1960–61 in English football

Tottenham Hotspur sealed the Football League First Division title with a 2–1 home win over Sheffield Wednesday on 17 April 1961. Preston North End, who had been the first team to achieve the League and FA Cup "double", was relegated in last place – and to date have not returned to the top flight of English football since. 1960–61 still remains the last time Tottenham Hotspur won the League Championship.

Portsmouth F.C. became the first former English League champion to be relegated to the Third Division, ten years after winning their second title.

Peterborough United set a football league record by scoring the most league goals in one season (134).

13 August 1960 - League champions Burnley and FA Cup winners Wolves share the FA Charity Shield with a 2-2 draw at Turf Moor.[1]

20 August 1960 - The Football League season commences with Burnley starting their defence of the league title with a 3-2 home win over Arsenal. FA Cup holders and last season's league runners-up Wolves beat West Ham 4-2 at home. Derek Dougan scores a hat-trick in Blackburn's 3-1 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford. A decade after their first league title triumph, Tottenham begin their quest for a second league title with a 2-0 home win over an Everton still in search of their first postwar major trophy.[2]

22 August 1960 - Tottenham continue their good start to the season with a 3-1 away win over Blackpool. West Ham manage an impressive 5-2 home win over Aston Villa.[3]

24 August 1960 - Blackburn's good start to the season continues with a 4-1 home win over Nottingham Forest. Manchester United's dismal start continues with a 4-0 defeat at Everton. Newcastle United record an impressive 7-2 home win over Fulham.[4]

27 August 1960 - Tottenham are the only First Division side with a 100% record after three games, winning 4-1 over Blackburn at Ewood Park. Blackpool win a thrilling match 5-3 over Aston Villa at Bloomfield Road. A six-goal thriller at Stamford Bridge sees Chelsea and Wolves draw 3-3. Fulham bounce back from their setback on Tyneside three days ago with a 4-2 away win over West Bromwich Albion.[5]

31 August 1960 - August ends with Tottenham still top after a Bobby Smith hat-trick gives them a 3-1 home win over Blackpool. Manchester United record a league win at the third attempt with a 4-0 home win over Everton. A seven-goal thriller at Craven Cottage sees Fulham beat Newcastle 4-3. A midlands derby watched by nearly 38,000 fans sees Birmingham City win 3-1 over West Bromwich Albion. In a re-match of last season's FA Cup final, Wolves beat Blackburn 3-1 at home.[6]

3 September 1960 - Tottenham's winning start to the league season stretches to five games as they beat Manchester United 4-1 at White Hart Lane. Bobby Smith and Les Allen both score twice. Sheffield Wednesday (who beat West Ham 1-0 at home) and Wolves (who beat Blackpool 1-0 at home) are their nearest contenders.[7]

5 September 1960 - The day's First Division action sees Everton beat Blackpool 4-1 at Bloomfield Road, West Bromwich Albion beat Newcastle United 6-0 at The Hawthorns, and West Ham beat Manchester United 2-1 at Upton Park.[8]

6 September 1960 - Burnley boost their hopes of retaining the First Division title with a 5-0 home win over Lancashire rivals Preston at Turf Moor.[9]

7 September 1960 - Tottenham's winning start to the league campaign stretches to six games with a 2-1 away win over Bolton. 20-year-old striker Jimmy Greaves scores a hat-trick in Chelsea's 5-2 home win over Blackburn Rovers. Wolves keep up their hopes of a third league title in four seasons by beating Leicester City 3-2 at home.[10]

10 September 1960 - Nearly 60,000 fans pack into Highbury to see Tottenham beat their North London rivals Arsenal and take their winning start to the First Division season to seven games.[11]

14 September 1960 - Manchester United show signs of shaking off their slow start to the First Division campaign by beating West Ham United 6-1 at Old Trafford. Bobby Charlton and Dennis Viollet both score twice, while Albert Quixall and Albert Scanlon get a goal each. Tottenham's 3-1 home win over Bolton takes their winning start to the league season to eight games. Their nearest rivals in the title race, Sheffield Wednesday, keep up the pressure with a 3-1 home win over Manchester City.[12]

