1898–99 Football League

The Football League
Season1898–99
ChampionsAston Villa
RelegatedBlackpool
Darwen
New Clubs in LeagueBarnsley
Burslem Port Vale,
Glossop North End,
New Brighton Tower

The 1898–99 season was the 11th season of The Football League. Two teams were able to win the First Division title going into the final day of the season: Aston Villa and Liverpool; second-placed Liverpool travelled to Villa Park for the final match, needing a win to overtake Villa and win the title, but Villa won 5–0 to win their fourth First Division title.

Defending champions Sheffield United had the first poor title defence in English top flight history, finishing 16th out of 18, barely avoiding the two relegation places.

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
Season1898–99
ChampionsAston Villa
4th English title
RelegatedBolton Wanderers
The Wednesday
Matches played306
Goals scored868 (2.84 per match)
Top goalscorerSteve Bloomer
(23 goals)
Biggest home winDerby County 9–0 The Wednesday
(21 January 1899)
Biggest away winLiverpool 0–3 Aston Villa
(15 October 1898)
Nottingham Forest 0–3 Liverpool
(26 November 1898)
The Wednesday 0–3 Liverpool
(31 December 1898)
Highest scoringDerby County 5–5 Everton
(15 October 1898)
Longest winning run8 matches
Aston Villa
Longest unbeaten run17 matches
Liverpool
Longest losing run4 matches
Everton
Sheffield United
Sunderland
The Wednesday
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Highest attendance41,000
Aston Villa 5–0 Liverpool
(29 April 1899)
Lowest attendance1,000
Bury 1–1 Newcastle United
(22 October 1898)
West Bromwich Albion 2–0 Nottingham Forest
(24 December 1898)
West Bromwich Albion 6–2 Blackburn Rovers
(21 January 1899)
Average attendance10,004

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts Relegation
1 Aston Villa (C) 34 19 7 8 76 40 1.900 45
2 Liverpool 34 19 5 10 49 33 1.485 43
3 Burnley 34 15 9 10 45 47 0.957 39
4 Everton 34 15 8 11 48 41 1.171 38
5 Notts County 34 12 13 9 47 51 0.922 37
6 Blackburn Rovers 34 14 8 12 60 52 1.154 36
7 Sunderland 34 15 6 13 41 41 1.000 36
8 Wolverhampton Wanderers 34 14 7 13 54 48 1.125 35
9 Derby County 34 12 11 11 62 57 1.088 35
10 Bury 34 14 7 13 48 49 0.980 35
11 Nottingham Forest 34 11 11 12 42 42 1.000 33
12 Stoke 34 13 7 14 47 52 0.904 33
13 Newcastle United 34 11 8 15 49 48 1.021 30
14 West Bromwich Albion 34 12 6 16 42 57 0.737 30
15 Preston North End 34 10 9 15 44 47 0.936 29
16 Sheffield United 34 9 11 14 45 51 0.882 29
17 Bolton Wanderers (R) 34 9 7 18 37 51 0.725 25 Relegation to the Second Division
18 The Wednesday (R) 34 8 8 18 32 61 0.525 24
Source: World Football
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated

