1971–72 NFL playoffs, Participants
Within each conference, the three division winners and one wild card team (the top non-division winner with the best overall records of all remaining teams in the conference) qualified for the playoffs. The NFL did not use a seeding system until the 1975 season, and instead home teams during the first two rounds of the playoffs alternated by division. Thus it was possible for a team to host another club with a better regular season record. For the Super Bowl, the third and final round played at a neutral site, the designated home team was based on an annual rotation by conference.


1971–72 NFL playoffs, Schedule
In the United States, NBC broadcast the AFC playoff games, while CBS televised the NFC games and Super Bowl VI.


1971–72 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, December 25, 1971, NFC: Dallas Cowboys 20, Minnesota Vikings 12
Although the Vikings outgained the Cowboys in total yards 311–183, Dallas forced 5 turnovers and converted some of them into 13 points en route to a 20–12 win.


1971–72 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, December 25, 1971, NFC: Dallas Cowboys 20, Minnesota Vikings 12
Early in the first quarter, Cowboys defensive lineman Larry Cole forced a fumble from Dave Osborn that was recovered by fellow lineman Jethro Pugh on the Vikings 36-yard line. Dallas then drove to the Minnesota 19, mainly on the strength of an 18-yard completion from Roger Staubach to Bob Hayes, before defensive tackle Alan Page's 3rd down sack forced them to settle for Mike Clark's 26-yard field goal that gave them a 3-0 lead. The Vikings responded with a 27-yard field goal by Fred Cox that tied the score.


1971–72 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, December 25, 1971, NFC: Dallas Cowboys 20, Minnesota Vikings 12
In the second quarter, the Vikings got a big chance to take the lead when quarterback Bob Lee completed a 49-yard pass to Bob Grim on the Dallas 29-yard line. But linebacker Chuck Howley ended the drive with an interception, returning the ball 26 yards to the Vikings 37, and the Cowboys drove to a 44-yard Clark field goal that put them up 6-3. Minnesota had another chance to score as Clint Jones returned the kickoff 61 yards, but all this would result in was 3 incomplete passes and a missed 41-yard field goal attempt by Cox.


1971–72 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, December 25, 1971, NFC: Dallas Cowboys 20, Minnesota Vikings 12
Early in the second half, Cliff Harris intercepted a pass from Lee and returned it 30 yards to the Vikings 13-yard line, setting up Duane Thomas' 13-yard touchdown run to give Dallas a 13–3 lead. Minnesota had a big chance to get back in the game when Charlie West returned the ensuing kickoff 51 yards, but this merely resulted in another missed field goal try by Cox, this one a 46-yard attempt. Late the third quarter, Dallas safety Charlie Waters returned a punt 24 yards to the Cowboys 48, sparking their only sustained drive of the second half. Moving the ball 52 yards, including a 30-yard completion from Staubach to Lance Alworth on 3rd and 15, Dallas went up 20-3 on Staubach's 9-yard touchdown pass to Hayes.


1971–72 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, December 25, 1971, NFC: Dallas Cowboys 20, Minnesota Vikings 12
Still, Minnesota was not quite out of the game. Early in the 4th quarter, Paige sacked Staubach in the end zone for a safety. Then Vikings coach Bud Grant replaced Lee with Gary Cuozzo, who led the team to the Dallas 19 after the free kick. But Cowboys linebacker Lee Roy Jordan made a clutch interception that essentially put the game way. Cuozzo did manage to lead the team to a touchdown on a 6-yard pass to tight end Stu Voigt, making the score 20-12, but by then barely more than 2 minutes remained on the clock.


1971–72 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, December 25, 1971, NFC: Dallas Cowboys 20, Minnesota Vikings 12
This was the first postseason meeting between the Cowboys and Vikings.


1971–72 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, December 25, 1971, AFC: Miami Dolphins 27, Kansas City Chiefs 24 (2OT)
In the longest NFL game played to date at 82 minutes, 40 seconds (in game time) (and the Chiefs' last game at Municipal Stadium), Miami kicker Garo Yepremian kicked the winning 37-yard field goal after 7:40 of the second overtime period.


1971–72 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, December 25, 1971, AFC: Miami Dolphins 27, Kansas City Chiefs 24 (2OT)
The Chiefs opened up the scoring with Jan Stenerud's 24-yard field goal. Then Chiefs defensive back Willie Lanier intercepted a pass from Bob Griese and returned it 17 yards to set up Len Dawson's 7-yard touchdown pass to Ed Podolak, increasing the lead to 10–0. However, Griese rallied the Dolphins back on their next drive, completing a 23-yard pass to Paul Warfield and a 16-yarder to tight end Marv Fleming on the way to Larry Csonka's 1-yard touchdown run. Shortly before halftime, the Dolphins defense recovered a fumble from Podolak deep in Chiefs territory, enabling Garo Yepremian to kick a 14-yard field goal to tie the game, 10-10.


1971–72 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, December 25, 1971, AFC: Miami Dolphins 27, Kansas City Chiefs 24 (2OT)
Kansas City retook the lead in the third quarter, on a 15-play, 75-yard drive that took 10 minutes off the clock and ended with Jim Otis' 1-yard score. Miami responded quickly though, storming right back to tie the game with a 1-yard touchdown run from Jim Kiick.


1971–72 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, December 25, 1971, AFC: Miami Dolphins 27, Kansas City Chiefs 24 (2OT)
In the fourth quarter, Dolphins linebacker Nick Buoniconti recovered a fumble to give his team a big scoring opportunity. But Kansas City took the ball right back when safety Jim Lynch intercepted Griese's pass on the Chiefs 9-yard line. Kansas City then stormed 91 yards, including a 63-yard completion from Dawson to rookie receiver Elmo Wright, to retake the lead, 24–17, with Podolak's 3-yard touchdown run.


1971–72 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, December 25, 1971, AFC: Miami Dolphins 27, Kansas City Chiefs 24 (2OT)
Miami struck right back as Griese completed passes to Warfield for gains of 17 and 26 yards before finishing the 71-yard drive with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Fleming, tying the game at 24 with 1:25 left in regulation. Podolak returned the ensuing kickoff 78 yards to the Dolphins 22-yard line before being shoved out of bounds by Miami's Curtis Johnson, giving Stenerud a chance to win the game for the Chiefs in the final minute of regulation. But he missed the field goal attempt from 32 yards wide right.


1971–72 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, December 25, 1971, AFC: Miami Dolphins 27, Kansas City Chiefs 24 (2OT)
The Chiefs' Dennis Homan made a fair catch of a Larry Seiple punt as time expired in regulation, giving the Chiefs the option to attempt a fair catch kick from 68 yards, which, if good, would have resulted in a game-winning field goal. Fearing a return by Miami speedster Mercury Morris if Stenerud's kick fell short, Kansas City declined, and the game went to overtime.


1971–72 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, December 25, 1971, AFC: Miami Dolphins 27, Kansas City Chiefs 24 (2OT)
Kansas City took the opening kickoff of the first overtime period, and Podolak returned it to the 46-yard line. Kansas City then drove into scoring range, but Stenerud's 42-yard field goal attempt was blocked. Yepremian also attempted a 52-yard field goal later in the period, but it was short. As the first overtime period came to an end, Dolphins safety Jake Scott intercepted a pass from Dawson on the Chiefs 46. But the team was unable to move the ball and had to punt. Following a Kansas City punt, Csonka's 29-yard run set up Yepremian's game-winning score.


1971–72 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, December 25, 1971, AFC: Miami Dolphins 27, Kansas City Chiefs 24 (2OT)
Podolak's 350 all-purpose yards (8 receptions for 110 yards, 17 carries for 85 yards, 3 kickoff returns for 154 yards, two punt returns for two yards) in this game remain an NFL playoff record, and is still the fourth highest total in NFL history. "I don't think any one player in a big game, a monumental game like that, had a day like Eddie Podolak had," said Chiefs coach Hank Stram after the game. Chiefs running back Wendell Hayes added 100 rushing yards, while Wright caught 3 passes for 104 yards. Dolphins receiver Paul Warfield finished with 7 receptions for a career postseason high 140 yards, while Dolphins linebacker Nick Buoniconti racked up 20 tackles.


1971–72 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, December 25, 1971, AFC: Miami Dolphins 27, Kansas City Chiefs 24 (2OT)
This was the first postseason meeting between the Dolphins and Chiefs.


1971–72 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, December 26, 1971, AFC: Baltimore Colts 20, Cleveland Browns 3
Don Nottingham scored two touchdowns for the Colts, while their defense limited the Browns to only 165 yards, 11 first downs, and 3 points.


1971–72 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, December 26, 1971, AFC: Baltimore Colts 20, Cleveland Browns 3
However, the Browns had plenty of scoring chances early in the game. On their first series, quarterback Bill Nelsen completed a 39-yard pass to Fair Hooker, but defensive back Rex Kern forced and recovered a fumble from him on the Colts 12-yard line. Baltimore had to punt on their ensuing drive, and Leroy Kelly's 48-yard return gave the Browns a first down on the Colts 4. All the Browns got from this field position though, was a 16-yard field goal attempt from Don Cockroft that was blocked by defensive tackle Bubba Smith (who would also block another field goal later on.)


1971–72 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, December 26, 1971, AFC: Baltimore Colts 20, Cleveland Browns 3
After the blocked field goal, the Colts drove 93 yards in 17 plays, including a 7-yard run by Nottingham on 4th and inches, to score on Nottingham's 1-yard touchdown run. Later in the second quarter, Baltimore safety Rick Volk intercepted a pass from Nelsen and returned it 37 yards to the Browns 15-yard line, setting up Nottingham's second touchdown run on a 7-yard burst.


1971–72 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, December 26, 1971, AFC: Baltimore Colts 20, Cleveland Browns 3
After three consecutive drives in the third quarter ended in turnovers, Cleveland finally got on the board with a 14-yard field goal by Cockroft. But Baltimore stormed right back on 74-yard drive to go up 17-3 on a field goal by Jim O'Brien. O'Brien added a 14-yard field goal in the fourth quarter to finish off the scoring.


1971–72 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, December 26, 1971, AFC: Baltimore Colts 20, Cleveland Browns 3
Nottingham was the sole offensive star for either team with 92 rushing yards, 5 receiving yards, and two scores.


1971–72 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, December 26, 1971, AFC: Baltimore Colts 20, Cleveland Browns 3
This was third postseason meeting between the Colts and Browns. Both teams split their previous two meetings.


1971–72 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, December 26, 1971, NFC: San Francisco 49ers 24, Washington Redskins 20
The 49ers defense made key plays to lead San Francisco to a 24–20 victory over the Redskins after trailing 10-3 at the end of the half.


