1980–81 S.L. Benfica season, Season summary
Benfica started their season with the preliminary round of the Cup Winners' Cup with Altay, beating 4–0 at home. Domestic competition began on 24 August in an away win against Boavista. Benfica kept on winning in the following weeks, eliminating Dinamo Zagreb in Europe, and winning six more league matches in a row, with Manuel Bento going unbeaten in the league for 1080 minutes. In late October, Benfica visited Porto at Estádio das Antas, losing by 2–1, their first in the league.


1980–81 S.L. Benfica season, Season summary
They recovered from the loss and won their next three matches for the Primeira Divisão, creating a four-point lead at the front. They also beat Sporting in the second leg of the Supertaça de Portugal and won their first Supertaça. In the Cup Winners' Cup, they progressed to the quarter-finals after knocking out Malmö. On match-day 12, Benfica faced Sporting in Alvalade and drew 1–1, retaining the first place. Three weeks later, they drew again, now with Vitória de Setúbal and finished the first half of the league a week later with a three-point lead.


1980–81 S.L. Benfica season, Season summary
Benfica started the second half with three consecutive wins, until they were stopped by Penafiel in early February, which shortened their lead over Porto to only two points. They reacted with four more wins in a row, including a home win against Porto on 14 March in the Clássico, which gave them a four-point lead with seven matches to go. At the same time, in the Cup Winners' Cup, Benfica beat Fortuna Düsseldorf at home, after a 2–2 away draw, qualifying for the semi-final.


1980–81 S.L. Benfica season, Season summary
March closed with another draw, now with Académico de Viseu, removing a point from their lead over Porto. On 8 April, Benfica met Carl Zeiss Jena for the first leg of the semi-finals, losing 2–0. Four days later, they drew with Vitória de Guimarães, and saw his lead drop to two points with four match-days to go, one of them against Sporting. The European campaign ended on 22 April, with a one-nil win, not enough to overcome the deficit brought from Jena.


1980–81 S.L. Benfica season, Season summary
Benfica started May with the Derby de Lisboa against Sporting. They drew 1–1 in a match riddled with controversy. Sporting complained of several mistakes by referee Inácio de Almeida and asked for him to be banned for refereeing. Because Porto had also drop points in Penafiel, Benfica kept their two-point lead. A few days later, Benfica faced Jimmy Hagan's Belenenses for the semi-finals of the Portuguese Cup, winning 1–0 and qualifying for the final. They made their second visit to Estádio do Restelo, seven days later, now for the Primeira Divisão.


1980–81 S.L. Benfica season, Season summary
They won by 3–0, with a double from Nené, who secured his first Bola de Prata for league top-scorer. A week later, Benfica thrashed Vitória de Setúbal by 5–1 and confirmed their 24th league title, the first since 1976–77. The celebrations were scared by the violent confrontations between Police and Benfica fans. The league campaign ended with a 2–0 loss against Espinho, which the Portuguese Football Federation turned to a 3–0 loss because Benfica fans had celebrated too soon and invaded the pitch. The season concluded with the Taça de Portugal Final against Porto, where Nené scored a hat-trick in a 3–1 win, with Benfica securing a double. Before leaving, departing President José Ferreira Queimado signed a one-year extension with Baróti.


1980–81 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 Lajos Baróti (manager), Monge da Silva (assistant manager), Fernando Caiado (assistant manager), Gaspar Ramos (Director of Football).


1980–81 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.


1980–81 S.L. Benfica season, Player statistics
Note 2: Players with squad numbers marked ‡ joined the club during the 1980-81 season via transfer, with more details in the following section.


1980–81 SK Rapid Wien season
The 1980–81 SK Rapid Wien season was the 83rd season in club history.


1980–81 SM-liiga season
The 1980-81 SM-liiga season was the sixth season of the SM-liiga, the top level of ice hockey in Finland. 10 teams participated in the league, and Kärpät Oulu won the championship.


1980–81 SMU Mustangs men's basketball team
The 1980–81 SMU Mustangs men's basketball team represented Southern Methodist University during the 1980–81 men's college basketball season.


1980–81 San Antonio Spurs season
The 1980–81 NBA season was the fifth season in the NBA, the seventh in San Antonio and the 13th as a franchise. It was a landmark season in many ways. The San Antonio Spurs moved to the Western Conference along with the Houston Rockets. The Spurs won their first Midwest Division title, and their third division title overall (they had won the Central Division in 1977-78 and 1978–79).


1980–81 San Antonio Spurs season, Regular season
Under realignment, the Spurs were shifted to the Midwest Division in the Western Conference. Looking to improve on the previous season, the Spurs looked to shore up the defense by acquiring Dave Corzine, Dave Johnson, and Reggie Johnson. The moves paid immediate dividends as the Spurs got off to a 10-2 start, on the way to a Division Crown with a 52-30 record. In the playoffs, the Spurs lost in 7 games to the cross-state rival Houston Rockets.


1980–81 San Antonio Spurs season, Player stats
Note: GP= Games played; FG= Field Goals; FT= Free Throws; REB= Rebounds; AST= Assists; STL = Steals; BLK = Blocks; PTS = Points; AVG = Average


1980–81 San Diego Clippers season
The 1980–81 NBA season was the Clippers' 11th season in the NBA and their 3rd season in the city of San Diego.


1980–81 San Diego Clippers season, Transactions
The Clippers were involved in the following transactions during the 1980–81 season.


1980–81 Saudi Premier League
1980 saw the 5th edition of the Saudi Premier League.


1980–81 Saudi Premier League
The league title was won once again by Al-Nassr for the third time.


1980–81 Saudi Premier League
Newly promoted sides Al-Riyadh and Al Jabalain were notionally relegated, though the first division and premier league would merge for the 1981–82 season, keeping them in the top flight for that year.


1980–81 Scottish Cup
The 1980–81 Scottish Cup was the 96th staging of Scotland's most prestigious football knockout competition. The Cup was won by Rangers who defeated Dundee United in the replayed final.


1980–81 Scottish First Division
The Scottish First Division season 1980–81 was won by Hibs by six points over nearest rival Dundee.


1980–81 Scottish First Division, Promotion
Hibs and Dundee finished first and second respectively and were promoted to the 1981–82 Scottish Premier Division.


1980–81 Scottish First Division, Relegation
Stirling Albion and Berwick Rangers finished 13th and 14th respectively and were relegated to the 1981–82 Scottish Second Division. In a Scottish League record Stirling failed to score in their last 14 league matches - their last goal of the league season was on 31 January in a 1-0 win over Dunfermline. They then only scored in 2 of their first 7 league games the following season.


1980–81 Scottish Inter-District Championship
The 1980–81 Scottish Inter-District Championship was a rugby union competition for Scotland's district teams.


1980–81 Scottish League Cup
The 1980–81 Scottish League Cup was the thirty-fifth season of Scotland's second football knockout competition. The competition was won by Dundee United for a second successive season, who defeated Dundee in the Final.


1980–81 Scottish Premier Division
The 1980–81 Scottish Premier Division title was won by Celtic, with 2 matches still to play on 22 April 1981, after defeating Dundee United 3–2 at Tannadice Park. They finished seven points ahead of closest challengers Aberdeen. Kilmarnock and Heart of Midlothian were relegated.


1980–81 Scottish Second Division
The 1980–81 Scottish Second Division was won by Queen's Park who, along with second placed Queen of the South, were promoted to the First Division. Stranraer finished bottom.


1980–81 Seattle SuperSonics season
The 1980–81 NBA season was the SuperSonics 14th season in the NBA.


1980–81 Segunda División
The 1980–81 Segunda División season saw 20 teams participate in the second flight Spanish league. CD Castellón, Cádiz CF and Racing de Santander were promoted to Primera División. Granada CF, Palencia CF, Barakaldo CF and AgD Ceuta were relegated to Segunda División B.


1980–81 Segunda División B
The 1980–81 Segunda División B was the 4th season of Segunda División B, the third highest level of the Spanish football league system, since its establishment in 1977. First and 2nd in each group were promoted to Segunda División, and the bottom three were relegated to the Tercera División.


1980–81 Segunda División B, Group 1
A total of 20 teams will contest the group, including 2 relegated from the Segunda División and 4 promoted from the Tercera División.


1980–81 Segunda División B, Group 1, Teams
Teams from Aragon, Asturias, Basque Country, Canary Islands, Castile and León, Galicia, La Rioja and Madrid.


1980–81 Segunda División B, Group 2
A total of 20 teams will contest the group, including 2 relegated from the Segunda División and 4 promoted from the Tercera División.


1980–81 Segunda División B, Group 2, Teams
Teams from Andalusia, Andorra, Balearic Islands, Castilla–La Mancha, Catalonia, Extremadura, Region of Murcia and Valencian Community.


1980–81 Serie A, Teams
Como, Pistoiese and Brescia had been promoted from Serie B.


1980–81 Serie A (ice hockey) season
The 1980–81 Serie A season was the 47th season of the Serie A, the top level of ice hockey in Italy. Eight teams participated in the league, and HC Gherdeina won the championship.


1980–81 Serie B
The Serie B 1980–81 was the forty-ninth tournament of this competition played in Italy since its creation.


1980–81 Serie B, Teams
Varese, Rimini, Catania and Foggia had been promoted from Serie C, while Pescara, Milan and Lazio had been relegated from Serie A.


1980–81 Sheffield Shield season
The 1980–81 Sheffield Shield season was the 79th season of the Sheffield Shield, the domestic first-class cricket competition in Australia. It started on 17 October 1980 and finished on 9 March 1981. Going into the final round of matches, New South Wales, Western Australia and Queensland were all in a position to win the Shield. It would be Western Australia, who found form in the second half of the season with four straight victories, who would emerge victorious, drawing against Queensland to secure its eighth championship.


1980–81 South Pacific cyclone season
The 1980–81 South Pacific cyclone season was an above-average season.


1980–81 South Pacific cyclone season, Seasonal summary
This season marked the first time that the United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center issued warnings and performed best track analysis on significant tropical cyclones in the Southern Hemisphere.


1980–81 South Pacific cyclone season, Systems, Severe Tropical Cyclone Cliff
After ravaging the South Pacific islands, Cyclone Cliff struck Queensland on February 14. The effects of the cyclone was felt from Noosa to Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast. One person died in the storm.


1980–81 South Pacific cyclone season, Systems, Other systems
The JTWC initiated warnings on Tropical Cyclone 12P during January 26, which had moved into the basin from the Australian region during the previous day. The system subsequently passed in between Vanuatu and New Caledonia before it was last noted during January 27.


1980–81 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season
The 1980–81 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season was an average cyclone season.


