1888–89 Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. season

Wolverhampton Wanderers
1888–89 season
Club secretaryJack Addenbrooke
Football League3rd
FA CupRunners-up
Top goalscorerLeague: Harry Wood (13)
All: Harry Wood (14)
Highest home attendance10,000 (vs The Wednesday, 2 March 1889)
Lowest home attendance2,000 (vs Bolton, 10 November 1888)
Average home league attendance4,545 (league only)

The 1888–89 season was the first season of competitive league football in the history of English football club Wolverhampton Wanderers. They played in the inaugural season of the newly formed Football League. The club finished in third place in the league, and as runners-up in the FA Cup.

The team scored the first goal in Football League history when they took the lead against Aston Villa on the league's opening day. This match, as with all other home games for Wolves, was staged at Dudley Road in Wolverhampton, the only league campaign in which the club have not been based at Molineux.

Saturday 8 December 1888

Results

Football League

See also: 1888–89 Football League

A total of twelve teams competed in the inaugural Football League in the 1888–89 season. Each team would play every other team twice, once at their stadium, and once at the opposition's. Two points were awarded to teams for each win, one point per draw, and none for defeats.

8 September 1888 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–1 Aston Villa Wolverhampton
Cox (o.g.) Green Stadium: Dudley Road
Attendance: 2,500
6 October 1888 5 Accrington 4–4 Wolverhampton Wanderers Accrington
Barbour
Brand
Holden 		Knight
Wood
Fletcher
Stevenson (o.g.)		 Stadium: Thorneyholme Road
Attendance: 4,000
24 November 1888 12 Aston Villa 2–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers Birmingham
Goodall Brodie Stadium: Wellington Road
Attendance: 6,000
29 December 1888 16 Bolton Wanderers 2–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers Bolton
Weir
unknown (o.g.)		 Cooper Stadium: Pike’s Lane
Attendance: 5,500
Final table
Pos Team Pld W D L F A GA Pts
1 Preston North End 22 18 4 0 74 15 4.93 40
2 Aston Villa 22 12 5 5 61 43 1.42 29
3 Wolverhampton Wanderers 22 12 4 6 51 37 1.38 28
4 Blackburn Rovers 22 10 6 6 66 45 1.47 26

Source: Statto

Results by round
Round12345678910111213141516171819202122
ResultDLWDDWDLWWWLWWWLWLLWWW
Position5976755764454433334333
Source: Statto.com
W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

FA Cup

See also: 1888–89 FA Cup
2 February 1889 R1 Wolverhampton Wanderers 4–3 Old Carthusians Wolverhampton
Wykes
Knight
Mason 		Stadium: Dudley Road
Attendance: 6,000
2 March 1889 R3 Wolverhampton Wanderers 3–0 The Wednesday Wolverhampton
Wykes
Fletcher 		Stadium: Dudley Road
Attendance: 10,000
16 March 1889 SF Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–1 Blackburn Rovers Crewe
Wykes Stadium: Alexandra Road
Attendance: 15,000
23 March 1889 SF Rep. Blackburn Rovers 1–3 Wolverhampton Wanderers Crewe
Hunter
Allen
Wood 		Stadium: Alexandra Road
Attendance: 9,000

Players

Pos. Name League FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
HB England Harry Allen 22 0 6 1 28 1
FW England Nick Anderson 2 0 0 0 2 0
FB England Dickie Baugh 22 0 6 0 28 0
GK England Jack Baynton 18 0 6 0 24 0
HB England John Benton 1 0 0 0 1 0
FW England John Brodie 18 11 4 1 22 12
HB England Alec Cannon 7 0 2 0 9 0
FW England Joe Cooper 21 6 0 0 21 6
HB England R. Dudley 1 0 0 0 1 0
HB England Albert Fletcher 16 1 6 1 22 2
FW England Tommy Hunter 20 4 6 2 26 6
FW England Tommy Knight 17 7 6 5 23 12
HB England Arthur Lowder 18 1 6 1 24 2
FB England Charlie Mason 20 0 6 1 26 1
GK England William Rose 4 0 0 0 4 0
FW England T. Tomkyes 1 0 0 0 1 0
FW England Walter White 4 2 0 0 4 2
FW England Harry Wood 17 13 6 1 23 14
FW England David Wykes 18 4 6 3 24 7

References

Brown, Tony (2010). The Football League Match by Match 1888-89 to 1892-93. SoccerData. ISBN 978-1-899468-44-7.