1971–72 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, December 26, 1971, NFC: San Francisco 49ers 24, Washington Redskins 20
Washington scored first after Jon Jaqua blocked a punt from Steve Spurrier, enabling his team to take over on the 49ers 28. This set up quarterback Billy Kilmer's 5-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jerry Smith. San Francisco responded with a 23-yard field goal from Bruce Gossett, but Speedy Duncan returned the ensuing kickoff 37 yards to set up a field goal for the Redskins, a 40-yard kick by Curt Knight. With the score at 10-3 and time running out in the half, Washington defensive back Ted Vactor returned a punt 48 yards to the 49ers 11-yard line. But with 32 seconds left, receiver Roy Jefferson was dropped for a 13-yard loss by defensive end Cedrick Hardman on an end around play, and Knight's ensuing field goal attempt was blocked by linebacker Frank Nunley


1971–72 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, December 26, 1971, NFC: San Francisco 49ers 24, Washington Redskins 20
Duncan returned the second half kickoff 66 yards to the San Francisco 34, but the 49ers made a key defensive stand, stopping Washington on the 12 when Nunley tackled Larry Brown for a 2-yard loss on 4th and inches. Three plays later, facing 3rd down and 1, quarterback John Brodie threw a deep pass that went just over the outstretched arms of defensive back Pat Fischer and into the arms of receiver Gene Washington, who caught the ball in stride at the 40 and took off for a 78-yard touchdown reception. Then on the next series, Roosevelt Taylor's interception set up Bob Windsor's 2-yard touchdown reception to give San Francisco a 17–10 lead.


1971–72 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, December 26, 1971, NFC: San Francisco 49ers 24, Washington Redskins 20
Duncan returned the next kickoff 67 yards to set up a 35-yard Knight field goal, making the score 17-13. But with 3:20 left in the game, San Francisco put the game away when defensive tackle Bob Hoskins recovered a bad snap on a Washington punt attempt in the end zone for a touchdown. After this, the Redskins managed to cut the final score to 24-20 on Kilmer's 16-yard pass to Brown in the game's closing seconds.


1971–72 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, December 26, 1971, NFC: San Francisco 49ers 24, Washington Redskins 20
Brown rushed for 84 yards, while also catching 6 passes for 62 yards and a touchdown. Kilmer completed 11 of 26 passes for 106 yards and 2 touchdowns, with 1 interception. Duncan set a franchise playoff record with 170 yards on 3 kickoff returns. Brodie finished with 10/19 completions for 176 yards and two touchdowns.


1971–72 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, December 26, 1971, NFC: San Francisco 49ers 24, Washington Redskins 20
This was the first postseason meeting between the Redskins and 49ers.


1971–72 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 2, 1972, NFC: Dallas Cowboys 14, San Francisco 49ers 3
In the first playoff game at Texas Stadium, the Cowboys defense dominated the 49ers offense by allowing only 61 rushing yards and 9 first downs, and forcing 3 interceptions.


1971–72 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 2, 1972, NFC: Dallas Cowboys 14, San Francisco 49ers 3
In the second quarter, Dallas defensive end George Andrie intercepted a screen pass from John Brodie and returned it 7 yards to the 49ers 2-yard line to set up Calvin Hill's 1-yard touchdown run. This would be the only score of the game until 6:52 remained in the third quarter, when Brodie's 24-yard completion to tight end Ted Kwalick set up Bruce Gossett's 28-yard field goal.


1971–72 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 2, 1972, NFC: Dallas Cowboys 14, San Francisco 49ers 3
Following a missed 47-yard field goal by Gossett on San Francisco's next drive, Dallas QB Roger Staubach finished the quarter with a 17-yard completion to halfback Dan Reeves. Then he started off the fourth with a 23-yard pass to tight end Billy Truax. Duane Thomas eventually finished the 14-play, 80-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown run, making the score 14-3.


1971–72 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 2, 1972, NFC: Dallas Cowboys 14, San Francisco 49ers 3
With 9 minutes left in regulation, the Dallas defense took over the rest of the game, forcing turnovers on San Francisco's last three drives. First, linebacker Chuck Howley broke up a 4th down pass. Then on San Francisco's next possession, Brodie was intercepted by linebacker Lee Roy Jordan. Finally, after Mike Clark's 24-yard field goal attempt was blocked by 49ers linebacker Frank Nunley, safety Cliff Harris picked off a pass from Brodie that enabled Dallas to run out the clock.


1971–72 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 2, 1972, NFC: Dallas Cowboys 14, San Francisco 49ers 3
After the game, Dallas received a visit in the locker room from former US President Lyndon Johnson, who told Staubach "You're the best. They should rename this place Staubach stadium."


1971–72 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 2, 1972, NFC: Dallas Cowboys 14, San Francisco 49ers 3
This was the second postseason meeting between the 49ers and Cowboys, with Dallas winning the previous meeting.


1971–72 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 2, 1972, AFC: Miami Dolphins 21, Baltimore Colts 0
Although Miami quarterback Bob Griese completed only 4 passes, the Dolphins defense shut out the Colts. Defensive back Dick Anderson intercepted Johnny Unitas three times, returning one of them 62 yards for a touchdown.


1971–72 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 2, 1972, AFC: Miami Dolphins 21, Baltimore Colts 0
Paul Warfield recorded a 75-yard touchdown reception midway through the first quarter on the Dolphins second drive. Meanwhile, the Colts managed to move the ball close enough for Jim O'Brien to twice attempt field goals, but he missed both times. In the second quarter, the Colts drove from their own 18 to the Dolphins 9-yard line, featuring a 28-yard reception by Don Nottingham, but on 4th down and 1, Nottingham was stuffed by a gang of Dolphins defenders just inches short of the first down marker.


1971–72 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 2, 1972, AFC: Miami Dolphins 21, Baltimore Colts 0
In the third quarter, Unitas threw a pass that was deflected by cornerback Curtis Johnson into the hands of Anderson, who took off for a 62-yard scoring return. Then in the fourth quarter, Griese's 50-yard pass to Warfield set up Larry Csonka's 5-yard touchdown run.


1971–72 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 2, 1972, AFC: Miami Dolphins 21, Baltimore Colts 0
This was the first postseason meeting between the Colts and Dolphins.


1971–72 NFL playoffs, Super Bowl VI: Dallas Cowboys 24, Miami Dolphins 3
This is the only Super Bowl meeting between the Cowboys and Dolphins.


1971–72 NHL season
The 1971–72 NHL season was the 55th season of the National Hockey League. Fourteen teams each played 78 games. The Boston Bruins beat the New York Rangers four games to two for their second Stanley Cup in three seasons in the finals.


1971–72 NHL season, Regular season
Among notable first year players this season were Montreal's Guy Lafleur, who despite scoring 29 goals was felt lacking in comparison to newly retired superstar Jean Beliveau by the Canadiens' faithful; Buffalo's Rick Martin, who set a new record for goals by a rookie with 44; Gilles Meloche, goaltender for the California Golden Seals who acquired him from Chicago; and Ken Dryden, the sensational new goalie for the Canadiens, who despite winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP the previous season was awarded the Calder Memorial Trophy as rookie of the year, on the grounds that he had only played six prior regular season games.


1971–72 NHL season, Regular season
43-year-old Gump Worsley, left unprotected (and unclaimed) in the waiver draft by the Minnesota North Stars, led the league with a 2.12 goals against average. Less fortunately, Philadelphia goaltender Bruce Gamble suffered a heart attack during a 3–1 win in Vancouver in February and was forced to retire from hockey.


1971–72 NHL season, Regular season
In what was widely seen as a preemptive move to help forestall the incipient World Hockey Association, the NHL announced that Atlanta and Long Island had been granted expansion franchises to begin play in the 1972–73 season. The bids had been hastily put together in comparison with the 1967 and 1970 expansions.


1971–72 NHL season, Regular season
Milestones this season included Gerry Cheevers setting an NHL record for the Boston Bruins (which has yet to be surpassed) with 33 straight undefeated games. On February 12, it was Gordie Howe Day in Detroit as his famous #9 was retired. On March 25, Bobby Hull scored his 600th NHL goal in a 5–5 tie with Boston at the Boston Garden.


1971–72 NHL season, Regular season
An exciting scoring race in which Ranger Jean Ratelle had been leading Bruin Phil Esposito was shortcircuited when Ratelle broke his ankle in a game against California, putting him out for over a month of play. Ratelle still ended up third in scoring behind Esposito and Bruin Bobby Orr, while his teammates Vic Hadfield and Rod Gilbert – all three linemates on the renowned GAG line—finished fourth and fifth. A resurgent Frank Mahovlich, rejuvenated by a trade to Montreal, finished sixth, while Bobby Hull, in his final year in Chicago, finished seventh in points and second to Esposito in goals.


1971–72 NHL season, Regular season
Although they had fallen somewhat from their overwhelming offensive dominance from the previous season, once again the Boston Bruins had the best record in the league, while the Chicago Black Hawks topped the West Division.


1971–72 NHL season, Playoffs, Format change
In response to the prior year when the Minnesota North Stars appeared to intentionally lose games to finish fourth in the West instead of third and avoid a tougher match-up with first-place Chicago, and also the Boston Bruins were "rewarded" for finishing first in the East with a tough series against eventual Stanley Cup Champion Montreal, the first round match-ups were changed so that the first-place team played the fourth-place team and second played third. Previously, the first-place team played the third-place team and the second-place team played the fourth-place team.


1971–72 NHL season, Playoffs, Format change
This change necessitated a change to the way the semi-final match-ups were determined. Instead of having the winner of the series between the first and third-place East Division teams play the winner of the second and fourth-place West Division teams and the winner of the first versus third-place West Division teams against the winner of the second and fourth-place East Division teams, the semi-final would pit the highest remaining seed in the East Division play the lowest remaining seed from the West and vice versa.


1971–72 NHL season, Playoffs, Format change
Despite injuries to several key players, notably leading scorer Jean Ratelle, the New York Rangers beat the defending champions Montreal Canadiens in the first round of the playoffs, with strong play from unheralded players such as Walt Tkaczuk. The Rangers went on the sweep the Chicago Black Hawks in four straight games during the semi-final. Chicago had beaten the Pittsburgh Penguins in four straight games.


1971–72 NHL season, Playoffs, Format change
Boston easily handled the Toronto Maple Leafs in five games, facing a St. Louis Blues team that had eked out a hard-fought seven-game victory against the North Stars in the quarter-final. The powerful Bruins set a record for the most goals in a four-game series by pounding the Blues 28–8 over a four-game sweep.


1971–72 NHL season, Playoffs, Quarterfinals, (E1) Boston Bruins vs. (E4) Toronto Maple Leafs
The Boston Bruins finished first in the league with 119 points. The Toronto Maple Leafs finished fourth in the East Division with 80 points. This was the twelfth playoff series between these two teams with Toronto winning eight of the eleven previous series. They last met in the 1969 Stanley Cup Quarterfinals which Boston won in four games. Boston won this year's six-game regular season series earning nine of twelve points.


