1897–98 in English football

Football in England
Season1897–98
Men's football
First DivisionSheffield United
Second DivisionBurnley
Northern LeagueStockton
Midland LeagueMexborough
Southern LeagueSouthampton
FA CupNottingham Forest
FA Amateur CupMiddlesbrough
Sheriff of London
Charity Shield		Shared between Corinthian
and Sheffield United
← 1896–97 England 1898–99 →

The 1897–98 season was the 27th season of competitive football in England.

Honours

Competition Winner
First Division Sheffield United (1)
Second Division Burnley
FA Cup Nottingham Forest (1)
Home Championship  England

Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour. * indicates new record for competition

Football League

Main article: 1897–98 Football League

First Division

Main article: 1897–98 Football League § First Division

Sheffield United won the First Division to become champions of English football for the only time in their history.

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts Relegation
1 Sheffield United (C) 30 17 8 5 56 31 1.806 42
2 Sunderland 30 16 5 9 43 30 1.433 37
3 Wolverhampton Wanderers 30 14 7 9 57 41 1.390 35
4 Everton 30 13 9 8 48 39 1.231 35
5 The Wednesday 30 15 3 12 51 42 1.214 33
6 Aston Villa 30 14 5 11 61 51 1.196 33
7 West Bromwich Albion 30 11 10 9 44 45 0.978 32
8 Nottingham Forest 30 11 9 10 47 49 0.959 31
9 Liverpool 30 11 6 13 48 45 1.067 28
10 Derby County 30 11 6 13 57 61 0.934 28
11 Bolton Wanderers 30 11 4 15 28 41 0.683 26
12 Preston North End 30 8 8 14 35 43 0.814 24
13 Notts County 30 8 8 14 36 46 0.783 24
14 Bury 30 8 8 14 39 51 0.765 24
15 Blackburn Rovers[a] 30 7 10 13 39 54 0.722 24 Qualification for test matches
16 Stoke (O) 30 8 8 14 35 55 0.636 24
Source: World Football
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners
Notes:
  1. ^ Blackburn Rovers were initially relegated but were later reprieved due to the First Division expanding to 18 teams for the following season.

Second Division

Main article: 1897–98 Football League § Second Division

This was the final season of using 'Test Matches' to decide relegation and promotion between the divisions. The Second Division was won by Burnley; both they and runners-up Newcastle United were promoted to the expanded First Division, rendering the results of the end of season Test Matches meaningless. From the 1898–99 season onwards, automatic relegation and promotion of the bottom two/top two sides from each division was introduced.

Luton Town replaced Burton Wanderers.

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Burnley (C, O, P) 30 20 8 2 80 24 3.333 48 Qualification for test matches
2 Newcastle United (O, P) 30 21 3 6 64 32 2.000 45
3 Manchester City 30 15 9 6 66 36 1.833 39
4 Newton Heath 30 16 6 8 64 35 1.829 38
5 Woolwich Arsenal 30 16 5 9 69 49 1.408 37
6 Small Heath 30 16 4 10 58 50 1.160 36
7 Leicester Fosse 30 13 7 10 46 35 1.314 33
8 Luton Town 30 13 4 13 68 50 1.360 30
9 Gainsborough Trinity 30 12 6 12 50 54 0.926 30
10 Walsall 30 12 5 13 58 58 1.000 29
11 Blackpool 30 10 5 15 49 61 0.803 25
12 Grimsby Town 30 10 4 16 52 62 0.839 24
13 Burton Swifts 30 8 5 17 38 69 0.551 21
14 Lincoln City 30 6 5 19 43 82 0.524 17 Re-elected
15 Darwen 30 6 2 22 31 76 0.408 14
16 Loughborough 30 6 2 22 24 87 0.276 14
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted

References