Division Four) | 48 |
| Hereford United | 21st (Division Four) | 48 |
| Rochdale | 24th (Division Four) | 26 |
| Altrincham | 1st (Alliance Premier League) | 25 |

As a result of this, all four Football League teams were re-elected, and Altrincham were denied membership of the League.

