“Football has got to recognise that it is no longer one of the great sports on television. It may be the number one sport in the country but, sadly, it has lost its way, it is all over the place and is gradually strangling itself to death.”
John Bromley – ITV Head of Sport.
1982-83
Friday July 15th 1983
BBC & ITV agree a shared deal to show ten ‘live’ games for the coming season. Worth £5.2m over two years, each of the ninety-two Football League clubs will receive £25,000 per season, and the remaining £300,000 will go to compensate clubs who claim lost revenue due to live coverage.
1983-84
Sunday October 2nd 1983
ITV transmit the first ‘live’ Football League game on terrestrial television since 1960. Spurs beat Nottingham F. 2-1.
1984-85
Wednesday March 13th 1985
A full-scale riot at the FA Cup quarter-final between Luton and Millwall (old Div 3). This leads to Luton banning away fans, enforcing a membership card scheme and announcing the conversion of Kenilworth Road into an all-seater stadium.
Saturday May 11th 1985
The final Saturday of the season. A fire breaks out in the main stand at Valley Parade as newly crowned champions Bradford City (old Div 3) take on Lincoln City. Fifty-six people are killed.
Riots as Birmingham (old Div 2) host Leeds. A 15-year-old boy, Ian Hambridge, is killed when a wall collapses.
Wednesday May 29th 1985
Thirty-nine Juventus fans are killed when a wall collapses at the European Cup Final between Liverpool and Juventus at the Heysel Stadium in Brussels.
Sunday June 2nd 1985
English clubs are banned indefinitely from Europe. This was later set at five years, with Liverpool banned for ten – eventually reduced to six years.
Wednesday June 12th 1985
The Conservative government consider the introduction of a national identity card scheme for all football supporters.
Wednesday July 3rd 1985
The Football League reject the Government plans for an identity card scheme – deeming it impracticable. They will also fight the blanket alcohol ban at grounds.
Thursday July 25th 1985
Mr Justice Popplewell’s interim enquiry into the Bradford fire, also takes into account events at Birmingham and Brussels. Recommendations include stringent improvements in all aspects of safety at football grounds – although he recognises the vast expense involved.
The Government Bill to ban alcohol at all sporting events becomes law.
Thursday August 1st 1985
The Government reject pleas of poverty from clubs regarding the cost of safety implementations. Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher cites the £800,000 recently paid by Everton to Leicester for Gary Lineker as an indication of the money available to clubs.
1985-86
Saturday August 17th 1985
Opening day of the season. Luton draw 1-1 with Nottingham F. It is the first League match on Kenilworth Road’s new artificial surface.
Thursday October 3rd 1985
Football League secretary Graham Kelly attacks clubs involved in secret discussions on the possibility of a breakaway Super League.
Wednesday October 23rd 1985
With gates dropping dramatically, PFA leader Gordon Taylor announces plans for three divisions plus a fourth divided into North and South – with the top division reduced to twenty clubs.
The Football League criticises FA secretary Ted Croker’s support for a new Super League.
Monday November 11th 1985
A dozen top clubs meet to finalise their ideas for a new Super League made up of twenty clubs, a second tier of twenty-four clubs, and a part-time tier of two divisions comprising the other forty-eight clubs.
Thursday January 16th 1986
The Popplewell Report into the Bradford fire and related events is published in full.
Monday April 28th 1986
At an EGM of football club chairmen, the threat of a breakaway Super League is averted – at least for the moment – as Division One clubs are granted greater voting power.
Friday July 4th 1986
Announced that Division One will be cut to twenty clubs over the next two seasons.
1986-87
Wednesday August 27th 1986
A crowd of 8,777 attend Luton’s first home game of the season against Southampton. It is the first time the club has implemented its ban on away fans to go with their new fan membership scheme.
Thursday August 13th 1987
Barclays Bank agrees a three-year deal to become sponsors of the Football League. However with hooliganism still rife and an apparent increase in on-the-field violence, they have a proviso whereby they can pull out after just one year if the problem increases.
1987-88
Thursday September 24th 1987
Chelsea chairman Ken Bates suggests that – to maximise income to the clubs involved – football should start its own TV channel rather than rely on BBC and ITV money.
Friday December 4th 1987
The High Court grants the Football League an injunction on publisher Robert Maxwell buying a majority shareholding in Watford. He already has a controlling interest in both Oxford and Derby, and further shareholdings in Reading (old Div 2).
