1898–99 Southern Football League

March 2026 The 1898–99 season was the fifth in the history of the Southern League. This season saw the expansion of Division One up to 14 teams and the creation of Division Two South-West, though it was disbanded at the end of the season after all its clubs left. No Southern League clubs applied for promotion to the Football League. Southampton were Division One champions for the third season in a row. Overall Division Two champions being decided in a playoff in which Thames Ironworks defeated Cowes 3–1 at The Den.THAMEIRO Thames Ironworks Division One Southern Football League Division One 1898–99 Southampton (3rd title) none Warmley (resigned)Royal Artillery Portsmouth (test match losers) 156 506 1897–98 1899–1900 A total of 14 teams contest the division, including ten sides from the previous season and four new teams. Teams promoted from 1897 to 1898 Division Two: Royal Artillery Portsmouth - test matches winners Warmley - test matches winners Newly elected teams: Bedminster (elected from the Western League) Brighton United main WDL Division One QR 5 2 y SHP Southampton BRC Bristol City MIL Millwall Athletic CHA Chatham Town REA Reading GIL New Brompton TOT Tottenham Hotspur BED Bedminster SWI Swindon Town BRU Brighton United GRA Gravesend United SHE Sheppey United POR Royal Artillery Portsmouth WAR Warmley 15 5 4 54 24 15 3 6 55 33 12 6 6 59 35 10 8 6 32 23 9 8 7 31 24 10 5 9 38 30 10 4 10 40 36 10 4 10 35 39 9 5 10 43 49 9 2 13 37 48 7 5 12 42 52 5 3 16 23 53 4 4 16 17 60 0 0 0 0 0 #ccccff Relegation test matches RTM #ccccff Relegation test matches. Disbanded at end of season after relegationhttps://www.fchd.info/RA-PORTS.HTM Football Club History Database - Royal Artillery Portsmouth RTMD #ffcccc Resigned from League after 17 matches, record expunged RES complete rsssf.com The system of using goal average to separate two teams tied on points was used until the 1976-77 season. The points system: 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 points for losing. Division Two London Southern Football League Division Two London 1898–99 Thames Ironworks none St Albans (folded)Uxbridge (resigned) 132 597 1897–98 1899–1900 Division Two London was formed on the basis of the previous season's Division Two. A total of 12 teams contest the division, including eight sides from the previous season and four new teams. Team relegated from Division One: Wolverton L&NWR - test matches losers Newly elected teams: Thames Ironworks - London League winners Brentford Fulham main WDL Division Two London QR 5 2 y THA Thames Ironworks WOL Wolverton L&NWR WAT Watford BRE Brentford WYC Wycombe Wanderers SOU Southall CHE Chesham STA St Albans SHE Shepherds Bush FUL Fulham UXB Uxbridge MAI Maidenhead Changed name to Chesham Town at the end of the season 19 1 2 64 16 13 4 5 88 43 14 2 6 62 35 11 3 8 59 39 10 2 10 55 57 11 0 11 44 55 9 2 11 45 62 8 3 11 45 59 7 3 12 37 53 6 4 12 36 44 7 2 13 29 48 3 2 17 33 86 #ccccff Promotion test matches PTM #ffcccc Folded at end of season FLD #ffcccc Left league at end of season LEFT The system of using goal average to separate two teams tied on points was used until the 1976-77 season. The points system: 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 points for losing. complete rsssf.com Division Two South-West Southern Football League Division Two South-West 1898–99 Cowes none league disbanded 30 160 1897–98 1899–1900 Division Two South-West was a newly formed and short-lived formation. At the end of the season, the division was liquidated and the League returned to a 2-division structure. main WDL Division Two South-West QR 2 y COW Cowes RYD Ryde FRE Freemantle SAN Sandown Bay EAS Eastleigh Athletic AND Andover ELR East Lancs Regiment TRO Trowbridge Town 10 0 0 52 10 7 0 3 30 11 5 0 5 21 32 4 0 6 22 34 2 0 8 19 32 2 0 8 16 41 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 #ccccff Promotion test matches PTM #ffcccc Left league at end of season LEFT LEFT LEFT LEFT LEFT black1 Resigned from league after three matches, record expunged RES RES The system of using goal average to separate two teams tied on points was used until the 1976-77 season. The points system: 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 points for losing. complete rsssf.com Promotion-relegation test matches At the end of the season, test matches were held between the bottom two clubs in Division One and the top club in both Division Twos. Royal Artillery Portsmouth lost 4–1 to Cowes and were relegated to Division Two, whilst Cowes were promoted. Royal Artillery Portsmouth then disbanded.http://www.diandsaulbooks.co.uk/glory-gunners---the-history-of-royal-artillery-portsmouth-fc-by-kevin-smith-2264-p.asp Glory Gunners – The History of Royal Artillery (Portsmouth) FC Dian D Saul Books.co.uk Sheppey United and Thames Ironworks drew 1-1, leading to Sheppey remaining in Division One and Thames Ironworks joining them. Division One clubs Division Two clubs Royal Artillery Portsmouth 1 – 4 Cowes Sheppey United 1 – 1 Thames Ironworks References External links Southern League First Division Tables at RSSSF Southern League Second Division Tables at RSSSF 1898-99 Category:1898–99 in English men's football leagues