Football League Fourth Division 1981/82
| Pos | Club | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | Notes |
| 1st | Sheffield United | 46 | 27 | 15 | 4 | 94 | 41 | +53 | 96 | ▲Champions |
| 2nd | Bradford City | 46 | 26 | 13 | 7 | 88 | 45 | +43 | 91 | ▲Runners Up |
| 3rd | Wigan Athletic | 46 | 26 | 13 | 7 | 80 | 46 | +34 | 91 | ▲Promoted |
| 4th | AFC Bournemouth | 46 | 23 | 19 | 4 | 62 | 30 | +32 | 88 | ▲Promoted |
| 5th | Peterborough United | 46 | 24 | 10 | 12 | 71 | 57 | +14 | 82 | - |
| 6th | Colchester United | 46 | 20 | 12 | 14 | 82 | 57 | +25 | 72 | - |
| 7th | Port Vale | 46 | 18 | 16 | 12 | 56 | 49 | +7 | 70 | - |
| 8th |
Hull City |
46 | 19 | 12 | 15 | 70 | 61 | +9 | 69 | - |
| 9th | Bury | 46 | 17 | 17 | 12 | 80 | 59 | +21 | 68 | - |
| 10th | Hereford United | 46 | 16 | 19 | 11 | 64 | 58 | +6 | 67 | - |
| 11th | Tranmere Rovers | 46 | 14 | 18 | 14 | 51 | 56 | -5 | 60 | - |
| 12th | Blackpool | 46 | 15 | 13 | 18 | 66 | 60 | +6 | 58 | - |
| 13th | Darlington | 46 | 15 | 13 | 18 | 61 | 62 | -1 | 58 |
- |
| 14th | Hartlepool United | 46 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 73 | 84 | -11 | 55 |
- |
| 15th | Torquay United | 46 | 14 | 13 | 19 | 47 | 59 | -12 | 55 |
- |
| 16th | Aldershot | 46 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 57 | 68 | -11 | 54 |
- |
| 17th | York City | 46 | 14 | 8 | 24 | 69 | 91 | -22 | 50 |
- |
| 18th | Stockport County | 46 | 12 | 13 | 21 | 48 | 67 | -19 | 49 | - |
| 19th | Halifax Town | 46 | 9 | 22 | 15 | 51 | 72 | -21 | 49 | - |
| 20th | Mansfield Town | 46 | 13 | 10 | 23 | 63 | 81 | -18 | 47* | - |
| 21st | Rochdale | 46 | 10 | 16 | 20 | 50 | 62 | -12 | 46 | ♦Re Elected |
| 22nd | Northampton Town | 46 | 11 | 9 | 26 | 57 | 84 | -27 | 42 | ♦Re Elected |
| 23rd | Scunthorpe United | 46 | 9 | 15 | 22 | 43 | 79 | -36 | 42 | ♦Re Elected |
| 24th | Crewe Alexandra | 46 | 6 | 9 | 31 | 29 | 84 | -55 | 27 | ♦Re Elected |
|
Election for League Membership |
||
| The bottom four league sides faced re-election and were joined in the vote by non-league Telford United. | ||
| Votes | Club | End Result |
| 53 | Northampton Town | Re Elected to the league |
| 50 | Crewe Alexandra | Re Elected to the league |
| 48 | Rochdale | Re Elected to the league |
| 48 | Scunthorpe United | Re Elected to the league |
| 13 | Telford United | Not Elected to the league |
|
End of Season Notes |
| ♦ Mansfield Town had 2 Points Deducted for fielding an unregistered player |
| ▼Wimbledon were Relegated from the Football League Third Division |
| ▼Swindon Town were Relegated from the Football League Third Division |
| ▼Bristol City were Relegated from the Football League Third Division |
| ▼Chester were Relegated from the Football League Third Division |
| ▲Sheffield United were Promoted to the Football League Third Division |
| ▲Bradford City were promoted to the Football League Third Division |
| ▲Wigan Athletic were promoted to the Football League Third Division |
| ▲Bournemouth were promoted to the Football League Third Division |
| ♦ Rochdale were Re-Elected to the League |
| ♦ Northampton Town were Re-Elected to the League |
| ♦ Scunthorpe United were Re-Elected to the League |
| ♦ Crewe Alexandra were Re-Elected to the League |