First League Title Defensive Leader
Roy McFarland commands Derby County’s central defence throughout the 1971-72 campaign, helping the Rams win their first English top-flight championship.
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1972 in Great Britain — Page 6
Explore 332 historical events and records for Great Britain in 1972.
Historical records for Great Britain in 1972
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 332 unique records.
332Unique records
6 of 9Page
36Named events on this page
35Named people on this page
10Places on this page
Other events (month unknown)
First Leeds FA Cup as Manager
Oversees Leeds United's victory over Arsenal in the 1972 FA Cup final, adding the competition to the club's growing collection of major honours.
First National Coal Strike
Joe Gormley led the National Union of Mineworkers during its successful industrial campaign for higher wages.
First Promotion to English Top Flight
Ron Saunders led Norwich City to the 1971-72 Second Division championship, taking the club into England's top flight for the first time.
First United Departure Announcement
Best announces his intention to leave football amid difficulties in his relationship with Manchester United, although he later returns to the side.
First Victim Jackie Duddy
Seventeen year old Jackie Duddy was shot dead while fleeing soldiers during the opening phase of the shootings.
First-Class History Degree
Brown graduates from the University of Edinburgh with first-class honours in history.
Footballer of the Year
FWA Footballer of the Year
Forbes Norwich Promotion Captain
Forbes supplies strong defensive leadership during Norwich City's Second Division championship campaign under Saunders.
Frenzy
Returns to London locations for Frenzy, a dark serial-killer thriller made late in his directing career.
Geoff Hurst Leaves West Ham for Stoke
Geoff Hurst departs West Ham United for Stoke City after a long spell as a prolific centre-forward and an integral member of the club’s cup-winning teams.
Glam Rock
Describes glam rock as a useful category for his work while becoming one of its leading figures.
Goalkeeping Behind Historic Derby Title
Colin Boulton guards the Derby County goal during the club's first First Division championship. His reliability supports a defence organised by Brian Clough.
Goals in Derby Championship Season
Kevin Hector supplies important goals as Brian Clough's Derby County claim the league championship. His movement gives the side a consistent cutting edge in tight fixtures.
Hawkwind
The single "Silver Machine" is released, reaching number 3 in the UK charts. Lead singer, poet and frontman of Hawkwind intermittently from 1972-1979 during which time he co-wrote their hit single "Silver Machine" and directed their Space Ritual Tour
Hawkwind
The addition of bassist Lemmy and drummer Simon King propel the band to greater heights
Hawkwind
The addition of bassist Lemmy and drummer Simon King propel the band to greater heights
Home Secretary of Great Britain
Appointed Home Secretary
Housing Finance Act
Housing Finance Act 1972 reforms council house rents and housing finance
Hughes Leads Liverpool Defence Alongside Keegan
Emlyn Hughes emerges as an influential leader in Liverpool’s defence during Kevin Keegan’s early seasons, supporting a young forward line with energetic distribution from the back.
Immigration
Speaks against Asian British passport holders expelled by Idi Amin from Uganda
Independence of Great Britain
The Pearce Comission says terms offered to Smith are unacceptable to Rhodesian blacks
Independence of Rhodesia
The Pearce Comission says terms offered to Smith are unacceptable to Rhodesian blacks
INE
Founds the Industrial Development Executive with a Minister for Industrial Development
Injured Teammate Medal Assistance
Helps injured teammate Mick Jones collect his winner's medal after Leeds United defeats Arsenal in the 1972 FA Cup final.
Jitterbug Love
Issues Jitterbug Love as part of the Children Of The Revolution single release.
Joe Cocker Studio Album
Releases the studio album Joe Cocker after a period away from recording.
Keelan Norwich Promotion Goalkeeping
Keelan provides reliable goalkeeping as Ron Saunders takes Norwich City into the top flight for the first time.
Knighthood
Knighted for services to astronomy.
Leader of House of Commons
Appointed Leader of the House of Commons
League Championship
Derby win the League Campionship for the 1st time in their history
League Title Midfield Influence
Archie Gemmill uses his passing, energy and tactical awareness to help Derby County capture the English First Division title in 1972.
Leeds United Trophy Campaign Completed by Revie
Revie finishes the cup run with Leeds United defeating Arsenal 1-0.
Local Government Act
Local Government Act 1972 reorganises local government in England and Wales
MacDougall Joins Norwich Attack
MacDougall signs for Norwich City after prolific goalscoring elsewhere and becomes part of Saunders's first top-flight squad.
Machine Head
Releases Machine Head with Deep Purple, featuring Highway Star, Smoke on the Water, Lazy and Space Truckin.
Machine Head
Contributes the powerful Hammond organ sound that defines much of Machine Head's hard rock character.
Machine Head
Provides the precise and forceful drumming that anchors Machine Head and the band's classic Mark II style.
Manchester University
Hoyle became an honorary research professor at the University of Manchester.
March Enters Bogside
Civil rights protesters moved towards the Bogside after barriers blocked the planned route into the city centre.
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.