| Season | 1984–85 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Everton |
1985–86 → | |
The1984–85 season was the 86th completed season ofThe Football League.
The tables and results below are reproduced here in the exact form that they can be found atThe Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation website,[1] with home and away statistics separated.
During the first five seasons of the league, that is, until the season 1893–94, re-election process concerned the clubs which finished in the bottom four of the league. From the 1894–95 season and until the 1920–21 season the re-election process was required of the clubs which finished in the bottom three of the league. From the 1922–23 season on it was required of the bottom two teams of both Third Division North and Third Division South. Since theFourth Division was established in the1958–59 season, the re-election process has concerned the bottom four clubs in that division.[2]
| Season | 1984–85 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Everton 8thEnglish title |
| Relegated | Norwich City Sunderland Stoke City |
| Matches | 462 |
| Goals | 1,288 (2.79 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Gary Lineker Kerry Dixon (24 goals each)[3] |
| Biggest home win | Chelsea 6–2Coventry City (3 November 1984) |
| Biggest away win | Aston Villa 0–5Nottingham Forest (5 September 1984) |
| Highest scoring | Queens Park Rangers 5–5Newcastle United (22 September 1984) |
| Longest winning run | 10 matches Everton |
| Longest unbeaten run | 18 matches Everton |
| Longest losing run | 10 matches Stoke City |
1985–86 → | |
Howard Kendall'sEverton side beat neighboursLiverpool to the league championship by thirteen points with five games to spare, whileTottenham Hotspur andManchester United followed closely behind. Kendall's team also collected theCup Winners' Cup.Southampton completed the top five, but long-serving managerLawrie McMenemy then delivered a major surprise by resigning as manager to take over at relegatedSunderland.
The season marked the return ofSheffield Wednesday to the First Division after 14 years away,Newcastle United after six years away, andChelsea after five years. All three sides secured First Division survival comfortably.
Stoke City finished bottom of the First Division with just three league wins all season and just 17 points – a record low under the 3 points for a win system in any division, which would stand for twenty-one years.Norwich City and Sunderland – the two League Cup finalists – occupied the two other relegation places.
Liverpool managerJoe Fagan retired after the season and strikerKenny Dalglish was appointed player-manager.
The First Division's leading scorers this season wereGary Lineker atLeicester City andKerry Dixon at Chelsea, with both players scoring 24 league goals.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Everton(C) | 42 | 28 | 6 | 8 | 88 | 43 | +45 | 90 | Qualified for theFootball League Super Cup and disqualified from theEuropean Cup[4] |
| 2 | Liverpool | 42 | 22 | 11 | 9 | 68 | 35 | +33 | 77 | Qualified for theFootball League Super Cup and disqualified from theUEFA Cup[5] |
| 3 | Tottenham Hotspur | 42 | 23 | 8 | 11 | 78 | 51 | +27 | 77 | |
| 4 | Manchester United[a] | 42 | 22 | 10 | 10 | 77 | 47 | +30 | 76 | Qualified for theFootball League Super Cup and disqualified from theEuropean Cup Winners' Cup[6] |
| 5 | Southampton | 42 | 19 | 11 | 12 | 56 | 47 | +9 | 68 | Qualified for theFootball League Super Cup and disqualified from theUEFA Cup[5] |
| 6 | Chelsea | 42 | 18 | 12 | 12 | 63 | 48 | +15 | 66 | |
| 7 | Arsenal | 42 | 19 | 9 | 14 | 61 | 49 | +12 | 66 | |
| 8 | Sheffield Wednesday | 42 | 17 | 14 | 11 | 58 | 45 | +13 | 65 | |
| 9 | Nottingham Forest | 42 | 19 | 7 | 16 | 56 | 48 | +8 | 64 | |
| 10 | Aston Villa | 42 | 15 | 11 | 16 | 60 | 60 | 0 | 56 | |
| 11 | Watford | 42 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 81 | 71 | +10 | 55 | |
| 12 | West Bromwich Albion | 42 | 16 | 7 | 19 | 58 | 62 | −4 | 55 | |
| 13 | Luton Town | 42 | 15 | 9 | 18 | 57 | 61 | −4 | 54 | |
| 14 | Newcastle United | 42 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 55 | 70 | −15 | 52 | |
| 15 | Leicester City | 42 | 15 | 6 | 21 | 65 | 73 | −8 | 51 | |
| 16 | West Ham United | 42 | 13 | 12 | 17 | 51 | 68 | −17 | 51 | |
| 17 | Ipswich Town | 42 | 13 | 11 | 18 | 46 | 57 | −11 | 50 | |
| 18 | Coventry City | 42 | 15 | 5 | 22 | 47 | 64 | −17 | 50 | |
| 19 | Queens Park Rangers | 42 | 13 | 11 | 18 | 53 | 72 | −19 | 50 | |
| 20 | Norwich City[b](R) | 42 | 13 | 10 | 19 | 46 | 64 | −18 | 49 | Qualified for theFootball League Super Cup and disqualified from theUEFA Cup and relegated to theSecond Division[7] |
