1896–97 Football League

9th season of the Football League May 2023 July 2013 The Football League 1896–97 Aston Villa Burton Wanderers New club in league Blackpool,Gainsborough Trinity,Walsall 1895–96 1897–98 The 1896–97 season was the ninth 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 1896–97 Aston Villa3rd English title Burnley Steve Bloomer(22 goals)https://www.rsssf.org/tablese/engtops.html English League Leading Goalscorers RSSSF 2010-10-31 Derby County 8–1 West Bromwich Albion(25 December 1896)Sheffield United 7–0 Blackburn Rovers(9 January 1897) Blackburn Rovers 1–5 Aston Villa(28 November 1896) Derby County 7–2 Bury(26 September 1896)Derby County 8–1 West Bromwich Albion(25 December 1896)Everton 6–3 West Bromwich Albion(17 April 1897) 240 751 6 matchesEverton 12 matchesAston Villa 6 matchesEverton 40,000Everton 2–1 Liverpool(3 October 1896) 1,000Nottingham Forest 4–1 Burnley(24 October 1896)Sheffield United 7–0 Blackburn Rovers(9 January 1897) 7,734 1895–96 1897–98 main WDL First Division World Football AVL, SHU, DER, PNE, LIV, THW, EVE, BOL, BRY, WOL, NFO, WBA, STK, BLA, SUN, BUR 1st TSM TSM complete 21 5 4 73 38 11 3 16 35 62 12 6 12 40 43 6 7 17 43 61 10 10 10 39 44 16 4 10 70 50 14 3 13 62 57 12 9 9 46 38 9 8 13 44 49 11 12 7 55 40 13 10 7 42 29 11 3 16 48 59 7 9 14 34 47 10 11 9 42 37 10 6 14 33 56 11 6 13 45 41 C O R Aston Villa Blackburn Rovers Bolton Wanderers Burnley Bury Derby County Everton Liverpool Nottingham Forest Preston North End Sheffield United 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 LIV NOT PNE SHU STK SUN WED WBA WOL Aston Villa 3–0 6–2 0–3 1–1 2–1 1–2 0–0 3–2 3–1 2–2 2–1 2–1 4–0 2–0 5–0 Blackburn Rovers 1–5 1–0 3–2 1–2 5–2 4–2 1–0 0–0 0–4 1–3 2–1 1–2 4–0 1–2 2–0 Bolton Wanderers 1–2 0–0 2–1 2–0 1–3 2–0 1–4 0–0 3–1 0–2 4–0 1–0 2–1 2–2 1–2 Burnley 3–4 0–1 0–2 1–0 2–3 2–1 4–1 2–2 2–2 1–1 1–3 1–1 1–1 5–0 0–3 Bury 0–2 3–0 2–2 1–1 1–0 3–1 1–2 2–0 0–0 0–1 4–2 1–1 1–1 3–0 3–2 Derby County 1–3 6–0 1–0 3–2 7–2 0–1 3–2 1–1 2–2 1–3 5–1 1–0 2–1 8–1 4–3 Everton 2–3 0–3 2–3 6–0 1–2 5–2 2–1 3–1 3–4 1–2 4–2 5–2 2–1 6–3 0–0 Liverpool 3–3 4–0 0–2 1–2 3–1 2–0 0–0 3–0 0–0 0–0 1–0 3–0 2–2 0–0 3–0 Nottingham Forest 2–4 2–1 2–0 4–1 3–0 1–2 3–0 2–0 0–0 2–2 4–0 2–1 2–2 0–1 1–2 Preston North End 0–1 3–1 2–3 5–3 2–2 0–2 4–1 1–1 3–2 1–0 3–0 5–3 2–2 0–0 4–0 Sheffield United 0–0 7–0 1–0 1–0 2–2 2–2 1–2 1–1 0–3 0–2 1–0 3–0 2–0 0–1 1–3 Stoke 0–2 1–0 2–3 3–2 3–0 2–2 2–3 6–1 3–0 2–1 2–0 0–1 0–0 2–2 2–1 Sunderland 4–2 0–1 1–1 1–1 0–1 1–2 1–1 4–3 2–2 1–1 0–1 4–1 0–0 2–1 0–3 The Wednesday 1–3 6–0 0–0 1–0 2–0 2–0 4–1 1–2 3–0 1–0 1–1 4–3 0–0 3–1 0–0 West Bromwich Albion 3–1 1–0 1–0 3–0 0–0 1–4 1–4 0–1 4–0 1–1 0–1 1–2 1–0 0–2 1–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–2 1–1 4–0 2–0 1–1 1–0 0–1 1–2 4–1 1–1 1–1 1–2 0–1 2–0 6–1 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 53.53 -2.99 right England 52.942 -1.137 right England 53.75 -2.7 