2011–12 in English football
Encyclopedia
The 2011–12 season is the 132nd season of competitive football in England.
The season began on 5 August 2011 for the Football Leagues, with the Premier starting eight days later, League Football Conference Starting one day before Premier League starts.The Championship, League One, and League Two ended on 7 May 2011. The season began on 13 August 2011 for the Premier League and Football Conference and is due to end on 13 May 2012.
Teams promoted to Premier League
Teams relegated from Championship
Teams promoted to Championship
Teams relegated from League One
Teams promoted to League One
Teams relegated from League Two
Teams promoted to League Two
from Arsenal for £7 million.
6 July 2011: Rushden & Diamonds
, who were members of the Football League from to 2001 to 2006, are expelled from the Conference National due to financial problems.
11 July 2011: Arsenal made their second summer signing, Gervinho
from French champions Lille
for £11 million.
13 July 2011: sign defender Roger Johnson
from for an undisclosed fee, believed to have surpassed the £7 million the Black Country
club paid for Steven Fletcher
last summer.
30 July 2011: finally move into their Amex Stadium at Falmer
, first planned in 1999, and open their new home with a 3–2 friendly defeat to .
5 August 2011: Football League action kicks off at the KC Stadium
, where Hull City
lose 1–0 at home to in the Championship.
6 August 2011: The bulk of the opening Football League fixtures are played. Michael Chopra
scores twice on his debut in the Championship as the Suffolk
side win 3–0 at . Brighton's first competitive match at their new stadium sees them beat 2–1 with two late goals from Will Buckley overturning a Doncaster lead. League Cup holders lose 2–1 at . Steve McClaren
's first game in charge of sees them draw 0–0 at home to . Newly promoted beat Leeds United
3–1 at St Mary's Stadium
. In League One, Charlton Athletic
triumph 3–0 at home to AFC Bournemouth. Sheffield United get off to a winning start in their quest for a return to the Championship by beating Oldham Athletic
2–0 at Boundary Park
. In League Two, Paolo Di Canio
gets off to a winning start as Swindon Town
manager as he guides the Wiltshire
club to a 3–0 home win over Crewe Alexandra
. Crawley Town's
first Football League game sees them draw 2–2 with Port Vale
at Vale Park
. AFC Wimbledon
, formed nine years ago in response to the relocation of the old
Wimbledon club (rebranded as Milton Keynes Dons
in June 2004) to Milton Keynes
, start their Football League career with a 3–2 home defeat to Bristol Rovers
.
7 August 2011: Manchester United win the FA Community Shield
, beating neighbours City
3–2 at Wembley
after going 2–0 down.
8 August 2011: Arsenal
sign 17-year-old winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
from Southampton
for £12million, which could eventually rise to £15million.
11 August 2011: Tottenham Hotspur's opening Premier League game of the season, against Everton
on 13 August, is postponed due to recent rioting
in and near the Tottenham
area.
12 August 2011: Kenny Dalglish
makes his fifth signing of the close season for Liverpool
with a £6million move for Newcastle United
defender Jose Enrique
.
15 August 2011: Cesc Fabergas has left Arsenal F.C.
return to his former club Barcelona for worth £35million.
16 August 2011: Emmanuel Eboué
left Arsenal F.C.
to join Turkish side Galatasaray
for £3 million.
24 August 2011: Samir Nasri
joined Manchester City
from Arsenal F.C.
for £25 million. Juan Mata joined Chelsea F.C.
from Valencia CF
for £23.5million.
29 August 2011: Edin Džeko
scores four goals as Manchester City
briefly go top of the Premier League with a 5–1 thrashing of Tottenham Hotspur
at White Hart Lane
, though they are soon usurped at the top of the table on goal difference by their Mancunians rivals United, who demolish Arsenal
8–2 at Old Trafford
. The result is Arsenal's worst for 116 years and United biggest goal haul in a league game since February 1999.
31 August 2011: August ends with reigning champions Manchester United top of the table on goal difference, ahead of Manchester City. Liverpool. Chelsea, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Newcastle United and Aston Villa complete the top seven, with West Bromwich Albion, Blackburn Rovers and Tottenham Hotspur (all without a point) in the relegation zone. In the Championship, newly-promoted Brighton and Hove Albion and Southampton occupy the automatic promotion places, with Derby County, Middlesbrough, West Ham United and Crystal Palace in the playoff places.
1 September 2011: The transfer window closes with Mikel Arteta
ending six years at Everton
to sign for Arsenal
in a £10 million deal.Arsene Wenger
also brings Chelsea's
Yossi Benayoun
to the Emirates Stadium
, on a loan deal for the rest of the season.These acquisitions come 24 hours after Wenger bolstered his defence with a £6.2 million move for Fenerbahce and Brazil
left-back Andre Santos.Another big money move on deadline day includes Raul Meireles leaving Liverpool in a £10 million move to Chelsea.Having left Manchester United at the end of last season after four injury-plagued seasons, Owen Hargreaves
signs for neighbours Manchester City on a one-year contract,after weeks of speculation that he would join West Bromwich Albion
.Blackburn Rovers
terminate the contract of striker El Hadji Diouf
after two years at Ewood Park
,where the attack was strengthened yesterday with the arrival of Everton's out of favour striker Yakubu
.
30 September 2011: September ends with Manchester United still leading the Premier League, ahead of Mancunian rivals City on goal difference. Chelsea remain in third, while Newcastle United are maintaining their European push in fourth place. The top seven is rounded out by Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Stoke City. Blackburn Rovers, West Bromwich Albion and Bolton Wanderers are still suffering from their early season form and make up the relegation zone. In the Championship, newly-promoted Southampton are continuing their bid for successive promotions, leading Middlesbrough and Derby County on goal difference. West Ham United, Brighton & Hove Albion and Cardiff City complete the top six, while Millwall, Bristol City and Doncaster Rovers stand at the foot of the table.
