1980β81 season | ||
---|---|---|
Chairman | Patrick Cobbold | |
Manager | Bobby Robson | |
First Division | 2nd | |
FA Cup | Semi-finals | |
League Cup | Fourth round | |
UEFA Cup | Winners | |
Top goalscorer | League:
John Wark (18) All: John Wark (36) | |
Highest home attendance | 32,274 v Liverpool (13 December 1980) | |
Lowest home attendance | 14,780 v Middlesbrough (2 September 1980) | |
Average home league attendance | 24,619 | |
| ||
During the 1980β81 English football season, Ipswich Town F.C. competed in the Football League First Division. In one of the most successful seasons in the club's history, they finished as runners-up in the league championship, were semi-finalists in the FA Cup and won the UEFA Cup. In all, Ipswich played a total of 66 competitive games during the season, winning 37, drawing 13 and losing 16.
The season began with an unbeaten run in the club's opening 15 league matches, and by the middle of March they were strong title contenders with only two defeats in thirty-two. However, a 2β1 defeat at Manchester United triggered a slump which handed the initiative to eventual champions Aston Villa, although Ipswich did win at Villa Park during the run-in. Finishing as runners-up was the second-best finish Ipswich had achieved in their history, bettered only by the 1961β62 championship-winning season. The dip in form, losing seven of the last ten league games, was due in no small part to fixture congestion, as the club was progressing in cup competitions. The club lost in the fourth round of the League Cup to Birmingham but reached the semi-final of the FA Cup, losing in extra time to Manchester City. This was eclipsed by reaching β and then winning β the final of the UEFA Cup, where a 5β4 aggregate victory over Dutch side AZ Alkmaar clinched the club's first (and, to date, only) European trophy.
Top scorer for the season was 23-year-old John Wark, who scored 36 goals in all competitions, 14 of which came in the UEFA Cup, including one in each leg of the final. This equalled JosΓ© Altafini's record of 14 goals for Milan in the 1962β63 European Cup. Wark's goalscoring form saw him win the European Young Player of the Year and PFA Player of the Year awards. The Dutch midfielder Frans Thijssen was named Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year.
Ipswich had ended the previous First Division campaign in third place. That season included an unbeaten run of 23 matches stretching from the beginning of December to the final Saturday of the League, when they lost at Manchester City. [1] Ipswich exited the FA Cup at the quarter-final stage, losing 2β1 against Everton, [2] and lost out to Coventry City in the second round of the League Cup. [1] In European football, Ipswich were knocked out of the UEFA Cup in the second round, losing on away goals to Grasshoppers. [3]
Ipswich started their league campaign with a 1β0 victory away at newly promoted Leicester City, with John Wark scoring the winning goal in the 88th minute. This was his first of a prolific season to come. [4] Home wins against Brighton and Everton sandwiched a 2β2 draw at Stoke City, and left Ipswich unbeaten in the league and top of the table on goal difference at the end of August. [5] Bobby Robson was awarded Football League First Division Manager of the Month for August. [6] The club went through September undefeated, with victories against Aston Villa, Crystal Palace, Coventry City and Wolves, maintaining their position at the top of the division at the end of the month, four points ahead of Liverpool. [7] Commitments in both the UEFA and League Cups meant Ipswich's league activity in October was restricted to four matches, drawing with Leeds United, Liverpool and Manchester United, and winning at Sunderland. Although Ipswich remained undefeated in the league by the end of October, Villa topped the table by two points, having played two more games. [8]
November commenced with two draws, a goalless game at home against West Bromwich Albion and a six-goal match against Southampton. A shock 1β0 defeat against bottom club Brighton saw the end of Ipswich's unbeaten run of fourteen league games since the start of the season. Ipswich were without first-team regulars Paul Cooper, Thijssen, Alan Brazil and Kevin Beattie through injury, and Terry Butcher was suspended, [9] having been sent off in the Southampton match. [10] Burley succumbed to injury during the game; Robson remarked "I must admit, our resources are being stretched to the absolute limit". [9] The defeat was followed by two wins, against Leicester City and Nottingham Forest. [11] Ipswich ended the month third in the league, three points behind Aston Villa and two points behind Liverpool, but with three games in hand. [12] Their performance was similar in December, commencing with two draws (against Manchester City and Liverpool), followed by a 5β3 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur. At 3β3, Ipswich's Eric Gates was sent off, seemingly for retaliating to Graham Roberts, and Tottenham took advantage to score twice in the final ten minutes through Steve Archibald and Osvaldo Ardiles, inflicting Ipswich's second league defeat of the season. [13] Ipswich won 3β1 at Birmingham City before playing two matches in two days after Christmas, beating Norwich City 2β0 on Boxing Day before drawing 1β1 at Highbury against Arsenal the following day, courtesy of a Wark penalty, his 23rd goal of the season. [14] The year ended with Ipswich in third place in the league, still behind Liverpool and Villa, but by only a single point and with two games in hand. [15]
The new year started with two home victories, a 2β0 win against Nottingham Forest and, on what was Robson's twelfth anniversary as Ipswich manager, a 5β1 defeat of Birmingham City, which took Ipswich back to the top of the league for the first time since October. [16] A goalless draw at Everton was then followed by a 4β0 win at Portman Road against Stoke City, with Ipswich's dominance leading Stoke manager Alan Durban to comment: "I've never seen a team with such confidence in their eyes". [17] Ipswich ended the month back on top of the league table, tied on points with Aston Villa and four points clear of Liverpool, and with a game in hand on both. [18] Ipswich went through February with a 100% record, with three home wins over Crystal Palace, Middlesbrough and Wolverhampton Wanderers, and an away win against Coventry City. This consolidated the club's position at the top of the league by the end of the month, two points ahead of Villa and eight ahead of Liverpool, [19] and earned Robson another Manager of the Month award. [20] Two home wins (against Tottenham and Sunderland) and two away losses (against Manchester United and Leeds United) in March for Ipswich saw the gap at the top of the table ahead of Aston Villa reduce to a single point by the end of March, [21] yet Robson was awarded his third Manager of the Month award. [22] Having lost just two league games between August and February, Ipswich's form had started to dip as a result of fixture congestion with them still playing in three competitions. [23]