1980–81 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season, Systems, Intense Tropical Cyclone Alice–Adelaide
On November 3, a low-pressure area developed off the southwest coast of Sumatra in the Australian basin. The BoM upgraded the low to Tropical Cyclone Alice two days later, which was intensifying while moving west-southwestward, steered by the subtropical ridge to its south. Alice attained a peak intensity of 180 km/h (110 mph) in the Australian basin on November 7. While in the region, the cyclone's high waves capsized two boats. The crew of the Sing Long No. 21 escaped in two life rafts; a freighter rescued one raft, but the other was lost, with 12 crew members aboard.


1980–81 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season, Systems, Intense Tropical Cyclone Alice–Adelaide
Cyclone Alice crossed 90º E on November 9, and 85º E a day later, whereupon the MMS renamed the storm as Adelaide, estimating winds of at least 120 km/h (75 mph). The JTWC estimated maximum sustained winds of 205 km/h (125 mph) at that time. Adelaide soon began a weakening trend, falling below tropical cyclone status on November 11. A day later, the storm turned to the west-northwest, steered by a ridge to the south. Adelaide weakened to a tropical depression on November 13, and was no longer classifiable a tropical cyclone by a day later.


1980–81 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season, Systems, Moderate Tropical Storm Bettina
Bettina formed on November 22, over the central Indian Ocean. It moved south-southwestward and reached a peak intensity of 50 knots (60 mph, 90 km/h) on November 26. It made landfall as a tropical storm over Mozambique and weakened shortly after on December 1.


1980–81 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season, Systems, Tropical Cyclone Bert–Christe
Formed on November 24 over the open Indian Ocean it moved in a mostly southwest direction, though it did curve a few times. It reached a peak intensity of 80 knots (90 mph, 150 km/h) and a pressure of 965.0 hectopascals (28.50 inHg) on November 29. Christe made landfall on Madagascar on December 9 as a tropical depression.


1980–81 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season, Systems, Very Intense Tropical Cyclone Florine
Toward the beginning of January, the ITCZ was active to the northeast of Madagascar, spawning a circulation east of Agalega that became a depression on January 3. On the next day, the system was named Florine. Steered between a ridge to its northwest and northeast, the system moved erratically until January 5, when Florine began a steady movement to the south and later southwest. The change in trajectory was because the ridge to Florine's northeast had weakened.


1980–81 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season, Systems, Very Intense Tropical Cyclone Florine
On January 6, the intensifying storm passed just west of St. Brandon, where a station recorded sustained winds of 115 km/h (71 mph) and gusts of 148 km/h (92 mph). A day later, the outer eyewall of Florine moved across Réunion island, while the center of the eye passed 25 km east of Sainte-Rose. Roland Garros Airport recorded a minimum pressure of 935 mbar (27.6 inHg), the lowest on the island. A landfall was spared due to a shift in trajectory to the south-southeast caused by a passing cold front.


1980–81 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season, Systems, Very Intense Tropical Cyclone Florine
Also around this time, the cyclone reached its peak intensity according to the JTWC; the agency estimated peak winds of 195 km/h (120 mph), based on a Dvorak rating of 5.5. The MFR estimated peak 10 minute winds of 220 km/h (140 mph). Florine weakened as it accelerated ahead of a polar trough, and was no classifiable as a tropical cyclone on January 10. The remnants passed west of Île Amsterdam on the next day and continued southeastward.


1980–81 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season, Systems, Very Intense Tropical Cyclone Florine
Florine's close passage to Réunion caused injuries to two people. The high winds, peaking at 234 km/h (145 mph) at Plaine des Cafres, affected the island alongside heavy rainfall. Precipitation totals ranged from 100 mm (4 in) near the coast to 1,161 mm (45.7 in) at Foc-Foc. High tides reached 5.2 m (17 ft) at the coast in La Possession. Cyclone Florine destroyed crops and 95 houses. It caused injuries to two people and left around 500 people homeless. The storm knocked down 2000 phone lines and caused disruptions to the power network. Cilaos and Salazie became isolated during the storm, requiring assistance by helicopter. In nearby Mauritius, winds peaked at 137 km/h (85 mph).


1980–81 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season, Systems, Moderate Tropical Storm Helyette
On January 31, Tropical Depression Helyette passed north of Rodrigues, and the next day moved over Mauritius and just southeast of Réunion. The highest wind gust was 121 km/h (75 mph) at Fort William on Mauritius. Helyette made landfall in Madagascar.


1980–81 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season, Systems, Tropical Cyclone Johanne
Johanne existed from March 1 to March 11. On March 6, Tropical Storm Johanne passed between Réunion and Mauritius while passing southeastward, with respective island rainfall totals of 316 mm (12.4 in) and 260 mm (10 in). The highest wind gust was 124 km/h (77 mph) at Mon Desert Alma on Mauritius.


1980–81 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season, Systems, Moderate Tropical Storm Lisa
For several days, Lisa looped to the north of the Mascarene Islands, coming within 200 km (125 mi) of Mauritius on April 9. For several the storm dropped rainfall on the islands, reaching 398 mm (15.7 in) in Mauritius and 445 mm (17.5 in) on Réunion. Flooding caused road damage in the latter island.


1980–81 Southern Football League
The 1980–81 Southern Football League season was the 78th in the history of the league, an English football competition.


1980–81 Southern Football League
Alvechurch won the Midland Division, whilst Dartford won the Southern Division. Alvechurch were declared Southern League champions after defeating Dartford 4–3 on penalties, after the two championship play-offs had finished 3–3 on aggregate (Alvechurch won 1–0 at home and Dartford won 3–2). Despite Alvechuch being champions, they declined promotion to the Alliance Premier League alongside Dartford as their board thought they were not ready, with third-placed Trowbridge Town going up in their place. There was no relegation for the second successive season, although Bognor Regis Town transferred to the Isthmian League at the end of the season.


1980–81 Southern Football League
Bedford Town, who finished second to Alvechurch in the Midland Division on goal difference, won the Southern League Cup.


1980–81 Southern Football League, Midland Division
The Midland Division consisted of 22 clubs, including 21 clubs from the previous season and one new club:


1980–81 Southern Football League, Midland Division
Bedford Town needed to beat Enderby Town by eight goals in their last game of the season to win the league but only won 2-0 making Alvechurch the champions.


1980–81 Southern Football League, Midland Division
Dave Lewis of Gloucester City was top scorer for the season with 27 goals.


1980–81 Southern Football League, Southern Division
There were no new clubs in the Southern Division this season. Though, at the end of the previous season Addlestone was renamed Addlestone & Weybridge Town and Folkestone & Shepway was renamed Folkestone.


1980–81 Southern Football League, Southern Division
At the end of the season Margate was renamed Thanet United.


1980–81 Soviet League season
The 1980–81 Soviet League Season was the 35th year of competition in the Soviet Championship League. CSKA Moscow won the championship, its 5th in a row and 24th overall.


1980–81 St. Francis Terriers men's basketball team
The 1980–81 St. Francis Terriers men's basketball team represented St. Francis College during the 1980–81 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team was coached by Gene Roberti, who was in his second year at the helm of the St. Francis Terriers. The Terriers played their homes games at the  Generoso Pope Athletic Complex and played an Independent, not affiliated with a conference.


1980–81 St. John's Redmen basketball team
The 1980–81 St. John's Redmen basketball team represented St. John's University during the 1980–81 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team was coached by Lou Carnesecca in his thirteenth year at the school. St. John's home games are played at Alumni Hall and Madison Square Garden and the team is a member of the Big East Conference.


1980–81 St. Louis Blues season
The 1980–81 St. Louis Blues season was the 14th for the franchise in St. Louis, Missouri. The Blues won the Smythe Division for the first time in four seasons, with a record of 45 wins, 18 losses and 17 ties, good for 107 points, and second place overall in the entire NHL. This was the first time that the Blues had ever accumulated 100 or more points in a season. The Blues defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins in a five-game Preliminary Round, before losing the Quarter-finals in six games to the New York Rangers.


1980–81 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.


1980–81 St. Louis Blues season, Draft picks
St. Louis's draft picks at the 1980 NHL Entry Draft held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec.


1980–81 Stoke City F.C. season
The 1980–81 season was Stoke City's 74th season in the Football League and 48th in the First Division.


1980–81 Stoke City F.C. season
The 1980–81 campaign was a transitional one for Stoke with a number of players coming and going. The team made a poor start and in their first four matches conceded twelve goals. They slowly recovered and were easily able to pull themselves away from any fears of being involved in a relegation battle and finished in a mid-table position of 11th. It was a pretty uneventful season, and with 18 draws often a boring one, for the supporters.


1980–81 Stoke City F.C. season, Season review, League
In the Summer of 1980 there were some more comings and goings. Firstly Mr Percy Axon became chairman while striker Garth Crooks moved to Tottenham Hotspur for a club record £650,000 and goalkeeper Roger Jones joined Derby County. With cash in the bank, Durban signed left back Peter Hampton from Leeds United for £170,000 and Paul Maguire joined from Shrewsbury Town for £262,000. Iain Munro and Peter Griffiths also joined the club. The team made an awful start to the 1980–81 season losing 5–1 at Norwich City and then 5–0 at Nottingham Forest.


1980–81 Stoke City F.C. season, Season review, League
Stoke soon started to grind out results and Alan Durban's well drilled side picked up the points they needed to pull away from any danger and they finished the season in 11th place with 42 points.


1980–81 Stoke City F.C. season, Season review, FA Cup
Stoke drew Staffordshire rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers in the third round and after a 2–2 draw at home Wolves won 2–1 in the replay.


1980–81 Stoke City F.C. season, Season review, League Cup
Stoke lost to Manchester City 4–1 over two legs, drawing 1–1 at home but suffering a 3–0 defeat at Maine Road.


1980–81 Sussex County Football League
The 1980–81 Sussex County Football League season was the 56th in the history of Sussex County Football League a football competition in England.


1980–81 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:


1980–81 Sussex County Football League, Division Two
Division Two featured twelve clubs which competed in the division last season, along with two new clubs relegated from Division One:


1980–81 Syracuse Orangemen basketball team
The 1980–81 Syracuse Orangemen men's basketball team represented Syracuse University in NCAA Division I men's competition in the 1980–81 academic year.


1980–81 Tampa Bay Rowdies indoor season
The 1980–81 Tampa Bay Rowdies indoor season was the seventh indoor season of the club's existence.


