List of Peterborough United F.C. seasons

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Peterborough United Football Club is an English association football club based in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire. After former Southern League club Peterborough & Fletton United folded in 1932, there had been no senior football in the Peterborough area. In the summer of 1934, a new professional club, named Peterborough United, was founded to take its place. It was welcomed into membership of the Midland League for 1934–35, [1] and the club's first team finished that initial season in mid-table. [2] They entered the national cup competition, the FA Cup, the following season, but lost their opening match 3–0 at home to Rushden Town in the first qualifying round. [3] When competitive football resumed after the Second World War, Peterborough enjoyed improved performances in both league and cup competition. In the cup, they regularly reached the rounds proper, and progressed to the fourth round in 1956–57 and 1959–60, eliminating two Football League teams on the first occasion and three on the second. [2] In the Midland League, they finished second in 1953–54, third the following year, and then embarked on a run of five consecutive championships, scoring more than 100 goals in each campaign. Repeated attempts at election to the Football League failed albeit narrowly in 1958–59 until they finally gained admission to the Fourth Division in 1960 at the expense of Gateshead. [4]

Contents

Their momentum continued into the new Football League season: in second place with Christmas approaching, Peterborough did not lose again until the following April. [5] They won the Fourth Division title, scoring what remains a Football League record 134 goals. [6] Terry Bly supplied 52 of those 134 not a league record, but a seasonal total which has not been surpassed since. [6] They followed up with four top-half finishes at the higher level before dropping to mid-table, eliminated Arsenal among others on their way to the sixth round (quarter-final) of the 1964–65 FA Cup, and went one step further in the 1965–66 League Cup, losing to West Bromwich Albion in the semifinal, [2] but problems off the field disrupted their further progress. In November 1967, the Football Association and Football League met to consider charges of making illegal payments to players, poor accounting practices and poor internal governance, stemming from claims surrounding an FA Cup match against Sunderland the previous January. They decided that Peterborough would be demoted to the Fourth Division at the end of the 1967–68 season. At the time, they stood fourth in the Third Division after 19 matches. [5] [7] They won their second Fourth Division championship in 1973–74, this time spending five years in the Third before returning to the fourth tier until 1991. [2]

Back-to-back promotions via a fourth-place finish in 1990–91 and the play-offs in 1992, beating Stockport County 2–1 in the final, [2] [8]  earned Peterborough a place in the second tier for the first time in the club's history. They came 10th in what was called the First Division  when the newly formed FA Premier League split from the Football League, the remaining divisions of the Football League were renumbered upwards [9]  which remains the team's highest league finish. [1] and were relegated in 1993–94. They returned to the second tier, which by then had been rebranded as the Football League Championship, in 2009, again after two consecutive promotions. Although relegated straight back to League One, they were immediately re-promoted, and stayed up for two seasons. [2] Failure in the 2014 play-offs [10] was offset by a first ever victory in a nationally organised cup competition: Peterborough defeated Chesterfield by three goals to one in the final of the 2013–14 Football League Trophy, a competition open to clubs in the third and fourth tiers of English football. [11] They returned to the Championship as 2020–21 League One runners-up, [12] went straight back down, and lost to Sheffield Wednesday on penalties in the 2023 play-off semifinal. [13] They won the 2023–24 EFL Trophy, beating Wycombe Wanderers in the final, [14] but again lost in the play-offs. [15]

As of the end of the 2023–24 season, the team have spent 25 seasons in the fourth tier of the English football league system, 33 in the third, and 6 in the second. [2] The table details the team's achievements and the top goalscorers in senior first-team competitions from their debut season in the Midland League in 1934–35 to the end of the most recently completed season.

Key

Details of the abandoned 1939–40 season are shown in italics and appropriately footnoted.

