And now for the classified football results…
Have you ever wondered how Yellow Sport might have reported the football 43-years ago this weekend? Let us take you on a magical trip back to Saturday, May 14, 1977.
Colchester are promoted after last-day drama
Colchester United 2-1 Bradford City
Colchester United will be playing Third Division football next season after Ian Allinson and a Ces Podd own-goals earned a dramatic 2-1 success over fellow promoted side, Bradford City.
A crowd of more than 8,000 were present at Layer Road to back Bobby Roberts’ side. The U’s produced a late run, securing three victories from their last four matches to claim third place – Colchester finished above the Bantams on goal difference and edged out Swansea City, who remain in the basement division, by a single point.
Colchester will point to consistent home form as the key to their success. The North Essex side dropped only six points at Layer Road throughout the campaign, winning nineteen times in front of their own supporters.
Colchester United: Walker, Cook, Leslie, Smith, Dowman, Garwood, Gough, Froggatt, Packer, Allinson
League Division One reports and round-up
Tottenham have the final say in an otherwise disastrous season
Jimmy Holmes and John Pratt scored the goals as Spurs saw off Leicester City at White Hart Lane. However, for the time being, it will be Second Division football for the Lilywhites with their relegation already confirmed.
26,094 turned up for Tottenham’s First Division wake. They, and countless others who stayed away, will insist on an immediate return for a club who were UEFA Cup winner just five years previous.
Tottenham Hotspur: Pat Jennings, Terry Naylor, Keith Osgood, Steve Perryman, Mickey Stead, Jimmy Holmes, Glenn Hoddle, John Pratt, Peter Taylor, Gerry Armstrong, Ian Moores
Hammers hopes?
Liverpool 0-0 West Ham United
Struggling West Ham United secured a highly creditable goalless draw with champions Liverpool in front of 55,675 at Anfield.
The Hammers can confirm their survival with a win over Manchester United at the Boleyn Ground in their final match- the East Londoners have cobbled together a decent run which has seen them lose just once in twelve matches to claw themselves away from the foot of the table. Indeed, six clubs remain in trouble of dropping into the Second Division with Tottenham. Bottom of the table Bristol City have two to play but must win both to stand any chance after their goalless draw at Middlesbrough.
West Ham United: Mervyn Day, Tommy Taylor, Mick McGiven, Billy Bonds, Frank Lampard, Trevor Brooking, Alan Devonshire, Geoff Pike, Billy Jennings, Bryan Robson, Alan Taylor
Gunners beaten at Old Trafford
Manchester United 3-2 Arsenal
Goals from Republic of Ireland duo, Liam Brady and Frank Stapleton, were insufficient for Arsenal, who went down by the odd goal in five against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Gordon Hill, Lou Macari and Jimmy Greenhoff were on target for the home side who will view a top-half finish as continued progress following their return to the top division two season previous.
The season could conclude in style for Tommy Docherty’s side. United face all-conquering Liverpool in the FA Cup final next week, although the Merseysiders head south as red hot favourites to lift the coveted trophy.
Arsenal: Jimmy Rimmer, Pat Rice, Sammy Nelson, David O’Leary, Willie Young, George Armstrong, Liam Brady, Alan Hudson, John Matthews, Malcolm MacDonald, Frank Stapleton
A big win for Queen’s Park Rangers
Leeds United 0-1 Queen’s Park Rangers
Queen’s Park Rangers gave their survival hopes a huge boost with a 1-0 win over Leeds United at Elland Road.
Peter Eastoe came up with the all-important strike on the stroke of half-time. The R’s still have three matches to play and sit above the dropzone on goal difference.
Queen’s Park Rangers: Phil Parkes, David Webb, Ian Gillard, Frank McLintock, Eddie Kelly, John Hollins, Gerry Francis, Don Masson, Peter Eastoe, David Thomas, Don Givens
League Division One
Birmingham City 1-1 Everton
Coventry City 0-1 Manchester City
Derby County 0-0 Ipswich Town
Leeds United 0-1 Queen`s Park Rangers
Liverpool 0-0 West Ham United
Manchester United 3-2 Arsenal
Middlesbrough 0-0 Bristol City
Newcastle United 3-2 Aston Villa
Norwich City 2-2 Sunderland
Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Leicester City
West Bromwich Albion 3-1 Stoke City
League Division Two report and round-up
Troubled Orient still have work to do
Orient 1-1 Hereford United
Orient’s Second Division future is still hanging in the balance despite the east Londoners claiming a share of the spoils against Hereford United at Brisbane Road.