1980–81 Tampa Bay Rowdies indoor season, Overview
The 1980–81 indoor season was the Tampa Bay Rowdies' seventh season of existence, and their seventh season of indoor play. As in previous years, all home games were played at the Bayfront Center in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rowdies entered the season as the defending indoor champions. They finished the season second in the Eastern Division with a 9–9 record, but failed to qualify for the playoffs. Óscar Fabbiani led the club with 31 goals and 77 points, while Steve Wegerle was the team's assist leader with 20. For the first time in club history the Tampa Bay Rowdies did not qualify for the playoffs.


1980–81 Tampa Bay Rowdies indoor season, Regular season, Final standings
W = Wins, L = Losses, GB = Games Behind 1st Place, % = Winning Percentage, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against


1980–81 Tampa Bay Rowdies indoor season, Statistics, Season scoring
GP = Games Played, G = Goals (worth 2 points), A = Assists (worth 1 point), Pts = Points


1980–81 Tampa Bay Rowdies indoor season, Statistics, Season goalkeeping
Note: GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; GA = Goals against; GAA = Goals against average; W = Wins; L = Losses


1980–81 Tennis Borussia Berlin season
The 1980–81 season was the fifth time Tennis Borussia Berlin played in the 2. Fußball-Bundesliga, the second highest tier of the German football league system. After 42 league games, Tennis Borussia finished 17th and were relegated. The club also lost in the first round of the DFB-Pokal; going out 2–0 away to VfL Osnabrück. Norbert Stolzenburg scored 14 of the club's 47 league goals.


1980–81 Tercera División
The 1980–81 Tercera División season was the 4th season since establishment as the 4th tier.


1980–81 Tonga Senior Division
The 1980-81 season of the Tongan A Grade was the 8th season of top flight association football competition in Tonga. 'Atenisi won the championship for the first time. It is unclear whether this title was for the 1980, 1980/81 or 1981 season, as the 1981 season may or may not have occurred.


1980–81 Toronto Maple Leafs season
The 1980–81 Toronto Maple Leafs season was the Toronto Maple Leafs 64th season of the franchise, 54th season as the Maple Leafs.


1980–81 Toronto Maple Leafs 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.


1980–81 Toronto Maple Leafs season, Playoffs
The Maple Leafs qualified for the playoffs as one of the top sixteen teams. In the preliminary round, the Maple Leafs faced the New York Islanders, the eventual Stanley Cup champion. The Maple Leafs were swept in three games.


1980–81 Toronto Maple Leafs season, Transactions
The Maple Leafs have been involved in the following transactions during the 1980-81 season.


1980–81 Town & Country League
The 1980–81 Town & Country League season was the 39th in the history of Eastern Counties Football League a football competition in England.


1980–81 Town & Country League, Clubs
The league featured 22 clubs which competed in the league last season, no new clubs joined the league this season.


1980–81 UC Irvine Anteaters men's basketball team
The 1980–81 UC Irvine Anteaters men's basketball team represented the University of California, Irvine during the 1980–81 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Anteaters were led by first year head coach Bill Mulligan and played their home games at the Crawford Hall. They were members of the Pacific Coast Athletic Association. They finished the season 17–10 and 9–5 in PCAA play.


1980–81 UC Irvine Anteaters men's basketball team, Previous season
The 1979–80 Anteaters finished the season with a record of 9–18 and 1–13 in PCAA play. They anteaters were invited to the PCAA tournament where they lost in the first round against the Long Beach State 49ers. Coach Tim Tift announced his resignation as coach of the anteaters with 6 games remaining in the season. Saddleback College coach Bill Mulligan was announced as the new coach on March 1.


1980–81 UCLA Bruins men's basketball team
The 1980–81 UCLA Bruins men's basketball team represented the University of California, Los Angeles in the 1980–81 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Larry Brown was the head coach, and the Bruins started the season ranked 6th in the nation (AP Poll). The Bruins started the season 6-0 and was ranked a season high #3 (AP Poll). They then lost at #1 ranked Depaul, 93–77, on December 27. UCLA's team finished 3rd in the Pac-10 regular season. UCLA participated the NCAA Tournament but was upset by BYU in the first round, finishing 10th in the AP poll. Larry Brown coached his second and final year at UCLA.


1980–81 UEFA Cup
The 1980–81 UEFA Cup was won by Ipswich Town on aggregate over AZ.


1980–81 UEFA Cup
According to the 1979 UEFA decision, Fairs Cup entry criteria were finally abolished, and UEFA ranking was introduced.


1980–81 UEFA Cup
Albania did not join, and it ceded its place to the West German title holders.


1980–81 UEFA Cup, First round, Second leg
Dynamo Kyiv 1–1 Levski Sofia on aggregate. Levski Sofia advanced on away goals rule.


1980–81 UEFA Cup, First round, Second leg
Widzew Łódź 1–1 Manchester United on aggregate. Widzew Łódź advanced on away goals rule.


1980–81 UEFA Cup, Second round, Second leg
Dundee United - Lokeren 1–1 on aggregate. Lokeren won on away goals


1980–81 UEFA Cup, Second round, Second leg
FC Twente - Dynamo Dresden 1–1 on aggregate. Dynamo Dresden won on away goals


1980–81 UEFA Cup, Second round, Second leg
Juventus 4–4 Widzew Łódź on aggregate. Widzew Łódź won 4–1 on penalties.


1980–81 UEFA Cup, Third round, Second leg
Eintracht Frankfurt 4–4 Sochaux on aggregate. Sochaux won on away goals.


1980–81 UEFA Cup, Third round, Second leg
Torino 3–3 Grasshoppers on aggregate. Grasshoppers won 4–3 on penalties.


1980–81 United Counties League
The 1980–81 United Counties League season was the 74th in the history of the United Counties League, a football competition in England. At the end of the previous season reserve teams from Division One were transferred to newly established reserve division, they were replaced by clubs from Division Two.


1980–81 United Counties League, Premier Division
The Premier Division featured 18 clubs which competed in the division last season, no new clubs joined the division this season.


1980–81 United Counties League, Division One
Division One featured nine clubs which competed in the division last season, along with eight new clubs.


1980–81 United States network television schedule
The following is the 1980–81 network television schedule for the three major English language commercial broadcast networks in the United States. The schedule covers primetime hours from September 1980 through August 1981. The schedule is followed by a list per network of returning series, new series, and series cancelled after the 1979–80 season. All times are Eastern and Pacific, with certain exceptions, such as Monday Night Football.


1980–81 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.


1980–81 United States network television schedule
PBS is not included; member stations have local flexibility over most of their schedules and broadcast times for network shows may vary.


1980–81 United States network television schedule
Note: An actors' strike hindered the ability to start airing shows in a timely manner. The shows in the schedule were the first to air new episodes in their respective time periods as they bowed in between late August and December 31, 1980. Some of the new shows intended for a fall launch did not debut until 1982 or 1983, if at all.


1980–81 United States network television schedule, Sunday
Note: On ABC, local and paid political programming aired in the 8-9 p.m. hour from September till November.


1980–81 United States network television schedule, Monday
Note: Private Benjamin premiered April 6, 1981, at 8:00-8:30 pm on CBS. Soap ran for three-and-a-half seasons on ABC in a 30-minute format. It was pulled from the Wednesday night schedule in January 1981 and returned on Mondays from March to April, when the final 12 episodes of the series ran as six 60-minute installments.


1980–81 United States network television schedule, Tuesday
Note: On CBS, local and paid political programming aired in the 8-9 p.m. hour between September and November. On NBC, NBC Tuesday Night at the Movies aired 8-10 p.m. from September till November.


1980–81 United States network television schedule, Wednesday
Note: The Greatest American Hero Debuts on March 18, 1981, at 8:00pm on ABC


1980–81 United States network television schedule, Wednesday
Note: NBC's Movie of the Week aired 9-11 p.m. between September and November.


1980–81 United States network television schedule, Wednesday
Note: The Facts of Life Season 2 begins Wednesday, November 19, 1980, at 9:30 on NBC.


1980–81 United States network television schedule, Thursday
Note: CBS Thursday Movie Special aired 9-11 p.m. from September till the end of November. Magnum, P.I. had a 2-hour premiere on December 11, 1980.


1980–81 United States network television schedule, Friday
Note: NBC Friday Night at the Movies aired 8-10 p.m. through October and November.


1980–81 United States network television schedule, Saturday
Note: The CBS Saturday Night Movies aired 9-11 p.m. through the end of November.


1980–81 United States network television schedule, By network, NBC
Note: The * indicates that the program was introduced in midseason.


1980–81 United States network television schedule (daytime)
The 1980–81 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 1980 to August 1981.


1980–81 United States network television schedule (daytime), Schedule, Saturday
In the News aired ten times during CBS' Saturday morning shows.


1980–81 United States network television schedule (daytime), Schedule, Saturday
Ask NBC News aired after the credits of NBC's Saturday morning shows except Batman and the Super 7, Jonny Quest, and Drawing Power. Time Out aired after Jonny Quest.


1980–81 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 1980. All times are Eastern/Pacific.


1980–81 United States network television schedule (late night)
Talk/variety shows are highlighted in yellow, network news programs in gold, and local news & programs are highlighted in white background.


1980–81 Utah Jazz season
The 1980-81 Utah Jazz season was the team's seventh in the NBA. They began the season hoping to improve upon their 24-58 output from the previous season. The team started the season 12-6 but lost 15 of the next 17 games, however they bested it by four wins, finishing 28-54, but failed to qualify for the playoffs for the seventh straight season.


1980–81 Utah Utes men's basketball team
The 1980–81 Utah Utes men's basketball team represented the University of Utah in the 1980-81 season. Head coach Jerry Pimm, and Senior stars Tom Chambers and Danny Vranes would lead the Utes to a Western Athletic Conference championship and the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA tournament. In the best season the Utes would have under Pimm, the team finished with an overall record of 25–5 (13–3 WAC). Vranes and Chambers were both selected in the top 8 picks of the NBA Draft. Chambers, drafted by the San Diego (Now Los Angeles) Clippers, would go on to play for several NBA teams in his career, most notably the Phoenix Suns, with whom he would make an appearance in the 1993 NBA Finals; and the Utah Jazz.


1980–81 Utah Utes men's basketball team, Schedule and results, NCAA Tournament
3/15/1981, Second Round Vs. Northeastern @ Don Haskins Center, El Paso, TX - W, 94-693/19/1981, Sweet Sixteen Vs. North Carolina @ Special Events Center, Salt Lake City, UT - L, 56-61


1980–81 Vancouver Canucks season
The 1980–81 Vancouver Canucks season was the team's 11th in the National Hockey League (NHL). They finished 3rd in the Smythe Division, scoring 289 goals and allowing 301.


1980–81 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.


1980–81 Vancouver Canucks season, Draft picks
Vancouver's draft picks at the 1980 NHL Entry Draft held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec.