1971–72 NHL season, Playoffs, Quarterfinals, (E2) New York Rangers vs. (E3) Montreal Canadiens
The New York Rangers finished second in the East Division with 109 points. The Montreal Canadiens finished third with 108 points. This was the tenth playoff series between these two teams with Montreal winning five of the nine previous series. They last met in the 1969 Stanley Cup Quarterfinals which Montreal won in four games. New York won this year's six-game regular season series earning eight of twelve points.


1971–72 NHL season, Playoffs, Quarterfinals, (W1) Chicago Black Hawks vs. (W4) Pittsburgh Penguins
The Chicago Black Hawks finished first in the West Division with 107 points. The Pittsburgh Penguins finished fourth in the West Division with 66 points (winning the tiebreaker with Philadelphia in total goals for 220–200). This was the first playoff series between these two teams. Chicago won this year's six-game regular season series earning eleven of twelve points.


1971–72 NHL season, Playoffs, Quarterfinals, (W2) Minnesota North Stars vs. (W3) St. Louis Blues
The Minnesota North Stars finished second in the West Division with 86 points. The St. Louis Blues finished third with 67 points. This was the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams with St. Louis winning two of the three previous series. They last met in the previous year's Quarterfinals which the North Stars won in six games. Minnesota won four of the six games in this year's regular season series.


1971–72 NHL season, Playoffs, Quarterfinals, (W2) Minnesota North Stars vs. (W3) St. Louis Blues
Kevin O'Shea's series-winning goal in overtime of Game 7 was the first time in Stanley Cup Playoff history that the road team won Game 7 in overtime.


1971–72 NHL season, Playoffs, Semifinals, (E1) Boston Bruins vs. (W3) St. Louis Blues
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams. Their only previous series came in the 1970 Stanley Cup Finals which Boston won in four games. Boston won this year's six-game regular season series earning nine of twelve points.


1971–72 NHL season, Playoffs, Semifinals, (W1) Chicago Black Hawks vs. (E2) New York Rangers
This was the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams with Chicago winning all three previous series. They last met in the previous year's Semifinals which the Black Hawks won in seven games. New York won this year's six-game regular season series earning seven of twelve points.


1971–72 NHL season, Playoffs, Stanley Cup Finals
This was the eighth series between these two teams with Boston winning five of the seven previous series. They last met in the 1970 Stanley Cup Quarterfinals which the Bruins won in six games. The Bruins made their twelfth appearance in the Finals; they most recently made the Finals in 1970 where they defeated the St. Louis Blues in four games. This was the New York Rangers eighth Finals appearance and first since 1950 where they lost to the Detroit Red Wings in seven games. Boston won five of the six games in this year's regular season series.


1971–72 NHL season, Player statistics, Leading goaltenders
Note: GP = Games played; Min – Minutes Played; GA = Goals Against; GAA = Goals Against Average; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts


1971–72 NHL season, Debuts
The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1971–72 (listed with their first team, asterisk(*) marks debut in playoffs):


1971–72 NHL season, Last games
The following is a list of players of note that played their last game in the NHL in 1971–72 listed with their last team):


1971–72 NHL season, Last games
NOTE: McKenzie, Green, Tremblay, Fonteyne, Selby, Nesterenko, McDonald, Hicke and Paiement would continue their careers in the World Hockey Association.


1971–72 NK Hajduk Split season
The 1971–72 season was the 61st season in Hajduk Split’s history and their 26th season in the Yugoslav First League. Their 1st place finish in the 1970–71 season meant it was their 26th successive season playing in the Yugoslav First League.


1971–72 NTFL season
The 1971/72 NTFL season was the 51st season of the Northern Territory Football League (NTFL).


1971–72 NTFL season
St Marys have won their eighth premiership title while defeating the Darwin in the grand final by one point.


1971–72 National Football League (Ireland)
The 1971–72 National Football League was the 41st staging of the National Football League (NFL), an annual Gaelic football tournament for the Gaelic Athletic Association county teams of Ireland.


1971–72 National Football League (Ireland)
Kerry beat Mayo in the final for the second year in a row.


1971–72 National Football League (Ireland), Format, Round-Robin Format
Each team played every other team in its division (or group where the division is split) once, either home or away.


1971–72 National Football League (Ireland), Format, Points awarded
2 points were awarded for a win and 1 for a draw.


1971–72 National Football League (Ireland), Format, Knockout stage structure
The final match-up is: Winner Semi-final 1 v Winner Semi-final 2.


1971–72 National Football League (Ireland), Format, Separation of teams on equal points
In the event that teams finish on equal points, then teams were separated according to points average(goals scored divided by goals conceded).


1971–72 National Hurling League
The 1971–72 National Hurling League was the 41st season of the National Hurling League (NHL), an annual hurling competition for the GAA county teams.


1971–72 National Hurling League, Overview, Structure
The National Hurling League's top division featured sixteen teams divided into two groups - 1A and 1B. Each group consisted of eight teams. The top two teams in Division 1A advance to the semi-finals. The third- and fourth-placed teams in 1A, as well as the top two from 1B, play in the quarter-finals.


1971–72 National Hurling League, Overview, Overview
Down at the other end of the tables, Dublin won just one of their group stage games and were relegated to Division 1B. They swapped places with Galway who, having enjoyed an unbeaten run in the group stage, topped Division 1B and gained promotion to the top eight in Division 1A for the following season. Westmeath lost all seven of their group stage games and finished bottom of Division 1B, however, they were not relegated to Division 2 as there was no promotion or relegation between these two separate divisions.


1971–72 Nationalliga A, Overview
14 teams contested in the 1971–72 Nationalliga A. These were the top 12 teams from the previous 1970–71 season and the two newly promoted teams St. Gallen and Grenchen. The championship was played in a double round robin. The champions would qualify for the 1972–73 European Cup and the last two teams in the table at the end of the season were to be relegated. Basel remained undefeated in the league during the first 24 rounds. Of their 26 league games Basel won 18, drawing seven, losing just once, scoring 66 goals conceding 28. Basel won the championship four points ahead of Zürich and five points ahead of the Grasshoppers. Zürich were Swiss Cup winners and qualified for 1972–73 Cup Winners' Cup. Grasshopper Club and Lausanne-Sport qualified for 1972–73 UEFA Cup. Luzern and Biel-Bienne suffered relegation.


1971–72 Nationalliga A season
The 1971–72 Nationalliga A season was the 34th season of the Nationalliga A, the top level of ice hockey in Switzerland. Eight teams participated in the league, and HC La Chaux-de-Fonds won the championship.


1971–72 New York Knicks season
The 1971–72 New York Knicks season was the 26th season for the team in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Knicks compiled a 48–34 record in the regular season to finish second in the Atlantic Division and earn a berth in the NBA Playoffs for the sixth consecutive year. New York had acquired Earl Monroe in a trade with the Baltimore Bullets in November 1971.


1971–72 New York Knicks season
In the first round of the playoffs, New York faced the Baltimore Bullets, who had defeated the Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals the previous year. The Knicks won the series in six games and advanced to the conference finals, where they faced the Boston Celtics. With a 4–1 series victory, New York made the NBA Finals for the second time in three seasons. In the Finals, the Knicks were opposed by the Los Angeles Lakers, whom they had beaten in the 1970 NBA Finals. After winning Game 1 of the Finals 114–92 in Los Angeles, the Knicks lost the next four games and the series. Willis Reed only played 11 games in the regular season and missed the entirety of the playoffs with a knee injury.


1971–72 New York Nets season
The 1971–72 New York Nets season was the 5th season of the franchise and 4th in New York. They finished 3rd among the six team division, qualifying for the playoffs by nine games for the third straight year.


1971–72 New York Nets season
The Nets advanced to the ABA Finals, where they lost to the Indiana Pacers.


1971–72 New York Nets season
Rick Barry averaged 31.5 points per game in what would be his final season in the ABA. Barry was forced to return to his former NBA team, the Golden State Warriors, due to an injunction issued by the U.S. District Court prohibiting him from playing for any professional team other than the Warriors after his Nets contract ended.


1971–72 New York Rangers season
The 1971–72 New York Rangers season was the 46th season in franchise history. Jean Ratelle, Vic Hadfield, and Rod Gilbert ranked third, fourth and fifth overall in league scoring. The Rangers qualified for the postseason for the sixth consecutive season. The club made its first appearance in the Stanley Cup final since 1950 but lost in six games to the Boston Bruins.


1971–72 New York Rangers season, Player statistics
†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Rangers. Stats reflect time with Rangers only. ‡Traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with Rangers only.


1971–72 New York Rangers season, Draft picks
New York's picks at the 1971 NHL Amateur Draft in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.


1971–72 Newport County A.F.C. season
The 1971–72 season was Newport County's tenth consecutive season in the Football League Fourth Division since relegation at the end of the 1961–62 season and their 44th overall in the Football League.


1971–72 Newport County A.F.C. season, Season review
County briefly wore tangerine and black striped shorts in February 1972 before fan reaction caused the club to revert to black shorts soon after.


1971–72 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team
The 1971–72 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team represented University of North Carolina. The head coach was Dean Smith. The team played its home games in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and was a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference.


1971–72 Northern Football League
The 1971–72 Northern Football League season was the 74th in the history of Northern Football League, a football competition in England.


1971–72 Northern Football League, Clubs
Division One featured 20 clubs which competed in the league last season, no new clubs joined the division this season.


1971–72 Northern Premier League
The 1971–72 Northern Premier League was the fourth season of the Northern Premier League, a regional football league in Northern England, the northern areas of the Midlands and North Wales. The season began on 14 August 1971 and concluded on 5 May 1972.


1971–72 Northern Premier League, Overview
The League was expanded, for the second consecutive season, from twenty-two teams to twenty-four teams.


1971–72 Northern Premier League, Overview, Team changes
The following two clubs joined the League at the start of the season:


1971–72 Northern Premier League, Overview, League table
The system of using goal average to separate two teams tied on points was used up until the 1976–77 season.


1971–72 Northern Premier League, Cup results, Northern Premier League Shield
Between Champions of NPL Premier Division and Winners of the NPL Cup.


1971–72 Northern Premier League, Cup results, FA Cup
Out of the twenty-two clubs from the Northern Premier League, only three teams reached for the second round:


1971–72 Northern Premier League, Cup results, FA Trophy
Out of the twenty-two clubs from the Northern Premier League, only Stafford Rangers and Macclesfield Town reached for the fourth round:


1971–72 Northern Premier League, End of the season
At the end of the fourth season of the Northern Premier League none of the teams put forward for election received enough votes to be promoted to the Football League. Chorley resigned the league and Kirkby Town was relegated.


1971–72 Northern Premier League, End of the season, Football League elections
Alongside the four Football League teams facing re-election, a total of twelve  non-League teams applied for election, four of which were from the Northern Premier League. Three out of the four Football League teams were re-elected. Hereford United from the Southern League replaced Barrow from the Football League as they didn't receive enough votes. Barrow was subsequently relegated to the Northern Premier League.


