Season 1980-81
| Cup Competition | ||||||||
| FA Cup Final 1981 | Venue | Gate | Notes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D 1 | Tottenham Hotspur | 1 | 1 | Manchester City | D 1 | Wembley Stadium (Empire Stadium), London | 99,500 | aet |
| Hutchison OG | Hutchison | |||||||
| FA Cup Final 1981 Replay | Venue | Gate | Notes | |||||
| D 1 | Tottenham Hotspur | 3 | 2 | Manchester City | D 1 | Wembley Stadium (Empire Stadium), London | 92,000 | |
| Villa 2, Crooks | MacKenzie, Reeves (p) | |||||||
| FA Cup Semi-Finals 1981 | Venue | Gate | Notes | |||||
| D 1 | Manchester City | 1 | 0 | Ipswich Town | D 1 | Villa Park, Birmingham | 46,537 | aet |
| Power | ||||||||
| D 1 | Tottenham Hotspur | 2 | 2 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | D 1 | Hillsborough, Sheffield | 50,174 | aet |
| Archibald, Hoddle | Carr, Hibbitt | |||||||
| FA Cup Semi-Finals 1981 Replay | Venue | Gate | Notes | |||||
| D 1 | Tottenham Hotspur | 3 | 0 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | D 1 | Highbury, London | 52,539 | |
| Villa, Crooks 2 | ||||||||
| League Cup Final 1981 | Venue | Gate | Notes | |||||
| D 1 | Liverpool | 1 | 1 | West Ham United | D 2 | Wembley Stadium (Empire Stadium), London | 100,000 | aet |
| Kennedy A | Stewart (p) | |||||||
| League Cup Final 1981 Replay | Venue | Gate | Notes | |||||
| D 1 | Liverpool | 2 | 1 | West Ham United | D 2 | Villa Park, Birmingham | 36,693 | |
| Dalglish, Hansen | Goddard | |||||||
| League Cup Semi-Finals 1981 | Venue | Gate | Notes | |||||
| D 1 | Manchester City | 0 | 1 | Liverpool | D 1 | Maine Road, Manchester | 48,045 | |
| Kennedy R | ||||||||
| D 1 | Coventry City | 3 | 2 | West Ham United | D 2 | Highfield Road, Coventry City | 35,468 | |
| Thompson 2, Daly | Bonds, Thomspon OG | |||||||
| D 1 | Liverpool | 1 | 1 | Manchester City | D 1 | Anfield Road, Liverpool | 46,711 | agg 2-1 |
| Dalglish | Reeves | |||||||
| D 2 | West Ham United | 2 | 0 | Coventry City | D 1 | Upton Park, London | 36,511 | agg 4-3 |
| Goddard, Neighbour | ||||||||
| European Cup Final 1981 | Venue | Gate | Notes | |||||
| D 1 | Liverpool | 1 | 0 | Real Madrid |  | Parc des Princes, Paris | 48,360 | |
| Kennedy A | ||||||||
| UEFA Cup Final 1981 | Venue | Gate | Notes | |||||
| D 1 | Ipswich Town | 3 | 0 | AZ67 Alkmaar |  | Portman Road, Ipswich | 27,532 | |
| Wark (p), Thijssen, Mariner | ||||||||
| AZ67 Alkmaar | 4 | 2 | Ipswich Town | D 1 | Olympish Stadion, Amsterdam | 28,500 | agg 4-5 |
| Welzl, Metgod, Tol, Jonker | Thijssen, Wark | |||||||
Final Table for Season 1980-81
| First Division | ||||||||||||||||||
| Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ptn |  | First Division | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | FA Cup | FL Cup | Euro Comp |
| 1 | 6 | Aston Villa | 42 | 16 | 3 | 2 | 40 | 13 | 10 | 5 | 6 | 32 | 27 | 32 | 60 | Rd 3 | Rd 3 | |
| 2 | 1 | Ipswich Town | 42 | 15 | 4 | 2 | 45 | 14 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 32 | 29 | 34 | 56 | SF | Rd 4 | UEFA W |
| 3 | 1 | Arsenal | 42 | 13 | 8 | 0 | 36 | 17 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 25 | 28 | 16 | 53 | Rd 3 | Rd 4 | |