1980–81 VfL Bochum season
The 1980–81 VfL Bochum season was the 43rd season in club history.


1980–81 Virginia Cavaliers men's basketball team
The 1980–81 Virginia Cavaliers men's basketball team represented University of Virginia and was a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference.


1980–81 WHL season
The 1980–81 WHL season was the 15th season for the Western Hockey League. Thirteen teams completed a 72-game season. The Victoria Cougars won the President's Cup.


1980–81 WHL season, Regular season, Scoring leaders
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes


1980–81 WHL season, All-Star game
On January 20, the WHL All-Stars defeated the Victoria Cougars 8–3 at Victoria, British Columbia with a crowd of 3,520.


1980–81 WIHL season
1980–81 was the 34th season of the Western International Hockey League.


1980–81 WIHL season, Playoffs, Final
In the "best of 7" final, Kimberley Dynamiters defeated Cranbrook Royals 4 games to 2 (7-3, 7-4, 7-3, 4-11, 5-11, 3-1) to advance to the 1980-81 British Columbia Senior Playoffs.


1980–81 Wake Forest Demon Deacons men's basketball team
The 1980–81 Wake Forest Demon Deacons men's basketball team represented Wake Forest University during the 1980–81 NCAA men's basketball season.


1980–81 Washington Bullets season
The 1980–81 NBA season was the Bullets 20th season in the NBA and their 8th season in the city of Washington, D.C.. Following the season, Wes Unseld retired, Elvin Hayes was traded to the Houston Rockets, and Mitch Kupchak signed with the Los Angeles Lakers.


1980–81 Washington Capitals season
The 1980–81 Washington Capitals season was the Washington Capitals seventh season in the National Hockey League (NHL).


1980–81 Washington Capitals 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.


1980–81 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;


1980–81 Washington Capitals season, Draft picks
Washington's draft picks at the 1980 NHL Entry Draft held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec.


1980–81 Washington Huskies men's basketball team
The 1980–81 Washington Huskies men's basketball team represented the University of Washington for the 1980–81 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Led by tenth-year head coach Marv Harshman, the Huskies were members of the Pacific-10 Conference and played their home games on campus at Hec Edmundson Pavilion in Seattle, Washington.


1980–81 Washington Huskies men's basketball team
The Huskies were 14–13 overall in the regular season and 8–10 in conference play, tied for fifth in the standings. There was no conference tournament yet; it debuted six years later.


1980–81 Washington State Cougars men's basketball team
The 1980–81 Washington State Cougars men's basketball team represented Washington State University for the 1980–81 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Led by tenth-year head coach George Raveling, the Cougars were members of the Pacific-10 Conference and played their home games on campus at Beasley Coliseum in Pullman, Washington.


1980–81 Washington State Cougars men's basketball team
The Cougars were 10–17 overall in the regular season and 3–15 in conference play, last in the standings. There was no conference tournament yet, which debuted six years later. The previous season, WSU made the 48-team NCAA tournament and finished at 22–6, among the best records in school history.


1980–81 Washington State Cougars men's basketball team
This was the Cougars' first losing season in six years, since 1974–75.


1980–81 Weber State Wildcats men's basketball team
The 1980–81 Weber State Wildcats men's basketball team represented Weber State College during the 1980–81 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Members of the Big Sky Conference, the Wildcats were led by sixth-year head coach Neil McCarthy and played their home games on campus at Dee Events Center in Ogden, Utah.


1980–81 Weber State Wildcats men's basketball team
In an unusual subpar season, the Wildcats were 8–19 overall in the regular season and 5–9 in conference play, tied for fifth place.


1980–81 Weber State Wildcats men's basketball team
Weber State had appeared in the first five finals of the conference tournament and won the last three, but this year they did not even qualify for the four-team bracket. The Wildcats finished the regular season on a high note, with a three-game winning streak to avoid twenty losses; they also upset league champion Idaho earlier in February in Ogden.


1980–81 Weber State Wildcats men's basketball team
Junior guard Ron Harper led the Big Sky in scoring and was named to the all-conference team.


1980–81 West Ham United F.C. season
In one of the most notable seasons in the club's history, West Ham United won the Second Division in the 1980–81 season to return to the top flight of English football after an absence of three years.


1980–81 West Ham United F.C. season, Season summary
West Ham lost just four League matches all season, were unbeaten in the League after Boxing Day, and finished 13 points clear of second-placed Notts County, accumulating a record points total for the Second Division.


1980–81 West Ham United F.C. season, Season summary
The Hammers also reached the League Cup final for the second time, after a run in which they knocked out First Division Tottenham Hotspur and Coventry City. In the final, they forced a replay against Liverpool after Ray Stewart scored an equalising penalty in the last minute of extra-time, but lost 2–1 at Villa Park.


1980–81 West Ham United F.C. season, Season summary
West Ham failed to retain the FA Cup, which they had won the previous season, when they lost to Wrexham in a second replay in the third round. However, they reached the quarter-finals of the European Cup Winners' Cup in a run that included a 5–1 victory over Real Madrid's reserve side Castilla played behind closed doors because of crowd trouble. They were eliminated 4–2 on aggregate by the eventual winners, Dinamo Tbilisi.


1980–81 West Midlands (Regional) League
The 1980–81 West Midlands (Regional) League season was the 81st 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.


1980–81 West Midlands (Regional) League, Premier Division
The Premier Division featured 21 clubs which competed in the division last season, along with one club, promoted from Division One:


1980–81 Western Football League
The 1980–81 season was the 79th in the history of the Western Football League.


1980–81 Western Football League
The league champions for the second time in their history were Bridgwater Town. The champions of Division One were Chippenham Town.


1980–81 Western Football League, Premier Division
The Premier Division remained at twenty clubs after Ilminster Town were relegated to the First Division, and A.F.C. Bournemouth Reserves and Exeter City Reserves left the league. Three clubs joined:


1980–81 Western Football League, First Division
The First Division was reduced from twenty-two to nineteen clubs after Westland-Yeovil left the league, and Devizes Town, Liskeard Athletic and Melksham Town were promoted to the Premier Division. One new club joined:


1980–81 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball team
The 1980–81 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers men's basketball team represented Western Kentucky University during the 1980–81 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Hilltoppers were members of the Ohio Valley Conference and led by OVC Coach of the Year Clem Haskins, in his first season as head coach. WKU won the OVC regular season and tournament championships and received the conference's automatic bid to the 1981 NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament. Craig McCormick and Tony Wilson made the All-OVC Team, and Wilson and Percy White were selected to the OVC Tournament Team.


1980–81 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball team, Cultural relevance
Haskins broke the color barrier this season at Western Kentucky, becoming the first African American head coach in school history. This came 16 years after he, and Dwight Smith, became the first African Americans to play Hilltopper basketball.


1980–81 Wichita State Shockers men's basketball team
The 1980–81 Wichita State Shockers men's basketball team represented Wichita State University in the 1980–81 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. They played their home games at the University of Wichita Field House. They were in their 36th season as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference and 75th season overall. They were led by head coach Gene Smithson in his 3rdseason at the school. They finished the season 26–7, 12–4 in Missouri Valley play to finish in first place. They received a bid to the 1981 NCAA Tournament and advanced to the regional finals before falling to LSU.


1980–81 Winnipeg Jets season
The 1980–81 Winnipeg Jets season was the Winnipeg Jets' second season in the National Hockey League. In the 1980-81 season they finished fifth (and last) in the NHL's Smythe Division. The team scored 246 goals and conceded 400 goals. The Jets won 9 games, lost 57 games and tied 14 games. They scored 32 points.


1980–81 Winnipeg Jets season
The Jets were coached by Tom McVie (1 win, 20 losses and 7 ties), Bill Sutherland (6 wins, 20 losses and 3 ties), and Mike Smith (2 wins, 17 losses and 4 ties).


1980–81 Winnipeg Jets season, Offseason
The Jets named Morris Lukowich as team captain during the off-season, as former captain Lars-Erik Sjöberg announced his retirement at the end of the 1979-80 season. Lukowich had been with Winnipeg since their final season in the WHA, helping the club win the Avco Cup in 1979.


1980–81 Winnipeg Jets season, Offseason
On June 11, 1980, Winnipeg selected defenseman Dave Babych with the second overall pick in the 1980 NHL Entry Draft. Babych was a high scoring defenseman with the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL, recording 22 goals and 82 points in 50 games with Portland. With their second pick, the Jets selected Moe Mantha from the Toronto Marlboros of the OMJHL, and in the seventh round, the team selected Brian Mullen from the United States national ice hockey team.


1980–81 Winnipeg Jets season, Offseason
Winnipeg made a few small trades during the off-season, most notably acquiring Rick Bowness from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for Craig Norwich. The Jets also acquired Norm Dupont from the Montreal Canadiens for the Jets second round pick in the 1982 NHL Entry Draft. Dupont was selected by the Canadiens in the first round of the 1977 NHL amateur draft, however, he picked up only a goal and four points in 35 games with Montreal in the 1979-80 season.


1980–81 Winnipeg Jets 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.


1980–81 Winnipeg Jets season, Playoffs
For the second straight season, the Jets failed to qualify for the playoffs, as they had an NHL worst record of 9-57-14, earning 32 points, 44 points behind the Edmonton Oilers for the final playoff position in the Smythe Division.


1980–81 Winnipeg Jets season, Draft picks
Winnipeg selected the following players at the 1980 NHL Entry Draft, which was held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec on June 11, 1980.


1980–81 Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball team
The 1980–81 Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball team represented the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the 1980–81 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The head coach was Bill Cofield, coaching his 5th season with the Badgers. The team played their home games at the UW Fieldhouse in Madison, Wisconsin and was a member of the Big Ten Conference.


1980–81 Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball team
Forward Claude Gregory was the team's leading scorer with 20.4 points and 9.2 rebounds in 27 games. Other statistical leaders included guard Danny Hastings with 3.1 assists.


1980–81 Wisconsin Badgers men's ice hockey season
The 1980–81 Wisconsin Badgers men's ice hockey team represented the University of Wisconsin–Madison in college ice hockey. In its fourteenth year under head coach Bob Johnson, the team compiled a 27–14–1 record (17–11 against Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) opponents) and outscored all opponents 218 to 155. The Badgers were the recipients of an at-large bid in the first year that the NCAA guaranteed 8 teams entry into the postseason tournament and in doing so became the first team to win a national championship because of the expanded format.


