Season 01 – 1992-93

 

Norwich are back on top after a 3-0 victory at Nottingham F. who are now one place off the bottom.

Veteran goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar (Liverpool) loaned to Stoke (Div 2).

 

Arsenal announce that veteran defender David O’Leary (34) will be allowed to leave on a free transfer at the end of the season.

Striker Mick Harford (Chelsea) to Sunderland (£250,000) after just seven months at Stamford Bridge.

David Speedie (Southampton) returns from WBA (Div 2) and is immediately loaned out to West Ham (Div 1).

 

Aston Villa go back to the top with a 2-0 win over Sheffield Wed. Man Utd draw 1-1 at Man City and Norwich are beaten 3-0 at Wimbledon. At the bottom a Chris Coleman goal gives Crystal Palace a vital win at Sheffield Utd, which leaves the South Londoners five points above the relegation zone and the Blades teetering on the brink of it.

 

Oldham’s crucial 3-2 victory over fellow-strugglers Middlesbrough lifts them out of the bottom three.

Sammy Lee (34) – currently reserve team coach at Liverpool – is named in an injury-hit squad for Tuesday’s game at Crystal Palace. He last played for the Reds in 1986.

 

Crystal Palace and Liverpool draw 1-1 – though Lee doesn’t play. ‘Pool boss Graeme Souness is sent-off for abusing a linesman.

Strikers Roy Wegerle (Blackburn) and Kevin Gallacher (Coventry) swap clubs in a deal worth a reported £1.5m in the midland clubs favour.

 

Man Utd draw 0-0 with Arsenal at Old Trafford as defender John Polston’s goal against championship rivals Aston Villa takes Norwich back to the top.  Meanwhile three points separate the bottom four as Sheffield Utd and Nottingham F. both win away at Coventry and Southampton respectively. In Sheffield Wed’s 1-1 draw with Wimbledon, John Fashanu is red-carded and stretchered-off in an off-the-ball incident with Viv Anderson.

 

Transfer deadline-day. Nottingham F. make an unsuccessful £2m bid for Southend (Div 1) striker Stan Collymore (22).

Future Nigerian international Efan Ekoku (Bournemouth – Div 2) to Norwich (£765,000) – a record for the Hampshire club.

Future England midfielder Graeme Le Saux (Chelsea) to Blackburn (£700,000), which includes striker Steve Livingstone travelling the other way.

Chris Kamara (Luton – Div 1) returns from his loan spell at Middlesbrough.

 

Paul McGrath (Aston Villa) is voted PFA Player of the Year. For the second season running the Young Player of the Year award goes to Ryan Giggs (Man Utd)

 

The FA puts Graeme Souness (Liverpool) on a disrepute charge after being sent-off at Crystal Palace, and Eric Cantona (Man Utd) is fined £1,000 for spitting at Leeds fans last month.

 

The FA warns that players and clubs could be charged with misconduct for over-exuberant celebration of goals.

 

Oldham ease their relegation woes by slamming Wimbledon 6-2, and bottom club Middlesbrough lose 4-0 at Chelsea.

 

Aston Villa go back to the top with a 1-0 victory at struggling Nottingham F.

Future Aston Villa forward Samir Carruthers born in Islington.

 

Man Utd leapfrog Norwich into second place with a 3-1 victory at Carrow Road. They are now a point shy of leaders Aston Villa.

 

Nottingham F. lose 3-1 at home to Blackburn, and Oldham can only draw 1-1 with Sheffield Wed.

Meanwhile top-of-the-table Newcastle’s (Div 1) new signing Andrew Cole makes it six goals in six games with a hat-trick against Barnsley in their 6-0 victory.

 

It’s Easter weekend and Spurs virtually put an end to Norwich’s title aspirations with a 5-1 victory at White Hart Lane. Crystal Palace are back in the relegation mire after losing 4-0 in an ‘away’ game at Selhurst Park against tenants Wimbledon.

 

Steve Bruce is the unlikely scorer of a late-brace as Man Utd beat Sheffield Wed 2-1 to return to the top. Rivals Aston Villa can only 0-0 at home to Coventry. Les Ferdinand (QPR) nets a hat-trick as bottom club Nottingham F. go down 4-3 in a thriller at Loftus Road.

