The 1991–92 season was the 112th season of competitive football in England.
The last-ever league championship before the creation of the Premier League was won by Leeds United who overhauled Manchester United thanks to the efforts of, among others, Gordon Strachan, Lee Chapman, David Batty, Gary Speed and Gary McAllister. After runners-up Manchester United came newly promoted Sheffield Wednesday, who were quickly emerging as one of the most feared sides in England.
Defending champions Arsenal slipped to fourth place in the 1991–92 season and never made a serious threat to retain their title. The previous season's runners-up Liverpool slipped to sixth in their first full season under the management of Graeme Souness.
Newly promoted West Ham United were relegated in bottom place, with another newly promoted side – Notts County – following days later. The last day of the season saw Luton Town lose their top flight status after 10 seasons.
John Lyall took Ipswich Town back to the First Division after a six-year absence for the Suffolk club. The Tractor Boys were followed up by runners-up Middlesbrough, but it was playoff winners Blackburn Rovers whose promotion made the biggest headlines. Bankrolled by millionaire chairman Jack Walker and managed by former Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish, Rovers beat Leicester 1–0 in the playoff final to end a 26-year exile from the top flight.
The Second Division relegation places were occupied by Port Vale, Plymouth Argyle and Brighton & Hove Albion – the latter team had been playoff losing finalists just 12 months before going down, but their fortunes had been ruined by financial problems.
New manager Phil Holder guided Brentford to a surprise Third Division championship success, while Terry Cooper's Birmingham occupied runners-up spot and the playoffs were won by Chris Turner's Peterborough United.
The Third Division drop zone was occupied by Shrewsbury Town, Bury, Torquay United and Darlington.
Burnley won the Fourth Division title to join Wolverhampton Wanderers as champions of all four divisions of the Football League. Also going up were Rotherham United, Mansfield Town and play-off winners Blackpool.
On 25 March 1992, Aldershot were declared bankrupt and obliged to resign from the Football League – their record was expunged. There was no relegation from the Football League in 1991–92. Carlisle United finished bottom, and Conference champions Colchester United returned to the league after a two-year absence.
Liverpool's Graeme Souness compensated for a disappointing first season as manager in the league by steering the Reds to a 2–0 FA Cup victory over Second Division underdogs Sunderland.
Manchester United missed out on the league title but achieved success in the League Cup with a 1–0 triumph against Nottingham Forest in the final.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | W | D | L | GF | GA | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leeds United | 42 | 13 | 8 | 0 | 38 | 13 | 9 | 8 | 4 | 36 | 24 | 74 | 37 | +37 | 82 | UEFA Champions League 1992–93 First round |
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| 2 | Manchester United | 42 | 12 | 7 | 2 | 34 | 13 | 9 | 8 | 4 | 29 | 20 | 63 | 33 | +30 | 78 | UEFA Cup 1992–93 First Round[1] |
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| 3 | Sheffield Wednesday | 42 | 13 | 5 | 3 | 39 | 24 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 23 | 25 | 62 | 49 | +13 | 75 | UEFA Cup 1992–93 First Round |
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| 4 | Arsenal | 42 | 12 | 7 | 2 | 51 | 23 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 30 | 24 | 81 | 47 | +34 | 72 | [2] | |||
| 5 | Manchester City | 42 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 32 | 14 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 29 | 34 | 61 | 48 | +13 | 70 | [2] | |||
| 6 | Liverpool | 42 | 13 | 5 | 3 | 34 | 17 | 3 | 11 | 7 | 13 | 23 | 47 | 40 | +7 | 64 | UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1992–93 First round |
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| 7 | Aston Villa | 42 | 13 | 3 | 5 | 31 | 16 | 4 | 6 | 11 | 17 | 28 | 48 | 34 | +14 | 60 | ||||
| 8 | Nottingham Forest | 42 | 10 | 7 | 4 | 36 | 27 | 6 | 4 | 11 | 24 | 31 | 60 | 58 | +2 | 59 | ||||
| 9 | Sheffield United | 42 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 29 | 23 | 7 | 3 | 11 | 36 | 40 | 65 | 63 | +2 | 57 | ||||
| 10 | Crystal Palace | 42 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 24 | 25 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 29 | 36 | 54 | 61 | –7 | 57 | ||||
| 11 | Queens Park Rangers | 42 | 6 | 10 | 5 | 25 | 21 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 23 | 26 | 48 | 47 | +1 | 54 | ||||
| 12 | Everton | 42 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 28 | 19 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 24 | 32 | 52 | 51 | +1 | 53 | ||||
| 13 | Wimbledon | 42 | 10 | 5 | 6 | 32 | 20 | 3 | 9 | 9 | 21 | 33 | 53 | 53 | ±0 | 53 | ||||
| 14 | Chelsea | 42 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 31 | 30 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 19 | 30 | 50 | 60 | –10 | 53 | ||||
| 15 | Tottenham Hotspur | 42 | 7 | 3 | 11 | 33 | 35 | 8 | 4 | 9 | 25 | 28 | 58 | 63 | –5 | 52 | ||||
| 16 | Southampton | 42 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 17 | 28 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 22 | 27 | 39 | 55 | –16 | 52 | ||||
| 17 | Oldham Athletic | 42 | 11 | 5 | 5 | 46 | 36 | 3 | 4 | 14 | 17 | 31 | 63 | 67 | –4 | 51 | ||||
| 18 | Norwich City | 42 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 29 | 28 | 3 | 6 | 12 | 18 | 35 | 47 | 63 | –16 | 45 | ||||
| 19 | Coventry City | 42 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 18 | 15 | 5 | 4 | 12 | 17 | 29 | 35 | 44 | –9 | 44 | ||||
| 20 | Luton Town | 42 | 10 | 7 | 4 | 25 | 17 | 0 | 5 | 16 | 14 | 54 | 39 | 71 | –32 | 42 | ||||
| 21 | Notts County | 42 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 24 | 29 | 3 | 5 | 13 | 16 | 33 | 40 | 62 | –22 | 40 | ||||
| 22 | West Ham United | 42 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 22 | 24 | 3 | 5 | 13 | 15 | 35 | 37 | 59 | –22 | 38 |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | W | D | L | GF | GA | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ipswich Town (C) | 46 | 16 | 3 | 4 | 42 | 22 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 28 | 28 | 70 | 50 | +20 | 84 | ||||
| 2 | Middlesbrough | 46 | 15 | 6 | 2 | 37 | 13 | 8 | 5 | 10 | 21 | 28 | 58 | 41 | +17 | 80 | ||||
| 3 | Derby County | 46 | 11 | 4 | 8 | 35 | 24 | 12 | 5 | 6 | 34 | 27 | 69 | 51 | +18 | 78 | ||||
| 4 | Leicester City | 46 | 14 | 4 | 5 | 41 | 24 | 9 | 4 | 10 | 21 | 31 | 62 | 55 | + 7 | 77 | ||||
| 5 | Cambridge United | 46 | 10 | 9 | 4 | 34 | 19 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 31 | 28 | 65 | 47 | +18 | 74 | ||||