Sunday December 20th 1987
Begrudgingly, Robert Maxwell pulls out of the Watford deal.
Tuesday January 19th 1988
The Football League tighten-up their rules on individuals having ownership and shareholding interests in more than one club, though this is not retrospective and will not effect Robert Maxwell’s position with Derby, Oxford and Reading (old Div 2).
Wednesday January 27th 1988
Rumoured that the Football League will demand £20m to televise games next season.
Friday May 6th 1988
The BBC and ITV refuse to share exclusive live coverage of Football League games with BskyB – which is due to launch next year.
Thursday May 12th 1988
Football League chairmen accept – in principle – a deal for £9m per season from BskyB – who are not due to begin transmission until August 1989. As both BBC and ITV have so far refused to up their bid, there could be a TV football blackout for the coming season.
Thursday June 2nd 1988
BBC and ITV are offered the chance to show Division One highlights on Saturday nights for the next two years in a deal worth £12m.
Tuesday June 14th 1988
It is reported that arrests inside grounds rose by 13% last season.
Thursday June 16th 1988
Following major disturbances during the European Championships in West Germany, the FA withdraws its application for English clubs to be re-admitted into Europe next season.
Monday July 4th 1988
Uruguayan Danny Bergara is installed as manager at Rochdale (old Div 4), and becomes the first appointment in the Football League whose native language is not English.
Sunday July 10th 1988
ITV offer £33m over four years to screen Football League and Littlewoods Cup games. The plan is to share this amongst ten clubs. The ‘Big Five’ – Arsenal, Everton, Liverpool, Man Utd and Spurs – would each collect £600,000 annually, plus £150,000 per games. The second five – Aston Villa, Newcastle, Nottingham F, Sheffield Wed and West Ham would collect £400,000 per year plus £150,000 per game. Meanwhile the BBC and BskyB are said to be offering between £39m and £47m over four years to be shared between the Football League and FA.
Tuesday July 12th 1988
A High Court injunction brought about by the Football League puts a block on the ‘Big Five’ signing a separate deal with ITV.
Wednesday July 13th 1988
ITV increase their four-year offer to £52m. Following a meeting with the ‘Big Ten’ at Old Trafford the Football League President Phillip Carter insists that all Football League clubs would benefit from the deal.
Friday July 15th 1988
Eight of the ‘Big Ten’ do not attend an EGM of the Football League Management Committee. However, it is agreed amongst the full members that both ITV and BskyB / BBC bids will be considered.
Friday July 22nd 1988
The High Court injunction is dropped after the ‘Big Ten’ announce an agreement whereby no matches can be televised without Football League permission.
Monday August 8th 1988
PFA boss Gordon Taylor agrees to accept an offer of 5% from the ITV deal.
The fans membership scheme to stave off hooliganism is still alive as Sports Minister Colin Moynihan decrees that clubs should be implementing a system within a year.
1988-89
Saturday August 27th 1988
Division One begins life as a slimmed-down twenty-club league.
Monday September 19th 1988
PFA boss Gordon Taylor – the hot tip to replace Football League secretary Graham Kelly – announces that he will not be leaving his current post.
Tuesday October 18th 1988
President Phillip Carter (Everton chairman) – along with Management Committee member David Dein (Arsenal vice-chairman) are removed from their Football League posts for excessive bias towards the big clubs during the recent TV negotiations.
Friday October 28th 1988
The Government propose to introduce a levy on transfer fees to pay for the fans identity card scheme.
Sunday October 30th 1988
Live football returns to television with ITV transmitting the 1-1 draw between Everton and Man Utd.
Monday November 21st 1988
Jack Dunnett (Notts Co director) is elected President of the Football League and pledges to fight the fans membership scheme. He had previously held the same office between 1981 and 1986.
Thursday November 24th 1988
BskyB / BBC gain the TV rights for FA Cup and England internationals. The deal with the FA is worth £30m over five years.
Friday December 16th 1988
League President Jack Dunnett estimates the fans membership scheme could cost clubs up to £34m. At the same meeting the FA’s chief executive (designate) Graham Kelly describes the scheme as “horrendous”.
Monday December 19th 1988
Spurs sign the biggest sponsorship deal in Football League history – £1.1m over three years with Holsten.