1980–81 Wisconsin Badgers men's ice hockey season, Season
Wisconsin began the 1980–81 season fresh after compiling its first losing season since returning to NCAA play in 1963. With little expectation for the '81 campaign Bob Johnson's Badgers got off to a fast start, going 7-1 in the first month of the season before embarking on a .500 skid in early November. The Badgers would lose a game in every weekend series until after Christmas when they finally managed to take both games against a mediocre Yale squad, only to lose both games to Rensselaer the following week. Wisconsin was hampered by high-scoring freshman and future NHL-er Bruce Eakin leaving the program after only four games and heading to the WHL.


1980–81 Wisconsin Badgers men's ice hockey season, Season
From January 1 onward, Wisconsin managed to just post a winning record, going 10-8 over that stretch but still finishing in a tie for second in conference standings on the strength of their early-season success. The Badgers won the tie-breaker over Michigan Tech and were seeded second in the WCHA Tournament. After winning their first game against Colorado College 8-2 it appeared Wisconsin was set for an appearance in second round until the Tigers roared back with an 11-4 win in the second game and upset a stunned Badger team 13-12 in the series.


1980–81 Wisconsin Badgers men's ice hockey season, Season
Ordinarily that would have been the end of the Wisconsin's season but in the summer of 1980 the NCAA changed its tournament format. With the success of the CCHA and the increasing number of programs at the Division I level the NCAA tournament was expanded to 8 teams, 4 for eastern schools and 4 for western squads. As tournament co-champions Minnesota and Michigan Tech received automatic bids, as did CCHA champion Northern Michigan. That left one spot open for a western school.


1980–81 Wisconsin Badgers men's ice hockey season, Season
Due to the feeling at the time that the CCHA was a 'lesser' conference the 24-12-3 record of second place Ohio State was seen a inferior to anything the WCHA could offer and the Buckeyes were passed over. While the Badgers did lose in the first round Denver, who had finished only two points behind Wisconsin, had also lost their first round matchup and the team that had defeated them, Michigan, were soundly beaten by Michigan Tech in the Second round 9-2. With no team standing out from the rest the tournament committee settled on awarding the final spot to Wisconsin.


1980–81 Wisconsin Badgers men's ice hockey season, Season
Wisconsin opened the 1981 Tournament in front a hostile crowd in Potsdam, NY as they faced the top eastern seed Clarkson. Miraculously the Badgers managed to take the first game 3-2 but, just as the WCHA tournament had been, the NCAA first round was a 2-game total-goal series and 1 score was a very slim margin to hold. The second game was a much more explosive affair with both teams notching six goals in regulation play.


1980–81 Wisconsin Badgers men's ice hockey season, Season
Because of a peculiarity with the series Wisconsin leading 9-8 after regulation didn't end the matchup and the two would play one overtime session to see if the 'winner' of the game could be determined. If Wisconsin scored the series would be over immediately, however, if Clarkson scored the game would continue because the series had been tied at 9-9 despite an overtime marker. Neither of those events came to pass and both teams failed to score in the overtime session, allowing the game to finish in a tie and the Badgers to progress to the Frozen Four.


1980–81 Wisconsin Badgers men's ice hockey season, Season
In their first game at the Duluth Arena the Badgers faced Northern Michigan, the first time the two teams played one another. Both squads played a scoreless first period before Ed Lebler opened the scoring three minutes into the second. Two more Badgers scored before the Wildcats could get their first goal of the game but Marc Behrend made sure that was all they could earn, turning away their 25 other shots en route to a 5-1 win.


1980–81 Wisconsin Badgers men's ice hockey season, Season
In the final Wisconsin was set against #1 overall seed Minnesota who possessed the top offense in the nation boasting both the NCAA scoring champion Aaron Broten and the first Hobey Baker Award winner Neal Broten. The Golden Gophers had taken three out of four contests against the Badgers that season, out-pacing Johnson's team 27 goals to 14. None of that seemed to affect Wisconsin in the slightest as it was the Badgers who opened the scoring half way through the first period and never looked back.


1980–81 Wisconsin Badgers men's ice hockey season, Season
Wisconsin got the game's first four goals and by the time Minnesota had found the back of the net it was too late. The 'Back Door' Badgers fired 42 shots on goal, not letting up even with a 5-1 lead after two periods. Marc Behrend turned aside 30 of 33 shots in the contest and finished the tournament with a .932 save percentage in the Frozen Four, earning Tournament MOP honors. Despite the spectacular Frozen Four John Newbery was the only Badger other than Behrend to make the All-Tournament Team but the Wisconsin faithful were too overjoyed from the unexpected championship to mind.


1980–81 Wisconsin Badgers men's ice hockey season, Season
No Wisconsin player was named as an AHCA All-American and only Theran Welsh was named to the Second Team All-WCHA.


1980–81 Wisconsin Badgers men's ice hockey season, Standings, Schedule
During the season, Wisconsin compiled a 27–14–1 record. Its schedule was as follows.


1980–81 Wisconsin Badgers men's ice hockey season, Standings, Schedule
* Denotes overtime periods† WCHA game‡ Big Ten and WCHA game


1980–81 Yale Bulldogs men's basketball team
The 1980–81 Yale Bulldogs men's basketball team represented Yale University during the 1980–81 men's college basketball season. The Bulldogs, led by 6th 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 7–19, 4–10 in Ivy League play to finish in sixth place.


1980–81 Yale Bulldogs men's ice hockey season
The 1980–81 Yale Bulldogs men's ice hockey team represented Yale University in the 1980–81 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season. The team is coached by Tim Taylor, his fifth season behind the bench at Yale. The Bulldogs play their home games at Ingalls Rink on the campus of Yale University, competing in the ECAC.


1980–81 Yale Bulldogs men's ice hockey season
The Bulldogs posted a regular season record of 13 wins, 12 losses, and 1 tie. Despite finishing 2nd in the Ivy Region of the ECAC Conference, Yale didn't qualify for the postseason.


1980–81 Yale Bulldogs men's ice hockey season, Offseason
Five Senior Bulldogs graduated in May: Captain Gary Lawerence – F, Keith Allain – G, Steve Harrington – D, Wally Row – F, and Gavin Thurston – F


1980–81 Yale Bulldogs men's ice hockey season, Offseason
On June 11, forward Bob Brooke was drafted 75th overall by the St. Louis Blues in the 1980 NHL Entry Draft.


1980–81 Yale Bulldogs men's ice hockey season, Offseason
Senior defensemen Doug Tingey was named Captain for the 1980–81 season.


1980–81 Yorkshire Cup
The 1980–81 Yorkshire Cup was the seventy-third occasion on which the  Yorkshire Cup competition had been held.


1980–81 Yorkshire Cup
Leeds winning the trophy by beating Hull Kingston Rovers by the score of 8-7


1980–81 Yorkshire Cup
The match was played at Fartown Ground, Huddersfield, now in West Yorkshire. The attendance was 9,751 and receipts were £15,578


1980–81 Yorkshire Cup
This was Leeds' eighth victory (and the second of two consecutive victories - for the  third time within the  sequence) in what has been eight times in the space of thirteen seasons.


1980–81 Yorkshire Cup, Background
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.


1980–81 Yorkshire Cup, Background
This in turn resulted in no byes in the first round.


1980–81 Yorkshire Cup, Competition and Results, Final, Teams and Scorers
Scoring - Try = three (3) points - Goal = two (2) points - Drop goal = one (1) point


1980–81 Yorkshire Cup, Notes and comments
1 * Fartown was the home ground of Huddersfield from 1878 to the end of the 1991-92 season to Huddersfield Town FC's Leeds Road stadium, and then to the McAlpine Stadium in 1994. Fartown remained as a sports/Rugby League ground but is now rather dilapidated, and is only used for staging amateur rugby league games.


1980–81 Yorkshire Cup, Notes and comments
2 * Neil Hague -The player number given is as shown in the  Rothmans Yearbook 1990-91 and also 1991-92. The  RUGBYLEAGUEproject  shows  Neil Hague as a centre (numbered as 4)


1980–81 Yorkshire Cup, Notes and comments
3 * John Atkinson - The player number given is as shown in the  Rothmans Yearbook 1990-91 and also 1991-92. The  RUGBYLEAGUEproject  shows  John Atkinson as winger (numbered as 5)


1980–81 Yorkshire Cup, Notes and comments
4 * Willie Oulton   The player number given is as shown in the  Rothmans Yearbook 1990-91 and also 1991-92. The  RUGBYLEAGUEproject  shows  Willie Oulton as the full back (numbered as 1)


1980–81 Yorkshire Cup, Notes and comments, General information for those unfamiliar
The Rugby League 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).


1980–81 Yorkshire Cup, Notes and comments, General information for those unfamiliar
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)


1980–81 Yorkshire Football League
The 1980–81 Yorkshire Football League was the 55th season in the history of the Yorkshire Football League, a football competition in England.


1980–81 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:


1980–81 Yorkshire Football League, Division Two
Division Two featured eight clubs which competed in the previous season, along with eight new clubs.


1980–81 Yorkshire Football League, Division Three
Division Three featured nine clubs which competed in the previous season, along with seven new clubs.


1980–81 Yorkshire Football League, Division Three
Also, Sheffield Water Works changed name to Yorkshire Water Authority (Southern).


1980–81 Yugoslav Cup
The 1980–81 Yugoslav Cup (Serbian: Куп Југославије; Croatian: Kup Jugoslavije; Slovene: Pokal Jugoslavije, Macedonian: Куп на Југославија); also known as "Marshal Tito Cup" (Kup Maršala Tita); was the 33rd season of the top association football knockout competition in Yugoslavia since its establishment in 1946.


1980–81 Yugoslav Cup
The defending 1979–80 cup winners Dinamo Zagreb failed to retain the trophy as they were knocked out in the second round (i.e. round of 16) by Radnički Niš. Herzegovina side Velež from Mostar and Bosnian side Željezničar from Sarajevo reached the tournament final, in what would become the only cup final contested by two clubs from SR Bosnia and Herzegovina in the history of the competition which ran from 1946 to 1992.


1980–81 Yugoslav Cup
In the final match, played at the neutral ground of Red Star Stadium in Belgrade, Velež, led by coach Miloš Milutinović, won the cup by beating Ivica Osim's Željezničar 3–2 with Vahid Halilhodžić scoring a brace and Dragan Okuka adding a decisive third goal in the 80th minute. This was Velež's first cup win in only their second appearance in the final, the first one taking place 23 years earlier in 1957–58.


1980–81 Yugoslav Cup
Surprise of the tournament were third level sides Bregalnica Štip and Orijent (hailing from SR Macedonia and SR Croatia respectively) who sensationally managed to reach the quarter-finals. Bregalnica were eventually knocked out by cup winners Velež, while Orijent lost their quarter-final tie on penalties after holding the Montenegrin side Budućnost Titograd to a goalless draw. Budućnost themselves had an unusually good run, reaching the semi-finals and eliminating two of the Yugoslav "Big Four" clubs in the process, Hajduk Split and Red Star.