Ipswich's season worsened in April, losing to West Bromwich Albion, Arsenal and Norwich, and securing just four points with wins against Manchester City and Aston Villa. Ipswich ended April second in the league, four points behind Villa with a game in hand, but with only two games of the season remaining. [24] Ipswich needed to win both games to remain in the title chase. They led 1β0 at half-time against Middlesbrough at Ayresome Park, but two goals from Yugoslavian international striker BoΕ‘ko JankoviΔ condemned Ipswich to their sixth defeat in nine games. [25] They went on to lose the last game against Southampton, and ended the season in second place, four points behind Aston Villa and three points ahead of Arsenal who won seven of their final eight matches. [26] [27]
Date | Opponents | H/A | Result FβA |
Scorers | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
16 August 1980 | Leicester City | A | 1β0 | Wark | 21,640 |
19 August 1980 | Brighton & Hove Albion | H | 2β0 | Wark, Gates | 21,568 |
23 August 1980 | Stoke City | A | 2β2 | Brazil, Gates | 10,722 |
30 August 1980 | Everton | H | 4β0 | Brazil, Wark, Butcher, Mariner | 20,879 |
6 September 1980 | Aston Villa | H | 1β0 | Thijssen | 23,192 |
13 September 1980 | Crystal Palace | A | 2β1 | Wark, Gates | 24,282 |
20 September 1980 | Coventry City | H | 2β0 | Wark 2 | 20,507 |
27 September 1980 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | A | 2β0 | Brazil, Mariner | 18,503 |
4 October 1980 | Leeds United | H | 1β1 | Wark | 24,087 |
11 October 1980 | Liverpool | A | 1β1 | Thijssen | 48,084 |
18 October 1980 | Manchester United | H | 1β1 | Mariner | 28,451 |
25 October 1980 | Sunderland | A | 2β0 | MΓΌhren, Brazil | 32,368 |
1 November 1980 | West Bromwich Albion | H | 0β0 | 23,043 | |
8 November 1980 | Southampton | A | 3β3 | Gates, Wark, Mariner | 21,261 |
11 November 1980 | Brighton & Hove Albion | A | 0β1 | 17,055 | |
15 November 1980 | Leicester City | H | 3β1 | Gates, Williams (og), d'Avray | 19,852 |
22 November 1980 | Nottingham Forest | A | 2β1 | Brazil, Wark (pen) | 24,423 |
6 December 1980 | Manchester City | A | 1β1 | MΓΌhren | 35,215 |
13 December 1980 | Liverpool | H | 1β1 | Brazil | 32,274 |
17 December 1980 | Tottenham Hotspur | A | 3β5 | Mariner 2, Gates | 22,741 |
20 December 1980 | Birmingham City | A | 3β1 | Mariner, Wark, Brazil | 16,161 |
26 December 1980 | Norwich City | H | 2β0 | Brazil, Wark | 27,890 |
27 December 1980 | Arsenal | A | 1β1 | Wark (pen) | 42,818 |
10 January 1981 | Nottingham Forest | H | 2β0 | Mariner, MΓΌhren | 25,701 |
13 January 1981 | Birmingham City | H | 5β1 | Wark, Butcher, Mariner, MΓΌhren, Brazil | 21,158 |
17 January 1981 | Everton | A | 0β0 | 25,516 | |
31 January 1981 | Stoke City | H | 4β0 | Wark (pen), Brazil 2, Gates | 23,843 |
7 February 1981 | Crystal Palace | H | 3β2 | Mariner, Wark (pen), Gilbert (og) | 25,036 |
17 February 1981 | Middlesbrough | H | 1β0 | Brazil | 24,781 |
21 February 1981 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | H | 3β1 | Wark, Gates, Beattie | 24,218 |
28 February 1981 | Coventry City | A | 4β0 | Brazil, Gates, McCall, Osman | 17,557 |
14 March 1981 | Tottenham Hotspur | H | 3β0 | Gates, Wark (pen), Brazil | 32,052 |
21 March 1981 | Manchester United | A | 1β2 | Butcher | 46,685 |
28 March 1981 | Sunderland | H | 4β1 | MΓΌhren, Mariner 2, Thijssen | 25,450 |
31 March 1981 | Leeds United | A | 0β3 | 26,462 | |
4 April 1981 | West Bromwich Albion | A | 1β3 | Brazil | 22,216 |
14 April 1981 | Aston Villa | A | 2β1 | Brazil, Gates | 47,495 |
18 April 1981 | Arsenal | H | 0β2 | 30,935 | |
20 April 1981 | Norwich City | A | 0β1 | 26,083 | |
25 April 1981 | Manchester City | H | 1β0 | Butcher | 22,684 |
2 May 1981 | Middlesbrough | A | 1β2 | Mariner | 15,503 |
13 May 1981 | Southampton | H | 2β3 | Brazil, Wark | 19,504 |
Pos | Team | Pld | HW | HD | HL | HGF | HGA | AW | AD | AL | AGF | AGA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Aston Villa (C) | 42 | 16 | 3 | 2 | 40 | 13 | 10 | 5 | 6 | 32 | 27 | +32 | 60 | Qualified for European Cup 1981β82 First round |
2 | Ipswich Town | 42 | 15 | 4 | 2 | 45 | 14 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 32 | 29 | +34 | 56 | Qualified for UEFA Cup 1981β82 First round |
3 | Arsenal | 42 | 13 | 8 | 0 | 36 | 17 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 25 | 28 | +16 | 53 | |
4 | West Bromwich Albion | 42 | 15 | 4 | 2 | 40 | 15 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 20 | 27 | +18 | 52 | |
5 | Liverpool | 42 | 13 | 5 | 3 | 38 | 15 | 4 | 12 | 5 | 24 | 27 | +20 | 51 | European Cup 1981β82 First round [a] |
6 | Southampton | 42 | 15 | 4 | 2 | 47 | 22 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 29 | 34 | +20 | 50 | Qualified for UEFA Cup 1981β82 First round |
Ipswich commenced the 1980β81 Football League Cup campaign in the second round, where they were drawn against Middlesbrough. They lost the first leg 3β1 away from home, but secured a second leg 3β0 win courtesy of a Paul Mariner brace and a goal from Russell Osman. Although the match was covered for television by both the BBC and Anglia Television, footage was not screened because the Middlesbrough shirts were sponsored by a car company, contrary to the broadcasting companies' rules. [28] In the third round, against local rivals Norwich City, another Osman goal ensured a 1β1 draw at Portman Road. Ipswich progressed to the fourth round following a 3β1 victory at Carrow Road. Mariner put Ipswich ahead, but Tony Powell's first goal in two years drew the scores level. Mariner's second strike and a goal from MΓΌhren in a three-minute spell secured the victory for Ipswich. [29] They then faced Birmingham City at St Andrew's but went into the tie without regulars Mariner, Thijssen, Beattie and O'Callaghan, all through injury. Ipswich were knocked out, losing 2β1 despite taking the lead with a penalty from Wark. It was their first overall domestic loss of the season. [30]
Date | Round | Opponents | H/A | Result FβA |
Scorers | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
26 August 1980 | Round 2 First leg |
Middlesbrough | A | 1β3 | Wark | 14,459 |
2 September 1980 | Round 2 Second leg |
Middlesbrough | H | 3β0 | Osman, Mariner 2 | 14,780 |
23 September 1980 | Round 3 | Norwich City | H | 1β1 | Osman | 26,462 |
