1968–69 Football League
The 1968–69 season was the 70th completed season of The Football League.
Season | 1968–69 |
---|---|
Champions | Leeds United |
← 1967–68 1969–70 → |
Leeds United won the League for the first time in their history, finishing six points ahead of Liverpool. Newly promoted Queens Park Rangers were relegated after finishing bottom along with Leicester City.
Derby County were runaway winners of the Second Division and they were joined in promotion by runners-up Crystal Palace. Despite still boasting the talents of Johnny Haynes and George Cohen, Fulham finished bottom and were relegated. They were joined in the Third Division by perennial strugglers Bury
Watford won the Third Division title on goal average from Swindon Town and both teams were duly promoted. At the bottom end Northampton Town, Hartlepool, Crewe Alexandra and Oldham Athletic were all relegated.
The Fourth Division was won by Doncaster Rovers, who were promoted along with Halifax Town, Rochdale and Bradford City. No team failed re-election so no new members were admitted to the Football League.
Final league tables and results
Beginning with the season 1894–95, clubs finishing level on points were separated according to goal average (goals scored divided by goals conceded), or more properly put, goal ratio. In case one or more teams had the same goal difference, this system favoured those teams who had scored fewer goals. The goal average system was eventually scrapped beginning with the 1976–77 season.[1]
Since the Fourth Division was established in the 1958–59 season, the bottom four teams of that division have been required to apply for re-election.[2]
First Division
Season | 1968–69 |
---|---|
Champions | Leeds United (1st English title) |
Relegated | Leicester City Queens Park Rangers |
1969–70 European Cup | Leeds United |
FA Cup winners 1969–70 European Cup Winners' Cup | Manchester City (4th FA Cup title) |
1968–69 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup | Chelsea Leeds United Liverpool Newcastle United (winners) |
Matches played | 462 |
Goals scored | 1,213 (2.63 per match) |
Top goalscorer | Jimmy Greaves (Tottenham Hotspur), 27 [3] |
← 1967–68 1969–70 → |
Pos | Team | Pld | HW | HD | HL | HGF | HGA | AW | AD | AL | AGF | AGA | GAv | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Leeds United (C) | 42 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 41 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 2 | 25 | 17 | 2.538 | 67 | Qualified for European Cup |
2 | Liverpool | 42 | 16 | 4 | 1 | 36 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 27 | 14 | 2.625 | 61 | 1968–69 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup |
3 | Everton | 42 | 14 | 5 | 2 | 43 | 10 | 7 | 10 | 4 | 34 | 26 | 2.139 | 57 | |
4 | Arsenal | 42 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 31 | 12 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 25 | 15 | 2.074 | 56 | |
5 | Chelsea | 42 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 40 | 24 | 9 | 3 | 9 | 33 | 29 | 1.377 | 50 | 1968–69 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup |
6 | Tottenham Hotspur | 42 | 10 | 8 | 3 | 39 | 22 | 4 | 9 | 8 | 22 | 29 | 1.196 | 45 | |
7 | Southampton | 42 | 13 | 5 | 3 | 41 | 21 | 3 | 8 | 10 | 16 | 27 | 1.188 | 45 | |
8 | West Ham United | 42 | 10 | 8 | 3 | 47 | 22 | 3 | 10 | 8 | 19 | 28 | 1.320 | 44 | |
9 | Newcastle United | 42 | 12 | 7 | 2 | 40 | 20 | 3 | 7 | 11 | 21 | 35 | 1.109 | 44 | 1968–69 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup |
10 | West Bromwich Albion | 42 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 43 | 26 | 5 | 4 | 12 | 21 | 41 | 0.955 | 43 | |
11 | Manchester United | 42 | 13 | 5 | 3 | 38 | 18 | 2 | 7 | 12 | 19 | 35 | 1.075 | 42 | |
12 | Ipswich Town | 42 | 10 | 4 | 7 | 32 | 26 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 27 | 34 | 0.983 | 41 | |
13 | Manchester City | 42 | 13 | 6 | 2 | 49 | 20 | 2 | 4 | 15 | 15 | 35 | 1.164 | 40 | FA Cup winners, qualified for Cup Winners' Cup |
14 | Burnley | 42 | 11 | 6 | 4 | 36 | 25 | 4 | 3 | 14 | 19 | 57 | 0.671 | 39 | |
15 | Sheffield Wednesday | 42 | 7 | 9 | 5 | 27 | 26 | 3 | 7 | 11 | 14 | 28 | 0.759 | 36 | |
16 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 42 | 7 | 10 | 4 | 26 | 22 | 3 | 5 | 13 | 15 | 36 | 0.707 | 35 | |
17 | Sunderland | 42 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 28 | 18 | 1 | 6 | 14 | 15 | 49 | 0.642 | 34 | |
18 | Nottingham Forest | 42 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 17 | 22 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 28 | 35 | 0.789 | 33 | |
19 | Stoke City | 42 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 24 | 24 | 0 | 8 | 13 | 16 | 39 | 0.635 | 33 | |
20 | Coventry City | 42 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 32 | 22 | 2 | 5 | 14 | 14 | 42 | 0.719 | 31 | |
21 | Leicester City | 42 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 27 | 24 | 1 | 4 | 16 | 12 | 44 | 0.574 | 30 | Relegated |
22 | Queens Park Rangers | 42 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 20 | 33 | 0 | 3 | 18 | 19 | 62 | 0.411 | 18 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal average; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) League Champions.