Thursday January 5th 1989
Although the previous season had seen Luton finish ninth, win the Littlewoods Cup, reach the FA Cup semi-final and the Simod (Full Members) Cup Final, they announces losses of £327,000. They are the one club who voluntarily introduced a fans membership scheme as well as banning away fans.
Friday February 10th 1989
Ted Croker retires after sixteen years as secretary at the FA.
Tuesday April 11th 1989
UEFA will lift the ban on English clubs in Europe for the beginning of 1990-91 – providing the British government are in agreement. Although Liverpool are due an additional ban, Minister of Sport Colin Moynihan will make a personal appeal for them to be allowed back at the same time as other clubs.
Saturday April 15th 1989
FA Cup Semi-Final – Liverpool v Nottingham F. The Hillsborough Disaster. In total, ninety-six fans lose their life.
Friday June 9th 1989
Jack Dunnett resigns as Football League President after just six-and-a-half months.
Football League clubs will now be allowed to field three foreign players rather than two.
Friday August 4th 1989
The interim Taylor Report into the Hillsborough Disaster is published. It recommends all-round improvements in policing, and health and safety facilities.
Friday August 11th 1989
Bill Fox (Blackburn chairman) is elected Football League President, and immediately announces that PFA chief Gordon Taylor will be installed as chief executive by the end of September.
Artificial pitches will be banned in the top two divisions from 1991-92.
Referees and linesmen will receive pay increases – to £100 and £50 per match respectively.
Tuesday August 15th 1989
Barclays Bank signs a three-year extension to their sponsorship contract with the Football League. It is now worth an extra £7m.
Friday August 18th 1989
Millionaire property trader Michael Knighton announces that he will buy out Man Utd’s major shareholder Martin Edwards for about £20m. He also pledges to redevelop the Stretford End at Old Trafford for a further £10m.
1989-90
Wednesday October 11th 1989
After nearly two months of negotiations with possible investors – and the threat of a mass walkout by the existing board members, Michael Knighton withdraws his bid to buy Man Utd and instead accepts a place on the board for just a £20,000 investment.
Tuesday October 31st 1989
With the PFA stating that they would not release Gordon Taylor from his position with them, ex-referee and public administrator Arthur Sandford is appointed as Chief Executive of the Football League.
Derby agree to act as a government guinea pig for the new fans ID card scheme.
Monday November 6th 1989
Chelsea join Derby as ID card scheme guinea pigs.
Thursday November 16th 1989
The Football Spectator Bill – which includes the ID card scheme – becomes law after receiving the Royal Assent.
Wednesday December 6th 1989
Media mogul Rupert Murdoch is reported to be interested in buying Man Utd so that he can feature them exclusively on his Sky Channel.
Thursday January 25th 1990
Prior to the full publication of the Taylor Report, it seems likely that the government will accept its condemnation of the proposed ID card scheme. As well as the prohibitive cost, the report will suggest that its introduction would merely increase the danger of crushing immediately outside football grounds.
Monday January 29th 1990
The Taylor Report on the safety of football grounds is published in full. It is recommended that all Football League stadiums should be all-seated by August 1999, with Division One and Two clubs fulfilling this directive by August 1994. The estimated cost to clubs is in the region of £130m. Though the government will not be financing any part of this, they agree to shelve the fans ID card scheme.
Friday February 16th 1990
Liverpool and Everton are looking at the possibility of building a new-shared stadium on the outskirts of the city.
Sunday February 18th 1990
Rumours persist about UEFA’s plan for a new European Super League, which would include Arsenal, Liverpool and Glasgow Rangers.
Wednesday April 18th 1990
English clubs will be allowed back into Europe next season – provided the fans behave during the World Cup finals in Italy this summer.
Millionaire property developer John Hall is co-opted onto the Newcastle (old Div 2) board.
Saturday May 5th 1990
Amongst numerous outbreaks of violence around the country on the final Saturday of the league season, Leeds (old Div 2) fans ‘celebrate’ their return to the top flight by rioting and looting at Bournemouth. This is despite police advice to move the date away from a Bank Holiday.
Tuesday May 8th 1990
Businessman Sir Jack Hayward completes his £2.1m take-over of Wolves (old Div 2).
Friday June 1st 1990
Ken Bates (Chelsea chairman) proposal for the top division to revert back to twenty-two clubs is defeated at the Football League AGM. Also defeated is a proposal that ITV income should be evenly distributed amongst the clubs for ‘live’ transmissions.
