1895–96 Football League

The 1895–96 season was the eighth season of The Football League.

The Football League
Season1895–96
ChampionsAston Villa
RelegatedCrewe Alexandra
Burslem Port Vale
Rotherham Town
New Club in LeagueLoughborough

Final league tables

The tables below are reproduced here in the exact form that they can be found at the Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation website[1] and in Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79,[2] with home and away statistics separated.

Beginning with the season 1894–95, clubs finishing level on points were separated according to goal average (goals scored divided by goals conceded), or more properly put, goal ratio. 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 five seasons of the league, that is until the season, 1893–94, 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.[2]

First Division
Football League
First Division
Season1895–96
ChampionsAston Villa
(2nd English title)
RelegatedSmall Heath
FA Cup winnersThe Wednesday (1st FA Cup title)
Matches played240
Goals scored807 (3.36 per match)
Top goalscorerJohn Campbell (Aston Villa)
Steve Bloomer (Derby County), 22
Biggest home winDerby County – Small Heath 8–0 (30 Nov 1895)
Sheffield United – Bury 8–0 (6 Apr 1896)
Biggest away winThe Wednesday – Derby County 0–4 (28 Dec 1895)
Highest scoringAston Villa – Small Heath 7–3 (7 Sept 1895)
Longest winning run9 matches
Everton (2 Nov 1895 – 11 Jan 1896)
Longest unbeaten run14 matches
Everton (19 Oct 1895 – 18 Feb 1896)
Longest losing run6 matches
Small Heath (2 Sep 1895 – 12 Oct 1895)
Burnley (22 Nov 1895 – 21 Dec 1895)
Highest attendance30,000
Everton - Aston Villa (21 Dec 1895)
Lowest attendance560
West Bromwich Albion - Blackburn Rovers (29 Apr 1896)
Average attendance7,682
Pos Team Pld HW HD HL HGF HGA AW AD AL AGF AGA GAv Pts Qualification
1 Aston Villa 30 14 1 0 47 17 6 4 5 31 28 1.733 45 League Champions
2 Derby County 30 12 2 1 42 13 5 5 5 26 22 1.943 41
3 Everton 30 10 4 1 40 17 6 3 6 26 26 1.535 39
4 Bolton Wanderers 30 12 2 1 34 14 4 3 8 15 23 1.324 37
5 Sunderland 30 10 5 0 36 14 5 2 8 16 27 1.268 37
6 Stoke 30 12 0 3 43 11 3 0 12 13 36 1.191 30
7 The Wednesday 30 10 2 3 31 18 2 3 10 13 35 0.830 29 FA Cup Winners
8 Blackburn Rovers 30 10 1 4 26 18 2 4 9 14 32 0.800 29
9 Preston North End 30 8 5 2 31 18 3 1 11 13 30 0.917 28
10 Burnley 30 8 5 2 33 11 2 2 11 15 33 1.091 27
11 Bury 30 7 1 7 32 24 5 2 8 18 30 0.926 27
12 Sheffield United 30 9 4 2 28 12 1 2 12 12 38 0.800 26
13 Nottingham Forest 30 11 1 3 34 16 0 2 13 8 41 0.737 25
14 Wolverhampton Wanderers 30 10 0 5 43 18 0 1 14 18 47 0.938 21
15 Small Heath 30 7 2 6 22 24 1 2 12 17 55 0.494 20[lower-alpha 1] Into test matches
16 West Bromwich Albion 30 5 4 6 18 22 1 3 11 12 37 0.508 19
Source:
Notes:
  1. Not re-elected due to test match results. Invited to join Second Division

