Goal averages. When were they replaced with goal difference?

[goldstone]

Remember when teams on the same points were separated by goal average? I believe it was goals for divided by goals against?

When was this replaced by goal difference?

I believe the reason was to encourage teams to score more goals.

 

[Goldstone Rapper]

Goal average was replaced in the English Football League for the start of the 1976-77 season.

I always assumed the change was made to simplify the calculations. No more dividing. No more decimals.

 

[Cantona's Flying Dropkick]

And for the 1996/7 season it was changes to goals scored.

Luckily it was, as Albion would have been relegated at Hereford under goal difference!

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

And for the 1996/7 season it was changes to goals scored.

Luckily it was, as Albion would have been relegated at Hereford under goal difference!

Then they changed it back the year after

 

[Giraffe]

And for the 1996/7 season it was changes to goals scored.

Luckily it was, as Albion would have been relegated at Hereford under goal difference!

Thats ball bags, it was still goal difference wasn't it, just that our goal differences were identical and therefore goals scored came into play and we had more. So same as now? or am I talking nonsense?

 

[Hiney]

Thats ball bags, it was still goal difference wasn't it, just that our goal differences were identical and therefore goals scored came into play and we had more. So same as now? or am I talking nonsense?

Our goal difference was -7, theirs was -15

 

[Danny-Boy]

More interesting was when they switched to thre points for a win rather than two, for one reason look at Div 2 Final table 1978-79..

If it had been three points for a win, Palace, wouldn't have even been promoted let alone finish as champions. Sunderland would have been above them on GD I think..

Venables produced a Palace team that were draw bores; it hurts me to say that, but the stats prove it.

 

[goldstone]

Most people remember the change from two points for a win to three points for a win, but fewer can remember the change from goal average to goal difference.

Had almost forgotten it myself until it came up in conversation last week.

 

[Hamilton]

Was just chatting with friends about goal difference versus goals scored and stumbled across this thread.

Thought the ‘goal average’ interesting.

I also wondered what the club’s stance on the goals scored experiment was on the eve of the 1996/97 season. Did they support it or object? Any historians know?

 

[AZ Gull]

Was just chatting with friends about goal difference versus goals scored and stumbled across this thread.

Thought the ‘goal average’ interesting.

I also wondered what the club’s stance on the goals scored experiment was on the eve of the 1996/97 season. Did they support it or object? Any historians know?

The change wasn't made prior to the 1996-97 season - it had been made a few seasons before.

The League reverted to goal difference for the 1999-2000 season.

 

[Bodian]

Our goal difference was -7, theirs was -15

Ours was -17...

 

[sakooshi]