1895–96 Football League

Final league tables

Beginning in the 1894–95 season, clubs finishing level on points were separated according to goal average (goals scored divided by goals conceded). 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 six seasons of the league, (up to the 1893–94 season), 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.

First Division

2nd title Steve Bloomer (22 goals each) (30 November 1895) Sheffield United 8–0 Bury (6 April 1896) (28 December 1895) (7 September 1895) Everton Everton Burnley Small Heath Everton 2–0 Aston Villa (21 December 1895) West Bromwich Albion 3–2 Blackburn Rovers (29 April 1896)

Results

Maps

Aston Villa Blackburn Rovers Bolton Wanderers Burnley Bury Derby County Everton Nottingham Forest Preston North End Sheffield United The Wednesday (Sheffield) Small Heath (Birmingham) Stoke Sunderland West Bromwich Albion Wolverhampton Wanderers

Second Division

(26 goals) (18 February 1896) (29 February 1896) Crewe Alexandra 0–7 Liverpool (28 March 1896) (13 January 1896) Liverpool Burton Wanderers Liverpool Lincoln City

Results

Maps

Burslem Port Vale Burton Swifts Burton Wanderers Crewe Alexandra Darwen Grimsby Town Leicester Fosse Lincoln City Liverpool Loughborough Manchester City Newcastle Newton Heath (Manchester) Notts County Rotherham Town Woolwich Arsenal

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.

The format changed from previous seasons, with the number of participants reduced from six to four (two from each division). Each First Division team played both Second Division teams in a mini league format. The top two finishers were then 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

Second round

Table

Consequences

It is likely that the league decided on re-election to the First Division and on promotion and relegation on the basis of the summary table above. It is not clear why all the four teams did not play each other, since it would only have required two more matches for each of them. It seems those teams who had lost in the first round hardly had any chance of ending up among the top teams in this system, and the election outcome effectively seems to have confirmed the first round results.

• Liverpool and West Bromwich Albion, winners of the first round matches, and appearing on the top of the summary table, were elected to play in the 1st Division the following season.
• Small Heath and Manchester City, who lost in the first round, were not elected to play in 1st Division, but were invited to play in the 2nd Division.

Attendances

First Division

!#!!Football club!!Home games!!Average attendance |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Everton FC || 15 || 16,080 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Aston Villa || 15 || 12,360 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Bolton Wanderers || 15 || 9,535 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || The Wednesday || 15 || 8,975 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Derby County || 15 || 8,360 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Blackburn Rovers || 15 || 7,810 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Bury FC || 15 || 7,800 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Stoke FC || 15 || 7,600 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Preston North End || 15 || 6,975 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Sheffield United || 15 || 6,865 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Nottingham Forest || 15 || 6,625 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Sunderland AFC || 15 || 6,210 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Small Heath FC || 15 || 6,065 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Wolverhampton Wanderers || 15 || 6,005 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Burnley FC || 15 || 5,875 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || West Bromwich Albion || 15 || 5,660 |- |} }}

References

References

1. https://www.european-football-statistics.co.uk/attn/archive/eng/aveeng1896.htm