17 September 1960 - Bobby Smith scores both of Tottenham's goal in a 2-1 win over Leicester City at Filbert Street, taking their winning start to the league campaign to nine games. Their nearest rivals Sheffield Wednesday are held to a 2-2 draw at Deepdale by Preston. A seven-goal thriller at Burnden Park sees Everton beat Bolton 4-3. More than 37,000 fans pack Craven Cottage for a West London derby, which sees Fulham beat Chelsea 3-2. Burnley continue to push for back-to-back league title triumphs by beating Birmingham City 2-1 at Turf Moor.[13]

21 September 1960 - Struggling Nottingham Forest climb off the bottom of the First Division with a 4-2 win over Fulham at the City Ground.[14]

24 September 1960 - Tottenham make it 10 consecutive wins from the start of the First Division season by beating Aston Villa 6-2 at White Hart Lane in front of a crowd of more than 61,000. Their nearest contenders Sheffield Wednesday, Everton, Blackburn, Wolves and Fulham all keep up the pressure with victories. Ronnie Allen scores a hat-trick for struggling West Bromwich Albion in their 6-3 home win over Manchester City.[15]

1 October 1960 - Nearly 53,000 fans pack into Molineux stadium to watch Wolves take on leaders Tottenham, but the visitors steal the show with a 4-0 victory which gives them an unprecedented 11-match winning start to the league season. Defending champions Burnley are far from finished in their bid to retain the title, though, as they beat Fulham 5-0 at Turf Moor.[16]

8 October 1960 - England beat Northern Ireland 5-2 in the home international fixture at Windsor Park. Jimmy Greaves scores twice for England, with the other goals coming from Bobby Charlton, Bobby Smith and Bryan Douglas. The day's Football League action sees Burnley keep up their title bid with a 4-1 away win over Lancashire rivals Blackburn at Ewood Park. Aston Villa continue their fine return to the First Division with a 2-0 home win over Newcastle lifting them into ninth place.[17]

10 October 1960 - Tottenham's 100% start in the First Division comes to an end after 12 games when Manchester City hold them to a 1-1 draw at White Hart Lane.[18]

15 October 1960 - Tottenham get back to their winning ways in the league with a 4-0 away win over Nottingham Forest. Their nearest title rivals Sheffield Wednesday win at home by the same scoreline against bottom of the table Blackpool. An eight-goal thriller on Tyneside sees Newcastle and Wolves draw 4-4. Dennis Viollet scores a hat-trick but still ends up on the losing side as Manchester United go down 5-3 at Burnley.[19]

19 October 1960 - England's qualifying campaign to reach the 1962 World Cup gets off a flying start with a 9-0 away win over Luxembourg. Bobby Charlton and Jimmy Greaves both score hat-tricks, Bobby Smith scores twice and Johnny Haynes is also on the scoresheet.[20]

22 October 1960 - Gerry Hitchens scores a hat-trick in Aston Villa's 6-2 home win over local rivals Birmingham City in the First Division. Burnley continue to keep up their title challenge with a 6-2 away win over Chelsea. West Ham beat Preston 5-2 at Upton Park. Wolves beat Sheffield Wednesday 4-1 at home.[21]

24 October 1960 - Everton boost their title hopes with a 4-2 home win over Manchester City. Dennis Viollet scores both of Manchester United's goals in a 2-1 home win over Nottingham Forest, who are bottom of the First Division after 14 games.[22]

26 October 1960 - England beat Spain in a friendly in front of a crowd of more than 85,000 at Wembley.[23]

29 October 1960 - First Division leaders Tottenham are still unbeaten in the league after winning all but one of their opening 14 fixtures, their latest victory being a 4-3 away win in front of more than 51,000 fans at Newcastle.[24]

2 November 1960 - Tottenham's brilliant league form continues with a hard-fought 3-2 home win over Cardiff City.[25]

3 November 1960 - A Friday night First Division fixture at Filbert Street, watched by just under 17,000 fans, sees Leicester beat Preston 5-2.[26]

