1897–98 Southern Football League

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
Season1897–98
ChampionsSouthampton (2nd title)
Promotednone
RelegatedNorthfleet
Wolverton L&NWR
Matches played132
Goals scored507 (3.84 per match)

A total of 12 teams contest the division, including eleven sides from previous season and one new team.

Newly elected team:

  • Bristol City
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GR Pts Qualification
1 Southampton 22 18 1 3 53 18 2.944 37
2 Bristol City 22 13 7 2 67 33 2.030 33
3 Tottenham Hotspur 22 12 4 6 52 31 1.677 28
4 Chatham Town 22 12 4 6 50 34 1.471 28
5 Reading 22 8 7 7 39 31 1.258 23
6 New Brompton 22 9 4 9 37 37 1.000 22
7 Sheppey United 22 10 1 11 40 49 0.816 21
8 Gravesend United 22 7 6 9 28 39 0.718 20
9 Millwall Athletic 22 8 2 12 48 45 1.067 18
10 Swindon Town 22 7 2 13 36 48 0.750 16
11 Northfleet 22 4 3 15 29 60 0.483 11 Relegation test matches
12 Wolverton L&NWR 22 3 1 18 28 82 0.341 7
Source:
Rules for classification: 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
Southern Football League Division Two
Season1897–98
ChampionsRoyal Artillery Portsmouth
PromotedRoyal Artillery Portsmouth
Warmley
RelegatedDartford (resigned)
RETB Chatham (resigned)
Matches played132
Goals scored652 (4.94 per match)

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
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GR Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Royal Artillery Portsmouth 22 19 1 2 75 22 3.409 39 Promotion test matches
2 Warmley 22 19 0 3 108 15 7.200 38
3 West Herts[lower-alpha 1] 22 11 6 5 50 48 1.042 28
4 Uxbridge 22 11 2 9 39 57 0.684 24
5 St Albans 22 9 5 8 47 41 1.146 23
6 Dartford 22 11 0 11 68 55 1.236 22 Left to join Kent League at end of season
7 Southall 22 8 2 12 49 61 0.803 18
8 Chesham 22 8 2 12 38 48 0.792 18
9 Old St.Stephen's[lower-alpha 2] 22 7 2 13 47 66 0.712 16
10 Wycombe Wanderers 22 7 2 13 37 55 0.673 16
11 Maidenhead 22 4 4 14 27 81 0.333 12
12 RETB Chatham 22 4 2 16 26 62 0.419 10 Left to join Kent League at end of season
Source:
Rules for classification: 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.
Notes:
  1. Merged with Watford St Mary's to form Watford
  2. Changed name to Shepherd's Bush at end of season

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.[1]

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GR Pts Promotion or relegation
1 Royal Artillery Portsmouth 4 3 1 0 8 4 2.000 7 Promoted
2 Warmley 4 2 1 1 14 7 2.000 5
3 Northfleet 4 1 0 3 6 11 0.545 2 Relegated
4 Wolverton L&NWR 4 0 2 2 5 11 0.455 2
Source:
Rules for classification: 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.

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.[2] 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.

ClubLeagueVotes
Lincoln CityFootball League21
Burslem Port ValeMidland League18
Loughborough TownFootball League16
DarwenFootball League16
New Brighton TowerLancashire League
NelsonLancashire League
Bristol CitySouthern League

References
  1. Northfleet at the Football Club History Database
  2. A history of admission to the Football League
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