Seasons

SeasonLeague [2] [5] FA Cup [3] League Cup [2] [5] [lower-alpha 1] Other [2] [5] [16] Top scorer(s) [lower-alpha 2]
Division [lower-alpha 3] PWDLFAPtsPosCompetitionResultNameGoals
1934–35 Mid3815101381844010th14
1935–36 Mid401381952863417th QR1 Dave Collins22
1936–37 Mid421662075973816th R1 Jack Briggs32
1937–38
  • 42
  • 16
  • 7
  • 8
  • 13
  • 2
  • 22
  • 6
  • 67
  • 29
  • 105
  • 31
  • 29
  • 18
  • 19th
  • 3rd
QR2 Harry Roberts 27
1938–39
  • 42
  • 16
  • 20
  • 7
  • 4
  • 1
  • 18
  • 8
  • 99
  • 43
  • 77
  • 51
  • 44
  • 15
  • 10th
  • 6th
R1 Charlie MacCartney 52
1939–40 Mid33001626 [lower-alpha 4] Jack Haycox 5
1945–46 Mid36173166374379th QR3 [lower-alpha 5] Ged Hustwaite12
1946–47 Mid421812129077489th R2 Arnold Bramham 21
1947–48 Mid42224168878486th QR4 Nat Brooksbank29
1948–49 Mid421562158833616th R1 Billy Guest 20
1949–50 Mid462310139170564th QR3 Freddie Martin 30
1950–51 Mid421615116965479th QR2 Freddie Martin 16
1951–52 Mid422010129071505th QR4 Johnny Dowson 28
1952–53 Mid461815137655518th R2 Freddie Martin 30
1953–54 Mid462781111173622nd R3 Doug Taft 45
1954–55 Mid46231676938623rd QR4 Jimmy Kelly 10
1955–56 Mid463311213746771st R2 Dennis Emery 33
1956–57 Mid46366414835781st R4 Dennis Emery 51
1957–58 Mid46355616046751st R1 Dennis Emery 53
1958–59 Mid36324013726681st R3 Jimmy Rayner 42
1959–60 Mid32236310837521st R4 Jimmy Rayner 28
1960–61 Div 4 46281081346566 1st [lower-alpha 6] R4 R1 Terry Bly [lower-alpha 7] 54 ♦
1961–62 Div 346266141078258 5th R4 R1 Terry Bly 33
1962–63 Div 346201115937551 6th R3 R2 George Hudson 26
1963–64 Div 346181117757047 10th R1 R2 Derek Dougan 21
1964–65 Div 34622717857451 8th QF R2 Derek Dougan 25
1965–66 Div 346171217806646 13th R2 SF John Byrne 25
1966–67 Div 346141517667143 15th R4 R2 John Fairbrother 23
1967–68 Div 3 46201016796750 24th [lower-alpha 8] R3 R1 John Fairbrother 14
1968–69 Div 446131617605742 18th R1 R4 Jim Hall 24
1969–70 Div 446171415776948 9th R4 R1 Jim Hall 27
1970–71 Div 44618721707143 16th R2 R1 Colin Garwood 18
1971–72 Div 446171613826450 8th R3 R1 Peter Price [lower-alpha 9] 32 ♦
1972–73 Div 446141319717641 19th R3 R1 Jim Hall 23
1973–74 Div 4 4627118753865 1st R4 R1 John Cozens 25
1974–75 Div 346191215475350 7th R5 R1 David Gregory 14
1975–76 Div 346151813636348 10th R4 R4 David Gregory 17
1976–77 Div 346131518556541 16th R2 R2 John Cozens 10
1977–78 Div 346201610473356 4th R3 R3 Tommy Robson 15
1978–79 Div 3 46111421446336 21st R1 R4 Barry Butlin 7
1979–80 Div 446211015584752 8th R1 R3 Billy Kellock 23
1980–81 Div 446171811685452 5th R5 R2 Robbie Cooke 29
1981–82 Div 446241012715782 [lower-alpha 10] 5th R3 R1 Football League Group Cup QF Robbie Cooke 31 [lower-alpha 11]
1982–83 Div 446171316585264 9th R3 R2 Football League Group Cup Group Micky Gynn 21
1983–84 Div 446181414724868 7th R1 R2 Associate Members' Cup R1(S) Alan Waddle 12
1984–85 Div 446161416545362 11th R2 R1 Associate Members' Cup R1(S) Errington Kelly 14
1985–86 Div 446131716526456 17th R5 R1 Associate Members' Cup Prelim(S) Jackie Gallagher 15
1986–87 Div 446171415575065 10th R1 R2 Associate Members' Cup Prelim(S) Steve Phillips 12