Tuesday June 19th 1990
Chelsea are granted planning permission to redevelop Stamford Bridge into a 35,000 all-seater stadium.
Friday June 22nd 1990
Following Graham Taylor’s appointment as England boss, Aston Villa bring in Czech national manager Dr Jozef Venglos. He becomes the first manager in the top division whose first language is not English.
Thursday August 2nd 1990
In an about-turn, league clubs vote to return the top division to twenty-two clubs for the start of the 1991-92 season. Three clubs oppose the move – Arsenal, Man Utd and Spurs.
A new estimate is put on the implementation of ground improvements demanded by the Taylor Report. This time it is £400m.
Monday August 6th 1990
PFA boss Gordon Taylor voices concern over the amount of foreign imports into the domestic game.
Sunday August 12th 1990
ITV gain the rights to televise the European campaigns of Aston Villa and Man Utd.
Tuesday August 14th 1990
There will be around 115 ‘live’ games shown on TV this coming season of which BskyB will show around seventy, and ITV twenty-one.
1990-91
Saturday August 25th 1990
Of the 244 players who appear in the opening-day fixtures of Division One, only seventeen can be deemed as ‘foreign imports’. Amongst these are well-established top-flight figures such as Bruce Grobbelaar (Liverpool), Hans Segers (Wimbledon) and Pat Ven den Hauwe (Spurs).
Thursday November 29th 1990
On his seventeenth birthday – and yet to make an appearance for the first-team – Ryan Giggs (Man Utd) is offered his first professional contract.
Friday November 30th 1990
Publisher John Madejski takes over at Reading (old Div 3) who have debts of around £700,000.
Tuesday January 1st 1991
Paul Gascoigne (Spurs) becomes the first player sent-off in a ‘live’ televised league game when he is dismissed for descent in the 2-1 home defeat to Man Utd.
Thursday February 14th 1991
Graham Kelly (FA chief executive) echo’s Lord Justice Taylor in encouraging clubs to consider pooling resources and ground sharing.
Friday April 5th 1991
The FA announces the possibility of an eighteen-team Super League to begin in 1992-93.
Monday April 8th 1991
Bill Fox (Football League President) suggests that the FA are attempting to hi-jack Division One. PFA chief Gordon Taylor also voices his reservations about the Super League.
Thursday April 11th 1991
The FA denies the Football League access to their yet-to-be-published Blueprint for the Future of Football. The Football Supporters Association (FSA) voices their opposition to the formation of a Super League.
Friday April 12th 1991
Following an agreement between UEFA and the EEC, clubs will be allowed to field five foreign players in league matches from next season.
Friday April 19th 1991
After six years in the wilderness, Liverpool will be re-admitted into Europe from next season
Wednesday May 8th 1991
Twenty-one leading clubs agree, in principle, to the formation of a Super League.
Thursday June 6th 1991
The Football League give the FA six days in which to abandon their Blueprint for the Future of Football – or face court action.
Monday June 10th 1991
Serial club-owner Robert Maxwell and computer entrepreneur Alan Sugar both express an interest in taking over Spurs.
Man Utd join Spurs as a listed company on the stock exchange.
Friday June 14th 1991.
Sixteen Division One clubs sign a document of intent to join the Premier League. Three do not join, and the other three are against.
Wednesday June 19th 1991
The FA unveils their Blueprint for the Future of Football. This includes the FA-governed Premier League made up of twenty-two clubs – but eventually reducing to eighteen. Also there are stipulations that each member-club should have a minimum requirement of a 20,000 all-seat stadium, live coverage of Premier League matches every week – plus all England internationals – and a new Football League of 70 clubs.
Friday June 28th 1991
Fifteen of the twenty-two Division One clubs agree to resign from the Football League – with others expected to follow.
Sunday June 30th 1991
All twenty-two Division One clubs have now agreed to resign from the Football League.
Wednesday July 17th 1991
Division One clubs sign a ‘founder members document’ locking them into the new Premier League. Division Two clubs have not been consulted, but have been offered a system of three-up, three-down – at least, while the Premier League has twenty-two clubs. The new league will have commercial independence from the Football League and FA.
Thursday July 18th 1991
The FA successfully applies for a hearing of the Football League’s £9m-plus damages claim. The High Court must decide whether the plan for a breakaway league in legal.