8 October 1980 | Round 3 Replay |
Norwich City | A | 3β1 | Mariner 2, MΓΌhren | 24,523 |
28 October 1980 | Round 4 | Birmingham City | A | 1β2 | Wark (pen) | 18,968 |
Ipswich's first appearance in the 1980β81 FA Cup was in the third round, against Aston Villa at Portman Road. A goal from Paul Mariner was sufficient to see the team progress to a fourth round tie with Second Division team Shrewsbury Town at Gay Meadow. The match ended in a goalless draw, forcing a replay and Robson declared Shrewsbury to have been unlucky: "if we play like that again we won't win the cup or the league title". [31] Ipswich won the replay 3β0 with two goals from Eric Gates and John Wark scoring his 25th goal in all competitions that season. [32]
A home draw in the fifth round against Charlton Athletic ended in a 2β0 victory to Ipswich courtesy of strikes from Mariner and Wark. Ipswich were drawn to play away against Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest in the quarter finals. In a match described by ESPN as "a classic FA Cup tie", the visitors took a two-goal lead through a Mariner strike and an own goal from Viv Anderson, before Forest fought back to take a 3β2 lead after goals from Trevor Francis, Colin Walsh and John Robertson (from the penalty spot). Thijssen then scored with six minutes remaining to take the tie to a replay. [33] The replay, held three days later at Portman Road, was decided by a single goal from MΓΌhren, with Robson describing his team's effort as "superhuman" while Clough, whose team dominated the first half, said: "I am still not sure they are a better team than us". [34] The semi-final against Manchester City was played at Villa Park as a neutral venue. Described as "one of the celebrated strikes in the club's history", Paul Power's extra time free kick settled the match in City's favour. [35] It was also to be the last game for the club for the injury-struck Beattie who broke his arm during the match. Beattie recalled "I collided with Dave Bennett during an aerial challenge. I won the ball fairly easily but he actually headed my arm ... the arm was bent out of shape and I was in agony". [36]
Date | Round | Opponents | H/A | Result FβA |
Scorers | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3 January 1981 | Round 3 | Aston Villa | H | 1β0 | Mariner 12' | 27,721 |
24 January 1981 | Round 4 | Shrewsbury Town | A | 0β0 | 18,000 | |
27 January 1981 | Round 4 Replay |
Shrewsbury Town | H | 3β0 | Gates 2, Wark | 27,543 |
14 February 1981 | Round 5 | Charlton Athletic | H | 2β0 | Wark, Mariner | 30,221 |
7 March 1981 | Round 6 | Nottingham Forest | A | 3β3 | Mariner, Anderson (og), Thijssen | 34,796 |
10 March 1981 | Round 6 Replay |
Nottingham Forest | H | 1β0 | MΓΌhren | 31,060 |
11 April 1981 | Semi-final | Manchester City | N | 0β1 | 46,537 |
Ipswich's European campaign commenced in the first round of the UEFA Cup against Greek team Aris Salonika. The first leg, at Portman Road, was an ill-disciplined match which saw Aris' Giorgos Foiros sent off after a second yellow card towards the end of the first half. Ipswich were awarded three penalties, all of which were converted by John Wark, who also scored a fourth from open play. Aris also scored from the spot through Theodoros Pallas in what would be a consolation goal in a 5β1 win for Ipswich, [37] described as a "sparkling" victory by the Belfast Telegraph. [38] Two weeks later, Aris won 3β1 in the return leg, taking an early 2β0 lead before Gates pulled one back for Ipswich. Although Aris scored a third midway through the second half, [39] Ipswich progressed to the next round 6β4 on aggregate, [40] where they faced Bohemians of Prague. A 3β0 home win saw Wark on target twice more, who was substituted off with a tendon injury, to be replaced by Kevin Beattie who scored a third for Ipswich with a free kick, [41] described in The Times as a "thunderbolt". [42] The goal would prove to be pivotal as Ipswich, without regular goalkeeper Paul Cooper, midfielder Thijssen and striker Mariner, all through injury, [43] lost the away leg 2β0 with goals from AntonΓn Panenka and Tibor MiΔinec, but qualified for the third round 3β2 on aggregate. [44] [45] Three weeks later, Ipswich faced Widzew ΕΓ³dΕΊ from Poland, who had defeated Manchester United and Juventus in previous rounds, at Portman Road. [46] Wark once again found the net, scoring a hat-trick with goals from Alan Brazil and Paul Mariner completing a comprehensive 5β0 victory, [47] the only negative being a trip to hospital for Mick Mills for 15 stitches in a cut to his shin. [48] On a frozen pitch which many observers considered to be dangerous, [49] Widzew ΕΓ³dΕΊ won the away leg 1β0, with Marek PiΔta scoring for the hosts but went out 5β1 on aggregate. [50] The lead from the first leg allowed Robson to withdraw Mariner and MΓΌhren, as he said that he was prioritising Ipswich's league challenge. [49]
After a three-month break, Ipswich faced French team AS Saint-Γtienne in the quarter-finals in March 1981, the first leg being held in the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard. Dutch player Johnny Rep put the home team in the lead after 16 minutes, but a brace from Mariner and goals from Arnold MΓΌhren and John Wark ensured Ipswich took a 4β1 lead into the second leg. [51] The victory against the French team has been described as one of the greatest performances in Ipswich's history, [51] with Robson noting: "we have demolished a good side with one of the best victories anyone has achieved in Europe in the past 10 years". [52] Ipswich won the game at Portman Road 3β1 with goals from Terry Butcher, Mariner and another penalty from Wark, while Saint-Γtienne's consolation goal came from Jacques Zimako. [53] Winning the tie 7β2 on aggregate, Ipswich progressed to the semi-finals where they met German side 1. FC KΓΆln. Both legs finished 1β0 to Ipswich, Wark scoring again in the home leg, [54] his 12th goal of the European campaign, with Butcher heading in a Thijssen free kick in Cologne. [55] [56] The 2β0 aggregate victory ensured that Ipswich qualified for their first (and as of 2020 [update], their only) European cup final, where they would face Dutch team AZ Alkmaar. [46]