5 November 1960 - Tottenham have now won 15 of their opening 16 First Division games after winning 5-1 at home to Fulham. Blackpool defeat Cardiff City 6-1 at Bloomfield Road to boost their hopes of avoiding relegation. Bottom club Nottingham Forest's survival hopes are hit hard when they lose 5-3 at Wolves.[27]

12 November 1960 - Tottenham suffer their first league defeat of the season when they lose 2-1 in front of nearly 54,000 fans on their visit to their nearest rivals Sheffield Wednesday, who are now five points behind them with a game in hand. Everton miss the chance to take full advantage of Tottenham's defeat, being held to a 1-1 draw by Cardiff City at Ninian Park. A thrilling match at Turf Moor sees Burnley beat Wolves 5-3, a result which boosts the home side's title ambitions but has the opposite effect on the visiting side's.[28]

19 November 1960 - Tottenham return to their winning ways with a 6-0 home win over Birmingham City in the First Division, further boosted by Sheffield Wednesday's 2-1 defeat at Leicester. Nottingham Forest remain bottom of the table but give their survival hopes a major boost with a 4-2 away win over West Ham United. Burnley continue to keep up the pressure in the title race with a 5-3 away win over Lancashire rivals Bolton. Everton beat Newcastle 5-0 at Goodison Park.[29]

23 November 1960 - The England team's scoring spree continues with a 5-1 home international win over Wales at Wembley.[30]

26 November 1960 - David Herd scores a hat-trick in Arsenal's 3-2 First Division home win over Everton. Manchester United's dismal league form continues with a 3-0 defeat to Cardiff City at Ninian Park. Tottenham Hotspur now have a nine-point lead at the top of the table, with a game in hand, after 3-1 away win over West Bromwich Albion. Sheffield Wednesday's title hopes are hit by a 2-1 home defeat to Aston Villa. Wolves keep up the pressure with a 3-1 away win over Fulham.[31]

3 December 1960 - Leaders Tottenham draw 4-4 at home to Burnley in a thrilling First Division encounter. Jimmy Greaves scores five of Chelsea's goals in a 7-1 home win over West Bromwich Albion. Fulham's recent bad run of form continues with a 5-1 defeat at Blackburn. Everton go second with a 4-2 home win over Sheffield Wednesday, who drop down to fourth. Wolves go third with a 5-3 homw win over Arsenal.[32]

10 December 1960 - A goal-laden afternoon in the First Division sees Arsenal beat Bolton 5-1 at Highbury, Everton win 4-2 away to Birmingham, Burnley win 3-2 at home to Leicester, Fulham and Manchester United draw 4-4 at Craven Cottage, Wolves beat Manchester City 4-2 at Maine Road, Newcastle draw 5-5 at home to West Ham, and Sheffield Wednesday return to their winning ways with a 5-4 home victory over Blackburn. Tottenham maintain their comfortably lead of the First Division, with John White scoring the only goal of their visit to Preston.[33]

17 December 1960 - Tottenham are now 10 points ahead at the top of the First Division with a 3-1 away win over their nearest rivals Everton. Burnley beat Arsenal 5-2 at Highbury, Aston Villa win 4-2 away to Chelsea, Wolves are beaten 5-0 at West Ham, while Blackpool defeat Leicester 5-1 at home.[34]

24 December 1960 - Christmas Eve action in the First Division sees Tottenham maintain their 10-point lead of the table with goals from Terry Dyson and John White giving them a 2-0 win at home to West Ham. Albert Scanlon scores his first goal for Newcastle since joining them from Manchester United last month, in a 2-2 draw at home to Birmingham. Wolves move into second place with a 2-0 away win over local rivals Aston Villa. Everton, Sheffield Wednesday and Burnley all have the advantage of games in hand over Wolves in what is now looking like a race for second place, rather than a race to catch runaway leaders Tottenham.[35]

