# 1985–86 Football League

The 1985–86 season was the 87th completed season of The Football League.

## Final league tables and results

The tables and results below are reproduced here in the exact form that they can be found at The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation website, with home and away statistics separated.
During the first five seasons of the league, that is, until the season 1893–94, re-election process concerned the clubs which finished in the bottom four of the league. From the 1894–95 season and until the 1920–21 season the re-election process was required of the clubs which finished in the bottom three of the league. From the 1922–23 season on it was required of the bottom two teams of both Third Division North and Third Division South. Since the Fourth Division was established in the 1958–59 season, the re-election process has concerned the bottom four clubs in that division.

## First Division

In a close three-horse race, Liverpool pipped Everton and West Ham United to the First Division title, while also defeating Merseyside rivals Everton in the FA Cup Final, thereby completing a historic double. Manchester United had been ten points clear in early November after winning their first ten matches; and thirteen of their first fifteen, but injuries, loss of form and ineffective signings had seen them fall away, leaving them still waiting for their first league title since 1967, mounting the pressure of manager Ron Atkinson, although the Old Trafford board initially decided to stick with Atkinson as their manager for the following season.
Arsenal finished seventh in the league for a third successive season, their manager Don Howe resigning a few weeks before the end of the season after it was reported that Terry Venables had been offered his job. Coach Steve Burtenshaw was placed in temporary charge of the first team until the end of the season, when George Graham returned to Highbury as manager. Tottenham Hotspur finished a disappointing 10th in the league, prompting the White Hart Lane board to sack manager Peter Shreeves and replace him with Luton Town's David Pleat.
At the lower end of the table, a disastrous season saw West Bromwich Albion relegated in bottom place after just four wins in the league, while nearby rivals Birmingham City fared nearly as badly, and were relegated in second place from bottom; both clubs would not return to the top flight until 2002. Their local rivals Aston Villa nearly went down with them, before a late upturn in form secured their survival. Oxford United had a memorable first season at this level as League Cup winners, but spent much of the season battling against relegation before finally managing to beat the drop. The final relegation place went to Ipswich Town, who had gradually fallen out of contention with the First Division's leading pack since Bobby Robson's departure to manage the England team four years earlier.

### Final table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Liverpool (C) | 42 | 26 | 10 | 6 | 89 | 37 | +52 | 88 | Disqualified from the European Cup |
| 2 | Everton | 42 | 26 | 8 | 8 | 87 | 41 | +46 | 86 | Disqualified from the European Cup Winners' Cup |
| 3 | West Ham United | 42 | 26 | 6 | 10 | 74 | 40 | +34 | 84 | Disqualified from the UEFA Cup |
| 4 | Manchester United | 42 | 22 | 10 | 10 | 70 | 36 | +34 | 76 | Disqualified from the UEFA Cup |
| 5 | Sheffield Wednesday | 42 | 21 | 10 | 11 | 63 | 54 | +9 | 73 | Disqualified from the UEFA Cup |
| 6 | Chelsea | 42 | 20 | 11 | 11 | 57 | 56 | +1 | 71 | |
| 7 | Arsenal | 42 | 20 | 9 | 13 | 49 | 47 | +2 | 69 | |
| 8 | Nottingham Forest | 42 | 19 | 11 | 12 | 69 | 53 | +16 | 68 | |
| 9 | Luton Town | 42 | 18 | 12 | 12 | 61 | 44 | +17 | 66 | |
| 10 | Tottenham Hotspur | 42 | 19 | 8 | 15 | 74 | 52 | +22 | 65 | |
| 11 | Newcastle United | 42 | 17 | 12 | 13 | 67 | 72 | −5 | 63 | |
| 12 | Watford | 42 | 16 | 11 | 15 | 69 | 62 | +7 | 59 | |
| 13 | Queens Park Rangers | 42 | 15 | 7 | 20 | 53 | 64 | −11 | 52 | |
| 14 | Southampton | 42 | 12 | 10 | 20 | 51 | 62 | −11 | 46 | |
| 15 | Manchester City | 42 | 11 | 12 | 19 | 43 | 57 | −14 | 45 | |
| 16 | Aston Villa | 42 | 10 | 14 | 18 | 51 | 67 | −16 | 44 | |
| 17 | Coventry City | 42 | 11 | 10 | 21 | 48 | 71 | −23 | 43 | |
| 18 | Oxford United | 42 | 10 | 12 | 20 | 62 | 80 | −18 | 42 | Disqualified from the UEFA Cup |
| 19 | Leicester City | 42 | 10 | 12 | 20 | 54 | 76 | −22 | 42 | |
| 20 | Ipswich Town (R) | 42 | 11 | 8 | 23 | 32 | 55 | −23 | 41 | Relegation to the Second Division |
| 21 | Birmingham City (R) | 42 | 8 | 5 | 29 | 30 | 73 | −43 | 29 | Relegation to the Second Division |
| 22 | West Bromwich Albion (R) | 42 | 4 | 12 | 26 | 35 | 89 | −54 | 24 | Relegation to the Second Division |
* ↑ Since the FA Cup winners, Liverpool, would have instead qualified for the European Cup, qualification would have instead been passed down to runners-up Everton.
* ↑ Since Everton would have instead qualified for the European Cup Winners' Cup, UEFA Cup qualification would have been passed down to Sheffield Wednesday.
* ↑ Oxford United would have qualified as League Cup winners.

