| Season: | 1979–80 |
| Mgrtitle: | Manager |
| Chrtitle: | Chairman |
| League Result: | 21st (relegated) |
| Cup1 Result: | 2nd Round |
| Cup2 Result: | 4th Round |
| Cup3 Result: | Preliminary Group |
| League Topscorer: | Billy Hamilton (7) |
| Season Topscorer: | Billy Hamilton & Martin Dobson (7) |
| Highest Attendance: | 16,634 v Newcastle United (26 December 1979) |
| Lowest Attendance: | 5,353 v Bristol Rovers (12 April 1980) |
| Average Attendance: | 8,178[1] |
| Nextseason: | 1980–81 |
The 1979–80 season was Burnley's fourth consecutive season in the second tier of English football. They were initially managed by Harry Potts until October 1979, when Brian Miller took charge of the club.
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| Date | Opponents | Result | Goalscorers | Attendance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 August 1979 | Orient (A) | 2–2 | James 37', Kindon 76' | 6,151 | |
| 21 August 1979 | Charlton Athletic (H) | 1–1 | Kindon 47' | 6,924 | |
| 25 August 1979 | Notts County (H) | 0–1 | 7,005 | ||
| 1 September 1979 | Swansea City (A) | 1–2 | Noble 7' | 16,670 | |
| 8 September 1979 | Oldham Athletic (H) | 1–1 | Kindon 84' | 6,974 | |
| 15 September 1979 | Fulham (A) | 1–3 | Noble 36' (pen.) | 6,633 | |
| 22 September 1979 | Sunderland (H) | 1–1 | Dobson 48' | 8,872 | |
| 29 September 1979 | West Ham United (A) | 1–2 | Scott 40' | 18,327 | |
| 6 October 1979 | Chelsea (H) | 0–1 | 8,458 | ||
| 9 October 1979 | Charlton Athletic (A) | 3–3 | Dobson 63', James 64', Noble 75' | 5,279 | |
| 13 October 1979 | Cardiff City (H) | 0–2 | 6,450 | ||
| 20 October 1979 | Preston North End (A) | 2–3 | Dobson 25', James 77' | 12,323 | |
| 27 October 1979 | Queens Park Rangers (A) | 0–7 | 11,261 | ||
| 3 November 1979 | Orient (H) | 1–2 | Arins 70' | 6,777 | |
| 10 November 1979 | Leicester City (A) | 1–1 | James 65' | 17,191 | |
| 17 November 1979 | Luton Town (H) | 0–0 | 7,119 | ||
| 24 November 1979 | Cambridge United (H) | 5–3 | Burke 12', Dobson 42', Biley 67' (o.g.), James 86', Tate 89' | 6,873 | |
| 1 December 1979 | Bristol Rovers (A) | 0–0 | 5,373 | ||
| 8 December 1979 | Watford (H) | 1–0 | Burke 40' | 8,608 | |
| 15 December 1979 | Birmingham City (A) | 0–2 | 13,997 | ||
| 21 December 1979 | Wrexham (H) | 1–0 | Burke 67' | 7,042 | |
| 26 December 1979 | Newcastle United (H) | 3–2 | Hamilton 35', Smith 47', Dobson 74' (pen.) | 16,634 | |
| 29 December 1979 | Notts County (A) | 3–2 | Cavener (2) 18', 74', Hamilton 24' | 7,596 | |
| 1 January 1980 | Shrewsbury Town (A) | 0–2 | 10,504 | ||
| 12 January 1980 | Swansea City (H) | 0–0 | 8,853 | ||
| 2 February 1980 | Fulham (H) | 2–1 | Burke 48', James 83' | 6,977 | |
| 9 February 1980 | Sunderland (A) | 0–5 | 21,855 | ||
| 19 February 1980 | West Ham United (H) | 0–1 | 9,030 | ||
| 23 February 1980 | Cardiff City (A) | 1–2 | Hamilton 50' | 6,342 | |
| 1 March 1980 | Preston North End (H) | 1–1 | Dixon 85' | 11,046 | |
| 4 March 1980 | Oldham Athletic (A) | 1–2 | Arins 21' | 9,519 | |
| 8 March 1980 | Queens Park Rangers (H) | 0–3 | 7,579 | ||
| 15 March 1980 | Chelsea (A) | 1–2 | Busby 25' | 16,519 | |
| 22 March 1980 | Leicester City (H) | 1–2 | Scott 83' | 7,173 | |
| 29 March 1980 | Luton Town (A) | 1–1 | Hamilton 60' | 8,507 | |
| 4 April 1980 | Wrexham (A) | 0–1 | 6,605 | ||
| 5 April 1980 | Shrewsbury Town (H) | 0–0 | 6,333 | ||
| 7 April 1980 | Newcastle United (A) | 1–1 | Hamilton 72' | 18,863 | |
| 12 April 1980 | Bristol Rovers (H) | 1–1 | Hamilton 87' | 5,353 | |
| 19 April 1980 | Cambridge United (A) | 1–3 | Hamilton 15' | 4,727 | |
| 26 April 1980 | Birmingham City (H) | 0–0 | 10,388 | ||
| 3 May 1980 | Watford (A) | 0–4 | 11,931 |
| Date | Round | Opponents | Result | Goalscorers | Attendance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 January 1980 | Round 3 | Stoke City (H) | 1–0 | Dobson 76' (pen.) | 13,478 | |
| 26 January 1980 | Round 4 | Bury (A) | 0–1 | 17,722 |
| Date | Round | Opponents | Result | Goalscorers | Attendance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 August 1979 | Round 2 First leg | Wolverhampton Wanderers (H) | 1–1 | Dobson 38' | 6,163 | |
| 4 September 1979 | Round 2 Second leg | Wolverhampton Wanderers (A) | 0–2 | 17,411 |
| Date | Round | Opponents | Result | Goalscorers | Attendance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 August 1979 | Preliminary Group | Blackburn Rovers (A) | 2–2 | Kindon 1', Metcalfe 68' (o.g.) | 7,749 | |
| 7 August 1979 | Preliminary Group | Blackpool (A) | 2–3 | Noble 58' (pen.), Ingham 90' | 5,003 | |
| 11 August 1979 | Preliminary Group | Preston North End (H) | 1–2 | Brennan 62' | 6,171 |