The first leg of the 1981 UEFA Cup Final took place at Portman Road on 6 May 1981. Ipswich took the lead through Wark who scored from the penalty spot midway through the first half. It was Wark's 13th goal of the European campaign and ensured that he had scored in every round of the competition. [57] The lead was doubled a minute into the second half, following a header from Dutchman Frans Thijssen. [58] A third goal for Ipswich, this time from Paul Mariner, saw the English team win the game and take a 3β0 lead into the second leg at the Olympic Stadium in Amsterdam. [59] Thijssen scored four minutes into the second leg, giving Ipswich a 4β0 aggregate lead, but Austrian striker Kurt Welzl pulled one back for AZ minutes later. [46] Playing with two central defenders, the rest of the AZ team attacked, [60] and Johnny Metgod and Pier Tol scored before half-time, either side of a Wark goal, to take the aggregate to 5β3. [46] Jos Jonker scored AZ's fourth of the day with 16 minutes to go, but Ipswich held on to win 5β4 on aggregate, [46] with their goalkeeper Cooper named as man of the match. [60] As MΓΌhren, one of the two Dutchmen playing for Ipswich, later recalled, "most teams would have given up, but AZ suddenly had wings ... AZ seemed possessed that night ... we really had to give all we had to reach the end, by the skin of our teeth β relieved and happy". [59]
Date | Round | Opponents | H/A | Result FβA |
Scorers | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
17 September 1980 | Round 1 First leg |
Aris Salonika | H | 5β1 | Wark 4 (3 pens), Mariner | 20,842 |
1 October 1980 | Round 1 Second leg |
Aris Salonika | A | 1β3 | Gates | 23,306 |
22 October 1980 | Round 2 First leg |
Bohemians Prague | H | 3β0 | Wark 2, Beattie | 17,163 |
5 November 1980 | Round 2 Second leg |
Bohemians Prague | A | 0β2 | 15,000 | |
26 November 1980 | Round 3 First leg |
Widzew ΕΓ³dΕΊ | H | 5β0 | Wark 3, Brazil, Mariner | 20,445 |
10 December 1980 | Round 3 Second leg |
Widzew ΕΓ³dΕΊ | A | 0β1 | 9,000 | |
4 March 1981 | Quarter-final First leg |
Saint-Γtienne | A | 4β1 | Mariner 2, MΓΌhren, Wark | 40,000 |
18 March 1981 | Quarter-final Second leg |
Saint-Γtienne | H | 3β1 | Butcher, Wark (pen), Mariner | 30,151 |
8 April 1981 | Semi-final First leg |
FC Cologne | H | 1β0 | Wark | 24,780 |
22 April 1981 | Semi-final Second leg |
FC Cologne | A | 1β0 | Butcher | 49,476 |
6 May 1981 | Final First leg |
AZ Alkmaar | H | 3β0 | Wark (pen), Thijssen, Mariner | 27,532 |
20 May 1981 | Final Second leg |
AZ Alkmaar | A | 2β4 | Thijssen, Wark | 28,500 |
Russell Osman was the only player to be ever-present throughout the season, appearing in all 66 matches. [61]
Source: [62]
Pos. | Name | Nationality | League | League Cup | FA Cup | Europe | Total | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
GK | Paul Cooper | ENG | 38 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 61 | 0 |
GK | Laurie Sivell | ENG | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
DF | Kevin Beattie | ENG | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 (6) | 1 | 11 (6) | 2 |
DF | George Burley | SCO | 23 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 34 | 0 |
DF | Terry Butcher | ENG | 40 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 12 | 2 | 64 | 6 |
DF | Allan Hunter | NIR | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
MF | Steve McCall | ENG | 30 (1) | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 (1) | 0 | 9 (1) | 0 | 45 (3) | 1 |
DF | Mick Mills | ENG | 33 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 54 | 0 |
DF | Russell Osman | ENG | 42 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 66 | 3 |
DF | Tommy Parkin | ENG | 2 (2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 (2) | 0 |
DF | Kevin Steggles | ENG | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
MF | Arnold MΓΌhren | NED | 41 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 12 | 1 | 65 | 8 |
MF | Kevin O'Callaghan | IRL | 11 (13) | 0 | 1 (1) | 0 | 0 (4) | 0 | 0 (5) | 0 | 12 (23) | 0 |
MF | Roger Osborne | ENG | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
MF | Frans Thijssen | NED | 31 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 10 | 2 | 52 | 6 |
MF | John Wark | SCO | 40 | 18 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 12 | 14 | 64 | 36 |
FW | Alan Brazil | SCO | 35 | 17 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 58 | 18 |
FW | Mich d'Avray | ENG | 1 (3) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 2 (4) | 1 |
FW | Eric Gates | ENG | 37 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 11 | 1 | 60 | 14 |
FW | Paul Mariner | ENG | 36 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 11 | 6 | 58 | 26 |
FW | Robin Turner | ENG | 3 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 3 (2) | 0 |
Robson and five different players won major awards for their performances during the season; a further two players were shortlisted for accolades. Leading the way was Wark, who set a UEFA Cup record by scoring 14 goals, including two in the final. [51] [63] This equalled the then long-standing scoring record in a European competition, set by JosΓ© Altafini of A.C. Milan in the 1962β63 European Cup. [64] [nb 1] Wark's personal accolades that year included winning the European Young Player of the Year, [66] and, voted by his fellow professionals in England, the PFA Player of the Year award. [67] He ended the 1980β81 season with 36 goals. [68]
Award | Recipient | Notes | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|
Manager of the Month (3) | Bobby Robson | Robson was named Bell's Whisky Manager of the Month in August 1980, February 1981 and March 1981. | [6] [20] [22] |
Player of the Year | Paul Cooper | Cooper and his defence kept 27 clean sheets during the season. | [69] [70] |
PFA First Division Team of the Year | Russell Osman | [71] | |
Frans Thijssen | |||
John Wark | |||
Paul Mariner | |||
Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year | Frans Thijssen | Four Ipswich players were in the top six: Mick Mills was runner-up, John Wark third, and Arnold MΓΌhren sixth. | [72] |
PFA Players' Player of the Year | John Wark | Ipswich players dominated the top three, with Frans Thijssen second and Paul Mariner third. | [67] |
Young European Player of the Year | [66] | ||
France Football European Team of the Year | Ipswich Town | [73] |
1980β81 season | ||
---|---|---|
Chairman | Patrick Cobbold | |
Manager | Bobby Robson | |
First Division | 2nd | |
FA Cup | Semi-finals | |
League Cup | Fourth round | |
UEFA Cup | Winners | |
Top goalscorer | League:
John Wark (18) All: John Wark (36) | |
Highest home attendance | 32,274 v Liverpool (13 December 1980) | |
Lowest home attendance | 14,780 v Middlesbrough (2 September 1980) | |
Average home league attendance | 24,619 | |
| ||
During the 1980β81 English football season, Ipswich Town F.C. competed in the Football League First Division. In one of the most successful seasons in the club's history, they finished as runners-up in the league championship, were semi-finalists in the FA Cup and won the UEFA Cup. In all, Ipswich played a total of 66 competitive games during the season, winning 37, drawing 13 and losing 16.