1980–81 Yugoslav Cup, Calendar
The Yugoslav Cup was a tournament for which clubs from all tiers of the football pyramid were eligible to enter. In addition, amateur teams put together by individual Yugoslav People's Army garrisons and various factories and industrial plants were also encouraged to enter, which meant that each cup edition could have several thousands of teams in its preliminary stages. These teams would play through a number of qualifying rounds before reaching the first round proper, in which they would be paired with top-flight teams.


1980–81 Yugoslav Cup, Calendar
The cup final was played on Sunday, 24 May, traditionally scheduled to coincide with Youth Day celebrated on 25 May, a national holiday in Yugoslavia which also doubled as the official commemoration of Josip Broz Tito's birthday.


1980–81 Yugoslav Cup, First round
First round proper was played on 15 October 1980. As in all stages until the final, ties were decided over a single leg, with penalty shootouts used to determine winners when matches ended in a draw after regular time. All eighteen 1980–81 Yugoslav First League clubs entered the competition at this stage, along with fourteen lower-tier teams.


1980–81 Yugoslav Cup, First round
Seven top-level clubs were knocked out at this stage: Borac Banja Luka, Hajduk Split, Rijeka, Sarajevo, Vardar, Vojvodina, and NK Zagreb.


1980–81 Yugoslav Cup, First round
In the following tables winning teams are marked in bold; teams from outside top level are marked in italic script.


1980–81 Yugoslav Cup, Second round
Second round proper was played on 19 November 1980. This round was marked by cup holders Dinamo Zagreb's exit following their 2–1 defeat to Radnički Niš, and the two third level minnows Bregalnica and Orijent who both knocked out top flight opponents. The tie between Sutjeska and Velež was awarded 3–0 to Velež.


1980–81 Yugoslav First Basketball League
The 1980–81 Yugoslav First Basketball League season was the 37th season of the Yugoslav First Basketball League, the highest professional basketball league in SFR Yugoslavia. The season ended with Partizan winning the league championship; despite finishing the season with an identical 19-3 record as Cibona, Partizan was better in their seasonal head-to-head, winning both of their contests during the season.


1980–81 Yugoslav First Basketball League, Notable events, Partizan vs. Cibona season series
The season was decided in two Partizan-Cibona games. First one was played in Zagreb during the first part of the season. The visiting team jumped out to an early 20+ point lead carried by Dragan Kićanović, Miško Marić, and Boban Petrović. However, in the second half, led by its center line — consisting of 32-year-old veteran Krešimir Ćosić who returned to Yugoslav League after two years in Italy and promising young prospect Andro Knego — Cibona annulled Partizan's first half lead. Still, Partizan held their nerve at the end, winning the game 94-95. Kićanović led all scorers with 32 points while his teammates Marić and Petrović contributed with 25 and 22 points, respectively. On the other side, Cibona's veteran center Ćosić scored 28 points while Knego added 26.


1980–81 Yugoslav First Basketball League, Notable events, Partizan vs. Cibona season series
The second Partizan-Cibona game of the season was played during spring 1981 in Belgrade. It turned out to be almost a carbon copy of the first one. Cheered on by a large and boisterous home crowd, Partizan jumped out to an early lead of over 20 points again before Cibona again came back in the second half. Partizan again proved calmer in a tense finish with Boban Petrović making a clutch bank jump shot that won the game for the Belgrade club 91-87.


1980–81 Yugoslav First Basketball League, Notable events, Partizan vs. Cibona season series
Petrović and Kićanović led Partizan in this key contest with 26 points each while Arsenije Pešić added 14. In Cibona, Knego and Željko Pavličević led the scoring with 27 and 24 points, respectively while its two best players Aco Petrović and Ćosić had a poor shooting night with only 7 and 4 points, respectively.


1980–81 Yugoslav First League
The 1980–81 Yugoslav First League season was the 35th season of the First Federal League (Serbo-Croatian: Prva savezna liga), the top level association football competition of SFR Yugoslavia, since its establishment in 1946. A total of 18 teams competed in the league, with the previous season's champions Red Star successfully defending their title, finishing the season two points clear of runners-up Hajduk Split.


1980–81 Yugoslav First League, Teams
A total of eighteen teams contested the league, including sixteen sides from the 1979–80 season and two sides promoted from the 1979–80 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.


1980–81 Yugoslav First League, Teams
Osijek and Čelik were relegated from the 1979–80 Yugoslav First League after finishing the season in bottom two places of the league table. The two clubs promoted were NK Zagreb and OFK Belgrade, returning to the top level after being relegated in the 1978–79 season.


1980–81 Yugoslav Ice Hockey League season
The 1980–81 Yugoslav Ice Hockey League season was the 39th season of the Yugoslav Ice Hockey League, the top level of ice hockey in Yugoslavia. Eight teams participated in the league, and Jesenice have won the championship.


1980–81 Yugoslav Second League
The 1980–81 Yugoslav Second League season was the 35th season of the Second Federal League (Serbo-Croatian: Druga savezna liga), the second level association football competition of SFR Yugoslavia, since its establishment in 1946. The league was contested in two regional groups (West Division and East Division), with 16 clubs each.


1980–81 Yugoslav Second League, West Division, Teams
A total of sixteen teams contested the league, including ten sides from the 1979–80 season, two clubs relegated from the 1979–80 Yugoslav First League and four sides promoted from the Inter-Republic Leagues played in the 1979–80 season. The league was contested in a double round robin format, with each club playing every other club twice, for a total of 30 rounds. Two points were awarded for wins and one point for draws.


1980–81 Yugoslav Second League, West Division, Teams
Čelik and Osijek were relegated from the 1978–79 Yugoslav First League after finishing at the bottom two places of the league table. The four clubs promoted to the second level were AIK Bačka Topola, GOŠK Jug, Jedinstvo Brčko and Svoboda.


1980–81 Yugoslav Second League, West Division, Teams
At the end of season the bribery scandal involving Maribor emerged, and caused the club to be relegated from second tier to third by the decision of the Football Association of Yugoslavia disciplinary committee. The club had a secret fund that was used for bribing officials and opponents. Some club officials were keeping track of the bribery expenses in their black book, which was later confiscated by the authorities. As a result of the decision, 13th placed Jedinstvo Bihać was allowed to stay in the league.


1980–81 Yugoslav Second League, West Division, Teams
Šmartno, the winner of Slovenian league in the third tier, withdrew from promotion as a result of financial difficulties and corruption allegations that resulted in Maribor's expulsion. The clubs from second to fourth place also did the same which led to 14th placed GOŠK Jug remain at the second level.


1980–81 Yugoslav Second League, East Division, Teams
A total of sixteen teams contested the league, including twelve sides from the 1978–79 season and four sides promoted from the Inter-Republic Leagues played in the 1979–80 season. The league was contested in a double round robin format, with each club playing every other club twice, for a total of 30 rounds. Two points were awarded for wins and one point for draws.


1980–81 Yugoslav Second League, East Division, Teams
There were no teams relegated from the 1979–80 Yugoslav First League and the four clubs promoted to the second level were Lovćen, Rabotnički, Sloboda Titovo Užice and Vlaznimi Đakovica.


1980–81 Yugoslav Second League, East Division, Teams
Due to disturbances in the territory of Socialist Autonomous Province of Kosovo, in the second part of the season Prishtina, Trepča and Vlaznimi Đakovica played their matches outside of the region. This resulted in a great number of postponed games at the end of the season. In the final round, Galenika Zemun played away against Teteks in a match that would have brought them promotion in case of victory due to better goal difference. The game ended as a goalless draw and Teteks won the promotion.


1980–81 ice hockey Bundesliga season
The 1980–81 Ice hockey Bundesliga season was the 23rd season of the Ice hockey Bundesliga, the top level of ice hockey in Germany. 12 teams participated in the league, and SC Riessersee won the championship.


1980–81 in English field hockey
1980–81 in English field hockey. The principal event for men was the National Inter League Championship which brought together the winners of their respective regional leagues. The Men's championship was won by Slough


1980–81 in English field hockey
The Men's Cup was won by Slough and the Women's Cup was won by Sutton Coldfield.


1980–81 in English field hockey, Men's Truman National Inter League Championship, Final
SloughIan Taylor, Paul Barber, Manjit Flora, Andy Churcher (Steve Partington sub), John Allen, Sutinder Singh Khehar, Brajinder Daved, Ken Partington (Bhaji Flora sub), Stuart Collins, Balwant Saini, Kuki DhakWestcliffA Christmas, R Holmes, P Wakeford, R Hilton, N Havens, P Anderson, N Boddington, T Copping, M Bond, J French, Ian Towler (L Bastow sub)


1980–81 in English field hockey, Men's Cup (Rank Xerox National Clubs Championship), Final
SloughIan Taylor, Paul Barber, Manjit Flora, Andy Churcher, John Allen, Sutinder Singh Khehar, Brajinder Daved, Ken Partington, Ravinder Laly, Balwant Saini, Kuki Dhak SouthgateDavid Owen, James Duthie, Mike Spray, David Craig, A J Wallace, Alistair McGinn, M Driver, Roly Brookeman, Sean Kerly, Imtiaz Sheikh, Steve Batchelor


1980–81 in English football
The 1980–81 season was the 101st season of competitive football in England.


1980–81 in English football, Diary of the season
9 August 1980: Liverpool win the Charity Shield as Terry McDermott scores the only goal in a 1–0 win over West Ham United.


1980–81 in English football, Diary of the season
14 August 1980: Having not played a first team game for Arsenal, Clive Allen leaves the club after just two months to join Crystal Palace, again costing his new club £1,250,000.


1980–81 in English football, Diary of the season
16 August 1980: Norwich City achieve the biggest win of the opening day of the First Division season, beating Stoke City 5–1. Champions Liverpool begin with a 3–0 win at home to Crystal Palace. Kevin Keegan makes his League début for Southampton in a 2–0 victory at home to Manchester City. Tottenham Hotspur's expensive new strike force of Steve Archibald and Garth Crooks help them to a 2–0 win over Nottingham Forest, with Crooks scoring the second goal.


1980–81 in English football, Diary of the season
30 August 1980: Newcastle United's Bill McGarry becomes the first managerial casualty of the season, being sacked after a failure to win any of the Second Division fixtures combined with a humiliating League Cup exit at the hands of Fourth Division side Bury. Former manager Joe Harvey takes charge of the club in a caretaker capacity, but quickly distances himself from any thoughts of a permanent return to the manager's job.


