1895–96 Football League

8th season of the Football League June 2023 July 2013 The Football League 1895–96 Aston Villa Crewe AlexandraBurslem Port ValeRotherham Town New Club in League Loughborough 1894–95 1896–97 The 1895–96 season was the eighth season of The 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 First Division 1895–96 Aston Villa2nd title Small Heath John CampbellSteve Bloomer(22 goals each) Derby County 8–0 Small Heath(30 November 1895)Sheffield United 8–0 Bury(6 April 1896) The Wednesday 0–4 Derby County(28 December 1895) Aston Villa 7–3 Small Heath(7 September 1895) 240 807 9 matchesEverton 14 matchesEverton 6 matchesBurnleySmall Heath 30,000Everton 2–0 Aston Villa(21 December 1895) 560West Bromwich Albion 3–2 Blackburn Rovers(29 April 1896) 7,682 1894–95 1896–97 main WDL First Division World Football AVL, DER, EVE, BOL, SUN, STK, THW, BLA, PNE, BUR, BRY, SHU, NFO, WOL, SMH, WBA 1st TSM TSM complete 20 5 5 78 45 12 5 13 40 50 16 5 9 49 37 10 7 13 48 44 12 3 15 50 54 17 7 6 68 35 16 7 7 66 43 11 3 16 42 57 11 6 13 44 48 10 6 14 40 50 8 4 18 39 79 15 0 15 56 47 15 7 8 52 41 12 5 13 44 53 6 7 17 30 59 10 1 19 61 65 C R O Aston Villa Blackburn Rovers Bolton Wanderers Burnley Bury Derby County Everton Nottingham Forest Preston North End Sheffield United Small Heath Stoke Sunderland The Wednesday West Bromwich Albion Wolverhampton Wanderers 5 2 y 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored R yellow red1 Qualification for test matches Results main FBR grey AST BLB BOL BUR BRY DER EVE NOT PNE SHU SMH STK SUN WED WBA WOL Aston Villa 3–1 2–0 5–1 2–0 4–1 4–3 3–1 1–0 2–2 7–3 5–2 2–1 2–1 1–0 4–1 Blackburn Rovers 1–1 3–2 1–0 0–2 0–2 2–3 2–0 3–0 1–0 2–1 3–1 2–4 2–1 1–0 3–1 Bolton Wanderers 2–2 1–1 1–0 2–4 2–1 3–1 2–1 1–0 4–1 4–1 3–1 1–0 2–0 2–1 4–0 Burnley 3–4 6–0 1–2 3–0 2–2 1–1 0–0 1–0 5–0 1–1 2–0 0–0 2–0 3–0 3–1 Bury 5–3 2–0 0–3 3–4 1–2 1–1 1–0 1–2 1–0 4–5 0–1 1–2 6–1 3–0 3–0 Derby County 2–2 0–0 2–1 5–1 2–1 2–1 4–0 1–0 0–2 8–0 2–1 2–0 3–1 4–1 5–2 Everton 2–0 0–2 1–1 2–1 3–2 2–2 6–2 3–2 5–0 3–0 7–2 1–0 2–2 1–1 2–0 Nottingham Forest 0–2 4–2 0–0 2–1 5–0 2–5 2–1 0–1 3–1 3–0 4–0 3–1 1–0 2–0 3–2 Preston North End 4–3 1–1 1–0 1–1 1–1 1–0 1–1 6–0 4–3 3–2 0–1 4–1 0–1 0–0 4–3 Sheffield United 2–1 1–1 1–0 1–1 8–0 1–1 1–2 2–1 2–1 2–0 1–0 1–2 1–1 2–0 2–1 Small Heath 1–4 2–1 1–2 1–0 1–0 1–3 0–3 1–0 5–2 2–1 1–2 0–1 1–1 2–2 3–2 Stoke 1–2 3–0 2–0 2–1 0–2 2–1 1–2 1–0 4–0 4–0 6–1 5–0 5–0 3–1 4–1 Sunderland 2–1 2–1 1–0 3–1 0–0 2–2 3–0 1–1 4–1 1–1 2–1 4–1 2–1 7–1 2–2 The Wednesday 1–3 3–0 1–1 1–0 1–3 0–4 3–1 3–0 1–1 1–0 3–0 2–1 3–0 5–3 3–1 West Bromwich Albion 1–1 3–2 2–3 0–2 1–3 0–0 0–3 3–1 1–2 1–0 0–0 1–0 1–1 2–3 2–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–2 1–2 5–0 5–1 1–0 2–0 2–3 6–1 2–1 4–1 7–2 1–0 1–3 4–0 1–2 complete Maps England none 369 Locations of the Football League First Division teams England 52.49 -1.88 right England 53.75 -2.48 right England 53.59 -2.56 right England 53.79 -2.25 right England 53.58 -2.295 right England 52.92 -1.476 right England 53.48 -2.97 right England 52.942 -1.137 right England 53.75 -2.7 right England 52.56 -1.88 right England 53.00 -2.18 right England 54.914 -1.388 right England 53.38 -1.47 right England 53.32 -1.47 right England 52.509 -1.98 right England 52.59 -2.13 right 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 Second Division 1895–96 Liverpool Liverpool George Allan(26 goals) Liverpool 10–1 Rotherham Town(18 February 1896) Burton Swifts 0–7 Liverpool(29 February 1896)Crewe Alexandra 0–7 Liverpool(28 March 1896) Darwen 10–2 Rotherham Town(13 January 1896) 240 943 10 matchesLiverpool 10 matchesBurton WanderersLiverpool 6 matchesLincoln City 1894–95 1896–97 main WDL Second Division LIV, MCI, GRI, BUW, NEW, NEH, WOO, LEF, DRW, NTC, BSW, LOU, LIN, BPV, RTW, CRE TSM TSM RES FOL RES