1987–88 Div 446201016525370 7th R2 R3 Associate Members' Cup QF(S) Mick Gooding 24
1988–89 Div 446141220527454 17th R2 R2 Associate Members' Cup Prelim(S) Nick Cusack 12
1989–90 Div 442171712594668 9th R2 R1 Associate Members' Cup R1(S) Mick Halsall 12
1990–91 Div 4 4621178674580 4th R3 R2 Associate Members' Cup Prelim(S) Paul Culpin 14
1991–92 Div 3 46201412655874 6th [lower-alpha 12] R2 QF Associate Members' Cup F(S) Ken Charlery 26
1992–93 Div 1 [lower-alpha 13] 46161416556362 10th [lower-alpha 14] R2 R2 Anglo-Italian Cup Prelim Tony Adcock 19
1993–94 Div 14681325487637 24th R3 R4 Anglo-Italian Cup Prelim Tony Adcock 13
1994–95 Div 246141814546960 15th R2 R1 Football League Trophy R2(S) Ken Charlery 19
1995–96 Div 246131320596652 19th R4 R2 Football League Trophy SF(S) Gary Martindale [lower-alpha 15] 18
1996–97 Div 246111421557347 21st R4 R2 Football League Trophy F(S) Ken Charlery 13
1997–98 Div 346181315635167 10th R3 R2 Football League Trophy SF(S) Jimmy Quinn 25
1998–99 Div 346181216725666 9th R1 R1 Football League Trophy R2(S) Giuliano Grazioli 15
1999–2000 Div 346221212635478 5th [lower-alpha 16] R1 R1 Football League Trophy R2(S) Andy Clarke 18
2000–01 Div 246151417616659 12th R3 R1 Football League Trophy R2(S) Leon McKenzie 13
2001–02 Div 246151021645955 17th R4 R2 Football League Trophy QF(S) Leon McKenzie 20
2002–03 Div 246141616515458 11th R1 R1 Football League Trophy R1(S) Andy Clarke 19
2003–04 Div 246121618585852 18th R3 R1 Football League Trophy QF(S) 12
2004–05 League 1 [lower-alpha 17] 4691225497339 23rd R4 R1 Football League Trophy R1(S) Calum Willock 14
2005–06 League 246171118574962 9th R1 R1 Football League Trophy QF(S) Danny Crow 17
2006–07 League 246181117706165 10th R3 R2 Football League Trophy QF(S) 10
2007–08 League 24628810844392 2nd R4 R2 Football League Trophy R2(S) Aaron Mclean 33
2008–09 League 14626119785489 2nd R3 R1 Football League Trophy R2(S) Craig Mackail-Smith 26
2009–10 Champ4681028468034 24th R3 R4 George Boyd 12
2010–11 League 1462310131067579 4th [lower-alpha 18] R3 R3 Football League Trophy R2(S) Craig Mackail-Smith [lower-alpha 19] 35 ♦
2011–12 Champ46131122677750 18th R3 R2 Paul Taylor 12
2012–13 Champ4615922667554 22nd R3 R2 13
2013–14 League 14623518725874 6th [lower-alpha 20] R3 R3 Football League Trophy W Britt Assombalonga 33
2014–15 League 14618919535663 9th R2 R1 Football League Trophy R1(S) Conor Washington 13
2015–16 League 14619621827363 13th R4 R2 Football League Trophy R1(S) Conor Washington 15
2016–17 League 146171118626262 11th R3 R2 EFL Trophy R1(S) Tom Nichols 13
2017–18 League 146171316686064 9th R4 R1 EFL Trophy QF Jack Marriott [lower-alpha 21] 33 ♦
2018–19 League 146201214716272 7th R3 R1 EFL Trophy QF Ivan Toney 23
2019–20 League 13517810684059 7th [lower-alpha 22] R3 R1 EFL Trophy R2(S) Ivan Toney [lower-alpha 23] 26 ♦
2020–21 League 14626911834687 2nd R2 R1 EFL Trophy QF Jonson Clarke-Harris [lower-alpha 24] 33 ♦
2021–22 Champ4691027438737 22nd R5 R1 Jonson Clarke-Harris 12
2022–23 League 14624517755477 6th [lower-alpha 25] R2 R2 EFL Trophy R2(S) Jonson Clarke-Harris [lower-alpha 26] 29 ♦
2023–24 League 14625912896184 4th [lower-alpha 27] R3 R3 EFL Trophy W Ephron Mason-Clark 19