| 4 | 6 | West Bromwich Albion | 42 | 15 | 4 | 2 | 40 | 15 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 20 | 27 | 18 | 52 | Rd 4 | Rd 5 | |
| 5 | -4 | Liverpool | 42 | 13 | 5 | 3 | 38 | 15 | 4 | 12 | 5 | 24 | 27 | 20 | 51 | Rd 4 | Win | EC W |
| 6 | 2 | Southampton | 42 | 15 | 4 | 2 | 47 | 22 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 29 | 34 | 20 | 50 | Rd 5 | Rd 2 | |
| 7 | -2 | Nottingham Forest | 42 | 15 | 3 | 3 | 44 | 20 | 4 | 9 | 8 | 18 | 24 | 18 | 50 | Rd 6 | Rd 4 | EC Rd 2 |
| 8 | -6 | Manchester United | 42 | 9 | 11 | 1 | 30 | 14 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 21 | 22 | 15 | 48 | Rd 4 | Rd 2 | UEFA Rd 1 |
| 9 | 2 | Leeds United | 42 | 10 | 5 | 6 | 19 | 19 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 20 | 28 | -8 | 44 | Rd 3 | Rd 2 | |
| 10 | 4 | Tottenham Hotspur | 42 | 9 | 9 | 3 | 44 | 31 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 26 | 37 | 2 | 43 | Win | Rd 5 | |
| 11 | 7 | Stoke City | 42 | 8 | 9 | 4 | 31 | 23 | 4 | 9 | 8 | 20 | 37 | -9 | 42 | Rd 3 | Rd 2 | |
| 12 | 5 | Manchester City | 42 | 10 | 7 | 4 | 35 | 25 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 21 | 34 | -3 | 39 | Final | SF | |
| 13 | D 2 | Birmingham City | 42 | 11 | 5 | 5 | 32 | 23 | 2 | 7 | 12 | 18 | 38 | -11 | 38 | Rd 4 | Rd 5 | |
| 14 | -5 | Middlesbrough | 42 | 14 | 4 | 3 | 38 | 16 | 2 | 1 | 18 | 15 | 45 | -8 | 37 | Rd 6 | Rd 2 | |
| 15 | 4 | Everton | 42 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 32 | 25 | 5 | 4 | 12 | 23 | 33 | -3 | 36 | Rd 6 | Rd 3 | |
| 16 | -1 | Coventry City | 42 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 31 | 30 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 17 | 38 | -20 | 36 | Rd 5 | SF | |
| 17 | D 2 | Sunderland | 42 | 10 | 4 | 7 | 32 | 19 | 4 | 3 | 14 | 20 | 34 | -1 | 35 | Rd 3 | Rd 2 | |
| 18 | -12 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 42 | 11 | 2 | 8 | 26 | 20 | 2 | 7 | 12 | 17 | 35 | -12 | 35 | SF | Rd 2 | UEFA Rd 1 |
| 19 | -3 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 42 | 10 | 3 | 8 | 30 | 26 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 24 | 41 | -13 | 35 | Rd 3 | Rd 3 | |
| 20 | -8 | Norwich City | 42 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 34 | 25 | 4 | 0 | 17 | 15 | 48 | -24 | 33 | Rd 4 | Rd 3 | |
| 21 | D 2 | Leicester City | 42 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 20 | 23 | 6 | 1 | 14 | 20 | 44 | -27 | 32 | Rd 4 | Rd 2 | |
| 22 | -9 | Crystal Palace | 42 | 6 | 4 | 11 | 32 | 37 | 0 | 3 | 18 | 15 | 46 | -36 | 19 | Rd 3 | Rd 3 | |
| Notes | ||||||||||||||||||
| For the next season 3 pts would be given for a win in the league. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Second Division | ||||||||||||||||||
| Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ptn | | Second Division | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | FA Cup | FL Cup | Euro Comp |
| 1 | 6 | West Ham United | 42 | 19 | 1 | 1 | 53 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 3 | 26 | 17 | 50 | 66 | Rd 3 | Final | CWC QF |
| 2 | 15 | Notts County | 42 | 10 | 8 | 3 | 26 | 15 | 8 | 9 | 4 | 23 | 23 | 11 | 53 | Rd 4 | Rd 4 | |
| 3 | 9 | Swansea City | 42 | 12 | 5 | 4 | 39 | 19 | 6 | 9 | 6 | 25 | 25 | 20 | 50 | Rd 3 | Rd 2 | |