1971–72 Northern Premier League, End of the season, Promotion and relegation
The following two clubs left the league at the end of the season:


1971–72 Northern Premier League, End of the season, Promotion and relegation
The following two clubs joined the league the following season:


1971–72 Northern Rugby Football League season
The 1971–72 Northern Rugby Football League season was the 77th season of rugby league football. This season saw the entry of rugby league's first sponsors: Joshua Tetley and John Player.


1971–72 Northern Rugby Football League season, Season summary
This season saw the introduction of the League Cup competition as a major secondary competition to the Challenge Cup. Due to sponsorship it was never commonly known as the League Cup. It began in this year as the Player's No.6 Trophy and finished up as the Regal Trophy before being abandoned after 1995-96 when the sport switched to summer.


1971–72 Northern Rugby Football League season, Season summary
Leeds won their third Championship when they beat St. Helens 9-5 in the Championship Final. Leeds also finished the regular season as league leaders.


1971–72 Northern Rugby Football League season, Season summary
The Challenge Cup winners were St. Helens who beat Leeds 16-13 in the final.


1971–72 Northern Rugby Football League season, Season summary
Player's No.6 Trophy winners were Halifax who beat Wakefield Trinity 22-11 in the final.


1971–72 Northern Rugby Football League season, Season summary
Wigan beat Widnes 15–8 to win the Lancashire County Cup, and Hull Kingston Rovers beat Castleford 11–7 to win the Yorkshire County Cup.


1971–72 Northern Rugby Football League season, Championship, Final
Leeds scorers: John Atkinson (1 try), Terry Clawson (3 goals)


1971–72 Northern Rugby Football League season, Championship, Final
St Helens scorers: Les Greenall (1 try), John Walsh (1 goal)


1971–72 Northern Rugby Football League season, Challenge Cup
The final was played between St. Helens and Leeds at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 13 May 1972, in front of a crowd of 89,495. After leading 12-6 at half time, St Helens beat Leeds 16-13. St Helens scorers were Les Jones (1 try), Graham Rees (1 try), and Kel Coslett (5 goals). St Helens forward Kel Coslett was the man of the match winning the Lance Todd Trophy. This was St Helens’ fourth Cup Final win in eight Final appearances.


1971–72 Norwegian 1. Divisjon season
The 1971–72 Norwegian 1. Divisjon season was the 33rd season of ice hockey in Norway. Eight teams participated in the league, and Hasle Loren Idrettslag won the championship.


1971–72 OB I bajnoksag season
The 1971–72 OB I bajnokság season was the 35th season of the OB I bajnokság, the top level of ice hockey in Hungary. Six teams participated in the league, and Ferencvarosi TC won the championship.


1971–72 PAOK FC season
The 1971–72 season was PAOK Football Club's 46th in existence and the club's 13th consecutive season in the top flight of Greek football. The team entered the Greek Football Cup in first round and managed to go all the way and win their first domestic title in club's history.


1971–72 PAOK FC season, Players, Squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


1971–72 PAOK FC season, Statistics, Squad statistics
Appearances denote players in the starting lineup, with the numbers in parentheses denoting appearances as substitute.


1971–72 Paris Saint-Germain F.C. season
The 1971–72 season was Paris Saint-Germain's 2nd season in existence. PSG mainly played their home league games at the Stade de Paris in Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine, but occasionally at the Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir in Colombes as well, registering an average attendance of 10,030 spectators per match. Guy Crescent presided the club until December 1971, when Henri Patrelle replaced him. The team was coached by Pierre Phelipon, this time exclusively as manager. Jean Djorkaeff was the team captain.


1971–72 Paris Saint-Germain F.C. season
PSG ended their inaugural season in the top flight with a safe 16th place, meaning they would continue in Division 1 next year, but the club was in a delicate financial situation. The Paris City Council offered 850,000 francs to pay the club's debt and save its place in the elite, but in return demanded PSG to adopt the more Parisian name "Paris Football Club." Henri Patrelle refused the name change and the club split on June 1, 1972. Backed by the council, Guy Crescent and Pierre-Étienne Guyot re-formed Paris FC.


1971–72 Paris Saint-Germain F.C. season
Consequently, Paris FC remained in Division 1, while Patrelle's Paris Saint-Germain kept their name but were administratively relegated to Division 3, thus losing professional status. Bound by professional contracts with PFC, most of the club's stars, including team captain Jean Djorkaeff and Bernard Guignedoux, continued playing in Division 1. Since only top-tier pro clubs could have a reserve team, PSG took the spot of their development side in the third tier and rebuilt their squad with many upcoming academy players.


1971–72 Paris Saint-Germain F.C. season, Players, Squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


1971–72 Paris Saint-Germain F.C. season, Transfers, Arrivals
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


1971–72 Paris Saint-Germain F.C. season, Transfers, Departures
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


1971–72 Paris Saint-Germain F.C. season, Kits
The club didn't have a shirt sponsor. French sportswear brand Le Coq Sportif was the kit manufacturer.


1971–72 Philadelphia 76ers season
The 1971–72 NBA season was the 76ers 23rd season in the NBA and 9th season in Philadelphia. The team finished with a record of 30–52 and missed the post season for the 1st time in franchise history, ending an NBA-record streak of 22 consecutive appearances.


1971–72 Philadelphia 76ers season
The team made a major trade to obtain guards Fred Carter and Kevin Loughery from the Baltimore Bullets in exchange for guard Archie Clark and draft picks. At the start of the season the team was 9–4 after 13 games but imploded before long.


1971–72 Philadelphia 76ers season
After the season Billy Cunningham left for the ABA, Lucious Jackson retired due to nagging injuries & coach Jack Ramsay left to become the head coach of the Buffalo Braves.


1971–72 Philadelphia Flyers season
The 1971–72 Philadelphia Flyers season was the Philadelphia Flyers' fifth season in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Flyers missed the playoffs for the second time in three years.


1971–72 Philadelphia Flyers season, Off-season
The Flyers fired head coach Vic Stasiuk on May 27, 1971, after heavy criticism by Flyers players. On June 2, the Flyers hired Fred Shero to replace him. In the previous two seasons Shero had guided two teams to league championships, the Buffalo Bisons of the American Hockey League and the Omaha Knights of the Central Hockey League.


1971–72 Philadelphia Flyers season, Regular season
Bobby Clarke continued to progress as he led the team in goals (35), assists (46), and points (81) in 1971–72 and he became the first Flyer to win an NHL award, the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey. However, in the season's final game, the Flyers needed a win or a tie against the second-year Buffalo Sabres to beat out the Pittsburgh Penguins for the final playoff spot.


1971–72 Philadelphia Flyers season, Regular season
The score was tied late in the game, but with just four seconds on the clock, former Flyer Gerry Meehan took a shot from just inside the blue line that eluded Flyers goalie Doug Favell. With identical records the playoff berth was determined by 'goals for' and went to the Penguins.


1971–72 Philadelphia Flyers season, Transactions
The Flyers were involved in the following transactions from May 19, 1971, the day after the deciding game of the 1971 Stanley Cup Finals, through May 11, 1972, the day of the deciding game of the 1972 Stanley Cup Finals.


1971–72 Philadelphia Flyers season, Transactions, Signings, Free agency
The following players were signed by the Flyers via free agency.


1971–72 Philadelphia Flyers season, Transactions, Signings, Internal
The following players were either re-signed by the Flyers or, in the case of the team's selections in the NHL Entry Draft, signed to contracts.


1971–72 Philadelphia Flyers season, Transactions, Drafts, Intra-League
The 1971 NHL Intra-League Draft was held on June 8, 1971. Each NHL team placed 18 skaters and 2 goaltenders on a protected list from which the other teams could not select. It cost $40,000 to make a claim.


1971–72 Philadelphia Flyers season, Transactions, Drafts, Reverse
The 1971 NHL Reverse Draft was held on June 9, 1971. The Reverse Draft featured American Hockey League (AHL) and Western Hockey League (WHL) teams selecting unprotected players from NHL teams. It cost $15,000 to make a claim.


1971–72 Philadelphia Flyers season, Transactions, Departures
The following players left the team via free agency, release, or retirement. Players who were under contract and left the team during the season are marked with an asterisk (*).


1971–72 Philadelphia Flyers season, Draft picks
Philadelphia's picks at the 1971 NHL Amateur Draft, which was held at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Quebec, on June 10, 1971.


1971–72 Philadelphia Flyers season, Farm teams
The Flyers were affiliated with the Richmond Robins of the AHL, the San Diego Gulls of the WHL, and the Jersey Devils and Salem Rebels of the EHL.


1971–72 Phoenix Suns season
The 1971–72 Phoenix Suns season was the fourth season for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association. With a 49–33 record, the Suns hold the NBA record as the team with the best winning percentage to not make the playoffs. The team broke the record they set the previous year with a 48–34 finish. Head coach Cotton Fitzsimmons led the Suns in their debut season as members of the Pacific division. All home games were played at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum.


1971–72 Phoenix Suns season
Paul Silas again led the team in rebounds, averaging 11.9 per game, while also leading the Suns in assists with a 4.3 average. Connie Hawkins's 21 points a game led the club, while Dick Van Arsdale was second with his 19.7 average. Silas averaged 17.5 for the season, while both Clem Haskins and Neal Walk averaged 15.7.


1971–72 Phoenix Suns season, Player statistics, Season
* – Stats with the Suns. ^ – Minimum 350 free throw attempts.


1971–72 Pittsburgh Condors season
The 1971–72 Pittsburgh Condors season was the 2nd and final season of the Pittsburgh Condors along with the 4th and final season of Pittsburgh involvement in the American Basketball Association. General manager Mark Binstein took over as coach after a 4–6 start. By the time the season was half over, the team was 17–25. From that point, the team went 8–34, with a losing streak of 12 near the end of the season sealing any hope of getting out of the cellar of the Division. One factor was despite being 1st in points scored at 119.2 per game, they were dead last in points allowed, at 126.4 per game.


1971–72 Pittsburgh Condors season
Attendance had simply dried up, with games being moved (with one being moved to Uniontown, 46 miles from Pittsburgh) away from the Arena, with the team unofficially becoming the "United States Condors", with one game being played in Birmingham, Alabama. Fittingly, their penultimate game was played in Tucson, Arizona versus the Kentucky Colonels. On March 29, they played (and lost) their final game, 113–128 to the Indiana Pacers. Attempts to move the team failed after the season failed, and the league soon cancelled the franchise, ending pro basketball in Pittsburgh. Since then, no pro basketball team has played in Pittsburgh. The players were dispersed to other teams, with George Thompson  going to the Memphis Tams, Mike Lewis to the Carolina Cougars, Skeeter Swift to the Dallas Chaparrals, and Walt Szczerbiak to the Kentucky Colonels.


1971–72 Pittsburgh Condors season, Awards and honors
1972 ABA All-Star Game selections (game played on January 29, 1972)


1971–72 Pittsburgh Penguins season
The 1971–72 Pittsburgh Penguins season was the franchise's fifth season in the National Hockey League. The team made the playoffs for the second time in franchise history, losing to the Chicago Blackhawks in the first-round.


