| Season: | 1981–82 |
| Mgrtitle: | Manager |
| Chairman: | John Jackson |
| Chrtitle: | Chairman |
| League Result: | 1st (champions) |
| Cup1 Result: | 1st round |
| Cup2 Result: | 4th round |
| Cup3 Result: | Semi-final |
| League Topscorer: | Billy Hamilton (11) |
| Season Topscorer: | Billy Hamilton (19) |
| Highest Attendance: | 18,711 v Chesterfield (18 May 1982) |
| Lowest Attendance: | 2,305 v Carlisle United (15 August 1981) |
| Average Attendance: | 6,627[1] |
| Nextseason: | 1982–83 |
The 1981–82 season was Burnley's second consecutive season in the third tier of English football. They were managed by Brian Miller in his second season in charge of the club.
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| Date | Opponents | Result | Goalscorers | Attendance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 August 1981 | Gillingham (A) | 1–3 | Taylor 61' | 4,663 | |
| 5 September 1981 | Plymouth Argyle (H) | 1–0 | Dobson 78' (pen.) | 3,476 | |
| 12 September 1981 | Bristol Rovers (A) | 1–2 | Kite 69' (o.g.) | 5,083 | |
| 19 September 1981 | Huddersfield Town (H) | 0–0 | 6,524 | ||
| 22 September 1981 | Doncaster Rovers (H) | 0–1 | 3,799 | ||
| 26 September 1981 | Millwall (A) | 3–4 | Laws 23', Potts 42', Overson 44' | 4,796 | |
| 29 September 1981 | Carlisle United (A) | 0–1 | 3,983 | ||
| 3 October 1981 | Swindon Town (H) | 0–2 | 3,377 | ||
| 10 October 1981 | Portsmouth (A) | 2–1 | Young 12', Wharton 61' | 9,891 | |
| 17 October 1981 | Exeter City (H) | 3–3 | Taylor 10', Overson 49', Laws 62' (pen.) | 3,982 | |
| 20 October 1981 | Preston North End (A) | 1–1 | Wharton 61' | 7,521 | |
| 24 October 1981 | Fulham (H) | 2–2 | Hamilton 7', Taylor 18' | 4,124 | |
| 31 October 1981 | Brentford (A) | 0–0 | 6,929 | ||
| 3 November 1981 | Chester (H) | 1–0 | Cassidy 74' | 3,484 | |
| 7 November 1981 | Wimbledon (H) | 2–2 | Hamilton 27', Overson 82' | 4,242 | |
| 14 November 1981 | Reading (A) | 1–1 | Steven 62' | 4,337 | |
| 28 November 1981 | Bristol City (A) | 3–2 | Young 3', McGee (2) 77', 89' | 5,255 | |
| 5 December 1981 | Oxford United (H) | 2–1 | Cassidy 58', Hamilton 84' | 4,380 | |
| 9 January 1982 | Plymouth Argyle (A) | 1–1 | Young 47' | 5,065 | |
| 16 January 1982 | Newport County (H) | 2–1 | Taylor 52', Overson 57' | 4,730 | |
| 30 January 1982 | Huddersfield Town (A) | 2–1 | Taylor (2) 46', 63' | 10,269 | |
| 2 February 1982 | Gillingham (H) | 1–0 | Wharton 60' | 5,848 | |
| 6 February 1982 | Bristol Rovers (H) | 4–0 | Hamilton 5', Mabbutt 32' (o.g.), Scott 56', Taylor 84' | 5,784 | |
| 9 February 1982 | Doncaster Rovers (A) | 1–0 | Wharton 71' | 5,638 | |
| 13 February 1982 | Swindon Town (A) | 2–1 | Taylor 15', Cassidy 43' | 5,296 | |
| 20 February 1982 | Millwall (H) | 1–1 | Hamilton 40' | 7,081 | |
