Football Journey: July 2023

Friday, July 28, 2023

England III Division

III Division. The top two teams - directly promoted, the next 4 – to play-offs for the last promotion, the last 4 – relegated.

Aldershot – last and relegated with 37 points.

Gillingham - 23^rd with 40 points and relegated.

Chesterfield - 22^nd with 49 points and relegated.

Southend United - 21^st with 54 and relegated. Unfortunately, on goal-difference.

Northampton Town - 20^th with 54 points. Survived on better goal-difference.

Blackpool - 19^th with 55 points.

Reading - 18^th with 56 points.

Wigan Athletic - 17^th with 56 points.

Cardiff City - 16^th with 57 points.

Mansfield Town - 15^th with 59 points. Back row: Place, Anderson, Coleman, Pearcey, Beasley, Cox, Kearney, Kenworthy, Hodges

Middle row: Williams, Garner, Chambers, Pettit (Physio), Dearden (Coach), Greaves (manager), Jarman (Asst Manager), Charles, Cassells, Brogan

Front row: Price, Graham, Lowery, Foster, Kent, Owen, Stringfellow, Ryan, McKernon

Seated on ground: Bircumshaw, Clarke, Elkington, Gray, Hood, Ellerton, Reddish, Milner, Parker

Huddersfield Town - 14^th with 60 points. (Back) Kirkham, Trevitt, France, Hardwick, Mitchell, Martin, O'Doherty, Brown, Winter

(Middle) McAllister (physio), Cork, Marsden, Maskell, May, Withe (Ass. coach), Chapman, O'Regan, Shelton, Bent, Mann (youth coach)

(Front) Maddrick, Hutchings, Tucker, Ward, Hand (manager), Shotton, Barham, Bray and Holmes.

Bury - 13^th with 61 points.

Swansea City - 12^th with 61points.

Bristol City - 11^th with 63 points.

Bolton Wanderers - 10^th with 64 points.

Notts County - 9^th with 67 points. Back row: Machin, Fairclough, Atkin, Leonard, Davison, Norton, Draper, Johnson
Middle row: Barnwell(Manager), Walker(Coach), Law, Yates, Smalley, Lund, Jackson, Kevan, Hart(Youth), Newman(Asst.Man)
Front row: Withe, McParland, McStay, Birtles, Pike, O'Riordan, Mills, Thorpe

Chester City - 8^th with 68 points.

Brentford - 7^th with 68 points.

Preston North End - 6^th with 72 points and qualified for promotion play-offs.

Bristol Rovers - 5^th with 74 points and going to promotion play-offs.

Fulham - 4^th with 75 points and going to promotion play-offs.

Port Vale - 3^rd and going to promotion play-offs.

Sheffield United - 2^nd with 84 points and directly promoted to II Division. Clinched promotion on better goal-difference.

Wolverhampton Wanderers – league champions with 92 points from 26 wins, 14 ties, 6 losses, and 96-49 goal-difference. Strong and confident victory. Looked like full revival of the club was in progress – it was their second promotion in two years.

Promotion play-offs: Preston North End lost to Port Vale 1-1 and 1-3. Fulham was eliminated by Bristol Rovers 0-1 and 0-4. At the final Port Vale got the upper hand over Bristol Rovers - 1-1 and 1-0.

Port Vale earned the last promotion this season. As they were the least famous club among the promoted teams, it was wonderful success for them.

And the champions again – the Wolves dominated the championship and climbed up. Their prolific striker Steve Bull was the first player to reach the 50-goal mark in two consecutive season. May be they would be going even higher and back to top flight? Let keep fingers crossed.