1977–78 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1977–78 season was Port Vale's 66th season of football in the Football League, and their eighth successive season (14th overall) in the Third Division. Finishing in 21st place, they were relegated to the Fourth Division. Roy Sproson was sacked in October after a poor start to the season, though things did not improve under his replacement Bobby Smith, despite Smith spending big money to bring in new players. Smith also left the club at the end of the season.


1977–78 Port Vale F.C. season, Overview, Third Division
The pre-season saw manager Roy Sproson attempt to re-sign Sammy Morgan for £12,000, however Morgan refused personal terms. Former Player of the Year David Harris also refused terms and demanded a transfer, so Terry Alcock re-joined on a month's trial to take his place. Three players arrived on free transfers: Jeff Hemmerman and Grahame McGifford from Hull City, and Bill Bentley from Blackpool. On a 28 June meeting, Sproson was severely criticized for his poor judgement of players and his seeming to place greater priority on his newsagent business than the club.


1977–78 Port Vale F.C. season, Overview, Third Division
Sproson did not attend the meeting, but was informed the board would review his position after fifteen games. The Football Association also hit the club with a £500 fine for their continuing problem with player indiscipline, despite Sproson's argument that no Vale players had been sent off in the last two years.


1977–78 Port Vale F.C. season, Overview, Third Division
The season began poorly, though Harris returned to the first eleven and Alcock thus departed. Keeper John Connaughton picked up a knee injury, whilst a reporter from The Sentinel was allegedly told "I'll kill you" by a club official after he criticized the team in the paper. The reporter noted that "there is disenchantment in the air". The situated was calmed on 27 September, when Vale beat high-flying Colchester United 3–2 at Layer Road, reserve keeper Trevor Dance making a double penalty save.


1977–78 Port Vale F.C. season, Overview, Third Division
This was only a reprieve for Sproson however, as Vale would go the next fourteen league games without a victory, and the Vale Park faithful turned against the team. This run was not too damaging however, as eleven of the games were draws. Included in this was a club record streak of six home draws, lasting from 10 October to 27 December. Sproson complained of Mick Cullerton's attitude, and had to endure speculation of former Stoke City manager Tony Waddington taking his job. Sproson was sacked in October, and he rejected the offer of an executive position at the club.


1977–78 Port Vale F.C. season, Overview, Third Division
Colin Harper was made caretaker-manager. The board tried and failed to attract Bill McGarry to the vacant managerial position, and so advertised the position with a significant salary increase to attract applicants. On 17 November, Bobby Smith was sacked as Bury manager, and the next day walked into the Vale job. He appointed Dennis Butler as his assistant, as Harper left the club. Sproson also returned to Vale with an offer 'to help in any capacity'. Victory finally came on New Year's Eve with a 3–0 win over Rotherham United. Soon after this the 'Vale Lottery' was introduced, which proved to be a real money-spinner, and a five-a-side pitch was built for training.


1977–78 Port Vale F.C. season, Overview, Third Division
In January, veteran defender Graham Hawkins was signed as a player-coach from Blackburn Rovers for £6,000. Forward Neville Chamberlain also joined the club as a professional, becoming the club's first black pro. John Froggatt also joined the club, signing from Colchester United for £10,000. Chairman Arthur McPherson celebrated this abandonment of frugality by declaring "we are going places". Chris Harper slated the board for their decisions, calling them 'berserk'. Froggatt scored fifteen seconds into his debut in a 4–0 win over Exeter City. However this would be as good as it got for both Froggatt and Vale that season.


1977–78 Port Vale F.C. season, Overview, Third Division
In February, Vale beat Fort Lauderdale Strikers in a friendly, but also started a five games sequence without a win. Ged Stenson arrived the next month from Everton for a 'bargain' £3,000, and John Lumsdon joined on loan from Stoke City. Vale improved, and were unbeaten in six of their seven March games, with Chamberlain scoring on his debut. Yet on 28 March they started a club-record streak of twelve home games without a win that would continue into the following season. Encouragement came from the youth side, who reached the Quarter Finals of the FA Youth Cup. With four games to go, Vale were point clear of the drop, however by losing all of their remaining games they doomed themselves to the Fourth Division.


1977–78 Port Vale F.C. season, Overview, Third Division
They finished in 21st place with 36 points, three short of Rotherham United and safety. Their tally of 46 goals scored was the third-lowest in the division. They had failed to keep a clean sheet on their travels all season, achieving just one away win. Player of the Year Ken Beamish hit sixteen goals, far outscoring his rivals.


1977–78 Port Vale F.C. season, Overview, Finances
On the financial side, a loss of £1,575 was made. The massive transfer outlay was paid for by huge donations of £51,428 from the Sportsmen's Association and the Development Fund. The lottery also brought in £600 a week. Gate receipts had brought in £78,965, a downturn in attendance being outweighed by an increase in ticket prices. Seven players were handed free transfers, five of which were: Mick Cullerton and Grahame McGifford (Northwich Victoria); Derek Brownbill (Cleveland Cobras); Alan Lamb (Dundee); and Kevin Kennerley (Stafford Rangers). Manager Bobby Smith also departed, having taken the vacant position at Swindon Town – Vale received £10,500 in compensation. Dennis Butler rejected the opportunity to leave with him, and instead was appointed as Smith's replacement at Vale. Graham Hawkins became Butler's assistant.


1977–78 Port Vale F.C. season, Overview, Cup competitions
In the FA Cup, Smith's first game in charge was a goalless draw at Midland Counties League side Arnold. The replay in Burslem was won 5–2, the club's biggest win since January 1969. In the Second Round, Vale drew 1–1 with Walsall at Fellows Park, before losing the replay 3–1 after Connaughton allowed a speculative shot from 25 yards out to trickle through his hands. He later admitted "I deserve to be strung up! ".


1977–78 Port Vale F.C. season, Overview, Cup competitions
In the League Cup, Vale beat Preston North End 2–1 in the home leg, though the fixture was unsettled by crowd violence. Preston won the return leg at Deepdale, and also the replay at Edgeley Park, Stockport.


1977–78 Portland Trail Blazers season
The 1977–78 Portland Trail Blazers season was the eighth season of the Portland Trail Blazers in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Fresh off their first NBA Championship win the previous season, the Blazers led the league with a franchise-best 58–24 record, earning a first-round bye in the 1978 NBA Playoffs. However, they were defeated by the eventual Western Conference champion Seattle SuperSonics four games to two.


1977–78 Portland Trail Blazers season
The team started with 50 wins in their first 60 games, but due to Bill Walton's foot injury they managed to go 8–14 the rest of the way. This would be Walton's last season with the club, as he sat out the 1979 season and then was signed by the San Diego Clippers.


1977–78 Portland Trail Blazers season
The Blazers eventually eclipsed their franchise-record win total from this season with a 59–23 showing in 1989–90.


1977–78 Portland Trail Blazers season, Draft picks
Note:  This is not a complete list; only the first two rounds are covered, as well as any other picks by the franchise who played at least one NBA game.


1977–78 Primeira Divisão, Overview
It was contested by 16 teams, and F.C. Porto won the championship. This year was notable for the fact that S.L. Benfica came second despite never losing a match throughout the entire season.


1977–78 QMJHL season
The 1977–78 QMJHL season was the ninth season in the history of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The league inaugurates two awards, the Robert Lebel Trophy for the team with best goals against average, and the Guy Lafleur Trophy for the Most Valuable Player of the playoffs. Ten teams played 72 games each in the schedule. The Trois-Rivières Draveurs finished first overall in the regular season winning the Jean Rougeau Trophy, and won the President's Cup defeating the Montreal Juniors in the finals.


1977–78 QMJHL season, Final standings
Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; PTS = Points; GF = Goals For; GA = Goals Against


1977–78 QMJHL season, Scoring leaders
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes


1977–78 QMJHL season, Playoffs
Richard David was the leading scorer of the playoffs with 33 points (17 goals, 16 assists).


1977–78 Quebec Nordiques season
The 1977–78 Quebec Nordiques season was the Nordiques sixth season in the WHA, as they were coming off of a 47–31–3 record in the 1976–77 season, finishing in first place in the Eastern Division. Quebec defeated the New England Whalers, Indianapolis Racers and Winnipeg Jets to win their first ever Avco Cup.


1977–78 Quebec Nordiques season, Off-season
During the off-season, the league would lose another three teams, as the Calgary Cowboys, Phoenix Roadrunners, and San Diego Mariners would all fold, bringing the league down to eight teams. The WHA abandoned the divisional format and grouped the remaining teams together. There had been a tentative agreement that would see the Nordiques, Cincinnati Stingers, Edmonton Oilers, Houston Aeros, New England Whalers, and Winnipeg Jets join the National Hockey League, however, it could not be finalized. In a unique move, the Soviet All-Stars and Czechoslovakian All-Stars would play games that would count in the final standings, as they played each WHA team once.


1977–78 Quebec Nordiques season, Regular season
After losing their opening two games, the Nordiques would get hot, and earn a 16–10–1 record through their opening 27 games to sit in second place in the league. Quebec would then fall into a slump, in which they would post a record of 11–20–1 record in their next 32 games to fall three games under .500, and into fifth place. The slump would cost head coach Marc Boileau his job, as he was relieved of his duties and replaced with Maurice Filion. Under Filion, the Nordiques improved, earning a record of 13–7–1 to finish the season with a 40–37–3 record, earning 83 points, and fourth place in the league.


1977–78 Quebec Nordiques season, Regular season
Offensively, Quebec was led by Marc Tardif, who won the Bill Hunter Trophy awarded to the player who leads the league in scoring. Tardif led the league in goals with 65, tied for the league lead with 89 assists, for 154 points. Real Cloutier had another great season, scoring 56 goals and 129 points in 73 games. Serge Bernier finished third in team scoring with 78 points, despite missing 24 games, while Paulin Bordeleau scored 42 goals and 65 points. On defense, Garry Lariviere had a breakout season, earning 56 points, while Jean Bernier had 10 goals and 42 points. J.C. Tremblay continued to put up points, earning 42 in 56 games and Paul Baxter had 35 points, along with a team high 240 penalty minutes.


1977–78 Quebec Nordiques season, Regular season
In goal, Richard Brodeur missed some time due to injuries, however, he still led the team with 18 wins and a 3.70 GAA in 36 games. Backup Jim Corsi had 10 wins and a 4.52 GAA, while Ken Broderick earned 9 wins with a 4.37 GAA.


1977–78 Quebec Nordiques season, Season standings
Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF= Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts = Points


1977–78 Quebec Nordiques season, Playoffs
In the opening round of the playoffs, Quebec would face the Houston Aeros in a best of seven series. The Aeros finished the season with a 42–34–4 record, earning 86 points, and a third-place finish. The series opened in Houston, and the Aeros won the series opener in overtime by a 4–3 score, however, the defending champion Nordiques evened the series with a 5–4 overtime victory in the second game.