### First Division results

| Home \ Away | ARS | AST | BIR | CHE | COV | EVE | IPS | LEI | LIV | LUT | MCI | MUN | NEW | NOT | OXF | QPR | SHW | SOU | TOT | WAT | WBA | WHU |
| Arsenal | | 3–2 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 3–2 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–0 |
| Aston Villa | 1–4 | | 0–3 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 |
| Birmingham City | 0–1 | 0–0 | | 1–2 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 1–0 |
| Chelsea | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 | | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–5 | 3–0 | 0–4 |
| Coventry City | 0–2 | 3–3 | 4–4 | 1–1 | | 1–3 | 0–1 | 3–0 | 0–3 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 5–2 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 3–0 | 0–1 |
| Everton | 6–1 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | | 1–0 | 1–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–3 | 3–1 | 6–1 | 1–0 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 |
| Ipswich Town | 1–2 | 0–3 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 3–4 | | 0–2 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 3–2 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 0–1 |
| Leicester City | 2–2 | 3–1 | 4–2 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 1–0 | | 0–2 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 0–3 | 4–4 | 1–4 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 1–4 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–1 |
| Liverpool | 2–0 | 3–0 | 5–0 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 0–2 | 5–0 | 1–0 | | 3–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 4–1 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 4–1 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 3–1 |
| Luton Town | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 0–1 | | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 7–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 3–0 | 0–0 |
| Manchester City | 0–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | | 0–3 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 0–3 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 |
| Manchester United | 0–1 | 4–0 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | | 3–0 | 2–3 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 2–0 |
| Newcastle United | 1–0 | 2–2 | 4–1 | 1–3 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–4 | | 0–3 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 1–2 |
| Nottingham Forest | 3–2 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 5–2 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 4–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–2 | | 1–1 | 4–0 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 3–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 |
| Oxford United | 3–0 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 4–3 | 5–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 1–2 | | 3–3 | 0–1 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–2 |
| Queens Park Rangers | 0–1 | 0–1 | 3–1 | 6–0 | 0–2 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–5 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 |
| Sheffield Wednesday | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–5 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 0–0 | | 2–1 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 2–2 |
| Southampton | 3–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 2–3 | | 1–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 1–0 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 5–1 | 0–3 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 5–3 | | 4–0 | 5–0 | 1–0 |
| Watford | 3–0 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 2–3 | 1–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | | 5–1 | 0–2 |
| West Bromwich Albion | 0–0 | 0–3 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 0–0 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 2–3 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | | 2–3 |
| West Ham United | 0–0 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 8–1 | 4–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 4–0 | |

