The 1991–92 Football League First Division was the 93rd edition in Football League First Division existence, and the division's final season as the top flight of English football.
Overview
Leeds United won the last ever league championship before the launch of the Premier League, thanks to the efforts of players such as Gordon Strachan, Lee Chapman, David Batty and Gary McAllister. On 26 April 1992, Leeds beat Sheffield United 3–2 at Bramall Lane, and their title triumph was confirmed with Manchester United's 2–0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield.
Newly promoted Sheffield Wednesday finished in third and secured UEFA Cup qualification.
The previous season's defending champions Arsenal slipped to 4th place and never made a serious threat to retain their title. The previous season's runners-up Liverpool slipped to 6th in their first full season under the management of Graeme Souness, although they did win the FA Cup. Liverpool's Merseyside rivals Everton finished a disappointing 12th – a three-place setback on their finish the previous season.
On 25 April 1992, newly promoted West Ham United were relegated after their 1–0 defeat at Coventry City. This win for Coventry also relegated Notts County – another newly promoted side – rendering their 2–0 defeat at Manchester City on the same day as academic. The last day of the season saw Luton Town lose their top flight status after ten seasons. They needed to win at Notts County and for Coventry to lose at Aston Villa. Coventry did lose 2–0 at Villa Park but unfortunately for Luton, they lost 2–1 which kept Coventry up and sent Luton down.
For much of the season, Southampton's 21-year-old striker Alan Shearer was the target of much media speculation about a move to a leading First Division club. The likes of Liverpool and Manchester United were strongly linked with his signature during the autumn, but Shearer decided to stay put on the south coast before making a decision about his future at the end of the season. Shearer was capped for the senior England side for the first time in February 1992, and scored on his debut. Another English striker who established himself as a top scorer at this level this season was the Sheffield Wednesday striker David Hirst, scoring the goals that helped the Owls win the League Cup and an instant return to the First Division in 1990–91, and finishing among the First Division's leading scorers in 1991–92.
Manchester United's teenage winger Ryan Giggs, who had played twice for the first team the previous season, received plaudits for his outstanding performances and picked up the PFA Young Player of the Year award as well as a League Cup winner's medal, establishing himself as a regular player before his 18th birthday. Other young players who made the headlines this season were Liverpool's teenage winger Steve McManaman and new signing Rob Jones, Aston Villa's Trinidadian striker Dwight Yorke and Nottingham Forest midfielder Roy Keane.
As a wave of new names began to dominate the English game, Tottenham Hotspur's high scoring striker Gary Lineker announced in November that he would be leaving the club at the end of the season to sign for the Japanese side Grampus Eight, and also confirmed his decision to retire from the England team after the European championships that summer.
Personnel and kits (As of May 1992) Team Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsorArsenal George Graham Tony AdamsAdidasJVCAston Villa Ron Atkinson Stuart GrayUmbroMita CopiersChelsea Ian Porterfield Andy TownsendUmbroCommodore InternationalCoventry City Terry Butcher Brian BorrowsAsicsPeugeotCrystal Palace Steve Coppell Geoff ThomasBuktaTulip Computers NVEverton Howard Kendall Kevin RatcliffeUmbroNECLeeds United Howard Wilkinson Gordon StrachanUmbroYorkshire Evening PostLiverpool Graeme Souness Mark WrightAdidasCandyLuton Town Jimmy Ryan Trevor PeakeUmbroUniversal Salvage AuctionsManchester City Peter Reid Steve RedmondUmbroBrother IndustriesManchester United Alex Ferguson Bryan RobsonAdidasSharpNorwich City David Williams (caretaker) Ian ButterworthAsicsAsicsNottingham Forest Brian Clough Stuart PearceUmbroShipstones (home), Labatts (away)Notts County Neil Warnock Craig ShortMatchwinnerHome Bitter (home), McEwan's Lager (away)Oldham Athletic Joe Royle Mike MilliganUmbroBovisQueens Park Rangers Gerry Francis Ray WilkinsBrooksBrooksSheffield United Dave Bassett Brian GayleUmbroLaverSheffield Wednesday Trevor Francis Nigel PearsonUmbroNone (Until December)Mr. Tom (From January)Southampton Ian Branfoot Glenn CockerillAdmiralDraper ToolsTottenham Hotspur Peter Shreeves Gary MabbuttUmbroHolstenWest Ham United Billy Bonds Ian BishopBuktaBAC WindowsWimbledon Joe Kinnear John ScalesAdmiralNo sponsor a. Souness was absent from his duties after being diagnosed with a heart condition on 8 April 1992. Though Souness officially remained team manager, Ronnie Moran effectively took over the role for the remainder of the season. b. Trevor Peake is understood to have been team Captain in January but it is unknown when he was appointed.