1977–78 Quebec Nordiques season, Playoffs
The series moved to Quebec for the next two games, and the Nordiques took control of the series, winning the third game 5–1, followed by a 3–0 shutout victory in the fourth game to take a 3–1 series lead. The fifth game was played in Houston, and the Aeros staved off elimination with a 5–2, bringing the series back to Quebec for the sixth game. The Nordiques would dominate in the sixth game, crushing the Aeros 11–2, and advance to the WHA semi-finals.


1977–78 Quebec Nordiques season, Playoffs
In the WHA semi-finals, the Nordiques would face off against the New England Whalers. New England finished in second during the regular season, with a record of 44–31–5, earning 93 points. The Whalers defeated the Edmonton Oilers in five games in the opening round of the playoffs. The series opened with two games in New England, and the Whalers took an early series lead with a 5–1 victory in the series opener. Quebec fought back and tied the series up with a 3–2 win in the second game.


1977–78 Quebec Nordiques season, Playoffs
The series moved to Quebec for the next two games, however, it was the Whalers who took control of the series, defeating the Nordiques 5–4 in the third game, followed by a 7–3 win in the fourth game to take a 3–1 series lead. In the fifth game back in New England, the Whalers took their opportunity and finished off the Nordiques, defeating Quebec 6–3 to win the series.


1977–78 Rangers F.C. season
The 1977–78 season was the 98th season of competitive football by Rangers.


1977–78 Rangers F.C. season, Overview
Rangers played a total of 53 competitive matches during the 1977–78 season. Wallace presided over the club's fourth domestic treble and second in three years. During the close season Rangers spent heavily in the transfer market, bringing in Davie Cooper from Clydebank for £100,000 and Gordon Smith from Kilmarnock for £65,000. They were joined at the club by Bobby Russell who arrived from Shettleston Juniors for free.


1977–78 Rangers F.C. season, Overview
However, even with these expensive signings the side did not make the best start to the league campaign, losing the opening two matches to Aberdeen and Hibernian. Order was restored the following week with a 4–0 defeat of Partick Thistle. A resounding 3–2 win over Celtic in the first Old Firm match of the season set the tone of the season. Rangers had been 2-0 down at half-time but recovered to win the game after outclassing Jock Stein's side in the second 45 minutes. In March 1978, second placed Aberdeen won 3–0 at Ibrox to set up a tense title run in. Rangers dropped seven points from twenty-one but held on winning the final four fixtures and the league.


1977–78 Rangers F.C. season, Overview
The League Cup was won by defeating Celtic 2-1 after extra time. Goals from season new boys Davie Cooper and Gordon Smith completed the first leg of the treble. The 2-1 1978 Scottish Cup Final win over Aberdeen made Wallace the first and only Rangers' manager to win two domestic treble's. Surprisingly despite this unprecedented success Wallace resign from his position on 23 May 1978.


1977–78 Ranji Trophy
The 1977–78 Ranji Trophy was the 44th season of the Ranji Trophy. Karnataka won their second title defeating Uttar Pradesh.


1977–78 Real Madrid CF season
The 1977–78 season is Real Madrid Club de Fútbol's 75th season in existence and the club's 46th consecutive season in the top flight of Spanish football.


1977–78 Real Madrid CF season, Summary
The club did not compete in European tournaments for the first time since the 1955–56 season. During summer, the team was reinforced with the arrivals of: Argentine defender Enrique Wolff, and high-expected Forward Juanito from Burgos CF. Bernabeu traveled to West Germany seeking to replace Paul Breitner by signing Borussia Mönchengladbach's star Herbert Wimmer but once saw midfielder Uli Stielike play changed his mind and transferred the latter in to the club.


1977–78 Real Madrid CF season, Summary
President Santiago Bernabéu suffered a bowel obstruction on 29 August 1977 and was transferred into hospital for emergency treatment being diagnosed with cancer days later. After three seasons, Miljan Miljanić left the club on 8 September 1977 signing an agreement with Santiago Bernabéu at the hospital in a bizarre event. Then, Luis Molowny was appointed by Raimundo Saporta as new head coach. Also, Saporta was appointed as Acting President on 3 September 1977 due to Bernabeu health issues.


1977–78 Real Madrid CF season, Summary
In spite of the turmoil, the club clinched its 18th League title ever closing the season on 7 May 1978 six points above runners-up FC Barcelona. Chairman Santiago Bernabéu died on 2 June 1978 finishing the most successful era in the club, clinching 6 European Cups and 15 League titles under his presidency.


1977–78 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.


1977–78 Rochdale A.F.C. season
The 1977–78 season saw Rochdale compete in their 4th consecutive season in the Football League Fourth Division.


1977–78 Roller Hockey Champions Cup
The 1977–78 Roller Hockey Champions Cup was the 13th edition of the Roller Hockey Champions Cup organized by CERH.


1977–78 Roller Hockey Champions Cup, Teams
The champions of the main European leagues, and Sporting CP as title holders, played this competition, consisting in a double-legged knockout tournament. As Sporting CP qualified also as Spanish champion, Valongo joined also the competition.


1977–78 Romanian Hockey League season
The 1977–78 Romanian Hockey League season was the 48th season of the Romanian Hockey League. Three teams participated in the league, and Steaua Bucuresti won the championship.


1977–78 Rugby League Premiership
The 1977–78 Rugby League Premiership was the fourth end of season Rugby League Premiership competition.


1977–78 Rugby Union County Championship
The 1977–78 Rugby Union County Championship was the 78th edition of England's County Championship rugby union club competition.


1977–78 Rugby Union County Championship
North Midlands won their first ever title after defeating Gloucestershire in the final.


1977–78 S.L. Benfica season
The 1977–78 season was Sport Lisboa e Benfica's 74th season in existence and the club's 44th consecutive season in the top flight of Portuguese football, covering the period from 1 July 1977 to 30 June 1978. Benfica competed domestically in the Primeira Divisão and the Taça de Portugal, and participated in the European Cup after winning the previous league.


1977–78 S.L. Benfica season
After John Mortimore secured the third consecutive league title, Benfica strengthened their squad with Humberto Coelho. Still, they lost players like Nelinho, Artur Correia and Carlos Alhinho. In the league, Benfica campaign started with a draw against Sporting on 3 September, but they won all remaining matches in that month. They drew again in October, before racking up seven consecutive wins that propelled them to first place. In Europe, they knocked-out Torpedo Moscow and Boldklubben 1903 in the first two rounds. Domestically, the second half of the season was not so dominant.


1977–78 S.L. Benfica season
They allowed themselves to be caught by Porto at the top of the table and were knocked of the Portuguese Cup by Sporting and the European Cup by Liverpool. In the final stages of the Primeira Divisão, Benfica intertwined wins with draws and were overtaken by Porto. The decisive Clássico in May, Porto secured a 1–1 draw after trailing most of the game, putting them on the course to win the league. Two weeks later, an unbeaten Benfica came second to Porto due to a 15 goal deficit.


1977–78 S.L. Benfica season, Season summary
Benfica started the new season as three time Champion for the second time in the decade. In the transfer window, Benfica brought back Humberto Coelho and others like Celso Pita. Departing players included Nelinho, Artur Correia and Carlos Alhinho. One of biggest sagas of the transfer window was the return of Rui Jordão to Portugal, which Benfica approached to re-sign, but the player refused and insisted on going to rivals Sporting. The pre-season began on 1 August, without Humberto and Toni, who were still competing in the United States. The training sessions were mostly spent around Monsanto, and the first preparation game was on 11 August with Portimonense in Estádio do Jamor. Afterwards they travelled to Seville to take part in the Trofeo Ciudad de Sevilla, with Sevilla and Vasas.


1977–78 S.L. Benfica season, Season summary
Benfica started defending their league title on 3 September in the Derby de Lisboa with Sporting. They drew 1–1 with Jordão starting for Sporting and Humberto for Benfica. Throughout the month, Benfica won all remaining league matches and finished the month in first place. In the European Cup, they progressed to the second round after beating Torpedo Moscow on penalties, with Bento making an important contribution. In the opening league game of October, Benfica drew in Bessa with Boavista and was caught by Vitória de Guimarães in first, both with 8 points.


1977–78 S.L. Benfica season, Season summary
Four days later, Benfica met Boldklubben 1903 for the second round of the European Cup, beating them with a goal from Pietra. Pietra would also score in Denmark, helping Benfica qualify for the quarter-finals. Meanwhile, domestically, after the draw in Bessa, Benfica won all remaining league matches in 1977, finishing the year in first with 21 points, four more than Sporting and Porto, who still had a game in hand. They resumed their league campaign with the reception to Porto in the Clássico on 15 January. They drew 0–0 and kept Porto at bay, retaining a two-point lead over them.


1977–78 S.L. Benfica season, Season summary
Benfica won the next three matches, one of them a Derby against Sporting with a goal from Vítor Baptista, who subsequently lost an earring, an episode he was best remembered. On 19 February, in a visit to Estádio do Restelo, Benfica drew 0–0 with Belenenses and lost a point to Porto, reducing their lead to a single point.


1977–78 S.L. Benfica season, Season summary
Benfica began March with a home loss to Liverpool in the first leg of the quarter-finals of the European Cup. Four days later, they were knocked-out of the Portuguese Cup by Sporting, with a 3–1 loss. It was the third consecutive year that Sporting had eliminated them from the competition. On 12 March, they dropped points in the league again, in another 0–0, now with Varzim. This result put Benfica at risk of being caught in the top of the table by Porto, which had a game in hand.


1977–78 S.L. Benfica season, Season summary
Three days later, Benfica lost 4–1 in Anfield Road and were eliminated of the European Cup. Toni said the result expressed the difference between both teams. Back at domestic competition, Benfica regained their footing and won the following two matches. However, on 8 April, they drew again, at home with Portimonense and fell to second, a point from Porto. They responded with two more wins, before conceding another draw, the eight all season, against Braga. This opened Porto's lead to two points with five matches to go.


1977–78 S.L. Benfica season, Season summary
As they had done before, Benfica reacted and won two more matches, one them in Bonfim, where Bento was sent-off. This allowed them to reduce Porto's lead to a point, after their rivals had slipped. This made the visit to Estádio das Antas on 28 May, a title defining match. On that day, Benfica scored first on the 3rd minute with Porto levelling it on the 83rd minute, thus keeping them at the front. From the match, Toni said "It was the divine providence that saved Porto".


1977–78 S.L. Benfica season, Season summary
In the second-to-last match, Porto drew away and Benfica won, which tied both teams with the same points, although Porto remained leader with a better goal-average. On the final match-day, Benfica won, but so did Porto, which celebrated their first title in 19 years. Despite going unbeaten all season and only conceding 11 goals, they had lost the title by a 15-goal deficit.