### Managerial changes

| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
| Liverpool | Joe Fagan | Retired | 30 May 1985 | Pre-season | Kenny Dalglish | 30 May 1985 |
| Southampton | Lawrie McMenemy | Signed by Sunderland | 8 June 1985 | Pre-season | Chris Nicholl | 12 July 1985 |
| Queens Park Rangers | Frank Sibley | Became assistant manager | 11 June 1985 | Pre-season | Jim Smith | 11 June 1985 |
| Oxford United | Jim Smith | Signed by Queens Park Rangers | 11 June 1985 | Pre-season | Maurice Evans | 11 June 1985 |
| Chelsea | John Neal | Retired | 12 June 1985 | Pre-season | John Hollins | 12 June 1985 |
| Newcastle United | Jack Charlton | Resigned | 10 August 1985 | Pre-season | Willie McFaul | 10 August 1985 |
| West Bromwich Albion | Johnny Giles | Resigned | 29 September 1985 | 22nd | Nobby Stiles | 29 September 1985 |
| Birmingham City | Ron Saunders | Resigned | 16 January 1986 | 21st | John Bond | 22 January 1986 |
| West Bromwich Albion | Nobby Stiles | Sacked | 1 February 1986 | 22nd | Ron Saunders | 14 February 1986 |
| Arsenal | Don Howe | Resigned | 22 March 1986 | 5th | Steve Burtenshaw (caretaker) | 22 March 1986 |
| Coventry City | Don Mackay | Sacked | 13 April 1986 | 20th | John Sillett | 13 April 1986 |

### First Division maps
## Second Division

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Norwich City (C, P) | 42 | 25 | 9 | 8 | 84 | 37 | +47 | 84 | Promotion to the First Division |
| 2 | Charlton Athletic (P) | 42 | 22 | 11 | 9 | 78 | 45 | +33 | 77 | Promotion to the First Division |
| 3 | Wimbledon (P) | 42 | 21 | 13 | 8 | 58 | 37 | +21 | 76 | Promotion to the First Division |
| 4 | Portsmouth | 42 | 22 | 7 | 13 | 69 | 41 | +28 | 73 | |
| 5 | Crystal Palace | 42 | 19 | 9 | 14 | 57 | 52 | +5 | 66 | |
| 6 | Hull City | 42 | 17 | 13 | 12 | 65 | 55 | +10 | 64 | |
| 7 | Sheffield United | 42 | 17 | 11 | 14 | 64 | 63 | +1 | 62 | |
| 8 | Oldham Athletic | 42 | 17 | 9 | 16 | 62 | 61 | +1 | 60 | |
| 9 | Millwall | 42 | 17 | 8 | 17 | 64 | 65 | −1 | 59 | |
| 10 | Stoke City | 42 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 48 | 50 | −2 | 57 | |
| 11 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 42 | 16 | 8 | 18 | 64 | 64 | 0 | 56 | |
| 12 | Barnsley | 42 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 47 | 50 | −3 | 56 | |
| 13 | Bradford City | 42 | 16 | 6 | 20 | 51 | 63 | −12 | 54 | |
| 14 | Leeds United | 42 | 15 | 8 | 19 | 56 | 72 | −16 | 53 | |
| 15 | Grimsby Town | 42 | 14 | 10 | 18 | 58 | 62 | −4 | 52 | |
| 16 | Huddersfield Town | 42 | 14 | 10 | 18 | 51 | 67 | −16 | 52 | |
| 17 | Shrewsbury Town | 42 | 14 | 9 | 19 | 52 | 64 | −12 | 51 | |
| 18 | Sunderland | 42 | 13 | 11 | 18 | 47 | 61 | −14 | 50 | |
| 19 | Blackburn Rovers | 42 | 12 | 13 | 17 | 53 | 62 | −9 | 49 | |
| 20 | Carlisle United (R) | 42 | 13 | 7 | 22 | 47 | 71 | −24 | 46 | Relegation to the Third Division |
| 21 | Middlesbrough (R) | 42 | 12 | 9 | 21 | 44 | 53 | −9 | 45 | Relegation to the Third Division |
| 22 | Fulham (R) | 42 | 10 | 6 | 26 | 45 | 69 | −24 | 36 | Relegation to the Third Division |

