1969–70 Football League
The 1969–70 season was the 71st completed season of The Football League.
Everton won their seventh league title, finishing nine points clear of Leeds United with Chelsea in third and newly promoted Derby County in fourth. Sheffield Wednesday and Sunderland were both relegated.
In the Second Division Huddersfield Town claimed the divisional title and were promoted along with runners-up Blackpool. Aston Villa endured the worst season in their history and were relegated to the Third Division for the first time, along with bottom club Preston North End, for whom it was also a first relegation to the third tier.
In the Third Division Orient won the title and were promoted along with Luton Town, who had finished third the previous season. As usual four teams were relegated, with Bournemouth, Southport, Barrow and Stockport County all making the drop.
In the Fourth Division Chesterfield won the title and were promoted along with Wrexham, Swansea City and Port Vale. Bradford Park Avenue lost their application for re-election and were replaced by Cambridge United.
Final league tables and results
Beginning with the season 1894–95, clubs finishing level on points were separated according to goal average, or more properly put, goal ratio. In case one or more teams had the same goal difference, this system favoured those teams who had scored fewer goals. The goal average system was eventually scrapped beginning with the 1976–77 season.Since the goal average was used for this purpose for such a long time, it is presented in the tables below even for the seasons prior to 1894–95, and since the goal difference is a more informative piece of information for a modern reader than the goal average, the goal difference is added in this presentation after the goal average.
Since the Fourth Division was established in the 1958–59 season, the re-election process has concerned the bottom four clubs in that division.
First Division
Results
Maps
Top scorers
Goalscorers are listed order of total goals, then according to the number of league goals, then of FA cup goals, then of League Cup goals. A dash means the team of the player in question did not participate in European competitions.- The goals listed below in the European fields stem from the following competitions:
- *Leeds United participated in the 1969–70 European Cup.
- *Manchester City participated in the 1969–70 European Cup Winners' Cup.
- * Arsenal, Liverpool, Newcastle and Southampton participated in 1969–70 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup
Rank | Scorer | Club | League goals | FA Cup goals | League Cup goals | Euro competitions | Total |
1 | ![]() | Chelsea | 23 | 8 | 0 | — | 31 |
2 | ![]() | West Bromwich Albion | 25 | 0 | 5 | — | 30 |
3 | ![]() | Leeds United | 16 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 25 |
4 | ![]() | Everton | 23 | 0 | 0 | — | 23 |
5 | ![]() | Manchester United | 15 | 6 | 2 | — | 23 |
6 | ![]() | Manchester City | 14 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 23 |
7 | ![]() | Chelsea | 16 | 5 | 1 | — | 22 |
8 | ![]() | Ipswich Town / Queens Park Rangers | 2+14 | 2 | 4 | — | 22 |
9 | ![]() | Manchester United | 14 | 6 | 2 | — | 22 |
10 | ![]() | Newcastle | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 |
11 | ![]() | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 19 | 0 | 2 | — | 21 |
12 | ![]() | Liverpool | 15 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 21 |
13 | ![]() | Arsenal | 13 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 20 |