| 6 | Blackburn Rovers | 46 | 14 | 5 | 4 | 41 | 21 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 29 | 32 | 70 | 53 | +17 | 74 | [3] | |||
| 7 | Charlton Athletic | 46 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 25 | 23 | 11 | 4 | 8 | 29 | 25 | 54 | 48 | + 6 | 71 | ||||
| 8 | Swindon Town | 46 | 15 | 3 | 5 | 38 | 22 | 3 | 12 | 8 | 31 | 33 | 69 | 55 | +14 | 69 | ||||
| 9 | Portsmouth | 46 | 15 | 6 | 2 | 41 | 12 | 4 | 6 | 13 | 24 | 39 | 65 | 51 | +14 | 69 | ||||
| 10 | Watford | 46 | 9 | 5 | 9 | 25 | 23 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 26 | 25 | 51 | 48 | + 3 | 65 | ||||
| 11 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 46 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 36 | 24 | 7 | 4 | 12 | 25 | 29 | 61 | 53 | + 8 | 64 | ||||
| 12 | Southend United | 46 | 11 | 5 | 7 | 37 | 26 | 6 | 6 | 11 | 26 | 37 | 61 | 61 | ± 0 | 62 | ||||
| 13 | Bristol Rovers | 46 | 11 | 9 | 3 | 43 | 29 | 5 | 5 | 13 | 17 | 34 | 60 | 63 | – 3 | 62 | ||||
| 14 | Tranmere Rovers | 46 | 9 | 9 | 5 | 37 | 32 | 5 | 10 | 8 | 19 | 24 | 56 | 56 | ± 0 | 61 | ||||
| 15 | Millwall | 46 | 10 | 4 | 9 | 32 | 32 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 32 | 39 | 64 | 71 | – 7 | 61 | ||||
| 16 | Barnsley | 46 | 11 | 4 | 8 | 26 | 25 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 19 | 32 | 45 | 57 | –12 | 59 | ||||
| 17 | Bristol City | 46 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 30 | 24 | 3 | 7 | 13 | 25 | 47 | 55 | 71 | –16 | 54 | ||||
| 18 | Sunderland | 46 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 36 | 23 | 4 | 3 | 16 | 25 | 42 | 61 | 65 | – 4 | 53 | ||||
| 19 | Grimsby Town | 46 | 7 | 5 | 11 | 25 | 28 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 22 | 34 | 47 | 62 | –15 | 53 | ||||
| 20 | Newcastle United | 46 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 38 | 30 | 4 | 5 | 14 | 28 | 54 | 66 | 84 | –18 | 52 | ||||
| 21 | Oxford United | 46 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 39 | 30 | 3 | 5 | 15 | 27 | 43 | 66 | 73 | – 7 | 50 | ||||
| 22 | Plymouth Argyle | 46 | 11 | 5 | 7 | 26 | 26 | 2 | 4 | 17 | 16 | 38 | 42 | 64 | –22 | 48 | ||||
| 23 | Brighton & HA | 46 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 36 | 37 | 5 | 4 | 14 | 20 | 40 | 56 | 77 | –21 | 47 | ||||
| 24 | Port Vale | 46 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 23 | 25 | 3 | 7 | 13 | 19 | 34 | 42 | 59 | –17 | 45 |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | W | D | L | GF | GA | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brentford (C) | 46 | 17 | 2 | 4 | 55 | 29 | 8 | 5 | 10 | 26 | 26 | 81 | 55 | +26 | 82 | ||||
| 2 | Birmingham City | 46 | 15 | 6 | 2 | 42 | 22 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 27 | 30 | 69 | 52 | +17 | 81 | ||||
| 3 | Huddersfield Town | 46 | 15 | 4 | 4 | 36 | 15 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 23 | 23 | 59 | 38 | +21 | 78 | ||||
| 4 | Stoke City | 46 | 14 | 5 | 4 | 45 | 24 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 24 | 25 | 69 | 49 | +20 | 77 | ||||
| 5 | Stockport County | 46 | 15 | 5 | 3 | 47 | 19 | 7 | 5 | 11 | 28 | 32 | 75 | 49 | +26 | 76 | ||||
| 6 | Peterborough United | 46 | 13 | 7 | 3 | 38 | 20 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 27 | 38 | 65 | 58 | +13 | 74 | [4] | |||
| 7 | West Bromwich Albion | 46 | 12 | 6 | 5 | 45 | 25 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 19 | 24 | 64 | 49 | +15 | 71 | ||||
| 8 | Bournemouth | 46 | 13 | 4 | 6 | 33 | 18 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 19 | 30 | 52 | 48 | + 4 | 71 | ||||
| 9 | Fulham | 46 | 11 | 7 | 5 | 29 | 16 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 28 | 37 | 57 | 53 | + 4 | 70 | ||||
| 10 | Leyton Orient | 46 | 12 | 7 | 4 | 36 | 18 | 6 | 4 | 13 | 26 | 34 | 62 | 52 | +10 | 65 | ||||
| 11 | Hartlepool United | 46 | 12 | 5 | 6 | 30 | 21 | 6 | 6 | 11 | 27 | 36 | 57 | 57 | ± 0 | 65 | ||||
| 12 | Reading | 46 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 33 | 27 | 7 | 5 | 11 | 26 | 35 | 59 | 62 | – 3 | 61 | ||||
| 13 | Bolton Wanderers | 46 | 10 | 9 | 4 | 26 | 19 | 4 | 8 | 11 | 31 | 37 | 57 | 56 | + 1 | 59 | ||||
| 14 | Hull City | 46 | 9 | 4 | 10 | 28 | 23 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 26 | 31 | 54 | 54 | ± 0 | 59 | ||||
| 15 | Wigan Athletic | 46 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 33 | 21 | 4 | 8 | 11 | 25 | 43 | 58 | 64 | – 6 | 59 | ||||
| 16 | Bradford City | 46 | 8 | 10 | 5 | 36 | 30 | 5 | 9 | 9 | 26 | 31 | 62 | 61 | + 1 | 58 | ||||
| 17 | Preston North End | 46 | 12 | 7 | 4 | 42 | 32 | 3 | 5 | 15 | 19 | 40 | 61 | 72 | –11 | 57 | ||||
| 18 | Chester City | 46 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 34 | 29 | 4 | 8 | 11 | 22 | 30 | 56 | 59 | – 3 | 56 | ||||
| 19 | Swansea City | 46 | 10 | 9 | 4 | 35 | 24 | 4 | 5 | 14 | 20 | 41 | 55 | 65 | –10 | 56 | ||||
| 20 | Exeter City | 46 | 11 | 7 | 5 | 34 | 25 | 3 | 4 | 16 | 23 | 55 | 57 | 80 | –23 | 53 | ||||
| 21 | Bury | 46 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 31 | 31 | 5 | 5 | 13 | 24 | 43 | 55 | 74 | –19 | 51 | ||||
| 22 | Shrewsbury Town | 46 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 30 | 31 | 5 | 4 | 14 | 23 | 37 | 53 | 68 | –15 | 47 | ||||
| 23 | Torquay United | 46 | 13 | 3 | 7 | 29 | 19 | 0 | 5 | 18 | 13 | 49 | 42 | 68 | –26 | 47 | ||||
| 24 | Darlington | 46 | 5 | 5 | 13 | 31 | 39 | 5 | 2 | 16 | 25 | 51 | 56 | 90 | –34 | 37 |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | W | D | L | GF | GA | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Burnley (C) | 42 | 14 | 4 | 3 | 42 | 16 | 11 | 4 | 6 | 37 | 27 | 79 | 43 | +36 | 83 | ||||
| 2 | Rotherham United | 42 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 38 | 16 | 10 | 5 | 6 | 32 | 21 | 70 | 36 | +34 | 77 | ||||
| 3 | Mansfield Town | 42 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 43 | 26 | 10 | 4 | 7 | 32 | 27 | 75 | 53 | +22 | 77 | ||||
| 4 | Blackpool | 42 | 17 | 3 | 1 | 48 | 13 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 23 | 32 | 71 | 45 | +26 | 76 | [5] | |||
| 5 | Scunthorpe United | 42 | 14 | 5 | 2 | 38 | 18 | 7 | 4 | 10 | 25 | 41 | 63 | 59 | + 4 | 72 | ||||
| 6 | Crewe Alexandra | 42 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 33 | 20 | 8 | 4 | 9 | 33 | 31 | 66 | 51 | +15 | 70 | ||||
| 7 | Barnet | 42 | 16 | 1 | 4 | 48 | 23 | 5 | 5 | 11 | 33 | 38 | 81 | 61 | +20 | 69 | ||||
| 8 | Rochdale | 42 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 34 | 22 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 23 | 31 | 57 | 53 | + 4 | 67 | ||||
| 9 | Cardiff City | 42 | 13 | 3 | 5 | 42 | 26 | 4 | 12 | 5 | 24 | 27 | 64 | 53 | +11 | 66 | UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1992–93 First round |
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| 10 | Lincoln City | 42 | 9 | 5 | 7 | 21 | 24 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 29 | 20 | 50 | 44 | + 6 | 62 | ||||