23 October 2011: Manchester City extend their lead over Manchester United at the top of the Premier League with a 6-1 win over their local rivals at Old Trafford, while fellow title contenders Chelsea suffer a 1-0 setback against Queen's Park Rangers at Loftus Road
.
29 October 2011: Robin Van Persie
scores a hat-trick as Arsenal gained a first away league win of the season, beating Chelsea 5-3 at Stamford Bridge
.
31 October 2011: October ends with Manchester City 5 points clear of second-placed Manchester United. Newcastle United continue to defy critics who tipped them to struggle this season and stand in third place, while the top seven is rounded out by Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and an ever-improving Arsenal side who appear to have put their poor start to the season behind them. At the other end of the table, Wigan Athletic stand bottom after six successive losses; they are joined in the relegation zone by Blackburn Rovers and Bolton Wanderers. In the Championship, Southampton are continuing their bid to become the second team in two seasons to achieve two successive promotion to the Premier League, standing three points clear of second-placed West Ham United. Crystal Palace, thought to many to struggle this season, standing three points behind West Ham in third, while the play-off places are completed by Middlesbrough, Derby County and Hull City. Coventry City, Doncaster Rovers and Bristol City make up the relegation zone.
18 November 2011: League One side Carlisle United announce plans to relocate from Brunton Park
, their home since 1909, to a new 12,000-seat stadium.
27 November 2011: Football mourns the death of Wales manager Gary Speed
, 42, who was found dead at his home in Chester
this morning. Speed, who had managed the Welsh side for nearly a year following a brief spell as manager of Sheffield United, was a player in the English leagues for more than 20 years, during which time he won a league title with Leeds United and was an FA Cup runner-up twice with Newcastle United.
28 November 2011: Queen's Park Rangers chairman Tony Fernandes
announces his intention to relocate the club from Loftus Road
to a new, bigger stadium elsewhere in West London
.
30 November 2011: Sunderland manager Steve Bruce
becomes the first Premiership manager to be sacked during the season, leaving the north-east club after two-and-a-half years in charge with the Wearside club only two points clear of the relegation zone. The month ends with Manchester City still five points clear of Manchester United. Tottenham Hotspur have put their poor start firmly behind and stand two points behind United with a game in hand. Newcastle occupy the crucial fourth place, while Chelsea have slipped out of the top four after losing three of their last five matches. Liverpool and Arsenal complete the top seven. The relegation zone remains unchanged, except that Wigan Athletic have moved off the bottom of the table at the expense of Blackburn Rovers. Southampton and West Ham United continue to occupy the automatic promotion places in the Championship, while Cardiff City, Middlesbrough, Leeds United and Leicester City (ahead of seventh-placed Brighton on goal difference) make up the playoff zone. Doncaster Rovers and Coventry City remain joint bottom of the Championship, while Nottingham Forest have dropped back into the relegation zone, behind Portsmouth, Bristol City and Ipswich Town on goal difference.
defender.
5 August 2011: Stan Willemse
, 86, former Brighton and Hove Albion, Chelsea, and Leyton Orient defender.
16 August 2011: Frank Munro
, 63, former Wolves
, Aberdeen
and Dundee United
defender.
28 August 2011: Bernie Gallacher
, 44, former Aston Villa
, Doncaster Rovers
and Brighton & Hove Albion defender.
29 August 2011: Mark Ovendale, 37, former A.F.C. Bournemouth
, and Luton Town goalkeeper
1 September 2011: George Knight
, 90, former Burnley
forward.
9 September 2011: Laurie Hughes
, 87, former Liverpool
defender.
11 September 2011: Ralph Gubbins, 79, former Bolton Wanderers
, Hull City and Tranmere Rovers
forward.
8 November 2011: Jimmy Adamson
, 82, former Burnley
player and manager who also had short spells in charge of Sunderland and Leeds United.
14 November 2011: Alf Fields
, 92, former Arsenal
defender.
24 November 2011: Johnny Williams, 76, former Plymouth Argyle
and Bristol Rovers
wing half.
27 November 2011: Gary Speed
, 42, Wales
manager who played in midfield for Leeds United, Everton
, Newcastle United
, Bolton Wanderers
and Sheffield United
.
Euro 2012 qualification
in London
, the friendly against the Netherlands
scheduled for 10 August was called off.
, and two promoted from Conference National.
The season began on 5 August 2011 for the Football Leagues, with the Premier starting eight days later, League Football Conference Starting one day before Premier League starts.The Championship, League One, and League Two ended on 7 May 2011. The season began on 13 August 2011 for the Premier League and Football Conference and is due to end on 13 May 2012.
Promotion and Relegation
Teams relegated from Premier League2010–11 Premier League
The 2010–11 Premier League was the 19th season of the Premier League since its establishment in 1992. The 2010–11 fixtures were released on 17 June 2010 at 09:00 BST. The season began on 14 August 2010, and ended on 22 May 2011...
- Birmingham CityBirmingham City F.C.Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
- BlackpoolBlackpool F.C.Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
- West Ham UnitedWest Ham United F.C.West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
Teams promoted to Premier League
2011–12 Premier League
The 2011–12 Premier League is the twentieth season of the Premier League since its establishment in 1992. The 2011–12 fixtures were announced on 17 June 2011 at 9:00 BST. The season began on 13 August 2011 and is due to end on 13 May 2012...