| 21 | Sunderland(R) | 42 | 10 | 10 | 22 | 40 | 62 | −22 | 40 | Relegation to theSecond Division |
| 22 | Stoke City(R) | 42 | 3 | 8 | 31 | 24 | 91 | −67 | 17 |
| Home \ Away | ARS | AST | CHE | COV | EVE | IPS | LEI | LIV | LUT | MUN | NEW | NOR | NOT | QPR | SHW | SOU | STK | SUN | TOT | WAT | WBA | WHU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenal | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 4–0 | 3–2 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–1 | |
| Aston Villa | 0–0 | 4–2 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 3–0 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 0–5 | 5–2 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–0 | |
| Chelsea | 1–1 | 3–1 | 6–2 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 3–0 | |
| Coventry City | 1–2 | 0–3 | 1–0 | 4–1 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–3 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 4–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–2 | |
| Everton | 2–0 | 2–1 | 3–4 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 5–0 | 4–0 | 3–0 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 4–1 | 1–4 | 4–0 | 4–1 | 3–0 | |
| Ipswich Town | 2–1 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 5–1 | 0–2 | 0–3 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 0–1 | |
| Leicester City | 1–4 | 5–0 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | |
| Liverpool | 3–0 | 2–1 | 4–3 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 4–3 | 0–0 | 3–0 | |
| Luton Town | 3–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 1–2 | 2–2 | |
| Manchester United | 4–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 5–0 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | |
| Newcastle United | 1–3 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 2–3 | 3–0 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | |
| Norwich City | 1–0 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 3–3 | 3–0 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 3–2 | 2–1 | 1–0 | |
| Nottingham Forest | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–2 | |
| Queens Park Rangers | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 4–3 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 1–3 | 5–5 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 4–2 | |
| Sheffield Wednesday | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 5–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 4–2 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | |
| Southampton | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 4–3 | 2–3 | |
| Stoke City | 2–0 | 1–3 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 0–4 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 1–3 | 0–0 | 2–4 | |
| Sunderland | 0–0 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 0–4 | 0–3 | 3–0 | 3–2 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–2 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 4–2 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 2–2 | |
| Watford | 3–4 | 3–3 | 1–3 | 0–1 | 4–5 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 5–0 | |
| West Bromwich Albion | 2–2 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 5–2 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 0–5 | 4–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 4–1 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 5–1 | |
| West Ham United | 3–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 0–3 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–3 | 0–0 | 2–3 | 5–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 |
| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newcastle United | Signed by Derby County | 28 May 1984 | Pre-season | 19 July 1984 | ||
| Queens Park Rangers | Signed by Barcelona | 30 May 1984 | 20 June 1984 | |||
| Tottenham Hotspur | Resigned | 31 May 1984 | 1 June 1984 | |||
| Aston Villa | Sacked | 5 June 1984 | 2 July 1984 | |||
| Queens Park Rangers | 5 December 1984 | 13th | 5 December 1984 | |||
| Coventry City | 28 December 1984 | 21st | 28 December 1984 | |||
| Stoke City | Resigned | 2 April 1985 | 22nd | 2 April 1985 |
| Season | 1984–85 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Oxford United |
| Promoted | Oxford United Birmingham City Manchester City |
| Relegated | Notts County Cardiff City Wolverhampton Wanderers |
| Matches | 462 |
| Goals | 1,255 (2.72 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | John Aldridge (30 goals)[3] |
1985–86 → | |
Jim Smith'sOxford United side won a successive promotion as Second Division champions and reached the First Division after just 23 years as Football League members. Following them into the big time wereBirmingham City andManchester City.