1977–78 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 John Mortimore (manager), Rui Silva (assistant manager).


1977–78 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.


1977–78 S.L. Benfica season, Player statistics
Note 2: Players with squad numbers marked ‡ joined the club during the 1977-78 season via transfer, with more details in the following section.


1977–78 SEC Bastia season
French football club SEC Bastia's 1977–78 season. Finished 5th place in league. Top scorer of the season, including 22 goals in 18 league matches have been Johnny Rep. Was eliminated to Coupe de France quarter-finals, the UEFA Cup was able to be among the finals.


1977–78 SEC Bastia season, Squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


1977–78 SK Rapid Wien season
The 1977–78 SK Rapid Wien season was the 80th season in club history.


1977–78 SM-liiga season
The 1977–78 SM-liiga season was the third season of the SM-liiga, the top level of ice hockey in Finland. 10 teams participated in the league, and Assat Pori won the championship.


1977–78 San Antonio Spurs season
The 1977–78 NBA season was the second in the NBA, the 5th in San Antonio, and the 11th as a franchise. While George Gervin was lighting up the scoreboard with his first point title, the Spurs won the Central Division with a 52–30 record. In the playoffs the Spurs would be stunned in 6 games by the eventual champion Washington Bullets In the series, Gervin averaged 33.2 points per game.


1977–78 San Antonio Spurs season, Regular season
George Gervin and David Thompson of the Denver Nuggets would battle all season for the NBA scoring title. On the final day of the season, Thompson would take the lead by scoring 73 points in an afternoon game against the Detroit Pistons. That night, Gervin needed 58 points against the Jazz in New Orleans. Gervin got to a good start by scoring 20 points in the 1st Quarter. In the 2nd, Gervin set a single period record with 33 points. Early on in the 3rd, Gervin would score his 58 points on the way to 63 points, capturing the scoring title. While Gervin was lighting up the scoreboard, the Spurs won the Central Division with a 52–30 record.


1977–78 Saudi Premier League
1977 was the second season of the Saudi Premier League of football.


1977–78 Saudi Premier League
The league was expanded to have ten teams, again playing on a home and away basis. Al-Ahli won the championship and took the title to Jeddah for the first time.


1977–78 Scottish Cup
The 1977–78 Scottish Cup was the 93rd staging of Scotland's most prestigious football knockout competition. The Cup was won by Rangers who defeated Aberdeen in the final.


1977–78 Scottish First Division
The 1977–78 Scottish First Division season was won by Morton, who were promoted along with Heart of Midlothian to  the Premier Division. Alloa Athletic and East Fife were relegated to the Second Division.


1977–78 Scottish Inter-District Championship
The 1977–78 Scottish Inter-District Championship was a rugby union competition for Scotland's district teams.


1977–78 Scottish Inter-District Championship
South, Glasgow District and  Edinburgh District shared the competition with 2 wins and 1 loss each.


1977–78 Scottish Inter-District Championship, Results, Round 1
Glasgow District: C. D. R. Mair (West of Scotland), T. Dunlop (West of Scotland), W. V. Dobbs (Kilmarnock), R. B. Campbell (Kilmarnock),David Shedden (West of Scotland), B. M. Gossman (West of Scotland), H. R. McHardy (Kilmarnock), J. MacLauchlan (Jordanhill) [ captain],R. H. Allan (Kilmarnock), Hugh Campbell (Jordanhill), J. A. Martin (Jordanhill), D. J. M. Smith (Glasgow HSFP), J. G. Carswell (Jordanhill), D. S. M. Macdonald (West of Scotland), D. G. Leslie (West of Scotland)Edinburgh District:


1977–78 Scottish League Cup
The 1977–78 Scottish League Cup was the thirty-second season of Scotland's second football knockout competition. The competition was won by Rangers, who defeated Celtic in the Final.


1977–78 Scottish Premier Division
The 1977–78 Scottish Premier Division season was won by Rangers, two points ahead of Aberdeen. Ayr United and Clydebank were relegated.


1977–78 Scottish Second Division
The 1977–78 Scottish Second Division was won by Clyde who, along with second placed Raith Rovers, were promoted to the First Division. Brechin City finished bottom.


1977–78 Seattle SuperSonics season
The 1977–78 Seattle SuperSonics season was the 11th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). With a disappointing 5–17 start, the Sonics replaced coach Bob Hopkins with future Hall of Famer Lenny Wilkens, who led the team to a 47–35 finish.


1977–78 Seattle SuperSonics season
In the playoffs, the SuperSonics defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in three games in the First Round, then upset the defending NBA champions Portland Trail Blazers in six games in the Western Conference Semifinals, before finally defeating the Denver Nuggets in six games in the Conference Finals, making their first trip to the NBA Finals in franchise history, where they lost the series to the Washington Bullets in 7 games.


1977–78 Segunda División
The 1977–78 Segunda División season saw 20 teams participate in the second flight Spanish league. Real Zaragoza, Recreativo de Huelva and Celta de Vigo were promoted to Primera División. Real Oviedo, Córdoba CF, CD Tenerife and CF Calvo Sotelo were relegated to Segunda División B.


1977–78 Segunda División
From this season, immediately below Segunda División there is a new league Segunda División B. Thus, Tercera División became the fourth level in the Spanish football pyramid.


1977–78 Segunda División B
The 1977–78 Segunda División B was the first season of Segunda División B, the third highest level of the Spanish football league system. The league was made up of last 4 teams from 1976-77 Segunda División and 2nd to 10th teams from 1976-77 Tercera División. In concept, the Segunda División B was identical to the old Tercera Division, which was now reduced to two divisions. First and 2nd in each group were promoted to Segunda División, and the bottom three were relegated to the Tercera División.


1977–78 Segunda División B, Group 1
A total of 20 teams will contest the group, including 1 relegated from the Segunda División and 19 promoted from the Tercera División.


1977–78 Segunda División B, Group 1, Teams
Teams from Aragon, Asturias, Basque Provinces, Galicia, León, Navarre, New Castile and Old Castile.


1977–78 Segunda División B, Group 2
A total of 20 teams will contest the group, including 3 relegated from the Segunda División and 17 promoted from the Tercera División.


1977–78 Segunda División de Baloncesto
The 1977–78 Liga Nacional Segunda División de Baloncesto was the second tier of the 1977–78 Spanish basketball season.


1977–78 Serie A, Teams
Vicenza, Atalanta and Pescara had been promoted from Serie B.


1977–78 Serie A (ice hockey) season
The 1977–78 Serie A season was the 44th season of the Serie A, the top level of ice hockey in Italy. Nine teams participated in the league, and HC Bolzano won the championship.


1977–78 Serie B
The Serie B 1977–78 was the forty-sixth tournament of this competition played in Italy since its creation.


1977–78 Serie B, Teams
Cremonese, Pistoiese and Bari had been promoted from Serie C, while Sampdoria, Catanzaro and Cesena had been relegated from Serie A.


1977–78 Serie C
The 1977–78 Serie C was the fortieth edition of Serie C, the third highest league in the Italian football league system.


1977–78 Sheffield Shield season
The 1977–78 Sheffield Shield season was the 76th season of the Sheffield Shield, the domestic first-class cricket competition of Australia. Western Australia won the championship. Tasmania competed for the first time.


1977–78 South Pacific cyclone season, Systems, Tropical Cyclone Tessa
Tessa precursor tropical depression was first noted on December 5, while it was located in the southern Line Islands of Kiribati. Over the next couple of days, the system moved southeastwards and gradually intensified, before it was named Tessa by the FMS during December 7.


1977–78 South Pacific cyclone season, Systems, Tropical Cyclone Tessa
During December 9, the system moved in between Puka Puka and Reao as it continued to weaken and move south-eastwards towards the Gambier Islands. The system was last noted during December 11, while it was located about 590 km (365 mi) to the northeast of Adams Town in the Pitcarn Islands. As the system moved through the Tuamotu Islands of French Polynesia, Tessa caused significant precipitation over the islands, with the Puka Puka weather station recording a 24-hour rainfall total of 154.2 mm (6.07 in) during December 8.


1977–78 South Pacific cyclone season, Systems, Tropical Cyclone Anne
For several days during the week building up to Christmas 1977, a tropical disturbance persisted about 925 km (575 mi) to the northeast of Fiji and to the northwest of Samoa. A distinct cyclonic circulation subsequently started to develop during December 23, while it was located about 740 km (460 mi) to the northeast of Vanua Levu. Over the next day the system moved south-westwards and passed within 75 km (45 mi) of Futuna, before it was named Anne by the FMS during December 24, as satellite pictures showed that a tropical cyclone was developing. During December 25, the winds were indirectly estimated to be off gale-force, as it passed south-westwards through the Fijian Islands.


1977–78 South Pacific cyclone season, Systems, Tropical Cyclone Diana
During February 15, a tropical depression developed within the South Pacific Convergence Zone, to the west of French Polynesia's Society Islands. Over the next couple of days, the system moved eastwards towards Mopelia while gradually developing further, before it was named Diana by the FMS during February 16.


1977–78 South Pacific cyclone season, Systems, Tropical Cyclone Ernie
During February 17, the FMS started to monitor a tropical depression that had developed, about 560 km (350 mi) to the northwest of Udu Point in Fiji. During that day, the system deepened as it moved south-eastwards towards Fiji before the FMS named it Ernie.


1977–78 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season
The 1977–78 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season was an above average cyclone season. The season officially ran from November 1, 1977, to April 30, 1978.


1977–78 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season, Systems, Tropical Cyclone Fleur
Cyclone Fleur passed just east of Mauritius on January 20, producing wind gusts of 145 km/h (90 mph), which damaged crops. Heavy rainfall occurred on neighboring Réunion, reaching 442 mm (17.4 in) at Foc Foc.


1977–78 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season, Systems, Moderate Tropical Storm Kiki
On March 7, Kiki reformed near Mauritius and latter passed just southeast of Réunion. Rainfall reached 275.5 mm (10.85 in), which flooded coastal roads, damaged bridges, and killed two people.


1977–78 Southern Football League
The 1977–78 Southern Football League season was the 75th in the history of the league, an English football competition.


1977–78 Southern Football League
Bath City won the championship, winning their second Southern League title, whilst Witney Town, Margate, Bridgend Town and Dorchester Town were all promoted to the Premier Division, the former two as champions. Romford folded at the end of the season.


1977–78 Southern Football League, Premier Division
The Premier Division consisted of 22 clubs, including 18 clubs from the previous season and four new clubs:


1977–78 Southern Football League, Division One North
Division One North consisted of 20 clubs, including 18 clubs from the previous season and two new clubs:


1977–78 Southern Football League, Division One South
Division One South expanded up to 20 clubs, including 15 clubs from the previous season and five new clubs:


1977–78 Southern Football League, Football League elections
At the end of the season, the bottom four of the Football League had to be re-elected to retain their place, with one club from each of the Southern League and Northern Premier League also on the ballot. Champions Bath City participated in the vote, but finished bottom. NPL club Wigan Athletic were elected to the League after beating Southport in a second round of voting.


