1897–98 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

1st English title (21 goals) (27 November 1897) Derby County 5–0 Nottingham Forest (11 April 1898) Wolverhampton Wanderers 5–0 The Wednesday (16 April 1898) (5 February 1898) (1 January 1898) Sunderland Sheffield United Stoke Aston Villa 1–2 Sheffield United (15 January 1898) West Bromwich Albion 2–1 Liverpool (13 November 1897)

Results

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

Second Division

Newcastle United (23 goals) (16 April 1898) (5 February 1898) (18 December 1897) Burnley 9–3 Loughborough (28 March 1898) Manchester City Burnley Darwen Loughborough

Results

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

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

Second round

Summary

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

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 were elected 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.

Attendances

Source:

Division One

References

Notes

References

1. "English League Leading Goalscorers". [[Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation]].
2. Soar, Phil & Tyler, Martin: ''Encyclopedia of British Football'', Willow Books, London. Fourth, updated and revised edition, 1984, p. 168.
3. A. H. Fabian & Green, Geoffrey: ''Association Football'', Volume Two, p. 236. The Caxton Publishing Company Ltd., London, 1960.
4. "The most boring game in history? The origins of promotion and relegation in English association football".
5. Andy Kelly. "Arsenal’s 1919 Election – Tottenham’s Final Argument Mythbusted". thearsenalhistory.com.
6. https://www.european-football-statistics.co.uk/attn/archive/eng/aveeng1898.htm