| 11 | Gillingham | 42 | 12 | 5 | 4 | 41 | 19 | 3 | 7 | 11 | 22 | 34 | 63 | 53 | +10 | 57 | ||||
| 12 | Scarborough | 42 | 12 | 5 | 4 | 39 | 28 | 3 | 7 | 11 | 25 | 40 | 64 | 68 | – 4 | 57 | ||||
| 13 | Chesterfield | 42 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 26 | 28 | 8 | 4 | 9 | 23 | 33 | 49 | 61 | –12 | 53 | ||||
| 14 | Wrexham | 42 | 11 | 4 | 6 | 31 | 26 | 3 | 5 | 13 | 21 | 47 | 52 | 73 | –21 | 51 | ||||
| 15 | Walsall | 42 | 5 | 10 | 6 | 28 | 26 | 7 | 3 | 11 | 20 | 32 | 48 | 62 | –14 | 49 | ||||
| 16 | Northampton | 42 | 5 | 9 | 7 | 25 | 23 | 6 | 4 | 11 | 21 | 33 | 46 | 56 | –10 | 46 | ||||
| 17 | Hereford United | 42 | 9 | 4 | 8 | 31 | 24 | 3 | 4 | 14 | 13 | 33 | 44 | 57 | –13 | 44 | ||||
| 18 | Maidstone United | 42 | 6 | 9 | 6 | 24 | 22 | 2 | 9 | 10 | 21 | 34 | 45 | 56 | –11 | 42 | ||||
| 19 | York City | 42 | 6 | 9 | 6 | 26 | 23 | 2 | 7 | 12 | 16 | 35 | 42 | 58 | –16 | 40 | ||||
| 20 | Halifax Town | 42 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 23 | 35 | 3 | 3 | 15 | 11 | 40 | 34 | 75 | –41 | 38 | ||||
| 21 | Doncaster Rovers | 42 | 6 | 2 | 13 | 21 | 35 | 3 | 6 | 12 | 19 | 30 | 40 | 65 | –25 | 35 | ||||
| 22 | Carlisle United | 42 | 5 | 9 | 7 | 24 | 27 | 2 | 4 | 15 | 17 | 40 | 41 | 67 | –26 | 34 | ||||
| 23 | Aldershot | Expelled. Later refounded as Aldershot Town | ||||||||||||||||||
1991–92 was the last season of the four-division Football League. For 1992–93, the First Division would become the breakaway FA Premier League, and the Football League would contain just three divisions. The new league was seen as the last chance to maintain interest in a sport which had been blighted in recent years by numerous incidents of hooliganism and images of decay at football grounds which had contributed to the Bradford Fire Disaster and the Hillsborough Disaster.
Leeds United won the last-ever league championship after a decade of relegation and before the creation of the F.A Premier League, two years after returning to the top flight. Driving force in the title triumph was experienced midfielder Gordon Strachan, who helped Leeds overtake Strachan's former club Manchester United in the title race.
Blackburn Rovers, managed by former Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish, won promotion to the new F.A Premier League to end a 26-year exile from the top flight of English football. Their triumph was sealed with a 1–0 win over Leicester City in the playoff final, thanks to a penalty from Mike Newell – a former Leicester striker.
Aldershot, who had been plagued with financial problems for two years, finally went out of business on 25 March. Their Fourth Division record was expunged and their place in the Football League was taken over by Colchester United for the 1992–93 season. A new club Aldershot Town was formed almost immediately, and joined the Third Division of the Isthmian League for the following season.
Manchester United won the League Cup for the first time in their history after Brian McClair scored the only goal of the game in a 1–0 win over Nottingham Forest at Wembley. It was some consolation for their failed title challenge.
Liverpool won the FA Cup for the fifth time in their first full season under the management of Graeme Souness, beating Second Division underdogs Sunderland 2–0 in the final at Wembley. Ian Rush set a new record for scoring in FA Cup Finals at Wembley with his 5th goal.
Burnley won the last ever Fourth Division championship to join Wolves as only the second English team to have been champions of all four divisions of the English league. It was Burnley's first successful season after a period of misery which had almost seen them relegated to the Conference in 1987.
Newly promoted Sheffield Wednesday finished third in the league and qualified for the UEFA Cup, confounding suggestions that 37-year-old player-manager Trevor Francis was too inexperienced to keep the Owls in the top flight.
Wembley hosted the European Cup final for the first time in 14 years. Barcelona of Spain beat Sampdoria of Italy 1–0.
Newcastle United sacked manager Ossie Ardiles, just 36 hours after being told by chairman John Hall that his job was safe. Hall appointed former striker Kevin Keegan as manager in hope of staving off relegation from the Second Division – and he succeeded.
In his last season at Tottenham Hotspur before joining Nagoya Grampus Eight of Japan, Gary Lineker was voted FWA Footballer of the Year after scoring 28 goals in all competitions during the 1991–92 season.
The PFA Player of the Year award went to Manchester United's rock solid and ultra reliable central defender Gary Pallister.
The PFA voted Manchester United's exciting 18-year-old winger Ryan Giggs as Young Player of the Year beating three other emerging young talents to the award in Steve McManaman, Nick Barmby and team mate Lee Sharpe to the award. Giggs also picked up a League Cup winner's medal, but just missed out on the league title.
Veteran Scottish midfielder Gordon Strachan, now in his 35th year, had another brilliant season as he proved the driving force in Leeds United's championship glory.
Little known Danish goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel quickly established himself as one of the most feared shot-stoppers in Europe in his first season with Manchester United, helping them win the League Cup and come within a shout of championship glory.
Sheffield Wednesday striker David Hirst earned himself an England call-up after helping his side finish third in the league and earn their first European qualification since the 1960s.
Mike Newell made a stylish comeback from injury to score a winning penalty for Blackburn Rovers in the Second Division playoff final, pipping his old club Leicester to a place in the new Premier League.
Leeds United manager Howard Wilkinson brought the league championship trophy to Elland Road just two seasons after they gained promotion to the First Division.
Manchester United's Alex Ferguson added another trophy to the Old Trafford boardroom, this time the club's first-ever League Cup.
Graeme Souness marked his first full season as Liverpool manager with an FA Cup triumph.
Trevor Francis had a successful first season as player-manager of Sheffield Wednesday, who finished third in the league and qualified for the UEFA Cup to end a 28-year absence from European competitions.
John Lyall brought First Division football back to Ipswich Town for the first time since 1985–86.
Kenny Dalglish put together an impressive squad to win promotion to the new FA Premier League for fallen giant Blackburn Rovers.
Brian Little transformed Leicester City from relegation candidates the previous season into promotion contenders, reaching the play-off final in his first season in charge.
Phil Holder had a successful first season in management by winning the Third Division title with Brentford.