- Queens Park RangersQueens Park Rangers F.C.Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
- Norwich CityNorwich City F.C.Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
- Swansea CitySwansea City A.F.C.Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
Teams relegated from Championship
2010–11 Football League Championship
The 2010–11 Football League Championship was the seventh season of the league under its current name and nineteenth season under its current league division format...
- Preston North EndPreston North End F.C.Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
- Sheffield UnitedSheffield United F.C.Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
- Scunthorpe UnitedScunthorpe United F.C.Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One....
Teams promoted to Championship
2011–12 Football League Championship
The 2011–12 Football League Championship is the eighth season of the league under its current title and nineteenth season under its current league division format....
- Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton & Hove Albion F.C.Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
- SouthamptonSouthampton F.C.Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
- Peterborough United
Teams relegated from League One
2010–11 Football League One
The 2010–11 Football League One is the seventh season of the league under its current title and nineteenth season under its current league division format...
- Dagenham & RedbridgeDagenham & Redbridge F.C.Dagenham & Redbridge Football Club , informally known as Daggers, is an English association football club based in Dagenham, in the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham, East London. It was formed in 1992 after a merger between Redbridge Forest and Dagenham...
- Bristol RoversBristol Rovers F.C.Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....
- Plymouth ArgylePlymouth Argyle F.C.Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
- Swindon TownSwindon Town F.C.Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
Teams promoted to League One
- ChesterfieldChesterfield F.C.Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
- BuryBury F.C.Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
- Wycombe WanderersWycombe Wanderers F.C.Wycombe Wanderers Football Club is an English professional football team from High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, which has been promoted to Football League One after finishing third in Football League Two in the season 2010–11. The club's nicknames are "The Chairboys" and "The Blues", and they play...
- Stevenage
Teams relegated from League Two
2010–11 Football League Two
The 2010–11 Football League Two season, , was the lowest division of the Football League for that season...
- Lincoln CityLincoln City F.C.Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
- Stockport CountyStockport County F.C.Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
Teams promoted to League Two
2011–12 Football League Two
The 2011–12 Football League Two is the eighth season of the league under its current title and nineteenth season under its current league division format.-From League Two:...
- Crawley TownCrawley Town F.C.Crawley Town Football Club is an English football club based in Crawley, West Sussex. They won the title of the Football Conference, by a record 15 point margin on second place, and with it promotion to The Football League, in April 2011.-1896–2009:...
- AFC WimbledonAFC WimbledonAFC Wimbledon is a professional English football club that traces its origins to Wimbledon in the London Borough of Merton. Based at Kingsmeadow, Kingston upon Thames, the club are members of Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football....
Events of the season
4 July 2011: sign full-back Gael ClichyGaël Clichy
Gaël Clichy is a French footballer who plays as a defender for Manchester City and the France national football team. Though initially right-foot dominant, he primarily plays as a left back that is also capable of playing as an offensive-minded wingback. Clichy is described as a player who...
from Arsenal for £7 million.
6 July 2011: Rushden & Diamonds
Rushden & Diamonds F.C.
Rushden & Diamonds Football Club was an association football club based in Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, England. Formed by a merger of Rushden Town and Irthlingborough Diamonds in 1992, the club played in the Conference National following a short spell in the Football League at the start of...
, who were members of the Football League from to 2001 to 2006, are expelled from the Conference National due to financial problems.
11 July 2011: Arsenal made their second summer signing, Gervinho
Gervinho
Gervais Yao Kouassi , more commonly known as Gervinho, is an Ivorian footballer who plays as a forwardor as a winger for English Premier League club Arsenal.-Youth career:...
from French champions Lille
Lille OSC
LOSC Lille Métropole is a French association football club based in Lille. The club was founded in 1944 as a result of a merger and currently play in Ligue 1, the first division of French football. Lille plays its home matches at the Stade Lille-Metropole in nearby Villeneuve-d'Ascq. In 2012, the...
for £11 million.
13 July 2011: sign defender Roger Johnson
Roger Johnson
Roger Johnson may refer to:*Roger Johnson , American businessman*Roger Johnson , American politician*Roger Johnson , English football player, currently playing for Wolverhampton Wanderers...
from for an undisclosed fee, believed to have surpassed the £7 million the Black Country
Black Country
The Black Country is a loosely defined area of the English West Midlands conurbation, to the north and west of Birmingham, and to the south and east of Wolverhampton. During the industrial revolution in the 19th century this area had become one of the most intensely industrialised in the nation...
club paid for Steven Fletcher
Steven Fletcher
Steven John Fletcher, PC, MP is a Canadian politician. He has served in the Canadian House of Commons since 2004, representing the riding of Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia as a member of the Conservative Party. He is the first quadriplegic to serve in the House of Commons, as well as in Cabinet...
last summer.
30 July 2011: finally move into their Amex Stadium at Falmer
Falmer
Falmer is a small village and civil parish in the Lewes District of East Sussex, England, lying between Brighton and Lewes, approximately five miles north-east of the former. It is also the site for Brighton & Hove Albion's new stadium....
, first planned in 1999, and open their new home with a 3–2 friendly defeat to .
5 August 2011: Football League action kicks off at the KC Stadium
KC Stadium
The KC Stadium, often shortened to the KC, is a multi-purpose facility in the city of Kingston upon Hull , England. Conceived as early as the late 1990s, it was completed in 2002 at a cost of approximately £44 million. It is named after the stadium's sponsors, telecommunications provider KC,...
, where Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
lose 1–0 at home to in the Championship.