Slipping out of the league’s second tier wereCardiff City, joined byNotts County andWolverhampton Wanderers – both relegated for the second season in succession. Veteran managerTommy Docherty had tried his hand at reversing financially troubled Wolves' rapid decline at Molineux, but without success.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oxford United(C, P) | 42 | 25 | 9 | 8 | 84 | 36 | +48 | 84 | Promotion to theFirst Division |
| 2 | Birmingham City(P) | 42 | 25 | 7 | 10 | 59 | 33 | +26 | 82 | |
| 3 | Manchester City(P) | 42 | 21 | 11 | 10 | 66 | 40 | +26 | 74 | |
| 4 | Portsmouth | 42 | 20 | 14 | 8 | 69 | 50 | +19 | 74 | |
| 5 | Blackburn Rovers | 42 | 21 | 10 | 11 | 66 | 41 | +25 | 73 | |
| 6 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 42 | 20 | 12 | 10 | 54 | 34 | +20 | 72 | |
| 7 | Leeds United | 42 | 19 | 12 | 11 | 66 | 43 | +23 | 69 | |
| 8 | Shrewsbury Town | 42 | 18 | 11 | 13 | 66 | 53 | +13 | 65 | |
| 9 | Fulham | 42 | 19 | 8 | 15 | 68 | 64 | +4 | 65 | |
| 10 | Grimsby Town | 42 | 18 | 8 | 16 | 72 | 64 | +8 | 62 | |
| 11 | Barnsley | 42 | 14 | 16 | 12 | 42 | 42 | 0 | 58 | |
| 12 | Wimbledon | 42 | 16 | 10 | 16 | 71 | 75 | −4 | 58 | |
| 13 | Huddersfield Town | 42 | 15 | 10 | 17 | 52 | 64 | −12 | 55 | |
| 14 | Oldham Athletic | 42 | 15 | 8 | 19 | 49 | 67 | −18 | 53 | |
| 15 | Crystal Palace | 42 | 12 | 12 | 18 | 46 | 65 | −19 | 48 | |
| 16 | Carlisle United | 42 | 13 | 8 | 21 | 50 | 67 | −17 | 47 | |
| 17 | Charlton Athletic | 42 | 11 | 12 | 19 | 51 | 63 | −12 | 45 | |
| 18 | Sheffield United | 42 | 10 | 14 | 18 | 54 | 66 | −12 | 44 | |
| 19 | Middlesbrough | 42 | 10 | 10 | 22 | 41 | 57 | −16 | 40 | |
| 20 | Notts County(R) | 42 | 10 | 7 | 25 | 45 | 73 | −28 | 37 | Relegation to theThird Division |
| 21 | Cardiff City(R) | 42 | 9 | 8 | 25 | 47 | 79 | −32 | 35 | |
| 22 | Wolverhampton Wanderers(R) | 42 | 8 | 9 | 25 | 37 | 79 | −42 | 33 |
| Home \ Away | BAR | BIR | BLB | B&HA | CAR | CRL | CHA | CRY | FUL | GRI | HUD | LEE | MCI | MID | NTC | OLD | OXF | POR | SHU | SHR | WDN | WOL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnsley | 0–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 0–0 | 5–1 | |
| Birmingham City | 0–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 3–2 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 4–1 | 0–0 | 4–2 | 1–0 | |
| Blackburn Rovers | 0–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 4–0 | 3–0 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 3–0 | |
| Brighton & Hove Albion | 0–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 4–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 5–1 | |
| Cardiff City | 3–0 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 2–4 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 0–3 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 2–1 | 1–4 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 0–0 | 1–3 | 0–0 | |
| Carlisle United | 2–0 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 0–3 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 0–3 | 1–0 | 2–5 | 0–1 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 6–1 | 0–1 | |
| Charlton Athletic | 5–3 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 4–1 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 1–3 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 3–3 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–0 | |
| Crystal Palace | 0–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–5 | 0–0 | |
| Fulham | 1–1 | 0–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 1–3 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 1–2 | |
| Grimsby Town | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 6–3 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 1–2 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 5–1 | |
| Huddersfield Town | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–5 | 2–1 | 3–1 | |
| Leeds United | 2–0 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–0 | 6–0 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 5–2 | 3–2 | |
| Manchester City | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 5–1 | 2–1 | 2–3 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–0 | 4–0 | |
| Middlesbrough | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 3–2 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–5 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | |
| Notts County | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 0–0 | 1–3 | 2–3 | 4–1 | |