1971–72 Pittsburgh Penguins season, Player statistics
†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Penguins. Stats reflect time with the Penguins only. ‡Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Penguins only.


1971–72 Pittsburgh Penguins season, Transactions
The Penguins have been involved in the following transactions during the 1971–72 season:


1971–72 Polska Liga Hokejowa season
The 1971–72 Polska Liga Hokejowa season was the 37th season of the Polska Liga Hokejowa, the top level of ice hockey in Poland. 11 teams participated in the league, and Podhale Nowy Targ won the championship.


1971–72 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1971–72 season was Port Vale's 60th season of football in the Football League, and their second successive season (eighth overall) back in the Third Division. Roy Sproson's 22-year career at the club came to an end, in what was an otherwise unremarkable campaign.


1971–72 Port Vale F.C. season, Overview, Third Division
The pre-season saw the arrival of left-half John Flowers from Doncaster Rovers and full-back Tony Loska from Shrewsbury Town for 'a small fee'. Meanwhile, three players picked up injuries: John James (cartilage), Roy Sproson (ribs), and Stuart Sharratt (ankle); whilst Sammy Morgan threatened to quit altogether after falling out with manager Gordon Lee over his decision to remain resident in Great Yarmouth rather than moving nearer to Burslem. Violence broke out in pre-season games, as the sport was in the grip of hooliganism.


1971–72 Port Vale F.C. season, Overview, Third Division
The season opened with a 1–1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion in front of just 4,384 fans, causing Lee to warn that such low attendances would require him to sell off the club's best players. By the end of September Vale were performing well on the pitch, and off it had sold the main car park to The Co-operative Group for £30,000. Goals were at a premium despite a 4–3 win over York City and 4–4 draw with Aston Villa at Vale Park.


1971–72 Port Vale F.C. season, Overview, Third Division
Sporadic violence continued to break out at many matches, as local businesses had their windows smashed, local residents were menaced and fights broke out. In November, Clint Boulton was sold to Torquay United for £10,000. The next month Lee brought Ray Harford from Mansfield Town for a £5,000 fee, as well as Keith Lindsey from Southend United for 'a small fee'. Vale comfortable in the league, Chairman Graham Bourne resigned in January, along with colleague and fellow director George Sanders.


1971–72 Port Vale F.C. season, Overview, Third Division
This left the Board of Directors with just two members, one of which, previous chairman Mark Singer, was re-elected as Chairman. The Sentinel's Chris Harper stated that "Vale will never make progress while they are plagued by trouble at the top". The team continued with good home form, but invariably lost away from Vale Park. On 16 February, Sammy Morgan scored on his debut for Northern Ireland, and picked up six further caps whilst at the club.


1971–72 Port Vale F.C. season, Overview, Third Division
On 4 March, only 2,809 bothered to turn out for a 1–0 home win over Mansfield Town in strong wind and snow, whilst rivals Stoke City won the 1972 League Cup Final in front of a crowd of nearly 100,000 at Wembley Stadium. Vale went on to go ten games without a win, also scoring just one goal in a run of seven games, to the frustration of their supporters. Despite this, the now annual 'Meet the Manager' evening 'warmed the heart' of Lee.


1971–72 Port Vale F.C. season, Overview, Third Division
A 1–0 win over Barnsley at the end of April ensured the club's safety from the drop. On 8 May, Sproson made his farewell competitive appearance for the club in front of only 2,743 supporters, in a 2–1 defeat to Rotherham United. Lee angrily declared that "the attendance was nothing short of a disgrace to mark the end of a legend". Four days later there was an even smaller turnout for a final day 1–1 draw with Rochdale.


1971–72 Port Vale F.C. season, Overview, Third Division
They finished in fifteenth place with 41 points, 30 of which were won at home. With just 43 goals scored, they had the lowest goal tally outside of the bottom four.


1971–72 Port Vale F.C. season, Overview, Finances
On the financial side, a drop in average home attendance of over a thousand failed to prevent a profit of £596. This profit was due to a £10,000 transfer credit and £13,967 worth of donations from the Sportsmen's Association and the Development Fund. The club's total debt stood at £100,130. Four players were let go at the end of the campaign: Mick Morris (Stafford Rangers), Keith Ball (Stourport), Stuart Sharratt (retired), and John Flowers (Eastwood). Sproson also retired as a player, but stayed on as a scout and coach.


1971–72 Port Vale F.C. season, Overview, Cup competitions
In the FA Cup, Vale beat Blackburn Rovers 3–1 following a 1–1 draw at Ewood Park. A last-minute Sammy Morgan goal then defeated Fourth Division Darlington in the Second Round. Vale then were defeated 3–0 at St Andrew's by Second Division Birmingham City.


1971–72 Port Vale F.C. season, Overview, Cup competitions
In the League Cup, Vale made 'their annual early exist', losing 2–0 at home to Shrewsbury Town.


1971–72 Portland Trail Blazers season
The 1971–72 season was the Trail Blazers second season in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Geoff Petrie missed 22 games due to injury. Petrie who averaged 24.8 points per game in his rookie season would drop nearly 6 points per game as the Blazers finished with an NBA worst record of 18–64. One of the highlights of the season was Sidney Wicks. He would win the Rookie of the Year with a team best 24.5 points per game.


1971–72 Portland Trail Blazers season
Before the start of the season, Blazers guard Rick Adelman was named captain, making him the first in franchise history.


1971–72 Portland Trail Blazers season
Portland head coach Rolland Todd was fired on February 2, 1972 and replaced by Stu Inman, the Blazers director of player personnel. Todd's dismissal came in the wake of a 129–117 loss to the Phoenix Suns the day before. Portland players were allegedly upset with team management for placing guard Willie McCarter on waivers. Sidney Wicks was accused by Todd and Inman of playing lackadaisical defense, allowing his opponent Paul Silas to take 30 shots against him. Charlie Yelverton sat on the bench during th U.S. national anthem and did not participate in pre-game warmups.


1971–72 Primeira Divisão
The 1971–72 Primeira Divisão was the 38th season of top-tier football in Portugal.


1971–72 Primeira Divisão, Overview
It was contested by 16 teams, and S.L. Benfica won the championship.


1971–72 Princeton Tigers men's basketball team
The 1971–72 Princeton Tigers men's basketball team represented the Princeton University in intercollegiate college basketball during the 1971–72 NCAA University Division men's basketball season. The head coach was Pete Carril and the team captain was Alfred M. Dufty, Jr.. The team played its home games in the Jadwin Gymnasium on the University campus in Princeton, New Jersey. The team was the runner-up in the Ivy League and earned itself an invitation to the 16-team 1972 National Invitation Tournament. The team was the first Princeton team to participate in the National Invitation Tournament.


1971–72 Princeton Tigers men's basketball team
The team posted a 20–7 overall record and a 12–2 conference record. The team won its March 19, 1972, first round contest in the NIT at New York City's Madison Square Garden against the Indiana Hoosiers by a 68–60 margin but lost in the quarterfinal round to the Niagara Purple Eagles 65–60 on March 21.


1971–72 Princeton Tigers men's basketball team
During the season, the team spent three weeks of the sixteen-week season ranked in the Associated Press Top Twenty Poll, peaking at number fourteen and ending the season unranked. The team also finished the season unranked in the final UPI Coaches' Poll. The team was the highest scoring team in school history.


1971–72 Princeton Tigers men's basketball team
Brian Taylor, who led the conference in scoring with a 26.2 average in conference games,  was selected to the All-Ivy League first team. He was an 1972 NCAA Men's Basketball All-American selection by many organizations: first team (Sporting News); second team (National Association of Basketball Coaches, Converse) and third team (Associated Press, United Press International) as well as a general selection by the Helms Foundation. Taylor was selected in the 1972 NBA Draft by the Seattle SuperSonics with the 23rd overall selection in the 2nd round while Reggie Bird was selected by the Atlanta Hawks with the 55th overall selection in the 4th Round.


1971–72 QMJHL season
The 1971–72 QMJHL season was the third season in the history of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Ten teams played 62 games each in the schedule. The Cornwall Royals finished first place in the regular season, and won the President's Cup, defeating the Quebec Remparts in the finals. The Royals won the 1972 Memorial Cup, representing the QMJHL at the first Memorial Cup round-robin tournament.


1971–72 QMJHL season, Final standings
Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; Pts = Points; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against


1971–72 QMJHL season, Scoring leaders
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes


1971–72 QMJHL season, Playoffs
Jacques Richard was the leading scorer of the playoffs with 37 points (11 goals, 26 assists).


1971–72 RFU Knockout Cup
The 1971–72 National KO Competition was the first rugby union cup competition (for clubs) in England. Gloucester won the competition defeating Moseley in the final. In the final the Moseley lock Nigel Horton floored Dick Smith (the Gloucester openside) with a punch during the second scrum of the game and was sent off by Ron Lewis the referee. Moseley ended the game with just twelve men after their two flankers, Tim Smith and Ian Pringle, were both carried off injured.


1971–72 RFU Knockout Cup
The RFU introduced this new challenge cup which quickly emerged as England’s premier Rugby Union club competition event. The final was held at Twickenham Stadium. The principal event for Rugby Union club players at this time had been the County Championship because there was no official league table for clubs.


1971–72 Rangers F.C. season
The 1971–72 season was the 92nd season of competitive football by Rangers.


1971–72 Rangers F.C. season, Overview
Rangers played a total of 56 competitive matches during the 1971–72 season. They won their first and only European trophy this season. The side won the European Cup Winners' Cup in Barcelona, Spain. The match was effectively over by half time thanks to goals from Colin Stein and a double from Willie Johnston. The Soviet team Dynamo Moscow did score twice in the second half but Rangers held on for a famous victory.


1971–72 Rangers F.C. season, Overview
Domestically, Waddell's side finished a disappointing third in the Scottish League Division One. The club ended the season without the Scottish Cup or League Cup's after being knocked out of the former by Hibernian at the semi-final stage. They never progressed from the sectional rounds in the League Cup.


1971–72 Ranji Trophy
The 1971–72 Ranji Trophy was the 38th season of the Ranji Trophy. Bombay won their 14th title in a row defeating Bengal in the final.


1971–72 Ranji Trophy, Knockout stage
(T) - Advanced to next round by spin of coin.


1971–72 Real Madrid CF season
The 1971–72 season is Real Madrid Club de Fútbol's 69th season in existence and the club's 40th consecutive season in the top flight of Spanish football.


1971–72 Real Madrid CF season, Summary
During summer President Santiago Bernabéu transferred out several players such as Sanchis, Bueno, Planelles, Gento (retired), Betancort, Calpe, De La Fuente, Jimenez, Espíldora and Fermín. The club new arrivals were goalkeeper García Remón and a teenage 19-yrs-old forward Santillana in a sign of rejuvenate the squad and a reduced transfers budget for the upcoming years.