6 August 2011: The bulk of the opening Football League fixtures are played. Michael Chopra
Michael Chopra
Rocky Michael Chopra is an English footballer who plays for Football League Championship side Ipswich Town. He is of mixed Indian and British descent....
scores twice on his debut in the Championship as the Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
side win 3–0 at . Brighton's first competitive match at their new stadium sees them beat 2–1 with two late goals from Will Buckley overturning a Doncaster lead. League Cup holders lose 2–1 at . Steve McClaren
Steve McClaren
Stephen "Steve" McClaren is an English football manager and former player.McClaren was previously manager of VfL Wolfsburg in Germany between May 2010 and February 2011, having left his post at Dutch side FC Twente, with whom he won the club's first Eredivisie championship in the 2009–10 season...
's first game in charge of sees them draw 0–0 at home to . Newly promoted beat Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
3–1 at St Mary's Stadium
St Mary's Stadium
St Mary's Stadium is the home of Southampton F.C., in the city of Southampton. It is a UEFA 4-star rated stadium and with a capacity of 32,689 is the largest football stadium in the south of England, outside of London.-History:...
. In League One, Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
triumph 3–0 at home to AFC Bournemouth. Sheffield United get off to a winning start in their quest for a return to the Championship by beating Oldham Athletic
Oldham Athletic A.F.C.
Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is an English association football club based at Boundary Park, on Sheepfoot Lane in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The club currently competes in the Football League One, the third tier of the English league...
2–0 at Boundary Park
Boundary Park
Boundary Park is the main sports stadium of Oldham, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies at the northwestern extremity of Oldham, with the towns of Royton and Chadderton lying immediately north and west respectively, giving rise to the name Boundary Park....
. In League Two, Paolo Di Canio
Paolo Di Canio
Paolo Di Canio is a Italian former professional footballer and current manager of League Two side Swindon Town. Di Canio made over 500 league appearances and scored over 100 league goals as a player....
gets off to a winning start as Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
manager as he guides the Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
club to a 3–0 home win over Crewe Alexandra
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
. Crawley Town's
Crawley Town F.C.
Crawley Town Football Club is an English football club based in Crawley, West Sussex. They won the title of the Football Conference, by a record 15 point margin on second place, and with it promotion to The Football League, in April 2011.-1896–2009:...
first Football League game sees them draw 2–2 with Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
at Vale Park
Vale Park
Vale Park is a football stadium in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, England. It is the home ground of Port Vale F.C., who have played at the ground since 1950....
. AFC Wimbledon
AFC Wimbledon
AFC Wimbledon is a professional English football club that traces its origins to Wimbledon in the London Borough of Merton. Based at Kingsmeadow, Kingston upon Thames, the club are members of Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football....
, formed nine years ago in response to the relocation of the old
Wimbledon F.C.
Wimbledon Football Club was an English professional association football club from Wimbledon, south-west London. Founded in 1889 as Wimbledon Old Central Football Club, the club spent most of its history in amateur and semi-professional non-League football before being elected to the Football...
Wimbledon club (rebranded as Milton Keynes Dons
Milton Keynes Dons F.C.
.Milton Keynes Dons Football Club is an English professional football club founded in 2004 and based since 2007 at Stadium mk, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire...
in June 2004) to Milton Keynes
Milton Keynes
Milton Keynes , sometimes abbreviated MK, is a large town in Buckinghamshire, in the south east of England, about north-west of London. It is the administrative centre of the Borough of Milton Keynes...
, start their Football League career with a 3–2 home defeat to Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....
.
7 August 2011: Manchester United win the FA Community Shield
FA Community Shield
The Football Association Community Shield is English football's annual match contested between the champions of the previous Premier League season and the holders of the FA Cup at Wembley Stadium. If the Premier League champions also won the FA Cup then the league runners-up provide the opposition...
, beating neighbours City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
3–2 at Wembley
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
after going 2–0 down.
8 August 2011: Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
sign 17-year-old winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Alexander Mark David "Alex" Oxlade-Chamberlain is an English footballer who plays for Arsenal as a winger. After rising to prominence with Southampton during the 2010-11 season, he signed for Arsenal in August 2011...
from Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
for £12million, which could eventually rise to £15million.
11 August 2011: Tottenham Hotspur's opening Premier League game of the season, against Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
on 13 August, is postponed due to recent rioting
2011 England riots
Between 6 and 10 August 2011, several London boroughs and districts of cities and towns across England suffered widespread rioting, looting and arson....
in and near the Tottenham
Tottenham
Tottenham is an area of the London Borough of Haringey, England, situated north north east of Charing Cross.-Toponymy:Tottenham is believed to have been named after Tota, a farmer, whose hamlet was mentioned in the Domesday Book; hence Tota's hamlet became Tottenham...
area.
12 August 2011: Kenny Dalglish
Kenny Dalglish
Kenneth Mathieson "Kenny" Dalglish MBE is a Scottish former footballer and the current manager of Liverpool F.C.. In a 22-year playing career, he played for two club teams, Celtic and Liverpool, winning numerous honours with both. He is the most capped Scottish player, with 102 appearances, and...
makes his fifth signing of the close season for Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
with a £6million move for Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
defender Jose Enrique
José Enrique Sánchez
José Enrique Sánchez Díaz , more commonly known as José Enrique, is a Spanish footballer who plays for Liverpool as a left-back.-Early career:...
.
15 August 2011: Cesc Fabergas has left Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
return to his former club Barcelona for worth £35million.