| Oldham Athletic | 2–1 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 2–3 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 3–2 | |
| Oxford United | 4–0 | 0–3 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 5–0 | 5–0 | 3–2 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 5–2 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 5–2 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | |
| Portsmouth | 0–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 4–4 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 5–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 0–1 | |
| Sheffield United | 3–1 | 3–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 0–3 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 0–1 | 3–0 | 2–2 | |
| Shrewsbury Town | 2–0 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 3–3 | 1–2 | 2–1 | |
| Wimbledon | 3–3 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 1–3 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–0 | 1–3 | 3–2 | 5–0 | 4–1 | 1–1 | |
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | 0–1 | 0–2 | 0–3 | 0–1 | 3–0 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 0–4 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 2–3 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 3–3 |
| Season | 1984–85 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Bradford City (1st title) |
| Promoted | Hull City Millwall |
| Relegated | Burnley Cambridge United Orient Preston North End |
| Matches | 552 |
| Goals | 1,503 (2.72 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Tommy Tynan(Plymouth Argyle), 31[3] |
1985–86 → | |
Bradford City's Third Division championship glory was overshadowed on the final day of the season whena fire at theirValley Parade ground killed 56 spectators – including two followers of their opponentsLincoln City.
The other two promotion places in the Third Division were occupied byMillwall andHull City.
Going down from the Third Division wereCambridge United (who won just four games all season),Orient,Burnley andPreston North End. Burnley and Preston were founder members of the Football League who had reached great heights in the past – just 25 years ago Burnley had been league champions. Those successes were now very much a distant memory as all three clubs slid into the league's fourth tier for the first time.
Swansea City, who had finished sixth in the First Division just three years earlier, continued to suffer as a result of their financial problems as they narrowly avoided a third successive relegation.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bradford City(C, P) | 46 | 28 | 10 | 8 | 77 | 45 | +32 | 94[a] | Promotion to theSecond Division |
| 2 | Millwall(P) | 46 | 26 | 12 | 8 | 73 | 42 | +31 | 90 | |
| 3 | Hull City(P) | 46 | 25 | 12 | 9 | 78 | 49 | +29 | 87 | |
| 4 | Gillingham | 46 | 25 | 8 | 13 | 80 | 62 | +18 | 83 | |
| 5 | Bristol City | 46 | 24 | 9 | 13 | 74 | 47 | +27 | 81 | |
| 6 | Bristol Rovers | 46 | 21 | 12 | 13 | 66 | 48 | +18 | 75 | |
| 7 | Derby County | 46 | 19 | 13 | 14 | 65 | 54 | +11 | 70 | |
| 8 | York City | 46 | 20 | 9 | 17 | 70 | 57 | +13 | 69 | |
| 9 | Reading | 46 | 19 | 12 | 15 | 68 | 62 | +6 | 69 | |
| 10 | Bournemouth | 46 | 19 | 11 | 16 | 57 | 46 | +11 | 68 | |
| 11 | Walsall | 46 | 18 | 13 | 15 | 58 | 52 | +6 | 67 | |
| 12 | Rotherham United | 46 | 18 | 11 | 17 | 55 | 55 | 0 | 65 | |
| 13 | Brentford | 46 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 62 | 64 | −2 | 62 | |
| 14 | Doncaster Rovers | 46 | 17 | 8 | 21 | 72 | 74 | −2 | 59 | |
| 15 | Plymouth Argyle | 46 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 62 | 65 | −3 | 59 | |
| 16 | Wigan Athletic | 46 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 60 | 64 | −4 | 59 | |
| 17 | Bolton Wanderers | 46 | 16 | 6 | 24 | 69 | 75 | −6 | 54 | |
| 18 | Newport County | 46 | 13 | 13 | 20 | 55 | 67 | −12 | 52 | |
| 19 | Lincoln City | 46 | 11 | 18 | 17 | 50 | 51 | −1 | 51[a] | |
| 20 | Swansea City | 46 | 12 | 11 | 23 | 53 | 80 | −27 | 47 | |
| 21 | Burnley(R) | 46 | 11 | 13 | 22 | 60 | 73 | −13 | 46 | Relegation to theFourth Division |
| 22 | Orient(R) | 46 | 11 | 13 | 22 | 51 | 76 | −25 | 46 | |
| 23 | Preston North End(R) | 46 | 13 | 7 | 26 | 51 | 100 | −49 | 46 | |
| 24 | Cambridge United(R) | 46 | 4 | 9 | 33 | 37 | 95 | −58 | 21 |
