The1969–70 season was the 90th season of competitivefootball inEngland.
Chelsea won the cup by beatingLeeds United 2–1 in a replay atOld Trafford after a 2–2 draw atWembley Stadium. In the replay Leeds took the lead throughMick Jones before an equaliser fromPeter Osgood forced the replay to extra-time.David Webb then scored the winner in the 104th minute to give Chelsea a first ever FA Cup triumph.
Manchester United beatWatford 2–0 atHighbury in the first ever third-place playoff, held the day before the final.
A number of non-league clubs made it to the Third Round i.e.Brentwood,Hillingdon Borough andSouth Shields as well asSutton United who reached the Fourth Round before losing 6–0 to Leeds United.
George Best scored six goals forManchester United in their 8–2 victory overNorthampton Town in the Fifth Round. He received a match ball signed by all of the opposition players as a souvenir, and later donated it to the club's museum.
Manchester City won the League Cup by beatingWest Bromwich Albion 2–1 after extra time. Second DivisionCarlisle United enjoyed a run to the semifinals of the competition but lost to Albion. In the other semiManchester City beat local rivalsManchester United.
TheFWA Footballer of the Year was awarded toBilly Bremner who was the outstanding player of the season despite the failure of Leeds to win any trophies.Jeff Astle ofWest Bromwich Albion finished the season as Division One top scorer by netting 25 goals.Albert Kinsey ofWrexham was overall league top-scorer, hitting 27 goals for the Fourth Division outfit.
England took part in the1970 FIFA World Cup, qualifying from their group after beatingRomania andCzechoslovakia but losing toBrazil. The team then went out in the quarterfinals after losing 3–2 (after extra time) toWest Germany. Preparations had been damaged after star defenderBobby Moore was arrested inBogotá over later disproven allegations of theft.
Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour. * indicates new record for competition
Everton, one of the English game's dominant forces during the 1960s, had a strong start to the 1970s as league champions by a nine-point margin ahead of runners-up Leeds United, who had gone into the final stages of the season in contention for three major trophies but had failed to win any of them. They were beaten in an FA Cup final replay by Chelsea, who lifted the trophy for the first time in a season where they finished third. Derby County's return to the First Division after many years away saw them finish an impressive fourth under the management ofBrian Clough. Liverpool completed the top five, while Coventry City recorded their best finish yet by finishing sixth under the management of former Manchester United captainNoel Cantwell.
Manchester United finished eighth under their new managerWilf McGuinness, who had succeeded the retiringSir Matt Busby in the close season.
Manchester City managed only a mid table finish but lifted the League Cup and theEuropean Cup Winners' Cup.
Sheffield Wednesday and Sunderland finished the season relegated.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Everton(C) | 42 | 29 | 8 | 5 | 72 | 34 | 2.118 | 66 | Qualification for theEuropean Cup first round |
| 2 | Leeds United | 42 | 21 | 15 | 6 | 84 | 49 | 1.714 | 57 | Qualification for theInter-Cities Fairs Cup first round |
| 3 | Chelsea | 42 | 21 | 13 | 8 | 70 | 50 | 1.400 | 55 | Qualification for theCup Winners' Cup first round[a] |
| 4 | Derby County | 42 | 22 | 9 | 11 | 64 | 37 | 1.730 | 53 | Qualification for theWatney Cup[b] |
| 5 | Liverpool | 42 | 20 | 11 | 11 | 65 | 42 | 1.548 | 51 | Qualification for theInter-Cities Fairs Cup first round |
| 6 | Coventry City | 42 | 19 | 11 | 12 | 58 | 48 | 1.208 | 49 | |
| 7 | Newcastle United | 42 | 17 | 13 | 12 | 57 | 35 | 1.629 | 47 | |
| 8 | Manchester United | 42 | 14 | 17 | 11 | 66 | 61 | 1.082 | 45 | Qualification for theWatney Cup[b] |