complete 7 4 19 43 78 10 4 16 39 69 19 4 7 69 40 5 3 22 30 95 12 6 12 72 67 20 2 8 82 38 14 4 12 57 44 9 4 17 53 75 22 2 6 106 32 9 5 16 40 66 21 4 5 63 38 16 2 12 73 50 15 3 12 66 57 12 2 16 57 54 7 3 20 34 97 14 4 12 58 42 C, O, P R R Burslem Port Vale Burton Swifts Burton Wanderers Crewe Alexandra Darwen Grimsby Town Leicester Fosse Lincoln City Liverpool Loughborough Manchester City Newcastle United Newton Heath Notts County Rotherham Town Woolwich Arsenal 5 2 y 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored QR green1 Qualification for test matches black1 Resigned from league and folded red1 Resigned from league Results main FBR grey BPV BRS BRW CRE DRW GRI LEI LIN LIV LOU MCI NEW NWH NTC ROT WOO Burslem Port Vale 1–0 2–2 2–1 3–3 1–4 1–1 0–1 5–4 1–1 0–1 2–0 3–0 0–4 4–0 0–2 Burton Swifts 2–1 0–2 1–1 1–2 2–1 0–2 4–0 0–7 1–2 1–4 3–1 4–1 0–0 2–0 3–2 Burton Wanderers 2–1 2–1 4–0 3–0 2–1 0–0 4–1 2–1 4–0 4–1 0–3 5–1 1–3 6–1 4–1 Crewe Alexandra 3–2 1–3 0–1 3–1 0–1 1–1 2–2 0–7 1–2 0–2 3–0 0–2 5–1 3–2 0–1 Darwen 8–2 3–0 3–0 6–1 3–3 4–1 5–0 0–4 1–1 2–3 4–4 3–0 2–0 10–2 1–1 Grimsby Town 6–1 3–0 2–1 2–0 5–0 7–1 4–2 1–0 2–0 5–0 2–1 4–2 3–0 4–0 1–1 Leicester Fosse 5–0 2–1 1–3 4–1 2–3 1–2 1–3 2–0 5–0 1–2 2–0 3–0 2–1 8–0 1–0 Lincoln City 4–2 1–2 1–2 6–2 1–0 2–5 2–3 0–1 4–1 1–2 4–0 2–0 2–3 5–0 1–1 Liverpool 5–1 6–1 4–1 6–1 0–0 3–1 3–1 6–1 1–0 3–1 5–1 7–1 3–0 10–1 3–0 Loughborough 3–0 2–2 1–1 4–1 4–1 0–1 1–4 3–0 2–4 2–4 1–0 3–3 1–3 3–0 2–1 Manchester City 1–0 1–1 1–1 4–0 4–1 2–1 2–0 4–0 1–1 5–1 5–2 2–1 2–0 2–0 1–0 Newcastle United 4–2 5–0 4–0 6–0 7–2 1–5 1–0 5–0 1–0 3–0 4–1 2–1 5–1 6–1 3–1 Newton Heath 2–1 5–0 1–2 5–0 4–0 3–2 2–0 5–5 5–2 2–0 1–1 2–1 3–0 3–0 5–1 Notts County 7–2 5–0 1–4 6–0 4–1 5–3 1–2 2–0 2–3 2–0 3–0 0–1 0–2 0–0 3–4 Rotherham Town 0–2 1–4 1–6 4–0 3–0 1–0 2–0 2–2 0–5 4–0 2–3 1–1 2–3 1–0 3–0 Woolwich Arsenal 2–1 5–0 3–0 7–0 1–3 3–1 1–1 4–0 0–2 6–0 0–1 2–1 2–1 2–0 5–0 Ian Laschke: Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79. Macdonald and Jane’s, London & Sydney, 1980. Maps England none 369 Locations of the Football League Second Division teams England 53.04 -2.19 right England 52.80 -1.68 right England 52.80 -1.58 right England 53.698 -2.461 right England 53.099 -2.44 right England 53.56 -0.068 right England 52.62 -1.14 right England 53.23 -0.54 right England 53.53 -2.99 right England 53.47 -2.22 right England 53.47 -2.30 right England 54.98 -1.62 right England 52.942 -1.137 right England 53.43 -1.36 right England 52.77 -1.204 right England 51.50 0.068 right 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 (2nd Div. Champions) Liverpool 4–0 Small Heath (1st Div. 15th) 4–0Sat 18 Apr 0–0Mon 20 Apr (2nd Div. 2nd) Manchester City 2–7 West Bromwich Albion (1st Div. 16th) 1–1Sat 18 Apr 1–6Mon 20 Apr 1939 Second round (2nd Div. Champions) Liverpool 2–2 West Bromwich Albion (1st Div. 16th) 2–0Sat 25 Apr 0–2Mon 27 Apr (2nd Div. 2nd) Manchester City 3–8 Small Heath (1st Div. 15th) 3–0Sat 25 Apr 0–8Mon 27 Apr 1939 Table main WDL Q 2 LIV Liverpool WBA West Bromwich Albion SMH Small Heath MCI Manchester City 2 1 1 6 2 2 1 1 9 4 1 1 2 8 7 1 1 2 5 15 #FFFF99 Elected to play in First Division D1 D1 #ffcccc Invited to play in Second Division D2 D2 complete 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 { class"wikitable sortable" !#!!Football club!!Home games!!Average attendancehttps://www.european-football-statistics.co.uk/attn/archive/eng/aveeng1896.htm Historical attendances European-football-statistics.co.uk 28 July 2026 - 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 - } See also 1895–96 in English football 1895 in association football 1896 in association football References External links Ian Laschke: Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79. Macdonald and Jane's, London & Sydney, 1980. 1895–96 League