The 1985–86 season was Burnley's first season in the fourth tier of English football. They were initially managed by Martin Buchan until October 1985, when he was replaced by Tommy Cavanagh as manager.

Appearances and goals

Matches

Football League Division Four Key

In Result column, Burnley's score shown first H = Home match A = Away match

pen. = Penalty kick o.g. = Own goal

Results Date Opponents Result Goalscorers Attendance 17 August 1985 Northampton Town (H) 3–2 Hird 12', Biggins (2) 28', 44' 4,279 23 August 1985 Stockport County (H) 0–1 3,909 26 August 1985 Port Vale (H) 1–2 Taylor 23' 3,995 31 August 1985 Aldershot (A) 2–0 Taylor (2) 62', 68' 1,744 7 September 1985 Hartlepool United (H) 2–0 Biggins 37', Heggarty 89' 3,175 14 September 1985 Hereford United (A) 2–2 Malley 18', Hird 65' (pen.) 3,411 17 September 1985 Preston North End (A) 0–1 5,585 21 September 1985 Rochdale (H) 1–0 Biggins 1' 4,241 28 September 1985 Peterborough United (A) 0–0 3,700 1 October 1985 Colchester United (H) 0–2 3,424 5 October 1985 Chester City (A) 0–4 2,974 12 October 1985 Swindon Town (H) 0–2 3,022 19 October 1985 Crewe Alexandra (A) 1–3 Taylor 48' 1,998 22 October 1985 Torquay United (H) 3–0 Hird 14' (pen.), Taylor (2) 31', 88' 2,295 26 October 1985 Halifax Town (A) 2–2 Parker 19', Grewcock 86' 2,334 2 November 1985 Southend United (H) 1–3 Robinson 44' 2,673 5 November 1985 Mansfield Town (H) 2–1 Taylor 44', Hird 67' 2,020 9 November 1985 Cambridge United (A) 4–0 Hird 1', Parker 28', Devine 29', Taylor 35' 1,917 23 November 1985 Exeter City (H) 3–1 McNichol 14' (o.g.), Hird (2) 50' (pen.), 81' (pen.) 2,893 30 November 1985 Scunthorpe United (A) 1–1 Hoskin 8' 2,001 14 December 1985 Orient (H) 1–0 Taylor 23' 3,007 20 December 1985 Stockport County (A) 1–1 Heesom 79' 3,472 26 December 1985 Tranmere Rovers (A) 1–2 Taylor 44' 3,188 1 January 1986 Wrexham (H) 5–2 Taylor 27', Deakin 32', Grewcock 50', Parker (2) 58', 75' 4,106 3 January 1986 Southend United (A) 3–2 Taylor (2) 65', 77', Deakin 66' 2,619 18 January 1986 Northampton Town (A) 0–2 3,095 25 January 1986 Hereford United (H) 3–2 Taylor (2) 5', 56', Lawrence 72' 3,936 1 February 1986 Hartlepool United (A) 1–3 Lawrence 56' 3,359 4 February 1986 Torquay United (A) 0–2 1,335 24 February 1986 Port Vale (A) 1–1 Lawrence 86' 3,030 1 March 1986 Peterborough United (H) 1–1 Paris 50' (o.g.) 2,676 8 March 1986 Chester City (H) 1–0 Lawrence 70' 3,742 11 March 1986 Aldershot (H) 1–2 Grewcock 19' 2,675 15 March 1986 Swindon Town (A) 1–3 Lawrence 44' 7,311 18 March 1986 Rochdale (A) 0–1 2,406 22 March 1986 Halifax Town (H) 1–3 Hampton 15' 3,326 29 March 1986 Wrexham (A) 1–0 Hoskin 41' 2,057 31 March 1986 Tranmere Rovers (H) 3–1 Grewcock (2) 34', 89', Malley 67' 3,132 5 April 1986 Mansfield Town (A) 0–0 3,678 12 April 1986 Cambridge United (H) 1–1 Grewcock 87' 2,796 15 April 1986 Crewe Alexandra (H) 0–1 1,988 19 April 1986 Exeter City (A) 2–0 Taylor 20', Parker 47' 2,019 22 April 1986 Preston North End (H) 1–1 Deakin 49' 3,835 26 April 1986 Scunthorpe United (H) 1–2 Grewcock 20' 2,542 3 May 1986 Orient (A) 0–3 1,995 6 May 1986 Colchester United (A) 2–2 Lawrence 62', Devine 89' 2,726

Final league position

FA Cup Date Round Opponents Result Goalscorers Attendance 16 November 1985 Round 1 Nuneaton Borough (A) 3–2 Malley 15', Devine (2) 44', 89' 4,500 7 December 1985 Round 2 Rotherham United (A) 1–4 Parker 47' 4,264

League Cup Date Round Opponents Result Goalscorers Attendance 20 August 1985 Round 1 First leg Bury (H) 2–1 Taylor 10', Biggins 82' 3,303 3 September 1985 Round 1 Second leg Bury (A) 3–5 Taylor (2) 25', 85', Hird 40' 3,762

Football League Trophy Date Round Opponents Result Goalscorers Attendance 21 January 1986 Group Stage Chesterfield (A) 2–1 Lawrence 25', Taylor 46' 1,053 13 March 1986 Group Stage Darlington (H) 1–1 Taylor 13' 1,138

References