Bill Roffey fired Orient ahead in what was a tense affair. However, much of the 4,956 audience were left frustrated as the already relegated Bulls hit back.
This result comes off the back of a damaging home defeat against Blackpool and leaves the O’s requiring a point from their final game with Hull City to avoid the drop.
Orient: Jackson, Bennett, Roffey, Allen, Gray, Roeder, Chiedozie, Glover, Mayo, Grealish, Whittle
Chelsea finish the season in style
Chelsea 4-0 Hull City
Promoted Chelsea finished the season in style with a resounding 4-0 victory over Hull City in front of almost 44,000 at Stamford Bridge.
Steve Finnieston capped a day to remember, claiming the match ball with a hat-trick, while Ian Britton also got in on the act as the Blues bounced back into the top flight.
Chelsea: Peter Bonetti, Gary Locke, Ron Harris, Steve Wicks, Johnny Sparrow, Ian Britton, Charlie Cooke, Ray Lewington, Ray Wilkins, Steve Finnieston, Tommy Langley
Champions, Wolverhampton Wanderers, all but ended Bolton’s promotion hoped with a single-goal success at Burnden Park. The Trotter will need to win their final match at Bristol Rovers by a sizable margin to overthrow Brian Clough’s emerging Nottingham Forest side who cling to third after beating Millwall by a goal to nil in their final match a week previous.
England’s 1966 World Cup-winning captain, Bobby Moore, has played his final professional match in this country. Moore – an inspiration to so many throughout an incredible career – and his Fulham side finished on the wrong end of a single-goal defeat to Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park.
Charlton Athletic came up just short this season. The ‘Addicks rounded up an otherwise satisfactory campaign with a 1-0 win at Notts County. Soth London rivals, Millwall, completed a solid season with a 2-0 win over Burnley at The Den.
Division Two
Blackburn Rovers 1-0 Fulham
Blackpool 1-0 Southampton
Bolton Wanderers 0-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Bristol Rovers 3-1 Sheffield Utd
Cardiff City 1-1 Carlisle Utd
Chelsea 4-0 Hull City
Millwall 2-0 Burnley
Notts County 0-1 Charlton Athletic
Oldham Athletic 1-2 Luton Town
Orient 1-1 Hereford Utd
League Division Three report and round-up
Champions Mansfield Town finished the season in style, recording a 1-0 success at Wrexham – The Stags twenty-eighth victory of the campaign.
Brighton & Hove Albion will join them in the Second Division. The Seagulls drawing 1-1 at Chesterfield. Crystal Palace are also promoted, edging out Rotherham United on goal difference.
At the bottom, Portsmouth’s 3-1 win over York City ensured their survival. The Minstermen, along with Grimsby Town, Northampton Town and Reading, all dropping into Division Four.
Division Three
Chesterfield 1-1 Brighton & Hove Albion
Gillingham 3-0 Tranmere Rovers
Port Vale 1-4 Rotherham Utd
Portsmouth 3-1 York City
Reading 2-0 Grimsby Town
Sheffield Wednesday 2-0 Oxford Utd
Shrewsbury Town 1-2 Preston North End
Swindon Town 2-1 Chester
Walsall 3-3 Bury
Wrexham 0-1 Mansfield Town
Division Four report and round-up
Champions Cambridge United went down 3-2 against promotion-hopefuls, Swansea City at the Abbey Stadium. However, with Colchester beating Bradford City, the result proved insignificant to the Welshmen.
Exeter City are also promoted. The Grecians finished their campaign with a 3-0 victory over Aldershot at St James Park.
At the bottom, things look bleak for Workington. The Cumbrians slipped to their thirtieth defeat of the season and sit six points adrift at the bottom, below Southport, who drew 1-1 with Halifax Town.
Southend United concluded a frustrating campaign with a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Torquay United at Roots Hall Stadium on Friday evening. Manager, Dave Smith will be looking for a huge improvement from the Shrimpers, who’s supporters have demanded a genuine promotion challenge when football returns in August.
Division Four
AFC Bournemouth 3-1 Doncaster Rovers
Cambridge United 2-3 Swansea City
Colchester United 2-1 Bradford City
Crewe Alexandra 0-0 Huddersfield Town
Exeter City 3-0 Aldershot
Halifax Town 1-1 Southport
Hartlepool 0-2 Barnsley
Rochdale 2-3 Brentford
Scunthorpe United 2-2 Stockport County
Watford 1-1 Darlington
Workington 0-1 Newport County
