1898–99 Southern Football League

The 1898–99 season was the fifth in the history of the Southern League. This season saw the expansion of Division One up to 14 teams and creation of Division Two South-West, though it was disbanded at the end of the season after all its clubs left. No Southern League clubs applied for promotion to the Football League. Southampton were Division One champions for the third season in a row. Overall Division Two champions being decided in a playoff in which Thames Ironworks defeated Cowes 3-1 at The Den.[1]

Division One
Southern Football League Division One
Season1898–99
ChampionsSouthampton (3rd title)
Promotednone
RelegatedWarmley (resigned)
Royal Artillery Portsmouth (test match losers)
Matches played156
Goals scored506 (3.24 per match)

A total of 14 teams contest the division, including ten sides from previous season and four new teams.

Teams promoted from 1897-98 Division Two:

  • Royal Artillery Portsmouth - test matches winners
  • Warmley - test matches winners

Newly elected teams:

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GR Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Southampton 24 15 5 4 54 24 2.250 35
2 Bristol City 24 15 3 6 55 33 1.667 33
3 Millwall Athletic 24 12 6 6 59 35 1.686 30
4 Chatham Town 24 10 8 6 32 23 1.391 28
5 Reading 24 9 8 7 31 24 1.292 26
6 New Brompton 24 10 5 9 38 30 1.267 25
7 Tottenham Hotspur 24 10 4 10 40 36 1.111 24
8 Bedminster 24 10 4 10 35 39 0.897 24
9 Swindon Town 24 9 5 10 43 49 0.878 23
10 Brighton United 24 9 2 13 37 48 0.771 20
11 Gravesend United 24 7 5 12 42 52 0.808 19
12 Sheppey United 24 5 3 16 23 53 0.434 13 Relegation test matches
13 Royal Artillery Portsmouth 24 4 4 16 17 60 0.283 12 Relegation test matches. Disbanded at end of season after relegation[2]
14 Warmley 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 Resigned from League after 17 matches, record expunged
Source: rsssf.com
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 London
Southern Football League Division Two London
Season1898–99
ChampionsThames Ironworks
Promotednone
RelegatedSt Albans (folded)
Uxbridge (resigned)
Matches played132
Goals scored597 (4.52 per match)

Division Two London was formed on basis of previous season Division Two. A total of 12 teams contest the division, including eight sides from previous season and four new teams.

Team relegated from Division One:

  • Wolverton L&NWR - test matches losers

Newly elected teams:

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GR Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Thames Ironworks 22 19 1 2 64 16 4.000 39 Promotion test matches
2 Wolverton L&NWR 22 13 4 5 88 43 2.047 30
3 Watford 22 14 2 6 62 35 1.771 30
4 Brentford 22 11 3 8 59 39 1.513 25
5 Wycombe Wanderers 22 10 2 10 55 57 0.965 22
6 Southall 22 11 0 11 44 55 0.800 22
7 Chesham[lower-alpha 1] 22 9 2 11 45 62 0.726 20
8 St Albans 22 8 3 11 45 59 0.763 19 Folded at end of season
9 Shepherds Bush 22 7 3 12 37 53 0.698 17
10 Fulham 22 6 4 12 36 44 0.818 16
11 Uxbridge 22 7 2 13 29 48 0.604 16 Left league at end of season
12 Maidenhead 22 3 2 17 33 86 0.384 8
Source: rsssf.com
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. Changed name to Chesham Town at end of season

Division Two South-West
Southern Football League Division Two South-West
Season1898–99
ChampionsCowes
Promotednone
Relegatedleague disbanded
Matches played30
Goals scored160 (5.33 per match)

Division Two South-West was newly formed and short-lived formation. At the end of the season division was liquidated and the League returned to 2-division structure.

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GR Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Cowes 10 10 0 0 52 10 5.200 20 Promotion test matches
2 Ryde 10 7 0 3 30 11 2.727 14 Left league at end of season
3 Freemantle 10 5 0 5 21 32 0.656 10
4 Sandown Bay 10 4 0 6 22 34 0.647 8
5 Eastleigh Athletic 10 2 0 8 19 32 0.594 4
6 Andover 10 2 0 8 16 41 0.390 4
7 East Lancs Regiment 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 Resigned from league after three matches, record expunged
8 Trowbridge Town 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0
Source: rsssf.com
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.

Promotion-relegation test matches

At the end of the season, test matches were held between the bottom two clubs in Division One and the top club in both Division Twos. Royal Artillery Portsmouth lost 4-1 to Cowes and were relegated to Division Two, whilst Cowes were promoted. Royal Artillery Portsmouth then disbanded.[3] Sheppey United and Thames Ironworks drew 1-1, leading to Sheppey remaining in Division One and Thames Ironworks joining them.[1]

Division One clubsvDivision Two clubs
Royal Artillery Portsmouth1 – 4Cowes
Sheppey United1 – 1Thames Ironworks
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References
  1. Thames Ironworks at the Football Club History Database
  2. http://www.fchd.info/RA-PORTS.HTM
  3. "Glory Gunners – The History of Royal Artillery (Portsmouth) FC". Dian D Saul Books.co.uk.
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