Chris Turner guided Peterborough United to a second successive promotion as they won the Third Division playoffs to claim a place in the second tier of the English league for the first time in their history.
Jimmy Mullen won the last-ever Fourth Division title with Burnley, who joined Wolverhampton Wanderers in the distinction of having been champions of all four divisions of the English league.
Roy McDonough steered Colchester United to title success in the Conference to return the club to the Football League after a two-year exile.
Leeds United were rewarded for their championship success with a place in the European Cup for the 1992–93 season.
Runners-up Manchester United and third-placed Sheffield Wednesday were England's entrants for the UEFA Cup.
England's place in the Cup Winners Cup went to Liverpool.
Blackburn Rovers won promotion to the new Premier League to end their 26-year spell outside the top flight.
Brighton & Hove Albion were relegated to the league's third tier (Division Two next season) just one year after narrowly missing out on promotion to the top flight and eight years after being FA Cup finalists.
29 January 1992: Ray Parlour, 18-year-old midfielder, makes his debut for Arsenal in their 2–0 league defeat against Liverpool.
2 May 1992: Eddie Newton, 20-year-old midfielder, comes on and scores as a substitute on his debut for Chelsea in the final game of the league season as they lose 2–1 to Everton.
3 July 1991 - After a year in Spain with Real Sociedad, former Sheffield Wednesday striker Dalian Atkinson returns to England in a £1.6million move to Aston Villa. Mike Milligan ends his unsuccessful year-long spell at Everton and returns to Oldham Athletic for £600,000.
8 July 1991 - Chelsea pay Celtic £1.4million for defender Paul Elliott.
9 July 1991 - Leeds United sign striker Rod Wallace from Southampton for £1.6million and defender Tony Dorigo from Chelsea for £1.3million.
10 July 1991 - Lennie Lawrence ends nine years as manager of Charlton Athletic to become the new manager of Middlesbrough in place of Colin Todd. Graeme Sharp, Everton striker, ends 11 years at the club to sign for Oldham Athletic in a £500,000 deal, with Paul Warhurst heading out of Boundary Park in a £750,000 move to Sheffield Wednesday.
11 July 1991 – Former Liverpool striker John Aldridge returns to England in a £250,000 move to Tranmere Rovers, becoming their record signing after spending two years in Spain with Real Sociedad.
12 July 1991 – Ron Atkinson looks to the future when he signs 18-year-old defender Ugo Ehiogu for Aston Villa from West Bromwich Albion for £40,000. Former Tottenham Hotspur manager Peter Shreeves leaves Watford to return to White Hart Lane as a coach, having worked at Vicarage Road on the coaching staff of former Tottenham player Steve Perryman.
15 July 1991 – Mark Wright moves from Derby County to Liverpool for £2.2million. Denmark goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel joins Manchester United for £550,000.
19 July 1991 – Liverpool break the national transfer record by paying Derby County £2.9million for striker Dean Saunders.
20 July 1991 – Aston Villa sell David Platt to A.S. Bari of Italy for £6.5million – the most expensive fee for a British player, and more than double the latest record paid by a British club.
23 July 1991 – Nottingham Forest pay a club record £2million for Millwall's striker Teddy Sheringham, who was the Football League's top goalscorer last season. Amstrad computer tycoon Alan Sugar joines forces with Tottenham Hotspur manager Terry Venables to take the club over; Venables becomes chief executive and hands over management of the first team to Peter Shreeves, who only returned to the club as a coach 11 days ago.
25 July 1991 – 37-year-old midfielder Jimmy Case moves from Southampton on a free transfer to AFC Bournemouth, who sell defender Shaun Teale to Aston Villa for £300,000. Middlesbrough prepare for a Second Division promotion challenge by signing striker Paul Wilkinson from Watford for £500,000.
26 July 1991 - Joe Royle further boosts Oldham Athletic's squad, ready for their first top flight season in almost 70 years, with a £400,000 move for Coventry City captain Brian Kilcline.
30 July 1991 - The Football Association wins High Court approval, ahead of the Football League, to launch the new Premier League from next season.
31 July 1991 – Coventry City pay £130,000 for 22-year-old striker Paul Furlong from Isthmian League side Enfield.
1 August 1991 – Liverpool sell Peter Beardsley to Everton for £1million. Tottenham Hotspur defender Mitchell Thomas moves to Luton Town for £500,000, and announce that injured midfielder Paul Gascoigne is set to move to Italian club Lazio at the end of the season.
6 August 1991 – Keith Curle becomes the most expensive defender in Britain when he joins Manchester City from Wimbledon for £2.5million. Kevin Richardson becomes the third player to leave Real Sociedad for an English club this summer when he is sold to Aston Villa for £450,000.
7 August 1991 – Liverpool sell Steve Staunton to Aston Villa for £1.1million. Terry Cooper resigns as manager of Third Division club Exeter City and is replaced by Alan Ball.
9 August 1991 - Within 48 hours of leaving Exeter City, Terry Cooper is named as the new Birmingham City manager.
10 August 1991 - League champions Arsenal and FA Cup winners Tottenham Hotspur share the FA Charity Shield with a goalless draw at Wembley.
13 August 1991 – Mark Walters follows his former Rangers manager Graeme Souness to Liverpool in a £1.25million deal. Don Howe's brief return to Wimbledon's coaching staff ends when he announces his decision to leave the club with immediate effect, in response to manager Ray Harford's decision to resign from the club within the next six months. West Ham United prepare for their First Division comeback by signing striker Mike Small from Brighton for £400,000.
14 August 1991 – Manchester City set a new national record for a defender by paying Wimbledon £2.5million for Keith Curle. Chelsea reject a £1million offer from Tottenham Hotspur for striker Kerry Dixon.
15 August 1991 – Sheffield Wednesday preprare for their return to the First Division by paying a club record £1.2million for Rangers and England goalkeeper Chris Woods, while Liverpool sell defender Gary Gillespie to Celtic for £925,000 and Everton's Stuart McCall heads to Rangers for £1.2million. England winger Trevor Steven, formerly of Everton, becomes the most expensive English footballer in a £5million move to French league champions Marseille, where he will play alongside fellow England international Chris Waddle.
16 August 1991 – Tottenham Hotspur pay a club record £2.2million for Chelsea and Scotland striker Gordon Durie, while Coventry City pay a tiny fraction of that fee when signing Zimbabwean striker Peter Ndlovu from Highlanders for £10,000.
17 August 1991 – The Football League season begins. Arsenal begin their defence of the First Division title with a 1–1 home draw against Queen's Park Rangers.[7] Manchester United beat newly promoted Notts County 2–0 at Old Trafford. Barnet begin their Football League career with a 7-4 home defeat to Crewe Alexandra in the Fourth Division.
19 August 1991 – Cardiff City pay a Fourth Division record fee of £100,000 for Chester City striker Carl Dale.
21 August 1991 – 19-year-old midfielder Steve McManaman scores his first goal for Liverpool in his fourth appearance for them – a 2–1 defeat against Manchester City at Maine Road in the league.
22 August 1991 - Charlton Athletic announce that they will stay at Upton Park until at least January due to delays on the renovation of The Valley, where they last played in September 1985.
28 August 1991 – Leeds United win 4–0 at Southampton in the league, with Gary Speed and Gordon Strachan both scoring twice from midfield.
29 August 1991 - Ian Porterfield boosts the Chelsea midfield with a £575,000 move for Sheffield United's Vinnie Jones.
30 August 1991 – Former Tottenham Hotspur full-back Cyril Knowles dies of cancer aged 47. Three months ago he retired as manager of Hartlepool United shortly after taking them to promotion to the Third Division.