14 | ![]() | Manchester City | 10 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 20 |
15 | ![]() | Southampton | 15 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 19 |
16 | ![]() | Burnley | 17 | 0 | 1 | — | 18 |
17 | ![]() | West Ham | 16 | 0 | 2 | — | 18 |
18 | ![]() | Leeds United | 15 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 18 |
19 | ![]() | Leeds United | 12 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 18 |
20 | ![]() | Stoke | 14 | 2 | 0 | — | 16 |
21 | ![]() | Derby County | 13 | 2 | 1 | — | 16 |
22 | ![]() | Stoke | 15 | 0 | 0 | — | 15 |
23 | ![]() | Coventry | 14 | 1 | 0 | — | 15 |
24 | ![]() | Leeds United | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
25 | ![]() | Sheffield Wednesday / Rotherham | 1+11 | 3 | 0 | — | 15 |
= | ![]() | West Ham | 12 | 3 | 0 | — | 15 |
27 | ![]() | West Bromwich Albion | 12 | 0 | 3 | — | 15 |
28 | ![]() | Manchester City | 12 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 15 |
29 | ![]() | Derby County | 11 | 2 | 2 | — | 15 |
30 | ![]() | Coventry / Ipswich Town | 11+2 | 0 | 0 | — | 13 |
31 | ![]() | West Bromwich Albion | 10 | 1 | 2 | — | 13 |
32 | ![]() | Newcastle | 12 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 12 |
33 | ![]() | Nottingham Forest | 11 | 0 | 1 | — | 12 |
34 | ![]() | Everton | 10 | 1 | 1 | — | 12 |
35 | ![]() | Derby County | 8 | 4 | 0 | — | 12 |
36 | ![]() | Tottenham | 11 | 0 | 0 | — | 11 |
= | ![]() | Tottenham | 11 | 0 | 0 | — | 11 |
38 | ![]() | Crystal Palace | 9 | 1 | 1 | — | 11 |
39 | ![]() | Sheffield Wednesday | 8 | 3 | 0 | — | 11 |
40 | ![]() | Burnley | 6 | 3 | 2 | — | 11 |
41 | ![]() | Southampton | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
42 | ![]() | Derby County | 6 | 0 | 4 | — | 10 |
Second Division
Results
Maps
Top scorers
Goalscorers are listed order of total goals, then according to the number of league goals, then of FA cup goals, then of League Cup goals. A dash means the team of the player in question did not participate in European competitions.Rank | Scorer | Club | League goals | FA Cup goals | League Cup goals | Cup Winners' Cup goals | Total |
1 | ![]() | Middlesbrough | 23 | 4 | 0 | — | 27 |
2 | ![]() | Bolton Wanderers | 20 | 0 | 5 | — | 25 |
3 | ![]() | Queens Park Rangers | 21 | 1 | 1 | — | 23 |
4 | ![]() | Queens Park Rangers | 12 | 4 | 7 | — | 23 |
5 | ![]() | Sheffield United | 18 | 0 | 3 | — | 21 |
6 | ![]() | Swindon Town | 16 | 4 | 0 | — | 20 |
7 | ![]() | Cardiff City | 18 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 20 |
8 | ![]() | Cardiff City | 17 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 20 |
9 | ![]() | Huddersfield Town | 18 | 1 | 0 | — | 19 |
= | ![]() | Millwall | 18 | 1 | 0 | — | 19 |
11 | ![]() | Hull | 18 | 0 | 1 | — | 19 |
12 | ![]() | Swindon Town | 15 | 1 | 3 | — | 19 |
13 | ![]() | Hull | 18 | 0 | 0 | — | 18 |
= | ![]() | Portsmouth | 18 | 0 | 0 | — | 18 |
15 | ![]() | Blackpool | 17 | 1 | 0 | — | 18 |
16 | ![]() | Leicester City | 16 | 0 | 1 | — | 17 |
17 | ![]() | Hull | 16 | 0 | 0 | — | 16 |
18 | ![]() | Sheffield United | 14 | 0 | 1 | — | 15 |
19 | ![]() | Carlisle United | 13 | 1 | 1 | — | 15 |
20 | ![]() | Blackburn Rovers | 13 | 0 | 2 | — | 15 |
21 | ![]() | Carlisle United | 12 | 1 | 1 | — | 14 |
22 | ![]() | Watford | 10 | 3 | 1 | — | 14 |
23 | ![]() | Cardiff City | 10 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 14 |
24 | ![]() | Birmingham City | 13 | 0 | 0 | — | 13 |
= | ![]() | Portsmouth / Rotherham | 13 | 0 | 0 | — | 13 |