1977–78 Soviet League season
The 1977–78 Soviet Championship League season was the 32nd season of the Soviet Championship League, the top level of ice hockey in the Soviet Union. 10 teams participated in the league, and CSKA Moscow won the championship.


1977–78 St. John's Redmen basketball team
The 1977–78 St. John's Redmen basketball team represented St. John's University during the 1977–78 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team was coached by Lou Carnesecca in his tenth year at the school. St. John's home games are played at Alumni Hall and Madison Square Garden.


1977–78 St. Louis Blues season
The 1977–78 St. Louis Blues season was the 11th for the franchise in St. Louis, Missouri. Prior to the season, the team's founders, Sid Salomon, Jr. and Sid Salomon III, sold the team to pet food giant Ralston Purina, and the St. Louis Arena became the Checkerdome. The Blues finished the season with a record of 20 wins, 47 losses and 13 ties for 53 points, and finished out of the playoffs for only the second time in team history.


1977–78 St. Louis Blues season, Regular season, Final standings
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals againstNote: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.


1977–78 St. Louis Blues season, Playoffs
The Blues did not make the playoffs for the first time since the 1973–74 season.


1977–78 St. Louis Blues season, Draft picks
St. Louis's draft picks at the 1977 NHL amateur draft held at the Mount Royal Hotel in Montreal, Quebec.


1977–78 Stoke City F.C. season
The 1977–78 season was Stoke City's 71st season in the Football League and the 24th in the Second Division.


1977–78 Stoke City F.C. season
With Stoke back in the Second Division for the first time since 1963 morale around the area was low and was not helped by a poor start to the season away at Mansfield Town. George Eastham was sacked in January 1978 and Alan A'Court took over as caretaker manager. A'Court was in charge of just one match, which was one of the most infamous in the club's history, a 3–2 defeat at home to non-league Blyth Spartans in the FA Cup. Alan Durban was appointed manager and his new signings brought life back into the squad and guided Stoke to a respectable 7th position.


1977–78 Stoke City F.C. season, Season review, League
With Mr T.Degg now Chairman and the club in the Second Division, with little or no money at his disposal and rumblings that Peter Shilton wanted to leave the picture was far from rosy. George Eastham, who was now given the managers job on a permanent basis sold veteran John Mahoney to Middlesbrough for £130,000. Into the club came experienced midfielder Howard Kendall from Birmingham City for £165,000, full-back Alec Lindsay from Liverpool, Paul Richardson from Chester City and David Gregory from Peterborough United. These new arrivals would go on to have mixed success at Stoke.


1977–78 Stoke City F.C. season, Season review, League
Stoke's first match in the Second Division for 14 years was against Third Division champions Mansfield Town on 20 August 1977. They lost 2–1 at Field Mill where the fans let the club down badly, as after the match there was a riot. The disenchantment was patently obvious and it was no surprise when Shilton moved on to Nottingham Forest for £240,000. Eastham was starting to become a worried man and with goalscoring still a major problem he brought in Viv Busby for £50,000 but he also failed to impress. It was becoming obvious that Eastham could not make it as a manager and he was sacked in early January. Alan A'Court took over as caretaker manager and in his only match in charge, Stoke lost to Blyth Spartans.


1977–78 Stoke City F.C. season, Season review, League
The Stoke board decided to appoint Shrewsbury Town's Alan Durban as the club's new manager. Durban, an ex-Wales international, had made over 600 appearances in the Football League and he immediately introduced some much needed discipline into the club. His first signing was Brendan O'Callaghan, brought from Doncaster Rovers for £40,000. O'Callaghan made a dream start to his Stoke career coming on as a substitute in the home match against Hull City, and he scored from a corner with his first touch. Goalkeeper Peter Fox also arrived as Stoke ended the season in decent enough form finishing in 7th place which was respectable considering at one stage they were lying in 18th. However it was a strange season as despite finishing in 7th Stoke were only five points away from relegation.


1977–78 Stoke City F.C. season, Season review, FA Cup
After easily defeating non-league Tilbury 4–0 in the third round Stoke were drawn again at home to non-league opponents, Blyth Spartans. Stoke struggled to cope with the part-timers on a terrible pitch and with the match seemingly heading for a replay, Terry Johnson scored the winning goal for Blyth to complete an FA Cup giant-killing.


1977–78 Stoke City F.C. season, Season review, League Cup
Bristol City's Kevin Mabbutt scored the only goal as Stoke exited this season's League Cup at the first stage.


1977–78 Sussex County Football League
The 1977–78 Sussex County Football League season was the 53rd in the history of Sussex County Football League a football competition in England.


1977–78 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:


1977–78 Sussex County Football League, Division Two
Division Two featured twelve clubs which competed in the division last season, along with three new clubs:


1977–78 Syracuse Orangemen basketball team
The 1977–78 Syracuse Orangemen men's basketball team represented Syracuse University as an independent during the 1977–78 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Led by second-year head coach Jim Boeheim, the Orangemen compiled a record of 22–6. Syracuse received at at-large bid to the 1978 NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament, where they lost in the first round of the Mideast Regionals to Western Kentucky.


1977–78 Takht Jamshid Cup
The 1977–78 season was the fifth season of the Takht Jamshid Cup of Iranian football. The competition was won by PAS Football Club of Tehran.


1977–78 Tennis Borussia Berlin season
The 1977–78 season was the second time Tennis Borussia Berlin played in the 2. Bundesliga, the second highest tier of the German football league system. After 38 league games, Tennis Borussia finished 10th in the division. The club reached the second round of the DFB-Pokal; losing 3–1 at home to SC Westfalia Herne. Heinz-Josef Kehr scored 18 of the club's 58 league goals.


1977–78 Tercera División
The season 1977-1978 was the first season of new fourth tier, Tercera División.


1977–78 Texas Longhorns men's basketball team
The 1977–78 Texas Longhorns men's basketball team represented the University of Texas at Austin in the 1977–78 NCAA Division I men's basketball season as a member of the Southwest Conference. They finished the season 26-5 overall, tied for the SWC regular season title with a 14–2 record and won the 1978 National Invitation Tournament. They were coached by Abe Lemons in his second season as head coach of the Longhorns. They played their home games at the Special Events Center in Austin, Texas.


1977–78 Tongan A Grade
The 1977-78 season of the Tongan A Grade was the sixth recorded season of top flight association football competition in Tonga. Veitongo FCwon the championship, their first title. The season began on the December 17, 1977.


1977–78 Toronto Maple Leafs season
The 1977–78 Toronto Maple Leafs season was the 61st season of the franchise, 51st as the Maple Leafs. The Leafs made the playoffs and won two series before losing the semi-finals to the Montreal Canadiens.


1977–78 Toronto Maple Leafs season, Regular season
Darryl Sittler ranked third in the NHL in scoring with 117 points.


1977–78 Toronto Maple Leafs season, Transactions
The Maple Leafs have been involved in the following transactions during the 1977–78 season.


1977–78 UC Irvine Anteaters men's basketball team
The 1977–78 UC Irvine Anteaters men's basketball team represented the University of California, Irvine during the 1977–78 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. This was the program's first season in Division I after spending the previous 12 season in Division II. The Anteaters were led by ninth year head coach Tim Taft and played their home games at Crawford Hall as members of the Pacific Coast Athletic Association. They finished their inaugural season 8–17 and were 2–12 in PCAA play to finish 8th place. The anteaters did not receive an invitation to the 1978 PCAA Tournament.


1977–78 UC Irvine Anteaters men's basketball team, Previous season
The 1976–77 UC Irvine Anteaters men's basketball team finished their final season in NCAA Division II as an Independent with a record of 10–17.


1977–78 UC Irvine Anteaters men's basketball team, Previous season
In July 1977, the anteaters were formally accepted into the Pacific Coast Athletic Association and reclassified as an NCAA Division I program beginning with the 1977–78 season.


1977–78 UCLA Bruins men's basketball team
The 1977–78 UCLA Bruins men's basketball team represented the University of California, Los Angeles in the 1977–78 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Gary Cunningham, who would be the highest winning percentage coach of all time at UCLA, began his first of two years. The Bruins started the season ranked 6th in the nation (AP Poll). The Bruins started the season 4–0 before losing at Notre Dame. UCLA's team finished 1st in the Pac-8 regular season. They went undefeated in conference play for the first time since John Wooden's 1972–73 team in the last Pac-8 year, as the conference would add the two Arizona universities, becoming the Pac-10. UCLA participated the NCAA Tournament where they lost to Arkansas.


1977–78 UEFA Cup
The 1977–78 UEFA Cup was won by PSV Eindhoven on aggregate over Bastia.


1977–78 UEFA Cup
The third club was revoked to Hungary and Romania, and it was assigned to Switzerland and Poland.


1977–78 UEFA Cup, First round, First leg
UEFA invalidated this game and awarded a 3–0 victory to Schalke 04 as Fiorentina fielded an ineligible player, Gianfranco Casarsa.


1977–78 UEFA Cup, First round, Second leg
2–2 on aggregate, Widzew Łódź won on away goals rule.


1977–78 UEFA Cup, First round, Second leg
3–3 on aggregate, Standard Liège won on away goals rule.


1977–78 UEFA Cup, Second round, Second leg
2–2 on aggregate, Carl Zeiss Jena won in a penalty shoot-out.


1977–78 United Counties League
The 1977–78 United Counties League season was the 71st in the history of the United Counties League, a football competition in England.


1977–78 United Counties League, Premier Division
The Premier Division featured 19 clubs which competed in the division last season, along with one new club:


1977–78 United Counties League, Division One
The Division One featured 17 clubs which competed in the division last season, along with 3 new clubs:


1977–78 United Counties League, Division Two
The Division Two featured 14 clubs which competed in the division last season, along with 3 new clubs:


1977–78 United States network television schedule
The following is the 1977–78 network television schedule for the three major English language commercial broadcast networks in the United States. The schedule covers primetime hours from September 1977 through August 1978. The schedule is followed by a list per network of returning series, new series, and series cancelled after the 1976–77 season. All times are Eastern and Pacific, with certain exceptions, such as Monday Night Football.


1977–78 United States network television schedule
New fall series are highlighted in bold. Series ending their original runs are in italics.


1977–78 United States network television schedule
Each of the 30 highest-rated shows is listed with its rank and rating as determined by Nielsen Media Research.


1977–78 United States network television schedule
PBS, the Public Broadcasting Service, was in operation, but the schedule was set by each local station. On ABC, debuting news brief, airs all seven nights at 9:58, pm.


1977–78 United States network television schedule, By network, NBC
Note: The * indicates that the program was introduced in midseason.