Results
Home \ Away AST BLB BOL BUR BRY DER EVE NOT PNE SHU SMH STK SUN WED WBA WOL
Aston Villa 3–1 2–0 5–1 2–0 4–1 4–3 3–1 1–0 2–2 7–3 5–2 2–1 2–1 1–0 4–1
Blackburn Rovers 1–1 3–2 1–0 0–2 0–2 2–3 2–0 3–0 1–0 2–1 3–1 2–4 2–1 1–0 3–1
Bolton Wanderers 2–2 1–1 1–0 2–4 2–1 3–1 2–1 1–0 4–1 4–1 3–1 1–0 2–0 2–1 4–0
Burnley 3–4 6–0 1–2 3–0 2–2 1–1 0–0 1–0 5–0 1–1 2–0 0–0 2–0 3–0 3–1
Bury 5–3 2–0 0–3 3–4 1–2 1–1 1–0 1–2 1–0 4–5 0–1 1–2 6–1 3–0 3–0
Derby County 2–2 0–0 2–1 5–1 2–1 2–1 4–0 1–0 0–2 8–0 2–1 2–0 3–1 4–1 5–2
Everton 2–0 0–2 1–1 2–1 3–2 2–2 6–2 3–2 5–0 3–0 7–2 1–0 2–2 1–1 2–0
Nottingham Forest 0–2 4–2 0–0 2–1 5–0 2–5 2–1 0–1 3–1 3–0 4–0 3–1 1–0 2–0 3–2
Preston North End 4–3 1–1 1–0 1–1 1–1 1–0 1–1 6–0 4–3 3–2 0–1 4–1 0–1 0–0 4–3
Sheffield United 2–1 1–1 1–0 1–1 8–0 1–1 1–2 2–1 2–1 2–0 1–0 1–2 1–1 2–0 2–1
Small Heath 1–4 2–1 1–2 1–0 1–0 1–3 0–3 1–0 5–2 2–1 1–2 0–1 1–1 2–2 3–2
Stoke 1–2 3–0 2–0 2–1 0–2 2–1 1–2 1–0 4–0 4–0 6–1 5–0 5–0 3–1 4–1
Sunderland 2–1 2–1 1–0 3–1 0–0 2–2 3–0 1–1 4–1 1–1 2–1 4–1 2–1 7–1 2–2
The Wednesday 1–3 3–0 1–1 1–0 1–3 0–4 3–1 3–0 1–1 1–0 3–0 2–1 3–0 5–3 3–1
West Bromwich Albion 1–1 3–2 2–3 0–2 1–3 0–0 0–3 3–1 1–2 1–0 0–0 1–0 1–1 2–3 2–1
Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–2 1–2 5–0 5–1 1–0 2–0 2–3 6–1 2–1 4–1 7–2 1–0 1–3 4–0 1–2
Source:
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Maps
Locations of the Football League First Division teams

Second Division
Football League
Second Division
Season1895–96
ChampionsLiverpool (2nd title)
PromotedLiverpool
Failed re-electionCrewe Alexandra
Burslem Port Vale
Rotherham Town
Matches played240
Goals scored943 (3.93 per match)
Top goalscorerGeorge Allan (Liverpool), 26
Biggest home winLiverpool – Rotherham Town 10–1 (18 Feb 1896)
Biggest away winBurton Swifts – Liverpool 0–7 (29 Feb 1896)
Crewe Alexandra – Liverpool 0–7 (28 Mar 1896)
Highest scoringDarwen – Rotherham Town 10–2 (13 Jan 1896)
Longest winning run10 matches
Liverpool (7 Dec 1895 – 7 Mar 1896)
Longest unbeaten run10 matches
Burton Wanderers (19 Oct 1895 – 4 Jan 1896)
Liverpool (7 Dec 1895 – 7 Mar 1896)
Longest losing run6 matches
Lincoln City (21 Sep 1895 – 26 Oct 1895)
Pos Team Pld HW HD HL HGF HGA AW AD AL AGF AGA GAv Pts Qualification
1 Liverpool 30 14 1 0 65 11 8 1 6 41 21 3.313 46[lower-alpha 1] Division Champions, into test matches
2 Manchester City 30 12 3 0 37 9 9 1 5 26 29 1.658 46 Into test matches
3 Grimsby Town 30 14 1 0 51 9 6 1 8 31 29 2.158 42
4 Burton Wanderers 30 12 1 2 43 15 7 3 5 26 25 1.725 42
5 Newcastle United 30 14 0 1 57 14 2 2 11 16 36 1.460 34
6 Newton Heath 30 12 2 1 48 15 3 1 11 18 42 1.158 33
7 Woolwich Arsenal 30 11 1 3 42 11 3 3 9 16 31 1.381 32
8 Leicester Fosse 30 10 0 5 40 16 4 4 7 17 28 1.295 32
9 Darwen 30 9 4 2 55 22 3 2 10 17 45 1.075 30
10 Notts County 30 8 1 6 41 22 4 1 10 16 32 1.056 26
11 Burton Swifts 30 7 2 6 24 26 3 2 10 15 43 0.565 24
12 Loughborough 30 7 3 5 32 25 2 2 11 8 41 0.606 23 New club in the league
13 Lincoln City 30 7 1 7 36 24 2 3 10 17 51 0.707 22
14 Burslem Port Vale 30 6 4 5 25 24 1 0 14 18 54 0.551 18 Failed re-election or resigned
15 Rotherham Town 30 7 2 6 27 26 0 1 14 7 71 0.351 17
16 Crewe Alexandra 30 5 2 8 22 28 0 1 14 8 67 0.316 13
Source:
Notes:
  1. Elected to First Division on the basis of test matches results.