### Results

| Home \ Away | BAR | BLB | BRA | B&HA | CRL | CHA | CRY | FUL | GRI | HUD | HUL | LEE | MID | MIL | NWC | OLD | POR | SHU | SHR | STK | SUN | WDN |
| Barnsley | | 1–1 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 1–3 | 1–4 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 0–1 |
| Blackburn Rovers | 0–3 | | 3–0 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 6–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 |
| Bradford City | 2–0 | 3–2 | | 3–2 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 3–0 | 4–2 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1–4 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 |
| Brighton & Hove Albion | 0–1 | 3–1 | 2–1 | | 6–1 | 3–5 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 4–3 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 3–3 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 |
| Carlisle United | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | | 2–3 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 2–3 |
| Charlton Athletic | 2–1 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 3–0 | | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 0–0 |
| Crystal Palace | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | | 0–0 | 2–1 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 3–2 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 1–3 |
| Fulham | 2–0 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 0–3 | 2–3 | | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 2–3 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 0–2 |
| Grimsby Town | 1–2 | 5–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 1–0 | | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 1–0 | 1–4 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 3–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–1 |
| Huddersfield Town | 1–1 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | | 2–1 | 3–1 | 0–3 | 4–3 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–1 |
| Hull City | 0–1 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | | 2–1 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 4–2 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 4–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 |
| Leeds United | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | | 1–0 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 |
| Middlesbrough | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | | 3–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 |
| Millwall | 2–2 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 5–0 | 3–1 | 3–0 | | 4–2 | 0–1 | 0–4 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 1–0 | 0–1 |
| Norwich City | 1–1 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 4–3 | 2–1 | 3–2 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 6–1 | | 1–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–2 |
| Oldham Athletic | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–3 | | 2–0 | 1–5 | 4–3 | 2–4 | 2–2 | 2–1 |
| Portsmouth | 1–1 | 3–0 | 4–0 | 1–2 | 4–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 1–2 | | 0–3 | 4–0 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 1–1 |
| Sheffield United | 3–1 | 3–3 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 0–1 | 1–3 | 2–5 | 2–0 | 0–0 | | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 4–0 |
| Shrewsbury Town | 3–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | | 1–0 | 1–2 | 1–1 |
| Stoke City | 0–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 0–1 | 6–2 | 3–2 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | | 1–0 | 0–0 |
| Sunderland | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 0–3 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | | 2–1 |
| Wimbledon | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 4–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–3 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 1–3 | 5–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 3–0 | |

### Second Division maps
## Third Division

| Pos | Team | Pld | HW | HD | HL | HGF | HGA | AW | AD | AL | AGF | AGA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| 1 | Reading | 46 | 16 | 3 | 4 | 39 | 22 | 13 | 4 | 6 | 28 | 29 | +16 | 94 | Division Champions, promoted |
| 2 | Plymouth Argyle | 46 | 17 | 3 | 3 | 56 | 20 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 32 | 33 | +35 | 87 | Promoted |
| 3 | Derby County | 46 | 13 | 7 | 3 | 45 | 20 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 35 | 21 | +39 | 84 | Promoted |
| 4 | Wigan Athletic | 46 | 17 | 4 | 2 | 54 | 17 | 6 | 10 | 7 | 28 | 31 | +34 | 83 | |
| 5 | Gillingham | 46 | 14 | 5 | 4 | 48 | 17 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 33 | 37 | +27 | 79 | |
| 6 | Walsall | 46 | 15 | 7 | 1 | 59 | 23 | 7 | 2 | 14 | 31 | 41 | +26 | 75 | |
| 7 | York City | 46 | 16 | 4 | 3 | 49 | 17 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 28 | 41 | +19 | 71 | |
| 8 | Notts County | 46 | 12 | 6 | 5 | 42 | 26 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 29 | 34 | +11 | 71 | |
| 9 | Bristol City | 46 | 14 | 5 | 4 | 43 | 19 | 4 | 9 | 10 | 26 | 41 | +9 | 68 | |
| 10 | Brentford | 46 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 29 | 29 | 10 | 4 | 9 | 29 | 32 | −3 | 66 | |
| 11 | Doncaster Rovers | 46 | 7 | 10 | 6 | 20 | 21 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 25 | 31 | −7 | 64 | |
| 12 | Blackpool | 46 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 38 | 19 | 6 | 6 | 11 | 28 | 36 | +11 | 63 | |
| 13 | Darlington | 46 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 39 | 33 | 5 | 6 | 12 | 22 | 45 | −17 | 58 | |
| 14 | Rotherham United | 46 | 13 | 5 | 5 | 44 | 18 | 2 | 7 | 14 | 17 | 41 | +2 | 57 | |
| 15 | AFC Bournemouth | 46 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 41 | 31 | 6 | 3 | 14 | 24 | 41 | −7 | 54 | |
| 16 | Bristol Rovers | 46 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 27 | 21 | 5 | 4 | 14 | 24 | 54 | −24 | 54 | |
| 17 | Chesterfield | 46 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 41 | 30 | 3 | 8 | 12 | 20 | 34 | −3 | 53 | |
| 18 | Bolton Wanderers | 46 | 10 | 4 | 9 | 35 | 30 | 5 | 4 | 14 | 19 | 38 | −14 | 53 | |
| 19 | Newport County | 46 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 35 | 33 | 4 | 10 | 9 | 17 | 32 | −13 | 51 | |
| 20 | Bury | 46 | 11 | 7 | 5 | 46 | 26 | 1 | 6 | 16 | 17 | 41 | −4 | 49 | |
| 21 | Lincoln City | 46 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 33 | 34 | 3 | 7 | 13 | 22 | 43 | −22 | 46 | Relegated |
| 22 | Cardiff City | 46 | 7 | 5 | 11 | 22 | 29 | 5 | 4 | 14 | 31 | 54 | −30 | 45 | Relegated |
| 23 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 46 | 6 | 6 | 11 | 29 | 47 | 5 | 4 | 14 | 28 | 51 | −41 | 43 | Relegated |
| 24 | Swansea City | 46 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 27 | 27 | 2 | 4 | 17 | 16 | 60 | −44 | 43 | Relegated |