31 August 1991 – August draws to a close with Manchester United top of the First Division with 11 points from their first five games. Liverpool, Manchester City, Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur occupy the next four places, while winless Sheffield United, Queens Park Rangers and Luton occupy the bottom three places in the top flight.[8] Ipswich Town lead the way in the Second Division, with Bristol City second. The playoff zone is occupied by Cambridge United, Tranmere Rovers, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leicester City.[9]Nottingham Forest sign winger Kingsley Black from Luton Town for £1.5million.
2 September 1991 – Don Mackay becomes the first managerial casualty of the season when he is sacked by Blackburn Rovers after more than four years in charge. Coach Tony Parkes is appointed caretaker manager. Within hours of his dismissal, Graham Carr resigns from Fourth Division side Maidstone United (deep in debt and reportedly at threat of closure in only their third season as a Football League club) after eight months at the helm.
7 September 1991 – 17-year-old winger Ryan Giggs scores his first league goal of the season in Manchester United's 3–0 home win over Norwich City. A mere 3,231 fans watch Wimbledon's home game against Luton Town - the lowest postwar attendance at a First Division game.
11 September 1991 - A year into his reign as England manager, Graham Taylor sees the national side lose for the first time when they go down 1-0 to a reunified Germany side in a Euro 92 qualifier at Wembley.
14 September 1991 – Arsenal beat a Crystal Palace side containing their transfer target Ian Wright 4–1 in the league at Selhurst Park. Kevin Campbell scores twice.
16 September 1991 - Nigel Jemson, the striker whose goal won the League Cup for Nottingham Forest 17 months ago, moves to Sheffield Wednesday for £800,000.
18 September 1991 – Dean Saunders becomes the first player to score four goals in a European game for Liverpool as they defeat Kuusysi Lahti 6–1 at Anfield in the UEFA Cup first round first leg. Alan Smith of Arsenal also scores four in a 6-1 European win - at home to Austria Vienna in the European Cup first round first leg. There is misery for Liverpool, however, as John Barnes suffers an achilles injury and is ruled out until the new year.
20 September 1991 – Tottenham defender Terry Fenwick, 31, is sentenced to four months in prison for drink-driving.[10]
23 September 1991 – Arsenal pay a club record £2.5million for Crystal Palace striker Ian Wright. Palace manager Steve Coppell uses the windfall from the transfer to pay Palace's record fee of £1.8million for Sunderland striker Marco Gabbiadini.
30 September 1991 – Manchester United lead the First Division with a six-point margin over second-placed Leeds United as September draws to a close. Also in contention are Arsenal, Sheffield Wednesday (newly promoted), Chelsea, Coventry City and Tottenham Hotpsur, while Sheffield United are bottom of the table having only just achieved their first league win of the season.[11] The Second Division is being led by a thriving Middlesbrough side in their first season under the management of Lennie Lawrence. Ipswich Town occupy second place. Swindon Town, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Leicester City and Cambridge United occupy the playoff zone.[12]
3 October 1991 - John McGrath, the former Preston North End manager, becomes Halifax Town's 23rd manager in 45 years as successor to Jim McCalliog.
4 October 1991 – Liverpool sign 19-year-old Welsh-born right back Rob Jones from then fourth division Crewe Alexandra for £300,000.
5 October 1991 – Leeds United get their title challenge back on track with a thrilling 4–3 home win over struggling Sheffield United. Steve Hodge and Mel Sterland both score twice.
7 October 1991 – Ray Harford leaves Wimbledon and is replaced by Aston Villa's reserve team coach Peter Withe.
8 October 1991 – John Impey, who won promotion to the Third Division with Torquay United just weeks after his appointment as manager last season, is sacked after six months in the job after his side lost seven out of eight games in the league. 28-year-old player Wes Saunders is appointed caretaker manager – making him the youngest manager in the Football League. Winger Jimmy Carter moves from Liverpool to Arsenal for £500,000.
11 October 1991 – Paul Gascoigne, out of action since injuring his knee in Tottenham's FA Cup final victory five months ago, declares that he is targeting a return to action in April as he attempts to meet the deadline to prove his fitness to Lazio, who are attempting to sign him at the end of this season.
12 October 1991 – Eight months after his controversial resignation from Liverpool, Kenny Dalglish returns to management with Blackburn Rovers in the Second Division. The 40-year-old Scotsman accepted an offer from chairman Jack Walker, who sees Dalglish as the man to bring top flight football back to one of the country's most historic sides. Dalglish has a dream start to his Blackburn career as his new team crush struggling Plymouth Argyle 5–2. Ray Harford, who walked out on Wimbledon five days ago, has dropped down a division and a level of responsibility to become Dalglish's assistant.
16 October 1991 – England beat Turkey 1–0 at Wembley in their penultimate Euro 92 qualifying game. Wales lose 4-1 to Germany in a game where Dean Saunders is sent off and Ryan Giggs, still not 18 until the end of next month, becomes their youngest full international.
17 October 1991 – Everton buy 20-year-old defender Matthew Jackson from Luton Town for £600,000.
19 October 1991 – Arsenal's four-match winning run in the league ends with a 1–1 draw against leaders Manchester United at Old Trafford, denting their own hopes of retaining the league title.
24 October 1991 – Justin Fashanu signs a trial contract with Newcastle United, who are battling against relegation from the Second Division. Kenny Dalglish makes his first signing for Blackburn Rovers, signing defender Alan Wright from Blackpool for £500,000 - a record fee for a Fourth Division player.
26 October 1991 – The last unbeaten start in the First Division ends when Manchester United lose their 13th game of the season 3–2 at Sheffield Wednesday. They also surrender their leadership of the First Division, which is taken by Leeds United after their 1-0 win at Oldham Athletic - the first time that Leeds have led the English league since they won the league title in Don Revie's last season as manager in 1974.
31 October 1991 – Leeds United have leapfrogged Manchester United as First Division leaders as October draws to a close, but Alex Ferguson's men are just one point behind with a game in hand. Manchester City, Arsenal and Sheffield Wednesday are currently the only the other teams posing a real threat to the top two, while Sheffield United remain bottom of the table with only two wins so far this season.[13] The Second Division promotion race is still led by Middlesbrough, but second place is now occupied by a Cambridge United side who are in the hunt for a unique third successive promotion and First Division football for the first time in their history. The playoff zone is occupied by Charlton Athletic, Swindon Town, Ipswich Town and Derby County.[14]
2 November 1991 – Billy Bremner, the Leeds United legend, is sacked as manager of Fourth Division strugglers Doncaster Rovers. Bremner, 48, has had two spells as manager of the South Yorkshire club, at either side of his three-year spell as manager of Leeds that ended in 1988.
4 November 1991 - Bryan Robson announces his retirement from international football after 90 full caps for England.
5 November 1991 – Benfica, the Portugese champions, join the race to sign Paul Gascoigne and table a £6million bid for him.
6 November 1991 - Arsenal's European Cup quest is ended by Benfica, as is Manchester United's defence of the European Cup Winners' Cup by Atletico Madrid.
8 November 1991 – Kenny Dalglish's spending spree at Blackburn Rovers begins with a £700,000 (joint club record) move to bring defender Colin Hendry back to the club from Manchester City.
9 November 1991 – Cambridge United, in the Second Division after two successive promotions, start to look capable of achieving a unique third promotion in a row after going top of the Second Division. In the Fourth Division, league newcomers Barnet go top of the table.
12 November 1991 – First Division strugglers Notts County pay a club record £750,000 for Sheffield United striker Tony Agana.
13 November 1991 – England secure Euro 92 qualification by drawing 1–1 with Poland in Poznań.
14 November 1991 - Blackburn Rovers pay a club record £1.1million for Everton striker Mike Newell. The Football Association confirms that the Premier League will open next season with 22 clubs.