| Home \ Away | BOL | BOU | BRA | BRE | BRC | BRR | BUR | CAM | DER | DON | GIL | HUL | LEY | LIN | MIL | NPC | PLY | PNE | REA | ROT | SWA | WAL | WIG | YOR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bolton Wanderers | 2–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 0–1 | 1–3 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 7–2 | 4–0 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | |
| Bournemouth | 4–0 | 4–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 0–3 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 4–1 | 1–0 | 4–0 | |
| Bradford City | 2–1 | 1–0 | 5–4 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 2–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–0 | |
| Brentford | 2–1 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 0–3 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–2 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–5 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | |
| Bristol City | 3–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 4–3 | 4–0 | 2–3 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 1–0 | |
| Bristol Rovers | 1–2 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 4–2 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | |
| Burnley | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 7–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–1 | |
| Cambridge United | 2–3 | 1–0 | 0–4 | 1–2 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | |
| Derby County | 3–2 | 2–3 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 3–3 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–0 | |
| Doncaster Rovers | 2–0 | 3–0 | 0–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 0–1 | 3–2 | 4–3 | 1–2 | 0–4 | 0–1 | 4–1 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | |
| Gillingham | 2–3 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 3–2 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 4–0 | 4–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 5–1 | 1–0 | |
| Hull City | 2–2 | 3–0 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 4–1 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 0–2 | |
| Orient | 4–3 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–4 | 4–5 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 4–2 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 1–3 | |
| Lincoln City | 2–0 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 | |
| Millwall | 5–2 | 2–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 4–1 | 1–0 | |
| Newport County | 3–2 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 3–2 | 1–0 | 3–3 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | |
| Plymouth Argyle | 2–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 6–4 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 1–0 | 1–1 | |
| Preston North End | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 3–3 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 1–4 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 0–3 | 3–2 | 1–0 | 2–5 | 2–4 | |
| Reading | 3–1 | 0–2 | 0–3 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 3–1 | 0–0 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | |
| Rotherham United | 3–1 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 3–3 | 4–1 | |
| Swansea City | 2–1 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 3–2 | 0–0 | 3–2 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 1–5 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 0–3 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | |
| Walsall | 1–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 4–1 | 1–2 | 2–3 | 5–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 4–2 | 0–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 3–0 | |
| Wigan Athletic | 1–0 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 5–2 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 1–2 | |
| York City | 0–3 | 4–1 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 4–0 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 7–1 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 |
| Season | 1984–85 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Chesterfield (2nd title) |
| Promoted | Blackpool Bury Darlington |
| Failed re-election | None |
| Matches | 552 |
| Goals | 1,478 (2.68 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | John Clayton(Tranmere Rovers), 31[3] |
1985–86 → | |
Chesterfield,Blackpool,Darlington andBury were promoted to the Third Division after occupying the Fourth Division's top four places.
