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 & Boscombe Athletic, 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 (goals scored divided by goals conceded), 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 Fourth Division was established in the 1958–59 season, the bottom four teams of that division have been required to apply for re-election.Ian Laschke: Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79. Macdonald and Jane’s, London & Sydney, 1980.
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.Rothmans Football Yearbook 1970–71, pp. 600–603. The Queen Anne Press Limited. Compiled by Tony Williams and Roy Peskett. Editorial Board: Denis Howell, Sir Matt Busby, David Coleman, Jimmy Hill, Tony Williams and Roy Peskett.
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 United and Southampton participated in 1969–70 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup
RankScorerClubLeague goalsFA Cup goalsLeague Cup goalsEuro competitionsTotal1 Peter Osgood Chelsea 2380—312 Jeff Astle West Bromwich Albion 2505—303 Allan Clarke Leeds United 16702254 Joe Royle Everton 2300—235 George Best Manchester United 1562—236 Francis Lee Manchester City 14036237 Ian Hutchinson Chelsea 1651—228 Frank Clarke Ipswich Town / Queens Park Rangers 2+1424—229 Brian Kidd Manchester United 1462—2210 Pop Robson Newcastle United 210002111 Hugh Curran Wolverhampton Wanderers 1902—2112 Bobby Graham Liverpool153132113 John Radford Arsenal132052014 Colin Bell Manchester City 100552015 Mick Channon Southampton 153101916 Steve Kindon Burnley 1701—1817 Geoff Hurst West Ham United 1602—1818 Mick Jones Leeds United 153081819 Johnny Giles Leeds United 122041820 John Ritchie Stoke City 1420—1621 John O’Hare Derby County 1321—1622 Harry Burrows Stoke City 1500—1523 Neil Martin Coventry City 1410—1524 Peter Lorimer Leeds United 132001525 Steve Downes Sheffield Wednesday / Rotherham United 1+1130—15= Jimmy Greaves West Ham United 1230—1527 Colin Suggett West Bromwich Albion 1203—1528 Ian Bowyer Manchester City 120211529 Kevin Hector Derby County 1122—1530 John O’Rourke Coventry City / Ipswich Town 11+200—1331 Tony Brown West Bromwich Albion 1012—1332 Keith Dyson Newcastle United 120021233 Ian Storey-Moore Nottingham Forest 1101—1234 Alan Ball Everton 1011—1235 Alan Durban Derby County 840—1236 Alan Gilzean Tottenham Hotspur 1100—11= Martin Chivers Tottenham Hotspur1100—1138 Gerry Queen Crystal Palace 911—1139 Jack Whitham Sheffield Wednesday 830—1140 Martin Dobson Burnley 632—1141 Ron Davies Southampton 100001042 Alan Hinton Derby County 604—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.
RankScorerClubLeague goalsFA Cup goalsLeague Cup goalsCup Winners' Cup goalsTotal1 John Hickton Middlesbrough 2340—272 John Byrom Bolton Wanderers 2005—253 Barry Bridges Queens Park Rangers 2111—234 Rodney Marsh Queens Park Rangers 1247—235 Alan Woodward Sheffield United 1803—216 Arthur Horsfield Swindon Town 1640—207 Brian Clark Cardiff City 18002208 John Toshack Cardiff City 17102209 Frank Worthington Huddersfield Town 1810—19= Derek Possee Millwall 1810—1911 Chris Chilton Hull City 1801—1912 Peter Noble Swindon Town 1513—1913 Ken Wagstaff Hull City 1800—18= Ray Hiron Portsmouth 1800—1815 Fred Pickering Blackpool 1710—1816 Rodney Fern Leicester City 1601—1717 Ken Houghton Hull City 1600—1618 Gil Reece Sheffield United 1401—1519 Bob Hatton Carlisle United 1311—1520 Don Martin Blackburn Rovers 1302—1521 Chris Balderstone Carlisle United 1211—1422 Barry Endean Watford 1031—1423 Peter King Cardiff City 101031424 Phil Summerill Birmingham City 1300—13= Jim Storrie Portsmouth / Rotherham United 1300—1326 Ken Skeen Oxford United 913—1327 Bert Murray Birmingham City 1200—12= Albert McCann Portsmouth 1200—12= Tony Currie Sheffield United 1200—1230 Joe Laidlaw Middlesbrough 1110—1231 Roger Hunt Bolton Wanderers /Liverpool 6+5001Roger Hunt’s goal in European tournaments was scored for Liverpool in the 1969–70 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.1232 John Tudor Sheffield United 1020—1233 Andy Lochhead Leicester City 624—1234 Ken Foggo Norwich City 1100—1135 Gerry Sharpe Bristol City 1001—1136 John Galley Bristol City 1000—10= Peter Silverster Norwich City 1000—10= Nicky Jennings Portsmouth 1000—1039 Don Rogers Swindon Town 910—1040 Keith Weller Millwall 901—1041 Hughie McIlmoyle Middlesbrough /Carlisle United 6+202—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.