### Third Division results

| Home \ Away | BOU | BLP | BOL | BRE | BRC | BRR | BRY | CAR | CHF | DAR | DER | DON | GIL | LIN | NPC | NTC | PLY | REA | ROT | SWA | WAL | WIG | WOL | YOR |
| AFC Bournemouth | | 1–4 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 5–0 | 6–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 1–3 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 4–0 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 2–0 |
| Blackpool | 2–0 | | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 4–2 | 5–0 | 3–0 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 0–2 |
| Bolton Wanderers | 1–0 | 1–3 | | 1–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 5–0 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 4–1 | 1–1 |
| Brentford | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | | 1–2 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 3–3 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 3–3 |
| Bristol City | 1–3 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 0–0 | | 2–0 | 4–1 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 2–3 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 2–2 |
| Bristol Rovers | 2–3 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 5–2 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 |
| Bury | 3–0 | 4–1 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 6–3 | 1–1 | | 3–0 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 0–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 4–2 |
| Cardiff City | 0–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 0–0 | | 0–2 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 2–3 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 |
| Chesterfield | 0–1 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 1–3 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 4–3 | 3–4 | | 1–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 3–4 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 1–0 |
| Darlington | 0–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 3–5 | 2–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–1 | | 2–1 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 1–0 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 6–0 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 |
| Derby County | 3–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | | 1–1 | 2–0 | 7–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 5–1 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 4–2 | 2–1 |
| Doncaster Rovers | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 0–3 | | 2–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 1–1 |
| Gillingham | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 4–0 | | 2–0 | 0–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 5–1 | 5–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–2 |
| Lincoln City | 3–2 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 3–3 | 1–0 | | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 0–0 | 2–3 | 3–4 |
| Newport County | 2–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 3–3 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 | | 1–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 1–5 | 3–4 | 3–1 | 1–1 |
| Notts County | 3–1 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 0–4 | 4–0 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 1–4 | 2–1 | 5–0 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–2 | | 2–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 |
| Plymouth Argyle | 2–1 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 4–2 | 3–0 | 4–4 | 0–0 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 0–1 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 0–1 | | 0–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 |
| Reading | 1–2 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 4–3 | | 2–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 0–0 |
| Rotherham United | 4–1 | 4–1 | 4–0 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | | 4–1 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 4–1 |
| Swansea City | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–3 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 1–0 | | 2–1 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 1–0 |
| Walsall | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 6–0 | 3–2 | 6–3 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 4–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 6–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | | 3–3 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
| Wigan Athletic | 3–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 2–1 | 4–1 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 5–0 | 2–0 | | 5–3 | 1–0 |
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | 0–3 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 2–1 | 3–4 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 0–4 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 0–3 | 2–3 | 0–0 | 1–5 | 0–0 | 2–2 | | 3–2 |
| York City | 2–1 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 7–0 | 1–3 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 4–1 | 2–1 | |

