page_title: 1980–81 Ipswich Town F.C. season
section_title: Records and awards
hierarchical_section_title: 1980–81 Ipswich Town F.C. season / Records and awards
caption_attribution_description: English: Bobby Robson in a photographic portait taken in June 1988
context_page_description: During the 1980–81 English football season, Ipswich Town F.C. competed in the Football League First Division. In one of the most successful seasons in the club's history, they finished as runners-up in the league championship, were semi-finalists in the FA Cup and won the UEFA Cup. In all, Ipswich played a total of 66 competitive games during the season, winning 37, drawing 13 and losing 16.
  The season began with an unbeaten run in the club's opening 15 league matches, and by the middle of March they were strong title contenders with only two defeats in thirty-two. However, a 2–1 defeat at Manchester United triggered a slump which handed the initiative to eventual champions Aston Villa, although Ipswich did win at Villa Park during the run-in. Finishing as runners-up was the second-best finish Ipswich had achieved in their history, bettered only by the 1961–62 championship-winning season. The dip in form, losing seven of the last ten league games, was due in no small part to fixture congestion, as the club was progressing in cup competitions.
context_section_description: Robson and five different players won major awards for their performances during the season; a further two players were shortlisted for accolades. Leading the way was Wark, who set a UEFA Cup record by scoring 14 goals, including two in the final. This equalled the then long-standing scoring record in a European competition, set by José Altafini of A.C. Milan in the 1962–63 European Cup. Wark's personal accolades that year included winning the European Young Player of the Year, and, voted by his fellow professionals in England, the PFA Player of the Year award. He ended the 1980–81 season with 36 goals.
caption: Bobby Robson was named Bell's Whisky Manager of the Month three times throughout the 1980–81 season.
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