1971–72 Real Madrid CF season, Summary
The club won its 15th League title two points above Defending Champions Valencia CF after a 0–0 draw of CF Barcelona against Córdoba CF at Los Carmenes one round before season finale. The team played the UEFA Cup for the first time and was early eliminated in Eightfinals by Dutch side PSV Eindhoven due to away goals. During June, the squad reached the 1971–72 Copa del Generalísimo semi-finals being defeated by Valencia CF lost 1–0 at Mestalla and a draw 0–0 in Madrid.


1971–72 Real Madrid CF season, Squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


1971–72 Regionalliga
The 1971–72 Regionalliga  was the ninth season of the Regionalliga, the second tier of the German football league system. The league operated in five regional divisions, Berlin, North, South, Southwest and West. The five league champions and all five runners-up, at the end of the season, entered a promotion play-off to determine the two clubs to move up to the Bundesliga for the next season. The two promotion spots went to the Regionalliga West and Regionalliga Süd champions Wuppertaler SV and Kickers Offenbach.


1971–72 Regionalliga, Regionalliga Nord
The 1971–72 season saw two new clubs in the league, OSV Hannover and Polizei SV Bremen, both promoted from the Amateurliga, while no club had been relegated from the Bundesliga to the league.


1971–72 Regionalliga, Regionalliga Berlin
The 1971–72 season saw two new clubs in the league, Berliner SV 1892 and Meteor 06 Berlin, both promoted from the Amateurliga Berlin, while no club had been relegated from the Bundesliga to the league.


1971–72 Regionalliga, Regionalliga West
The 1971–72 season saw four new clubs in the league, Bayer Uerdingen, VfL Klafeld and Arminia Gütersloh, both promoted from the Verbandsliga, while Rot-Weiß Essen had been relegated from the Bundesliga to the league.


1971–72 Regionalliga, Regionalliga Südwest
The 1971–72 season saw two new clubs in the league, Phönix Bellheim and SpVgg Andernach, both promoted from the Amateurliga, while no club had been relegated from the Bundesliga to the league.


1971–72 Regionalliga, Regionalliga Süd
The 1971–72 season saw four new clubs in the league, SV Darmstadt 98, SpVgg Bayreuth and SpVgg Ludwigsburg, all three promoted from the Amateurliga, while Kickers Offenbach had been relegated from the Bundesliga to the league.


1971–72 Rheinlandliga
The 1971–72 Rheinlandliga was the 20th season of the highest amateur class of the Rhineland Football Association under the name of 1. Amateurliga Rheinland. It was a predecessor of today's Rheinlandliga.


1971–72 Rheinlandliga, Results
Sportfreunde Eisbachtal became Rheinland Champion. VfB Wissen represented Rhineland at the 1972 German Football Amateur Championship and lost early in the preliminary rounds against MTV Ingolstadt (Bavaria). SSV Mülheim, Germania Metternich and newcomer ESG Betzdorf had to move down to the 2. Amateur league. For the following 1972–73 season, newcomers from the 2. Amateur League were SV Ehrang, BC Ahrweiler and Eintracht Höhr-Grenzhausen and from the Regional league, last years champion, SpVgg Andernach.


1971–72 Rochdale A.F.C. season
The 1971–72 season saw Rochdale compete for their 3rd consecutive season in the Football League Third Division.


1971–72 Roller Hockey Champions Cup
The 1971–72 Roller Hockey Champions Cup was the 7th edition of the Roller Hockey Champions Cup organized by CERH.


1971–72 Roller Hockey Champions Cup, Teams
The champions of the main European leagues, and Reus Deportiu as title holders, played this competition, consisting in a double-legged knockout tournament. As Reus Deportiu was also the Spanish league champions, Noia also joined the tournament.


1971–72 Romanian Hockey League season
The 1971–72 Romanian Hockey League season was the 42nd season of the Romanian Hockey League. Eight teams participated in the league, and Dinamo Bucuresti won the championship.


1971–72 Rugby Union County Championship
The 1971–72 Rugby Union County Championship was the 72nd edition of England's County Championship rugby union club competition. The competition was no longer the premier club competition because a National Knockout Competition called the John Player Cup had been introduced.


1971–72 Rugby Union County Championship
Gloucestershire won their tenth title (but first since 1937) after defeating Warwickshire in the final.


1971–72 S.L. Benfica season
The 1971–72 season was Sport Lisboa e Benfica's 68th season in existence and the club's 38th consecutive season in the top flight of Portuguese football, covering the period from 1 July 1971 to 30 June 1972. Benfica competed domestically in the Primeira Divisão and the Taça de Portugal, and participated in the European Cup after winning the previous league.


1971–72 S.L. Benfica season
After recovering the title in the past season, Hagan remained for second season. He strengthened his team by adding Vítor Baptista, Artur Correia and Rui Rodrigues. To off-set, José Torres departed the club, alongside others, such as Jorge Calado and Jacinto Santos. Benfica began their league campaign by beating Porto in Estádio das Antas, only to be stopped a week later by CUF. They responded with an string of consecutive wins that propelled them into first place on 31 October. They drew again in the following week, now with Boavista and were caught at the top.


1971–72 S.L. Benfica season
In the European Cup, Benfica eliminated Wacker in the first round and CSKA Sofia in the second. Domestically, in November, Benfica began a nine-match winning run that allowed them to open a comfortable lead at the top. They drew again in February but that did not stop their momentum, and their continued collecting consecutive wins, five more, until their experienced their first league defeat on 26 March, at the hands of Barreirense. In the European Cup, Benfica faced Feyenoord in the quarter-finals, beating them 5–2 on aggregate but were stopped in the semi-finals by Ajax. Afterwards, Benfica sealed their 19th league title and won their sixth double after beating Sporting in the Taça de Portugal Final


1971–72 S.L. Benfica season, Season summary
Benfica started the new season as reigning Primeira Divisão holders after they recovered that honour in 1970–71. English manager Jimmy Hagan began his second season in charge, still with José Augusto as his assistant. In the transfer window, Benfica's major signings were Vítor Baptista for the offence and Artur Correia and Rui Rodrigues for the defence. Historic player José Torres departed the club for Vitória de Setúbal in the deal involving Vítor Baptista. Other departures included Jorge Calado and Jacinto Santos.


1971–72 S.L. Benfica season, Season summary
The pre-season began on 20 July with medical tests, and the first preparation game was on 31 July with Arsenal. Afterwards, Benfica went on a tour for England, where they played Arsenal again, among other teams. In late August, Benfica had a second tour, now in Italy and competed in the Ramón de Carranza Trophy in Spain. They concluded the preparations by winning the Taça de Honra against Belenenses on 8 September.


1971–72 S.L. Benfica season, Season summary
The season began on 12 September with visit to Estádio das Antas to play Porto. Benfica won 3–1 with goals from Eusébio and Artur Jorge. Three days later, Benfica started their European Cup campaign with a 4–0 win against Wacker. On the 19, Benfica dropped their first points in the league after a surprising 1–1 draw with CUF. That left them in fourth place, one-point behind leaders Vitória de Setúbal and Sporting. On 26 September, Benfica defeated Vitória de Setúbal away and pass them on the league table, placing them  in third, one-less than leader Sporting.


1971–72 S.L. Benfica season, Season summary
The month closed with another victory in the European Cup, for a 7–1 aggregate win against Wacker. In October, Benfica won all of his league matches but only reached first place on the 31 after a home win against União de Tomar. In Europe, Benfica faced CSKA Sofia for the second round, beating them 2–1 on aggregate and qualifying for the quarter-finals. On 7 November, Benfica played Boavista on the road and drew 2–2 and were therefore caught in first place by Sporting. That situation was short lived as Benfica began a winning streak that lasted until February.


1971–72 S.L. Benfica season, Season summary
Nine consecutive wins, including a 3–0 win in Estádio de Alvalade against Sporting, allowed Benfica to quickly build a comfortable lead. On match-day 12, the lead already stood at three-points, and Benfica lapped the first half of the Primeira Divisão with a five more points than second-place, Vitória de Setúbal. They began the second part of the season by beating Porto in the Clássico, but two-weeks later, they were finally stopped in the home draw to Vitória de Setúbal.


1971–72 S.L. Benfica season, Season summary
Benfica responded well and kept on winning, increasing their lead to eight-points by match-day 23 after five consecutive wins. In the European Cup, on 8 March, the team was defeated in first leg of the quarter-finals by Feyenoord. Benfica complained of referee Kunze as António Simões described: "I never thought I would find a referee like this. Dishonest is all I can say about him.". On 22 March, Benfica received Feyenoord and won 5–1. With the game in 2–1 on the 80th minute, which qualified Feyenoord; Benfica scored three goals in the last ten minutes to progress to the semi-finals.


1971–72 S.L. Benfica season, Season summary
The win was seen as a revenge because Ernst Happel had repeatedly labelled Benfica as an inferior team. Four days later, Benfica lost for the first time in the Primeira Divisão. On match-day 24, Barreirense beat Benfica by 1–0 and prevented their goal of finishing the league undefeated. Afterwards, Eusébio said that the game against Feyenoord could not serve as an excuse. Benfica entered in April still in all competitions and their first match was the semi-finals of the European Cup. Facing another Dutch team, Ajax from Johan Cruyff, Benfica was defeated in Amsterdam by 1–0.


1971–72 S.L. Benfica season, Season summary
In the home reception to Ajax, Benfica attempted to qualify for their sixth final, but drew 0–0 and were eliminated. Hagan's tactics were blamed by the press for the elimination, while Jaime Graça targeted the referee for annulling a clean goal for Benfica. The team finished the month by playing two matches for the Taça de Portugal. On 23 April, they defeated Cova da Piedade by 6–3 for the quarter-finals and on 30, they thrashed Porto by 6–0 in the semi-finals.


1971–72 S.L. Benfica season, Season summary
They ensured their fourth consecutive final and were meeting Sporting in the Taça de Portugal Final, repeating the same teams of the last three finals. The Primeira Divisão resumed on 7 May, with Benfica beating Académica de Coimbra by 3–1, thus confirming their 19th league title. With three matches still to go, Benfica tied the season 1960–61 for the club record of earliest match-day to win the league. They finished the campaign with 55 points in 60 possible and Artur Jorge was Bola de Prata for league top-scorer with 27 goals.


1971–72 S.L. Benfica season, Season summary
The season ended on 4 June with the Taça de Portugal Final where Benfica narrowly beat Sporting by 3–2. Benfica scored first by Eusébio on the 20th minute, but Sporting responded with two goals in the second half. Eusébio scored again to level the game on 2 goals on the 69th minute, requiring the need of extra-time, where on the 117th minute, he scored another to seal the win. It was Eusébio's first hat-trick in a Taça de Portugal Final. Benfica had won another league and cup double, their six double.


1971–72 S.L. Benfica season, Player statistics
The squad for the season consisted of the players listed in the tables below, as well as staff member Jimmy Hagan (manager), José Augusto (assistant manager), Fernando Neves (Director of Football).