26 | ![]() | Oxford United | 9 | 1 | 3 | — | 13 |
27 | ![]() | Birmingham | 12 | 0 | 0 | — | 12 |
= | ![]() | Portsmouth | 12 | 0 | 0 | — | 12 |
= | ![]() | Sheffield United | 12 | 0 | 0 | — | 12 |
30 | ![]() | Middlesbrough | 11 | 1 | 0 | — | 12 |
31 | ![]() | Bolton Wanderers / Liverpool | 6+5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 12 |
32 | ![]() | Sheffield United | 10 | 2 | 0 | — | 12 |
33 | ![]() | Leicester City | 6 | 2 | 4 | — | 12 |
34 | ![]() | Norwich City | 11 | 0 | 0 | — | 11 |
35 | ![]() | Bristol City | 10 | 0 | 1 | — | 11 |
36 | ![]() | Bristol City | 10 | 0 | 0 | — | 10 |
= | ![]() | Norwich City | 10 | 0 | 0 | — | 10 |
= | ![]() | Portsmouth | 10 | 0 | 0 | — | 10 |
39 | ![]() | Swindon Town | 9 | 1 | 0 | — | 10 |
40 | ![]() | Millwall | 9 | 0 | 1 | — | 10 |
41 | ![]() | Middlesbrough / Carlisle United | 6+2 | 0 | 2 | — | 10 |
Third Division
Results
Maps
Top scorers
Goalscorers are listed order of total goals, then according to the number of league goals, then of FA cup goals, then of League Cup goals. A dash means the team of the player in question did not participate in European competitions.Rank | Scorer | Club | League goals | FA Cup goals | League Cup goals | Total |
1 | ![]() | Luton Town | 24 | 1 | 2 | 27 |
2 | ![]() | Bury | 26 | 0 | 0 | 26 |
3 | ![]() | Reading | 25 | 0 | 0 | 25 |
4 | ![]() | Fulham | 22 | 0 | 1 | 23 |
5 | ![]() | Bury | 20 | 2 | 1 | 23 |
6 | ![]() | Fulham | 22 | 0 | 0 | 22 |
7 | ![]() | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 21 | 0 | 1 | 22 |
8 | ![]() | Shrewsbury Town / Southport | 13+6 | 0 | 2 | 21 |
9 | ![]() | Rochdale | 20 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
10 | ![]() | Tranmere Rovers | 17 | 2 | 1 | 20 |
= | ![]() | Reading / Hartlepool United | 2+15 | 2 | 1 | 20 |
12 | ![]() | Orient | 19 | 0 | 0 | 19 |
13 | ![]() | Mansfield Town | 18 | 0 | 0 | 18 |
= | ![]() | Plymouth Argyle | 18 | 0 | 0 | 18 |
15 | ![]() | Bradford City | 16 | 0 | 2 | 18 |
16 | ![]() | Bristol Rovers | 15 | 2 | 0 | 17 |
17 | ![]() | Brighton & Hove Albion | 13 | 2 | 2 | 17 |
18 | ![]() | Shrewsbury Town | 16 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
= | ![]() | Southport | 16 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
= | ![]() | Torquay United | 16 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
21 | ![]() | Torquay United | 14 | 1 | 1 | 16 |
22 | ![]() | Barnsley | 15 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
= | ![]() | Rochdale | 15 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
24 | ![]() | Mansfield Town | 13 | 2 | 0 | 15 |
25 | ![]() | Gillingham | 9 | 5 | 1 | 15 |
26 | ![]() | Reading | 14 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
27 | ![]() | Bristol Rovers | 13 | 1 | 0 | 14 |
28 | ![]() | Rochdale | 12 | 2 | 0 | 14 |
29 | ![]() | Gillingham | 11 | 3 | 0 | 14 |
30 | Derek Smith | Tranmere Rovers | 11 | 2 | 1 | 14 |
31 | ![]() | Tranmere Rovers | 10 | 3 | 1 | 14 |
32 | ![]() | Bradford City | 11 | 2 | 0 | 13 |
= | ![]() | Mansfield Town | 11 | 2 | 0 | 13 |
34 | ![]() | Walsall | 9 | 4 | 0 | 13 |
35 | Dean | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 12 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
= | ![]() | Bristol Rovers | 12 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
= | ![]() | Orient | 12 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
= | ![]() | Doncaster Rovers | 12 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
39 | ![]() | Luton Town | 11 | 1 | 0 | 12 |
40 | ![]() | Luton Town | 10 | 2 | 0 | 12 |
