1969–70 Football League


The 1969–70 season was the 71st completed season of The Football League.
Everton won their seventh league title, finishing nine points clear of Leeds United with Chelsea in third and newly promoted Derby County in fourth. Sheffield Wednesday and Sunderland were both relegated.
In the Second Division Huddersfield Town claimed the divisional title and were promoted along with runners-up Blackpool. Aston Villa endured the worst season in their history and were relegated to the Third Division for the first time, along with bottom club Preston North End, for whom it was also a first relegation to the third tier.
In the Third Division Orient won the title and were promoted along with Luton Town, who had finished third the previous season. As usual four teams were relegated, with Bournemouth, Southport, Barrow and Stockport County all making the drop.
In the Fourth Division Chesterfield won the title and were promoted along with Wrexham, Swansea City and Port Vale. Bradford Park Avenue lost their application for re-election and were replaced by Cambridge United.

Final league tables and results

Beginning with the season 1894–95, clubs finishing level on points were separated according to goal average, 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.
Since the goal average was used for this purpose for such a long time, it is presented in the tables below even for the seasons prior to 1894–95, and since the goal difference is a more informative piece of information for a modern reader than the goal average, the goal difference is added in this presentation after the goal average.
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

Results

Maps

Top scorers

Goalscorers are listed order of total goals, then according to the number of league goals, then of FA cup goals, then of League Cup goals. A dash means the team of the player in question did not participate in European competitions.
RankScorerClubLeague goalsFA Cup goalsLeague Cup goalsEuro competitionsTotal
1 Peter OsgoodChelsea2380—31
2 Jeff AstleWest Bromwich Albion2505—30
3 Allan ClarkeLeeds United1670225
4 Joe RoyleEverton2300—23
5 George BestManchester United1562—23
6 Francis LeeManchester City1403623
7 Ian HutchinsonChelsea1651—22
8 Frank ClarkeIpswich Town /
Queens Park Rangers		2+1424—22
9 Brian KiddManchester United1462—22
10 Pop RobsonNewcastle2100021
11 Hugh CurranWolverhampton Wanderers1902—21
12 Bobby GrahamLiverpool1531321
13 John RadfordArsenal1320520
14 Colin BellManchester City1005520
15 Mick ChannonSouthampton1531019
16 Steve KindonBurnley1701—18
17 Geoff HurstWest Ham1602—18
18 Mick JonesLeeds United1530818
19 Johnny GilesLeeds United1220418
20 John RitchieStoke1420—16
21 John O’HareDerby County1321—16
22 Harry BurrowsStoke1500—15
23 Neil MartinCoventry1410—15
24 Peter LorimerLeeds United1320015
25 Steve DownesSheffield Wednesday /
Rotherham		1+1130—15
= Jimmy GreavesWest Ham1230—15
27 Colin SuggettWest Bromwich Albion1203—15
28 Ian BowyerManchester City1202115
29 Kevin HectorDerby County1122—15
30 John O’RourkeCoventry / Ipswich Town11+200—13
31 Tony BrownWest Bromwich Albion1012—13
32 Keith DysonNewcastle1200212
33 Ian Storey-MooreNottingham Forest1101—12
34 Alan BallEverton1011—12
35 Alan DurbanDerby County840—12
36 Alan GilzeanTottenham1100—11
= Martin ChiversTottenham1100—11
38 Gerry QueenCrystal Palace911—11
39 Jack WhithamSheffield Wednesday830—11
40 Martin DobsonBurnley632—11
41 Ron DaviesSouthampton1000010
42 Alan HintonDerby County604—10

Second Division

Results

Maps

Top scorers

Goalscorers are listed order of total goals, then according to the number of league goals, then of FA cup goals, then of League Cup goals. A dash means the team of the player in question did not participate in European competitions.
RankScorerClubLeague goalsFA Cup goalsLeague Cup goalsCup Winners' Cup goalsTotal
1 John HicktonMiddlesbrough2340—27
2 John ByromBolton Wanderers2005—25
3 Barry BridgesQueens Park Rangers2111—23
4 Rodney MarshQueens Park Rangers1247—23
5 Alan WoodwardSheffield United1803—21
6 Arthur HorsfieldSwindon Town1640—20
7 Brian ClarkCardiff City1800220
8 John ToshackCardiff City1710220
9 Frank WorthingtonHuddersfield Town1810—19
= Derek PosseeMillwall1810—19
11 Chris ChiltonHull1801—19
12 Peter NobleSwindon Town1513—19
13 Ken WagstaffHull1800—18
= Ray HironPortsmouth1800—18
15 Fred PickeringBlackpool1710—18
16 Rodney FernLeicester City1601—17
17 Ken HoughtonHull1600—16
18 Gil ReeceSheffield United1401—15
19 Bob HattonCarlisle United1311—15
20 Don MartinBlackburn Rovers1302—15
21 Chris BalderstoneCarlisle United1211—14
22 Barry EndeanWatford1031—14
23 Peter KingCardiff City1010314
24 Phil SummerillBirmingham City1300—13
= Jim StorriePortsmouth / Rotherham1300—13
26 Ken SkeenOxford United913—13
27 Bert MurrayBirmingham1200—12
= Albert McCannPortsmouth1200—12
= Tony CurrieSheffield United1200—12
30 Joe LaidlawMiddlesbrough1110—12
31 Roger HuntBolton Wanderers /
Liverpool		6+500112
32 John TudorSheffield United1020—12
33 Andy LochheadLeicester City624—12
34 Ken FoggoNorwich City1100—11
35 Gerry SharpeBristol City1001—11
36 John GalleyBristol City1000—10
= Peter SilversterNorwich City1000—10
= Nicky JenningsPortsmouth1000—10
39 Don RogersSwindon Town910—10
40 Keith WellerMillwall901—10
41 Hughie McIlmoyleMiddlesbrough /
Carlisle United		6+202—10