Results
Maps
Second Division
Season | 1968–69 |
---|---|
Champions | Derby County (3rd title) |
Promoted | Crystal Palace |
Relegated | Bury, Fulham |
Matches played | 462 |
Goals scored | 1,185 (2.56 per match) |
Top goalscorer | John Toshack (Cardiff City), 22 [3] |
← 1967–68 1969–70 → |
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Derby County (C) | 42 | 26 | 11 | 5 | 65 | 32 | 2.031 | 63 | Promotion to 1969–70 First Division |
2 | Crystal Palace (P) | 42 | 22 | 12 | 8 | 70 | 47 | 1.489 | 56 | |
3 | Charlton Athletic | 42 | 18 | 14 | 10 | 61 | 52 | 1.173 | 50 | |
4 | Middlesbrough | 42 | 19 | 11 | 12 | 58 | 49 | 1.184 | 49 | |
5 | Cardiff City | 42 | 20 | 7 | 15 | 67 | 54 | 1.241 | 47 | 1969–70 European Cup Winners' Cup |
6 | Huddersfield Town | 42 | 17 | 12 | 13 | 53 | 46 | 1.152 | 46 | |
7 | Birmingham City | 42 | 18 | 8 | 16 | 73 | 59 | 1.237 | 44 | |
8 | Blackpool | 42 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 51 | 41 | 1.244 | 43 | |
9 | Sheffield United | 42 | 16 | 11 | 15 | 61 | 50 | 1.220 | 43 | |
10 | Millwall | 42 | 17 | 9 | 16 | 57 | 49 | 1.163 | 43 | |
11 | Hull City | 42 | 13 | 16 | 13 | 59 | 52 | 1.135 | 42 | |
12 | Carlisle United | 42 | 16 | 10 | 16 | 46 | 49 | 0.939 | 42 | |
13 | Norwich City | 42 | 15 | 10 | 17 | 53 | 56 | 0.946 | 40 | |
14 | Preston North End | 42 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 38 | 44 | 0.864 | 39 | |
15 | Portsmouth | 42 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 58 | 58 | 1.000 | 38 | |
16 | Bristol City | 42 | 11 | 16 | 15 | 46 | 53 | 0.868 | 38 | |
17 | Bolton Wanderers | 42 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 55 | 67 | 0.821 | 38 | |
18 | Aston Villa | 42 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 37 | 48 | 0.771 | 38 | |
19 | Blackburn Rovers | 42 | 13 | 11 | 18 | 52 | 63 | 0.825 | 37 | |
20 | Oxford United | 42 | 12 | 9 | 21 | 34 | 55 | 0.618 | 33 | |
21 | Bury (R) | 42 | 11 | 8 | 23 | 51 | 80 | 0.638 | 30 | Relegation to 1969–70 Third Division |
22 | Fulham (R) | 42 | 7 | 11 | 24 | 40 | 81 | 0.494 | 25 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal average; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champion; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated.
Results
Third Division
Season | 1968–69 |
---|---|
Champions | Watford (1st title) |
Promoted | Swindon Town |
Relegated | Crewe Alexandra, Hartlepool, Northampton Town, Oldham Athletic |
Matches played | 552 |
Goals scored | 1,426 (2.58 per match) |
Top goalscorer | Don Rogers (Swindon Town), 22 [3] |
← 1967–68 1969–70 → |
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Watford (C) | 46 | 27 | 10 | 9 | 74 | 34 | 2.176 | 64 | Promotion to 1969–70 Second Division |
2 | Swindon Town (P) | 46 | 27 | 10 | 9 | 71 | 35 | 2.029 | 64 | |
3 | Luton Town | 46 | 25 | 11 | 10 | 74 | 38 | 1.947 | 61 | |
4 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 46 | 21 | 9 | 16 | 60 | 45 | 1.333 | 51 | |
5 | Plymouth Argyle | 46 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 53 | 49 | 1.082 | 49 | |
6 | Torquay United | 46 | 18 | 12 | 16 | 54 | 46 | 1.174 | 48 | |
7 | Tranmere Rovers | 46 | 19 | 10 | 17 | 70 | 68 | 1.029 | 48 | |
8 | Southport | 46 | 17 | 13 | 16 | 71 | 64 | 1.109 | 47 | |
9 | Stockport County | 46 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 67 | 68 | 0.985 | 46 | |
10 | Barnsley | 46 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 58 | 63 | 0.921 | 46 | |
11 | Rotherham United | 46 | 16 | 13 | 17 | 56 | 50 | 1.120 | 45 | |
12 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 46 | 16 | 13 | 17 | 72 | 65 | 1.108 | 45 | |