 

Yet another defender, this time Denis Irwin, gives Man Utd a 1-0 victory at Coventry, and Tony Daley gives Aston Villa victory at Arsenal. Les Ferdinand scores his second hat-trick in three days as QPR win 5-3 at Everton. Chris Bart-Williams also scores three for Sheffield Wed as they beat Southampton 5-2. At the bottom Nottingham F. beat Spurs 2-1 and Crystal Palace crush Middlesbrough 4-1.

 

Oldham draw 1-1 with Sheffield Utd, leaving them both still in trouble.

Vinny Jones (Wimbledon) is banned for four matches for reaching 41 disciplinary points. He is also told to ‘grow up!’

 

Chris Sutton scores a hat-trick as Norwich beat Leeds 4-2. Three points adrift of the top, their remote chance of overhauling Man Utd and Aston Villa is still alive – but only just. After a hectic few days the relegation issues are no clearer. Seven points separate the bottom five of Middlesbrough, Nottingham F., Oldham, Sheffield Utd and Crystal Palace – the favourites to stay up. Ipswich, who have not picked up a league win since beating Man Utd in January – a total of thirteen games – are just two points ahead of the Selhurst Park outfit.

 

A 3-0 win for Man Utd puts them four points clear of Aston Villa. At the bottom Crystal Palace play out a goalless draw at Leeds but Oldham, Nottingham F. and Middlesbrough all lose. Elsewhere, a Mark Walters hat-trick helps Liverpool to a 4-0 victory over Coventry.

 

Aston Villa beat Man City 3-1 and now sit one point behind Man Utd. Both have three games left.

 

Ipswich finally end the title dreams of local rivals Norwich and – at the same time – ensure their own safety, with a 3-1 victory at Portman Road.

 

Man Utd have the title within their sight after their 2-0 victory at Crystal Palace, while Aston Villa lose 3-0 at Blackburn.

 

Nottingham F.’s manager Brian Clough announces his retirement after 18 years at the helm.

 

Middlesbrough director Steve Gibson is alleged to be trying to gain control of the club as chairman Colin Henderson resigns after seven years in charge.

 

Nottingham F. are relegated. In an emotional final home match for Brian Clough, they lose 2-0 to fellow strugglers Sheffield Utd. Also down are Middlesbrough after just one season back in the top flight – despite a 3-2 victory at Sheffield Wed.

Chris Waddle (Sheffield Wed) is voted the football writers ‘Footballer of the Year’.

 

Man Utd are champions as Aston Villa lose 1-0 at home to Oldham who, with two games to go, have given themselves a fighting chance of avoiding the drop.

It emerges that the Liverpool board have secretly met and there is speculation regarding the survival of manager Graeme Souness.

 

Man Utd celebrate their first championship in twenty-six years by beating Blackburn 3-1.

 

Sheffield Utd win 2-0 at Everton to ensure top-flight football next season.

Newcastle (Div 1) are promoted as champions.

 

Crystal Palace draw 0-0 at Man City, whilst Oldham win 3-2 at Liverpool, where Don Hutchinson becomes the sixth Red to be sent-off this season.

 

Oldham survive and send Crystal Palace down. The Latics beat Southampton 4-3 despite a Matthew Le Tissier hat-trick. Palace lose 3-0 at Arsenal where their ex-striker Ian Wright scores the opening goal. Elsewhere Norwich secure third place, and the Kop witnesses its final game before redevelopment as Liverpool end with a flourish – beating Spurs 6-2. Ian Rush scores his 300th goal for the club but Graeme Souness is conspicuously absent.

West Ham (Div 1) are promoted as runners-up to Newcastle.

Future Republic of Ireland international and long-throw expert Rory Delap (16) makes his league debut as a substitute for Carlisle (Div 3) in their final game of the season – a 2-2 draw at Scarborough.

 

New champions Man Utd end their season with a 2-1 victory at Wimbledon where Bryan Robson starts his first game since December – and scores their final goal of the campaign. Elsewhere Liverpool surprisingly announce that Graeme Souness will remain as manager for another three years.

Portsmouth, Tranmere, Swindon and Leicester will contest the play-off for promotion to next season’s Carling Premier League.

 

The curtain falls on the first season of the FA Premier League as QPR and Spurs beat FA Cup Finalists Sheffield Wed and Arsenal respectively – both by 3-1 scorelines.

David Webb, having led Chelsea to a comfortable mid-table finish, is not offered an extension on his contract.

David Webb Premier League managerial record

Club P W D L Pts Average Points per game
Chelsea 13 5 4 4 19 1.461
TOTAL 13 5 4 4 19 1.461