1971–72 S.L. Benfica season, Player statistics
Note 1: Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


1971–72 S.L. Benfica season, Player statistics
Note 2: Players with squad numbers marked ‡ joined the club during the 1971-72 season via transfer, with more details in the following section.


1971–72 SK Rapid Wien season
The 1971–72 SK Rapid Wien season was the 74th season in club history.


1971–72 SM-sarja season
The 1971–72 SM-sarja season was the 41st season of the SM-sarja, the top level of ice hockey in Finland. 12 teams participated in the league, and Ilves Tampere won the championship.


1971–72 Scottish Cup
The 1971–72 Scottish Cup was the 87th staging of Scotland's most prestigious football knockout competition. The Cup was won by Celtic who defeated Hibernian in the final.


1971–72 Scottish Division One
The 1971–72 Scottish Division One was won by Celtic by ten points over nearest rival Aberdeen. Clyde and Dunfermline finished 17th and 18th respectively and were relegated to the 1972–73 Second Division.


1971–72 Scottish Division Two
The 1971–72 Scottish Second Division was won by Dumbarton who, along with second placed Arbroath, were promoted to the First Division. Hamilton Academical finished bottom.


1971–72 Scottish Inter-District Championship
The 1971–72 Scottish Inter-District Championship was a rugby union competition for Scotland's district teams.


1971–72 Scottish Inter-District Championship
Edinburgh District won the competition after defeating Glasgow District in a play-off.


1971–72 Scottish League Cup
The 1971–72 Scottish League Cup was the twenty-sixth season of Scotland's second football knockout competition. The competition was won by Partick Thistle, who defeated Celtic in the Final.


1971–72 Seattle SuperSonics season
The 1971–72 Seattle SuperSonics season was the 5th season of the Seattle SuperSonics in the National Basketball Association (NBA). In their third season with Lenny Wilkens as head coach, the Sonics finished the regular season in sixth place in the Western Conference with a 47–35 record, their first winning record in franchise history. Wilkens quit as head coach at the end of the season  and was replaced by former Dallas Chaparrals coach Tom Nissalke.


1971–72 Seattle SuperSonics season, Offseason
With the sixth overall pick in the 1971 NBA draft, Seattle selected Fred Brown from the University of Iowa. After months of negotiation (the Kentucky Colonels of the American Basketball Association also selected him in the 1971 ABA Draft), the Sonics signed him to a multi-year contract  Brown would go on to have a career spanning 13 seasons with the SuperSonics.


1971–72 Seattle SuperSonics season, Offseason
The Buffalo Braves selected Spencer Haywood with the 30th overall pick and intended to claim rights to the player from the SuperSonics. Matters were taken to court, with the judge ruling in favor of the Seattle franchise. Tensions prior to the trial rose to the point that Buffalo decided to pay expansion fees to every team in the league with the exception of the Sonics.


1971–72 Seattle SuperSonics season, Offseason, Draft picks
Note: only draft picks who participated in at least one game in the NBA are listed.


1971–72 Seattle SuperSonics season, Offseason, Draft picks
The Seattle SuperSonics signed their second round pick Jim McDaniels on February. Since McDaniels was under contract with the Carolina Cougars from the American Basketball Association, both teams began a legal battle over the player's contract, with a judge in the King County Superior Court granting permission to McDaniels to play for the Sonics. The Cougars appealed to the Washington Supreme Court but McDaniels stayed in Seattle.


1971–72 Segunda División
The 1971–72 Segunda División season was the 41st since its establishment and was played between 4 September 1971 and 1 June 1972.


1971–72 Segunda División, Overview before the season
20 teams joined the league, including two relegated from the 1970–71 La Liga and 5 promoted from the 1970–71 Tercera División.


1971–72 Serie A, Teams
Mantova, Atalanta and Catanzaro had been promoted from Serie B.


1971–72 Serie A (basketball)
The 1971–72 Serie A basketball championship was the 49th season of the Serie A, the highest professional basketball league in Italy.


1971–72 Serie A (basketball)
The regular season ran from 24 October 1971 to 4 April 1972, twelve teams played 22 games each. As Simmenthal Milano and Ignis Varese ended joint first with an equal head-to-head record, a single playoff game decided the title for the second year running. Milano won the game, played in Rome, to break Varese's three-year title streak, taking home their nineteenth overall title (and a spot in the European Champions Cup).


1971–72 Serie A (basketball)
To accommodate a league expansion to 14 teams due the following year, only one side was relegated that season, newly promoted Stella Azzurra Roma went straight back to the Serie B.


1971–72 Serie A (basketball), Preseason
Holders Ignis Varese were seen as the favourites to retain their title, with habitual rivals Simmenthal Milano – whom they had beat in a title playoff game the previous season – as challengers. Ambitious teams Forst Cantù and Splügen Venezia could take a few points off the leading duo but were not considered as strong enough to join the title fight.


1971–72 Serie A (basketball), Preseason
A Nikolić coached Ignis had kept all their major players, with star Mexican Manuel Raga complemented by Italian internationals Dino Meneghin, Ottorino Flaborea, and Ivan Bisson among others. The addition of Tony Gennari and Marino Zanatta (both from Mobilquattro Milano, the re-sponsored All'Onestà) had created an abundance of star players in their squad, something ironically seen as their only potential weakness.


1971–72 Serie A (basketball), Preseason
Simmenthal, coached by Cesare Rubini, had virtually kept the same squad yet were seen as more potent, with combative American  Art Kenney settled in and youngsters Giulio Iellini and Mauro Cerioni more mature.


1971–72 Serie A (basketball), Regular season
Simmenthal's title hopes took a dent when they lost 69-67 away to Forst Cantù during the fourth round, leaving Ignis as the only undefeated team at that stage. When the two met in Varese on 9 January 1972, Simmenthal was already in a do-or-die situation, trailing the leaders by four points (having lost again in between, to mid-table Norda Bologna led by  league top scorer John Fultz). Ignis' 62-57 win in a nervous game characterized by poor shooting from both sides (Bisson and Renzo Bariviera top-scoring for their respective teams with 16 points each) led some observers to already declare them champions, with their now 6-point lead seen as insurmountable.


1971–72 Serie A (basketball), Regular season
However, the same month, Pierluigi Marzorati and Carlo Recalcati helped Cantù end Ignis' four-year invulnerability at home with an 84-83 overtime win that made that claim less certain. Soon after, the leaders lost by a single point again, this time to Venezia after two overtimes, to see their lead on Simmenthal reduced to only two points.


1971–72 Serie A (basketball), Regular season
That gap remained the same until the penultimate round game between the two freshly crowned European champions (Ignis winning the Champions Cup and Simmenthal the Cup Winners' Cup) played on 26 March 1972 in Milan. Contrarily to the previous encounter, the game was reportedly an entertaining affair, Cerioni neutralised a diminished Raga defensively whilst adding 18 points to a vindictive Kenney's 21. Meneghin's 28 points were not enough for a Varese missing the injured Bisson, as they were undone 77-72 to concede their hold on first place. Both teams comfortably won their last round games, which meant they finished as joint leaders, making a one-off playoff game at a neutral venue necessary to decide the title.


1971–72 Serie A (basketball), Regular season, Individual scoring table
Source: unofficial statistics compiled by the Giganti del Basket magazine (official statistics started from the 1975–76 season).


1971–72 Serie A (basketball), Postseason, Title playoff
The title-deciding playoff game was played in Rome's Palazzo dello Sport on 4 April 1972 in front of more than 15,000 people. Raga, having returned to fitness, scored a game-high 25 points, with Meneghin adding 22 points for the defending champions as Varese led by 9 points in the first half. Despite this, a team-effort by Simmenthal's mayor players such as Kenney, Giuseppe Brumatti and captain Massimo Masini allowed them to get back in the game, with the teams tied on 60 with only 29 seconds left to play. Barivera scored twice in succession to allow Milano to win the closely contested game and the league title for the first time in five years.


1971–72 Serie A (basketball), Italian Cup
Simmenthal completed the domestic double over Ignis, beating their rivals 81-77 in Turin to lift the cup. As both teams were already qualified for the 1972–73 European Champions Cup (Milano through the league and Varese by winning the 1972 edition), the spot in the European Cup Winners' Cup was given to Mobilquattro Milano after they beat Forst Cantù 84-83 in the third-place game.


1971–72 Serie A (ice hockey) season
The 1971–72 Serie A season was the 38th season of the Serie A, the top level of ice hockey in Italy. Eight teams participated in the league, and SG Cortina won the championship.


1971–72 Serie B
The Serie B 1971–72 was the fortieth tournament of this competition played in Italy since its creation.


1971–72 Serie B, Teams
Genoa, Reggiana and Sorrento had been promoted from Serie C, while Foggia, Lazio and Catania had been relegated from Serie A.


1971–72 Serie C
The 1971–72 Serie C was the thirty-fourth edition of Serie C, the third highest league in the Italian football league system.


1971–72 Sheffield Shield season
The 1971–72 Sheffield Shield season was the 70th season of the Sheffield Shield, the domestic first-class cricket competition of Australia. Western Australia won the championship. A new points system was introduced.


1971–72 Shell Shield season
The 1971–72 Shell Shield season was the fifth edition of what is now the Regional Four Day Competition, the domestic first-class cricket competition for the countries of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB). The tournament was sponsored by Royal Dutch Shell, with matches played from 21 January to 3 March 1972.


1971–72 Shell Shield season
Five teams contested the competition – Barbados, the Combined Islands, Guyana, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago. Barbados were undefeated, winning three of their four matches and drawing the other to claim a third title (and first since the 1966–67 season). Jamaican batsman Maurice Foster led the tournament in runs, while Barbadian fast bowler Vanburn Holder was the leading wicket-taker.


1971–72 Shell Shield season, Statistics, Most runs
The top five run-scorers are included in this table, listed by runs scored and then by batting average.


1971–72 Shell Shield season, Statistics, Most wickets
The top five wicket-takers are listed in this table, listed by wickets taken and then by bowling average.


1971–72 South African cricket season
This article is a review of the 1971–72 South African cricket season.


1971–72 South African cricket season, Events
The 1971–72 South African cricket season was the first one following the isolation placed on South African cricket as a result of the apartheid policies practised by the South African Government.


1971–72 South African cricket season, Events
A scheduled tour by England to South Africa had been cancelled and so the South African Cricket Association decided on 23 January to extend the Currie Cup, which had nearly been completed, to a full round of home and away matches. A proposed tour of Australia late in 1971-72 was in doubt, and was later called off, and the prospects of future international cricket looked unlikely.


1971–72 South African cricket season, Events
In the event, a tour by the New Zealand women's cricket team in 1971-72 proved to be the last official international cricket that South Africa would play until the apartheid laws were repealed.


1971–72 South Carolina Gamecocks men's basketball team
The 1971–72 South Carolina Gamecocks men's basketball team represented the University of South Carolina during the 1971–72 NCAA University Division men's  basketball season. This was the first year in which South Carolina played as an Independent. South Carolina finished 6th in the AP Poll for the third year in a row.