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 -1.964 right England 52.59 -2.13 right Aston Villa Blackburn Rovers Bolton Wanderers Burnley Bury Derby County Everton Liverpool Nottingham Forest Preston North End Sheffield United The Wednesday (Sheffield) Stoke Sunderland West Bromwich Albion Wolverhampton Wanderers Second Division Second Division 1896–97 Notts County Notts County Burton Wanderers John MurphyTom Boucher(22 goals each)https://www.rsssf.org/tablese/engtops.html English League Leading Goalscorers Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation 2010-09-22 Darwen 12–0 Walsall(26 December 1896) Walsall 1–6 Small Heath(24 October 1896) Darwen 12–0 Walsall(26 December 1896) 240 907 6 matchesNotts CountySmall Heath 10 matchesNewton Heath 12 matchesLincoln City 1895–96 1897–98 main WDL Second Division NTC, NEH, GRI, SMH, NEW, MCI, GAI, BLP, LEF, WOO, DRW, WAL, LOU, BSW, BUW, LIN TSM TSM RET REL RET complete 13 5 12 59 56 9 6 15 46 61 9 2 19 31 67 14 0 16 67 61 12 7 11 50 47 17 4 9 66 45 13 4 13 59 57 5 2 23 27 85 12 1 17 50 64 12 8 10 58 50 17 1 12 56 52 17 5 8 56 34 19 4 7 92 43 16 5 9 69 47 11 4 15 54 69 13 4 13 68 70 C, O, P R Blackpool Burton Swifts Burton Wanderers Darwen Gainsborough Trinity Grimsby Town Leicester Fosse Lincoln City Loughborough Manchester City Newcastle United Newton Heath Notts County Small Heath Walsall Woolwich Arsenal 5 2 y 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored QR green1 Qualification for test matches red2 Re-elected red1 Failed re-election and demoted Results main FBR grey BLP BRS BRW DRW GAI GRI LEI LIN LOU MCI NEW NWH NTC SMH WAL WOO Blackpool 3–0 5–0 1–0 1–1 1–0 3–0 3–1 4–1 2–2 4–1 4–2 3–2 1–3 3–2 1–1 Burton Swifts 2–0 1–1 2–0 4–0 0–0 2–1 4–0 3–1 5–0 3–0 3–5 1–4 1–1 1–3 1–2 Burton Wanderers 3–1 1–0 1–0 3–2 5–1 2–1 2–0 0–1 1–1 0–1 1–2 0–3 2–6 1–0 0–3 Darwen 2–3 5–1 3–0 3–2 3–1 4–1 4–1 5–1 3–1 2–1 0–2 2–1 2–0 12–0 4–1 Gainsborough Trinity 2–0 4–1 2–1 2–4 1–1 0–2 7–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 3–2 1–3 2–0 4–1 Grimsby Town 2–2 3–0 3–0 4–2 1–1 4–1 3–1 8–1 3–1 3–2 2–0 3–1 2–1 0–1 3–1 Leicester Fosse 2–1 3–0 2–1 4–1 0–0 4–2 4–1 4–2 3–3 5–0 1–0 2–3 0–1 4–1 6–3 Lincoln City 3–1 1–1 2–3 1–0 0–2 0–3 2–1 0–2 0–1 1–2 1–3 1–1 1–3 2–1 2–3 Loughborough 4–1 0–2 6–0 4–2 1–0 1–4 0–2 3–0 2–0 3–0 2–0 0–1 2–0 1–2 8–0 Manchester City 4–2 3–1 2–1 4–1 4–1 3–1 4–0 3–0 1–1 1–2 0–0 1–4 3–0 5–0 1–1 Newcastle United 4–1 2–1 3–0 5–1 1–2 3–0 3–1 2–1 4–1 3–0 2–0 2–2 4–3 2–0 2–0 Newton Heath 2–0 1–1 3–0 3–1 2–0 4–2 2–1 3–1 6–0 2–1 4–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 Notts County 3–1 6–1 5–0 4–0 2–0 1–3 6–0 8–0 3–1 3–3 3–1 3–0 1–2 5–2 7–4 Small Heath 1–3 1–2 3–2 5–1 2–2 0–1 2–2 1–2 3–0 3–1 3–1 1–0 3–1 3–3 5–2 Walsall 2–2 5–2 2–0 4–0 1–1 0–1 1–1 5–0 5–1 3–2 0–2 2–3 1–3 1–6 5–3 Woolwich Arsenal 4–2 3–0 3–0 1–0 6–1 4–2 2–1 6–2 2–0 1–2 5–1 0–2 2–3 2–3 1–1 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 53.81 -3.05 right England 