16 August 2011: Emmanuel Eboué
Emmanuel Eboué
Emmanuel Eboué is an Ivorian footballer who plays for Süper Lig club Galatasaray and Ivory Coast. His natural position is at right back, but he is also used in various other positions. Eboué also holds a Belgian passport.-Early career:...
left Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
to join Turkish side Galatasaray
Galatasaray
Galatasaray Spor Kulübü is a Turkish sports club based in Istanbul, most notable for its football section, also known as Galatasaray S.K.. It also fields teams in Athletics, Basketball, Wheelchair basketball, Volleyball, Water polo, Swimming, Rowing, Sailing, Judo, Bridge, Equestrian, Handball,...
for £3 million.
24 August 2011: Samir Nasri
Samir Nasri
Samir Nasri is a French international footballer who plays for English club Manchester City in the Premier League and the France national team. He primarily plays as an attacking midfielder and a winger, although he has also been deployed in central midfield. Nasri is known for his technical...
joined Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
from Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
for £25 million. Juan Mata joined Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
from Valencia CF
Valencia CF
Valencia Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Valencia, Spain. They play in La Liga and are one of the most successful and biggest clubs in Spanish Football and European Football. Valencia have won six La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey trophies, two Fairs Cups which was the...
for £23.5million.
29 August 2011: Edin Džeko
Edin Džeko
Edin Džeko is a Bosnian footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester City and the Bosnian national team. He was named Bosnian Footballer of the Year for 2009 and 2010...
scores four goals as Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
briefly go top of the Premier League with a 5–1 thrashing of Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
at White Hart Lane
White Hart Lane
White Hart Lane is an all-seater football stadium in Tottenham, London, England. Built in 1899, it is the home of Tottenham Hotspur and, after numerous renovations, the stadium has a capacity of 36,230....
, though they are soon usurped at the top of the table on goal difference by their Mancunians rivals United, who demolish Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
8–2 at Old Trafford
Old Trafford
Old Trafford commonly refers to two sporting arenas:* Old Trafford, home of Manchester United F.C.* Old Trafford Cricket Ground, home of Lancashire County Cricket ClubOld Trafford can also refer to:...
. The result is Arsenal's worst for 116 years and United biggest goal haul in a league game since February 1999.
31 August 2011: August ends with reigning champions Manchester United top of the table on goal difference, ahead of Manchester City. Liverpool. Chelsea, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Newcastle United and Aston Villa complete the top seven, with West Bromwich Albion, Blackburn Rovers and Tottenham Hotspur (all without a point) in the relegation zone. In the Championship, newly-promoted Brighton and Hove Albion and Southampton occupy the automatic promotion places, with Derby County, Middlesbrough, West Ham United and Crystal Palace in the playoff places.
1 September 2011: The transfer window closes with Mikel Arteta
Mikel Arteta
Mikel Arteta Amatriain is a Spanish footballer who plays for Arsenal as a midfielder.Arteta started out as a trainee with FC Barcelona but could not break his way into the first team and was eventually loaned to Paris Saint-Germain in the French league...
ending six years at Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
to sign for Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
in a £10 million deal.Arsene Wenger
Arsène Wenger
Arsène Wenger, OBE is a French association football manager and former player, who has managed English Premier League side Arsenal since 1996...
also brings Chelsea's
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
Yossi Benayoun
Yossi Benayoun
Yosef Shai "Yossi" Benayoun is an Israeli international footballer who plays for Arsenal on loan from Chelsea.Benayoun plays as an attacking midfielder, often occupying the space just behind the striker. In Israel, he is sometimes nicknamed "The Diamond from Dimona". He is also the captain of the...
to the Emirates Stadium
Emirates Stadium
Ashburton Grove, currently known as the Emirates Stadium, is a UEFA elite football stadium which is home to Arsenal FC, where they moved from Highbury in 2006. It has an current capacity of 60,361, and there have been rumours of an expansion...
, on a loan deal for the rest of the season.These acquisitions come 24 hours after Wenger bolstered his defence with a £6.2 million move for Fenerbahce and Brazil
Brazil national football team
The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...
left-back Andre Santos.Another big money move on deadline day includes Raul Meireles leaving Liverpool in a £10 million move to Chelsea.Having left Manchester United at the end of last season after four injury-plagued seasons, Owen Hargreaves
Owen Hargreaves
Owen Lee Hargreaves is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for English Premier League club Manchester City and the English national football team....
signs for neighbours Manchester City on a one-year contract,after weeks of speculation that he would join West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
.Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
terminate the contract of striker El Hadji Diouf
El Hadji Diouf
El Hadji Ousseynou Diouf is a Senegalese footballer who currently plays for Doncaster Rovers. He can play on both wings as well as in attack. He has also garnered a large amount of notoriety for a series of controversial incidents.-Early career:Diouf started his career in France with...
after two years at Ewood Park
Ewood Park
Ewood Park is a football stadium in the English town of Blackburn, Lancashire, and is the home of Blackburn Rovers Football Club — one of the founder members of the Football League and Premier League. Rovers have played there since they moved from Leamington Street in the summer of 1890. The...
,where the attack was strengthened yesterday with the arrival of Everton's out of favour striker Yakubu
Yakubu
Yakubu was ruler of the Hausa city-state of Gobir from 1795 to 1801. Succeeding Bawa, Yakubu waged a number of military campaigns. His reign is also noted for a deterioration of relations between the Hausa elite of Gobir and Fulani Islamic reformer Usman dan Fodio, who would soon oppose them in...
.
