1897–98 Football League

The 1897–98 season was the tenth season of The Football League.

The Football League

Season	1897–98
Champions	Sheffield United
Relegated	none
New Club in League	Luton Town
← 1896–97 1898–99 →

Final league tables

The tables below are reproduced here in the exact form that they can be found at the Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation website[1] and in Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79,[2] with home and away statistics separated.

Beginning with the season 1894–95, clubs finishing level on points were separated according to goal average (goals scored divided by goals conceded), or more properly put, goal ratio. In case one or more teams had the same goal difference, this system favoured those teams who had scored fewer goals. The goal average system was eventually scrapped beginning with the 1976–77 season.

During the first five seasons of the league, that is until the season, 1893–94, re-election process concerned the clubs which finished in the bottom four of the league. From the 1894–95 season and until the 1920–21 season the re-election process was required of the clubs which finished in the bottom three of the league.[2]

First Division

Football League
First Division

Season	1897–98
Champions	Sheffield United (1st English title)
Relegated	None
FA Cup winners	Nottingham Forest (1st FA Cup title)
Matches played	240
Goals scored	724 (3.02 per match)
Top goalscorer	Fred Wheldon (Aston Villa), 21
Biggest home win	Everton – West Bromwich Albion 6–1 (27 Nov 1897) Derby County – Nottingham Forest 5–0 (11 Apr 1898) Wolverhampton Wanderers – The Wednesday 5–0 (16 Apr 1898)
Biggest away win	Liverpool – Sheffield United 0–4 (5 Feb 1898)
Highest scoring	The Wednesday – Nottingham Forest 3–6 (1 Jan 1898)
Longest winning run	7 matches Sunderland (27 Dec 1897 – 19 Feb 1898)
Longest unbeaten run	14 matches Sheffield United (1 Sep 1897 – 11 Dec 1897)
Longest losing run	5 matches Stoke (6 Nov 1897 – 4 Dec 1897)
Highest attendance	50,000 Aston Villa - Sheffield United (15 Jan 1898)
Lowest attendance	1,000 West Bromwich Albion - Liverpool (13 Nov 1897)
Average attendance	9,396
← 1896–97 1898–99 →

Pos	Team	Pld	HW	HD	HL	HGF	HGA	AW	AD	AL	AGF	AGA	GAv	Pts	Qualification
1	Sheffield United	30	9	4	2	27	14	8	4	3	29	17	1.806	42	League Champions
2	Sunderland	30	12	2	1	27	8	4	3	8	16	22	1.433	37
3	Wolverhampton Wanderers	30	10	4	1	36	14	4	3	8	21	27	1.390	35
4	Everton	30	11	3	1	33	12	2	6	7	15	27	1.231	35
5	The Wednesday	30	12	0	3	39	15	3	3	9	12	27	1.214	33
6	Aston Villa	30	12	1	2	47	21	2	4	9	14	30	1.196	33
7	West Bromwich Albion	30	8	5	2	25	16	3	5	7	19	29	0.978	32
8	Nottingham Forest	30	7	5	3	30	19	4	4	7	17	30	0.959	31	FA Cup Winners
9	Liverpool	30	7	4	4	27	16	4	2	9	21	29	1.067	28
10	Derby County	30	10	3	2	40	19	1	3	11	17	42	0.934	28
11	Bolton Wanderers	30	9	2	4	18	13	2	2	11	10	28	0.683	26
12	Preston North End	30	7	5	3	26	15	1	3	11	9	28	0.814	24
13	Notts County	30	4	6	5	23	23	4	2	9	13	23	0.783	24
14	Bury	30	8	3	4	25	19	0	5	10	14	32	0.765	24
15	Blackburn Rovers	30	4	7	4	20	22	3	3	9	19	32	0.722	24	Into test matches
16	Stoke	30	8	3	4	21	14	0	5	10	14	41	0.636	24

Source:

Results

Home \ Away	AST	BLB	BOL	BRY	DER	EVE	LIV	NOT	NTC	PNE	SHU	STK	SUN	WED	WBA	WOL
Aston Villa		5–1	3–2	3–1	4–1	3–0	3–1	2–0	4–2	4–0	1–2	1–1	4–3	5–2	4–3	1–2
Blackburn Rovers	4–3		1–3	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–1	1–1	0–1	1–0	1–1	1–1	2–1	1–1	1–3	2–3
Bolton Wanderers	2–0	1–2		0–0	3–3	1–0	0–2	2–0	1–0	1–0	0–1	2–1	1–0	0–3	2–0	2–1
Bury	1–2	1–0	2–1		4–0	0–1	0–2	2–2	0–0	1–0	2–5	3–3	1–0	3–0	3–2	2–1
Derby County	3–1	3–1	1–0	2–2		5–1	3–1	5–0	1–2	3–1	1–1	4–1	2–2	1–2	3–2	3–2
Everton	2–1	1–1	2–1	4–2	3–0		3–0	2–0	1–0	1–1	1–4	1–1	2–0	1–0	6–1	3–0
Liverpool	4–0	0–1	1–1	2–2	4–2	3–1		1–2	2–0	0–0	0–4	4–0	0–2	4–0	1–1	1–0
Nottingham Forest	3–1	3–1	2–0	3–1	3–4	2–2	2–3		1–1	4–1	1–1	3–1	1–1	1–0	0–1	1–1
Notts County	2–3	0–0	1–2	2–1	1–1	3–2	3–2	1–3		1–1	1–3	4–0	0–1	0–0	2–2	2–2
Preston North End	3–1	1–4	0–0	2–1	5–0	1–1	1–1	3–0	3–1		1–3	0–0	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–2
Sheffield United	1–0	5–2	4–0	1–1	2–1	0–0	1–2	1–1	0–1	2–1		4–3	1–0	1–1	2–0	2–1
Stoke	0–0	2–1	2–0	3–1	2–1	2–0	2–2	1–2	2–0	1–2	2–1		0–1	2–1	0–0	0–2
Sunderland	0–0	2–1	2–0	2–1	2–1	0–0	1–0	4–0	2–0	1–0	3–1	4–0		1–0	0–2	3–2
The Wednesday	3–0	4–1	3–0	3–0	3–1	2–1	4–2	3–6	3–1	2–1	0–1	4–0	0–1		3–0	2–0
West Bromwich Albion	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–0	3–1	2–2	2–1	2–0	0–3	3–1	2–0	2–0	2–2	0–2		2–2
Wolverhampton Wanderers	1–1	3–2	2–0	3–0	2–0	2–3	2–1	0–0	3–1	3–0	1–1	4–2	4–2	5–0	1–1

Source:
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Maps

Aston Villa

Blackburn Rovers

Bolton Wanderers

Bury

Derby County

Everton

Liverpool

Nottingham Forest

Notts County

Preston North End

Sheffield United

The Wednesday (Sheffield)

Stoke

Sunderland

West Bromwich Albion

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Locations of the Football League First Division teams

Second Division

Football League
Second Division

Season	1897–98
Champions	Burnley (1st title)
Promoted	Burnley Newcastle United
Failed re-election	None
Matches played	240
Goals scored	860 (3.58 per match)
Top goalscorer	Henry Boyd (Newton Heath), 23 [3]
Biggest home win	Manchester City – Burton Swifts 9–0 (16 Apr 1898)
Biggest away win	Loughborough – Gainsborough Trinity 0–5 (5 Feb 1898)
Highest scoring	Burnley – Loughborough 9–3 (28 Mar 1898) Luton Town – Lincoln City 9–3 (18 Dec 1897)
Longest winning run	7 matches Manchester City (1 Sep 1897 – 16 Oct 1897)
Longest unbeaten run	16 matches Burnley (30 Oct 1897 – 19 Mar 1898)
Longest losing run	11 matches Darwen (12 Feb 1898 – 23 Apr 1898) Loughborough (3 Jan 1898 – 8 Apr 1898)
← 1896–97 1898–99 →