1977–78 United States network television schedule (daytime)
The 1977–78 daytime network television schedule for the three major English-language commercial broadcast networks in the United States covers the weekday and weekend daytime hours from September 1977 to August 1978.


1977–78 United States network television schedule (daytime)
Talk shows are highlighted in  yellow, local programming is white, reruns of older programming are orange, game shows are pink, soap operas are chartreuse, news programs are gold, children's programs are light purple and sports programs are light blue. New series are highlighted in bold.


1977–78 United States network television schedule (daytime)
PBS, the Public Broadcasting Service, was in operation, but the schedule was set by each local station.


1977–78 United States network television schedule (daytime), Schedule, Saturday
In the News aired ten times during CBS' Saturday morning shows.


1977–78 United States network television schedule (late night)
These are the late night Monday-Friday schedules on all three networks for each calendar season beginning September 1977. All times are Eastern/Pacific.


1977–78 United States network television schedule (late night)
Talk/Variety shows are highlighted in yellow, Local News & Programs are highlighted in white.


1977–78 Vancouver Canucks season
The 1977–78 Vancouver Canucks season was the team's eighth in the National Hockey League.


1977–78 Vancouver Canucks season, Regular season, Final standings
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals againstNote: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.


1977–78 Vancouver Canucks season, Draft picks
Vancouver's draft picks at the 1977 NHL amateur draft held at the Mount Royal Hotel in Montreal, Quebec.


1977–78 VfL Bochum season
The 1977–78 VfL Bochum season was the 40th season in club history.


1977–78 WCHL season
The 1977–78 WCHL season was the 12th season for the Western Canada Hockey League. Twelve teams completed a 72-game season. The New Westminster Bruins won their fourth consecutive President's Cup and second consecutive Memorial Cup.


1977–78 WCHL season, Regular season, Scoring leaders
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes


1977–78 WCHL season, All-Star game
On January 18, the West All-Stars defeated the East All-Stars 2–1 at Regina, Saskatchewan with a crowd of 2,814.


1977–78 WFA Cup
The 1977–78 Women's Football Association Cup was the eighth edition of the WFA Cup (Women's FA Cup), the national women's football knockout competition in England. It was organised by the Women's Football Association (WFA) and was named The Pony WFA Cup for sponsorship reasons.


1977–78 WFA Cup
Queen's Park Rangers went into the season as the cup's holders. They won their quarter-final against Warminster Wanderers, 4–1 at Eastcote.


1977–78 WFA Cup
In a semi-final in April, Southampton Women's F.C. played against St. Helens at Bedworth Oval.


1977–78 WFA Cup
The 1978 Final was won by Southampton against Queen's Park Rangers, the defending champions. The match, which ended in an 8–2 scoreline, set several scoring records for the WFA Cup/Women's FA Cup Final that still stand: the highest total number of goals in a match; the highest margin of victory for any Cup-winner; and the most Final goals by one player, Pat Chapman, who scored six. The game was played at Slough Town F.C.


1977–78 WFA Cup
The 1978 Cup was Southampton's sixth title. After the final, the winning team were featured in a news report on Southern Television.


1977–78 WHA season
The 1977–78 WHA season was the sixth season of the World Hockey Association (WHA). Eight teams played 80 games each. The Avco World Trophy winner was the Winnipeg Jets.


1977–78 WHA season, League business
With a reduction of 3 teams from the end of the previous season (the San Diego Mariners, Phoenix Roadrunners, and Calgary Cowboys folded), the WHA abandoned its divisional format and grouped the remaining 8 teams together. There had been a tentative merger agreement that would have had Cincinnati, Houston, New England, Winnipeg, Quebec, and Edmonton join the NHL but it could not be finalized.


1977–78 WHA season, League business
In a unique move, two international All-Star teams, the Soviet All-Stars and Czechoslovakia All-Stars, played games that counted in the regular season standings. They played each WHA team once, on the WHA team's home ice. The Soviet team acquitted themselves well, winning three plus two additional games against WHA teams outside the regular standings, tying one and losing the other four; while the Czechoslovakian team only won once and tied once, losing six. This is the first time International teams competed in regular season competition in a major professional sports league in North America; those two teams as well as a Finnish team would come back to play the WHA teams the next year.


1977–78 WHA season, League business
The best six teams qualified for the playoffs. However, instead of the standard schedule for a six-team playoff (i.e., giving the 1st and 2nd place teams byes into the semifinals, with the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th place teams opening in the quarterfinals), the WHA came up with a unique twist. There were three quarterfinal series instead of two, with the teams paired top to bottom (i.e., 1st vs. 6th, 2nd vs. 5th, 3rd vs. 4th). The highest-seeded quarterfinal winner then received a semifinal bye and advanced directly to the finals, while the remaining two quarterfinal series winners played off in a single semifinal. All series were best four-out-of-seven games.


1977–78 WHA season, Regular season
The Howe family of Gordie and his sons Mark and Marty moved to the New England Whalers from the Houston Aeros. The trio helped the Whalers to the Avco Cup final.


1977–78 WHA season, Regular season, Final standings
Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF= Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts = Points


1977–78 WHA season, Player stats, Scoring leaders
GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes


1977–78 WHA season, Player stats, Leading goaltenders
GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties, GA = Goals against; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average


1977–78 WHA season, All-Star Game
The 1978 WHA All-Star game pitted the defending champion Quebec Nordiques against the stars from the remaining WHA teams. The game was played on 17 January 1978, in Quebec City, and attracted 6,413 spectators. The Nordiques, coached by Marc Boileau, won the game 5–4. Marc Tardif and Mark Howe were named the players of the game.


1977–78 WHA season, Avco World Cup playoffs, Semifinals
The top ranked quarterfinal winner (Winnipeg) received a bye into the finals.


1977–78 WIHL season
1977–78 was the 31st season of the North American senior amateur Western International Hockey League, the final round of which was won by the Kimberley Dynamiters.


1977–78 WIHL season, Playoffs, Final
In the "Best of 7" series final, the Kimberley Dynamiters defeated the Spokane Flyers 4 games to 2 (3-2, 4-6, 6-2, 5-3, 2-5, 6-3). The Kimberley Dynamiters advanced to the 1977-78 Western Canada Allan Cup Playoffs.


1977–78 Washington Bullets season
The 1977–78 NBA season was the team's 17th season in the NBA and their 5th season in the city of Washington, D.C. It would prove to be their most successful season, as they would win their first and only NBA championship as of 2021. In the NBA Finals, they defeated the Seattle SuperSonics in seven games.


1977–78 Washington Bullets season
The Bullets got off to a slow start in the regular season, losing 6 of their first 10 games. On January 13, the Bullets beat the defending Champion Portland Trail Blazers to improve to 24–15, capping an 18–5 run over 23 games. Injuries would begin to have an effect on the team as the Bullets struggled, as they would lose 13 of their next 18 games. Hovering a few games above .500 for the rest of the season, the Bullets managed to make the playoffs with a 44–38 record.


1977–78 Washington Bullets season
This would be considered the worst team in NBA history to win a championship with its record of 44–38. The 1968–69 Boston Celtics, 1974–75 Golden State Warriors, 1976–77 Portland Trail Blazers, and 1994–95 Houston Rockets are the only other NBA championship teams to have won below 50 games in non-lockout seasons since 1958; all of them won more than 44 games.


1977–78 Washington Bullets season, Player stats
Note: GP= Games played; REB= Rebounds; AST= Assists; STL = Steals; BLK = Blocks; PTS = Points; AVG = Average


1977–78 Washington Bullets season, NBA Finals
After being swept in their previous two trips to the NBA Finals (by Milwaukee in 1971 and Golden State in 1975), the Bullets lost Game 1 on the road against the Seattle SuperSonics, and a 19-point lead vanished in the process. In Game 4, the Bullets rose to the occasion beating the Sonics 120–116 to even the series at 2 games apiece. After losing Game 5 in Seattle, the Bullets kept their hopes alive with a dominating 117–82 win at the Capital Centre. Game 7 returned to Seattle and the Bullets were a heavy underdog.


1977–78 Washington Bullets season, NBA Finals
Kevin Grevey suffered a sprained wrist above his shooting hand, and Bob Dandridge was forced to see some action at guard. Dandridge would play strongly and scored 19 points to tie with Charles Johnson, who hit a half court shot at the end of the 3rd quarter, for the team high. Wes Unseld scored 15 points while pulling down 9 rebounds as the Bullets emerged with a 105–99 victory to win their first NBA Championship.


1977–78 Washington Bullets season, Playoffs player stats
Note: GP= Games played; REB= Rebounds; AST= Assists; STL = Steals; BLK = Blocks; PTS = Points; AVG = Average


1977–78 Washington Capitals season
The 1977–78 Washington Capitals season was the Washington Capitals fourth season in the National Hockey League (NHL).


1977–78 Washington Capitals season, Regular season, Final standings
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against


1977–78 Washington Capitals season, Regular season, Final standings
Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.


1977–78 Washington Capitals season, Playoffs
The Capitals still had several years to go before they would win enough games to qualify for the playoffs. The 1977–78 season was the fourth season in a row that the Capitals missed the playoffs.


1977–78 Washington Capitals season, Player statistics, Regular season
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = Plus/Minus; PIM = Penalty minutes; PPG=Power-play goals; SHG=Short-handed goals; GWG=Game-winning goals      MIN=Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals against; GAA = Goals against average; SO = Shutouts;


1977–78 Washington Capitals season, Draft picks
Washington's draft picks at the 1977 NHL amateur draft held at the Mount Royal Hotel in Montreal, Quebec.


1977–78 Washington Huskies men's basketball team
The 1977–78 Washington Huskies men's basketball team represented the University of Washington for the 1977–78 NCAA college basketball season. Led by seventh-year head coach Marv Harshman, the Huskies were members of the Pacific-8 Conference and played their home games on campus at Hec Edmundson Pavilion in Seattle, Washington.


1977–78 Washington Huskies men's basketball team
The Huskies were 14–13 overall in the regular season and 6–8 in conference play, tied for fifth in the standings.


1977–78 Washington State Cougars men's basketball team
The 1977–78 Washington State Cougars men's basketball team represented Washington State University for the 1977–78 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Led by sixth-year head coach George Raveling, the Cougars were members of the Pacific-8 Conference and played their home games on campus at the Performing Arts Coliseum in Pullman, Washington.


1977–78 Washington State Cougars men's basketball team
The Cougars were 16–11 overall in the regular season and 7–7 in conference play, tied for third in the standings. During their final road trip, they lost twice by one point in Los Angeles to #4 UCLA  and USC. WSU won their final three games, all at home, concluding with the rival Washington Huskies on Saturday night, with over 11,800 in attendance.