Results

Home \ Away AST BLB BOL BUR BRY DER EVE LIV NEW NOT NTC PNE SHU STK SUN WED WBA WOL
Aston Villa 3–1 2–1 4–0 3–2 7–1 3–0 5–0 1–0 3–0 6–1 4–2 1–1 3–1 2–0 3–1 7–1 1–1
Blackburn Rovers 0–0 4–1 0–2 0–0 3–0 1–3 1–3 4–2 3–3 6–0 2–2 2–1 4–1 3–2 2–0 4–1 2–2
Bolton Wanderers 0–0 0–2 2–0 0–1 2–1 2–4 2–1 0–0 0–2 0–1 2–2 3–0 0–2 6–1 0–0 3–3 2–1
Burnley 2–4 2–0 2–0 2–1 2–1 0–0 2–1 2–1 1–1 1–1 3–1 1–0 1–1 1–0 5–0 1–1 4–2
Bury 2–1 3–2 3–1 1–1 0–0 3–1 3–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 3–1 1–3 5–2 1–2 0–0 1–1 0–2
Derby County 1–1 0–0 1–1 2–1 1–2 5–5 1–0 3–1 2–0 4–2 1–0 1–0 1–1 4–2 9–0 4–1 6–2
Everton 1–1 2–1 1–0 4–0 0–1 1–2 1–2 3–0 1–3 1–2 2–0 1–0 2–0 0–0 2–0 1–0 2–1
Liverpool 0–3 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–0 4–0 2–0 3–2 0–1 0–0 3–1 2–1 1–0 0–0 4–0 2–2 1–0
Newcastle United 1–1 1–0 4–1 4–1 2–0 2–0 2–2 3–0 0–1 1–2 2–1 1–2 3–0 0–1 2–2 3–0 2–4
Nottingham Forest 1–0 0–1 1–2 0–1 1–2 3–3 0–0 0–3 2–0 0–0 2–2 2–1 2–1 1–1 1–1 3–0 3–0
Notts County 1–0 5–3 2–1 2–2 4–1 2–2 0–1 1–1 3–1 2–2 1–0 2–2 2–0 5–2 1–0 0–0 0–2
Preston North End 2–0 1–1 0–1 1–1 3–1 3–1 0–0 1–2 1–0 1–0 2–0 1–0 4–2 2–3 1–1 4–0 2–1
Sheffield United 1–3 1–1 3–1 1–1 4–1 2–1 1–1 0–2 2–2 2–2 2–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–1 5–0 1–0
Stoke 3–0 0–1 2–3 4–1 1–1 0–0 2–1 2–1 0–0 2–1 1–1 2–1 4–1 1–0 1–0 2–1 2–4
Sunderland 4–2 0–1 0–0 0–1 3–0 1–0 2–1 1–0 2–3 1–1 1–1 1–0 1–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 3–0
The Wednesday 4–1 1–2 1–0 1–0 3–2 3–1 1–2 0–3 1–3 2–1 1–1 2–1 1–1 1–3 0–1 1–2 3–0
West Bromwich Albion 0–1 6–2 1–0 0–1 2–0 1–1 3–0 0–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 3–0 0–1 1–0 2–0 1–2
Wolverhampton Wanderers 4–0 2–1 1–0 4–0 1–2 2–2 1–2 0–0 0–0 0–2 1–0 0–0 4–1 3–2 2–0 0–0 5–1
Source: [1]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Maps

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Locations of the Football League First Division teams

Second Division

Second Division
Season1898–99
ChampionsManchester City
PromotedManchester City
Glossop North End
RelegatedBlackpool
Darwen
Matches played306
Goals scored1,103 (3.6 per match)
Top goalscorerWalter Abbott
(33 goals)[1]
Biggest home winManchester City 10–0 Darwen
(18 February 1899)
Walsall 10–0 Darwen
(4 March 1899)
Loughborough 10–0 Darwen
(1 April 1899)
Biggest away winLuton Town 1–6 Leicester Fosse
(14 January 1899)
Lincoln City 1–6 Grimsby Town
(8 April 1899)
Highest scoringGrimsby Town 9–2 Darwen
(15 April 1899)
Longest winning run7 matches
Glossop North End
New Brighton Tower
Longest unbeaten run13 matches
Manchester City
Longest losing run18 matches
Darwen

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts Promotion or relegation
1 Manchester City (C, P) 34 23 6 5 92 35 2.629 52 Promotion to the First Division
2 Glossop North End (P) 34 20 6 8 76 38 2.000 46
3 Leicester Fosse 34 18 9 7 64 42 1.524 45
4 Newton Heath 34 19 5 10 67 43 1.558 43
5 New Brighton Tower 34 18 7 9 71 52 1.365 43
6 Walsall 34 15 12 7 79 36 2.194 42
7 Woolwich Arsenal 34 18 5 11 72 41 1.756 41
8 Small Heath 34 17 7 10 85 50 1.700 41
9 Burslem Port Vale 34 17 5 12 56 34 1.647 39
10 Grimsby Town 34 15 5 14 71 60 1.183 35
11 Barnsley 34 12 7 15 52 56 0.929 31
12 Lincoln City 34 12 7 15 51 56 0.911 31
13 Burton Swifts 34 10 8 16 51 70 0.729 28
14 Gainsborough Trinity 34 10 5 19 56 72 0.778 25
15 Luton Town 34 10 3 21 51 95 0.537 23
16 Blackpool (R) 34 8 4 22 49 90 0.544 20 Not re-elected
17 Loughborough 34 6 6 22 38 92 0.413 18 Re-elected
18 Darwen (R) 34 2 5 27 22 141 0.156 9 Not re-elected
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated

