1976–77 in English football
The Football League First Division 1976/77 was the 78th season of the Football League First Division as the highest English football league. It began on 21 August 1976, and ended on May 24, 1977. FC Liverpool defended a point behind Manchester City to the title and won his tenth now English championship. Of the three climbers West Bromwich Albion, Bristol City and AFC Sunderland only the latter club could not hold the class and had to join the in the Second Division next to Stoke City and Tottenham Hotspur. These three teams should be in the following season replaced by the three newly promoted second division Nottingham Forest, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Chelsea.
A total of 457 players were used, with Liverpool having the least and 17 the Sunderland AFC with 30 mustered the most players in league games. 91 newcomers were offset by 82 footballers who most recently came into play in the 1976/77 season. On the final day Sunderland, Bristol and Coventry were (all tied ) threatened by relegation. Both games were played by five minutes from time lag. After it was a draw between Coventry and Bristol and you had learned that Sunderland had lost, Bristol and Coventry agreed to the ball unmotivated back and one that tries to and so to avoid relegation. Evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins mentions this match in his documentary, Nice Guys Finish First (1987 ) as an example of altruism for its own purpose.
Final Table
Results Table
In the left column of the home teams are listed.
Top scorers
The champion team of Liverpool FC
In the following list, all players were listed who came for Liverpool in a league match for use during the 1976/77 season. It must be noted that in most cases a minimum number of games will be provided in English football to accept the official champion medal allowed. As regards the specific arrangements prior to the introduction of the Premier League, there is lack of clarity, all the players with an asterisk (*) have been provided which have received no champion medal presumably because of their small contribution. In brackets the number of bets as well as the goals achieved are called.
Ian Callaghan (33/ 1) | Jimmy Case (27/ 1) | Ray Clemence (42/ 0 ) | David Fairclough (20/ 3) | Steve Heighway (39/ 8) | Emlyn Hughes ( 42/1 ) | David Johnson (26/ 5) | Joey Jones (39/ 3) | Kevin Keegan (38/ 12) | Alan Kennedy (41/ 7) | Brian Kettle * ( 2/0 ) | Alec Lindsay * (1/0 ) | Terry McDermott (26/ 1) | Phil Neal (42/ 7) | Tommy Smith (16/ 0 ) | Phil Thompson (26/ 2) | John Toshack (22 /10).
- Coach: Bob Paisley
Important events
- For the first time in the history of English professional football red and yellow cards were used.