The season began with an unbeaten run in the club's opening 15 league matches, and by the middle of March they were strong title contenders with only two defeats in thirty-two. However, a 2β1 defeat at Manchester United triggered a slump which handed the initiative to eventual champions Aston Villa, although Ipswich did win at Villa Park during the run-in. Finishing as runners-up was the second-best finish Ipswich had achieved in their history, bettered only by the 1961β62 championship-winning season. The dip in form, losing seven of the last ten league games, was due in no small part to fixture congestion, as the club was progressing in cup competitions. The club lost in the fourth round of the League Cup to Birmingham but reached the semi-final of the FA Cup, losing in extra time to Manchester City. This was eclipsed by reaching β and then winning β the final of the UEFA Cup, where a 5β4 aggregate victory over Dutch side AZ Alkmaar clinched the club's first (and, to date, only) European trophy.
Top scorer for the season was 23-year-old John Wark, who scored 36 goals in all competitions, 14 of which came in the UEFA Cup, including one in each leg of the final. This equalled JosΓ© Altafini's record of 14 goals for Milan in the 1962β63 European Cup. Wark's goalscoring form saw him win the European Young Player of the Year and PFA Player of the Year awards. The Dutch midfielder Frans Thijssen was named Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year.
Ipswich had ended the previous First Division campaign in third place. That season included an unbeaten run of 23 matches stretching from the beginning of December to the final Saturday of the League, when they lost at Manchester City. [1] Ipswich exited the FA Cup at the quarter-final stage, losing 2β1 against Everton, [2] and lost out to Coventry City in the second round of the League Cup. [1] In European football, Ipswich were knocked out of the UEFA Cup in the second round, losing on away goals to Grasshoppers. [3]
Ipswich started their league campaign with a 1β0 victory away at newly promoted Leicester City, with John Wark scoring the winning goal in the 88th minute. This was his first of a prolific season to come. [4] Home wins against Brighton and Everton sandwiched a 2β2 draw at Stoke City, and left Ipswich unbeaten in the league and top of the table on goal difference at the end of August. [5] Bobby Robson was awarded Football League First Division Manager of the Month for August. [6] The club went through September undefeated, with victories against Aston Villa, Crystal Palace, Coventry City and Wolves, maintaining their position at the top of the division at the end of the month, four points ahead of Liverpool. [7] Commitments in both the UEFA and League Cups meant Ipswich's league activity in October was restricted to four matches, drawing with Leeds United, Liverpool and Manchester United, and winning at Sunderland. Although Ipswich remained undefeated in the league by the end of October, Villa topped the table by two points, having played two more games. [8]
November commenced with two draws, a goalless game at home against West Bromwich Albion and a six-goal match against Southampton. A shock 1β0 defeat against bottom club Brighton saw the end of Ipswich's unbeaten run of fourteen league games since the start of the season. Ipswich were without first-team regulars Paul Cooper, Thijssen, Alan Brazil and Kevin Beattie through injury, and Terry Butcher was suspended, [9] having been sent off in the Southampton match. [10] Burley succumbed to injury during the game; Robson remarked "I must admit, our resources are being stretched to the absolute limit". [9] The defeat was followed by two wins, against Leicester City and Nottingham Forest. [11] Ipswich ended the month third in the league, three points behind Aston Villa and two points behind Liverpool, but with three games in hand. [12] Their performance was similar in December, commencing with two draws (against Manchester City and Liverpool), followed by a 5β3 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur. At 3β3, Ipswich's Eric Gates was sent off, seemingly for retaliating to Graham Roberts, and Tottenham took advantage to score twice in the final ten minutes through Steve Archibald and Osvaldo Ardiles, inflicting Ipswich's second league defeat of the season. [13] Ipswich won 3β1 at Birmingham City before playing two matches in two days after Christmas, beating Norwich City 2β0 on Boxing Day before drawing 1β1 at Highbury against Arsenal the following day, courtesy of a Wark penalty, his 23rd goal of the season. [14] The year ended with Ipswich in third place in the league, still behind Liverpool and Villa, but by only a single point and with two games in hand. [15]
The new year started with two home victories, a 2β0 win against Nottingham Forest and, on what was Robson's twelfth anniversary as Ipswich manager, a 5β1 defeat of Birmingham City, which took Ipswich back to the top of the league for the first time since October. [16] A goalless draw at Everton was then followed by a 4β0 win at Portman Road against Stoke City, with Ipswich's dominance leading Stoke manager Alan Durban to comment: "I've never seen a team with such confidence in their eyes". [17] Ipswich ended the month back on top of the league table, tied on points with Aston Villa and four points clear of Liverpool, and with a game in hand on both. [18] Ipswich went through February with a 100% record, with three home wins over Crystal Palace, Middlesbrough and Wolverhampton Wanderers, and an away win against Coventry City. This consolidated the club's position at the top of the league by the end of the month, two points ahead of Villa and eight ahead of Liverpool, [19] and earned Robson another Manager of the Month award. [20] Two home wins (against Tottenham and Sunderland) and two away losses (against Manchester United and Leeds United) in March for Ipswich saw the gap at the top of the table ahead of Aston Villa reduce to a single point by the end of March, [21] yet Robson was awarded his third Manager of the Month award. [22] Having lost just two league games between August and February, Ipswich's form had started to dip as a result of fixture congestion with them still playing in three competitions. [23]