Results
Home \ Away BPV BRS BRW CRE DRW GRI LEI LIN LIV LOU MCI NEW NWH NTC ROT WOO
Burslem Port Vale 1–0 2–2 2–1 3–3 1–4 1–1 0–1 5–4 1–1 0–1 2–0 3–0 0–4 4–0 0–2
Burton Swifts 2–1 0–2 1–1 1–2 2–1 0–2 4–0 0–7 1–2 1–4 3–1 4–1 0–0 2–0 3–2
Burton Wanderers 2–1 2–1 4–0 3–0 2–1 0–0 4–1 2–1 4–0 4–1 0–3 5–1 1–3 6–1 4–1
Crewe Alexandra 3–2 1–3 0–1 3–1 0–1 1–1 2–2 0–7 1–2 0–2 3–0 0–2 5–1 3–2 0–1
Darwen 8–2 3–0 3–0 6–1 3–3 4–1 5–0 0–4 1–1 2–3 4–4 3–0 2–0 10–2 1–1
Grimsby Town 6–1 3–0 2–1 2–0 5–0 7–1 4–2 1–0 2–0 5–0 2–1 4–2 3–0 4–0 1–1
Leicester Fosse 5–0 2–1 1–3 4–1 2–3 1–2 1–3 2–0 5–0 1–2 2–0 3–0 2–1 8–0 1–0
Lincoln City 4–2 1–2 1–2 6–2 1–0 2–5 2–3 0–1 4–1 1–2 4–0 2–0 2–3 5–0 1–1
Liverpool 5–1 6–1 4–1 6–1 0–0 3–1 3–1 6–1 1–0 3–1 5–1 7–1 3–0 10–1 3–0
Loughborough 3–0 2–2 1–1 4–1 4–1 0–1 1–4 3–0 2–4 2–4 1–0 3–3 1–3 3–0 2–1
Manchester City 1–0 1–1 1–1 4–0 4–1 2–1 2–0 4–0 1–1 5–1 5–2 2–1 2–0 2–0 1–0
Newcastle United 4–2 5–0 4–0 6–0 7–2 1–5 1–0 5–0 1–0 3–0 4–1 2–1 5–1 6–1 3–1
Newton Heath 2–1 5–0 1–2 5–0 4–0 3–2 2–0 5–5 5–2 2–0 1–1 2–1 3–0 3–0 5–1
Notts County 7–2 5–0 1–4 6–0 4–1 5–3 1–2 2–0 2–3 2–0 3–0 0–1 0–2 0–0 3–4
Rotherham Town 0–2 1–4 1–6 4–0 3–0 1–0 2–0 2–2 0–5 4–0 2–3 1–1 2–3 1–0 3–0
Woolwich Arsenal 2–1 5–0 3–0 7–0 1–3 3–1 1–1 4–0 0–2 6–0 0–1 2–1 2–1 2–0 5–0
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
Locations of the Football League Second Division teams

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.

The format had changed from previous seasons, with the number of participants has reduced from six to four (two from each division). Now, 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
Team 1 Agg. Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
(2nd Div. Champions) Liverpool 4–0 Small Heath (1st Div. 15th) 4–0
Sat 18 Apr		 0–0
Mon 20 Apr
(2nd Div. 2nd) Manchester City 2–7 West Bromwich Albion (1st Div. 16th) 1–1
Sat 18 Apr		 1–6
Mon 20 Apr

Second Round
Team 1 Agg. Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
(2nd Div. Champions) Liverpool 2–2 West Bromwich Albion (1st Div. 16th) 2–0
Sat 25 Apr		 0–2
Mon 27 Apr
(2nd Div. 2nd) Manchester City 3–8 Small Heath (1st Div. 15th) 3–0
Sat 25 Apr		 0–8
Mon 27 Apr

Summary

Reference works, such Encyclopedia of British Football[3] and Association Football,[4] present the following table with the heading given above.

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Liverpool 4 2 1 1 6 2 +4 5 Elected to play in First Division
2 West Bromwich Albion 4 2 1 1 9 4 +5 5
3 Small Heath 4 1 1 2 8 7 +1 3 Invited to play in Second Division
4 Manchester City 4 1 1 2 5 15 −10 3
Source:

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. It is not clear why all the four teams did not play each other, since it would only have required two more matches for each of them. It seems those teams who had lost in the first round hardly had any chance of ending up among the top teams in this system, and the election outcome effectively seems to have confirmed the first round results.

  • Liverpool and West Bromwich Albion, winners of the first round matches, and appearing on the top of the summary table, were elected to play in the 1st Division the following season.
  • Small Heath and Manchester City, who lost in the first round, were not elected to play in 1st Division, but were invited to play in the 2nd Division.

See also

References
  1. "England 1895–96". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 5 February 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
  2. Ian Laschke: Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79. Macdonald and Jane’s, London & Sydney, 1980.
  3. Soar, Phil & Tyler, Martin: Encyclopedia of British Football, Willow Books, London. Fourth, updated and revised edition, 1984, p. 167.
  4. A. H. Fabian & Green, Geoffrey: Association Football, Volume Two, p. 235. The Caxton Publishing Company Ltd., London, 1960.
  • Ian Laschke: Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79. Macdonald and Jane's, London & Sydney, 1980.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.