52.80 -1.68 right England 52.80 -1.58 right England 53.698 -2.461 right England 53.40 -0.77 right England 53.56 -0.068 right England 52.62 -1.14 right England 53.23 -0.54 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 52.56 -1.82 right England 52.77 -1.204 right England 52.58 -1.98 right England 51.50 0.068 right Blackpool Burton Swifts Burton Wanderers Darwen Gainsborough Trinity Grimsby Town Leicester Fosse Lincoln City Loughborough Manchester City Newcastle Newton Heath (Manchester) Notts County 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 (2nd Div. Champions) Notts County 1–0 Sunderland (1st Div. 15th) 1–0Sat 17 Apr 0–0Mon 19 Apr (1st Div. 16th) Burnley 2–2 Newton Heath (2nd Div. 2nd) 2–0Mon 19 Apr 0–2Wed 21 Apr 1939 Second round (1st Div. 16th) Burnley 1–2 Notts County (2nd Div. Champions) 0–1Sat 24 Apr 1–1Mon 26 Apr 1939 (2nd Div. 2nd) Newton Heath 1–3 Sunderland (1st Div. 15th) 1–1Sat 24 Apr 0–2Mon 26 Apr 1939 Test match summary Reference works, such Encyclopedia of British FootballSoar, Phil & Tyler, Martin: Encyclopedia of British Football, Willow Books, London. Fourth, updated and revised edition, 1984, p. 168. and Association Football,A. H. Fabian & Green, Geoffrey: Association Football, Volume Two, p. 236. The Caxton Publishing Company Ltd., London, 1960. present the following table with the heading given above. main WDL Q 5 2 NTC Notts County SUN Sunderland BUR Burnley NWH Newton Heath 2 2 0 3 1 1 2 1 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 1 1 2 3 5 #FFFF99 Elected to play in First Division D1 D1 #ffcccc Invited to play in Second Division D2 D2 complete Test match 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. Notts County won both fixtures and were elected to play in the 1st Division the following season. Coming from the 2nd Division, Newton Heath apparently would have needed a win in order to advance. It appears that in this case, a draw, the preference was given to Burnley, who came to the test matches from a higher division. Sunderland salvaged through re-elections its position in the 1st Division, having won in the second round of the test matches. It was the fate of Newton Heath to remain in the 2nd Division. Attendances Source:https://www.european-football-statistics.co.uk/attn/archive/eng/aveeng1897.htm Historical attendances www.european-football-statistics.co.uk Division One No. Club Average 1 Everton FC 15,840 2 Aston Villa FC 12,855 3 Liverpool FC 12,035 4 Bolton Wanderers FC 8,360 5 Sheffield United FC 8,080 6 Derby County FC 7,995 7 Blackburn Rovers FC 7,005 8 The Wednesday 6,900 9 Preston North End FC 6,865 10 Bury FC 6,600 11 Wolverhampton Wanderers FC 5,945 12 West Bromwich Albion FC 5,680 13 Stoke FC 5,400 14 Burnley FC 5,250 15 Nottingham Forest FC 5,225 16 Sunderland AFC 5,160 See also 1896–97 in English football 1896 in association football 1897 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. 1896–97 League