Ipswich's season worsened in April, losing to West Bromwich Albion, Arsenal and Norwich, and securing just four points with wins against Manchester City and Aston Villa. Ipswich ended April second in the league, four points behind Villa with a game in hand, but with only two games of the season remaining. [24] Ipswich needed to win both games to remain in the title chase. They led 1β0 at half-time against Middlesbrough at Ayresome Park, but two goals from Yugoslavian international striker BoΕ‘ko JankoviΔ condemned Ipswich to their sixth defeat in nine games. [25] They went on to lose the last game against Southampton, and ended the season in second place, four points behind Aston Villa and three points ahead of Arsenal who won seven of their final eight matches. [26] [27]
Date | Opponents | H/A | Result FβA |
Scorers | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
16 August 1980 | Leicester City | A | 1β0 | Wark | 21,640 |
19 August 1980 | Brighton & Hove Albion | H | 2β0 | Wark, Gates | 21,568 |
23 August 1980 | Stoke City | A | 2β2 | Brazil, Gates | 10,722 |
30 August 1980 | Everton | H | 4β0 | Brazil, Wark, Butcher, Mariner | 20,879 |
6 September 1980 | Aston Villa | H | 1β0 | Thijssen | 23,192 |
13 September 1980 | Crystal Palace | A | 2β1 | Wark, Gates | 24,282 |
20 September 1980 | Coventry City | H | 2β0 | Wark 2 | 20,507 |
27 September 1980 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | A | 2β0 | Brazil, Mariner | 18,503 |
4 October 1980 | Leeds United | H | 1β1 | Wark | 24,087 |
11 October 1980 | Liverpool | A | 1β1 | Thijssen | 48,084 |
18 October 1980 | Manchester United | H | 1β1 | Mariner | 28,451 |
25 October 1980 | Sunderland | A | 2β0 | MΓΌhren, Brazil | 32,368 |
1 November 1980 | West Bromwich Albion | H | 0β0 | 23,043 | |
8 November 1980 | Southampton | A | 3β3 | Gates, Wark, Mariner | 21,261 |
11 November 1980 | Brighton & Hove Albion | A | 0β1 | 17,055 | |
15 November 1980 | Leicester City | H | 3β1 | Gates, Williams (og), d'Avray | 19,852 |
22 November 1980 | Nottingham Forest | A | 2β1 | Brazil, Wark (pen) | 24,423 |
6 December 1980 | Manchester City | A | 1β1 | MΓΌhren | 35,215 |
13 December 1980 | Liverpool | H | 1β1 | Brazil | 32,274 |
17 December 1980 | Tottenham Hotspur | A | 3β5 | Mariner 2, Gates | 22,741 |
20 December 1980 | Birmingham City | A | 3β1 | Mariner, Wark, Brazil | 16,161 |
26 December 1980 | Norwich City | H | 2β0 | Brazil, Wark | 27,890 |
27 December 1980 | Arsenal | A | 1β1 | Wark (pen) | 42,818 |
10 January 1981 | Nottingham Forest | H | 2β0 | Mariner, MΓΌhren | 25,701 |
13 January 1981 | Birmingham City | H | 5β1 | Wark, Butcher, Mariner, MΓΌhren, Brazil | 21,158 |
17 January 1981 | Everton | A | 0β0 | 25,516 | |
31 January 1981 | Stoke City | H | 4β0 | Wark (pen), Brazil 2, Gates | 23,843 |
7 February 1981 | Crystal Palace | H | 3β2 | Mariner, Wark (pen), Gilbert (og) | 25,036 |
17 February 1981 | Middlesbrough | H | 1β0 | Brazil | 24,781 |
21 February 1981 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | H | 3β1 | Wark, Gates, Beattie | 24,218 |
28 February 1981 | Coventry City | A | 4β0 | Brazil, Gates, McCall, Osman | 17,557 |
14 March 1981 | Tottenham Hotspur | H | 3β0 | Gates, Wark (pen), Brazil | 32,052 |
21 March 1981 | Manchester United | A | 1β2 | Butcher | 46,685 |
28 March 1981 | Sunderland | H | 4β1 | MΓΌhren, Mariner 2, Thijssen | 25,450 |
31 March 1981 | Leeds United | A | 0β3 | 26,462 | |
4 April 1981 | West Bromwich Albion | A | 1β3 | Brazil | 22,216 |
14 April 1981 | Aston Villa | A | 2β1 | Brazil, Gates | 47,495 |
18 April 1981 | Arsenal | H | 0β2 | 30,935 | |
20 April 1981 | Norwich City | A | 0β1 | 26,083 | |
25 April 1981 | Manchester City | H | 1β0 | Butcher | 22,684 |
2 May 1981 | Middlesbrough | A | 1β2 | Mariner | 15,503 |
13 May 1981 | Southampton | H | 2β3 | Brazil, Wark | 19,504 |
Pos | Team | Pld | HW | HD | HL | HGF | HGA | AW | AD | AL | AGF | AGA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Aston Villa (C) | 42 | 16 | 3 | 2 | 40 | 13 | 10 | 5 | 6 | 32 | 27 | +32 | 60 | Qualified for European Cup 1981β82 First round |
2 | Ipswich Town | 42 | 15 | 4 | 2 | 45 | 14 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 32 | 29 | +34 | 56 | Qualified for UEFA Cup 1981β82 First round |
3 | Arsenal | 42 | 13 | 8 | 0 | 36 | 17 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 25 | 28 | +16 | 53 | |
4 | West Bromwich Albion | 42 | 15 | 4 | 2 | 40 | 15 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 20 | 27 | +18 | 52 | |
5 | Liverpool | 42 | 13 | 5 | 3 | 38 | 15 | 4 | 12 | 5 | 24 | 27 | +20 | 51 | European Cup 1981β82 First round [a] |
6 | Southampton | 42 | 15 | 4 | 2 | 47 | 22 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 29 | 34 | +20 | 50 | Qualified for UEFA Cup 1981β82 First round |
Ipswich commenced the 1980β81 Football League Cup campaign in the second round, where they were drawn against Middlesbrough. They lost the first leg 3β1 away from home, but secured a second leg 3β0 win courtesy of a Paul Mariner brace and a goal from Russell Osman. Although the match was covered for television by both the BBC and Anglia Television, footage was not screened because the Middlesbrough shirts were sponsored by a car company, contrary to the broadcasting companies' rules. [28] In the third round, against local rivals Norwich City, another Osman goal ensured a 1β1 draw at Portman Road. Ipswich progressed to the fourth round following a 3β1 victory at Carrow Road. Mariner put Ipswich ahead, but Tony Powell's first goal in two years drew the scores level. Mariner's second strike and a goal from MΓΌhren in a three-minute spell secured the victory for Ipswich. [29] They then faced Birmingham City at St Andrew's but went into the tie without regulars Mariner, Thijssen, Beattie and O'Callaghan, all through injury. Ipswich were knocked out, losing 2β1 despite taking the lead with a penalty from Wark. It was their first overall domestic loss of the season. [30]
Date | Round | Opponents | H/A | Result FβA |
Scorers | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
26 August 1980 | Round 2 First leg |
Middlesbrough | A | 1β3 | Wark | 14,459 |
2 September 1980 | Round 2 Second leg |
Middlesbrough | H | 3β0 | Osman, Mariner 2 | 14,780 |
23 September 1980 | Round 3 | Norwich City | H | 1β1 | Osman | 26,462 |
