The Football League 1976–77
| Season | 1976–77 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Liverpool |
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← 1975–76
1977–78 →
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| Season | 1976–77 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Liverpool (10th English title) |
| Relegated |
Stoke City Sunderland, Tottenham Hotspur |
| European Cup 1977–78 | Liverpool |
|
FA Cup winners European Cup Winners' Cup 1977–78 |
Manchester United (4th FA Cup title) |
| UEFA Cup 1977–78 |
Aston Villa, Ipswich Town Manchester City, Newcastle United |
| Matches played | 462 |
| Goals scored | 1,183 (2.56 per match) |
| Top goalscorer |
Andy Gray (Aston Villa), 25 Malcolm Macdonald (Arsenal), 25 |
| Biggest home win | Ipswich – West Brom 7–0 (6 Nov 1976) |
| Biggest away win | Leicester – West Brom 0–5 (7 Mar 1977) |
| Highest scoring | Derby – Tottenham 8–2 (16 Oct 1976) |
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← 1975–76
1977–78 →
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| Season | 1976–77 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Wolverhampton Wanderers (2nd title) |
| Promoted |
Chelsea, Nottingham Forest |
| Relegated |
Carlisle United, Hereford United, Plymouth Argyle |
| Matches played | 462 |
| Goals scored | 1,290 (2.79 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Mickey Walsh (Blackpool), 26 |
| Biggest home win |
Blackburn –Notts County 6–1 (9 Oct 1976) Fulham –Orient 6–1 (7 Mar 1977) Nottingham Forest –Sheffield United 6–1 (9 Oct 1976) Fulham –Oldham 5–0 (4 Dec 1976) Luton –Carlisle 5–0 (26 Mar 1977) |
| Biggest away win | Carlisle –Southampton 0–6 (22 Jan 1977) |
| Highest scoring |
Charlton –Southampton 6–2 (24 Sep 1976) Burnley –Charlton 4–4 (16 Oct 1976) Oldham –Hereford 3–5 (16 Apr 1977) Wolverhampton –Southampton 2–6 (5 Oct 1976) |
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← 1975–76
1977–78 →
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| Season | 1976–77 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Mansfield Town (1st title) |
| Promoted |
Brighton & Hove Albion, Crystal Palace |
| Relegated |
Grimsby Town, Northampton Town, Reading, York City |
| Matches played | 552 |
| Goals scored | 1,426 (2.58 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Peter Ward (Brighton & Hove Albion), 32 |
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← 1975–76
1977–78 →
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| Season | 1976–77 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Cambridge United (1st title) |
| Promoted |
Bradford City, Colchester United, Exeter City |
| Failed re-election | Workington |
| Matches played | 552 |
| Goals scored | 1,423 (2.58 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Brian Joicey (Barnsley), 25 |
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← 1975–76
1977–78 →
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The 1976–1977 season was the 78th completed season of The Football League.
As of this season, goal difference (GD in league tables) was used to separate the clubs finishing level on points. The earlier system, used from the season 1894–95 until the 1975–76 had been the so-called goal average (goals scored divided by goals conceded), or more properly put, goal ratio. In case one or more teams had the same positive goal difference, this earlier system favoured those teams who had scored fewer goals. Now the system would favour the teams that had scored more goals, and it was hoped that more goals would be seen as a result of this new system.
Liverpool retained their league championship trophy and won their first European Cup to confirm Bob Paisley as a successful replacement for Bill Shankly in his third season at the helm. Tottenham Hotspur and Stoke City's long spells in the First Division came to an end with relegation. Stoke sacked their manager Tony Waddington. On the last day of the season, Coventry City and Bristol City played out a controversial 2–2 draw, with play virtually stopping when it was heard that Sunderland had lost to Everton. Both clubs survived while Sunderland was relegated.
After Manchester United manager Tommy Docherty had admitted his affair with the wife of the club's physiotherapist, the club's directors decided that he had broken their moral code and he was sacked.
Wolverhampton Wanderers, Chelsea and Nottingham Forest gained promotion to the First Division. Brian Clough's Forest would achieve success beyond the dreams of most supporters over the next few seasons. Carlisle United, Plymouth Argyle and Hereford United occupied the three relegation places. Hereford became the first club to finish bottom of the Second Division after winning the Third Division the previous season.
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