1895–96 Western Football League

December 2021 Western Football League 1895–96 Warmley (Division One)Barton Hill (Division Two) 1894–95 1896–97 The 1895–96 season was the fourth in the history of the Western Football League, and the first to be held under this name. The league had been known as the Bristol & District League until this season. Warmley were the Division One champions for the third time in four years. Barton Hill won Division Two but were not promoted.Robinson, Michael (ed.), Non-League Football Tables 1889–2006, Soccer Books, 2006 League constitution and rules The twelve teams that would take part in Division One were agreed at a meeting of the league on Wednesday 8 May 1895. The top eight finishers from the previous season (Hereford Thistle, St George, Warmley, Staple Hill, Gloucester, Eastville Rovers, Trowbridge Town and Clifton) were all automatically granted a place in the division for the 1895–96 campaign, while the bottom four finishers (Bedminster, Mangotsfield, Swindon Wanderers and Clevedon) would all need to apply for re-election to retain a spot in the top flight. Clevedon opted not to return to the league this season, but Barton Hill, Cardiff and St Paul's all submitted applications to the league. The result of the election is shown in the table below.https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001557/18950511/150/0008 Sports and Pastimes Wiltshire Times & Trowbridge Advertiser 11 May 1895 12 July 2019 British Newspaper Archive subscription TeamVotesBedminster12Elected to the leagueCardiff11Swindon Wanderers9St Paul's9Mangotsfield6Initially unsuccessful, but later admitted following Hereford's withdrawalBarton Hill1Not elected A change to the way teams were ranked in the league table was agreed at a committee meeting in September 1895. Up to this point when teams finished level on points goal average was used as a tie-breaker, but for this season the use of goal average was abolished and any teams tied on points would play a test match at the end of the season to decide their ranking.https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000035/18950916/006/0003 Athletics Bristol Mercury 16 September 1895 British Newspaper Archive subscription 18 July 2019 Division One Two new clubs joined Division One for this season, though the number of clubs remained at 12 after Hereford Thistle and Clevedon left.December 2021 Cardiff St Paul's, promoted from Division Two main WDL WAR EAS STA TRO STG CLI GLO BED SWI MAN STP CAR C L L D R Left league at the end of the season Bedminster Cardiff Clifton Eastville Rovers Gloucester Mangotsfield Staple Hill St George St Paul's Swindon Wanderers Trowbridge Town Warmley 6 2 12 36 41 0 0 0 0 0 8 3 9 44 50 14 1 5 57 22 6 4 10 29 42 3 3 14 17 54 13 3 4 48 19 10 4 6 47 38 2 2 16 12 60 4 4 12 22 57 13 1 6 50 31 16 3 1 65 13 Eastville Rovers and Staple Hill were declared joint runners-up. EAS 2 complete yes -2 PR RU RU Joint runners-up DED yellow1 2 points deducted for breach of rules LEF LEF red1 Left league at end of season REL red2 Not re-elected to 1st Division EXP black1 Record expunged Cardiff were expelled in January 1896 for non-payment of fines, and their record was expunged. Test match Since Eastville Rovers and Staple Hill were tied on points at the end of the season a one-off test match was arranged between the two teams to decide which team would finish second and which finished third. The match ended in a 2–2 draw, leading to the two teams being declared joint runners-up. Test match 30 April 1896 18:30 GMT Staple Hill 2–2 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000035/18960501/006/0003 Eastville Rovers Britton Unknown scorer Unknown scorer Unknown scorer St George Mr A. Farrant D Division Two Four new teams joined Division Two this season, though the number of clubs remained at 11 after Mangotsfield Reserves, Waverley and Willsbridge left the league and St Paul's were elected to Division One. Willsbridge's withdrawal was due to them having no ground available on which to play their home games.https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000035/18950831/025/0006 Association Football Bristol Mercury 31 August 1895 British Newspaper Archive subscription 17 Jul 2019 Cumberland Eastville Wanderers Fishponds Frenchay main WDL BAR FIS STG EAW EAR CUM STA BED WAR CLI FRE C L L L L X Left league at the end of the season Resigned from the league Barton Hill Bedminster Reserves Clifton Reserves Cumberland Eastville Rovers Reserves Eastville Wanderers Fishponds Frenchay Staple Hill Reserves St George Reserves Warmley Reserves 15 2 1 45 16 6 1 11 35 38 0 0 18 10 84 7 3 8 47 35 8 4 6 43 31 10 2 6 34 23 11 4 3 33 14 0 0 0 0 0 7 2 9 34 58 11 3 4 52 22 4 1 13 23 29 2 yes complete R LEF LEF LEF LEF red1 Left league at end of season RES black1 Record expunged The tables as published at the time contained errors, hence the totals do not balance in some columns. The system of using goal average to separate two teams tied on points was used up to and including the 1976–77 season. The points system: 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 points for losing. References 1895–96 Category:1895–96 in English men's football leagues