1977–78 Watford F.C. season
Watford Football Club is an English football team, based in Watford, Hertfordshire. 1977–78 was the club's first season under the management of Graham Taylor, and its last in the fourth tier of English football. Watford ended the season as champions of the Football League Fourth Division with 71 points, the club's highest Football League total under the system of two points for a win, and three points short of the all-time Football League record set by Graham Taylor's Lincoln City side in 1975–76. The season also marked new club records for the most league wins in a season (30), most home wins (18), most away wins (12), and most away goals scored (42).


1977–78 Watford F.C. season
Ross Jenkins finished at the club's top scorer for the third time in four campaigns, with 18 goals in all competitions. He was followed by Alan Mayes and Keith Mercer with 16 and 13 goals respectively; both men also scored hat-tricks for the team. Bobby Downes and Alan Garner made the most appearances, playing some part in all 54 competitive fixtures. Garner went on to receive the Watford F.C. Player of the Season award for his efforts. Other player milestones included the arrival of future club captain Ian Bolton, and the breakthrough into the first team of young striker Luther Blissett, who went on to become the club's all-time leading appearance maker and goalscorer.


1977–78 Weber State Wildcats men's basketball team
The 1977–78 Weber State Wildcats men's basketball team represented Weber State College during the 1977–78 NCAA Division I basketball season. Members of the Big Sky Conference, the Wildcats were led by third-year head coach Neil McCarthy and played their home games on campus at the new Dee Events Center in Ogden, Utah. They were 17–9 overall in the regular season and 9–5 in conference play.


1977–78 Weber State Wildcats men's basketball team
Weber State was third in the regular season standings and qualified for the four-team conference tournament, hosted by regular season champion Montana in Missoula. The Wildcats defeated defending champion Idaho State in the semifinal, then upset the host in the final in overtime.


1977–78 Weber State Wildcats men's basketball team
Weber State appeared in the first five finals of the conference tournament; this was the first of three consecutive titles.


1977–78 Weber State Wildcats men's basketball team
The Wildcats received the Big Sky's automatic bid to the 32-team NCAA Tournament, but lost in the first round to seventh-ranked Arkansas in Eugene, Oregon; Arkansas ultimately advanced to the Final Four. It was Weber State's first NCAA appearance in five years, since they went to six consecutive (1968–1973).


1977–78 Weber State Wildcats men's basketball team
Sophomore guard Bruce Collins was named to the all-conference team; forward David Johnson and center Richard Smith, also sophomores, were honorable mention.


1977–78 Welsh Cup
The 1977–78 FAW Welsh Cup is the 91st season of the annual knockout tournament for competitive football teams in Wales.


1977–78 Welsh Cup, Fourth round
Nine winners from the Third round and seven new clubs.


1977–78 West Ham United F.C. season
In the 1977–78 season West Ham United were relegated from the First Division after twenty years in the top flight since their promotion in 1958.


1977–78 West Ham United F.C. season, Season summary
Despite winning six of their last nine League matches, they paid the price for a terrible start to the season that had seen them win just one of their first twelve games, and were relegated when they lost their last match to Liverpool and Wolverhampton Wanderers beat Aston Villa. They finished one point behind Queens Park Rangers and went down to the Second Division alongside Newcastle United and Leicester City. They also suffered a heavy 6–1 defeat to QPR in the FA Cup, equalling their record margin of defeat in the competition at that time.


1977–78 West Ham United F.C. season, Season summary
A season of few highlights saw the introduction to the first team of Alvin Martin and David Cross, both of whom went on to play significant parts in the club's revival in subsequent seasons.


1977–78 West Midlands (Regional) League
The 1977–78 West Midlands (Regional) League season was the 78th in the history of the West Midlands (Regional) League, an English association football competition for semi-professional and amateur teams based in the West Midlands county, Shropshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire and southern Staffordshire.


1977–78 West Midlands (Regional) League, Premier Division
The Premier Division featured 19 clubs which competed in the division last season, no new clubs joined the Premier Division this season.


1977–78 Western Football League
The 1977–78 season was the 76th in the history of the Western Football League.


1977–78 Western Football League
The league champions for the fourth time in their history, and the fourth season in succession, were Falmouth Town. They became the first club to win the Western League four times in a row. The champions of Division One were Keynsham Town.


1977–78 Western Football League
This season was the first in which goal difference decided places for teams which were level on points.


1977–78 Western Football League, Final tables, Premier Division
The Premier Division remained at eighteen clubs after Taunton Town left to join the Southern League, and Westland-Yeovil were relegated to the First Division. Two clubs joined:


1977–78 Western Football League, Final tables, First Division
The First Division was increased from eighteen to nineteen clubs, after Saltash United and Shepton Mallet Town were promoted to the Premier Division. Three clubs joined:


1977–78 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball team
The 1977–78 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers men's basketball team represented Western Kentucky University during the 1977–78 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Hilltoppers were members of the Ohio Valley Conference and led by coach Jim Richards, in his final year at the helm. WKU finished third in the OVC regular season, but won the tournament championship and the conference's automatic bid to the 1978 NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament, where they advanced to the sweet sixteen. James Johnson and Darryl Turner made the All-OVC Team and Aaron Bryant was selected to the OVC Tournament Team.


1977–78 William & Mary Indians men's basketball team
The 1977–78 William & Mary Indians men's basketball team represented the College of William & Mary in intercollegiate basketball during the 1977–78 season. Under the first year of head coach Bruce Parkhill, the team finished the season 16–10. This was the 73rd season of the collegiate basketball program at William & Mary, whose nickname is now the Tribe.


1977–78 William & Mary Indians men's basketball team
After playing as members of the Southern Conference for the previous 41 season, William & Mary became an Independent.


1977–78 William & Mary Indians men's basketball team
Additionally, this was the final season of William & Mary's athletics teams bearing the Indian nickname. The following season, the college's athletic teams became the Tribe.


1977–78 Wimbledon F.C. season
During the 1977–78 English football season, Wimbledon F.C. competed in the Football League Fourth Division, following promotion from the Southern Football League the previous season. It was Wimbledon's first ever season in the Football League.


1977–78 Wimbledon F.C. season, Season summary
Wimbledon enjoyed a satisfactory season upon their Football League debut, finishing 13th in the Fourth Division. Manager Allen Batsford had resigned in January, to be replaced by Dario Gradi.


1977–78 Wimbledon F.C. season, Kit
Adidas became Wimbledon's kit sponsors. The kit remained white but also featured Adidas' trademark "three stripes" in blue from collar to cuffs on the shirt and on the sides of the shorts.


1977–78 Winnipeg Jets season
The 1977–78 Winnipeg Jets season was the Jets' sixth season of operation in the World Hockey Association (WHA). The Jets, finalists in 1977, qualified first for the playoffs and the championship against the New England Whalers in the Final. It was the Jets' second Avco Cup win.


1977–78 Winnipeg Jets season, Regular season, Final standings
Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF= Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts = Points


1977–78 Winnipeg Jets season, Playoffs
Due to their victory over the Bulls, they earned a bye to the Finals while the other two Semifinal winners faced off against each other.


1977–78 Yale Bulldogs men's basketball team
The 1977–78 Yale Bulldogs men's basketball team represented Yale University during the 1977–78 men's college basketball season. The Bulldogs, led by 3rd year head coach Ray Carazo, played their home games at John J. Lee Amphitheater of the Payne Whitney Gymnasium and were members of the Ivy League. They finished the season 8–16, 3–11 in Ivy League play to finish in seventh place.


1977–78 Yorkshire Cup
The 1977–78 Yorkshire Cup was the seventieth occasion on which the  Yorkshire Cup competition had been held. This year, for the first time for eighteen years (and the last time in the history of the  Yorkshire Cup), a new name appeared on the  trophy, with Castleford winning it by beating Featherstone Rovers in the final by the score of 17-7. The match was played at Headingley, Leeds, now in West Yorkshire. The attendance was 6,318 and receipts were £4,528. It as also Featherstone Rovers's second consecutive Yorkshire Cup Final appearances, both of which resulted in a defeat.


1977–78 Yorkshire Cup, Background
The Rugby Football League's Yorkshire Cup competition was a knock-out competition between (mainly professional) rugby league clubs from  the  county of Yorkshire. The actual area was at times increased to encompass other teams from  outside the  county such as Newcastle, Mansfield, Coventry, and even London (in the form of Acton & Willesden).


1977–78 Yorkshire Cup, Background
The Rugby League season always (until the onset of "Summer Rugby" in 1996) ran from around August-time through to around May-time and this competition always took place early in the season, in the Autumn, with the final taking place in (or just before) December (The only exception to this was when disruption of the fixture list was caused during, and immediately after, the two World Wars)


1977–78 Yorkshire Cup, Competition and Results
This season there were no junior/amateur clubs taking part, no new entrants and no "leavers" and so the total of entries remained the  same at sixteen. This in turn resulted in no byes in the first round.


1977–78 Yorkshire Cup, Competition and Results, Final, Teams and Scorers
Scoring - Try = three (3) points - Goal = two (2) points - Drop goal = one (1) point


1977–78 Yorkshire Cup, Notes
1 * Headingley, Leeds, is the home ground of Leeds RLFC with a capacity of 21,000. The record attendance was  40,175 for a league match between Leeds and Bradford Northern on 21 May 1947.


1977–78 Yorkshire Football League
The 1977–78 Yorkshire Football League was the 52nd season in the history of the Yorkshire Football League, a football competition in England.


1977–78 Yorkshire Football League, Division One
Division One featured 12 clubs which competed in the previous season, along with four new clubs, promoted from Division Two:


1977–78 Yorkshire Football League, Division Two
Division Two featured eight clubs which competed in the previous season, along with seven new clubs.


1977–78 Yorkshire Football League, Division Three
Division Three featured eleven clubs which competed in the previous season, along with five new clubs.


1977–78 Yugoslav Cup
The 1977–78 Yugoslav Cup was the 30th season of the top football knockout competition in SFR Yugoslavia, the Yugoslav Cup (Serbo-Croatian: Kup Jugoslavije), also known as the "Marshal Tito Cup" (Kup Maršala Tita), since its establishment in 1946. It was won by Rijeka, for whom it was their first major silverware in history.


1977–78 Yugoslav Cup
This season marked the end of the domination of Hajduk Split in this competition, as their run of five consecutive cup wins came to an end when they were knocked out by eventual winners Rijeka in the semi-final. The other finalists from the previous season, Dinamo Zagreb, also exited in the semi-final following their defeat to minnows Trepça.


1977–78 Yugoslav Cup
Along with Trepça and Rijeka, surprise of the tournament were also Borac Čačak, who were the last team from outside top level in the tournament when they were knocked out in the quarter-finals.


1977–78 Yugoslav Cup, First round
First round proper was played on 7 September 1977. Ties were decided over a single leg, with penalty shootouts used to determine winners when matches ended in a draw after regular time and extra time. Seventeen out of eighteen 1977–78 Yugoslav First League clubs entered the competition at this stage (everyone except Osijek, who had been promoted to top level at the end of the 1976–77 season along with Kosovo-based minnows Trepça).


