1895–96 Football League

The Football League
Season 1895–96
Champions Aston Villa
Relegated Crewe Alexandra
Burslem Port Vale
Rotherham Town

The 1895–1896 season was the eighth season of The Football League.

Final league tables

The tables below are reproduced here in the exact form that they can be found at the 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.

Since the goal average was used for this purpose for such a long time, it is presented in the tables below even for the seasons prior to 1894–95, and since the goal difference is a more informative piece of information for a modern reader than the goal average, the goal difference is added in this presentation after the goal average.

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
Season 1895–96
Champions Aston Villa
(2nd English title)
Relegated Small Heath
FA Cup winners The Wednesday (1st FA Cup title)
Matches played 240
Goals scored 807 (3.36 per match)
Top goalscorer John Campbell (Aston Villa)
Steve Bloomer (Derby County), 22
Biggest home win Derby County – Small Heath 8–0 (30 Nov 1895)
Sheffield United–Bury 8–0 (6 Apr 1896)
Biggest away win The Wednesday – Derby County 0–4 (28 Dec 1895)
Highest scoring Aston Villa – Small Heath 7–3 (7 Sept 1895)
Longest winning run 9 matches
Everton (2 Nov 1895 – 11 Jan 1896)
Longest unbeaten run 14 matches
Everton (19 Oct 1895 – 18 Feb 1896)
Longest losing run 6 matches
Small Heath (2 Sep 1895 – 12 Oct 1895)
Burnley (22 Nov 1895 – 21 Dec 1895)
Highest attendance 30,000
Everton - Aston Villa (21 Dec 1895)
Lowest attendance 560
West Bromwich Albion - Blackburn Rovers (29 Apr 1896)
Average attendance 7,682
Pos Team Pld W D L F A W D L F A F A GA GD Pts
1Aston Villa3014104717645312878451.733+3345
2Derby County3012214213555262268351.943+3341
3Everton3010414017636262666431.535+2339
4Bolton Wanderers3012213414438152349371.324+1237
5Sunderland3010503614528162752411.268+1137
6Stoke30120343113012133656471.191+930
7The Wednesday30102331182310133544530.830–929
8Blackburn Rovers3010142618249143240500.800–1029
9Preston North End3085231183111133044480.917–428
10Burnley3085233112211153348441.091+427
11Bury307173224528183050540.926–427
12Sheffield United3094228121212123840500.800–1026
13Nottingham Forest3011133416021384142570.737–1525
14Wolverhampton Wanderers30100543180114184761650.938–421
15Small Heath[3]3072622241212175539790.494–4020
16West Bromwich Albion3054618221311123730590.508–2919

Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against;
GA = Goal average; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points

Key
League Champions
FA Cup Winners
Into test matches

Results

Home ╲ Away AST BLB BOLBURBRYDEREVENOTPNESHUSMHSTKSUNWEDWBAWOL
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 City 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:
1 ^ The home team is listed in the left-hand column.
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Maps

Second Division

Football League
Second Division
Season 1895–96
Champions Liverpool (2nd title)
Promoted Liverpool
Failed re-election Crewe Alexandra
Burslem Port Vale
Rotherham Town
Matches played 240
Goals scored 943 (3.93 per match)
Top goalscorer George Allan (Liverpool), 26
Biggest home win Liverpool – Rotherham 10–1 (18 Feb 1896)
Biggest away win Burton Swifts – Liverpool 0–7 (29 Feb 1896)
Crewe Alexandra – Liverpool 0–7 (28 Mar 1896)
Highest scoring Darwen – Rotherham 10–2 (13 Jan 1896)
Longest winning run 10 matches
Liverpool F.C. (7 Dec 1895 – 7 Mar 1896)
Longest unbeaten run 10 matches
Burton Wanderers (19 Oct 1895 – 4 Jan 1896)
Liverpool F.C. (7 Dec 1895 – 7 Mar 1896)
Longest losing run 6 matches
Lincoln City F.C. (21 Sep 1895 – 26 Oct 1895)
Pos Team Pld W D L F A W D L F A F A GA GD Pts
1Liverpool[4]30141065118164121106323.313+7446
2Manchester City301230379915262963381.658+2546
3Grimsby Town301410519618312982382.158+4442
4Burton Wanderers3012124315735262569401.725+2942
5Newcastle United30140157142211163673501.460+2334
6Newton Heath30122148153111184266571.158+933
7Woolwich Arsenal3011134211339163159421.405+1732
8Leicester Fosse3010054016447172857441.295+1332
9Darwen3094255223210174572671.075+530
10Notts County3081641224110163257541.056+326
11Burton Swifts3072624263210154339690.565–3024
12Loughborough307353225221184140670.597–2723
13Lincoln City3071736242310175153750.707–2222
14Burslem Port Vale3064525241014185443780.551–3518
15Rotherham Town307262726011477134970.351–6317
16Crewe Alexandra305282228011486730950.316–6513

Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against;
GA = Goal average; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points

Key
Division Champions, into test matches
Into test matches
New club in the league
Re-elected (none)
Failed re-election or resigned

Results

Home ╲ Away BPV BRS BRWCREDRWGRILEILINLIVLOUMCINEWNWHNTCROTWOO
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

Source: Ian Laschke: Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79. Macdonald and Jane’s, London & Sydney, 1980.
1 ^ The home team is listed in the left-hand column.
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Maps

Test Matches

The test matches were a kind of play-offs, in which the bottom 1st Division teams faced the top 2nd Division teams. The 1st Division teams, if coming out as winners, would retain their places in the division. If a 2nd Division team won, it would be considered for 1st Division membership through an election process. Losing 2nd Division teams would stay in the 2nd 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[5] and Association Football,[6] present the following table with the heading given above.

Pos Team Pld W D L F A GD Pts
1Liverpool421162+45
2West Bromwich Albion421194+55
3Small Heath411287+13
4Manchester City4112515–103
Key
Elected to play in First Division
Invited to play in Second Division

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.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "England 1895–96". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 5 February 2010. Retrieved 2010-02-24.
  2. 1 2 Ian Laschke: Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79. Macdonald and Jane’s, London & Sydney, 1980.
  3. ↑ Not re-elected due to test match results. Invited to join Second Division
  4. ↑ Elected to First Division on the basis of test matches results.
  5. ↑ Soar, Phil & Tyler, Martin: Encyclopedia of British Football, Willow Books, London. Fourth, updated and revised edition, 1984, p. 167.
  6. ↑ A. H. Fabian & Green, Geoffrey: Association Football, Volume Two, p. 235. The Caxton Publishing Company Ltd., London, 1960.

External links

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