| 4 | D 3 | Blackburn Rovers | 42 | 12 | 8 | 1 | 28 | 7 | 4 | 10 | 7 | 14 | 22 | 13 | 50 | Rd 3 | Rd 3 | |
| 5 | 1 | Luton Town | 42 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 35 | 23 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 26 | 23 | 15 | 48 | Rd 4 | Rd 3 | |
| 6 | D 1 | Derby County | 42 | 9 | 8 | 4 | 34 | 26 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 23 | 26 | 5 | 45 | Rd 3 | Rd 2 | |
| 7 | D 3 | Grimsby Town | 42 | 10 | 8 | 3 | 21 | 10 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 23 | 32 | 2 | 45 | Rd 3 | Rd 1 | |
| 8 | -3 | Queens Park Rangers | 42 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 36 | 12 | 4 | 6 | 11 | 20 | 34 | 10 | 43 | Rd 3 | Rd 3 | |
| 9 | 9 | Watford | 42 | 13 | 5 | 3 | 34 | 18 | 3 | 6 | 12 | 16 | 27 | 5 | 43 | Rd 4 | Rd 5 | |
| 10 | D 3 | Sheffield Wednesday | 42 | 14 | 4 | 3 | 38 | 14 | 3 | 4 | 14 | 15 | 37 | 2 | 42 | Rd 3 | Rd 3 | |
| 11 | -2 | Newcastle United | 42 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 22 | 13 | 3 | 7 | 11 | 8 | 32 | -15 | 42 | Rd 5 | Rd 2 | |
| 12 | -8 | Chelsea | 42 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 27 | 15 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 19 | 26 | 5 | 40 | Rd 3 | Rd 2 | |
| 13 | -5 | Cambridge United | 42 | 13 | 1 | 7 | 36 | 23 | 4 | 5 | 12 | 17 | 42 | -12 | 40 | Rd 3 | Rd 4 | |
| 14 | -1 | Shrewsbury Town | 42 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 33 | 22 | 2 | 10 | 9 | 13 | 25 | -1 | 39 | Rd 4 | Rd 2 | |
| 15 | -4 | Oldham Athletic | 42 | 7 | 9 | 5 | 19 | 16 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 20 | 32 | -9 | 39 | Rd 3 | Rd 2 | |
| 16 | 0 | Wrexham | 42 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 22 | 24 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 21 | 21 | -2 | 38 | Rd 5 | Rd 1 | |
| 17 | -3 | Orient | 42 | 9 | 8 | 4 | 34 | 20 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 18 | 36 | -4 | 38 | Rd 3 | Rd 2 | |
| 18 | D 1 | Bolton Wanderers | 42 | 10 | 5 | 6 | 40 | 27 | 4 | 5 | 12 | 21 | 39 | -5 | 38 | Rd 3 | Rd 2 | |
| 19 | -4 | Cardiff City | 42 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 23 | 24 | 5 | 5 | 11 | 21 | 36 | -16 | 36 | Rd 3 | Rd 3 | |
| 20 | -10 | Preston North End | 42 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 28 | 26 | 3 | 7 | 11 | 13 | 36 | -21 | 36 | Rd 3 | Rd 4 | |
| 21 | D 1 | Bristol City | 42 | 6 | 10 | 5 | 19 | 15 | 1 | 6 | 14 | 10 | 36 | -22 | 30 | Rd 5 | Rd 2 | |
| 22 | -3 | Bristol Rovers | 42 | 4 | 9 | 8 | 21 | 24 | 1 | 4 | 16 | 13 | 41 | -31 | 23 | Rd 4 | Rd 3 | |
| Third Division | ||||||||||||||||||
| Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ptn | | Third Division | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | FA Cup | FL Cup | Euro Comp |
| 1 | 12 | Rotherham United | 46 | 17 | 6 | 0 | 43 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 19 | 24 | 30 | 61 | Rd 2 | Rd 1 | |
| 2 | 9 | Barnsley | 46 | 15 | 5 | 3 | 46 | 19 | 6 | 12 | 5 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 59 | Rd 5 | Rd 4 | |
| 3 | D 2 | Charlton Athletic | 46 | 14 | 6 | 3 | 36 | 17 | 11 | 3 | 9 | 27 | 27 | 19 | 59 | Rd 5 | Rd 3 | |