| 9 | Stoke City | 42 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 56 | 52 | 1.077 | 45 | |
| 10 | Manchester City | 42 | 16 | 11 | 15 | 55 | 48 | 1.146 | 43 | Qualification for theCup Winners' Cup first round[c] |
| 11 | Tottenham Hotspur | 42 | 17 | 9 | 16 | 54 | 55 | 0.982 | 43 | |
| 12 | Arsenal | 42 | 12 | 18 | 12 | 51 | 49 | 1.041 | 42 | Qualification for theInter-Cities Fairs Cup first round |
| 13 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 42 | 12 | 16 | 14 | 55 | 57 | 0.965 | 40 | |
| 14 | Burnley | 42 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 56 | 61 | 0.918 | 39 | |
| 15 | Nottingham Forest | 42 | 10 | 18 | 14 | 50 | 71 | 0.704 | 38 | |
| 16 | West Bromwich Albion | 42 | 14 | 9 | 19 | 58 | 66 | 0.879 | 37 | |
| 17 | West Ham United | 42 | 12 | 12 | 18 | 51 | 60 | 0.850 | 36 | |
| 18 | Ipswich Town | 42 | 10 | 11 | 21 | 40 | 63 | 0.635 | 31 | |
| 19 | Southampton | 42 | 6 | 17 | 19 | 46 | 67 | 0.687 | 29 | |
| 20 | Crystal Palace | 42 | 6 | 15 | 21 | 34 | 68 | 0.500 | 27 | |
| 21 | Sunderland(R) | 42 | 6 | 14 | 22 | 30 | 68 | 0.441 | 26 | Relegation to theSecond Division |
| 22 | Sheffield Wednesday(R) | 42 | 8 | 9 | 25 | 40 | 71 | 0.563 | 25 |
Huddersfield Town clinched the Second Division title by a comfortable margin to secure their return to the First Division, and were joined by Blackpool as runners-up. Leicester City just missed out on an immediate return to the First Division, while Middlesbrough's recent upturn in fortunes meant that they came just three points short of ending their lengthy absence from the top flight. Swindon Town, the previous season's surprise winners of the League Cup, recorded their best finish yet by finishing fifth in the Second Division.
Aston Villa and Preston North End, two clubs with illustrious histories and a host of major trophies between them, went down to the Third Division for the first time. Watford, a side with a much more modest history, won their battle against relegation but most impressively reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Huddersfield Town(C, P) | 42 | 24 | 12 | 6 | 68 | 37 | 1.838 | 60 | Promotion to theFirst Division |
| 2 | Blackpool(P) | 42 | 20 | 13 | 9 | 56 | 45 | 1.244 | 53 | |
| 3 | Leicester City | 42 | 19 | 13 | 10 | 64 | 50 | 1.280 | 51 | |
| 4 | Middlesbrough | 42 | 20 | 10 | 12 | 55 | 45 | 1.222 | 50 | |
| 5 | Swindon Town | 42 | 17 | 16 | 9 | 57 | 47 | 1.213 | 50 | |
| 6 | Sheffield United | 42 | 22 | 5 | 15 | 73 | 38 | 1.921 | 49 | Qualification for theWatney Cup[a] |
| 7 | Cardiff City | 42 | 18 | 13 | 11 | 61 | 41 | 1.488 | 49 | Qualification for theCup Winners' Cup first round[b] |
| 8 | Blackburn Rovers | 42 | 20 | 7 | 15 | 54 | 50 | 1.080 | 47 | |
| 9 | Queens Park Rangers | 42 | 17 | 11 | 14 | 66 | 57 | 1.158 | 45 | |
| 10 | Millwall | 42 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 56 | 56 | 1.000 | 44 | |
| 11 | Norwich City | 42 | 16 | 11 | 15 | 49 | 46 | 1.065 | 43 | |
| 12 | Carlisle United | 42 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 58 | 56 | 1.036 | 41 | |
| 13 | Hull City | 42 | 15 | 11 | 16 | 72 | 70 | 1.029 | 41 | Qualification for theWatney Cup[a] |
| 14 | Bristol City | 42 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 54 | 50 | 1.080 | 39 | |
| 15 | Oxford United | 42 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 35 | 42 | 0.833 | 39 | |
| 16 | Bolton Wanderers | 42 | 12 | 12 | 18 | 54 | 61 | 0.885 | 36 | |
| 17 | Portsmouth | 42 | 13 | 9 | 20 | 66 | 80 | 0.825 | 35 | |
| 18 | Birmingham City | 42 | 11 | 11 | 20 | 51 | 78 | 0.654 | 33 | |
| 19 | Watford | 42 | 9 | 13 | 20 | 44 | 57 | 0.772 | 31 | |
| 20 | Charlton Athletic | 42 | 7 | 17 | 18 | 35 | 76 | 0.461 | 31 | |
| 21 | Aston Villa(R) | 42 | 8 | 13 | 21 | 36 | 62 | 0.581 | 29 | Relegation to theThird Division |
| 22 | Preston North End(R) | 42 | 8 | 12 | 22 | 43 | 63 | 0.683 | 28 |
Orient and Luton Town advanced from the Third Division as champions and runners-up respectively.