8 October 1980 | Round 3 Replay |
Norwich City | A | 3β1 | Mariner 2, MΓΌhren | 24,523 |
28 October 1980 | Round 4 | Birmingham City | A | 1β2 | Wark (pen) | 18,968 |
Ipswich's first appearance in the 1980β81 FA Cup was in the third round, against Aston Villa at Portman Road. A goal from Paul Mariner was sufficient to see the team progress to a fourth round tie with Second Division team Shrewsbury Town at Gay Meadow. The match ended in a goalless draw, forcing a replay and Robson declared Shrewsbury to have been unlucky: "if we play like that again we won't win the cup or the league title". [31] Ipswich won the replay 3β0 with two goals from Eric Gates and John Wark scoring his 25th goal in all competitions that season. [32]
A home draw in the fifth round against Charlton Athletic ended in a 2β0 victory to Ipswich courtesy of strikes from Mariner and Wark. Ipswich were drawn to play away against Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest in the quarter finals. In a match described by ESPN as "a classic FA Cup tie", the visitors took a two-goal lead through a Mariner strike and an own goal from Viv Anderson, before Forest fought back to take a 3β2 lead after goals from Trevor Francis, Colin Walsh and John Robertson (from the penalty spot). Thijssen then scored with six minutes remaining to take the tie to a replay. [33] The replay, held three days later at Portman Road, was decided by a single goal from MΓΌhren, with Robson describing his team's effort as "superhuman" while Clough, whose team dominated the first half, said: "I am still not sure they are a better team than us". [34] The semi-final against Manchester City was played at Villa Park as a neutral venue. Described as "one of the celebrated strikes in the club's history", Paul Power's extra time free kick settled the match in City's favour. [35] It was also to be the last game for the club for the injury-struck Beattie who broke his arm during the match. Beattie recalled "I collided with Dave Bennett during an aerial challenge. I won the ball fairly easily but he actually headed my arm ... the arm was bent out of shape and I was in agony". [36]
Date | Round | Opponents | H/A | Result FβA |
Scorers | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3 January 1981 | Round 3 | Aston Villa | H | 1β0 | Mariner 12' | 27,721 |
24 January 1981 | Round 4 | Shrewsbury Town | A | 0β0 | 18,000 | |
27 January 1981 | Round 4 Replay |
Shrewsbury Town | H | 3β0 | Gates 2, Wark | 27,543 |
14 February 1981 | Round 5 | Charlton Athletic | H | 2β0 | Wark, Mariner | 30,221 |
7 March 1981 | Round 6 | Nottingham Forest | A | 3β3 | Mariner, Anderson (og), Thijssen | 34,796 |
10 March 1981 | Round 6 Replay |
Nottingham Forest | H | 1β0 | MΓΌhren | 31,060 |
11 April 1981 | Semi-final | Manchester City | N | 0β1 | 46,537 |
Ipswich's European campaign commenced in the first round of the UEFA Cup against Greek team Aris Salonika. The first leg, at Portman Road, was an ill-disciplined match which saw Aris' Giorgos Foiros sent off after a second yellow card towards the end of the first half. Ipswich were awarded three penalties, all of which were converted by John Wark, who also scored a fourth from open play. Aris also scored from the spot through Theodoros Pallas in what would be a consolation goal in a 5β1 win for Ipswich, [37] described as a "sparkling" victory by the Belfast Telegraph. [38] Two weeks later, Aris won 3β1 in the return leg, taking an early 2β0 lead before Gates pulled one back for Ipswich. Although Aris scored a third midway through the second half, [39] Ipswich progressed to the next round 6β4 on aggregate, [40] where they faced Bohemians of Prague. A 3β0 home win saw Wark on target twice more, who was substituted off with a tendon injury, to be replaced by Kevin Beattie who scored a third for Ipswich with a free kick, [41] described in The Times as a "thunderbolt". [42] The goal would prove to be pivotal as Ipswich, without regular goalkeeper Paul Cooper, midfielder Thijssen and striker Mariner, all through injury, [43] lost the away leg 2β0 with goals from AntonΓn Panenka and Tibor MiΔinec, but qualified for the third round 3β2 on aggregate. [44] [45] Three weeks later, Ipswich faced Widzew ΕΓ³dΕΊ from Poland, who had defeated Manchester United and Juventus in previous rounds, at Portman Road. [46] Wark once again found the net, scoring a hat-trick with goals from Alan Brazil and Paul Mariner completing a comprehensive 5β0 victory, [47] the only negative being a trip to hospital for Mick Mills for 15 stitches in a cut to his shin. [48] On a frozen pitch which many observers considered to be dangerous, [49] Widzew ΕΓ³dΕΊ won the away leg 1β0, with Marek PiΔta scoring for the hosts but went out 5β1 on aggregate. [50] The lead from the first leg allowed Robson to withdraw Mariner and MΓΌhren, as he said that he was prioritising Ipswich's league challenge. [49]
After a three-month break, Ipswich faced French team AS Saint-Γtienne in the quarter-finals in March 1981, the first leg being held in the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard. Dutch player Johnny Rep put the home team in the lead after 16 minutes, but a brace from Mariner and goals from Arnold MΓΌhren and John Wark ensured Ipswich took a 4β1 lead into the second leg. [51] The victory against the French team has been described as one of the greatest performances in Ipswich's history, [51] with Robson noting: "we have demolished a good side with one of the best victories anyone has achieved in Europe in the past 10 years". [52] Ipswich won the game at Portman Road 3β1 with goals from Terry Butcher, Mariner and another penalty from Wark, while Saint-Γtienne's consolation goal came from Jacques Zimako. [53] Winning the tie 7β2 on aggregate, Ipswich progressed to the semi-finals where they met German side 1. FC KΓΆln. Both legs finished 1β0 to Ipswich, Wark scoring again in the home leg, [54] his 12th goal of the European campaign, with Butcher heading in a Thijssen free kick in Cologne. [55] [56] The 2β0 aggregate victory ensured that Ipswich qualified for their first (and as of 2020 [update], their only) European cup final, where they would face Dutch team AZ Alkmaar. [46]