| 4 | D 4 | Huddersfield Town | 46 | 14 | 6 | 3 | 40 | 11 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 31 | 29 | 31 | 56 | Rd 3 | Rd 1 | |
| 5 | -1 | Chesterfield | 46 | 17 | 4 | 2 | 42 | 16 | 6 | 6 | 11 | 30 | 32 | 24 | 56 | Rd 3 | Rd 2 | |
| 6 | D 4 | Portsmouth | 46 | 14 | 5 | 4 | 35 | 19 | 8 | 4 | 11 | 20 | 28 | 8 | 53 | Rd 1 | Rd 4 | |
| 7 | 8 | Plymouth Argyle | 46 | 14 | 5 | 4 | 35 | 18 | 5 | 9 | 9 | 21 | 26 | 12 | 52 | Rd 3 | Rd 1 | |
| 8 | D 2 | Burnley | 46 | 13 | 5 | 5 | 37 | 21 | 5 | 9 | 9 | 23 | 27 | 12 | 50 | Rd 2 | Rd 2 | |
| 9 | 10 | Brentford | 46 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 30 | 25 | 7 | 10 | 6 | 22 | 24 | 3 | 47 | Rd 2 | Rd 1 | |
| 10 | -3 | Reading | 46 | 13 | 5 | 5 | 39 | 22 | 5 | 5 | 13 | 23 | 40 | 0 | 46 | Rd 1 | Rd 2 | |
| 11 | -3 | Exeter City | 46 | 9 | 9 | 5 | 36 | 30 | 7 | 4 | 12 | 26 | 36 | -4 | 45 | Rd 6 | Rd 1 | |
| 12 | D 4 | Newport County | 46 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 38 | 22 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 26 | 39 | 3 | 43 | Rd 1 | Rd 2 | CWC QF |
| 13 | D 2 | Fulham | 46 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 28 | 29 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 29 | 35 | -7 | 43 | Rd 4 | Rd 1 | |
| 14 | 3 | Oxford United | 46 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 20 | 24 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 19 | 23 | -8 | 43 | Rd 2 | Rd 3 | |
| 15 | 1 | Gillingham | 46 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 23 | 19 | 3 | 10 | 10 | 25 | 39 | -10 | 42 | Rd 2 | Rd 2 | |
| 16 | -2 | Millwall | 46 | 10 | 9 | 4 | 30 | 21 | 4 | 5 | 14 | 13 | 39 | -17 | 42 | Rd 2 | Rd 1 | |
| 17 | -7 | Swindon Town | 46 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 35 | 27 | 3 | 9 | 11 | 16 | 29 | -5 | 41 | Rd 2 | Rd 3 | |
| 18 | -9 | Chester | 46 | 11 | 5 | 7 | 25 | 17 | 4 | 6 | 13 | 13 | 31 | -10 | 41 | Rd 1 | Rd 1 | |
| 19 | -13 | Carlisle United | 46 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 32 | 29 | 6 | 4 | 13 | 24 | 41 | -14 | 41 | Rd 4 | Rd 2 | |
| 20 | D 4 | Walsall | 46 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 43 | 43 | 5 | 6 | 12 | 16 | 31 | -15 | 41 | Rd 2 | Rd 1 | |
| 21 | -9 | Sheffield United | 46 | 12 | 6 | 5 | 38 | 20 | 2 | 6 | 15 | 27 | 43 | 2 | 40 | Rd 2 | Rd 1 | |
| 22 | -17 | Colchester United | 46 | 12 | 7 | 4 | 35 | 22 | 2 | 4 | 17 | 10 | 43 | -20 | 39 | Rd 3 | Rd 1 | |
| 23 | -5 | Blackpool | 46 | 5 | 9 | 9 | 19 | 28 | 4 | 5 | 14 | 26 | 47 | -30 | 32 | Rd 2 | Rd 2 | |
| 24 | -4 | Hull City | 46 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 23 | 22 | 1 | 8 | 14 | 17 | 49 | -31 | 32 | Rd 4 | Rd 1 | |
| Fourth Division | ||||||||||||||||||
| Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ptn | | Fourth Division | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | FA Cup | FL Cup | Euro Comp |
| 1 | D 3 | Southend United | 46 | 19 | 4 | 0 | 47 | 6 | 11 | 3 | 9 | 32 | 25 | 48 | 67 | Rd 1 | Rd 1 | |
| 2 | 5 | Lincoln City | 46 | 15 | 7 | 1 | 44 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 22 | 14 | 41 | 65 | Rd 2 | Rd 2 | |
