Football league season
| Season | 1984–85 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Wealdstone (1st Alliance Premier League title) |
| Promoted to the Football League | None |
| Runners-up | Nuneaton Borough |
| Relegated to Level 6 | Gateshead, Worcester City, Yeovil Town |
| Promoted for the next season | Cheltenham Town, Stafford Rangers, Wycombe Wanderers |
| Matches played | 462 |
| Goals scored | 1,343 (2.91 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Paul Culpin (Nuneaton Borough), 36 |
| Biggest home win | Barnet – Wealdstone 7–0 |
| Biggest away win | Bath City – Kettering Town 1–6; Gateshead – Enfield 0–6 |
| Highest scoring | Altrincham – Boston United 7–2; Weymouth – Gateshead 5–4 |
| Longest winning run | ? |
| Longest unbeaten run | ? |
| Longest losing run | ? |
| Highest attendance | ? |
| Lowest attendance | ? |
| Average attendance | ? |
| ← 1983–84 1985–86 → | |
The Alliance Premier League season of 1984–85 (known as the Gola League 1984–85 for sponsorship reasons) was the sixth season of the Alliance Premier League. This was the first year where the Isthmian League acted as an APL feeder league.
New teams in the league this season
Final table
| Pos | Team | Pld | HW | HD | HL | HGF | HGA | AW | AD | AL | AGF | AGA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wealdstone | 42 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 31 | 26 | 12 | 2 | 7 | 33 | 28 | +10 | 62 | Football Conference Champions, no promotion |
| 2 | Nuneaton Borough | 42 | 13 | 8 | 0 | 55 | 23 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 30 | 30 | +32 | 58 | |
| 3 | Dartford | 42 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 28 | 25 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 29 | 23 | +9 | 57 | |
| 4 | Bath City | 42 | 15 | 1 | 5 | 30 | 22 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 22 | 27 | +3 | 57 | |
| 5 | Altrincham | 42 | 13 | 2 | 6 | 39 | 21 | 8 | 4 | 9 | 24 | 26 | +16 | 56 | |
| 6 | Scarborough | 42 | 10 | 7 | 4 | 35 | 20 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 34 | 42 | +7 | 54 | |
| 7 | Enfield | 42 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 48 | 27 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 36 | 34 | +23 | 53 | |
| 8 | Kidderminster Harriers | 42 | 8 | 4 | 9 | 40 | 38 | 9 | 4 | 8 | 39 | 39 | +2 | 51 | |
| 9 | Northwich Victoria | 42 | 9 | 4 | 8 | 22 | 19 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 28 | 27 | +4 | 50 | |
| 10 | Telford United | 42 | 10 | 7 | 4 | 36 | 24 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 23 | 30 | +5 | 49 | |
| 11 | Frickley Athletic | 42 | 12 | 3 | 6 | 38 | 25 | 6 | 4 | 11 | 27 | 46 | −6 | 49 | |
| 12 | Kettering Town | 42 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 37 | 22 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 31 | 37 | +9 | 48 | |
| 13 | Maidstone United | 42 | 10 | 7 | 4 | 38 | 24 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 20 | 27 | +7 | 48 | |
| 14 | Runcorn | 42 | 6 | 9 | 6 | 27 | 21 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 21 | 26 | +1 | 48 | Conference League Cup winners |
| 15 | Barnet | 42 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 36 | 20 | 6 | 4 | 11 | 23 | 32 | +7 | 47 | |
| 16 | Weymouth | 42 | 13 | 1 | 7 | 41 | 32 | 2 | 12 | 7 | 29 | 34 | +4 | 45 | |
| 17 | Boston United | 42 | 10 | 5 | 6 | 43 | 32 | 5 | 5 | 11 | 26 | 37 | 0 | 45 | |
| 18 | Barrow | 42 | 6 | 9 | 6 | 25 | 22 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 22 | 35 | −10 | 43 | |
| 19 | Dagenham | 42 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 28 | 27 | 5 | 4 | 12 | 19 | 40 | −20 | 41 | |
| 20 | Worcester City | 42 | 7 | 4 | 10 | 29 | 36 | 5 | 5 | 11 | 26 | 48 | −29 | 38 | Relegated to the Southern League |
| 21 | Gateshead | 42 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 27 | 42 | 4 | 6 | 11 | 24 | 40 | −31 | 33 | Relegated to the Northern Premier League |
| 22 | Yeovil Town | 42 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 26 | 36 | 2 | 4 | 15 | 18 | 51 | −43 | 25 | Relegated to the Isthmian League |
Rules for classification: 2 points for a home win, 3 points for an away win, 1 point for a draw.