Pos	Team	Pld	HW	HD	HL	HGF	HGA	AW	AD	AL	AGF	AGA	GAv	Pts	Qualification
1	Burnley	30	14	1	0	64	13	6	7	2	16	11	3.333	48[lower-alpha 1]	Division Champions, into test matches
2	Newcastle United	30	14	0	1	43	10	7	3	5	21	22	2.000	45[lower-alpha 1]	Into test matches
3	Manchester City	30	10	4	1	45	15	5	5	5	21	21	1.833	39
4	Newton Heath	30	11	2	2	42	10	5	4	6	22	25	1.829	38
5	Woolwich Arsenal	30	10	4	1	41	14	6	1	8	28	35	1.408	37
6	Small Heath	30	11	1	3	37	18	5	3	7	21	32	1.160	36
7	Leicester Fosse	30	8	5	2	26	11	5	2	8	20	24	1.314	33
8	Luton Town[lower-alpha 2]	30	10	2	3	50	13	3	2	10	18	37	1.360	30
9	Gainsborough Trinity	30	10	4	1	30	12	2	2	11	20	42	0.926	30
10	Walsall	30	9	3	3	42	15	3	2	10	16	43	1.000	29
11	Blackpool	30	8	4	3	32	15	2	1	12	17	46	0.803	25
12	Grimsby Town	30	9	1	5	44	24	1	3	11	8	38	0.839	24
13	Burton Swifts	30	7	3	5	25	21	1	2	12	13	48	0.551	21
14	Lincoln City	30	6	3	6	27	27	0	2	13	16	55	0.524	17	Re-elected
15	Darwen	30	4	1	10	21	32	2	1	12	10	44	0.408	14
16	Loughborough	30	5	2	8	15	26	1	0	14	9	61	0.276	14

Source: [4]
Notes:

1. Promoted to the expanded First Division.
2. New club in the league

Results

Home \ Away	BLP	BUR	BRS	DRW	GAI	GRI	LEI	LIN	LOU	LUT	MCI	NEW	NWH	SMH	WAL	WOO
Blackpool		1–1	2–1	1–0	5–0	1–1	2–1	5–0	4–0	1–0	0–2	2–3	0–1	4–1	1–1	3–3
Burnley	5–1		2–0	6–1	1–1	6–0	4–0	2–1	9–3	4–0	3–1	3–0	6–3	4–1	4–1	5–0
Burton Swifts	2–1	0–2		2–0	1–1	4–0	2–3	1–1	3–0	2–1	0–0	3–1	0–4	1–3	3–2	1–2
Darwen	3–1	0–1	1–2		2–4	1–0	1–2	3–2	2–1	0–2	2–4	1–3	2–3	1–1	1–2	1–4
Gainsborough Trinity	4–1	0–0	3–2	3–1		2–0	1–0	4–0	4–0	3–3	1–0	1–3	2–1	0–0	1–1	1–0
Grimsby Town	3–0	2–1	7–2	5–0	4–2		0–0	4–2	7–0	1–3	3–4	2–0	1–3	3–1	1–2	1–4
Leicester Fosse	4–1	0–1	1–1	0–1	3–1	1–0		3–1	4–0	1–1	0–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	3–1	2–1
Lincoln City	3–2	1–1	3–0	2–2	2–1	1–1	1–4		2–3	4–2	2–1	2–3	1–0	1–2	0–2	2–3
Loughborough	0–2	0–2	3–2	0–1	0–5	2–1	1–1	4–2		2–0	0–3	0–1	0–0	0–2	2–1	1–3
Luton Town	3–1	2–0	1–1	3–0	4–0	6–0	0–1	9–3	7–0		3–0	3–1	2–2	1–2	6–0	0–2
Manchester City	3–3	1–1	9–0	5–0	3–0	3–0	2–1	3–1	3–0	2–1		1–1	0–1	3–3	3–2	4–1
Newcastle United	2–0	0–1	3–1	1–0	5–2	4–0	4–2	3–0	3–1	4–1	2–0		2–0	4–0	2–1	4–1
Newton Heath	4–0	0–0	4–0	3–2	1–0	2–1	2–0	5–0	5–1	1–2	1–1	0–1		3–1	6–0	5–1
Small Heath	2–3	2–2	2–1	5–1	4–3	0–2	2–1	4–0	1–0	4–2	0–1	1–0	2–1		6–0	2–1
Walsall	6–0	1–2	4–0	5–0	3–0	1–1	2–1	3–1	3–0	5–0	2–2	2–3	1–1	1–2		3–2
Woolwich Arsenal	2–1	1–1	3–0	3–1	4–0	4–1	0–3	2–2	4–0	3–0	2–2	0–0	5–1	4–2	4–0

Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: Ian Laschke: Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79. Macdonald and Jane’s, London & Sydney, 1980.
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Maps

Blackpool

Burnley

Burton Swifts

Darwen

Gainsborough Trinity

Grimsby Town

Leicester Fosse

Lincoln City

Loughborough

Luton Town

Manchester City

Newcastle

Newton Heath (Manchester)

Small Heath (Birmingham)

Walsall

Woolwich Arsenal

Locations of the Football League Second Division teams

Test matches

The Football League test matches were a set of play-offs, in which the bottom First Division teams faced the top Second Division teams. Each First Division team plays both Second Division teams in a mini league format, the top two finishers would then be considered for election for First Division membership whilst the bottom two finishers would be invited to play in the Second Division.

The First Division teams, if finishing in the top two, would retain their places in the division. If a Second Division team does so, it would be considered for First Division membership through an election process. Bottom-two Second Division teams would stay in the Second Division.

First round

Team 1	Agg.	Team 2	1st leg	2nd leg
(1st Div. 15th) Blackburn Rovers	1–5	Burnley (2nd Div. Champions)	1–3 Thu 21 Apr	0–2 Sat 23 Apr
(2nd Div. 2nd) Newcastle United	2–2	Stoke (1st Div. 16th)	2–1 Wed 20 Apr	0–1 Sat 23 Apr

Second round

Team 1	Agg.	Team 2	1st leg	2nd leg
(2nd Div. Champions) Burnley	0–2	Stoke (1st Div. 16th)	0–2 Tue 26 Apr	0–0 Sat 30 Apr
(1st Div. 15th) Blackburn Rovers	4–7	Newcastle United (2nd Div. 2nd)	4–3 Thu 28 Apr	0–4 Sat 30 Apr

Summary

Reference works, such Encyclopedia of British Football,[5] and Association Football[6] present the following table with the heading given above.

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Stoke	4	2	1	1	4	2	+2	5	Elected to play in First Division
2	Burnley	4	2	1	1	5	3	+2	5
3	Newcastle United	4	2	0	2	9	6	+3	4	To remain in Second Division, eventually promoted to First Division
4	Blackburn Rovers	4	1	0	3	5	12	−7	2

Source:

Consequences

Burnley and Stoke City entered the last match needing a draw for promotion (or in Stoke's case to retain their First Division place). A 0–0 draw ensued, reportedly 'The Match without a shot at goal' and the League immediately withdrew the Test Match system in favour of automatic promotion and relegation. Ironically, the League also decided to expand the top division to 18 teams after the Test Match series of 1897–98 and the other two teams, Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United also went into the top division for the following season, negating the effect of Burnley and Stoke's reputed collusion. In the end, the test matches and their results seem to have served no particular purpose. After this season the test matches were scrapped in favour of direct promotion and relegation.

See also

• 1897–98 in English football
• 1897 in association football
• 1898 in association football

References

1. "England 1897–98". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 5 February 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
2. Ian Laschke: Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79. Macdonald and Jane’s, London & Sydney, 1980.
3. "English League Leading Goalscorers". RSSSF. Retrieved 31 October 2010.
4. League Division Two table at close of 1897–98 season. 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 6 September 2017. Select date if required via dropdown menus.
5. Soar, Phil & Tyler, Martin: Encyclopedia of British Football, Willow Books, London. Fourth, updated and revised edition, 1984, p. 168.
6. A. H. Fabian & Green, Geoffrey: Association Football, Volume Two, p. 236. The Caxton Publishing Company Ltd., London, 1960.

Notes

External links

• Ian Laschke: Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79. Macdonald and Jane’s, London & Sydney, 1980.