The bottom four clubs,Halifax Town,Stockport County,Northampton Town (who had spent a season in the First Division some 20 years earlier) andTorquay United, all retained their league status after a successful re-election campaign at the expense ofBath City, who were placed 4th in theAlliance Premier League and were the highest placed team there that would have met the Football League's requirements. Re-election results are given at the end of this article.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chesterfield(C, P) | 46 | 26 | 13 | 7 | 64 | 35 | +29 | 91 | Promotion to theThird Division |
| 2 | Blackpool(P) | 46 | 24 | 14 | 8 | 73 | 39 | +34 | 86 | |
| 3 | Darlington(P) | 46 | 24 | 13 | 9 | 66 | 49 | +17 | 85 | |
| 4 | Bury(P) | 46 | 24 | 12 | 10 | 76 | 50 | +26 | 84 | |
| 5 | Hereford United | 46 | 22 | 11 | 13 | 65 | 47 | +18 | 77 | |
| 6 | Tranmere Rovers | 46 | 24 | 3 | 19 | 83 | 66 | +17 | 75 | |
| 7 | Colchester United | 46 | 20 | 14 | 12 | 87 | 65 | +22 | 74 | |
| 8 | Swindon Town | 46 | 21 | 9 | 16 | 62 | 58 | +4 | 72 | |
| 9 | Scunthorpe United | 46 | 19 | 14 | 13 | 83 | 62 | +21 | 71 | |
| 10 | Crewe Alexandra | 46 | 18 | 12 | 16 | 65 | 69 | −4 | 66 | |
| 11 | Peterborough United | 46 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 54 | 53 | +1 | 62 | |
| 12 | Port Vale | 46 | 14 | 18 | 14 | 61 | 59 | +2 | 60 | |
| 13 | Aldershot | 46 | 17 | 8 | 21 | 56 | 63 | −7 | 59 | |
| 14 | Mansfield Town | 46 | 13 | 18 | 15 | 41 | 38 | +3 | 57 | |
| 15 | Wrexham | 46 | 15 | 9 | 22 | 67 | 70 | −3 | 54 | |
| 16 | Chester City | 46 | 15 | 9 | 22 | 60 | 72 | −12 | 54 | |
| 17 | Rochdale | 46 | 13 | 14 | 19 | 55 | 69 | −14 | 53 | |
| 18 | Exeter City | 46 | 13 | 14 | 19 | 57 | 79 | −22 | 53 | |
| 19 | Hartlepool United | 46 | 14 | 10 | 22 | 54 | 67 | −13 | 52 | |
| 20 | Southend United | 46 | 13 | 11 | 22 | 58 | 83 | −25 | 50 | |
| 21 | Halifax Town | 46 | 15 | 5 | 26 | 42 | 69 | −27 | 50 | Re-elected |
| 22 | Stockport County | 46 | 13 | 8 | 25 | 58 | 79 | −21 | 47 | |
| 23 | Northampton Town | 46 | 14 | 5 | 27 | 53 | 74 | −21 | 47 | |
| 24 | Torquay United | 46 | 9 | 14 | 23 | 38 | 63 | −25 | 41 |
| Home \ Away | ALD | BLP | BRY | CHE | CHF | COL | CRE | DAR | EXE | HAL | HAR | HER | MAN | NOR | PET | PTV | ROC | SCU | STD | STP | SWI | TOR | TRA | WRE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aldershot | 1–0 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 3–4 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 5–0 | 1–2 | 6–2 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 3–2 | 2–1 | |
| Blackpool | 1–0 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 6–1 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 4–1 | 1–0 | 3–3 | 1–2 | 0–0 | |
| Bury | 2–1 | 1–0 | 4–1 | 0–0 | 4–3 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 2–3 | |
| Chester City | 2–0 | 0–0 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 5–2 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 1–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 2–4 | 2–1 | |
| Chesterfield | 2–1 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–0 | 5–1 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 4–2 | 2–1 | |
| Colchester United | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 1–2 | 3–4 | 1–3 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 4–1 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 4–1 | |
| Crewe Alexandra | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 3–2 | 3–0 | 1–3 | 3–0 | |
| Darlington | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | |
| Exeter City | 3–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 3–2 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 5–0 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–3 | 0–1 | 2–0 | |
| Halifax Town | 1–2 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 1–2 | |
| Hartlepool United | 1–0 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–3 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 2–1 | 5–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | |
| Hereford United | 2–1 | 2–1 | 5–3 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 3–2 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 0–3 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | |
| Mansfield Town | 1–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | |
| Northampton Town | 4–0 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 5–2 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 0–3 | 1–0 | 0–3 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–4 | |