| 3 | 9 | Doncaster Rovers | 46 | 15 | 4 | 4 | 36 | 20 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 23 | 29 | 10 | 56 | Rd 3 | Rd 1 | |
| 4 | D 3 | Wimbledon | 46 | 15 | 4 | 4 | 42 | 17 | 8 | 5 | 10 | 22 | 29 | 18 | 55 | Rd 4 | Rd 2 | |
| 5 | 3 | Peterborough United | 46 | 11 | 8 | 4 | 37 | 21 | 6 | 10 | 7 | 31 | 33 | 14 | 52 | Rd 5 | Rd 2 | |
| 6 | 4 | Aldershot | 46 | 12 | 9 | 2 | 28 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 12 | 15 | 30 | 2 | 50 | Rd 1 | Rd 1 | |
| 7 | D 3 | Mansfield Town | 46 | 13 | 5 | 5 | 36 | 15 | 7 | 4 | 12 | 22 | 29 | 14 | 49 | Rd 3 | Rd 2 | |
| 8 | 14 | Darlington | 46 | 13 | 6 | 4 | 43 | 23 | 6 | 5 | 12 | 22 | 36 | 6 | 49 | Rd 1 | Rd 1 | |
| 9 | 10 | Hartlepool United | 46 | 14 | 3 | 6 | 42 | 22 | 6 | 6 | 11 | 22 | 39 | 3 | 49 | Rd 1 | Rd 1 | |
| 10 | 3 | Northampton Town | 46 | 11 | 7 | 5 | 42 | 26 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 23 | 41 | -2 | 49 | Rd 1 | Rd 1 | |
| 11 | -5 | Wigan Athletic | 46 | 13 | 4 | 6 | 29 | 16 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 22 | 39 | -4 | 47 | Rd 1 | Rd 2 | |
| 12 | D 3 | Bury | 46 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 38 | 21 | 7 | 3 | 13 | 32 | 41 | 8 | 45 | Rd 3 | Rd 3 | |
| 13 | -2 | AFC Bournemouth | 46 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 30 | 21 | 7 | 5 | 11 | 17 | 27 | -1 | 45 | Rd 2 | Rd 1 | |
| 14 | -9 | Bradford City | 46 | 9 | 9 | 5 | 30 | 24 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 23 | 36 | -7 | 44 | Rd 1 | Rd 2 | |
| 15 | 9 | Rochdale | 46 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 33 | 25 | 3 | 9 | 11 | 27 | 45 | -10 | 43 | Rd 1 | Rd 1 | |
| 16 | -2 | Scunthorpe United | 46 | 8 | 12 | 3 | 40 | 31 | 3 | 8 | 12 | 20 | 38 | -9 | 42 | Rd 2 | Rd 1 | |
| 17 | -8 | Torquay United | 46 | 13 | 2 | 8 | 38 | 26 | 5 | 3 | 15 | 17 | 37 | -8 | 41 | Rd 3 | Rd 1 | |
| 18 | 5 | Crewe Alexandra | 46 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 28 | 20 | 3 | 7 | 13 | 20 | 41 | -13 | 40 | Rd 1 | Rd 1 | |
| 19 | 1 | Port Vale | 46 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 40 | 23 | 2 | 7 | 14 | 17 | 47 | -13 | 39 | Rd 3 | Rd 1 | |
| 20 | -4 | Stockport County | 46 | 10 | 5 | 8 | 29 | 25 | 6 | 2 | 15 | 15 | 32 | -13 | 39 | Rd 1 | Rd 3 | |
| 21 | -6 | Tranmere Rovers | 46 | 12 | 5 | 6 | 41 | 24 | 1 | 5 | 17 | 18 | 49 | -14 | 36 | Rd 2 | Rd 2 | |
| 22 | -1 | Hereford United | 46 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 29 | 20 | 3 | 5 | 15 | 9 | 42 | -24 | 35 | Rd 2 | Rd 1 | |
| 23 | -5 | Halifax Town | 46 | 9 | 3 | 11 | 28 | 32 | 2 | 9 | 12 | 16 | 39 | -27 | 34 | Rd 1 | Rd 1 | |
| 24 | -7 | York City | 46 | 10 | 2 | 11 | 31 | 23 | 2 | 7 | 14 | 16 | 43 | -19 | 33 | Rd 1 | Rd 2 | |
| 1981 Election to the Fourth Division of the Football League | ||||||
| League | Clubs | Ave Gate | FA Cup | League Cup | Ballot | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D 4 | Tranmere Rovers | 1,901 | Rd 2 | Rd 2 | 48 | Re-Elected |
| D 4 | Hereford United | 2,441 | Rd 2 | Rd 1 | 46 | Re-Elected |
| D 4 | York City | 2,163 | Rd 1 | Rd 2 | 46 | Re-Elected |
| D 4 | Halifax Town | 1,924 | Rd 1 | Rd 1 | 41 | Re-Elected |
| APL | Altrincham | Rd 3 | 15 | Failed | ||
| IsL | Wycombe Wanderers | Rd 1 | X | Withdrew | ||
