1888–89 in English football

The 1888–1889 season was the 18th season of competitive association football in England.

Football in England
Season1888-89
Men's football
Football LeaguePreston North End
FA CupPreston North End
← 1887–88 1889–90 →

Overview

A new competition, The Football League, started this season. The Football League was open to clubs all over the United Kingdom, but the first twelve entrants (Accrington, Aston Villa, Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers, Burnley, Derby County, Everton, Notts County, Preston North End, Stoke (now Stoke City), West Bromwich Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers) were all from the Midlands or North of England (in later years the competition became the de facto English league, though some clubs from outside England still compete in it). Each club in the League played each other twice (once at home and once away) and would be awarded two points for a win, one for a draw and none for a loss. From these points, a league table was drawn up. Preston North End were in first place at the end of the season and thus became the first ever Football League champions. They did not lose a match all season (a feat only accomplished once since, by Arsenal in 2003–04) and also won the FA Cup.

The Football League is still going today and now has 72 clubs in three divisions (down from an all-time high of 92 clubs in four divisions). Since the 1992–93 season, it has become only the second-most important league competition, behind the FA Premier League in the English football league system.

Events

National team
Main article: 1888–89 British Home Championship

England finished second in the 1888–89 British Home Championship, which was won by Scotland.

John Yates, of Burnley, scored 3 goals against Ireland in his only appearance for England.

Date Venue Home team Visitors Score Comp England scorers
23 Feb 1889Victoria Ground, Stoke-on-Trent England Wales4–1BHCBilly Bassett (West Bromwich Albion), John Goodall (Preston North End), Jack Southworth (Blackburn Rovers) & Fred Dewhurst (Preston North End)
2 Mar 1889Anfield, Liverpool England Ireland6–1BHCAlf Shelton (Notts County), John Yates (Burnley) (3), Joe Lofthouse (Accrington) & John Brodie (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
13 Apr 1889Kennington Oval, London England Scotland2–3BHCBilly Bassett (West Bromwich Albion) (15 & 17 mins)

Key

1889 British Home Championship table
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Scotland 3 2 1 0 10 2 +8 5
 England 3 2 0 1 12 5 +7 4
 Wales 3 1 1 1 4 5 −1 3
 Ireland 3 0 0 3 2 16 −14 0
Source:
Rules for classification: 1) points. The points system worked as follows: 2 points for a win and 1 point for a draw.

Honours
Competition Winner
FA CupPreston North End (1st FA Cup title)
The Football LeaguePreston North End (1st English title)*

* Indicates new record for competition

FA Cup
Main article: 1888–89 FA Cup

Final
Further information on this match: 1889 FA Cup Final
Date Home team Visitors Score Venue
30 Mar 1889 Preston North End Wolverhampton Wanderers 3–0 Kennington Oval

The Football League
Main article: 1888–89 Football League

League table
The Football League
Season1888–89
ChampionsPreston North End
(1st English title)
Relegatednone
FA Cup winnersPreston North End (1st FA Cup title)
Matches played132
Goals scored586 (4.44 per match)
Top goalscorerJohn Goodall (Preston North End), 21
Biggest home winAston Villa – Notts County 9–1 (29 Sept 1888)
Biggest away winNotts County – Preston 0–7 (3 Nov 1888)
Highest scoring10: Aston Villa – Notts County 9–1 (29 Sept 1888)
Bolton – Notts County 7–3 (9 Mar 1889)
Blackburn Rovers – Accrington 5–5 (15 Sept 1888)
Longest winning run6 – Preston North End (8 Sep – 13 Oct 1888)
Longest unbeaten run22 – Preston North End (8 Sep 1888 – 9 Feb 1889), the entire season
Longest losing run8 – Derby County (29 Sep – 8 Dec 1888)
Highest attendance?
Lowest attendance?
Average attendance?
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Preston North End 22 18 4 0 74 15 4.933 40 League Champions and FA Cup Winners
2 Aston Villa 22 12 5 5 61 43 1.419 29
3 Wolverhampton Wanderers 22 12 4 6 51 37 1.378 28
4 Blackburn Rovers 22 10 6 6 66 45 1.467 26
5 Bolton Wanderers 22 10 2 10 63 59 1.068 22
6 West Bromwich Albion 22 10 2 10 40 46 0.870 22
7 Accrington 22 6 8 8 48 48 1.000 20
8 Everton 22 9 2 11 35 47 0.745 20
9 Burnley 22 7 3 12 42 62 0.677 17 Re-elected
10 Derby County 22 7 2 13 41 61 0.672 16
11 Notts County 22 5 2 15 40 73 0.548 12
12 Stoke 22 4 4 14 26 51 0.510 12
Source: [1][2]

Stadia and locations
Locations of the Football League 1888–89 teams
Team Location Stadium Stadium capacity
Accrington Accrington Thorneyholme Road n/a
Aston Villa Birmingham Wellington Road (Perry Barr) n/a
Blackburn Rovers Blackburn Leamington Road 600–700
Bolton Wanderers Bolton Pike’s Lane n/a
Burnley Burnley Turf Moor n/a
Derby County Derby Racecourse Ground n/a
Everton Liverpool Anfield n/a
Notts County Nottingham Trent Bridge Cricket Ground n/a
Preston North End Preston Deepdale n/a
Stoke Stoke-on-Trent Victoria Ground n/a
West Bromwich Albion West Bromwich Stoney Lane n/a
Wolverhampton Wanderers Wolverhampton Dudley Road n/a

Top scorers
Rank Scorer Club Goals Matches played Goals per match
1 John Goodall Preston North End 21211.00
2 James D. RossPreston North End18210.86
3 Albert AllenAston Villa17210.81
4 John SouthworthBlackburn Rovers16210.76
Harry WoodWolverhampton Wanderers16170.94
6 Thomas GreenAston Villa14210.67
7 James BroganBolton Wanderers13220.59
David WeirBolton Wanderers13220.59
9 Frederick DewhurstPreston North End12170.71
Herbert L. FecittBlackburn Rovers12170.71
Alexander BarbourAccrington12190.63
Alexander HigginsDerby County12210.57
Thomas PearsonWest Bromwich Albion12220.55

[3]

References
  1. "England 1888–89". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 17 March 2010. Retrieved 12 March 2010.
  2. Ian Laschke: Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79. Macdonald and Jane's, London & Sydney, 1980.
  3. Fußball-Weltzeitschrift No. 10, Jan/Feb 1988.
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