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