30 September 2011: September ends with Manchester United still leading the Premier League, ahead of Mancunian rivals City on goal difference. Chelsea remain in third, while Newcastle United are maintaining their European push in fourth place. The top seven is rounded out by Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Stoke City. Blackburn Rovers, West Bromwich Albion and Bolton Wanderers are still suffering from their early season form and make up the relegation zone. In the Championship, newly-promoted Southampton are continuing their bid for successive promotions, leading Middlesbrough and Derby County on goal difference. West Ham United, Brighton & Hove Albion and Cardiff City complete the top six, while Millwall, Bristol City and Doncaster Rovers stand at the foot of the table.
23 October 2011: Manchester City extend their lead over Manchester United at the top of the Premier League with a 6-1 win over their local rivals at Old Trafford, while fellow title contenders Chelsea suffer a 1-0 setback against Queen's Park Rangers at Loftus Road
Loftus Road
Loftus Road is a football stadium in Shepherd's Bush, London. It is home to the English football team Queens Park Rangers of the Premier League and has a capacity of around 18,500. The four stands are called the Loftus Road End , Ellerslie Road Stand, South Africa Road Stand and the School End,...
.
29 October 2011: Robin Van Persie
Robin van Persie
Robin van Persie is a Dutch footballer who plays as a striker for Arsenal and the Dutch national team. He is a youth product of Feyenoord. Having joined Arsenal in 2004, Van Persie became the club captain on 16 August 2011...
scores a hat-trick as Arsenal gained a first away league win of the season, beating Chelsea 5-3 at Stamford Bridge
Stamford Bridge (stadium)
Stamford Bridge is a football stadium in Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, West London, and is the home of Chelsea Football Club. The stadium is located within the Moore Park Estate also known as Walham Green and is often referred to as simply The Bridge...
.
31 October 2011: October ends with Manchester City 5 points clear of second-placed Manchester United. Newcastle United continue to defy critics who tipped them to struggle this season and stand in third place, while the top seven is rounded out by Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and an ever-improving Arsenal side who appear to have put their poor start to the season behind them. At the other end of the table, Wigan Athletic stand bottom after six successive losses; they are joined in the relegation zone by Blackburn Rovers and Bolton Wanderers. In the Championship, Southampton are continuing their bid to become the second team in two seasons to achieve two successive promotion to the Premier League, standing three points clear of second-placed West Ham United. Crystal Palace, thought to many to struggle this season, standing three points behind West Ham in third, while the play-off places are completed by Middlesbrough, Derby County and Hull City. Coventry City, Doncaster Rovers and Bristol City make up the relegation zone.
18 November 2011: League One side Carlisle United announce plans to relocate from Brunton Park
Brunton Park
Brunton Park is a football stadium and the home of Carlisle United F.C. It is situated in the city of Carlisle, Cumbria and has a certified capacity for the 2011/2012 season of 18,202. The ground opened in 1909...
, their home since 1909, to a new 12,000-seat stadium.
27 November 2011: Football mourns the death of Wales manager Gary Speed
Gary Speed
Gary Andrew Speed, MBE was a Welsh football player and manager. He was captain of the Wales national football team until he retired from international football in 2004 and he remains the most capped outfield player for Wales and the second overall, having appeared 85 times at senior level between...
, 42, who was found dead at his home in Chester
Chester
Chester is a city in Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77,040 inhabitants, and is the largest and most populous settlement of the wider unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester, which had a population of 328,100 according to the...
this morning. Speed, who had managed the Welsh side for nearly a year following a brief spell as manager of Sheffield United, was a player in the English leagues for more than 20 years, during which time he won a league title with Leeds United and was an FA Cup runner-up twice with Newcastle United.
28 November 2011: Queen's Park Rangers chairman Tony Fernandes
Tony Fernandes
Tan Sri Anthony Francis Fernandes CBE is a Malaysian entrepreneur and the founder of Tune Air Sdn. Bhd., who introduced the first budget no-frills airline, AirAsia, to Malaysians with the tagline "Now everyone can fly"...
announces his intention to relocate the club from Loftus Road
Loftus Road
Loftus Road is a football stadium in Shepherd's Bush, London. It is home to the English football team Queens Park Rangers of the Premier League and has a capacity of around 18,500. The four stands are called the Loftus Road End , Ellerslie Road Stand, South Africa Road Stand and the School End,...
to a new, bigger stadium elsewhere in West London
West London
West London generally refers to the western portions of London, and may refer specifically to:*West *West End of London*W postcode area...
.
30 November 2011: Sunderland manager Steve Bruce
Steve Bruce
Stephen Roger "Steve" Bruce is an English football manager and former player. Born in Corbridge, Northumberland, he was a promising schoolboy footballer but was rejected by a number of professional clubs. He was on the verge of quitting the game altogether when he was offered a trial with Gillingham...
becomes the first Premiership manager to be sacked during the season, leaving the north-east club after two-and-a-half years in charge with the Wearside club only two points clear of the relegation zone. The month ends with Manchester City still five points clear of Manchester United. Tottenham Hotspur have put their poor start firmly behind and stand two points behind United with a game in hand. Newcastle occupy the crucial fourth place, while Chelsea have slipped out of the top four after losing three of their last five matches. Liverpool and Arsenal complete the top seven. The relegation zone remains unchanged, except that Wigan Athletic have moved off the bottom of the table at the expense of Blackburn Rovers. Southampton and West Ham United continue to occupy the automatic promotion places in the Championship, while Cardiff City, Middlesbrough, Leeds United and Leicester City (ahead of seventh-placed Brighton on goal difference) make up the playoff zone. Doncaster Rovers and Coventry City remain joint bottom of the Championship, while Nottingham Forest have dropped back into the relegation zone, behind Portsmouth, Bristol City and Ipswich Town on goal difference.