26 December 1960 - Boxing Day drama in the First Division sees Tottenham continue their runaway lead of the First Division with a 3-0 win over London rivals West Ham at Upton Park. John White and Les Allen are on the scoresheet, while West Ham's Ken Brown scores an own goal. Manchester United's recent upturn in form continues with a 6-0 home win over Chelsea, with 20-year-old forward Alex Dawson scoring a hat-trick, Jimmy Nicholson scoring twice and Bobby Charlton also getting a goal in Matt Busby's team's biggest win so far this season. Second-placed Wolves keep up the pressure on the leaders with a 3-2 home win over local rivals Aston Villa. Turf Moor's biggest crowd so far this season with a crowd of more than 44,000 sees Burnley lose 3-1 at home to Everton.[36]

27 December 1960 - The day after losing 3-1 at home to Everton, Burnley travel to Goodison Park and turn the tables on Harry Catterick's men with a 3-0 win. A Lancashire derby at Ewood Park sees Blackburn beat Blackpool 2-0.[37]

31 December 1960 - 1960 draws to a close with Tottenham still 10 points ahead at the top of the First Division, beating Blackburn Rovers 5-2 today at White Hart Lane with two goals each from Bobby Smith and Les Allen, with another goal from captain Danny Blanchflower. Second-placed Wolves keep up the pressure with a 6-1 home win over Chelsea. Burnley go third with a 5-3 home win over Newcastle and David Herd gets a hat-trick in Arsenal's 5-3 away win over Nottingham Forest. The Manchester derby at Old Trafford sees United triumph 5-1 over City with a hat-trick from Alex Dawson and two goals from Bobby Charlton. Everton suffer a 4-1 setback against Leicester at Filbert Street.[38]

7 January 1961 - Wolves begin their defence of the FA Cup with a 1-1 draw at home to Huddersfield Town. Last season's beaten finalists Blackburn Rovers are held to an even more surprisingly goalless draw in their third round visit to Chesterfield. Tottenham's hopes of becoming the first team this century to win the double are boosted with a 3-2 win over Charlton Athletic. The last non-league team in the competition, Oxford United, are eliminated with a 3-1 defeat at Leicester. Manchester United's hopes of landing their first silverware since before the Munich air disaster are boosted with a 3-0 home win over Middlesbrough.[39]

11 January 1961 - Holders Wolves are knocked out of the FA Cup with a 2-1 third round replay defeat to Huddersfield at Leeds Road. Chesterfield's hopes of edging past Blackburn are ended with a 3-0 replay defeat at Ewood Park.[40]

14 January 1961 - A nine-goal thriller at Highbury sees David Herd score his third league hat-trick of the season in Arsenal's 5-4 home win over Manchester City.[41]

16 January 1961 - The largest Football League crowd of the season sees Manchester United inflict a rare league defeat on leaders Tottenham, with goals from forward Mark Pearson and teenage wing-half Nobby Stiles giving Matt Busby's men a 2-0 home victory and lifting them into eighth place.[42]

21 January 1961 - Manchester United suffer a 6-0 defeat to Leicester City at Filbert Street in one of their heaviest defeats of the postwar era. Sheffield Wednesday also score six on their visit to Fulham, who score one goal in reply. White Hart Lane's largest crowd this season sees Tottenham triumph 4-2 over North London rivals Arsenal in front of more than 65,000 fans. Wolves are 10 points behind with a game in hand, beating Everton 4-1 at home. A six-goal thriller at Maine Road sees Manchester City and Newcastle fight out a 3-3 draw.[43]

28 January 1961 - Tottenham keep up their double bid with a 5-1 home win over Crewe Alexandra in the FA Cup fourth round. Lancashire rivals Bolton and Blackburn force a replay with a 3-3 draw at Burnden Park. Manchester United and Sheffield Wednesday's clash also goes to a replay after a 1-1 draw at Hillsborough. Leicester's clash at home to Bristol City is abandoned at half time due to a waterlogged pitch. Manchester City are 6-2 up against Luton Town after 69 minutes when the match at Kenilworth Road is abandoned for the same reason. Denis Law had scored six goals for City. The only First Division action of the day is the Black Country derby at Molineux, where Wolves keep up the pressure on Tottenham with a 4-2 home win over West Bromwich Albion.[44]