= | ![]() | Shrewsbury Town | 10 | 2 | 0 | 12 |
42 | ![]() | Brighton & Hove Albion | 9 | 2 | 1 | 12 |
43 | ![]() | Barrow | 11 | 0 | 0 | 11 |
44 | ![]() | Brighton & Hove Albion | 10 | 1 | 0 | 11 |
45 | ![]() | Barnsley | 9 | 2 | 0 | 11 |
46 | ![]() | Bristol Rovers | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
47 | ![]() | Gillingham | 9 | 1 | 0 | 10 |
= | ![]() | Stockport | 9 | 1 | 0 | 10 |
= | ![]() | Halifax Town / Portsmouth | 7+2 | 1 | 0 | 10 |
50 | ![]() | Bradford City | 8 | 2 | 0 | 10 |
Fourth Division
Results
Maps
Top scorers
Goalscorers are listed order of total goals, then according to the number of league goals, then of FA cup goals, then of League Cup goals. A dash means the team of the player in question did not participate in European competitions.Rank | Scorer | Club | League goals | FA Cup goals | League Cup goals | Total |
1 | ![]() | Wrexham | 27 | 1 | 1 | 29 |
2 | ![]() | Peterborough United | 24 | 3 | 1 | 28 |
3 | ![]() | Aldershot | 19 | 7 | 0 | 26 |
4 | ![]() | Grimsby Town | 25 | 0 | 0 | 25 |
5 | ![]() | Northampton Town | 23 | 2 | 0 | 25 |
6 | ![]() | Scunthorpe & Lindsey | 21 | 4 | 0 | 25 |
7 | ![]() | Southend | 23 | 1 | 0 | 24 |
8 | ![]() | Notts County | 23 | 0 | 0 | 23 |
9 | ![]() | Swansea City | 16 | 5 | 1 | 22 |
10 | ![]() | Aldershot | 17 | 4 | 0 | 21 |
11 | ![]() | Chesterfield | 20 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
12 | ![]() | Notts County | 19 | 1 | 0 | 20 |
13 | ![]() | Peterborough United | 16 | 3 | 1 | 20 |
14 | ![]() | Chesterfield | 18 | 0 | 0 | 18 |
15 | ![]() | Wrexham | 16 | 2 | 0 | 18 |
16 | ![]() | Lincoln City | 16 | 1 | 0 | 17 |
17 | Smith | Wrexham | 15 | 2 | 0 | 17 |
18 | ![]() | Port Vale | 14 | 3 | 0 | 17 |
19 | ![]() | Colchester United | 15 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
20 | ![]() | Scunthorpe & Lindsey | 13 | 2 | 0 | 15 |
= | ![]() | Swansea City | 13 | 2 | 0 | 15 |
22 | ![]() | Chester | 11 | 3 | 1 | 15 |
23 | ![]() | Colchester United | 14 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
= | ![]() | Newport County | 14 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
25 | ![]() | Peterborough United | 12 | 1 | 1 | 14 |
26 | Bobby Ross | Brentford | 13 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
= | ![]() | Grimsby Town | 13 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
= | ![]() | Oldham / Blackburn Rovers | 2+11 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
29 | ![]() | Northampton Town | 10 | 2 | 1 | 13 |
30 | ![]() | Chester | 12 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
= | ![]() | Oldham | 12 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
32 | ![]() | Swansea City | 11 | 0 | 1 | 12 |
33 | ![]() | Exeter City | 10 | 1 | 1 | 12 |
34 | ![]() | York City | 9 | 3 | 0 | 12 |
35 | ![]() | Aldershot | 11 | 0 | 0 | 11 |
= | ![]() | Crewe Alexandra | 11 | 0 | 0 | 11 |
37 | ![]() | Chesterfield | 10 | 1 | 0 | 11 |
38 | ![]() | Exeter City / Torquay United | 1+9 | 0 | 1 | 11 |
= | Jim Beardall | Oldham | 10 | 0 | 1 | 11 |
40 | ![]() | Chester | 8 | 3 | 0 | 11 |
41 | ![]() | Colchester United / Crewe Alexandra | 5+2 | 0 | 4 | 11 |
42 | ![]() | Aldershot | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
= | ![]() | Hartlepool / Darlington | 2+8 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
= | ![]() | York City | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
45 | John Mitten | Exeter City | 9 | 1 | 0 | 10 |
46 | Roy Young | Hartlepool | 8 | 2 | 0 | 10 |
47 | ![]() | Southend | 8 | 0 | 2 | 10 |