1897–98 Southern Football League

March 2026 The 1897–98 season was the fourth in the history of the Southern League. Southampton won the Division One championship for the second successive season. Bristol City applied for election to Division Two of the Football League. However, they were not elected. Division One Southern Football League Division One 1897–98 Southampton (2nd title) none NorthfleetWolverton L&NWR 132 507 1896–97 1898–99 A total of 12 teams contest the division, including eleven sides from previous season and one new team. Newly elected team: Bristol City main WDL Q 5 Division One 2 y SHP Southampton BRC Bristol City TOT Tottenham Hotspur CHA Chatham Town REA Reading GIL New Brompton SHE Sheppey United GRA Gravesend United MIL Millwall Athletic SWI Swindon Town NOR Northfleet WOL Wolverton L&NWR 18 1 3 53 18 13 7 2 67 33 12 4 6 52 31 12 4 6 50 34 8 7 7 39 31 9 4 9 37 37 10 1 11 40 49 7 6 9 28 39 8 2 12 48 45 7 2 13 36 48 4 3 15 29 60 3 1 18 28 82 #ccccff Relegation test matches RTM RTM 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 Phil Soar Tottenham Hotspur The Official Illustrated History 1882–1995 233 1995 Hamlyn 0-600-58706-1 Division Two Southern Football League Division Two 1897–98 Royal Artillery Portsmouth Royal Artillery PortsmouthWarmley Dartford (resigned)RETB Chatham (resigned) 132 652 1896–97 1898–99 A total of 12 teams contest the division, including ten sides from previous season and two new teams. Newly elected teams: Royal Artillery Portsmouth St Albans main WDL QR 2 y POR Royal Artillery Portsmouth WAR Warmley WHE West Herts UXB Uxbridge STA St Albans DAR Dartford SOU Southall CHE Chesham OST Old St.Stephen's WYC Wycombe Wanderers MAI Maidenhead CHA RETB Chatham Merged with Watford St Mary's to form Watford Changed name to Shepherd's Bush at end of season 19 1 2 75 22 19 0 3 108 15 11 6 5 50 48 11 2 9 39 57 9 5 8 47 41 11 0 11 68 55 8 2 12 49 61 8 2 12 38 48 7 2 13 47 66 7 2 13 37 55 4 4 14 27 81 4 2 16 26 62 #ccccff Promotion test matches PTM PTM #ffcccc Left to join Kent League at end of season L L 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 Promotion-relegation test matches Unlike previous seasons in which individual test matches had been played between clubs, this season saw the bottom two clubs in Division One and the top two clubs in Division two play in a four-club round robin, with the top two retaining or earning a place in Division One. Both Division Two clubs were promoted after the matches, with Northfleet leaving the league after the season ended.NORTHFLE Northfleet main WDL PR 5 2 y POR Royal Artillery Portsmouth WAR Warmley NOR Northfleet WOL Wolverton L&NWR 3 1 0 8 4 2 1 1 14 7 1 0 3 6 11 0 2 2 5 11 #ccffcc Promoted P P #ffcccc Relegated R R 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 Football League elections Only one Southern League club, Bristol City, applied for election to Division Two of the Football League. However, they were not elected.http://www.nonleaguematters.co.uk/forum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=3506; A history of admission to the Football League 2011-02-07 2018-09-26 https://web.archive.org/web/20180926224326/http://www.nonleaguematters.co.uk/forum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=3506; dead Although Darwen were initially voted out of the league, a decision was made to expand the League by four clubs, and they were readmitted, along with New Brighton Tower, Glossop North End and Barnsley. ClubLeagueVotesLincoln CityFootball League21Burslem Port ValeMidland League18Loughborough TownFootball League16DarwenFootball League16New Brighton TowerLancashire LeagueNelsonLancashire LeagueBristol CitySouthern League References External links Southern League First Division Tables at RSSSF Southern League Second Division Tables at RSSSF 1897–98 Category:1897–98 in English men's football leagues