FOOTBALL 

Bob Paisley's Liverpool retained their league championship trophy after fighting off a determined challenge by Dave Sexton's Manchester United.

Nottingham Forest failed to make a serious title challenge but compensated for this by retaining the European Cup.

Despite constant pressure, Forest had still failed to score as first half injury time began, but then Villa assistant boss John Robertson, beat two Swedish defenders on the left hand side before whipping in a cross.

Goalkeeper Jan Möller, who had been solid up to this point, did not come out to clear the ball, and at the far post Trevor Francis headed the ball into the roof of the net.

Bristol City and Bolton Wanderers were relegated after brief and uneventful spells in the First Division, but Derby County's relegation came just five years after they had been league champions.

Kevin Keegan ended his three-year spell with Hamburg in Germany and returned to England in a shock £400,000 move to Southampton. Lawrie McMenemy's new signing was the transfer surprise of the season.

GOLF

Seve Ballesteros became the first golfer from Europe to win a major since Arnauld Massey of France in 1907.

The Spanish sensation was in fine form at Royal Lytham in Blackpool to win the British Open title. He beat Hale Irwin into second place and was the only player to finish under par all week.

Fuzzy Zoeller defeated Ed Sneed and Tom Watson on the second hole of a sudden death play-off, the first time the US Masters had used the format. Irwin triumphed in the US Open with David Graham earning the USPGA title.

TENNIS 

Bjorn Borg was the man in form on the tennis circuit - triumphing in the French Open and Wimbledon.

Guillermo Vilas won the Australian Open while John McEnroe played flawless tennis to win the US Open.

Barbara Jordan (Australian), Chris Evert (French) and Martina Navratilova (Wimbledon) were dominant in the women's majors while Tracey Austin became the youngest US Open champion at 16. She defeated four time champion Chris Evert in the final after defeating second seed Navratilova in the semi-final.

OTHER SPORTS

West Indies beat England by 92 runs in the Cricket World Cup. The final was played at Lords and the England team featured Graham Gooch, Ian Botham and Geoffrey Boycott.

Bernault Hinault won the Tour de France and Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Dallas Cowboys 35-31 in the Superbowl.

Terry Griffiths beat Dennis Taylor 24-16 to win the World Snooker Championship.