| 27 February 1982 | Portsmouth (H) | 3–0 | Taylor 10', Phelan 57', Scott 67' | 7,013 | |
| 2 March 1982 | Walsall (A) | 1–1 | Hamilton 70' | 4,196 | |
| 6 March 1982 | Exeter City (A) | 1–2 | Allen 88' | 3,136 | |
| 13 March 1982 | Fulham (A) | 1–1 | Young 43' | 7,214 | |
| 17 March 1982 | Chester (A) | 1–0 | Laws 28' (pen.) | 3,509 | |
| 20 March 1982 | Brentford (H) | 0–0 | 7,906 | ||
| 27 March 1982 | Wimbledon (A) | 0–0 | 2,641 | ||
| 31 March 1982 | Lincoln City (A) | 1–1 | Steven 88' | 6,188 | |
| 3 April 1982 | Reading (H) | 3–0 | Hamilton (2) 3', 13', Young 89' | 6,661 | |
| 10 April 1982 | Lincoln City (H) | 1–0 | Hamilton 70' | 10,911 | |
| 12 April 1982 | Chesterfield (A) | 2–1 | Laws 27', Dobson 39' | 7,732 | |
| 17 April 1982 | Oxford United (A) | 0–0 | 10,407 | ||
| 20 April 1982 | Southend United (H) | 3–5 | McGee 30', Steven 41', Otulakowksi 71' (o.g.) | 8,171 | |
| 24 April 1982 | Bristol City (H) | 2–0 | Laws 59', Dobson 80' | 7,063 | |
| 1 May 1982 | Newport County (A) | 0–0 | 4,094 | ||
| 4 May 1982 | Carlisle United (H) | 1–0 | McGee 71' | 9,760 | |
| 8 May 1982 | Walsall (H) | 2–1 | McGee 1', Young 50' | 8,537 | |
| 11 May 1982 | Preston North End (H) | 2–0 | Hamilton (2) 52', 84' | 13,911 | |
| 14 May 1982 | Southend United (A) | 4–1 | Wharton 32', McGee (2) 40', 83', Laws 88' | 5,123 | |
| 18 May 1982 | Chesterfield (H) | 1–1 | Young 48' | 18,711 |
| Date | Round | Opponents | Result | Goalscorers | Attendance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 November 1981 | Round 1 | Runcorn (H) | 0–0 | 6,112 | ||
| 24 November 1981 | Replay | Runcorn (A) | 2–1 | McGee (2) 12', 78' | 5,500 | |
| 2 January 1982 | Round 2 | Bury (A) | 1–1 | Taylor 46' | 9,200 | |
| 4 January 1982 | Replay | Bury (H) | 2–1 | Hamilton 43', Steven 101' | 9,108 | |
| 18 January 1982 | Round 3 | Altrincham (H) | 6–1 | Taylor (2) 23', 67', Steven 47', Hamilton (3) 60', 70', 78' | 10,174 | |
| 23 January 1982 | Round 4 | Shrewsbury Town (A) | 0–1 | 7,679 |
| Date | Round | Opponents | Result | Goalscorers | Attendance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 September 1981 | Round 1 First leg | Tranmere Rovers (A) | 2–4 | Potts 58', Hamilton 72' | 2,034 | |
| 15 September 1981 | Round 1 Second leg | Tranmere Rovers (H) | 3–3 | Holt (2) 19', 22', Cassidy 89' | 2,363 |
| Date | Round | Opponents | Result | Goalscorers | Attendance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 August 1981 | Group Stage | Carlisle United (H) | 4–2 | Hamilton (2) 2', 29', Taylor (2) 28', 40' | 2,305 | |
| 18 August 1981 | Group Stage | Preston North End (A) | 1–0 | Hamilton 14' | 5,269 | |
| 22 August 1981 | Group Stage | Blackpool (A) | 0–0 | 3,464 | ||
| 8 December 1981 | Quarter Final | Watford (H) | 2–1 | Scott 18', Holt 23' | 2,658 | |
| 16 February 1982 | Semi Final | Wimbledon (A) | 0–5 | 1,267 |