1 February 1961 - The rescheduled FA Cup clash between Luton Town and Manchester City at Kenilworth Road goes smoothly but sees the home side run out 3-1 winners, when they had faced with almost certain defeat four goals down when the original match was called off due to severe weather. In the fourth round replay matches, Blackburn beat Bolton 4-0 at Ewood Park, while Manchester United suffer a 7-2 defeat at home to Sheffield Wednesday.[45]

4 February 1961 - Leaders Tottenham go down 3-2 at home to Leicester in the First Division, but Wolves fail to take advantage of a rare defeat for the leaders, losing 2-1 to Blackburn at Ewood Park. Sheffield Wednesday home in on the top two with a 5-1 home win over Preston, who are now bottom of the table and six points adrift of safety.[46]

11 February 1961 - Tottenham return to their winning ways with a 2-1 away triumph over Aston Villa, with Wolves keeping the gap between first and second place at eight points with a 2-1 home win over Manchester United. A fourth versus third clash at Turf Moor sees Sheffield Wednesday beat Burnley 4-3.[47]

18 February 1961 - Tottenham keep up their double challenge with a 2-0 away win over Aston Villa in the FA Cup fifth round. Third Division underdogs Barnsley reach the quarter-finals with a 1-0 home win over Luton Town. Burnley go through with a 4-0 home win over Swansea Town. In the First Division, Manchester United climb three places to ninth with a 3-1 home win over Bolton.[48]

25 February 1961 - Terry Medwin scores the only goal of the game as leaders Tottenham remain in pole position with an away win over Manchester City. A seven-goal thriller at Craven Cottage sees Fulham beat Blackpool 4-3. Sheffield Wednesday beat Chelsea 1-0 at home to go second in the league, leaving them nine points behind Tottenham with a game in hand.[49]

4 March 1961 - Three of the four FA Cup quarter-final fixtures go to a replay, with Sheffield United managing to secure a semi-final place at the first attempt with a 3-1 win over Newcastle on Tyneside. The key action of the First Division sees Wolves lose 5-2 at Blackpool, and United win the Manchester derby 3-1 at Maine Road in front of a crowd of more than 50,000.[50]

7 March 1961 - Burnley go through to the FA Cup semi-finals with a 2-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday in the quarter-final replay at Turf Moor.[51]

8 March 1961 - Barnsley's FA Cup dream ends with a 2-1 home defeat to Leicester City in the quarter-final replay at Oakwell, where the South Yorkshire stadium hosts one of its biggest-ever crowds of more than 39,000. Tottenham remain on track for the double with a 5-0 win over Sunderland in their replay tie at White Hart Lane.[52]

11 March 1961 - An eight-goal thriller at Turf Moor sees Burnley and Chelsea draw 4-4 in the First Division. Preston keep up their survival push with a 4-0 home win over West Ham. Leaders Tottenham suffer a rare defeat as a crowd of more than 45,000 at Ninian Park sees Cardiff win 3-2 against Bill Nicholson's side. Wolves squander the chance to take full advantage of Tottenham's defeat, only managing a goalless draw on their visit to third-placed Sheffield Wednesday.[53]

15 March 1961 - Burnley's European Cup hopes are ended when they lose 4-1 in the quarter-final second leg against Hamburger SV in West Germany, having won the first leg 3-1 at Turf Moor. The only First Division action of the evening sees Sheffield Wednesday go second with a 1-0 win at Blackpool.[54]

18 March 1961 - Tottenham reach the FA Cup final with a 3-0 win over Burnley in the Villa Park semi-final. The other semi-final at Elland Road goes to a replay after Leicester City and Sheffield United draw 0-0. The First Division action sees Sheffield Wednesday continue to eat into Tottenham's lead with a 1-0 win at Bolton, Blackburn Rovers beating Manchester City 4-1 at Ewood Park and Wolves beating locals rivals Birmingham City 5-1 at the Molineux.[55]

22 March 1961 - Leaders Tottenham lose 2-1 at home to Newcastle United in the First Division, a result which boosts the visiting side's survival bid.[56]

