# 1981–82 Leeds United A.F.C. season

The 1981–82 season was Leeds United's eighteenth consecutive season in the Football League First Division, where they were relegated.

## Season summary

For the first half of the campaign, this season appeared to be a carbon-copy of the previous one, with a terrible start followed by an improved run of form that lifted Leeds into mid-table by Christmas. This time, however, Leeds completely imploded after the turn of the year, plunging them right back into relegation trouble. A 2-1 victory over Brighton on the final Saturday meant that Leeds needed to win at fellow strugglers West Bromwich Albion three days later to stay up and relegate the West Midlands team, but the match ended 2-0 to the home team. While chairman Manny Cussins initially promised that Clarke would be allowed the opportunity to take Leeds straight back up, he later changed his mind and sacked him, instead appointing Eddie Gray as player-manager.

## League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 18 | Stoke City | 42 | 12 | 8 | 22 | 44 | 63 | −19 | 44 | |
| 19 | Sunderland | 42 | 11 | 11 | 20 | 38 | 58 | −20 | 44 | |
| 20 | Leeds United (R) | 42 | 10 | 12 | 20 | 39 | 61 | −22 | 42 | Relegation to the Second Division |
| 21 | Wolverhampton Wanderers (R) | 42 | 10 | 10 | 22 | 32 | 63 | −31 | 40 | Relegation to the Second Division |
| 22 | Middlesbrough (R) | 42 | 8 | 15 | 19 | 34 | 52 | −18 | 39 | Relegation to the Second Division |

## First-team squad

    Squad at end of season
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | GK | ENG | John Lukic |
| — | DF | ENG | Neil Aspin |
| — | DF | ENG | Trevor Cherry |
| — | DF | ENG | Neil Firm |
| — | DF | ENG | Brian Greenhoff |
| — | DF | ENG | Paul Hart |
| — | DF | SCO | Kenny Burns |
| — | DF | SCO | Frank Gray |
| — | MF | ENG | Tony Arins |
| — | MF | ENG | Peter Barnes |
| — | MF | ENG | Gary Hamson |
| — | MF | ENG | Kevin Hird |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | MF | WAL | Carl Harris |
| — | MF | WAL | Brian Flynn |
| — | MF | WAL | Gwyn Thomas |
| — | MF | SCO | Arthur Graham |
| — | MF | SCO | Eddie Gray |
| — | MF | SCO | Tommy Wright |
| — | FW | ENG | Aiden Butterworth |
| — | FW | ENG | Frank Worthington |
| — | FW | ENG | Terry Connor |
| — | FW | WAL | Steve Balcombe |
| — | FW | SCO | Derek Parlane |

### Left club during season

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | DF | WAL | Byron Stevenson (to Birmingham City) |

## Reserve squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | GK | ENG | David Seaman |

## Transfers
### In

* Frank Gray - Nottingham Forest, 31 May, £300,000
* Peter Barnes - West Bromwich Albion, 1 August, £930,000
* Kenny Burns - Nottingham Forest, 14 October, £400,000
* John Sheridan - Manchester City, 2 March
* Frank Worthington - Birmingham City, 8 March, swap

### Out

* Neil Parker - Scarborough, 1 July, free
* Jeff Chandler - Bolton Wanderers, 1 October, £40,000
* Tony Arins - Scunthorpe United, 1 November, free
* Keith Parkinson - Doncaster Rovers, 1 January, free
* Alejandro Sabella - Estudiantes, 1 January, £120,000
* Byron Stevenson - Birmingham City, 1 March, swap
    Transfers in: £1,630,000
    Transfers out: £160,000
    Total spending: £1,470,000

### Loaned out

* Keith Parkinson - Hull City, 1 November
* Neil Firm - Oldham Athletic, 1 March
* Brian Flynn - Burnley, 4 March