| Peterborough United | 1–2 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 3–1 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–4 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 | |
| Port Vale | 1–2 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 5–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 0–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 0–0 | |
| Rochdale | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–3 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 3–3 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 0–2 | |
| Scunthorpe United | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–4 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 0–1 | 7–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 6–2 | 2–0 | 5–2 | 5–2 | |
| Southend United | 1–0 | 1–4 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 2–5 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–0 | 2–3 | 0–1 | |
| Stockport County | 6–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 0–3 | 4–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | |
| Swindon Town | 2–1 | 4–1 | 1–0 | 4–4 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 2–1 | |
| Torquay United | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 1–3 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 4–3 | |
| Tranmere Rovers | 4–3 | 3–0 | 3–2 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 3–2 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 4–0 | 4–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | |
| Wrexham | 1–0 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 3–4 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 |
This year the top three teams in the1984–85 Alliance Premier League,Wealdstone,Nuneaton Borough andDartford, could not apply for election because they did not meetFootball League requirements, so fourth-placedBath City won the right to apply for election to the Football League to replace one of the four bottom sides in the 1984–85Football League Fourth Division. The vote went as follows:
| Club | Final Position | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| Northampton Town | 23rd (Fourth Division) | 52 |
| Stockport County | 22nd (Fourth Division) | 50 |
| Torquay United | 24th (Fourth Division) | 50 |
| Halifax Town | 21st (Fourth Division) | 48 |
| Bath City | 4th (Alliance Premier League) | 8 |
As a result of this, all four Football League teams were re-elected, and Bath City were denied membership of the Football League.
| # | Football club | Home games | Average attendance[8] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manchester United | 21 | 42,881 |
| 2 | Liverpool FC | 21 | 34,444 |
| 3 | Everton FC | 21 | 31,984 |
| 4 | Arsenal FC | 21 | 31,205 |
| 5 | Tottenham Hotspur | 21 | 28,930 |
| 6 | Sheffield Wednesday | 21 | 27,781 |
| 7 | Newcastle United | 21 | 26,228 |
| 8 | Chelsea FC | 21 | 23,065 |
| 9 | West Ham United | 21 | 18,433 |
| 10 | Sunderland AFC | 21 | 18,347 |
| 11 | Aston Villa | 21 | 18,318 |
| 12 | Watford FC | 21 | 18,246 |
| 13 | Southampton FC | 21 | 18,046 |
| 14 | Ipswich Town | 21 | 17,220 |
| 15 | Nottingham Forest | 21 | 16,781 |
| 16 | Norwich City | 21 | 15,100 |
| 17 | Leicester City | 21 | 14,546 |
| 18 | Queens Park Rangers | 21 | 14,000 |
| 19 | West Bromwich Albion | 21 | 13,849 |
| 20 | Coventry City | 21 | 12,848 |
| 21 | Luton Town | 21 | 10,816 |
| 22 | Stoke City | 21 | 10,700 |
| # | Football club | Home games | Average attendance[9] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manchester City | 21 | 24,220 |
| 2 | Portsmouth FC | 21 | 15,185 |
| 3 | Leeds United | 21 | 15,161 |
| 4 | Birmingham City | 21 | 12,733 |
| 5 | Sheffield United | 21 | 12,055 |
| 6 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 21 | 11,798 |
| 7 | Oxford United | 21 | 10,577 |
| 8 | Blackburn Rovers | 21 | 9,648 |
| 9 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 21 | 8,375 |
| 10 | Huddersfield Town | 21 | 7,238 |
| 11 | Barnsley FC | 21 | 7,225 |
| 12 | Grimsby Town | 21 | 6,458 |
| 13 | Crystal Palace FC | 21 | 6,446 |
| 14 | Notts County | 21 | 6,211 |
| 15 | Fulham FC | 21 | 6,179 |
| 16 | Middlesbrough FC | 21 | 5,135 |
| 17 | Charlton Athletic | 21 | 5,104 |
| 18 | Shrewsbury Town | 21 | 4,715 |
| 19 | Oldham Athletic | 21 | 4,713 |
| 20 | Wimbledon FC | 21 | 4,391 |
| 21 | Cardiff City | 21 | 4,363 |
| 22 | Carlisle United | 21 | 4,016 |