23 March 1961 - The FA Cup semi-final duel between Leicester City and Sheffield United goes to a second replay after another goalless draw, this time at St Andrew's.[57]

25 March 1961 - Jimmy Greaves scores four of Chelsea's goals in their 6-1 away win over Newcastle. Leaders Tottenham drop points again when Fulham hold them to a goalless draw at Craven Cottage. Sheffield Wednesday cut their lead to three points with a 5-1 home win over Manchester United.[58]

27 March 1961 - The second FA Cup semi-final replay between Leicester City and Sheffield United sees the East Midlanders beat Sheffield United 2-0 to reach the final for only the second time in their history.[59]

1 April 1961 - Tottenham get back on track with a 5-0 home win over Preston in the First Division, increasing their lead of the table to four points with six games left to play, after Sheffield Wednesday can only manage a 1-1 draw at Blackburn. Chelsea record another high-scoring victory, beating Cardiff City 6-1 at home.[60]

8 April 1961 - Tottenham extend their lead of the First Division to six points with a 3-2 away win over Birmingham City, while Sheffield Wednesday are held to a 2-2 draw at home to Leicester City.[61]

15 April 1961 - England beat Scotland 9-3 in the home international fixture against Scotland in front of more than 97,000 fans at Wembley, making it 31 goals in just five internationals for the national side. Jimmy Greaves scores a hat-trick, Bobby Smith and Johnny Haynes score twice, and there is a goal each from Bryan Douglas and Bobby Robson.[62]

17 April 1961 - Tottenham seal the First Division title with a 2-1 home win over their last remaining rivals Sheffield Wednesday at White Hart Lane. Bobby Smith and Les Allen score for the champions, and Don Megson scores for the visitors.[63]

22 April 1961 - Wolves gain the upper hand in the race for second place in the First Division, beating Arsenal 5-1 at Highbury. Preston North End are relegated to the Second Division with a 4-2 defeat at home to Manchester United.[64]

24 April 1961 - Ipswich Town, managed by former England international Alf Ramsey, seal the Second Division title, having already won promotion to the First Division for the first time. They will be joined in the First Division next season by runners-up Sheffield United.[65]

29 April 1961 - The First Division season draws to a close with champions Tottenham losing 2-1 at home to West Bromwich Albion, while Sheffield Wednesday finish second despite a 4-1 defeat at Aston Villa, as third-placed Wolves lose 4-2 at home to Fulham. Newcastle United join Preston in the Second Division for next season despite a 4-2 win at Blackburn, due to Blackpool holding Manchester City to a 3-3 draw at Bloomfield Road and having a superior goal average.[66]

6 May 1961 - Tottenham Hotspur become the first team this century to win the double, beating Leicester City 2-0 with goals from Bobby Smith and Terry Dyson.

7 June 1961 - Manchester City forward Denis Law, 21, joins Torino of Italy in a £110,000 deal - the biggest fee involving a British player or club.

Tottenham Hotspur beat Leicester City 2–0 to win the 1961 FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium to become the first team in the 20th Century to win the double.

The 1960–61 was the inaugural staging of the Football League Cup, The tournament was won by Aston Villa, who beat Rotherham United 3–2 on aggregate after extra time. Although Aston Villa are credited as the League Cup Winners in 1960–61, both legs of the Final were held over until after the commencement of the 1961–62 season due to fixture congestion. Villa finally lifted the trophy on 5 September 1961.

In June 1961, Denis Law left Manchester City for Italian side Torino in a £100,000 deal – a record fee involving a British player.

Competition	Winner	Runner-up
First Division	Tottenham Hotspur (2)	Sheffield Wednesday
Second Division	Ipswich Town	Sheffield United
Third Division	Bury	Walsall
Fourth Division	Peterborough United	Crystal Palace
FA Cup	Tottenham Hotspur (3)	Leicester City
League Cup	Aston Villa (1)	Rotherham United
Charity Shield	Burnley and Wolverhampton Wanderers (shared)
Home Championship	England	Wales

Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour. * indicates new record for competition

Football Writers' Association

• Footballer of the Year – Danny Blanchflower (Tottenham Hotspur)