### Third Division maps
## Fourth Division

| Pos | Team | Pld | HW | HD | HL | HGF | HGA | AW | AD | AL | AGF | AGA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| 1 | Swindon Town | 46 | 20 | 2 | 1 | 52 | 19 | 12 | 4 | 7 | 30 | 24 | +39 | 102 | Division Champions, promoted |
| 2 | Chester City | 46 | 15 | 5 | 3 | 44 | 16 | 8 | 10 | 5 | 39 | 34 | +33 | 84 | Promoted |
| 3 | Mansfield Town | 46 | 13 | 8 | 2 | 43 | 17 | 10 | 4 | 9 | 31 | 30 | +27 | 81 | Promoted |
| 4 | Port Vale | 46 | 13 | 9 | 1 | 42 | 11 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 25 | 26 | +30 | 79 | Promoted |
| 5 | Orient | 46 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 39 | 21 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 40 | 43 | +15 | 72 | |
| 6 | Colchester United | 46 | 12 | 6 | 5 | 51 | 22 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 37 | 41 | +25 | 70 | |
| 7 | Hartlepool United | 46 | 15 | 6 | 2 | 41 | 20 | 5 | 4 | 14 | 27 | 47 | +1 | 70 | |
| 8 | Northampton Town | 46 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 44 | 29 | 9 | 3 | 11 | 35 | 29 | +21 | 64 | |
| 9 | Southend United | 46 | 13 | 4 | 6 | 43 | 27 | 5 | 6 | 12 | 26 | 40 | +2 | 64 | |
| 10 | Hereford United | 46 | 15 | 6 | 2 | 55 | 30 | 3 | 4 | 16 | 19 | 43 | +1 | 64 | |
| 11 | Stockport County | 46 | 9 | 9 | 5 | 35 | 28 | 8 | 4 | 11 | 28 | 43 | −8 | 64 | |
| 12 | Crewe Alexandra | 46 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 35 | 26 | 8 | 3 | 12 | 19 | 35 | −7 | 63 | |
| 13 | Wrexham | 46 | 11 | 5 | 7 | 34 | 24 | 6 | 4 | 13 | 34 | 56 | −12 | 60 | Welsh Cup Winners, qualified for the 1986–87 European Cup Winners' Cup First round |
| 14 | Burnley | 46 | 11 | 3 | 9 | 35 | 30 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 25 | 35 | −5 | 59 | |
| 15 | Scunthorpe United | 46 | 11 | 7 | 5 | 33 | 23 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 17 | 32 | −5 | 59 | |
| 16 | Aldershot | 46 | 12 | 5 | 6 | 45 | 25 | 5 | 2 | 16 | 21 | 49 | −8 | 58 | |
| 17 | Peterborough United | 46 | 9 | 11 | 3 | 31 | 19 | 4 | 6 | 13 | 21 | 45 | −12 | 56 | |
| 18 | Rochdale | 46 | 12 | 7 | 4 | 41 | 29 | 2 | 6 | 15 | 16 | 48 | −20 | 55 | |
| 19 | Tranmere Rovers | 46 | 9 | 1 | 13 | 46 | 41 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 28 | 32 | +1 | 54 | |
| 20 | Halifax Town | 46 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 35 | 27 | 4 | 4 | 15 | 25 | 44 | −11 | 54 | |
| 21 | Exeter City | 46 | 10 | 4 | 9 | 26 | 25 | 3 | 11 | 9 | 21 | 34 | −12 | 54 | Re-elected |
| 22 | Cambridge United | 46 | 12 | 2 | 9 | 45 | 38 | 3 | 7 | 13 | 20 | 42 | −15 | 54 | Re-elected |
| 23 | Preston North End | 46 | 7 | 4 | 12 | 32 | 41 | 4 | 6 | 13 | 22 | 48 | −35 | 43 | Re-elected |
| 24 | Torquay United | 46 | 8 | 5 | 10 | 29 | 32 | 1 | 5 | 17 | 14 | 56 | −45 | 37 | Re-elected |
* ↑ Wrexham won the 1986 Welsh Cup and thus claimed a place in the 1986–87 European Cup Winners' Cup, Welsh clubs still being allowed to compete in UEFA's competitions.