13 | Walsall | 46 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 50 | 49 | 1.020 | 44 | |
14 | Reading | 46 | 15 | 13 | 18 | 67 | 66 | 1.015 | 43 | |
15 | Mansfield Town | 46 | 16 | 11 | 19 | 58 | 62 | 0.935 | 43 | |
16 | Bristol Rovers | 46 | 16 | 11 | 19 | 63 | 71 | 0.887 | 43 | |
17 | Shrewsbury Town | 46 | 16 | 11 | 19 | 51 | 67 | 0.761 | 43 | |
18 | Orient | 46 | 14 | 14 | 18 | 51 | 58 | 0.879 | 42 | |
19 | Barrow | 46 | 17 | 8 | 21 | 56 | 75 | 0.747 | 42 | |
20 | Gillingham | 46 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 54 | 63 | 0.857 | 41 | |
21 | Northampton Town (R) | 46 | 14 | 12 | 20 | 54 | 61 | 0.885 | 40 | Relegation to 1969–70 Fourth Division |
22 | Hartlepool (R) | 46 | 10 | 19 | 17 | 40 | 70 | 0.571 | 39 | |
23 | Crewe Alexandra (R) | 46 | 13 | 9 | 24 | 52 | 76 | 0.684 | 35 | |
24 | Oldham Athletic (R) | 46 | 13 | 9 | 24 | 50 | 83 | 0.602 | 35 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal average; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champion; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated.
Results
Fourth Division
Season | 1968–69 |
---|---|
Champions | Doncaster Rovers (2nd title) |
Promoted | Bradford City, Halifax Town, Rochdale |
Failed re-election | none |
Matches played | 552 |
Goals scored | 1,372 (2.49 per match) |
Top goalscorer | Gary Talbot (Chester), 22 [3] |
← 1967–68 1969–70 → |
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Doncaster Rovers (C) | 46 | 21 | 17 | 8 | 65 | 38 | 1.711 | 59 | Promotion to 1969–70 Third Division |
2 | Halifax Town (P) | 46 | 20 | 17 | 9 | 53 | 37 | 1.432 | 57 | |
3 | Rochdale (P) | 46 | 18 | 20 | 8 | 68 | 35 | 1.943 | 56 | |
4 | Bradford City (P) | 46 | 18 | 20 | 8 | 65 | 46 | 1.413 | 56 | |
5 | Darlington | 46 | 17 | 18 | 11 | 62 | 45 | 1.378 | 52 | |
6 | Colchester United | 46 | 20 | 12 | 14 | 57 | 53 | 1.075 | 52 | |
7 | Southend United | 46 | 19 | 13 | 14 | 78 | 61 | 1.279 | 51 | |
8 | Lincoln City | 46 | 17 | 17 | 12 | 54 | 52 | 1.038 | 51 | |
9 | Wrexham | 46 | 18 | 14 | 14 | 61 | 52 | 1.173 | 50 | |
10 | Swansea Town | 46 | 19 | 11 | 16 | 58 | 54 | 1.074 | 49 | |
11 | Brentford | 46 | 18 | 12 | 16 | 64 | 65 | 0.985 | 48 | |
12 | Workington | 46 | 15 | 17 | 14 | 40 | 43 | 0.930 | 47 | |
13 | Port Vale | 46 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 46 | 46 | 1.000 | 46 | |
14 | Chester | 46 | 16 | 13 | 17 | 76 | 66 | 1.152 | 45 | |
15 | Aldershot | 46 | 19 | 7 | 20 | 66 | 66 | 1.000 | 45 | |
16 | Scunthorpe United | 46 | 18 | 8 | 20 | 61 | 60 | 1.017 | 44 | |
17 | Exeter City | 46 | 16 | 11 | 19 | 66 | 65 | 1.015 | 43 | |
18 | Peterborough United | 46 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 60 | 57 | 1.053 | 42 | |
19 | Notts County | 46 | 12 | 18 | 16 | 48 | 57 | 0.842 | 42 | |
20 | Chesterfield | 46 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 43 | 50 | 0.860 | 41 | |
21 | York City | 46 | 14 | 11 | 21 | 53 | 75 | 0.707 | 39 | Re-elected |
22 | Newport County | 46 | 11 | 14 | 21 | 49 | 74 | 0.662 | 36 | |
23 | Grimsby Town | 46 | 9 | 15 | 22 | 47 | 69 | 0.681 | 33 | |
24 | Bradford Park Avenue | 46 | 5 | 10 | 31 | 32 | 106 | 0.302 | 20 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal average; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champion; (P) Promoted.
Results
See also
References
- "England 1968-69". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 2010-02-24.
- Ian Laschke: Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79. Macdonald and Jane’s, London & Sydney, 1980.
- "English League Leading Goalscorers". RSSSF. Retrieved 2010-10-31.
- Ian Laschke: Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79. Macdonald and Jane’s, London & Sydney, 1980.