Managerial changes Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of appointment Aston Villa Jozef Vengloš Mutual consent 28 May 1991 Pre-season Ron Atkinson 8 June 1991 Queens Park Rangers Don Howe Sacked 31 May 1991 Gerry Francis 1 June 1991 Tottenham Hotspur Terry Venables Became general manager 1 June 1991 Peter Shreeves 1 June 1991 Sheffield Wednesday Ron Atkinson Signed by Aston Villa 8 June 1991 Trevor Francis 8 June 1991 Luton Town Jim Ryan Sacked 13 June 1991 David Pleat 15 June 1991 Wimbledon Ray Harford Resigned 7 October 1991 8th Peter Withe 10 October 1991 Coventry City Terry Butcher Sacked 6 January 1992 17th Don Howe 7 January 1992 Wimbledon Peter Withe 19 January 1992 19th Joe Kinnear 19 January 1992 Norwich City Dave Stringer Resigned 1 May 1992 18th David Williams 1 May 1992
League standings
Results
Statistics Top scorers Rank Player Club Goals 1 Ian Wright Crystal Palace/Arsenal 29 2 Gary Lineker Tottenham Hotspur 28 3 John Fashanu Wimbledon 18 David Hirst Sheffield Wednesday Brian McClair Manchester United David White Manchester City 7 Mark Bright Crystal Palace 17 8 Lee Chapman Leeds United 16 9 Peter Beardsley Everton 15 10 Robbie Earle Wimbledon 14
Hat-tricks
Player For Against Result Date Ref Sheffield Wednesday Queens Park Rangers 4–1 (H) Everton Coventry City 3–0 (H) (4) Tottenham Hotspur Wimbledon 5–3 (A) Arsenal Southampton 4–0 (A) Everton Tottenham Hotspur 3–1 (H) (4) Arsenal Everton 4–2 (H) Queens Park Rangers Manchester United 4–1 (A) Hat-trick hero still going strong, BBC Sport, 3 February 2006 Leeds United Sheffield Wednesday 6–1 (A) Leeds United Wimbledon 5–1 (H) Norwich City Everton 4–3 (H) Tottenham Hotspur Coventry City 4–3 (H) Tottenham Hotspur West Ham United 3–0 (H) Arsenal Crystal Palace 4–1 (H) (4) Oldham Athletic Luton Town 5–1 (H) Manchester City Oldham Athletic 5–2 (A) Arsenal Southampton 5–1 (H) West Ham United Nottingham Forest 3–0 (H) Note: (H) – Home; (A) – Away Awards Annual awards
Award Winner Club PFA Players' Player of the Year Gary Pallister Manchester United PFA Young Player of the Year Ryan Giggs Manchester United FWA Footballer of the Year Gary Lineker Tottenham Hotspur
PFA Team of the Year Goalkeeper Tony Coton(Manchester City) Defenders Rob Jones(Liverpool) Gary Pallister(Manchester United) Des Walker(Nottingham Forest) Stuart Pearce(Nottingham Forest) Midfielders Ray Houghton(Liverpool) Gary McAllister(Leeds United) Andy Townsend(Chelsea) Forwards Gary Lineker(Tottenham Hotspur) Alan Shearer(Southampton) Mark Hughes(Manchester United)
Attendances Source:
No. Club Matches Total attendance Average 1 Manchester United 21 944,678 44,985 2 Liverpool 21 733,769 34,941 3 Arsenal 21 669,915 31,901 4 Sheffield Wednesday 21 621,140 29,578 5 Leeds United 21 619,349 29,493 6 Tottenham Hotspur 21 582,978 27,761 7 Manchester City 21 581,451 27,688 8 Aston Villa 21 521,039 24,811 9 Nottingham Forest 21 498,138 23,721 10 Everton 21 485,954 23,141 11 Sheffield United 21 462,468 22,022 12 West Ham United 21 447,024 21,287 13 Chelsea 21 394,366 18,779 14 Crystal Palace 21 369,644 17,602 15 Oldham Athletic 21 316,825 15,087 16 Southampton 21 312,097 14,862 17 Coventry City 21 291,884 13,899 18 Norwich City 21 290,918 13,853 19 Queens Park Rangers 21 285,783 13,609 20 Notts County 21 233,828 11,135 21 Luton Town 21 204,822 9,753 22 Wimbledon 21 148,181 7,056
References
External links RSSSF
lt:Anglijos futbolo varžybos 1991–1992 m.