The 1980–81 season was Burnley's first season in the third tier of English football. They were managed by Brian Miller in his first season in charge of the club.

Appearances and goals

Matches

Football League Division Three 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 16 August 1980 Newport County (H) 1–1 Cassidy 12' 6,733 20 August 1980 Walsall (A) 1–3 Taylor 84' 4,714 23 August 1980 Chesterfield (H) 1–0 Dobson 21' (pen.) 5,880 30 August 1980 Charlton Athletic (A) 0–2 5,445 6 September 1980 Colchester United (H) 1–0 Hamilton 25' 4,436 13 September 1980 Exeter City (A) 0–0 4,534 16 September 1980 Hull City (H) 2–0 Young 72', Taylor 88' 4,933 20 September 1980 Chester (A) 0–0 3,660 27 September 1980 Millwall (H) 5–0 Hamilton 12', Dobson 55', Taylor (3) 57', 85', 88' 5,620 30 September 1980 Hull City (A) 0–0 5,497 4 October 1980 Fulham (A) 2–0 Laws 34', Potts 85' 4,673 7 October 1980 Sheffield United (H) 3–2 Taylor (2) 31', 85', Hamilton 38' 7,308 11 October 1980 Rotherham United (H) 1–1 Dobson 48' 9,352 18 October 1980 Portsmouth (A) 2–4 Scott (2) 80', 90' 13,449 21 October 1980 Huddersfield Town (A) 0–0 15,741 25 October 1980 Brentford (H) 2–0 Dobson 42' (pen.), Cavener 67' 7,324 1 November 1980 Swindon Town (A) 3–0 Carter 21' (o.g.), Scott (2) 80', 90' 6,436 4 November 1980 Sheffield United (A) 0–0 14,585 8 November 1980 Reading (H) 1–2 Hamilton 11' 6,925 11 November 1980 Walsall (H) 0–0 5,573 15 November 1980 Newport County (A) 2–1 Hamilton 42', Taylor 44' 5,370 29 November 1980 Gillingham (H) 3–2 Scott 18', Taylor 40', Weatherly 56' (o.g.) 5,797 2 December 1980 Barnsley (H) 0–1 9,109 6 December 1980 Oxford United (A) 2–0 Scott 13', Young 47' 3,513 20 December 1980 Plymouth Argyle (H) 2–1 Taylor (2) 13', 49' 5,695 26 December 1980 Carlisle United (A) 2–3 Scott 66', Taylor 78' 7,136 27 December 1980 Blackpool (H) 4–1 Taylor 14', Potts 44', Laws 67', Holt 87' 10,782 3 January 1981 Brentford (A) 0–0 6,379 27 January 1981 Portsmouth (H) 1–3 Hamilton 7' 6,689 31 January 1981 Chesterfield (A) 0–3 7,637 7 February 1981 Exeter City (H) 1–0 Dobson 42' (pen.) 5,496 14 February 1981 Colchester United (A) 1–2 Hamilton 79' 3,082 17 February 1981 Charlton Athletic (H) 0–1 5,786 21 February 1981 Millwall (A) 2–2 Taylor 63', Hamilton 73' 4,691 28 February 1981 Chester (H) 1–0 Young 80' 4,997 7 March 1981 Fulham (H) 3–0 Hamilton 9', Dobson (2) 27', 73' 5,472 28 March 1981 Barnsley (A) 2–3 Phelan 16', Scott 35' 13,689 31 March 1981 Rotherham United (A) 0–1 9,762 4 April 1981 Swindon Town (H) 0–0 4,736 7 April 1981 Gillingham (A) 0–0 4,412 11 April 1981 Reading (A) 3–1 Taylor (2) 30', 76', Phelan 50' 3,977 14 April 1981 Huddersfield Town (H) 4–2 Brown 16' (o.g.), Scott 39', Overson 45', Potts 57' 11,075 18 April 1981 Blackpool (A) 0–0 7,198 21 April 1981 Carlisle United (H) 0–3 5,126 25 April 1981 Plymouth Argyle (A) 1–2 Cavener 89' 4,331 2 May 1981 Oxford United (H) 1–1 Potts 20' 3,947

Final league position

FA Cup Date Round Opponents Result Goalscorers Attendance 22 November 1980 Round 1 Scarborough (H) 1–0 Hamilton 77' 7,789 13 December 1980 Round 2 Port Vale (H) 1–1 Potts 61' 7,497 16 December 1980 Replay Port Vale (A) 0–2 7,684

League Cup Date Round Opponents Result Goalscorers Attendance 9 August 1980 Round 1 First leg Wrexham (A) 3–1 Davies 36' (o.g.), Cassidy 61', Thomson 70' 5,126 12 August 1980 Round 1 Second leg Wrexham (H) 2–1 Scott 12', Dobson 85' (pen.) 4,448 26 August 1980 Round 2 First leg West Ham United (H) 0–2 6,673 2 September 1980 Round 2 Second leg West Ham United (A) 0–4 15,216

Anglo-Scottish Cup Date Round Opponents Result Goalscorers Attendance 29 July 1980 Preliminary Group Bury (A) 1–2 Dobson 58' (pen.) 3,887 2 August 1980 Preliminary Group Oldham Athletic (H) 3–1 Scott 51', Taylor 58', Cavener 84' 4,083 5 August 1980 Preliminary Group Shrewsbury Town (H) 1–1 Cassidy 1' 3,354

References