RankScorerClubLeague goalsFA Cup goalsLeague Cup goalsTotal1 Malcolm Macdonald Luton Town 2412272 George Jones Bury 2600263 Les Chappell Reading 2500254 Steve Earle Fulham 2201235 George Kerr Bury 2021236 Jimmy Convay Fulham 2200227 Ted MacDougall Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic 2101228 George Andrews Shrewsbury Town /Southport 13+602219 Reg Jenkins Rochdale 20002010 George Yardley Tranmere Rovers 172120= Terry Bell Reading /Hartlepool 2+15212012 Mickey Bullock Orient 19001913 Dudley Roberts Mansfield Town 180018= Mike Bickle Plymouth Argyle 18001815 Bobby Ham Bradford City 16021816 Robin Stubbs Bristol Rovers 15201717 Allan Gilliver Brighton & Hove Albion 13221718 Terry Harkin Shrewsbury Town 160016= Tony Field Southport 160016= Alan Welsh Torquay United 16001621 John Rudge Torquay United 14111622 John Evans Barnsley 150015= Tony Buck Rochdale 15001524 Malcolm Partridge Mansfield Town 13201525 Brian Yeo Gillingham 9511526 Bobby Williams Reading 14001427 Ray Graydon Bristol Rovers 13101428 Dennis Butler Rochdale 12201429 Mike Green Gillingham 11301430 Derek Smith Tranmere Rovers 11211431 Ken Beamish Tranmere Rovers 10311432 Peter Middleton Bradford City 112013= Dai Jones Mansfield Town 11201334 Colin Taylor Walsall 9401335 Dean Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic 120012= Carl Gilbert Bristol Rovers 120012= Barrie Fairbrother Orient 120012= John Regan Doncaster Rovers 12001239 Matt Tees Luton Town 11101240 John Collins Luton Town 102012= Richard Moir Shrewsbury Town 10201242 Alex Dawson Brighton & Hove Albion 9211243 Jim Mulvaney Barrow 11001144 Kit Napier Brighton & Hove Albion 10101145 Eddie Loyden Barnsley 9201146 Harold Jarman Bristol Rovers 10001047 Ken Pound Gillingham 91010= John Rowlands Stockport County 91010= Bill Atkins Halifax Town /Portsmouth 7+2101050 Les O’Neill Bradford City 82010
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.
RankScorerClubLeague goalsFA Cup goalsLeague Cup goalsTotal1 Albert Kinsey Wrexham 2711292 Jim Hall Peterborough United 2431283 Jack Howarth Aldershot 1970264 Stuart Brace Grimsby Town 2500255 John Fairbrother Northampton Town 2320256 Nigel Cassidy Scunthorpe United 2140257 Billy Best Southend United 2310248 Don Masson Notts County 2300239 Dave Gwyther Swansea City 16512210 Dennis Brown Aldershot 17402111 Ernie Moss Chesterfield 20002012 Richie Barker Notts County 19102013 Peter Price Peterborough United 16312014 Kevin Randall Chesterfield 18001815 Arfon Griffiths Wrexham 16201816 Rod Fletcher Lincoln City 16101717 Ray Smith Wrexham 15201718 John James Port Vale 14301719 Ken Jones Colchester United 15001520 Terry Heath Scunthorpe United 132015= Herbie Williams Swansea City 13201522 Bill Dearden Chester 11311523 Brian Gibbs Colchester United 140014= Ray Mabbutt Newport County 14001425 Tommy Robson Peterborough United 12111426 Bobby Ross Brentford 130013= Mike Hickman Grimsby Town 130013= Jim Fryatt Oldham Athletic /Blackburn Rovers 2+11001329 Frank Large Northampton Town 10211330 Derek Draper Chester 120012= David Shaw Oldham Athletic 12001232 Geoffrey Thomas Swansea City 11011233 Alan Banks Exeter City 10111234 Phil Boyer York City 9301235 Ronnie Walton Aldershot 110011= Alan Bradshaw Crewe Alexandra 11001137 John Archer Chesterfield 10101138 Fred Binney Exeter City /Torquay United 1+90111= Jim Beardall Oldham Athletic 10011140 Alan Tarbuck Chester 8301141 Roy Massey Colchester United /Crewe Alexandra 5+2041142 Jimmy Melia Aldershot 100010= Lance Robson Hartlepool /Darlington 2+80010= Kevin McMahon York City 10001045 John Mitten Exeter City 9101046 Roy Young Hartlepool 8201047 Gary Moore Southend United 80210
Attendances Source:
Division One No. Club Average ± Highest Lowest 1 Manchester United 49,862 -2.6% 59,879 26,582 2 Everton FC 49,531 7.8% 58,523 42,510 3 Liverpool FC 43,567 -8.0% 54,496 29,548 4 Chelsea FC 40,342 7.3% 61,479 24,904 5 Newcastle United FC 37,553 10.4% 56,317 19,411 6 Tottenham Hotspur FC 36,060 -3.7% 50,474 27,693 7 Derby County FC 35,924 29.9% 41,826 29,451 8 Arsenal FC 35,758 -6.9% 59,489 21,165 9 Leeds United FC 34,613 -6.4% 46,770 22,932 10 Manchester City FC 33,930 0.5% 63,013 22,006 11 Coventry City FC 32,043 -3.6% 43,446 24,590 12 Wolverhampton Wanderers FC 31,164 1.5% 50,783 20,594 13 West Ham United FC 30,530 -1.9% 41,643 20,934 14 Crystal Palace FC 29,901 50.5% 49,498 16,821 15 West Bromwich Albion FC 27,877 11.1% 45,120 18,512 16 Sheffield Wednesday FC 26,401 -1.7% 44,332 16,644 17 Nottingham Forest FC 25,408 2.0% 42,074 10,589 18 Stoke City FC 24,165 27.3% 38,917 11,810 19 Southampton FC 22,901 1.8% 31,044 19,130 20 Sunderland AFC 21,790 -12.7% 51,950 12,739 21 Ipswich Town FC 20,715 -12.2% 29,755 16,146 22 Burnley FC 16,452 2.4% 28,141 11,166
Division Two