1979–80 Everton F.C. season

13 October 1979: Crystal Palace's unbeaten start to the season ends with a 3–1 defeat to Everton at Goodison Park.

October 1979: John Gidman is signed from Aston Villa for £650,000 (2013: £2,900,000) in a deal which sees midfielder Pat Heard move the other way at a valuation of £100,000.^[1]

29 February 1980: With the season approaching its final quarter, Manchester United have moved level on points at the top of the First Division with Liverpool, who have a game in hand. Bolton Wanderers remain bottom, with just one League win from their first 27 matches, and Derby County and Bristol City also remain in the relegation zone, with Everton occupying the last safe spot.^[2]

1 March 1980: Everton lose 2–1 at home to Liverpool in the First Division Merseyside derby, and during the game their legendary former striker Dixie Dean dies from a heart attack in the stands, aged 72.^[3]

8 March 1980: Second Division West Ham United, having beaten Aston Villa 1–0 in the FA Cup sixth round, are joined in the last four by Liverpool, Everton and holders Arsenal.^[4]

12 April 1980: Both FA Cup semi-finals - Arsenal versus Liverpool and Everton versus West Ham United - end in draws.^[4]

16 April 1980: West Ham United beat Everton 2–1 at Elland Road to reach the FA Cup final.^[4]

		P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Liverpool	42	25	10	7	81	30	+51	60
2	Manchester United	42	24	10	8	65	35	+30	58
3	Ipswich Town	42	22	9	11	68	39	+29	53
4	Arsenal	42	18	16	8	52	36	+16	52
5	Nottingham Forest	42	20	8	14	63	43	+20	48
6	Wolverhampton Wanderers	42	19	9	14	58	47	+11	47
7	Aston Villa	42	16	14	12	51	50	+1	46
8	Southampton	42	18	9	15	65	53	+12	45
9	Middlesbrough	42	16	12	14	50	44	+6	44
10	West Bromwich Albion	42	11	19	12	54	50	+4	41
11	Leeds United	42	13	14	15	46	50	−4	40
12	Norwich City	42	13	14	15	58	66	−8	40
13	Crystal Palace	42	12	16	14	41	50	−9	40
14	Tottenham Hotspur	42	15	10	17	52	62	−10	40
15	Coventry City	42	16	7	19	56	66	−10	39
16	Brighton & Hove Albion	42	11	15	16	47	57	−10	37
17	Manchester City	42	12	13	17	43	66	−23	37
18	Stoke City	42	13	10	19	44	58	−14	36
19	Everton	42	9	17	16	43	51	−8	35
20	Bristol City	42	9	13	20	37	66	−29	31
21	Derby County	42	11	8	23	47	67	−20	30
22	Bolton Wanderers	42	5	15	22	38	73	−35	25

Deaths

• 1 March 1980 – Dixie Dean, 73, legendary Everton striker who scored 60 league goals in the 1927–28 season; died on 1 March after suffering a heart attack while watching Everton's game against Liverpool at Goodison Park.

References

1. The Guardian, Clough apology to directors, 19 October 1979
2. Smailes, Gordon (2000). The Breedon Book of Football Records. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 144. ISBN 1859832148.
4. Smailes, Gordon (2000). The Breedon Book of Football Records. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 234. ISBN 1859832148.