Notes

  1. The League Cup competition started in the 1960–61 season. [9]
  2. Includes goals scored in all nationally organised competitions, i.e. the Football League, including play-offs, FA Cup, League Cup, Football League Group Cup, EFL Trophy and predecessors, and Anglo-Italian Cup, as well as goals scored in the Midland League and London Midweek League before Peterborough's admission to the Football League. For seasons from 1934–35 to 2009–10, sourced to the Peterborough United Football Club database; [17] from 2010–11 onwards sourced to Soccerbase. [18]
  3. From the 1960–61 Football League season onwards, divisions are sorted according to their level within the English football league system, and separately from the pre-Football League division.
  4. The 1939–40 Midland League season was abandoned with three matches played when the Second World War began, [21] and competitive football remained suspended for the duration. [2]
  5. The FA Cup was contested in 1945–46. From the first round proper to the sixth round (quarter-final), results were determined on aggregate score over two legs. [3]
  6. In their first season in the Football League, Peterborough not only won the Fourth Division title, they set a League record of 134 goals which still stands, and Terry Bly's 52-goal return, while not a League record, has not been bettered since. [22]
  7. Bly was top scorer in the 1960–61 Fourth Division with 52 goals. [23]
  8. Demoted for financial irregularities. [7]
  9. Price was top scorer in the 1971–72 Fourth Division with 28 goals. [23]
  10. The 1981–82 season saw the introduction of three points for a win instead of two. [9]
  11. Figure includes three goals in the Football League Group Cup, regarded as competitive by Up The Posh! and by independent sources such as the English National Football Archive (ENFA) but omitted from Cooke's competitive record by the Peterborough United Football Club database. [24]
  12. Promoted to the second tier for the first time. After defeating Huddersfield Town 4–3 on aggregate in the semifinal of the play-offs, Peterborough beat Stockport County 2–1 in the final. [2] [8]
  13. The newly formed FA Premier League split from the Football League, and the remaining divisions of the Football League were renumbered upwards. [9]
  14. Peterborough's record high finish, of 10th in the second tier. [2]
  15. Martindale was top scorer in the 1995–96 Second Division with 21 goals, of which 6 were scored for Notts County after he left Peterborough. [23] [25]
  16. After defeating Barnet 5–1 on aggregate in the semifinal of the play-offs, Peterborough beat Darlington 2–1 in the final. [2] [26]
  17. From the 2004–05 season, the Football League divisions were rebranded: Division One was renamed the Football League Championship, and Divisions Two and Three became Football League One and Football League Two respectively. [27]
  18. After defeating Milton Keynes Dons 4–3 on aggregate in the semifinal of the play-offs, Peterborough beat Huddersfield Town 3–0 in the final. [2] [28]
  19. Mackail-Smith was top scorer in the 2010–11 League One season with 27 goals. [29]
  20. Lost 3–2 on aggregate to Leyton Orient in the semifinal of the play-offs. [10]
  21. Marriott was top scorer in the 2017–18 League One season with 27 goals. [29]
  22. The 2019–20 football season was disrupted by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The EFL was suspended in March 2020 and in June, the League One clubs voted to end the regular season programme early. Teams had not all played the same number of matches, so it was agreed to construct final league tables on a points-per-game basis. Peterborough United's 74.17 points per game placed them 7th. [30] [31]
  23. Toney was top scorer in the 2019–20 League One season with 24 goals. [29]
  24. Clarke-Harris was top scorer in the 2020–21 League One season with 31 goals. [29]
  25. Peterborough won the first (home) leg of the play-off semifinal against Sheffield Wednesday 4–0, but conceded four goals, including a 98th-minute equaliser, in the second leg. They regained the lead in extra time via an own goal, but conceded again to take the tie to penalties. Wednesday won the shoot-out 5–3. [13]
  26. Clarke-Harris was joint top scorer in the 2022–23 League One season with 26 goals. [29]
  27. Peterborough lost 2–1 on aggregate to Oxford United in the play-off semifinal. [15]

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References

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  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 "Peterborough United". Football Club History Database. Richard Rundle. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
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  14. Harby, Chris (7 April 2024). "Peterborough United 2–1 Wycombe Wanderers". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  15. 1 2 "Peterborough United 1–1 Oxford United (Agg: 1–2): U's reach League One play-off final with narrow aggregate win". Sky Sports. 8 May 2024. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
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    "Player search: Cooke, RL (Robbie)" . English National Football Archive (ENFA). Retrieved 3 December 2023.
    "Matches for Robbie Cooke: Match type: Results (competitive)". Peterborough United Football Club database. The Posh Supporters Trust. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
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