16 November 1991 – The Manchester derby ends in a goalless draw at Maine Road.
17 November 1991 – Gary Lineker announces that he will retire from international football after Euro 92. Lineker, 31 at the end of this month, is now England's second highest goalscorer of all time. The first top flight Steel City derby for almost a quarter of a century sees Sheffield United beat Sheffield Wednesday 2-0 at Bramall Lane.[15]
18 November 1991 – Everton sign Rangers striker Mo Johnston for £1.5million.[16]
20 November 1991 – Gary Lineker agrees to join Nagoya Grampus Eight of Japan for £1million on a two-year contract at the end of the season.[17]
23 November 1991 – Justin Fashanu signs for Torquay United as manager Wes Saunders looks to boost his side's hopes of Third Division survival.
28 November 1991 – Gordon Cowans leaves Aston Villa for the second time, this time signing for Blackburn Rovers in a £200,000 deal. His place in the Villa midfield is filled by Garry Parker from Nottingham Forest for £650,000.
30 November 1991 – As happened at the end of last month, Leeds United finish this month as First Division leaders with Manchester United one point behind and with a game in hand. The threat from other clubs is becoming weaker, with third placed Manchester City now eight points adrift of top place. Sheffield United, meanwhile, have improved this month to climb off bottom place and are now just one place and two points adrift of safety, while Luton Town are bottom and Southampton are second from bottom.[18] Cambridge United remain top of the Second Division, with Middlesbrough in second place. Derby County, Blackburn Rovers, Ipswich Town and Leicester City occupy the playoff zone. Another newly promoted side, Southend United, are also looking to emulate Cambridge United's surprise promotion challenge as they stand just one point short of the playoff zone.[19]
3 December 1991 – Liverpool suffered a shock fourth round exit from the League Cup to Third Division Peterborough United, who beat them 1–0 at London Road.[20]
4 December 1991 – Ossie Ardiles pays Leicester City £250,000 to bring Irish international striker David Kelly to Newcastle United, who are battling against relegation from a Second Division in which Ardiles had boasted that he could get the club promoted.
5 December 1991 - With their hopes of an immediate return to the First Division fading fast, Sunderland pay a club record £900,000 for West Bromwich Albion striker Don Goodman.
6 December 1991 – Chelsea sign striker Clive Allen from Manchester City for £250,000.
7 December 1991 – Manchester United return to the top of the First Division with a 4–0 home win over Coventry City.
9 December 1991 - Bill Fox, president of the Football League and chairman of Blackburn Rovers, dies after a short illness at the age of 63. Former Manchester United and Arsenal striker Frank Stapleton moves into management as player-manager of Third Division side Bradford City.
11 December 1991 – Millwall receive the go-ahead to relocate to a new 20,000-seat stadium at Bermondsey. Construction work is expected to begin within the next few months and chairman Reg Burr is hoping to have his team playing in their new stadium for the 1993–94 season.
13 December 1991 - Liverpool pay Arsenal £1.5million for midfielder Michael Thomas - the player whose last minute goal ironically deprived them of the league title in May 1989.
14 December 1991 - Kenny Dalglish takes Blackburn Rovers to the top of the Second Division.
18 December 1991 – Paul Gascoigne's move to Lazio could take place within the next few weeks following further talks between himself and the club's owners.[21]
21 December 1991 – Ian Wright scores all four of Arsenal's goals as they beat Everton 4–2 in the league at Highbury.
23 December 1991 – Manchester City pay Liverpool £900,000 for winger Steve McMahon.
26 December 1991 –
29 December 1991 – Manchester United remain top of the First Division with a 1–1 draw at home to their nearest rivals Leeds United, who have now gone four league games without a win.
30 December 1991 – Denis Smith is sacked after nearly five years at Sunderland, where Malcolm Crosby takes over as caretaker manager.
31 December 1991–1991 draws to a close with Manchester United – fresh from a 6–3 win over Oldham Athletic at Boundary Park – top of the table by two points and with two games in hand over second placed Leeds United. The threat from other clubs is becoming even more distant, with Sheffield Wednesday and Manchester City both nine points behind the leaders and having played more games. Sheffield United have now climbed out of the relegation zone which is now occupied by Luton Town, West Ham United and Southampton.[22] In the Second Division, Cambridge United have restored their lead of the division but are level on points with Blackburn Rovers, Ipswich Town and Middlesbrough. Southend United and Leicester City, just one point behind them, complete the top six. Portsmouth, Derby County, Swindon Town and Charlton Athletic are just outside the playoff zone.[23]
1 January 1992 – Manchester United suffer a shock 4–1 home defeat to Queen's Park Rangers, with Dennis Bailey scoring a hat-trick.[24] Leeds United overtake them at the top of the First Division with a 3–1 away win over relegation threatened West Ham United. Gary Lineker receives an OBE and Tom Finney receives an MBE in the New Year's Honours.
4 January 1992 – Arsenal, defending league champions, lose 2–1 at Wrexham, who finished bottom of the Fourth Division last season, in the FA Cup third round. Meanwhile, Manchester United defeat Leeds United to cancel out their opposition's chances of winning the double, and sparking their own challenge for a unique domestic treble.
6 January 1992 – Terry Butcher, at 33 still the youngest manager in the First Division, is sacked by Coventry City and replaced by his 56-year-old assistant Don Howe.
10 January 1992 – Notts County sell Paul Rideout to Glasgow Rangers for £500,000.
11 January 1992 - Defender Gary Ablett makes the controversial move across Stanley Park to join Everton from Liverpool for £750,000.
12 January 1992 – Lee Chapman boosts Leeds United's title challenge with a hat-trick against his old club Sheffield Wednesday in a 6–1 win at Hillsborough.
19 January 1992 – Wimbledon sack Peter Withe after three months as manager and replace him with reserve team manager Joe Kinnear.
22 January 1992 – Bolton Wanderers sign 19-year-old midfielder Jason McAteer from Northern Premier League side Marine.
30 January 1992 - Derby County pay a club record £1.2million for striker Marco Gabbiadini, after just four months at Crystal Palace.
31 January 1992 – Manchester United are still top of the First Division as January ends, with a two-point lead over Leeds United and a game in hand. Liverpool's recent good run of form has taken them to third place, but they are still 11 points off top place and are not looking like serious title contenders, although they are still in contention for the UEFA Cup and FA Cup. West Ham United, Southampton and Luton Town still occupy the bottom three places.[25] The Second Division promotion race is being led by Blackburn Rovers, while Southend United's unlikely promotion challenge continues as they occupy second place in a division that they had never played in until this season. Ipswich Town, Middlesbrough, Leicester City and Cambridge United occupy the playoff zone.[26]
5 February 1992 –
4 February 1992 - Manchester United sell out-of-favour goalkeeper Jim Leighton, who has played for the first team just once in the last 18 months, to Dundee for £250,000.
6 February 1992 – Newcastle United, second from bottom in the Second Division sack manager Ossie Ardiles after 11 months in charge and replace him with former striker Kevin Keegan. Frenchman Eric Cantona signs for Leeds United from Nîmes Olympique in a £900,000 deal after turning down a contract with Sheffield Wednesday.
7 February 1992 – Former Liverpool and England midfielder Terry McDermott is appointed as Kevin Keegan's assistant. Liverpool legend Bob Paisley resigns from the board of directors, ending a 53-year association with the club which began when he joined them as a player just before the outbreak of World War II.
8 February 1992 –
13 February 1992 – Torquay United appoint Ivan Golac as manager, with striker Justin Fashanu as assistant manager, with Wes Saunders reverting to playing duties only after four months in charge, while Second Division strugglers Plymouth Argyle sack David Kemp and are reportedly interested in appointing Ossie Ardiles as his successor.