Friday August 16th 1991
All twenty-two Division One clubs officially hand in their resignations to the Football League.
1991-92
Saturday August 17th 1991
Bob Murray – chairman of Sunderland (old Div 2) – suggests that the new Premier League members should be isolated by halting promotion and relegation between the leagues. He would also publicly back a strike by the PFA.
Thursday September 5th 1991
The FA’s chief executive Graham Kelly threatens to take court action and shut down the league competition if the Football League continues to oppose the Premier League.
Thursday September 19th 1991
The FA and Football League are finally in agreement. The Football League accepts £2m from the FA, and £1m from the Premier League clubs for the next 5 years.
Monday September 23rd 1991
As the Football League and Premier League revoke a three-year stipulation of period-of-notice, the formation of the Premier League becomes official.
Thursday October 10th 1991
At the inaugural meeting of the Premier League, task forces are set up to lay down the rules and form a constitution.
Monday November 4th 1991
At a meeting of nine Division One clubs the proposal of full-time referees for the Premier League is rejected.
Tuesday November 5th 1991
Serial-club owner Robert Maxwell dies aged 68. The official ruling states that he drowned after falling overboard from his luxury yacht whilst cruising near the Canary Islands.
Thursday November 7th 1991
The FA seeks a reassurance from Premier League clubs for the rapid reduction from twenty-two clubs to eighteen clubs.
Thursday November 14th 1991
It is confirmed that the Premier League will start next season with twenty-two clubs.
Monday December 2nd 1991
PFA chief Gordon Taylor gets unanimous backing at their AGM, and players voice their concern about being consulted with regard to the Premier League. One major concern is the possible consequence of its formation to the smaller clubs. A strike is deemed a possibility.
Sunday December 8th 1991
The Premier League appoints Barclay’s Bank chairman Sir John Quinton as its unpaid non-executive chairman.
Wednesday December 11th 1991
The Premier League’s chief executive (designate) Rick Parry confirms a reduction to twenty clubs in the future.
Sunday January 12th 1992
It is confirmed that the new competition will be called the FA Premier League
Monday February 3rd 1992
In an independent report, Dr Simon Pitt claims that clubs are collectively £130m in debt and warns that many of these could face extinction. He states that these debts are down to spiralling wages, signing-on fees, transfers and a severe underestimation of implementing ground improvements required following the Taylor Report.
Tuesday February 4th 1992
The Premier League reaches a compromise with Division One clubs – whereby there will be no reduction in clubs until 1994-95.
Tuesday February 11th 1992
West Ham fans call for a national demonstration against all-seater stadiums, having rejected the clubs ‘bond’ scheme – whereby fans could secure the right to buy season and match tickets for life in exchange for a non-returnable ‘loan’.
Thursday February 13th 1992
Liverpool sign a record shirt sponsorship contract with Carlsberg worth £4m over 4 years.
Friday February 14th 1992
The Premier League confirms Rick Parry as their chief executive until August. The first Premier League season will begin on August 15th 1992.
Monday April 6th 1992
Players refuse to play in televised Premier League games until a deal can be made. There is still the danger of a players strike.
Monday April 27th 1992
A player’s strike is averted as the PFA accepts a minimum of £1.5m in TV revenue from the Premier League – 50% above the previous offer.
Saturday May 2nd 1992;
The curtain falls on the final top-flight Football League Division One season. Leeds are champions with Man Utd runner-up – their 25th season without the title. At the other end Coventry, despite losing at Aston Villa, survive as Luton are consigned to relegation. Middlesbrough gain automatic promotion from Division Two and will join Ipswich in the new FA Premier League, while Derby, Leicester, Cambridge and Blackburn will vie for the final promotion spot via the play-offs.