Notes:
Results
| Home \ Away | ALT | BAR | BRW | BAT | BOS | DAG | DAR | ENF | FRK | GAT | KET | KID | MDS | NOR | NUN | RUN | SCA | TEL | WEA | WEY | WRC | YEO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altrincham | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 7–2 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 3–2 | 3–4 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 3–0 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | |
| Barnet | 1–0 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 3–2 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 7–0 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 4–1 | |
| Barrow | 0–2 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 3–3 | 1–0 | 2–2 | |
| Bath City | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 1–6 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 0–3 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 1–0 | |
| Boston United | 0–0 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–3 | 1–0 | 3–4 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 4–1 | 3–0 | |
| Dagenham | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 0–3 | 4–1 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 4–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–0 | |
| Dartford | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–0 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | |
| Enfield | 3–3 | 3–3 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 5–3 | 5–2 | 1–2 | 3–2 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 3–4 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 6–0 | 4–0 | |
| Frickley Athletic | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | |
| Gateshead | 0–1 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 0–5 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 4–1 | 2–1 | 2–6 | 0–2 | 0–3 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | |
| Kettering Town | 1–2 | 4–0 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 4–3 | 5–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 0–1 | 4–2 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 3–0 | |
| Kidderminster Harriers | 0–2 | 1–4 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–4 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 3–4 | 0–1 | 3–2 | 0–2 | 0–3 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 3–0 | |
| Maidstone United | 3–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 1–4 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 5–1 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 1–4 | 4–0 | 3–3 | |
| Northwich Victoria | 1–2 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 0–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | |
| Nuneaton Borough | 4–1 | 1–1 | 5–2 | 0–0 | 4–2 | 2–2 | 5–1 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 5–2 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 4–2 | 3–0 | 5–0 | |
| Runcorn | 1–2 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 1–4 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 3–0 | |
| Scarborough | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 5–0 | 1–3 | 2–3 | 1–2 | 5–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 3–2 | 0–0 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | |
| Telford United | 0–2 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 5–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 4–2 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | |
| Wealdstone | 1–0 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–0 | 5–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 0–3 | |
| Weymouth | 2–1 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 4–2 | 2–1 | 5–4 | 3–0 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 3–2 | 0–3 | 3–1 | 4–2 | |
| Worcester City | 1–1 | 1–2 | 3–2 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 2–5 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 4–1 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 0–0 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | |
| Yeovil Town | 1–2 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 1–2 |
Note: For this season, the Rothmans Football Yearbook 1985–86 had 15 incorrect match results in their results grid, which rendered it as good as useless. Correct results were obtained from the Football Conference, courtesy of Dennis Strudwick, general manager, and John Harman, Statistician.
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
AltrinchamBarnetBarrowBath CityBoston UnitedDagenhamDartfordEnfieldFrickleyGatesheadKettering TownKidderminster HarriersMaidstoneNorthwich VictoriaNuneatonRuncornScarboroughTelford UnitedWealdstoneWeymouthWorcester CityYeovil Townclass=notpageimage| Locations of the Alliance Premier League teams 1984–1985
BarnetDagenhamDartfordEnfieldWealdstoneclass=notpageimage| Locations of the Alliance Premier League 1984–1985 London teams
Top scorers
| Rank | Player | Club | League | FA Cup | FA Trophy | League Cup | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paul Culpin | Nuneaton Borough | 36 | ||||
| 2 | Gary Hooley | Frickley Athletic | 29 | ||||
| 3 | Frank Murphy | Nuneaton | 21 | ||||
| = | John Powell | Kidderminster Harriers | 21 | ||||
| 5 | Paul Bennett | Altrincham | 20 | ||||
| 6 | Paul Davies | Kidderminster Harriers | 19 | ||||
| = | Dave Flint | Enfield | 19 | ||||
| = | Bob Lee | Boston United | 19 | ||||
| = | Steve Mahoney | Kidderminster Harriers | 19 | ||||
| 10 | Ian Donaldson | Gateshead | 17 | ||||
| = | Paul Moss | Worcester City | 17 | ||||
| 12 | Mike Doherty | Weymouth | 16 | ||||
| = | Bill Jeffery | Kettering Town | 16 | ||||
| = | Gerry Pearson | Kidderminster Harriers | 16 | ||||
| 15 | Mark Graves | Wealdstone | 15 | ||||
| 16 | Marshall Burke | Scarborough | 13 | ||||
| = | Colin Cowperthwaite | Barrow | 13 | ||||
| = | Nicky Evans | Barnet | 13 | ||||
| = | Paul Reid | Northwich Victoria | 13 | ||||
| = | Mark Smith | Kettering Town | 13 | ||||
| = | Les Whitton | Dagenham | 13 | ||||
| 22 | Carl Richards | Enfield | 12 | ||||
| 23 | Mark Carter | Runcorn | 11 |
Promotion and relegation
Promoted
- Cheltenham Town (from the Southern Premier League)
- Stafford Rangers (from the Northern Premier League)
- Wycombe Wanderers (from the Isthmian League)
Relegated
- Gateshead (to the Northern Premier League)
- Worcester City (to the Southern Premier League)
- Yeovil Town (to the Isthmian League)
Election to the Football League
This year Wealdstone, the champions of the Alliance Premier League, could not apply for election because their stadium did not meet Football League requirements. 2nd placed Nuneaton could not apply either for the same reason, and nor could 3rd placed Dartford, so 4th placed Bath City won by default the right to apply for election to the Football League to replace one of the four bottom sides in the 1984–85 Football League Fourth Division. The voting went as follows:
| Club | Final Position | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| Northampton Town | 23rd (Fourth Division) | 52 |
| Stockport County | 22nd (Fourth Division) | 50 |
| Torquay United | 24th (Fourth Division) | 50 |
| Halifax Town | 21st (Fourth Division) | 48 |
| Bath City | 4th (Alliance Premier League) | 8 |
As a result of this, Bath City failed to gain membership of the Football League.
References
- ^ Peter Dunk (ed.), Rothmans Football Yearbook 1985–86. Queen Anne Press, Macdonald & Co., London & Sydney, 1985.
External links
- 1984–85 Conference National Results
- Re-election Results – The Division Four final league table, including the results of the re-election vote.
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