15 February 1992 –
19 February 1992 - Alan Shearer scores on his full England debut in a 2-0 friendly win over France at Wembley. Also making his debut is Liverpool's Rob Jones, who began the season in the Fourth Division with Crewe.
20 February 1992 – The Football Association confirms that the top 19 clubs in the First Division and the three newly promoted Second Division clubs will break away from the Football League and form a new FA Premier League of 22 clubs for next season.
21 February 1992 - Aston Villa pay a club record £1.7million for Oldham Athletic defender Earl Barrett.
23 February 1992 – Everton hold Leeds United to a 1–1 draw at Goodison Park, another result which puts the West Yorkshire side's title hopes on ice.
25 February 1992 – Aston Villa sign defender Earl Barrett from Oldham Athletic for £1.7million.
26 February 1992 – The FA Cup fifth round replays see Southampton beat Bolton Wanderers 3–2 at The Dell, Sunderland beat West Ham United 3–2 at Upton Park, Liverpool beat Ipswich Town 3–2 at Anfield and Portsmouth beat Middlesbrough 4–2 at Ayresome Park.
28 February 1992 – 20-year-old Australian goalkeeper Mark Bosnich joins Aston Villa from Manchester United on a free transfer – just seven months after fellow United goalkeeper Les Sealey moved to Villa Park. After a loan spell, Norwich City midfielder Tim Sherwood makes his move to Blackburn Rovers permanent for £500,000.
29 February 1992 – February draws to a close with Manchester United still leaders with a two-point margin over second placed Leeds United, while Liverpool's good run of form has taken a slight setback leaving Manchester City and Sheffield Wednesday as the nearest (distant) title contenders. The bottom three teams remain unchanged from the previous two month-ends.[27] The race for a place in the new Premier League is still being dominated by Kenny Dalglish's Blackburn Rovers, while Ipswich Town are second to them in the league. The playoff zone is occupied by Cambridge United, Southend United, Middlesbrough and Derby County.[28] In the Third Division, referee Roger Wiseman is assaulted by a spectator during the Birmingham City-Stoke City promotion clash at St Andrew's, a game which was also marred by a pitch invasion.
2 March 1992 – Peter Shilton, at 42 the oldest player in the Football League, departs from Derby County after nearly five years to become player-manager of Plymouth Argyle. Birmingham City chairman Samesh Kumar vows to impose life bans on anyone convicted of taking part in the pitch invasion two days ago.[29]
4 March 1992 - Welsh international midfielder Joey Jones, who plays for Wrexham at club level and turned out for Liverpool earlier in his career, announces his retirement as a player on his 37th birthday.
7 March 1992 – Liverpool's bid for a fifth FA Cup triumph remains on track as they beat Aston Villa 1–0 at Anfield. Nottingham Forest's hopes of a unique cup double are ended as they are surprisingly beaten 1–0 by Portsmouth at Fratton Park. Sunderland are starting to look like surprise FA Cup contenders under their interim manager Malcolm Crosby after holding Chelsea to a 1–1 draw at Stamford Bridge.
9 March 1992 - Caretaker manager Joe Kinnear is placed in charge of Wimbledon on a permanent basis.
11 March 1992 –
12 March 1992 – Within 24 hours of signing Paul Kitson for £1.3million, Derby County spend the same fee on another striker – this time Tommy Johnson from Notts County, while Arsenal sell 20-year-old striker Andy Cole to Bristol City for £500,000 after a loan spell.
14 March 1992 –
15 March 1992 – Newcastle United chairman John Hall confirms that Kevin Keegan is still the club's manager.
18 March 1992 –
20 March 1992 - Derby County break their transfer record again by signing Notts County striker Tommy Johnson for £1.3million after a loan spell.
21 March 1992 – Manchester United's title hopes are jeopardised by a goalless home draw against struggling Wimbledon.
23 March 1992 - Kenny Dalglish takes his Blackburn Rovers spending to £5million in five months with a £750,000 move for Swindon Town striker Duncan Shearer.
25 March 1992 – Fourth Division side Aldershot, finally go out of business and forced to resign from the Football League.
27 March 1992 – Clive Allen's three-month spell at Chelsea ends with a £275,000 move to relegation-threatened West Ham United.
29 March 1992 – Newcastle United's Second Division survival bid is given a major boost when they beat local rivals Sunderland 1–0 at home. In the last-ever Full Members Cup final, Nottingham Forest beat Southampton 3-2 in extra time at Wembley, but lose defender Stuart Pearce for the rest of the season - including the League Cup final - with a knee injury.
31 March 1992 – March draws to a close with Manchester United still top of the league, now one point ahead of Leeds United and with a game in hand after two Paul Ince goals help them beat Norwich City 3–1 at Carrow Road. Luton Town and West Ham United remain in the relegation zone but Southampton have climbed out of it at the expense of Notts County.[30] Ipswich Town have displaced Blackburn Rovers at the top of the Second Division, with the playoff zone being occupied by Cambridge United, Middlesbrough, Leicester City and Charlton Athletic.[31]
3 April 1992 - Just over a week after Aldershot's demise, there are fears that another Football League club could go out of business when Northampton Town go into receivership with debts of £1million; the club's administrators sack manager Theo Foley.
4 April 1992 – Leeds United suffer another blow in their title challenge with a 4–0 defeat by Manchester City at Maine Road.
5 April 1992 – Sunderland beat Norwich City 1–0 to reach their first FA Cup final since the 1973 triumph, while Portsmouth's hopes setting the piece for a unique non top division FA Cup final are put on hold as they can only manage a 1–1 draw with Liverpool, whose manager Graeme Souness is rushed to hospital just hours after the game to undergo an emergency heart operation.
7 April 1992 – Ryan Giggs scores against Manchester City in the Manchester derby at Old Trafford for the second season running, but this time United fail to take all the points as their neighbours hold them to a 1–1 draw.
11 April 1992 – Paul Merson scores a hat-trick in Arsenal's 4–1 home win over Crystal Palace – the first game that Ian Wright, who failed to score, has played against his old club. Leeds United boost their title bid with a 3–0 home win over Chelsea.
12 April 1992 – Manchester United collect a piece of silverware for the third season running by defeating Nottingham Forest 1–0 in the League Cup final thanks to a Brian McClair goal, and they are still fighting a two-horse race with Leeds United for the league title.
13 April 1992 – Liverpool defeat Portsmouth on penalties after the FA Cup semi-final replay ends in a goalless draw. Justin Fashanu receives a £265 fine and a 28-day driving ban for speeding and failing to produce his driving licence.
15 April 1992 – Graeme Souness gives a newspaper interview to The Sun as he recovers from heart surgery in hospital. Photographs of him kissing his girlfriend are also published in the article, sparking widespread anger from Liverpool fans due to The Sun's controversial reporting of the Hillsborough disaster and the fact that the article was published on the tragedy's third anniversary. The article had originally been scheduled to appear in yesterday's edition of the newspaper, but missed the deadline for the 14 April edition due to the game's late finish.[32]
16 April 1992 – Manchester United's title hopes are still very much alive after an Andrei Kanchelskis goal gives them a 1–0 home win over Southampton.
18 April 1992 – Liverpool hold Leeds United to a goalless draw at Anfield, keeping the title race wide open. However, Manchester United fail to take advantage as they can only manage a 1–1 draw at Luton, whose survival hopes are boosted by the point they hold on for.