1971–72 South Pacific cyclone season
The 1971–72 South Pacific cyclone season, unlike the previous two, was an average season, featuring eleven tropical disturbances, eleven tropical cyclones, and six severe tropical cyclones. The season began only four days after the official start, November 1, and ended very late, on June 5, more than a month after the official end of the season, April 30.


1971–72 South Pacific cyclone season, Systems, Tropical Cyclone SP7101
This tropical cyclone existed from November 5-12. However, it didn't have a name.


1971–72 South Pacific cyclone season, Systems, Severe Tropical Cyclone Ursula
Cyclone Ursula existed from 2 to 16 December 1971 in the Solomon Islands region.


1971–72 South Pacific cyclone season, Systems, Tropical Cyclone Vivienne
Tropical Cyclone Vivienne existed from December 16-19. It became a Category 1 tropical cyclone ( equivalent to a tropical storm ) on its peak intensity.


1971–72 South Pacific cyclone season, Systems, Severe Tropical Cyclone Wendy
Cyclone Wendy was a very intense tropical cyclone that existed from 30 January to 9 February 1972 off the coast of Queensland.


1971–72 South Pacific cyclone season, Systems, Severe Tropical Cyclone Gail
Cyclone Gail existed from 11 to 18 April 1972 well off of the coast of Queensland.


1971–72 South Pacific cyclone season, Systems, Cyclone Ida
Cyclone Ida existed from 30 May to 3 June 1972 near the Solomon Islands. It caused $70 million  in damage.


1971–72 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season
The 1971–72 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season was a below-average cyclone season. The season officially ran from November 1, 1971, to April 30, 1972.


1971–72 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season, Systems, Severe Tropical Storm Agnes
Agnes existed from December 9 to December 24. Rainbands from Agnes affected Réunion while the storm passed to the north.


1971–72 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season, Systems, Moderate Tropical Storm Dolly
Dolly existed from February 4 to February 9. On February 7, Dolly brushed the southwest coast of Réunion, bringing days of heavy rainfall that reached 774 mm (30.5 in) at Piton Tortue. The rains damaged crops and flooded coastal roads. Dolly killed five people on the island.


1971–72 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season, Systems, Tropical Cyclone Eugenie
Rainfall from the storm spread from Swaziland to Durban in South Africa, reaching over 350 mm (14 in) near the coast. The rains caused widespread river flooding.


1971–72 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season, Systems, Intense Tropical Cyclone Fabienne
Fabienne existed from February 11 to February 25. On February 18, Fabienne passed just west of Rodrigues, producing wind gusts of 254 km/h (158 mph). The storm caused two fatalities on the island, as well as 16 injuries.


1971–72 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season, Systems, Severe Tropical Storm Tessie–Gigi
This system entered the basin on February 27 and became extratropical by February 28.


1971–72 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season, Systems, Severe Tropical Storm Hermione
Hermione existed from March 1 to March 11. On March 5, Hermione passed north of the Mascarene Islands, producing heavy rainfall on Réunion that reached 757.5 mm (29.82 in) at Foc Foc.


1971–72 Southern Football League
The 1971–72 Southern Football League season was the 69th in the history of the league, an English football competition.


1971–72 Southern Football League
At the end of the previous season Division One was split into divisions One North and One South with 14 new clubs joining the league.


1971–72 Southern Football League
Chelmsford City won the championship, winning their third Southern League title, whilst Burton Albion, Kettering Town, Ramsgate Athletic and Waterlooville were all promoted to the Premier Division. Eight Southern League clubs applied to join the Football League at the end of the season, Hereford United was elected in favour of Barrow after a tie in the first vote.


1971–72 Southern Football League, Premier Division
The Premier Division consisted of 22 clubs, including 18 clubs from the previous season and four new clubs, promoted from Division One:


1971–72 Southern Football League, Division One North
Division One North consisted of 18 clubs, including eight clubs from the previous season Division One and ten new clubs:


1971–72 Southern Football League, Division One South
Division One South consisted of 16 clubs, including eight clubs from the previous season Division One and eight new clubs:


1971–72 Southern Football League, Division One South
At the end of the season Ramsgate Athletic was renamed Ramsgate.


1971–72 Southern Football League, Football League elections
Alongside the four League clubs facing re-election, a total of 12 non-League clubs applied for election, eight of which were Southern League clubs. Three League clubs were re-elected, along with Hereford United who were elected in favour of Barrow after a tie in the first vote.


1971–72 Soviet Cup (ice hockey)
The 1971–72 Soviet Cup was the 14th edition of the Soviet Cup ice hockey tournament. 30 teams participated in the tournament, which was won by Dynamo Moscow, who claimed their second title.


1971–72 Soviet League season
The 1971–72 Soviet Championship League season was the 26th season of the Soviet Championship League, the top level of ice hockey in the Soviet Union. Nine teams participated in the league, and CSKA Moscow won the championship.


1971–72 Spartan League
The 1971–72 Spartan League season was the 54th in the history of Spartan League. The league consisted of 16 teams.


1971–72 Spartan League, League table
The division featured 16 teams, 14 from last season and 2 new teams:


1971–72 St. John's Redmen basketball team
The 1971–72 St. John's Redmen basketball team represented St. John's University during the 1971–72 NCAA University Division men's basketball season. The team was coached by Frank Mulzoff in his second year at the school. St. John's home games are played at Alumni Hall and Madison Square Garden.


1971–72 St. Louis Blues season
The 1971–72 St. Louis Blues season was the fifth for the franchise in St. Louis, Missouri. The Blues finished the season in third place in the Western Division, with a record of 28 wins, 39 losses and 11 ties, good for 67 points, placing them in the playoffs, where they defeated the Minnesota North Stars 4–3 in the first round, before losing to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins in four straight in round two.


1971–72 St. Louis Blues season, Draft picks
The 1971 NHL Amateur Draft was held on June 10, 1971, at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.


1971–72 Stoke City F.C. season
The 1971–72 season was Stoke City's 65th season in the Football League and the 41st in the First Division.


1971–72 Stoke City F.C. season
After 109 years of trying Stoke City finally won their first major trophy in March 1972 beating Chelsea 2–1 in the League Cup final at Wembley. They also reached the semi final of the FA Cup for the second season running and again lost out to Arsenal. Their league campaign obviously took a hit with all the cup matches being played, Stoke finished in 17th position with 35 points. In total Stoke played 71 matches during a very busy season.


1971–72 Stoke City F.C. season, Season review, League
The Stoke fans were confident of seeing more good exciting attacking football again as the 1971–72 season commenced but overall league performances were bitterly disappointing, however in the cup competitions Stoke did themselves proud. With the cup matches obviously taking priority Stoke had a back-log of fixtures to play (six games in 17 days) and they failed to win any of them as they finished in 17th position with 35 points.


1971–72 Stoke City F.C. season, Season review, FA Cup
Stoke had another run to the semi-final of the FA Cup after beating lower league sides, Chesterfield, Tranmere Rovers, Hull City and another two matches against Manchester United, Stoke faced Arsenal again. Villa Park hosted the tie and thanks to an own goal from Peter Simpson, Stoke scraped a 1–1 draw in a close match. The replay at Goodison Park was controversial. Stoke took an early lead through a penalty, but the "Gunners" won a controversial penalty of their own for a handball after a corner that was given despite Gordon Banks appearing to have been fouled beforehand. Arsenal converted the penalty. The "Gunners" then started controlling the match and scored a second goal, which nevertheless looked suspiciously offside, and that was how the match ended, as Stoke went down 2–1 and their hopes of achieving a Wembley double disappeared.


1971–72 Stoke City F.C. season, Season review, League Cup
In the League Cup Stoke ousted Southport and Oxford United and then in the fourth round Stoke visited Old Trafford and held Manchester United to a 1–1 draw with John Ritchie cancelling out a goal from Alan Gowling. The replay attracted almost 41,000 fans to the Victoria Ground but this time there was no goals and third game was required. This was again staged at Stoke and two late goals sealed a 2–1 victory and passage to the last eight. At this stage of the season matches were coming thick and fast and a 4–2 win over Bristol Rovers saw Stoke enter the semi finals of the League Cup where they met West Ham United over two legs.


1971–72 Stoke City F.C. season, Season review, League Cup
Not only was this to be a memorable cup tie for Stoke, the encounter has also been described as "epic". In the 1st leg Stoke's hopes of reaching the final seemed to have disappeared when they lost 2–1 to home. However at West Ham, Ritchie levelled the aggregated score with 20 minutes left, and with just three of those remaining West Ham were awarded a penalty, a decision which angered Gordon Banks immensely.


1971–72 Stoke City F.C. season, Season review, League Cup
The England 'keeper was so psyched up that he dived and saved Geoff Hurst's spot kick superbly, Banks says that it was his most significant save of his career. And so to a third match, a replay at Hillsborough, was a tense 0–0 draw. The fourth meeting was staged at Old Trafford and another bumper crowd turned out to see the two sides do battle in a match that seemed to have everything. Bobby Ferguson, the "Hammers" goalkeeper was accidentally kicked on the head by Terry Conroy and Bobby Moore went in goal. He saved a Mike Bernard penalty but was beaten on the rebound. Ferguson returned and the game ebbed and flowed, and either side could have won. In the end it was Stoke with Conroy scoring the winning goal to send City through to their first major final.


1971–72 Stoke City F.C. season, Season review, League Cup
The final took place on 4 March 1972 at Wembley against Chelsea in front of a crowd 97,852. Stoke showed no big match nerves and took an early lead through Terry Conroy, this prompted a response by Chelsea and just before the interval a rare mistake from Alan Bloor allowed Peter Osgood to level the scores. Stoke were not to be denied and on 73 minutes the veteran George Eastham scored the winning goal to earn Stoke their first major trophy.


1971–72 Sussex County Football League
The 1971–72 Sussex County Football League season was the 47th in the history of Sussex County Football League a football competition in England.


1971–72 Sussex County Football League, Division One
Division One featured 14 clubs which competed in the division last season, along with two new clubs, promoted from Division Two:


1971–72 Sussex County Football League, Division Two
Division Two featured 14 clubs which competed in the division last season, along with two new clubs, relegated from Division One:


1971–72 Swedish Division I season
The 1971–72 Swedish Division I season was the 28th season of Swedish Division I. Brynas IF won the league title by finishing first in the final round.


1971–72 Tercera División
The 1971–72 Tercera División season is the 38th since its establishment.


1971–72 Texaco Cup
The 1971–72 Texaco Cup was the second edition of the tournament sponsored by Texaco. It was won by Derby County, who beat Airdrieonians in a two-legged final by 2–1 on aggregate.


1971–72 The Floridians season
The 1971–72 The Floridians season was the fourth and final season of American Basketball Association in Florida. For this season, 34 games were played in Miami, with the other home games being played in either Tampa or St. Petersberg.