Barclays League Division One Final Table – 1991-92.
| Pos | Club | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | Manager |
| 1 (C) | Leeds | 42 | 22 | 16 | 4 | 74 | 37 | 82 | Howard Wilkinson |
| 2 | Man Utd | 42 | 21 | 15 | 6 | 63 | 38 | 78 | Alex Ferguson |
| 3 | Sheff Wed | 42 | 21 | 12 | 9 | 62 | 49 | 75 | Trevor Francis (p/m) |
| 4 | Arsenal | 42 | 19 | 15 | 8 | 81 | 46 | 72 | George Graham |
| 5 | Man City | 42 | 20 | 10 | 12 | 61 | 48 | 70 | Peter Reid (p/m) |
| 6 | Liverpool | 42 | 16 | 16 | 10 | 47 | 40 | 64 | Graeme Souness |
| 7 | Aston Villa | 42 | 17 | 9 | 16 | 48 | 44 | 60 | Ron Atkinson |
| 8 | Nottingham F. | 42 | 16 | 11 | 15 | 60 | 58 | 59 | Brian Clough |
| 9 | Sheff Utd | 42 | 16 | 9 | 17 | 65 | 63 | 57 | Dave Bassett |
| 10 | Crystal Palace | 42 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 53 | 61 | 57 | Steve Coppell |
| 11 | QPR | 42 | 12 | 18 | 12 | 48 | 47 | 54 | Gerry Francis |
| 12 | Everton | 42 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 52 | 51 | 53 | Howard Kendall |
| 13 | Wimbledon | 42 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 53 | 53 | 53 | Joe Kinnear |
| 14 | Chelsea | 42 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 50 | 60 | 53 | Ian Porterfield |
| 15 | Spurs | 42 | 15 | 7 | 20 | 58 | 63 | 52 | Peter Shreeves |
| 16 | Southampton | 42 | 14 | 10 | 18 | 39 | 55 | 52 | Ian Branfoot |
| 17 | Oldham | 42 | 14 | 9 | 19 | 63 | 67 | 51 | Joe Royle |
| 18 | Norwich | 42 | 11 | 12 | 19 | 47 | 63 | 45 | Vacant |
| 19 | Coventry | 42 | 11 | 11 | 20 | 35 | 44 | 44 | Don Howe |
| 20 (R) | Luton | 42 | 10 | 12 | 20 | 38 | 71 | 42 | David Pleat |
| 21 (R) | Notts Co | 42 | 10 | 10 | 22 | 40 | 62 | 40 | Neil Warnock |
| 22 (R) | West Ham | 42 | 9 | 11 | 22 | 37 | 59 | 38 | Billy Bonds |
Barclays League Division Two Final Table Top Six – 1991-92.
| Pos | Club | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | Manager |
| 1 (C) | Ipswich | 46 | 24 | 12 | 10 | 70 | 50 | 84 | John Lyall |
| 2 (P) | Middlesbrough | 46 | 23 | 11 | 12 | 58 | 41 | 80 | Lennie Lawrence |
| 3 (p/o) | Derby | 46 | 23 | 9 | 14 | 69 | 51 | 78 | Arthur Cox |
| 4 (p/o) | Leicester | 46 | 23 | 8 | 15 | 62 | 55 | 77 | Brian Little |
| 5 (p/o) | Cambridge U | 46 | 19 | 17 | 10 | 65 | 47 | 74 | John Beck |
| 6 (p/o) | Blackburn | 46 | 21 | 11 | 14 | 70 | 53 | 74 | Kenny Dalglish |
Individual appearance and goalscoring records by club – Division One 1991-92.
| Club | Most Appearances (inc subs) | Top Scorer |
| Leeds (C) | John Lukic + Gary McAllister (42) | Lee Chapman (16) |
| Man Utd | Brian McClair (42) | Brian McClair (18) |
| Sheff Wed | Carlton Palmer (42) | David Hirst (18) |
| Arsenal | David Seaman + Paul Merson (42) | Ian Wright (24) |
| Man City | Keith Curle + Ian Brightwell (40) | David White (18) |
| Liverpool | Bruce Grobbelaar (37) | Dean Saunders (10) |
| Aston Villa | Shaun Teale + Kevin Richardson (42) | Cyrille Regis + Tony Daley (11) |
| Nott’m F. | Roy Keane + Scot Gemmill + Teddy Sherringham (39) | Teddy Sherringham (13) |
| Sheff Utd | Paul Beesley (40) | Brian Deane (12) |
| Crystal P. | Mark Bright (42) | Mark Bright (17) |
| QPR | Jan Stejskal + David Bardsley (41) | Les Ferdinand (10) |
| Everton | Neville Southall + Peter Beardsley (42) | Peter Beardsley (15) |
| Wimbledon | Warren Barton (42) | John Fashanu (18) |
| Chelsea | Graeme Le Saux (40) | Denis Wise (10) |
| Spurs | Gary Mabbutt (40) | Gary Lineker (28) |
| Southampton | Tim Flowers + Alan Shearer (41) | Alan Shearer (13) |
| Oldham | Nick Henry + Graeme Sharp + Andy Holden (42) | Graeme Sharp (12) |
| Norwich | Rob Newman (41) | Robert Fleck (11) |
| Coventry | Lloyd McGrath (40) | Kevin Gallacher (8) |
| Luton (R) | John Dreyer + Mark Pembridge (42) | Mick Harford (12) |
| Notts Co (R) | Steve Cherry (42) | Tommy Johnson (9) |
| West H. (R) | Ian Bishop + Stuart Slater (41) | Mike Small (13) |
Individual appearance and goalscoring records by club – Division Two top six 1991-92.