Stockport County, Barrow, Southport andBournemouth & Boscombe Athletic went down to the Fourth Division.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Orient(C, P) | 46 | 25 | 12 | 9 | 67 | 36 | 1.861 | 62 | Promotion to theSecond Division |
| 2 | Luton Town(P) | 46 | 23 | 14 | 9 | 77 | 43 | 1.791 | 60 | |
| 3 | Bristol Rovers | 46 | 20 | 16 | 10 | 80 | 59 | 1.356 | 56 | |
| 4 | Fulham | 46 | 20 | 15 | 11 | 81 | 55 | 1.473 | 55 | Qualified for theWatney Cup[a] |
| 5 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 46 | 23 | 9 | 14 | 57 | 43 | 1.326 | 55 | |
| 6 | Mansfield Town | 46 | 21 | 11 | 14 | 70 | 49 | 1.429 | 53 | |
| 7 | Barnsley | 46 | 19 | 15 | 12 | 68 | 59 | 1.153 | 53 | |
| 8 | Reading | 46 | 21 | 11 | 14 | 87 | 77 | 1.130 | 53 | Qualified for theWatney Cup[a] |
| 9 | Rochdale | 46 | 18 | 10 | 18 | 69 | 60 | 1.150 | 46 | |
| 10 | Bradford City | 46 | 17 | 12 | 17 | 57 | 50 | 1.140 | 46 | |
| 11 | Doncaster Rovers | 46 | 17 | 12 | 17 | 52 | 54 | 0.963 | 46 | |
| 12 | Walsall | 46 | 17 | 12 | 17 | 54 | 67 | 0.806 | 46 | |
| 13 | Torquay United | 46 | 14 | 17 | 15 | 62 | 59 | 1.051 | 45 | |
| 14 | Rotherham United | 46 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 62 | 54 | 1.148 | 44 | |
| 15 | Shrewsbury Town | 46 | 13 | 18 | 15 | 62 | 63 | 0.984 | 44 | |
| 16 | Tranmere Rovers | 46 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 56 | 72 | 0.778 | 44 | |
| 17 | Plymouth Argyle | 46 | 16 | 11 | 19 | 56 | 64 | 0.875 | 43 | |
| 18 | Halifax Town | 46 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 47 | 63 | 0.746 | 43 | |
| 19 | Bury | 46 | 15 | 11 | 20 | 75 | 80 | 0.938 | 41 | |
| 20 | Gillingham | 46 | 13 | 13 | 20 | 52 | 64 | 0.813 | 39 | |
| 21 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic(R) | 46 | 12 | 15 | 19 | 48 | 71 | 0.676 | 39 | Relegation to theFourth Division |
| 22 | Southport(R) | 46 | 14 | 10 | 22 | 48 | 66 | 0.727 | 38 | |
| 23 | Barrow(R) | 46 | 8 | 14 | 24 | 46 | 81 | 0.568 | 30 | |
| 24 | Stockport County(R) | 46 | 6 | 11 | 29 | 27 | 71 | 0.380 | 23 |
Chesterfield climbed out of the Fourth Division as champions, proceeding along with Wrexham, Swansea City and Port Vale.