1977–78 Yugoslav Cup, First round
The seventeen top level clubs were joined by fifteen lower-level clubs who had reached this stage by qualifying through various regional cups and an unseeded draw was held to determine fixtures. Five top level clubs were knocked out at this stage: Budućnost, Čelik, OFK Belgrade, Partizan and Radnički Niš.


1977–78 Yugoslav Cup, First round
This round also featured the Slovenian derby in which Ljubljana-based Olimpija beat second level side Maribor 4–0.


1977–78 Yugoslav Cup, First round
In the following tables winning teams are marked in bold; teams from outside top level are marked in italic script.


1977–78 Yugoslav Cup, Second round
Second round, or round of 16, was played on 26 October 1977. It featured twelve top flight and four lower level clubs. Borac Čačak were the only team from outside top level who managed to progress further after winning their away tie against Bosnian side Sloboda on penalties.


1977–78 Yugoslav Cup, Quarter-finals
Following the winter break, quarter-final ties were played on 25 and 26 February 1978. The only remaining team from outside top level Borac Čačak were knocked out by Trepča. Defending cup winners Hajduk Split were also knocked out in an Adriatic derby against the fellow Croatian side Rijeka.


1977–78 Yugoslav Cup, Semi-finals
Semi-finals were played on 29 March 1978. The last remaining member of the "Big Four" clubs, Dinamo Zagreb, were sensationally knocked out on penalties after they were held to a goalless draw by Trepça in Mitrovica.


1977–78 Yugoslav Cup, Final
Rijeka and Trepça both reached the 1978 cup final for the first time in their club histories, marking their greatest success to date and it was one of the few Yugoslav Cup finals which did not feature any of the so-called "Big Four" clubs.


1977–78 Yugoslav Cup, Final
During the 1977–78 Yugoslav First League season the clubs experienced wildly differing fortunes - while Rijeka, traditionally a decent competitive side, enjoyed one of their most successful seasons ever finishing fifth in the league, newcomers Trepča struggled in top flight and ended the season in bottom picking up just 24 points in 36 league matches (with 2 points for a win).


1977–78 Yugoslav Cup, Final
In line with the rules adopted by the Football Association of Yugoslavia in the late 1960s the final was to be played as a one-legged tie in Belgrade in cases when both finalists hailed from outside the capital city. The match was thus played at the Red Star Stadium on 24 May 1978, intentionally set so that it would coincide with Youth Day, a national holiday celebrated on 25 May and which doubled as the official commemoration of Josip Broz Tito's birthday, the cup's sponsor.


1977–78 Yugoslav Cup, Final
Played in front of 45,000 spectators, the game ended in a goalless draw after the regular 90 minutes. Rijeka's Milan Radović then scored a winner in the first minute of extra time and as the result remained unchanged until the final whistle, Rijeka won their first major silverware in history. This success also allowed Rijeka to qualify for European competitions for the first time and they went on to appear in the 1978–79 European Cup Winners' Cup.


1977–78 Yugoslav Cup, Final
Keeping most of its key players, Rijeka later managed to defend their title in the following 1978–79 Yugoslav Cup season and also reached the Yugoslav Cup final one more time in the 1986–87 Yugoslav Cup before the competition ceased to exist in 1991. After winning the 1978 and 1979 Yugoslav cups their next domestic silverware came only 26 years later when they won the 2004–05 Croatian Cup.


1977–78 Yugoslav Cup, Final
Trepça on the other hand slipped back down to the Yugoslav Second League at the end of the 1978–79 season and slowly fell into obscurity. Reaching the 1978 cup final is still considered their biggest success in history and their only domestic silverware to date came when they won the  Superleague of Kosovo in 2009–10.


1977–78 Yugoslav First Basketball League
The 1977–78 Yugoslav First Basketball League season was the 34th season of the Yugoslav First Basketball League, the highest professional basketball league in SFR Yugoslavia.


1977–78 Yugoslav First League, Teams
A total of eighteen teams contested the league, including sixteen sides from the 1976–77 season and two sides promoted from the 1976–77 Yugoslav Second League (YSL) as winners of the two second level divisions East and West. The league was contested in a double round robin format, with each club playing every other club twice, for a total of 34 rounds. Two points were awarded for wins and one point for draws.


1977–78 Yugoslav First League, Teams
Napredak and Željezničar were relegated from the 1976–77 Yugoslav First League after finishing the season in bottom two places of the league table. The two clubs promoted to top level were Trepča and NK Osijek.


1977–78 Yugoslav Ice Hockey League season
The 1977–78 Yugoslav Ice Hockey League season was the 36th season of the Yugoslav Ice Hockey League, the top level of ice hockey in Yugoslavia. Four teams participated in the league, and Jesenice have won the championship.


1977–78 ice hockey Bundesliga season
The 1977–78 Ice hockey Bundesliga season was the 20th season of the Ice hockey Bundesliga, the top level of ice hockey in Germany. 10 teams participated in the league, and SC Riessersee won the championship.


1977–78 in English field hockey
The Men's Cup was won by Guildford and the inaugural Women's Cup was won by the Chelsea College of Physical Education (Eastbourne) Hockey Club.


1977–78 in English field hockey
The Men's National Inter League Championship brought together the winners of their respective regional leagues. The championship (held in September 1978) was won by Southgate.


1977–78 in English field hockey
As from the 1980–81 season the National Inter League Championship would be held in the spring of the same season instead of the Autumn of the following season.


1977–78 in English field hockey, Men's National Inter League Championship, Final
SouthgateDavid Owen, Robert Cattrall, Nigel Woolven, A Wallace, Ian McGinn, Raj Rawal, Michael Corby, Alistair McGinn, Roly Brookeman, James Neale, Imtiaz Sheikh TrojansP Goss, D Legg, A Muller, G Kirkham, K Chambers, G Leach, J Isaacs, G Lucas, A Fernandes, B M Purdy, B Hiscock


1977–78 in English field hockey, Men's Cup (Rank Xerox National Clubs Championship), Final
GuildfordR Wright, I Carley, N Taylor, M Read (C Basey sub), Ian Pinks, M Perrin, N Marchington, P Pennock, A Jeans, C Cottrell, B Pett SloughIan Taylor, Mike Parris, Manjit Flora, Andy Churcher, John Allen, John Murdock, Sutinder Singh Khehar, Ken Partington (Pami Saini sub), Stuart Collins, Balwant Saini, Masood Ahmad


1977–78 in English football
The 1977–78 season was the 98th season of competitive football in England.


1977–78 in English football, Diary of the season
11 July 1977: Don Revie resigns as manager of the England national football team after three years in charge.


1977–78 in English football, Diary of the season
12 July 1977: Barely 24 hours after quitting as England manager, Don Revie accepts a four-year contract worth £340,000 to take charge of the United Arab Emirates national team, making him the highest-paid football manager in the world.


1977–78 in English football, Diary of the season
14 July 1977: Dave Sexton steps down at Queens Park Rangers to take over as manager of Manchester United, where Tommy Docherty was sacked ten days ago. Frank Sibley succeeds Sexton at QPR, becoming the youngest  manager in the history of the top-flight.


1977–78 in English football, Diary of the season
17 July 1977: Fulham are banned from the transfer market due to a reported £700,000 debt.


1977–78 in English football, Diary of the season
25 July 1977: Manchester City pay £300,000 for Southampton striker Mick Channon, who signs a six-year contract at Maine Road.


1977–78 in English football, Diary of the season
3 August 1977: Derby County sign a sponsorship deal with Swedish carmaker Saab, who supply all of the club's players with a Saab car.


1977–78 in English football, Diary of the season
5 August 1977: The Football League backs The Football Association's ban on sponsors advertising themselves on player's strips. However, non-league clubs are permitted to show sponsor's names on their players' shirts.


1977–78 in English football, Diary of the season
10 August 1977: Kenny Dalglish becomes the most expense player to be signed by a British club when he joins Liverpool in a £440,000 move from Celtic. He takes over from Kevin Keegan, who recently joined Hamburg to become the most expensive player in Europe, as Liverpool's main striker.


1977–78 in English football, Diary of the season
11 August 1977: Pat Jennings ends 13 years at Tottenham Hotspur and signs for Arsenal in a £45,000 deal.


1977–78 in English football, Diary of the season
15 August 1977: Ron Greenwood, general manager of West Ham United and team manager until 1974, accepts an offer to become temporary manager of the England national team, initially for three matches only.


1977–78 in English football, Diary of the season
19 August 1977: Walsall hooligan Edward Beech, 19, receives a three-year prison sentence for kicking a policeman in the face at a game at Fellows Park last season.


1977–78 in English football, Diary of the season
20 August 1977: Champions Liverpool open the First Division season with 1–1 draw away to Middlesbrough. Promoted Nottingham Forest win 3–1 at Everton.


1977–78 in English football, Diary of the season
27 August 1977: Brian Clough sinks his old charges as his Nottingham Forest side beat rivals Derby County 3–0.


1977–78 in English football, Diary of the season
31 August 1977: Nottingham Forest top the First Division table at the end of the first month of the season after winning their first three matches. Birmingham City and West Ham United have both lost their first three games.


1977–78 in English football, Diary of the season
8 September 1977: Sir Alf Ramsey makes a shock return to management, taking over at the First Division's basement side Birmingham City following the resignation of Willie Bell. However, he also announces that this role will only be temporary, and that he will step down by, at the latest, the end of the season.


1977–78 in English football, Diary of the season
13–14 September 1977: In the Anglo-Scottish Cup quarter-final first legs, Fulham versus St Mirren and finishes 1–1, as does Notts County's visit to Motherwell. Bristol City and Blackburn Rovers are beaten, by Partick Thistle and Hibs respectively.


1977–78 in English football, Diary of the season
19 September 1977: Tommy Docherty makes a swift return to management at Derby County, who demote Colin Murphy back to his previous role as reserve team manager.


1977–78 in English football, Diary of the season
27–29 September 1977: English clubs make up two of the four Anglo-Scottish Cup semi-final contingent, as Notts County and Bristol City progress. Blackburn and Fulham are eliminated, the latter after two late goals saw St Mirren win the match 5–3 on the night and 6–4 on aggregate.


1977–78 in English football, Diary of the season
30 September 1977: Manchester City, Nottingham Forest and Liverpool are level on points at the top of the League at the end of September. Newcastle United and winless Derby County fill the bottom two places.


1977–78 in English football, Diary of the season
15 October 1977: Bottom-of-the-table Newcastle United lose their tenth consecutive League match, a club record.


1977–78 in English football, Diary of the season
22 October 1977: Tottenham Hotspur's challenge for an immediate return to the First Division is boosted by a 9-0 home win over Bristol Rovers, in which debutant striker Colin Lee scores four goals and his partner Ian Moores scores a hat-trick.