Results

Home \ Away BAR BLP BPV BRS DRW GAI GLP GRI LEI LIN LOU LUT MCI NBR NWH SMH WAL WOO
Barnsley 2–1 2–1 2–0 6–0 1–0 1–1 2–2 3–4 1–0 9–0 2–1 1–1 2–1 0–2 7–2 1–1 2–1
Blackpool 3–1 0–4 3–0 6–0 4–0 1–2 3–6 2–2 3–0 2–1 2–3 2–4 1–2 0–1 1–1 1–2 1–1
Burslem Port Vale 2–0 6–1 4–1 3–1 2–1 1–2 2–0 0–2 2–1 3–0 4–1 1–1 0–0 1–0 1–0 0–1 3–0
Burton Swifts 5–0 3–1 2–0 4–0 2–1 1–2 1–2 1–1 2–1 1–1 1–1 3–3 1–1 5–1 2–6 0–2 1–2
Darwen 1–1 0–2 1–3 0–2 0–3 0–2 0–2 3–0 1–2 0–1 4–1 0–2 2–4 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–4
Gainsborough Trinity 2–0 7–0 3–2 1–2 2–2 2–4 5–1 4–0 2–2 3–0 2–3 3–1 3–1 0–2 1–1 0–0 0–1
Glossop 1–0 4–1 0–0 5–0 5–0 5–1 4–2 1–3 2–0 4–0 5–0 1–2 5–0 1–2 1–2 2–0 2–0
Grimsby Town 0–1 2–1 3–1 1–3 9–2 0–2 1–1 1–0 1–1 5–0 5–0 1–2 2–2 3–0 2–0 2–1 1–0
Leicester Fosse 3–1 4–0 1–1 1–0 4–0 1–0 4–2 2–0 3–2 1–0 1–1 1–1 4–1 1–0 0–0 2–2 2–1
Lincoln City 1–0 0–0 1–0 1–1 2–0 1–0 2–2 1–6 3–1 6–0 2–0 3–1 1–2 2–0 2–2 1–1 2–0
Loughborough 2–0 1–3 0–3 1–0 10–0 0–0 1–3 1–3 0–3 2–4 4–1 1–3 6–0 0–1 1–1 1–1 0–0
Luton Town 4–1 3–2 0–1 3–0 8–1 4–2 0–2 3–1 1–6 2–0 2–2 0–3 2–3 0–1 2–3 3–2 0–1
Manchester City 5–0 4–1 3–1 6–0 10–0 4–0 0–2 7–2 3–1 3–1 5–0 2–0 1–1 4–0 2–0 2–0 3–1
New Brighton Tower 2–1 4–0 1–0 2–2 7–0 3–2 2–2 2–0 1–0 4–1 3–0 4–0 0–1 0–3 4–0 6–0 3–1
Newton Heath 0–0 3–1 2–1 2–2 9–0 6–1 3–0 3–2 2–2 1–0 6–1 5–0 3–0 1–2 2–0 1–0 2–2
Small Heath 3–1 5–0 1–2 4–1 8–0 6–1 1–1 2–1 0–3 4–1 6–0 9–0 4–1 3–2 4–1 2–1 4–1
Walsall 1–1 6–0 1–1 7–1 10–0 6–1 2–0 4–1 1–1 3–2 7–0 6–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 4–1
Woolwich Arsenal 3–0 6–0 1–0 2–1 6–0 5–1 3–0 1–1 4–0 4–2 3–1 6–2 0–1 4–0 5–1 2–0 0–0
Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: Ian Laschke: Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79. Macdonald and Jane’s, London & Sydney, 1980.
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Maps

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Locations of the Football League Second Division teams

Attendances

First Division

# Football club Home games Average attendance[2]
1 Aston Villa 17 23,045
2 Newcastle United 17 17,390
3 Everton FC 17 15,190
4 Liverpool FC 17 14,650
5 Sunderland AFC 17 12,540
6 Notts County 17 11,125
7 Sheffield United 17 9,870
8 Blackburn Rovers 17 8,920
9 Nottingham Forest 17 8,815
10 The Wednesday 17 8,150
11 Stoke 17 7,600
12 Derby County 17 7,110
13 Wolverhampton Wanderers 17 7,085
14 Bolton Wanderers 17 7,075
15 Burnley FC 17 6,355
16 Preston North End 17 5,770
17 Bury FC 17 5,330
18 West Bromwich Albion 17 5,020

See also

References

  • Ian Laschke: Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79. Macdonald and Jane's, London & Sydney, 1980.
  1. ^ "English League Leading Goalscorers". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 31 October 2010.
  2. ^ https://www.european-football-statistics.co.uk/attn/archive/eng/aveeng1899.htm