| Club | Most Appearances (inc subs) | Top Scorer |
| Ipswich (P) | Craig Forrest + Mike Stockwell (46) | Chris Kiwomya (16) |
| Middlesbrough (P) | Paul Wilkinson (46) | Bernie Slaven (16) |
| Derby (p/o) | Andy Comyn (46) | Paul Williams (13) |
| Leicester (p/o) | Gary Mills (46) | Tommy Wright (12) |
| Cambridge (p/o) | Alan Kimble (45) | Dion Dublin (15) |
| Blackburn (p/o) | Bobby Mimms (45) | David Speedie (23) |
Sunday May 3rd 1992
Leeds veteran Gordon Strachan (35) quits international football having amassed 50 caps for Scotland.
Monday May 4th 1992
Following Dave Stringer’s resignation on the eve of the final day of the season, Norwich draw-up a shortlist that includes reserve team coach Mike Walker and 1st team coach Dave Williams. Also in-the-frame are David Pleat, manager of relegated Luton, David Webb, who took Southend to a best-ever 12th place finish in Division Two, Martin O’Neill, who led Wycombe to runners-up spot in the GM Vauxhall Conference, and Joe Royle who has just kept Oldham in the top division. Another name mentioned is England World Cup ’66 hero and ex-Canary Martin Peters.
Wednesday May 6th 1992
England defender Des Walker (Nottingham F.) to Sampdoria (£1.5m)
Friday May 8th 1992
Liverpool boss Graeme Souness leaves hospital after a triple-bypass operation.
Howard Wilkinson (Leeds) is named Barclays Manager of the Year.
Tuesday May 12th 1992
Man Utd and ex-England legend Bryan Robson (35) is rumoured to be in line for the Norwich job – having been seen in Norwich recently with his agent. They, however, claim that they were there on ‘other business’. Another name being mentioned is Ray Harford (assistant manager at Blackburn).
Friday May 15th 1992
Spurs sack Peter Shreeves for a second time, though officially his one-year contract is not being renewed. Chief Executive Terry Venables is allegedly looking at a possible continental set-up with 1st team coach Doug Livermore looking after the day-to-day running of the team while he himself takes care of the management side. However, Wimbledon boss Joe Kinnear, who roomed with Venables in their Spurs playing days, is also touted as a strong candidate. Once again, David Webb (Southend) is a name being bandied about, as is an intriguing dark horse, Gerard Houllier – currently assistant to Michel Platini for the French national team. Houllier has already been mentioned for the Liverpool job following doubts about Graeme Souness’ future. But two former Spurs stars have been discounted. Glenn Hoddle, whose Swindon team narrowly missed a Division Two play-off berth, and Ossie Ardiles who took up the reigns at WBA (old Div 3) last week.
Monday May 18th 1992
The Premier League strike a deal with BSkyB and the BBC worth £304m over 5 years. This allows Sky to broadcast 60 live games a season on Sunday afternoons and Monday evenings, and the BBC to show highlights.
1982 – 1992: THE PRE-PREMIER LEAGUE YEARS – SOME KEY EVENTS [cont]
Wednesday May 20th 1992
Phil Neal, who recently departed as manager of Bolton (old Div 3), is another name added to the Norwich shortlist.
Thursday May 21st 1992
ITV calls for the scrapping of the BSkyB / BBC television deal.
Having saved Newcastle (old Div 2) from an ignominious relegation to Division Three, Kevin Keegan signs an extended contract.
Monday May 25th 1992
Blackburn beat Leicester 1-0 in the play-off final to return to the top flight for the first time since 1966. Mike Newell scores the only goal from the penalty spot.