18th season of competitive Football Association (FA) in England
The 1888–89 season was the 18th season of competitive association football in England .
Overview
A new competition, The Football League , started this season . The Football League was open to clubs all over the United Kingdom ,[citation needed ] but the first twelve entrants (Accrington , Aston Villa , Blackburn Rovers , Bolton Wanderers , Burnley , Derby County , Everton , Notts County , Preston North End , Stoke (now Stoke City ), West Bromwich Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers ) were all from the Midlands or North of England (in later years the competition became the de facto English league, though some clubs from outside England still compete in it). Each club in the League played each other twice (once at home and once away) and would be awarded two points for a win, one for a draw and none for a loss. From these points, a league table was drawn up. Preston North End were in first place at the end of the season and thus became the first ever Football League champions. They did not lose a match all season (a feat only accomplished once since, by Arsenal in 2003–04 ) and also won the FA Cup .
The Football League is still going today and now has 72 clubs in three divisions (down from an all-time high of 92 clubs in four divisions). Since the 1992–93 season , it has become only the second-most important league competition, behind the FA Premier League in the English football league system .[citation needed ]
Events
National team
England finished second in the 1888–89 British Home Championship , which was won by Scotland .
John Yates , of Burnley , scored 3 goals against Ireland in his only appearance for England.
Key
1889 British Home Championship table
Source:
[ 1] [ 2] Rules for classification: 1) points. The points system worked as follows: 2 points for a win and 1 point for a draw.
Honours
* Indicates new record for competition
Final
League table
Football league season
Source:
World Football Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored
Notes:
Stadia and locations
Locations of the
Football League 1888–89 teams
Top scorers
[ 3]
References
External links
1870s 1880s 1890s 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s Italics denote wartime and nationally suspended seasons.