Third Division

Results

Maps

Top scorers

Goalscorers are listed order of total goals, then according to the number of league goals, then of FA cup goals, then of League Cup goals. A dash means the team of the player in question did not participate in European competitions.
RankScorerClubLeague goalsFA Cup goalsLeague Cup goalsTotal
1 Malcolm MacdonaldLuton Town241227
2 George Jones Bury260026
3 Les ChappellReading250025
4 Steve EarleFulham220123
5 George KerrBury202123
6 Jimmy ConvayFulham220022
7 Ted MacDougallBournemouth & Boscombe Athletic210122
8 George AndrewsShrewsbury Town /
Southport		13+60221
9 Reg JenkinsRochdale200020
10 George YardleyTranmere Rovers172120
= Terry BellReading /
Hartlepool United		2+152120
12 Mickey BullockOrient190019
13 Dudley RobertsMansfield Town180018
= Mike BicklePlymouth Argyle180018
15 Bobby HamBradford City160218
16 Robin StubbsBristol Rovers152017
17 Alan GilliverBrighton & Hove Albion132217
18 Terry HarkinShrewsbury Town160016
= Tony FieldSouthport160016
= Alan WelshTorquay United160016
21 John RudgeTorquay United141116
22 John EvansBarnsley150015
= Tony BuckRochdale150015
24 Malcolm PartridgeMansfield Town132015
25 Brian YeoGillingham95115
26 Bobby WilliamsReading140014
27 Ray GraydonBristol Rovers131014
28 Dennis ButlerRochdale122014
29 Mike GreenGillingham113014
30 Derek SmithTranmere Rovers112114
31 Ken BeamishTranmere Rovers103114
32 Peter MiddletonBradford City112013
= Dai JonesMansfield Town112013
34 Colin TaylorWalsall94013
35 DeanBournemouth & Boscombe Athletic120012
= Carl GilbertBristol Rovers120012
= Barrie FairbrotherOrient120012
= John ReganDoncaster Rovers120012
39 Matt TeesLuton Town111012
40 John CollinsLuton Town102012
= Richard MoirShrewsbury Town102012
42 Alex DawsonBrighton & Hove Albion92112
43 Jim MulvaneyBarrow110011
44 Kit NapierBrighton & Hove Albion101011
45 Eddie LoydenBarnsley92011
46 Harold JarmanBristol Rovers100010
47 Ken PoundGillingham91010
= John RowlandsStockport91010
= Bill AtkinsHalifax Town /
Portsmouth		7+21010
50 Les O’NeillBradford City82010

Fourth Division

Results

Maps

Top scorers

Goalscorers are listed order of total goals, then according to the number of league goals, then of FA cup goals, then of League Cup goals. A dash means the team of the player in question did not participate in European competitions.
RankScorerClubLeague goalsFA Cup goalsLeague Cup goalsTotal
1 Albert KinseyWrexham271129
2 Jim HallPeterborough United243128
3 Jack HowarthAldershot197026
4 Stuart BraceGrimsby Town250025
5 John FairbrotherNorthampton Town232025
6 Nigel CassidyScunthorpe & Lindsey214025
7 Billy BestSouthend231024
8 Don MassonNotts County230023
9 Dave GwytherSwansea City165122
10 Dennis BrownAldershot174021
11 Ernie MossChesterfield200020
12 Richie BarkerNotts County191020
13 Peter PricePeterborough United163120
14 Kevin RandallChesterfield180018
15 Arfon GriffithsWrexham162018
16 Rod FletcherLincoln City161017
17 SmithWrexham152017
18 John JamesPort Vale143017
19 Ken JonesColchester United150015
20 Terry HeathScunthorpe & Lindsey132015
= Herbie WilliamsSwansea City132015
22 Bill DeardenChester113115
23 Brian GibbsColchester United140014
= Ray MabbuttNewport County140014
25 Tommy RobsonPeterborough United121114
26 Bobby RossBrentford130013
= Mike HickmanGrimsby Town130013
= Jim FryattOldham /
Blackburn Rovers		2+110013
29 Frank LargeNorthampton Town102113
30 Derek DraperChester120012
= David ShawOldham120012
32 Geoffrey ThomasSwansea City110112
33 Alan BanksExeter City101112
34 Phil BoyerYork City93012
35 Ronnie WaltonAldershot110011
= Alan BradshawCrewe Alexandra110011
37 John ArcherChesterfield101011
38 Fred BinneyExeter City /
Torquay United		1+90111
= Jim BeardallOldham100111
40 Alan TarbuckChester83011
41 Roy MasseyColchester United /
Crewe Alexandra		5+20411
42 Jimmy MeliaAldershot100010
= Lance RobsonHartlepool /
Darlington		2+80010
= Kevin McMahonYork City100010
45 John MittenExeter City91010
46 Roy YoungHartlepool82010
47 Gary MooreSouthend80210