Record breakers

Our thanks to contributor Andy Howland for the statistical information in this little look at the records that United are on course for breaking this season.
Details of the worst performances by teams in our Division (Third Division 1958-92, Second Division 1992-2000): no club played as many as 46 League games until 1950-51 and there were regional Third Divisions from then until summer 1958.

FEWEST POINTS (46 game season) – United currently have 16 points and are well on course for breaking this record, held by Cambridge United who gained just 21 points in 1984/85 (in the old Division Three). That was after three points for a win was introduced. Their record was Won 4, Drawn 9 and Lost 33. Since the summer of 1992, the lowest tally for Division Two is 26 by Leyton Orient in 1994/95 (6,8,32). Loughborough's record in the old Second Division in 1899-1900 was 1,6,27 whilst in the same Division, Doncaster's record in 1904-05 was 3,2,29. Stoke got 17 points from 42 matches in 1984-85 (old First Division ). Their record was 3,8,31 and they beat Manchester United, Arsenal and Sheffield Wednesday. Rochdale got only 11 points from 40 matches in 1931-32 (Third Division North).

FEWEST WINS (46 game season) – United currently have 4 and so can't obtain this achievement as Rochdale won just two matches of 46 in the old Third Division in 1973-74. In the new Division Two, Barnet (1993-94) and Hull (1995-96) each won just five of 46 matches. The single win obtained by Loughborough from 34 Second Division Matches is a record low for any club in any season.

MOST DEFEATS – United currently have 26 defeats and so it's touch and go whether or not they can achieve the required number to break this record, held by Cambridge (old Third Division in 1984/85) and Chester (Second Division in 1992-93) who each lost 33 of 46 League matches. Doncaster lost 34 of 46 Division Three fixtures in 1997-98 whilst Rochdale lost 33 of 40 Division Three (North) matches in 1931-32 when their record was 4,3,33. Doncaster lost 29 of 34 matches in 1904-05.

GOALS CONCEDED – United have conceded 75 so far and so will really have to go some to catch Accrington Stanley who conceded 123 goals in the old Third Division in 1959-60. Neighbours Darwen conceded 141 in 1898-99 (in just 34 matches).

WORST GOAL DIFFERENCE – United are presently on -40. At our level, Accrington Stanley's goal difference was minus 66 in the old Third Division in 1959-60. Darwen's goal difference of minus 119 goals came from just 34 Second Division games in 1898-99.

FEWEST SCORED (46 matches) – The U's have already notched 35 goals somehow, and so can't beat Stockport who netted just 27 goals in 46 matches in the old Division Three (1969-70). Leyton netted only 30 in Division Two in 1994-95. Stoke scored only 24 in 42 old First Division matches in 1984-85 (failing to score in eight consecutive matches and netting only 6 in away matches). In 1971-72, Watford also netted 24 in 42 League matches (old Division Two).

MISCELLANEOUS Cambridge ended 25 points adrift of the penultimate club in the old Third Division in 1984-85 so United must be hoping that Swansea get a few more points under their belts as they are currently only 13 adrift. At our level, Cambridge's home record in 1984-85 was won 2 , drawn 3, lost 18 whilst Leyton's away record in 1994-95 was won 0, drawn 2 and lost 21.

1950-58 (46 matches) – In the period of 24 club regional Third Divisions, the worst records follow: Crewe's appalling 1956-57 season saw them win just six games, gain 21 points (two points for a win) and concede 67 more than they scored. Bradford Park Avenue conceded 122 in 1955-56 whilst Crystal Palace scored just 33 goals in 46 Third Division (South) games in 1950-51.