1980–81 in English football, Diary of the season
1 September 1980: Third Division basement side Carlisle United sack manager Martin Harvey after only six months in charge, and re-appoint former manager Bob Stokoe to replace him.


1980–81 in English football, Diary of the season
31 August 1980: The first month of the Football League season ends with Ipswich Town, Southampton and Aston Villa level at the top of the First Division after four matches. Stoke City, Manchester City and Leeds United occupy the bottom three places. The Second Division promotion race has begun with Blackburn Rovers, Derby County and Sheffield Wednesday occupying the top three places. Cambridge United, in only their 11th season as a Football League team, stand fourth in the division harbouring dreams of the quickest modern day rise from non-league football to the First Division.


1980–81 in English football, Diary of the season
7 September 1980: Chesterfield manager Arthur Cox is appointed as Newcastle United's new manager.


1980–81 in English football, Diary of the season
10 September 1980: England's 1982 World Cup qualifying series begins with a 4–0 win over Norway at Wembley.


1980–81 in English football, Diary of the season
28 September 1980: Jimmy Adamson resigns as Leeds United manager, a day after a 4–1 thumping by former club Sunderland, which has left the Yorkshire club second-bottom of the First Division, above Crystal Palace on goal difference alone.


1980–81 in English football, Diary of the season
30 September 1980: September draws to a close with Ipswich Town leading the First Division by four points over their nearest rivals Liverpool, Everton and Aston Villa. Crystal Palace have slumped to the bottom of the table and are joined in the relegation zone by Manchester City and Leeds United. The race for a place in the First Division next season is headed by the Second Division top three of Blackburn Rovers, West Ham United and Notts County. Cambridge United's promising start has fallen away and they now stand third from bottom.


1980–81 in English football, Diary of the season
1 October 1980: Manchester City sack manager Malcolm Allison and replace him with Norwich City's John Bond, who in turn is replaced by Ken Brown.


1980–81 in English football, Diary of the season
2 October 1980: Terry Venables departs Crystal Palace to take over at Queens Park Rangers, who sacked Tommy Docherty earlier that day. Crystal Palace appoint Venables' assistant, Ernie Walley as caretaker manager.


1980–81 in English football, Diary of the season
5 October 1980: Leeds United appoint former player and Barnsley manager Allan Clarke as Jimmy Adamson's successor. Clarke is succeeded at Barnsley by former Leeds teammate Norman Hunter.


1980–81 in English football, Diary of the season
15 October 1980: England suffer a 2–1 defeat to Romania in Bucharest in their second World Cup qualifier.


1980–81 in English football, Diary of the season
17 October 1980: Andy Ritchie, the highly promising Manchester United striker who turns 20 next month, is surprisingly sold to Brighton & Hove Albion for £500,000.


1980–81 in English football, Diary of the season
22 October 1980: Bottom of the First Division, Manchester City win their first league match of the season at the thirteenth attempt when they defeat Tottenham Hotspur 3–1.


1980–81 in English football, Diary of the season
31 October 1980: Aston Villa, who last won a top division title in 1910, finish October as First Division leaders, though Ipswich Town, still unbeaten, are two points behind them with two games in hand. Liverpool, Nottingham Forest, Manchester United and West Bromwich Albion are a further two points behind. Crystal Palace, Manchester City and Brighton & Hove Albion occupy the relegation places. The race for three places in the First Division next season is being headed by Notts County, West Ham United and Chelsea, with Swansea City, Blackburn Rovers and Sheffield Wednesday in close contention.


1980–81 in English football, Diary of the season
11 November 1980: Ipswich Town's unbeaten start to the season ends when they lose their fifteenth match 1–0 to bottom-placed Brighton & Hove Albion.


1980–81 in English football, Diary of the season
19 November 1980: England get their World Cup qualifying campaign back on track with a 2–1 win over Switzerland at Wembley.


1980–81 in English football, Diary of the season
29 November 1980: Ken Brown makes his first signing for Norwich City by paying Liverpool £100,000 for 19-year-old central defender Dave Watson.


1980–81 in English football, Diary of the season
30 November 1980: November ends with Aston Villa still leading the First Division, two points ahead of Liverpool. Ipswich Town are now third, but are three points off top spot with three games in hand. West Bromwich Albion and Arsenal complete the top five. Leicester City prop up the First Division having lost their last four games, and join Crystal Palace and Brighton & Hove Albion in the bottom three. West Ham United, Chelsea and Notts County continue to head the challenge for promotion to the First Division.


1980–81 in English football, Diary of the season
6 December 1980: Following a run of just one point in the last month, Crystal Palace reappoint former manager Malcolm Allison. Ernie Walley is offered the chance to continue as first-team manager with Allison in the role of general manager, but opts to leave the club and rejoin Terry Venables at Queens Park Rangers, leaving Allison in sole charge.


1980–81 in English football, Diary of the season
31 December 1980: The year ends with Liverpool leading the First Division on goal difference ahead of Aston Villa. Ipswich Town are a point behind the leaders with two games in hand, and Arsenal are a further three points adrift. Crystal Palace and Leicester City remain stranded in the bottom three, but Brighton & Hove Albion have climbed out of the drop zone on goal difference at the expense of Norwich City.


1980–81 in English football, Diary of the season
FA Cup holders West Ham United lead the Second Division promotion race, joining in the top three by Swansea City (who have never played in the top flight before) and Chelsea (who were last in the top flight two seasons ago). Notts County and Derby County are pushing the top three hard, while the likes of Luton Town and Orient are starting to emerge as possible contenders.


1980–81 in English football, Diary of the season
3 January 1981: Ipswich Town beat Aston Villa 1–0 in a heavyweight clash in the FA Cup third round. Everton defeat Arsenal 2–0.


1980–81 in English football, Diary of the season
10 January 1981: Aston Villa move to the top of the First Division after beating Liverpool 2–0 at Villa Park.


1980–81 in English football, Diary of the season
19 January 1981: FA Cup holders West Ham United are beaten 1–0 in a third round second replay by fellow Second Division side Wrexham.


1980–81 in English football, Diary of the season
24 January 1981: Manchester City defeat Norwich City 6–0 in the FA Cup fourth round tie at Maine Road, just two months after John Bond's move between the two clubs as manager. Everton knock out Merseyside rivals Liverpool with a 2–1 victory at Goodison Park, and Nottingham Forest beat Manchester United 1–0.


1980–81 in English football, Diary of the season
28 January 1981: Third Division Exeter City cause one of the shocks of the season by beating Leicester City 3–1 in an FA Cup fourth round replay.


1980–81 in English football, Diary of the season
31 January 1981: January draws to a close with Ipswich Town back on top of the First Division, ahead of second placed Aston Villa on goal difference with a game in hand. Liverpool are beaten 2–1 at home by Leicester City and are now four points off the top. Southampton and West Bromwich Albion complete the top five, while Manchester United, with fifteen draws already this season, have fallen to ninth in the table. Crystal Palace, Leicester City and Norwich City remain in the bottom three. West Ham United continue to lead the race for promotion, with Notts County and Chelsea completing the top three. Liverpool's 85-match unbeaten home run in all competitions is ended by a 2–1 home defeat to struggling Leicester City in the league, Their last home defeat was in February 1978.


1980–81 in English football, Diary of the season
3 February 1981: New Crystal Palace owner Ron Noades sacks Malcolm Allison and appoints Wimbledon manager Dario Gradi as Palace's fourth manager of the season. Wimbledon in turn appoint coach Dave Bassett as their new manager.


1980–81 in English football, Diary of the season
18 February 1981: Exeter City reach the FA Cup quarter-finals for only the second time in their history by defeating Newcastle United 4–0 in a replay after drawing 1–1 in the original fixture.


1980–81 in English football, Diary of the season
28 February 1981: Having won five League matches in a row, Ipswich Town remain top of the First Division at the end of February, with Aston Villa two points behind them. Liverpool's challenge is effectively over after taking just four points from four League games this month. Crystal Palace, Leicester City and Norwich City still occupy the relegation zone. West Ham United remain top of the Second Division, followed closely behind by Notts County and joined in the top three by Sheffield Wednesday at the expense of Chelsea, who have slumped to seventh. Grimsby Town have emerged as surprise promotion contenders alongside larger clubs like Blackburn Rovers and Derby County.


1980–81 in English football, Diary of the season
7 March 1981: Exeter City's FA Cup run finally ends when they lose 2–0 away to Tottenham Hotspur in the quarter-finals. At the City Ground, Ipswich Town go 2–0 up before Nottingham Forest score thrice to take the lead; the match finishes honours even at 3–3 after Frans Thijssen sends the match to a replay.


1980–81 in English football, Diary of the season
10 March 1981: Ipswich Town remain in contention for a treble of the league title, FA Cup and UEFA Cup by beating Nottingham Forest 1–0 in the FA Cup quarter-final replay.


1980–81 in English football, Diary of the season
12 March 1981: Ken Brown continues to build for the future of First Division strugglers Norwich City by paying Queens Park Rangers £225,000 for 22-year-old goalkeeper Chris Woods. Meanwhile, Liverpool sign 23-year-old Vancouver Whitecaps and Zimbabwe goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar for £250,000.


1980–81 in English football, Diary of the season
14 March 1981: The League Cup final ends in a 1–1 draw between Liverpool and West Ham United.


1980–81 in English football, Diary of the season
25 March 1981: Spain beat England 2–1 in a friendly at Wembley.


1980–81 in English football, Diary of the season
31 March 1981: Ipswich Town lose 3–0 away to Leeds United but remain one point ahead of second placed Aston Villa at the top of the First Division. West Bromwich Albion have moved into third, but are a distant six points behind Aston Villa. Crystal Palace, Norwich City and Leicester City remain in the bottom three places. West Ham United and Notts County continue to head the Second Division promotion race, joined in the top three by Grimsby Town at the expense of Sheffield Wednesday, who are now eighth.


1980–81 in English football, Diary of the season
1 April 1981: Liverpool win the Football League Cup for the first time, winning the replay 2–1 against West Ham United at Villa Park.


1980–81 in English football, Diary of the season
4 April 1981: Crystal Palace are relegated from the First Division with five matches of the season remaining.


1980–81 in English football, Diary of the season
7 April 1981: Sunderland sack manager Ken Knighton, and appoint Mick Docherty as caretaker manager for the last five games of the season.


1980–81 in English football, Diary of the season
8 April 1981: Aston Villa move three points clear at the top of the First Division after winning the derby against third-placed West Bromwich Albion 1–0.


1980–81 in English football, Diary of the season
10 April 1981: Following a disastrous run of form which has turned an initially promising season into a struggle against relegation, Everton announce that manager Gordon Lee will not be offered a new contract, and will leave the club at the end of the season. Blackburn Rovers manager Howard Kendall is considered the overwhelming favourite to succeed Lee for the following season.