19 April 1992 - Defender Mick McCarthy becomes player-manager of Millwall in place of Bruce Rioch.
20 April 1992 – Ian Wright scores twice as Arsenal beat Liverpool 4–0 in the league at Highbury. Leeds United are one point ahead of Manchester United, who have a game in hand, after a 2–0 home win over relegation threatened Coventry City, while Alex Ferguson's team lose 2–1 at home to Nottingham Forest.[33]
21 April 1992 - Businessman Max Griggs forms a new team, Rushden & Diamonds, from a merger of Rushden Town and Irthlingborough Diamonds, to play in the Midland Division of the Southern League next season.[34]
22 April 1992 – Manchester United's title hopes are left hanging by a thread when they lose 1–0 to West Ham United at Upton Park. They are still just one point behind leaders Leeds United with two games remaining, but Man United have a tough challenge in their next match – Liverpool at Anfield – while Leeds have a relatively easy opposition in the shape of Sheffield United.[33]
25 April 1992 - Newly promoted West Ham United and Notts County are both relegated from the First Division.
26 April 1992 – Leeds United are confirmed as league champions for the first time in 18 years, and just 2 years after winning promotion, thanks to Manchester United's 2–0 defeat at Liverpool.
29 April 1992 - After guiding unfashionable Sunderland to the FA Cup final, caretaker manager Malcolm Crosby receives the manager's job on a permanent basis.
30 April 1992 – With Leeds United confirmed as champions, there is one game remaining and Manchester United's seemingly unassaible position in the top two is now under threat from Sheffield Wednesday, while Luton Town have to win their final game of the season to avoid losing the top flight place they have held since 1982. Notts County and West Ham United, meanwhile, have both had their relegation confirmed just one season after promotion.[35] Ipswich Town have sealed promotion to the new Premier League as Second Division champions, ending six years outside the top flight. Leicester City, who this time last year narrowly avoided relegation to the Third Division, occupy the second automatic promotion place, but face competition from Derby County and Middlesbrough. Cambridge United and Charlton Athletic complete the top six, but the South Londoners could be leapfrogged by Blackburn Rovers at the weekend.[36]
1 May 1992 – Dave Stringer resigns as manager of Norwich City. Stringer, 48, had been in charge at Carrow Road for five seasons and had taken the club to the FA Cup semi finals twice as well as a club-best finish of fourth place in 1989. Youth team coach Mike Walker is announced as Stringer's successor.
2 May 1992 –
3 May 1992 - Gordon Strachan announces his retirement from international action with Scotland.
5 May 1992 –
7 May 1992 - Defender Des Walker moves from Nottingham Forest to Sampdoria of Italy for £1.5million.
8 May 1992 – Phil Neal, the former Liverpool captain, is sacked after more than six years as manager of Bolton Wanderers. Neal, 41, oversaw Bolton's relegation to the Fourth Division in 1987 but won them promotion after just one season, and last season he took them to the brink of promotion to the Second Division. However, he could only manage them to 13th place in this season's Third Division. Ossie Ardiles returns to management with West Bromwich Albion.
9 May 1992 – Liverpool lift the FA Cup for the fifth time in their history thanks to a 2–0 win over Sunderland at Wembley. The first goal of the game comes from Michael Thomas, who famously denied them the league title three years ago with a last-minute goal when playing for Arsenal. The second goal comes from Ian Rush, who has missed much of the season due to a spate of injuries.
10 May 1992 – Mike Masters becomes the first American to score at Wembley for Colchester United in the F.A Trophy Final.
11 May 1992 - Former England manager Bobby Robson ends two years with PSV Eindhoven in Holland to manage Sporting Lisbon of Portugal.
15 May 1992 – Rob Jones, the young Liverpool defender who excelled this season after his move from Crewe Alexandra, pulls out of contention for a place in England's Euro 92 squad due to shin splints. Peter Shreeves is dismissed as team manager of Tottenham Hotspur after one disappointing season back at the helm.
18 May 1992 – Graham Taylor announces England's 20-man squad for Euro 92.[40]
19 May 1992 – Portsmouth accept a £700,000 offer from Liverpool for defender John Beresford.
21 May 1992 – Having secured Newcastle's survival in the Second Division (which will be known as Division one from next season), Kevin Keegan signs a three-year contract to become manager on a permanent basis.[41]
23 May 1992 – Aldershot Town are formed in place of the bankrupt Aldershot FC, and are applying for a place in next season's Isthmian League Third Division. Blackpool become the first team to win promotion on penalties when they defeat Scunthorpe United 4–3 on penalties after a 1–1 draw in the Fourth Division playoff final.
24 May 1992 – Peterborough United win the Third Division playoff final with a 2–1 win over Stockport County to become founder members of the new Division One and reach the second tier of the English league for the first time in their 32 years as a Football League side.
25 May 1992 –
27 May 1992 – Bobby Gould is appointed joint manager of Coventry City alongside Don Howe, who was his assistant when he managed Wimbledon to FA Cup glory in 1988.[42]Derby County, who missed out on a place in the new Premier League after defeat in the playoffs, prepare for another promotion push by signing midfielder Mark Pembridge from Luton Town for £1.25million. Tottenham Hotspur announce that Doug Livermore will be taking charge of the first team from next season with Ray Clemence as his assistant, while chief executive Terry Venables will be involved in the coaching side of the club again.
29 May 1992 – Bruce Rioch returns to football as manager of Bolton Wanderers.
1 June 1992 – Tottenham Hotspur sign 19-year-old winger Darren Anderton from Portsmouth for £1.7million.
2 June 1992 - Demolition work begins on Manchester United's famous Stretford End, to make way for an all-seater replacement which will cost £12million to build and be completed next year.
3 June 1992 – England lose a third right-back when Gary Stevens suffers a stress fracture in a 2–1 friendly win over Finland in Helsinki. Their left winger John Barnes ruptures his Achilles tendon and is also ruled out of Euro 92.
5 June 1992 – England are given special permission to make additions to their Euro 92 squad after the official deadline, selecting Manchester City defender Keith Curle and QPR winger Andy Sinton as late additions to his squad.
9 June 1992 - England midfielder David Platt leaves Bari after one year and agrees to join their Italian league rivals Juventus for £6.5million. Harry Redknapp ends eight years as manager of Bournemouth and is succeeded by coach Tony Pulis. Aston Villa assistant manager Andy Gray resigns from the position to become a full-time pundit for Sky Sports in their coverage of the new Premier League.
10 June 1992 - More than a year after first trying to sign him, Lazio finally sign Paul Gascoigne from Tottenham Hotspur for a fee of £6.5million - a record sale for an English club and the joint highest fee for an English player following David Platt's transfer between two Italian clubs yesterday.
11 June 1992 – England begin their Euro 92 campaign with a goalless draw with Denmark in Malmö.
12 June 1992 – England are refused permission to make a further addition to their Euro 92 squad, after Mark Wright was ruled out by injury and manager Graham Taylor had wanted to select Tony Adams in his place.
13 June 1992 - England hooligans riot in Malmo.
14 June 1992 – England draw 0–0 with France in their second Euro 92 group game, leaving them needing to win their next game against host nation Sweden to stand any chance of reaching the semi-finals.
16 June 1992 – Kevin Keegan continues to plot Newcastle United's revival bid by signing midfielder Paul Bracewell from Sunderland for £250,000.
17 June 1992 – Despite taking an early lead thanks to David Platt, England bow out of Euro 92 after two second-half goals put them 2–1 down to Sweden in Stockholm.
21 June 1992 – Chris Waddle rejects an offer to join Leeds United from Olympique Marseille. He is now expected to join Sheffield Wednesday for £900,000.[43]
24 June 1992 – Don Howe resigns as joint manager of Coventry City, leaving Bobby Gould in sole charge.[44]
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