The 1981–82 season was Leeds United's eighteenth consecutive season in the Football League First Division, where they were relegated.
Season summary For the first half of the campaign, this season appeared to be a carbon-copy of the previous one, with a terrible start followed by an improved run of form that lifted Leeds into mid-table by Christmas. This time, however, Leeds completely imploded after the turn of the year, plunging them right back into relegation trouble. A 2-1 victory over Brighton on the final Saturday meant that Leeds needed to win at fellow strugglers West Bromwich Albion three days later to stay up and relegate the West Midlands team, but the match ended 2-0 to the home team. While chairman Manny Cussins initially promised that Clarke would be allowed the opportunity to take Leeds straight back up, he later changed his mind and sacked him, instead appointing Eddie Gray as player-manager.
League table
First-team squad Squad at end of season
Left club during season
Reserve squad
Transfers
In Frank Gray - Nottingham Forest, 31 May, £300,000 Peter Barnes - West Bromwich Albion, 1 August, £930,000 Kenny Burns - Nottingham Forest, 14 October, £400,000 John Sheridan - Manchester City, 2 March Frank Worthington - Birmingham City, 8 March, swap
Out Neil Parker - Scarborough, 1 July, free Jeff Chandler - Bolton Wanderers, 1 October, £40,000 Tony Arins - Scunthorpe United, 1 November, free Keith Parkinson - Doncaster Rovers, 1 January, free Alejandro Sabella - Estudiantes, 1 January, £120,000 Byron Stevenson - Birmingham City, 1 March, swap
Transfers in: £1,630,000 Transfers out: £160,000 Total spending: £1,470,000
Loaned out Keith Parkinson - Hull City, 1 November Neil Firm - Oldham Athletic, 1 March Brian Flynn - Burnley, 4 March
Competitions Football League First Division
League table
Matches WinDrawLoss +First Division match resultsDateOpponentVenueResultF–AScorersAttendanceSwansea CityA1–5Parlane23,489EvertonH1–1Graham26,502Wolverhampton WanderersH3–0Graham 320,216Coventry CityA0–413,065ArsenalH0–021,410Manchester CityA0–435,077Ipswich TownA1–2Barnes22,319Manchester UnitedA0–147,019Aston VillaH1–1Balcombe21,065LiverpoolA0–335,840West Bromwich AlbionH3–1Graham, Cherry, Connor19,164SunderlandH1–0E. Gray25,220Nottingham ForestA1–2Butterworth25,272Notts CountyH1–0Butterworth19,552SouthamptonA0–421,127West Ham UnitedH3–3Graham, Hird (pen), Cherry25,637Stoke CityA2–1Graham, Hamson13,901Tottenham HotspurH0–028,780Swansea CityH2–0Stevenson, Butterworth18,709ArsenalA0–122,408Coventry CityH0–016,385Ipswich TownH0–220,287LiverpoolH0–233,689Brighton & Hove AlbionA0–112,857Manchester CityH0–120,797SunderlandA1–0Worthington20,285Wolverhampton WanderersA0–111,729Nottingham ForestH1–1Worthington (pen)18,036Notts CountyA1–2Worthington13,316Manchester UnitedH0–031,118MiddlesbroughA0–015,494Birmingham CityA1–0Hart14,497MiddlesbroughH1–1Purlane20,458SouthamptonH1–3Worthington21,353West Ham UnitedA3–4Connor, Graham, Flynn24,748Aston VillaA4–1Graham, Worthington 2, Connor20,566Stoke CityH0–017,775EvertonA0–117,137Tottenham HotspurA1–2Worthington35,020Birmingham CityH3–3Worthington 2 (1 pen), Connor18,583Brighton & Hove AlbionH2–1Hamson, Hird19,831West Bromwich AlbionA0–223,118
FA Cup
WinDrawLoss +FA Cup match detailsRoundDateOpponentVenueResultF–AScorersAttendanceThird roundWolverhampton WanderersA3–1Hamson, Hird, E. Gray20,923Fourth roundTottenham HotspurA0–146,126
Football League Cup
WinDrawLoss +League Cup match detailsRoundDateOpponentVenueResultF–AScorersAttendanceSecond round (first leg)Ipswich TownH0–116,994Second round (second leg)Ipswich TownA0–316,494
References
Bibliography