1980–81 in English football, Diary of the season
11 April 1981: Ipswich Town's treble bid is ended with a 1–0 extra-time defeat by Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final at Villa Park. In the final, they will face either Tottenham Hotspur or Wolverhampton Wanderers, who draw 2–2 in the other semi-final at Hillsborough.


1980–81 in English football, Diary of the season
14 April 1981: Ipswich Town return to Villa Park for a crucial League match against First Division leaders Aston Villa, and win 2–1 to move within a point of their opponents with a game in hand.


1980–81 in English football, Diary of the season
15 April 1981: Tottenham Hotspur reach the FA Cup final by beating Wolverhampton Wanderers 3–0 in the semi-final replay at Highbury.


1980–81 in English football, Diary of the season
18 April 1981: Aston Villa take a decisive step towards the First Division title by beating Nottingham Forest 2–0 on the same day that Ipswich Town lose 2–0 at home to Arsenal.


1980–81 in English football, Diary of the season
25 April 1981: Aston Villa defeat Middlesbrough 3–0 at Villa Park, meaning they only need a draw from their final game of the season to seal their first league title since 1910. Leicester City are relegated.


1980–81 in English football, Diary of the season
29 April 1981: England draw 0–0 with Romania in their World Cup qualifying game at Wembley.


1980–81 in English football, Diary of the season
30 April 1981: Manchester United sack Dave Sexton after four trophyless seasons as manager.


1980–81 in English football, Diary of the season
2 May 1981: Aston Villa seal their first league title for 71 years despite losing their final game of the season 2–0 to Arsenal as Ipswich Town lose 2–1 to Middlesbrough, their third League defeat in four matches. Norwich City are relegated after a 3–2 home defeat to second-bottom Leicester City. Newly promoted to the First Division for next season are West Ham United after a three-year exile, Notts County after 55 years away, and Swansea City for the first time ever.


1980–81 in English football, Diary of the season
6 May 1981: Ipswich Town beat AZ Alkmaar 3–0 of the Netherlands in the first leg of the UEFA Cup final at Portman Road.


1980–81 in English football, Diary of the season
9 May 1981: In the FA Cup final against Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City's Tommy Hutchison scores for both teams, first putting Manchester City 1–0 but later scoring an own goal to bring the match to a replay.


1980–81 in English football, Diary of the season
12 May 1981: Zico scores the only goal as Brazil beat England 1–0 at Wembley.


1980–81 in English football, Diary of the season
14 May 1981: Tottenham Hotspur lift the FA Cup, defeating Manchester City 3–2 in the replay.


1980–81 in English football, Diary of the season
20 May 1981: Ipswich Town win the UEFA Cup 5–4 on aggregate despite losing 4–2 to AZ Alkmaar in the second leg of the final.


1980–81 in English football, Diary of the season
23 May 1981: England lose 1–0 at home to Scotland in the Home Championship, but the tournament remains unfinished after Northern Ireland are unable to complete their fixtures.


1980–81 in English football, Diary of the season
27 May 1981: An Alan Kennedy goal gives Liverpool their third European Cup triumph as they defeat Real Madrid 1–0 in the final at the Parc des Princes in Paris.


1980–81 in English football, Diary of the season
30 May 1981: A 2–1 defeat away to Switzerland leaves England struggling to qualify for the 1982 World Cup Finals.


1980–81 in English football, Diary of the season
6 June 1981: England end a run of six matches without a win with a 3–1 victory away to Hungary in a World Cup qualifier.


1980–81 in English football, Diary of the season
8 June 1981: Having failed to save Crystal Palace from relegation, Clive Allen drops down a division to return to Queens Park Rangers in a £400,000 deal.


1980–81 in English football, Diary of the season
9 June 1981: After a month of searching for a new manager, Manchester United appoint Ron Atkinson from West Bromwich Albion.


1980–81 in English football, UEFA Competitions
English clubs continued their dominance of European football. Liverpool won the European Cup, beating Real Madrid 1–0 in the final and ensuring that the trophy remained in English hands for the fifth year running. Bobby Robson proved his managerial credentials by bringing UEFA Cup glory to Ipswich Town, who beat AZ Alkmaar 5–4 on aggregate in the final.


1980–81 in English football, FA Cup
Inspired by Ricardo Villa and Osvaldo Ardiles, World Cup winners with Argentina in 1978, Tottenham Hotspur overcame Manchester City in the FA Cup final replay to lift their first major trophy under the management of Keith Burkinshaw.


1980–81 in English football, League Cup
Liverpool won their first League Cup, beating Second Division West Ham United 2–1 in a replay after the original tie ended in a 1–1 draw.


1980–81 in English football, Football League, First Division
A fiercely-contested First Division title race went right to the wire between Aston Villa and Ipswich Town, as challenges from the likes of Arsenal, West Bromwich Albion and Liverpool fell away during the season's closing stages. The title was finally won by Villa for the first time since 1910, while Ipswich did manage to win the UEFA Cup. Liverpool slipped into fifth place but compensated for this downfall by lifting the European Cup for the third time and their first-ever League Cup. Manchester United failed to make the top five and this shortcoming cost Dave Sexton his manager's job.


1980–81 in English football, Football League, First Division
Manchester United endured a disappointing season, finishing eighth. Their manager Dave Sexton had come under increased pressure over the disappointment of record signing Garry Birtles, who failed to find the net for United after his late autumn signing from Nottingham Forest in a million-plus transfer. At the end of the campaign Sexton was replaced by Ron Atkinson, who had just finished fourth in the league and reached the UEFA Cup quarter finals with an impressive West Bromwich Albion side.


1980–81 in English football, Football League, First Division
United's cross-city neighbours had also changed their manager, when dismissing Malcolm Allison in October to replace him with Norwich's John Bond, who pulled them up from the foot of the table to finish 12th in the league and reach the FA Cup final, where they took Tottenham to a replay before losing 3-2.


1980–81 in English football, Football League, First Division
Crystal Palace endured a dreadful season with just six wins. They were joined in the Second Division by Norwich City and Leicester City. The Eagles' stay in the top flight had lasted just two years, while The Canaries' relegation brought to an end their six years in the limelight. The Foxes, however, were relegated after just a single season in the First Division.


1980–81 in English football, Football League, Second Division
FA Cup holders West Ham United clinched the Second Division title by a wide margin to end their three-year absence from the First Division. They were joined by runners-up Notts County and a Swansea City side whose third-place finish gave them First Division football for the first time in their history and also completed a record of three promotions in four seasons. Blackburn Rovers missed out on promotion on goal difference, but their achievements did not go unnoticed by First Division clubs, as their manager Howard Kendall was then appointed manager of Everton.


1980–81 in English football, Football League, Second Division
Both Bristol City and Bristol Rovers were relegated from the Second Division, and they were joined in the relegation zone by Preston North End. The Robins were suffering their second consecutive relegation, having been relegated from the top flight just 12 months previously, having not fallen as low as the Third Division for 16 years. Their close rivals, Bristol Rovers, on the other hand, returned to the Third Division after seven years in the second. However, Preston North End's stay in the second division was even shorter, The Lilywhites having only been promoted three years previous.


1980–81 in English football, Football League, Third Division
Ian Porterfield, the scorer of Sunderland's winning goal in their famous FA Cup triumph of 1973, achieved the first success of his managerial career by guiding Rotherham United to the Third Division title and a place in the Second Division. Runners-up in the Third Division were another South Yorkshire side, Barnsley, now managed by the former Leeds United defender Norman Hunter. The final promotion place was snatched by Charlton Athletic, who finished three points ahead of a Huddersfield side looking to win a second successive promotion.


1980–81 in English football, Football League, Third Division
Sheffield United and Blackpool both fell into the Fourth Division for the first time, and were joined by Hull City and Colchester United.


1980–81 in English football, Football League, Third Division
Despite falling out of the Third Division this season, Sheffield United remarkably managed to lure Ian Porterfield from a Rotherham side who had just reached the Second Division, offering him a five-year contract and making the resources available to him to get the Blades back into the First Division by 1986.


1980–81 in English football, Football League, Fourth Division
Southend United won the Fourth Division title to clinch a place in the Third Division. They were joined by runners-up Lincoln City, third placed Doncaster Rovers and fourth placed Wimbledon.


1980–81 in English football, Football League, Fourth Division
There were no movements between the Fourth Division and the Alliance Premier League as the re-election system went in favour of the league's bottom four clubs, although bottom-placed York City came perilously close to being replaced by Alliance champions Altrincham, surviving by just two votes.


1980–81 in English football, Deaths
13 August 1980: George Haslam, 82, was a half-back during the interwar years for Manchester United, Darwen and Portsmouth.


1980–81 in English football, Deaths
29 August 1980: Billy Furness, 71, scored 93 league goals from inside-forward between 1928 and 1947 for Leeds United and Norwich City and was capped once for England in 1933.


1980–81 in English football, Deaths
6 September 1980: Joe Bradford, 79, scored a club record 267 goals in all competitions for Birmingham City between 1920 and 1935, completing his career with five games and one goal for Bristol City. He was capped 12 times for England, scoring seven goals.


1980–81 in English football, Deaths
7 October 1980: Jim Lewis, 71, played 111 league games for Watford as a centre-half in the 1930s before his playing career was ended by the war.


1980–81 in English football, Deaths
20 December 1980: Tom Waring, 74, scored 159 league goals from centre-forward for Aston Villa between 1928 and 1935, though he failed to win a major trophy with them. He had previously scored 23 goals in 24 league games for Tranmere Rovers, and after leaving Villa Park he turned out for Barnsley and Wolverhampton Wanderers before returning to Tranmere for two years and finishing his career at Accrington Stanley. By the time of his last senior game in 1938, he had scored 244 league goals. He was capped five times by England in the early 1930s and scored four goals.


1980–81 in English football, Deaths
30 December 1980: George Beel, 80, scored a club record 178 league goals for Burnley between 1923 and 1932. His career spanned from 1919 to 1933 and took in a total of 243 league goals. He also turned out for Lincoln City (twice), Merthyr Town, Chesterfield and Rochdale.


1980–81 in English football, Deaths
3 February 1981: Sammy Crooks, 73, played 408 league games on the right wing for Derby County between 1927 and 1947 after signing from Durham City. He played for the Rams in the first five rounds of the FA Cup in 1946 but a knee injury prevented him from playing in the final. He managed Shrewsbury Town in their first four seasons in the Football League and also managed four different non-league sides. He was capped 26 times by England in the 1930s and scored seven goals.