1897–98 Football League
| Season | 1897–98 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Sheffield United |
| Relegated | none |
← 1896–97 1898–99 → | |
The 1897–1898 season was the tenth season of The Football League.
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.
Since the goal average was used for this purpose for such a long time, it is presented in the tables below even for the seasons prior to 1894–95, and since the goal difference is a more informative piece of information for a modern reader than the goal average, the goal difference is added in this presentation after the goal average.
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
| 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 Brom 6–1 (27 Nov 1897) Derby County – Nottingham Forest 5–0 (11 Apr 1898) Wolverhampton – 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 F.C. (13 Nov 1897) |
| Average attendance | 9,396 |
← 1896–97 1898–99 → | |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A | F | A | GA | GD | Pts | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sheffield United | 30 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 27 | 14 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 29 | 17 | 56 | 31 | 1.806 | +25 | 42 | ||||
| 2 | Sunderland | 30 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 27 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 16 | 22 | 43 | 30 | 1.433 | +13 | 37 | ||||
| 3 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 30 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 36 | 14 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 21 | 27 | 57 | 41 | 1.390 | +16 | 35 | ||||
| 4 | Everton | 30 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 33 | 12 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 15 | 27 | 48 | 39 | 1.231 | +9 | 35 | ||||
| 5 | The Wednesday | 30 | 12 | 0 | 3 | 39 | 15 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 27 | 51 | 42 | 1.214 | +9 | 33 | ||||
| 6 | Aston Villa | 30 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 47 | 21 | 2 | 4 | 9 | 14 | 30 | 61 | 51 | 1.196 | +10 | 33 | ||||
| 7 | West Bromwich Albion | 30 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 25 | 16 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 19 | 29 | 44 | 45 | 0.978 | –1 | 32 | ||||
| 8 | Nottingham Forest | 30 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 30 | 19 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 17 | 30 | 47 | 49 | 0.959 | –2 | 31 | ||||
| 9 | Liverpool | 30 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 27 | 16 | 4 | 2 | 9 | 21 | 29 | 48 | 45 | 1.067 | +3 | 28 | ||||
| 10 | Derby County | 30 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 40 | 19 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 17 | 42 | 57 | 61 | 0.934 | –4 | 28 | ||||
| 11 | Bolton Wanderers | 30 | 9 | 2 | 4 | 18 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 10 | 28 | 28 | 41 | 0.683 | –13 | 26 | ||||
| 12 | Preston North End | 30 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 26 | 15 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 9 | 28 | 35 | 43 | 0.814 | –8 | 24 | ||||
| 13 | Notts County | 30 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 23 | 23 | 4 | 2 | 9 | 13 | 23 | 36 | 46 | 0.783 | –10 | 24 | ||||
| 14 | Bury | 30 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 25 | 19 | 0 | 5 | 10 | 14 | 32 | 39 | 51 | 0.765 | –12 | 24 | ||||
| 15 | Blackburn Rovers | 30 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 20 | 22 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 19 | 32 | 39 | 54 | 0.722 | –15 | 24 | ||||
| 16 | Stoke | 30 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 21 | 14 | 0 | 5 | 10 | 14 | 41 | 35 | 55 | 0.636 | –20 | 24 |
Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against;
GA = Goal average; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points
| Key | |
|---|---|
| League Champions | |
| FA Cup Winners | |
| Into test matches |
Results
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Maps
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 F.C. (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 | W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A | F | A | GA | GD | Pts | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Burnley[4] | 30 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 64 | 13 | 6 | 7 | 2 | 16 | 11 | 80 | 24 | 3.333 | +56 | 48 | ||||
| 2 | Newcastle United[4] | 30 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 43 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 21 | 22 | 64 | 32 | 2.000 | +32 | 45 | ||||
| 3 | Manchester City | 30 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 45 | 15 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 21 | 21 | 66 | 36 | 1.833 | +30 | 39 | ||||
| 4 | Newton Heath | 30 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 42 | 10 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 22 | 25 | 64 | 35 | 1.829 | +29 | 38 | ||||
| 5 | Woolwich Arsenal | 30 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 41 | 14 | 6 | 1 | 8 | 28 | 35 | 69 | 49 | 1.408 | +20 | 37 | ||||
| 6 | Small Heath | 30 | 11 | 1 | 3 | 37 | 18 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 21 | 32 | 58 | 50 | 1.160 | +8 | 36 | ||||
| 7 | Leicester Fosse | 30 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 26 | 11 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 20 | 24 | 46 | 35 | 1.314 | +11 | 33 | ||||
| 8 | Luton Town | 30 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 50 | 13 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 18 | 37 | 68 | 50 | 1.360 | +18 | 30 | ||||
| 9 | Gainsborough Trinity | 30 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 30 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 20 | 42 | 50 | 54 | 0.926 | –4 | 30 | ||||
| 10 | Walsall | 30 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 42 | 15 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 16 | 43 | 58 | 58 | 1.000 | ±0 | 29 | ||||
| 11 | Blackpool | 30 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 32 | 15 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 17 | 46 | 49 | 61 | 0.803 | –12 | 25 | ||||
| 12 | Grimsby Town | 30 | 9 | 1 | 5 | 44 | 24 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 8 | 38 | 52 | 62 | 0.839 | –10 | 24 | ||||
| 13 | Burton Swifts | 30 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 25 | 21 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 13 | 48 | 38 | 69 | 0.551 | –31 | 21 | ||||
| 14 | Lincoln City | 30 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 27 | 27 | 0 | 2 | 13 | 16 | 55 | 43 | 82 | 0.524 | –39 | 17 | ||||
| 15 | Darwen | 30 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 21 | 32 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 10 | 44 | 31 | 76 | 0.408 | –45 | 14 | ||||
| 16 | Loughborough | 30 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 15 | 26 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 9 | 61 | 24 | 87 | 0.276 | –63 | 14 |
Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against;
GA = Goal average; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points
| Key | |
|---|---|
| Division Champions, into test matches | |
| Into test matches | |
| New club in the league | |
| Re-elected | |
| Failed re-election (none) |
Results
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Maps
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 | F | A | GD | Pts | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stoke | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 5 | ||
| 2 | Burnley | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | +2 | 5 | ||
| 3 | Newcastle United | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 6 | +3 | 4 | ||
| 4 | Blackburn Rovers | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 12 | –7 | 2 |
| Key | |
|---|---|
| Elected to play in First Division | |
| To remain in Second Division, eventually promoted to First Division |
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
References
- ^ "England 1897–98". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 5 February 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ a b Ian Laschke: Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79. Macdonald and Jane’s, London & Sydney, 1980.
- ^ "English League Leading Goalscorers". RSSSF. Retrieved 31 October 2010.
- ^ a b Promoted to the expanded First Division.
- ^ Soar, Phil & Tyler, Martin: Encyclopedia of British Football, Willow Books, London. Fourth, updated and revised edition, 1984, p. 168.
- ^ A. H. Fabian & Green, Geoffrey: Association Football, Volume Two, p. 236. The Caxton Publishing Company Ltd., London, 1960.
External links
- Ian Laschke: Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79. Macdonald and Jane’s, London & Sydney, 1980.