1977–78 in English football, Diary of the season
31 October 1977: Nottingham Forest continue to set the pace at the end of October. They are now four points ahead of Liverpool. Newcastle United remain bottom, and are joined by Leicester City and Bristol City in the relegation zone.


1977–78 in English football, Diary of the season
9 November 1977: Newcastle United sack manager Richard Dinnis, as a result of the club's appalling form combined with Dinnis publicly criticising chairman Lord Westwood's running of the club.


1977–78 in English football, Diary of the season
16 November 1977: England beat Italy 2–0 at Wembley Stadium in their final World Cup qualifying game, but will still fail to qualify for next summer's final tournament, if Italy win against Luxembourg.


1977–78 in English football, Diary of the season
18 November 1977: Bill McGarry is appointed as Newcastle United's new manager, and shakes the club up by immediately announcing that several of the players who threatened strike action to secure the appointment of previous manager Richard Dinnis earlier in the year, in particular Alan Gowling, Tommy Craig and team captain Geoff Nulty, are transfer-listed with immediate effect and will not play for the club again.


1977–78 in English football, Diary of the season
30 November 1977: After picking up just four points from four matches this month, Nottingham Forest have had their lead at the top of the table cut to just one point by Everton, with West Bromwich Albion and Coventry City a further two points behind. At the bottom, Newcastle United are already seven points from safety; Leicester City and West Ham United complete the bottom three.


1977–78 in English football, Diary of the season
3 December 1977: Italy's win against Luxembourg eliminates England from the World Cup Qualifying.


1977–78 in English football, Diary of the season
6 December 1977: Liverpool win the European Super Cup by completing a 7–1 aggregate win over Hamburg; they win the second leg 6–0 after drawing 1–1 in the first leg.


1977–78 in English football, Diary of the season
12 December 1977: Ron Greenwood is appointed England manager on a four-and-a-half year contract despite their failure to qualify for the 1978 World Cup.


1977–78 in English football, Diary of the season
17 December 1977: Nottingham Forest shock everyone by beating Manchester United 4-0 at Old Trafford, shaking off the 'caretaker leaders' tag applied to them by members of the media, who firmly believed Liverpool would lead the way at this stage.


1977–78 in English football, Diary of the season
22 December 1977: West Bromwich Albion manager Ronnie Allen resigns, despite the club being fourth in the First Division.


1977–78 in English football, Diary of the season
27 December 1977: The highest scoring game of the day is at Highfield Road, as Coventry beat Norwich 5–4. Everton lose for the second time in two days, this time by Leeds United at a sold-out Elland Road. Arsenal go level on point with the Toffees by registering their fifth consecutive away win, with victory at West Bromwich Albion.


1977–78 in English football, Diary of the season
31 December 1977: Nottingham Forest end a remarkable year with a clear five-point lead over Everton at the top of the First Division. Newcastle United have overtaken Leicester City at the bottom, and Queens Park Rangers have slipped into the relegation zone just two seasons after finishing second in the League.


1977–78 in English football, Diary of the season
7 January 1978: FA Cup third round day sees Leeds fans invade the Elland Road pitch, reportedly to get their match with Manchester City called off after the Yorkshire club go 2-0 down; City custodian Joe Corrigan is hauled to the ground. Elsewhere, reigning Cup winners Manchester United draw with Third Division club Carlisle United, Blyth Spartans win the battle of the non-leaguers by beating Enfield, Bristol City and Wrexham share eight in the Anglo-Welsh derby, Tilbury's FA Cup run–as of August 2016 their best–is ended by Stoke City, and Chelsea beat Liverpool 4–2.


1977–78 in English football, Diary of the season
10 January 1978: Liverpool pay a British record £352,000 for Middlesbrough midfielder Graeme Souness.


1977–78 in English football, Diary of the season
12 January 1978: Cambridge United manager Ron Atkinson is appointed as manager of West Bromwich Albion. Cambridge, who are second in the Third Division, announce that Atkinson's assistant, John Docherty will succeed him as manager.


1977–78 in English football, Diary of the season
28 January 1978: First Division strugglers Leicester City are knocked out of the FA Cup by Third Division Walsall in one of the shocks of this season's competition. Holders Manchester United are held to a 1–1 draw at home by West Bromwich Albion.


1977–78 in English football, Diary of the season
31 January 1978: Nottingham Forest's title bid shows no signs of faltering, and they are six points ahead of Manchester City, Everton and Liverpool at the end of January.


1977–78 in English football, Diary of the season
1 February 1978: West Bromwich Albion beat Manchester United 3–2 in an FA Cup fourth round replay. John Toshack, 29 next month, becomes the youngest manager in the Football League when he ends eight years on Liverpool's playing staff to become player-manager of Swansea City.


1977–78 in English football, Diary of the season
6 February 1978: Blyth Spartans, of the Northern Premier League, defeat Stoke City of the Football League Second Division 3–2 at the Victoria Ground to become the first non-league club to reach the fifth round of the FA Cup in 29 years. In another surprise result, Newcastle United are beaten 4–1 in a replay by Wrexham.


1977–78 in English football, Diary of the season
9 February 1978: Manchester United pay a national record fee of £495,000 for Leeds United defender Gordon McQueen.


1977–78 in English football, Diary of the season
18 February 1978: Blyth Spartans concede a last-minute equaliser to Wrexham in a 1–1 draw at the Racecourse Ground that denies them a place in the FA Cup quarter-finals.


1977–78 in English football, Diary of the season
22 February 1978: Ron Greenwood's first match as permanent England manager ends in a 2–1 defeat to West Germany in Munich.


1977–78 in English football, Diary of the season
27 February 1978: Wrexham finally end the FA Cup run of Blyth Spartans by beating them 2–1 in a replay at St James' Park.


1977–78 in English football, Diary of the season
6 March 1978: Birmingham City appoint Blackburn Rovers manager Jim Smith as their new manager, as Sir Alf Ramsay announces his final retirement from football management.


1977–78 in English football, Diary of the season
8 March 1978: Liverpool suffer their fourth defeat in five League games, 4–2 at Derby County, and now trail Nottingham Forest by nine points having played a game more.


1977–78 in English football, Diary of the season
11 March 1978: West Bromwich Albion beat Nottingham Forest 2–0 at The Hawthorns in the FA Cup sixth round. Arsenal beat Wrexham 3–2, and Ipswich Town win 6–1 at Millwall in a game interrupted by rioting spectators.


1977–78 in English football, Diary of the season
14 March 1978: Second Division Orient take the last FA Cup semi-final spot with a 2–1 replay victory over Middlesbrough.


1977–78 in English football, Diary of the season
18 March 1978: The League Cup final ends in a goalless draw between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.


1977–78 in English football, Diary of the season
22 March 1978: Nottingham Forest end their 19-year wait for a major trophy by defeating Liverpool 1–0 in the Football League Cup final replay at Old Trafford, thanks to a penalty by John Robertson.


1977–78 in English football, Diary of the season
23 March 1978: Hartlepool United defender Dave Wiggett, 20, is killed in a car crash.


1977–78 in English football, Diary of the season
31 March 1978: Nottingham Forest remain in a commanding position at the top of the First Division, four points ahead of Everton with two games in hand. At the bottom, Leicester City and Newcastle United have been cut adrift, and Queens Park Rangers are one point behind West Ham United in the battle to avoid the remaining relegation spot.


1977–78 in English football, Diary of the season
5 April 1978: Leicester City sack manager Frank McLintock, following a defeat to Liverpool which has all but confirmed their relegation barring a highly improbable set of results.


1977–78 in English football, Diary of the season
8 April 1978: Arsenal and Ipswich Town reach the FA Cup final after semi-final victories over Orient and West Bromwich Albion respectively.


1977–78 in English football, Diary of the season
15 April 1978: Leicester City's relegation is confirmed with a 4–1 defeat at home to Birmingham City. The Foxes go down with just four wins and 22 goals from their 39 matches so far this season.


1977–78 in English football, Diary of the season
17 April 1978: Newcastle United lose at Aston Villa and are relegated to the Second Division.


1977–78 in English football, Diary of the season
19 April 1978: A goal from Kevin Keegan gives England a 1–1 draw against Brazil at Wembley.


1977–78 in English football, Diary of the season
22 April 1978: Nottingham Forest seal the Football League First Division title, and become only the third club in history to do so a year after winning promotion. They get the point they need to guarantee the championship with four matches left from a goalless draw with Coventry City.


1977–78 in English football, Diary of the season
25 April 1978: Harry Griffiths, who recently stepped down as manager of Swansea City but was retained as assistant manager by his successor John Toshack, dies of heart attack aged 47 just before Swansea's 3-1 win over Scunthorpe United which moves them closer to promotion to the Third Division.


1977–78 in English football, Diary of the season
29 April 1978: West Ham United lose 2–0 at home to Liverpool, and can now only stay up on goal difference if Wolverhampton Wanderers lose their remaining two matches. Alex Stepney, the 35-year-old Manchester United goalkeeper, retires from playing. He spent the final 12 years of his playing career at Old Trafford, and at the time of his retirement he was the club's longest serving player and the last player remaining from their European Cup triumph of 1968. He also contributed to the League title triumph of 1967, relegation in 1974, promotion in 1975 and FA Cup glory in 1977.


1977–78 in English football, Diary of the season
2 May 1978: Wolverhampton Wanderers beat Aston Villa 3–1 to stay in the First Division at West Ham United's expense.


1977–78 in English football, Diary of the season
4 May 1978: Champions Nottingham Forest draw 0–0 with second-place Liverpool at Anfield to finish seven points clear at the top of the table. They are unbeaten in their last 26 League matches, a run stretching back to November, and have lost just three League games all season.


1977–78 in English football, Diary of the season
6 May 1978: Ipswich Town win the FA Cup for the first time in their history when a Roger Osborne goal gives them a 1–0 win over Arsenal at Wembley Stadium.


1977–78 in English football, Diary of the season
10 May 1978: Liverpool retain the European Cup thanks to a Kenny Dalglish goal against Club Brugge of Belgium at Wembley Stadium.


1977–78 in English football, Diary of the season
20 May 1978: Steve Coppell scores the only goal in England's 1–0 win over Scotland at Hampden Park. England win the Home Championship with a 100% record.


1977–78 in English football, Diary of the season
2 June 1978: Wigan Athletic, runners-up of the Northern Premier League, are elected to the Football League Fourth Division at the expense of Southport. Boston United, champions of the Northern Premier League, had been unable to apply for election to the Football League.


1977–78 in English football, Diary of the season
15 June 1978: Less than three months after Hartlepool United defender Dave Wiggett was killed in a car crash, another Football League club is plunged into mourning with the death of a player when Blackpool midfielder Alan Groves died of a heart attack aged 29.