Bradford Park Avenue were voted out of the Football League and replaced byCambridge United. In February, Swansea Town were renamed Swansea City afterSwansea received city status.[1]
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chesterfield(C, P) | 46 | 27 | 10 | 9 | 77 | 32 | 2.406 | 64 | Promotion to theThird Division |
| 2 | Wrexham(P) | 46 | 26 | 9 | 11 | 84 | 49 | 1.714 | 61 | |
| 3 | Swansea City(P) | 46 | 21 | 18 | 7 | 66 | 45 | 1.467 | 60 | |
| 4 | Port Vale(P) | 46 | 20 | 19 | 7 | 61 | 33 | 1.848 | 59 | |
| 5 | Brentford | 46 | 20 | 16 | 10 | 58 | 39 | 1.487 | 56 | |
| 6 | Aldershot | 46 | 20 | 13 | 13 | 78 | 65 | 1.200 | 53 | Qualified for theWatney Cup[a] |
| 7 | Notts County | 46 | 22 | 8 | 16 | 73 | 62 | 1.177 | 52 | |
| 8 | Lincoln City | 46 | 17 | 16 | 13 | 66 | 52 | 1.269 | 50 | |
| 9 | Peterborough United | 46 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 77 | 69 | 1.116 | 48 | Qualified for theWatney Cup[a] |
| 10 | Colchester United | 46 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 64 | 63 | 1.016 | 48 | |
| 11 | Chester | 46 | 21 | 6 | 19 | 58 | 66 | 0.879 | 48 | |
| 12 | Scunthorpe United | 46 | 18 | 10 | 18 | 67 | 65 | 1.031 | 46 | |
| 13 | York City | 46 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 55 | 62 | 0.887 | 46 | |
| 14 | Northampton Town | 46 | 16 | 12 | 18 | 64 | 55 | 1.164 | 44 | |
| 15 | Crewe Alexandra | 46 | 16 | 12 | 18 | 51 | 51 | 1.000 | 44 | |
| 16 | Grimsby Town | 46 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 54 | 58 | 0.931 | 43 | |
| 17 | Southend United | 46 | 15 | 10 | 21 | 59 | 85 | 0.694 | 40 | |
| 18 | Exeter City | 46 | 14 | 11 | 21 | 57 | 59 | 0.966 | 39 | |
| 19 | Oldham Athletic | 46 | 13 | 13 | 20 | 60 | 65 | 0.923 | 39 | |
| 20 | Workington | 46 | 12 | 14 | 20 | 46 | 64 | 0.719 | 38 | |
| 21 | Newport County | 46 | 13 | 11 | 22 | 53 | 74 | 0.716 | 37 | Re-elected |
| 22 | Darlington | 46 | 13 | 10 | 23 | 53 | 73 | 0.726 | 36 | |
| 23 | Hartlepool | 46 | 10 | 10 | 26 | 42 | 82 | 0.512 | 30 | |
| 24 | Bradford (Park Avenue)(R) | 46 | 6 | 11 | 29 | 41 | 96 | 0.427 | 23 | Failed re-election and demoted to theNorthern Premier League |
First Division
Second Division
Third Division
Fourth Division
Arsenal won theInter Cities Fairs Cup final, beatingR.S.C. Anderlecht 4–3 on aggregate.Manchester City won theUEFA Cup Winners' Cup final, defeatingGórnik Zabrze ofPoland 2–1 at thePrater Stadium inVienna to complete a double triumph.Leeds United reached the semi-final of theEuropean Cup, but lost 3–1 on aggregate to Scottish championsCeltic.[4]