### Fourth Division results

| Home \ Away | ALD | BUR | CAM | CHE | COL | CRE | EXE | HAL | HAR | HER | LEY | MAN | NOR | PET | PTV | PNE | ROC | SCU | STD | STP | SWI | TOR | TRA | WRE |
| Aldershot | | 0–2 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 4–0 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 6–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 6–0 |
| Burnley | 1–2 | | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 5–2 |
| Cambridge United | 0–2 | 0–4 | | 3–2 | 1–3 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 4–2 | 4–0 | 1–2 | 4–2 | 2–5 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 3–2 | 4–3 |
| Chester City | 1–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | | 4–0 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 2–3 | 2–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 |
| Colchester United | 4–0 | 2–2 | 4–1 | 2–3 | | 1–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 4–0 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 5–0 | 1–0 | 4–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 5–2 |
| Crewe Alexandra | 2–0 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | | 0–1 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 3–2 |
| Exeter City | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–2 | | 1–0 | 1–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 0–3 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 0–1 |
| Halifax Town | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 1–0 | | 3–2 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–3 | 0–0 | 1–3 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 5–2 |
| Hartlepool United | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 4–1 | 0–0 | 3–0 | | 2–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 3–3 |
| Hereford United | 4–1 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 4–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | | 3–2 | 4–2 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 3–2 | 4–1 | 4–1 | 1–4 | 3–1 |
| Orient | 1–1 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | | 0–1 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 5–0 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 4–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 |
| Mansfield Town | 2–0 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | | 1–0 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 |
| Northampton Town | 2–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–0 | 1–3 | 2–3 | 1–0 | | 2–2 | 2–2 | 6–0 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 5–1 | 2–2 | 1–2 |
| Peterborough United | 3–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 4–2 | 0–5 | | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 |
| Port Vale | 3–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 3–2 | 4–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 2–0 | | 0–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 4–0 |
| Preston North End | 1–3 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 3–6 | 3–2 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 0–1 | | 1–1 | 0–1 | 3–2 | 1–2 | 0–3 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–0 |
| Rochdale | 2–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 3–3 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | | 1–0 | 2–1 | 4–1 | 1–2 | 5–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 |
| Scunthorpe United | 1–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 3–3 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 0–3 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 1–3 | 3–1 | | 2–0 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 |
| Southend United | 2–0 | 2–3 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 5–1 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 5–0 | 2–1 | | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 3–0 |
| Stockport County | 3–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 2–1 | | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 |
| Swindon Town | 4–1 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 4–2 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 1–0 | 4–1 | 2–1 | 3–2 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 4–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | | 2–1 | 2–1 | 0–1 |
| Torquay United | 1–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 4–3 | 0–1 | | 1–2 | 1–3 |
| Tranmere Rovers | 3–0 | 2–1 | 6–2 | 2–3 | 3–4 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0–3 | 4–2 | 1–2 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 7–0 | 1–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 2–0 | | 1–3 |
| Wrexham | 4–1 | 0–1 | 6–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 0–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | |

### Fourth Division maps
## Election/Re-election to the Football League

As champions of the Alliance Premier League, Enfield won the right to apply for election to the Football League, to replace one of the four bottom teams in the 1985–86 Football League Fourth Division. The vote went as follows:
| Club | Final Position | Votes |
| Exeter City | 21st (Fourth Division) | 64 |
| Preston North End | 23rd (Fourth Division) | 62.5 |
| Cambridge United | 22nd (Fourth Division) | 61 |
| Torquay United | 24th (Fourth Division) | 61 |
| Enfield | 1st (Alliance Premier League) | 7.5 |
Hence, all four Football League teams were re-elected, and Enfield were denied membership of the Football League.
This was the last season in which the Alliance Premier League champions had to apply for election to the Football League. From the 1986–87 season, when the Alliance Premier League was re-branded as the Football Conference, the champions were automatically promoted, provided that they met the criteria set by the Football League.