# 1980–81 AFC Bournemouth season

During the 1980–81 English football season, AFC Bournemouth competed in the Football League Fourth Division.

## Final league table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 11 | Wigan Athletic | 46 | 18 | 11 | 17 | 51 | 55 | −4 | 47 |
| 12 | Bury | 46 | 17 | 11 | 18 | 70 | 62 | +8 | 45 |
| 13 | Bournemouth | 46 | 16 | 13 | 17 | 47 | 48 | −1 | 45 |
| 14 | Bradford City | 46 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 53 | 60 | −7 | 44 |
| 15 | Rochdale | 46 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 60 | 70 | −10 | 43 |

## Results

Bournemouth's score comes first

### Legend

| Win | Draw | Loss |

### Football League Third Division

| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance |
| 16 August 1980 | York City | A | 0–4 | 2,195 |
| 19 August 1980 | Hereford United | H | 1–0 | 2,991 |
| 23 August 1980 | Northampton Town | H | 0–0 | 2,875 |
| 30 August 1980 | Torquay United | A | 0–2 | 2,640 |
| 6 September 1980 | Bradford City | A | 1–1 | 3,389 |
| 13 September 1980 | Tranmere Rovers | H | 1–0 | 2,642 |
| 16 September 1980 | Hartlepool United | H | 1–0 | 2,413 |
| 20 September 1980 | Peterborough United | A | 0–1 | 3,774 |
| 27 September 1980 | Rochdale | H | 2–1 | 2,557 |
| 30 September 1980 | Hartlepool United | A | 0–1 | 2,419 |
| 4 October 1980 | Scunthorpe United | H | 2–2 | 3,079 |
| 7 October 1980 | Aldershot | A | 0–0 | 3,780 |
| 11 October 1980 | Darlington | A | 2–1 | 2,363 |
| 18 October 1980 | Mansfield Town | H | 1–2 | 5,032 |
| 21 October 1980 | Crewe Alexandra | H | 0–0 | 2,632 |
| 24 October 1980 | Stockport County | A | 1–2 | 2,012 |
| 27 October 1980 | Port Vale | A | 2–0 | 3,009 |
| 1 November 1980 | Wigan Athletic | H | 3–0 | 2,983 |
| 4 November 1980 | Aldershot | H | 0–2 | 3,477 |
| 8 November 1980 | Bury | A | 0–3 | 2,202 |
| 12 November 1980 | Hereford United | A | 0–1 | 1,640 |
| 15 November 1980 | York City | H | 1–1 | 2,203 |
| 29 November 1980 | Halifax Town | A | 2–1 | 987 |
| 6 December 1980 | Doncaster Rovers | H | 1–2 | 2,495 |
| 20 December 1980 | Lincoln City | A | 0–2 | 3,391 |
| 26 December 1980 | Southend United | H | 2–1 | 4,381 |
| 27 December 1980 | Wimbledon | A | 0–2 | 2,681 |
| 3 January 1981 | Stockport County | H | 0–1 | 2,822 |
| 10 January 1981 | Crewe Alexandra | A | 2–0 | 3,087 |
| 17 January 1981 | Halifax Town | H | 2–1 | 2,413 |
| 24 January 1981 | Torquay United | H | 1–1 | 3,256 |
| 31 January 1981 | Northampton Town | A | 1–0 | 2,140 |
| 6 February 1981 | Tranmere Rovers | A | 1–0 | 2,480 |
| 14 February 1981 | Bradford City | H | 4–0 | 3,561 |
| 21 February 1981 | Rochdale | A | 0–0 | 1,846 |
| 28 February 1981 | Peterborough United | H | 4–1 | 5,334 |
| 6 March 1981 | Scunthorpe United | A | 1–1 | 2,519 |
| 14 March 1981 | Darlington | H | 3–3 | 4,995 |
| 21 March 1981 | Mansfield Town | A | 1–1 | 2,596 |
| 28 March 1981 | Port Vale | H | 0–0 | 4,665 |
| 4 April 1981 | Wigan Athletic | A | 1–0 | 3,750 |
| 11 April 1981 | Bury | H | 2–2 | 4,204 |
| 17 April 1981 | Southend United | A | 1–2 | 7,355 |
| 18 April 1981 | Wimbledon | H | 0–1 | 5,048 |
| 25 April 1981 | Lincoln City | H | 0–1 | 3,542 |
| 2 May 1981 | Doncaster Rovers | A | 1–2 | 11,373 |

### FA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result |
| R1 | 22 November 1980 | Wycombe Wanderers | A | 3–0 |
| R2 | 13 December 1980 | Charlton Athletic | A | 1–2 |

### League Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Notes |
| R1 1st Leg | 9 August 1980 | Swindon Town | H | 1–1 | |
| R1 2nd Leg | 12 August 1980 | Swindon Town | A | 0–2 | Swindon Town won 3–1 on aggregate |

## Squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | GK | ENG | John Smeulders |
| — | GK | ENG | Kenny Allen |
| — | DF | ENG | Paul Compton |
| — | DF | ENG | John Impey |
| — | DF | ENG | David Webb |
| — | DF | ENG | Neil Townsend |
| — | DF | ENG | Geoff Butler |
| — | DF | WAL | Jon Moore |
| — | DF | ENG | Chris Sulley |
| — | DF | ENG | Phil Ferns |
| — | DF | ENG | Tom Heffernan |
| — | DF | ENG | Ian Cunningham |
| — | MF | ENG | Danny Bailey |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | MF | ENG | Brian Chambers |
| — | MF | ENG | Kevin Dawtry |
| — | MF | ENG | Billy Elliott |
| — | MF | ENG | John Evanson |
| — | MF | ENG | Martin McGrath |
| — | MF | ENG | Gary Pugh |
| — | MF | ENG | Brian Smith |
| — | MF | ENG | Nigel Spackman |
| — | MF | ENG | Alan Whittle |
| — | FW | ENG | Steve Massey |
| — | FW | ENG | Dean Mooney |
| — | FW | ENG | Trevor Morgan |
| — | FW | ENG | Neil Prosser |
| — | FW | ENG | Eddie Prudham |