New clubs
- Windsor F.C.Windsor F.C.Windsor F.C. is an English football club formed in 2011 after Windsor & Eton folded. The new club was placed into the Combined Counties Football League Premier Division and will play at Windsor & Eton's Stag Meadow ground.-Ground:...
, a new club formed and owned by fans of the defunct Windsor & Eton F.C.Windsor & Eton F.C.Windsor & Eton F.C. was an English association football club based in Windsor, Berkshire, last playing in the Southern League Premier Division in 2010–11, until it was wound up on 2 February 2011 due to large debts. A new club, Windsor F.C., has been formed to compete in the 2011–12...
, were accepted into the Combined Counties Football League Premier DivisionCombined Counties Football LeagueThe Combined Counties Football League is a regional English football league currently comprising teams from southwestern Greater London, Surrey, small parts of Hampshire and Berkshire, and Guernsey...
(level 9). Their first match in the competition was a 1-1 draw with South ParkSouth Park F.C.South Park Football Club are an English football club based in Reigate, Surrey. They play in the Combined Counties Football League Premier Division, which they were promoted into following the 2010-11 season.-Early years:...
. - Guernsey F.C.Guernsey F.C.Guernsey F.C. is a football club located in Guernsey, Channel Islands. The club was formed in 2011 and became a member of the Combined Counties Football League Division One for the 2011–12 season...
were accepted into the Combined Counties Football LeagueCombined Counties Football LeagueThe Combined Counties Football League is a regional English football league currently comprising teams from southwestern Greater London, Surrey, small parts of Hampshire and Berkshire, and Guernsey...
Division One (level 10). Their first match in the competition was a 5-0 victory over KnaphillKnaphill F.C.Knaphill Football Club is a football club established in 1924 and based in Knaphill, near Woking, Surrey, England. In 2007, they joined Combined Counties League Division One after winning the Surrey County Intermediate League 1st and Premier Divisions in consecutive seasons...
.
Clubs removed
- AndoverAndover F.C.Andover F.C. was a football club based in Andover, Hampshire, established in 1883. Since the 2007–08 season, Andover had been a member of the Southern League Division One South and West at Step 4 of the National League System...
, resigned from Southern League Division One South and West (level 8), 25 July 2011.
Deaths
27 June 2011: Mike Doyle, 64, former Manchester City, Stoke City, Bolton Wanderers and EnglandEngland national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
defender.
5 August 2011: Stan Willemse
Stan Willemse
Stanley B "Stan" Willemse was an English footballer who played as a left-back in the Football League for Brighton and Hove Albion, Chelsea and Leyton Orient....
, 86, former Brighton and Hove Albion, Chelsea, and Leyton Orient defender.
16 August 2011: Frank Munro
Frank Munro
Francis Michael "Frank" Munro was a Scottish international footballer who played as a centre back.Munro played for Dundee United and Aberdeen in his native Scotland before moving to Wolverhampton Wanderers in 1968...
, 63, former Wolves
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
, Aberdeen
Aberdeen F.C.
Aberdeen Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Aberdeen...
and Dundee United
Dundee United F.C.
Dundee United Football Club is a Scottish professional football club located in the city of Dundee. Formed in 1909, originally as Dundee Hibernian, the club changed to the present name in 1923...
defender.
28 August 2011: Bernie Gallacher
Bernie Gallacher
Bernard "Bernie" Gallacher was a professional footballer who played predominantly at left-back.-Career:Born in Johnstone, Scotland, Gallacher joined Aston Villa as a 16-year-old apprentice on leaving school in 1983...
, 44, former Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
, Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
and Brighton & Hove Albion defender.
29 August 2011: Mark Ovendale, 37, former A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....
, and Luton Town goalkeeper
1 September 2011: George Knight
George Knight (footballer)
George Knight was an English professional footballer who played as an inside forward.Despite being on the books at Burnley for nine years, he played just nine league games as his career was interrupted by the Second World War.George played for Burnley's first team at the age of 17 but wartime and...
, 90, former Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
forward.
9 September 2011: Laurie Hughes
Laurie Hughes
Lawrence Hughes was an England former international football player who played for Liverpool.-Life and playing career:...
, 87, former Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
defender.
11 September 2011: Ralph Gubbins, 79, former Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
, Hull City and Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers F.C.
Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system...
forward.
8 November 2011: Jimmy Adamson
Jimmy Adamson
James "Jimmy" Adamson was an English professional footballer and football manager. He was born in Ashington, Northumberland...
, 82, former Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
player and manager who also had short spells in charge of Sunderland and Leeds United.
14 November 2011: Alf Fields
Alf Fields
Alf Fields was an English professional footballer who played as a centre half.-Career:Fields signed with Arsenal in 1936, turned professional in 1937, and made his debut in 1939. Between then and 1952, Fields made a total of 19 appearances in the Football League...
, 92, former Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
defender.
24 November 2011: Johnny Williams, 76, former Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
and Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....
wing half.
27 November 2011: Gary Speed
Gary Speed
Gary Andrew Speed, MBE was a Welsh football player and manager. He was captain of the Wales national football team until he retired from international football in 2004 and he remains the most capped outfield player for Wales and the second overall, having appeared 85 times at senior level between...
, 42, Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
manager who played in midfield for Leeds United, Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
, Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
, Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
and Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
.
Euro 2012 qualificationUEFA Euro 2012 qualifyingThe qualifying competition for UEFA Euro 2012 is a series of parallel association football competitions held over 2010 and 2011 to decide the qualifiers for UEFA Euro 2012, to be held in Poland and Ukraine...
Friendlies
Due to riots2011 England riots
Between 6 and 10 August 2011, several London boroughs and districts of cities and towns across England suffered widespread rioting, looting and arson....
