| Season: | 1980–81 |
| Mgrtitle: | Manager |
| Chrtitle: | Chairman |
| League Result: | 8th |
| Cup1 Result: | 2nd Round |
| Cup2 Result: | 2nd Round |
| Cup3 Result: | Preliminary Group |
| League Topscorer: | Steve Taylor (16) |
| Season Topscorer: | Steve Taylor (17) |
| Highest Attendance: | 11,075 v Huddersfield Town (14 April 1981) |
| Lowest Attendance: | 3,354 v Shrewsbury Town (5 August 1980) |
| Average Attendance: | 6,313[1] |
| Nextseason: | 1981–82 |
The 1980–81 season was Burnley's first season in the third tier of English football. They were managed by Brian Miller in his first season in charge of the club.
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| Date | Opponents | Result | Goalscorers | Attendance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 August 1980 | Newport County (H) | 1–1 | Cassidy 12' | 6,733 | |
| 20 August 1980 | Walsall (A) | 1–3 | Taylor 84' | 4,714 | |
| 23 August 1980 | Chesterfield (H) | 1–0 | Dobson 21' (pen.) | 5,880 | |
| 30 August 1980 | Charlton Athletic (A) | 0–2 | 5,445 | ||
| 6 September 1980 | Colchester United (H) | 1–0 | Hamilton 25' | 4,436 | |
| 13 September 1980 | Exeter City (A) | 0–0 | 4,534 | ||
| 16 September 1980 | Hull City (H) | 2–0 | Young 72', Taylor 88' | 4,933 | |
| 20 September 1980 | Chester (A) | 0–0 | 3,660 | ||
| 27 September 1980 | Millwall (H) | 5–0 | Hamilton 12', Dobson 55', Taylor (3) 57', 85', 88' | 5,620 | |
| 30 September 1980 | Hull City (A) | 0–0 | 5,497 | ||
| 4 October 1980 | Fulham (A) | 2–0 | Laws 34', Potts 85' | 4,673 | |
| 7 October 1980 | Sheffield United (H) | 3–2 | Taylor (2) 31', 85', Hamilton 38' | 7,308 | |
| 11 October 1980 | Rotherham United (H) | 1–1 | Dobson 48' | 9,352 | |
| 18 October 1980 | Portsmouth (A) | 2–4 | Scott (2) 80', 90' | 13,449 | |
| 21 October 1980 | Huddersfield Town (A) | 0–0 | 15,741 | ||
| 25 October 1980 | Brentford (H) | 2–0 | Dobson 42' (pen.), Cavener 67' | 7,324 | |
| 1 November 1980 | Swindon Town (A) | 3–0 | Carter 21' (o.g.), Scott (2) 80', 90' | 6,436 | |
| 4 November 1980 | Sheffield United (A) | 0–0 | 14,585 | ||
| 8 November 1980 | Reading (H) | 1–2 | Hamilton 11' | 6,925 | |
| 11 November 1980 | Walsall (H) | 0–0 | 5,573 | ||
| 15 November 1980 | Newport County (A) | 2–1 | Hamilton 42', Taylor 44' | 5,370 | |
| 29 November 1980 | Gillingham (H) | 3–2 | Scott 18', Taylor 40', Weatherly 56' (o.g.) | 5,797 | |
| 2 December 1980 | Barnsley (H) | 0–1 | 9,109 | ||
| 6 December 1980 | Oxford United (A) | 2–0 | Scott 13', Young 47' | 3,513 | |
| 20 December 1980 | Plymouth Argyle (H) | 2–1 | Taylor (2) 13', 49' | 5,695 | |
| 26 December 1980 | Carlisle United (A) | 2–3 | Scott 66', Taylor 78' | 7,136 | |
| 27 December 1980 | Blackpool (H) | 4–1 | Taylor 14', Potts 44', Laws 67', Holt 87' | 10,782 | |
| 3 January 1981 | Brentford (A) | 0–0 | 6,379 | ||
| 27 January 1981 | Portsmouth (H) | 1–3 | Hamilton 7' | 6,689 | |
| 31 January 1981 | Chesterfield (A) | 0–3 | 7,637 | ||
| 7 February 1981 | Exeter City (H) | 1–0 | Dobson 42' (pen.) | 5,496 | |
| 14 February 1981 | Colchester United (A) | 1–2 | Hamilton 79' | 3,082 | |
| 17 February 1981 | Charlton Athletic (H) | 0–1 | 5,786 | ||
| 21 February 1981 | Millwall (A) | 2–2 | Taylor 63', Hamilton 73' | 4,691 | |
| 28 February 1981 | Chester (H) | 1–0 | Young 80' | 4,997 | |
| 7 March 1981 | Fulham (H) | 3–0 | Hamilton 9', Dobson (2) 27', 73' | 5,472 | |
| 28 March 1981 | Barnsley (A) | 2–3 | Phelan 16', Scott 35' | 13,689 | |
| 31 March 1981 | Rotherham United (A) | 0–1 | 9,762 | ||
| 4 April 1981 | Swindon Town (H) | 0–0 | 4,736 | ||
| 7 April 1981 | Gillingham (A) | 0–0 | 4,412 | ||
| 11 April 1981 | Reading (A) | 3–1 | Taylor (2) 30', 76', Phelan 50' | 3,977 | |
| 14 April 1981 | Huddersfield Town (H) | 4–2 | Brown 16' (o.g.), Scott 39', Overson 45', Potts 57' | 11,075 | |
| 18 April 1981 | Blackpool (A) | 0–0 | 7,198 | ||
| 21 April 1981 | Carlisle United (H) | 0–3 | 5,126 | ||
| 25 April 1981 | Plymouth Argyle (A) | 1–2 | Cavener 89' | 4,331 | |
| 2 May 1981 | Oxford United (H) | 1–1 | Potts 20' | 3,947 |
| Date | Round | Opponents | Result | Goalscorers | Attendance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 November 1980 | Round 1 | Scarborough (H) | 1–0 | Hamilton 77' | 7,789 | |
| 13 December 1980 | Round 2 | Port Vale (H) | 1–1 | Potts 61' | 7,497 | |
| 16 December 1980 | Replay | Port Vale (A) | 0–2 | 7,684 |
| Date | Round | Opponents | Result | Goalscorers | Attendance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 August 1980 | Round 1 First leg | Wrexham (A) | 3–1 | Davies 36' (o.g.), Cassidy 61', Thomson 70' | 5,126 | |
| 12 August 1980 | Round 1 Second leg | Wrexham (H) | 2–1 | Scott 12', Dobson 85' (pen.) | 4,448 | |
| 26 August 1980 | Round 2 First leg | West Ham United (H) | 0–2 | 6,673 | ||
| 2 September 1980 | Round 2 Second leg | West Ham United (A) | 0–4 | 15,216 |
| Date | Round | Opponents | Result | Goalscorers | Attendance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 July 1980 | Preliminary Group | Bury (A) | 1–2 | Dobson 58' (pen.) | 3,887 | |
| 2 August 1980 | Preliminary Group | Oldham Athletic (H) | 3–1 | Scott 51', Taylor 58', Cavener 84' | 4,083 | |
| 5 August 1980 | Preliminary Group | Shrewsbury Town (H) | 1–1 | Cassidy 1' | 3,354 |