The first leg of the 1981 UEFA Cup Final took place at Portman Road on 6 May 1981. Ipswich took the lead through Wark who scored from the penalty spot midway through the first half. It was Wark's 13th goal of the European campaign and ensured that he had scored in every round of the competition. [57] The lead was doubled a minute into the second half, following a header from Dutchman Frans Thijssen. [58] A third goal for Ipswich, this time from Paul Mariner, saw the English team win the game and take a 3β0 lead into the second leg at the Olympic Stadium in Amsterdam. [59] Thijssen scored four minutes into the second leg, giving Ipswich a 4β0 aggregate lead, but Austrian striker Kurt Welzl pulled one back for AZ minutes later. [46] Playing with two central defenders, the rest of the AZ team attacked, [60] and Johnny Metgod and Pier Tol scored before half-time, either side of a Wark goal, to take the aggregate to 5β3. [46] Jos Jonker scored AZ's fourth of the day with 16 minutes to go, but Ipswich held on to win 5β4 on aggregate, [46] with their goalkeeper Cooper named as man of the match. [60] As MΓΌhren, one of the two Dutchmen playing for Ipswich, later recalled, "most teams would have given up, but AZ suddenly had wings ... AZ seemed possessed that night ... we really had to give all we had to reach the end, by the skin of our teeth β relieved and happy". [59]
Date | Round | Opponents | H/A | Result FβA |
Scorers | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
17 September 1980 | Round 1 First leg |
Aris Salonika | H | 5β1 | Wark 4 (3 pens), Mariner | 20,842 |
1 October 1980 | Round 1 Second leg |
Aris Salonika | A | 1β3 | Gates | 23,306 |
22 October 1980 | Round 2 First leg |
Bohemians Prague | H | 3β0 | Wark 2, Beattie | 17,163 |
5 November 1980 | Round 2 Second leg |
Bohemians Prague | A | 0β2 | 15,000 | |
26 November 1980 | Round 3 First leg |
Widzew ΕΓ³dΕΊ | H | 5β0 | Wark 3, Brazil, Mariner | 20,445 |
10 December 1980 | Round 3 Second leg |
Widzew ΕΓ³dΕΊ | A | 0β1 | 9,000 | |
4 March 1981 | Quarter-final First leg |
Saint-Γtienne | A | 4β1 | Mariner 2, MΓΌhren, Wark | 40,000 |
18 March 1981 | Quarter-final Second leg |
Saint-Γtienne | H | 3β1 | Butcher, Wark (pen), Mariner | 30,151 |
8 April 1981 | Semi-final First leg |
FC Cologne | H | 1β0 | Wark | 24,780 |
22 April 1981 | Semi-final Second leg |
FC Cologne | A | 1β0 | Butcher | 49,476 |
6 May 1981 | Final First leg |
AZ Alkmaar | H | 3β0 | Wark (pen), Thijssen, Mariner | 27,532 |
20 May 1981 | Final Second leg |
AZ Alkmaar | A | 2β4 | Thijssen, Wark | 28,500 |
Russell Osman was the only player to be ever-present throughout the season, appearing in all 66 matches. [61]
Source: [62]
Pos. | Name | Nationality | League | League Cup | FA Cup | Europe | Total | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
GK | Paul Cooper | ENG | 38 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 61 | 0 |
GK | Laurie Sivell | ENG | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
DF | Kevin Beattie | ENG | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 (6) | 1 | 11 (6) | 2 |
DF | George Burley | SCO | 23 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 34 | 0 |
DF | Terry Butcher | ENG | 40 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 12 | 2 | 64 | 6 |
DF | Allan Hunter | NIR | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
MF | Steve McCall | ENG | 30 (1) | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 (1) | 0 | 9 (1) | 0 | 45 (3) | 1 |
DF | Mick Mills | ENG | 33 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 54 | 0 |
DF | Russell Osman | ENG | 42 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 66 | 3 |
DF | Tommy Parkin | ENG | 2 (2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 (2) | 0 |
DF | Kevin Steggles | ENG | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
MF | Arnold MΓΌhren | NED | 41 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 12 | 1 | 65 | 8 |
MF | Kevin O'Callaghan | IRL | 11 (13) | 0 | 1 (1) | 0 | 0 (4) | 0 | 0 (5) | 0 | 12 (23) | 0 |
MF | Roger Osborne | ENG | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
MF | Frans Thijssen | NED | 31 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 10 | 2 | 52 | 6 |
MF | John Wark | SCO | 40 | 18 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 12 | 14 | 64 | 36 |
FW | Alan Brazil | SCO | 35 | 17 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 58 | 18 |
FW | Mich d'Avray | ENG | 1 (3) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 2 (4) | 1 |
FW | Eric Gates | ENG | 37 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 11 | 1 | 60 | 14 |
FW | Paul Mariner | ENG | 36 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 11 | 6 | 58 | 26 |
FW | Robin Turner | ENG | 3 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 3 (2) | 0 |
Robson and five different players won major awards for their performances during the season; a further two players were shortlisted for accolades. Leading the way was Wark, who set a UEFA Cup record by scoring 14 goals, including two in the final. [51] [63] This equalled the then long-standing scoring record in a European competition, set by JosΓ© Altafini of A.C. Milan in the 1962β63 European Cup. [64] [nb 1] Wark's personal accolades that year included winning the European Young Player of the Year, [66] and, voted by his fellow professionals in England, the PFA Player of the Year award. [67] He ended the 1980β81 season with 36 goals. [68]
Award | Recipient | Notes | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|
Manager of the Month (3) | Bobby Robson | Robson was named Bell's Whisky Manager of the Month in August 1980, February 1981 and March 1981. | [6] [20] [22] |
Player of the Year | Paul Cooper | Cooper and his defence kept 27 clean sheets during the season. | [69] [70] |
PFA First Division Team of the Year | Russell Osman | [71] | |
Frans Thijssen | |||
John Wark | |||
Paul Mariner | |||
Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year | Frans Thijssen | Four Ipswich players were in the top six: Mick Mills was runner-up, John Wark third, and Arnold MΓΌhren sixth. | [72] |
PFA Players' Player of the Year | John Wark | Ipswich players dominated the top three, with Frans Thijssen second and Paul Mariner third. | [67] |
Young European Player of the Year | [66] | ||
France Football European Team of the Year | Ipswich Town | [73] |