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, the friendly against the Netherlands
Netherlands national football team
The Netherlands National Football Team represents the Netherlands in association football and is controlled by the Royal Dutch Football Association , the governing body for football in the Netherlands...
scheduled for 10 August was called off.
Premier League
Championship
League One
League Two
A total of 24 teams contest the division: 18 sides remaining in the division from last season, four relegated from the League OneFootball League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
, and two promoted from Conference National.
Managerial changes
| Name | Club | Date of departure | Replacement | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peter Jackson | Bradford City | 25 August 2011 | Phil Parkinson Phil Parkinson Philip John "Phil" Parkinson is an English football manager and former player who currently manages Bradford City.-Playing career:... |
29 August 2011 |
| Peter Reid Peter Reid Peter Reid is an English football manager, pundit and retired player, who is currently without a club since his departure from Plymouth Argyle.A defensive midfielder in his playing days, Reid enjoyed a long and successful career... |
Plymouth Argyle Plymouth Argyle F.C. Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the... |
18 September 2011 | Carl Fletcher | 1 November 2011 |
| Sean O'Driscoll Sean O'Driscoll Sean Michael O'Driscoll is an English-Irish football manager and former player. He is currently without a club, having been relieved of his duties as manager of Doncaster Rovers in September 2011. He joined Doncaster in September 2006 following Dave Penney's departure. He was previously manager at... |
Doncaster Rovers Doncaster Rovers F.C. Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in... |
23 September 2011 | Dean Saunders Dean Saunders Dean Nicholas Saunders is a former Wales international footballer who played as a striker in a professional career which lasted from 1982 until 2001. He is the manager of Doncaster Rovers.... |
23 September 2011 |
| Steve McClaren Steve McClaren Stephen "Steve" McClaren is an English football manager and former player.McClaren was previously manager of VfL Wolfsburg in Germany between May 2010 and February 2011, having left his post at Dutch side FC Twente, with whom he won the club's first Eredivisie championship in the 2009–10 season... |
Nottingham Forest Nottingham Forest F.C. Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship... |
2 October 2011 | Steve Cotterill Steve Cotterill Stephen "Steve" Cotterill is an English former footballer who is manager of Nottingham Forest.-Playing career:... |
14 October 2011 |
| Keith Millen Keith Millen -External links:... |
Bristol City Bristol City F.C. Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City... |
3 October 2011 | Derek McInnes Derek McInnes Derek John McInnes is a former Scottish football player and current manager of Bristol City. McInnes featured prominently for Greenock Morton, Rangers, West Bromwich Albion and Dundee United during his playing career. He won two caps for the Scotland national football team while with West... |
19 October 2011 |
| Steve Cotterill Steve Cotterill Stephen "Steve" Cotterill is an English former footballer who is manager of Nottingham Forest.-Playing career:... |
Portsmouth Portsmouth F.C. Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from... |
14 October 2011 | Michael Appleton Michael Appleton Michael Antony Appleton is an English former footballer who is the current manager of Portsmouth.He played as a midfielder until his playing career was cut short by a serious knee injury. He also played as a professional for Manchester United, Lincoln City, Grimsby Town and Preston North End... |
10 November 2011 |
| Sven-Goran Eriksson Sven-Göran Eriksson Sven-Göran Eriksson , in Sweden commonly referred to just by his nickname Svennis, is a Swedish ex-football manager. From October 2010 to October 2011 he managed Football League Championship side Leicester City.... |
Leicester City Leicester City F.C. Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester... |
24 October 2011 | Nigel Pearson Nigel Pearson Nigel Graham Pearson is an English football manager and former professional player. He is currently in his second spell as manager of Leicester City, having previously managed Hull City, Southampton and Carlisle United, and been assistant manager for England Under-21s and Newcastle United... |
15 November 2011 |
| Dario Gradi Dario Gradi Dario Gradi MBE is an Italian-born English football manager and former player, who was serving as manager of the Crewe Alexandra F.C. Academy. He is a former manager of Crewe Alexandra, with whom he has been associated for almost thirty years.Gradi is notable for his 24-year first spell as manager... |
Crewe Alexanda Crewe Alexandra F.C. Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club... |
10 November 2011 | Steve Davis Steve Davis (footballer born 1965) Steven Peter "Steve" Davis is an English footballer and is the manager at Crewe Alexandra.-Playing career:... |
10 November 2011 |
| Gary Johnson Gary Johnson (footballer) Gary Johnson is an English football manager and former player. He was most recently the manager of Npower League Two's Northampton Town.... |
Northampton Town Northampton Town F.C. Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season... |
14 November 2011 | Adrian Boothroyd Adrian Boothroyd Adrian Neil "Aidy" Boothroyd is an English former footballer and is currently managing Northampton Town after being sacked as manager of Coventry City on March 14, 2011. He was manager of Watford of the Championship until 3 November 2008... |
30 November 2011 |
| Nigel Pearson Nigel Pearson Nigel Graham Pearson is an English football manager and former professional player. He is currently in his second spell as manager of Leicester City, having previously managed Hull City, Southampton and Carlisle United, and been assistant manager for England Under-21s and Newcastle United... |
Hull City | 15 November 2011 | Vacant | TBC |
| Steve Bruce Steve Bruce Stephen Roger "Steve" Bruce is an English football manager and former player. Born in Corbridge, Northumberland, he was a promising schoolboy footballer but was rejected by a number of professional clubs. He was on the verge of quitting the game altogether when he was offered a trial with Gillingham... |
Sunderland Sunderland A.F.C. Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League... |
30 November 2011 | Vacant | TBC |