1895–96 Football League#Second Division

{{Infobox football league season

| competition = The Football League

| season = 1895–96

| winners = Aston Villa

| promoted =

| relegated = Crewe Alexandra
Burslem Port Vale
Rotherham Town

| continentalcup1 = New Club in League

| continentalcup1 qualifiers = Loughborough

| prevseason = 1894–95

| nextseason = 1896–97

}}

The 1895–96 season was the eighth season of The Football League.

Final league tables

Beginning in the 1894–95 season, clubs finishing level on points were separated according to goal average (goals scored divided by goals conceded). 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.

During the first six seasons of the league, (up to the 1893–94 season), 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.

First Division

{{infobox football league season

| competition = First Division

| season = 1895–96

| winners = Aston Villa
2nd title

| relegated = Small Heath

| league topscorer = John Campbell
Steve Bloomer
(22 goals each)

| biggest home win = {{nowrap|Derby County 8–0 Small Heath}}
(30 November 1895)
{{nowrap|Sheffield United 8–0 Bury}}
(6 April 1896)

| biggest away win = {{nowrap|The Wednesday 0–4 Derby County}}
(28 December 1895)

| highest scoring = {{nowrap|Aston Villa 7–3 Small Heath}}
(7 September 1895)

| matches = 240

| total goals = 807

| longest wins = 9 matches
Everton

| longest unbeaten = 14 matches
Everton

| longest losses = 6 matches
Burnley
Small Heath

| highest attendance = 30,000
{{nowrap|Everton 2–0 Aston Villa}}
(21 December 1895)

| lowest attendance = 560
{{nowrap|West Bromwich Albion 3–2 Blackburn Rovers}}
(29 April 1896)

| average attendance = 7,682

| prevseason = 1894–95

| nextseason = 1896–97

}}

{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WDL

|section=First Division

|source=[https://www.worldfootball.net/schedule/eng-premier-league-1895-1896-spieltag/30/ World Football]

|team_order=AVL, DER, EVE, BOL, SUN, STK, THW, BLA, PNE, BUR, BRY, SHU, NFO, WOL, SMH, WBA

|result15=TSM |result16=TSM

|update=complete

|status_AVL=C

|status_SMH=R

|status_WBA=O

|name_AVL=Aston Villa

|name_BLA=Blackburn Rovers

|name_BOL=Bolton Wanderers

|name_BUR=Burnley

|name_BRY=Bury

|name_DER=Derby County

|name_EVE=Everton

|name_NFO=Nottingham Forest

|name_PNE=Preston North End

|name_SHU=Sheffield United

|name_SMH=Small Heath

|name_STK=Stoke

|name_SUN=Sunderland

|name_THW=The Wednesday

|name_WBA=West Bromwich Albion

|name_WOL=Wolverhampton Wanderers

|show_limit=5

|winpoints=2

|use_goal_average=y

|class_rules=1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored

|res_col_header=R

|col_TSM=red1 |text_TSM=Qualification for test matches

}}

=Results=

{{#invoke:Sports results|main

|matches_style=FBR|solid_cell=grey

|team16=WOL

|name_AST=Aston Villa

|match_AST_BLB=3–1

|match_AST_BOL=2–0

|match_AST_BUR=5–1

|match_AST_BRY=2–0

|match_AST_DER=4–1

|match_AST_EVE=4–3

|match_AST_NOT=3–1

|match_AST_PNE=1–0

|match_AST_SHU=2–2

|match_AST_SMH=7–3

|match_AST_STK=5–2

|match_AST_SUN=2–1

|match_AST_WED=2–1

|match_AST_WBA=1–0

|match_AST_WOL=4–1

|name_BLB=Blackburn Rovers

|match_BLB_AST=1–1

|match_BLB_BOL=3–2

|match_BLB_BUR=1–0

|match_BLB_BRY=0–2

|match_BLB_DER=0–2

|match_BLB_EVE=2–3

|match_BLB_NOT=2–0

|match_BLB_PNE=3–0

|match_BLB_SHU=1–0

|match_BLB_SMH=2–1

|match_BLB_STK=3–1

|match_BLB_SUN=2–4

|match_BLB_WED=2–1

|match_BLB_WBA=1–0

|match_BLB_WOL=3–1

|name_BOL=Bolton Wanderers

|match_BOL_AST=2–2

|match_BOL_BLB=1–1

|match_BOL_BUR=1–0

|match_BOL_BRY=2–4

|match_BOL_DER=2–1

|match_BOL_EVE=3–1

|match_BOL_NOT=2–1

|match_BOL_PNE=1–0

|match_BOL_SHU=4–1

|match_BOL_SMH=4–1

|match_BOL_STK=3–1

|match_BOL_SUN=1–0

|match_BOL_WED=2–0

|match_BOL_WBA=2–1

|match_BOL_WOL=4–0

|name_BUR=Burnley

|match_BUR_AST=3–4

|match_BUR_BLB=6–0

|match_BUR_BOL=1–2

|match_BUR_BRY=3–0

|match_BUR_DER=2–2

|match_BUR_EVE=1–1

|match_BUR_NOT=0–0

|match_BUR_PNE=1–0

|match_BUR_SHU=5–0

|match_BUR_SMH=1–1

|match_BUR_STK=2–0

|match_BUR_SUN=0–0

|match_BUR_WED=2–0

|match_BUR_WBA=3–0

|match_BUR_WOL=3–1

|name_BRY=Bury

|match_BRY_AST=5–3

|match_BRY_BLB=2–0

|match_BRY_BOL=0–3

|match_BRY_BUR=3–4

|match_BRY_DER=1–2

|match_BRY_EVE=1–1

|match_BRY_NOT=1–0

|match_BRY_PNE=1–2

|match_BRY_SHU=1–0

|match_BRY_SMH=4–5

|match_BRY_STK=0–1

|match_BRY_SUN=1–2

|match_BRY_WED=6–1

|match_BRY_WBA=3–0

|match_BRY_WOL=3–0

|name_DER=Derby County

|match_DER_AST=2–2

|match_DER_BLB=0–0

|match_DER_BOL=2–1

|match_DER_BUR=5–1

|match_DER_BRY=2–1

|match_DER_EVE=2–1

|match_DER_NOT=4–0

|match_DER_PNE=1–0

|match_DER_SHU=0–2

|match_DER_SMH=8–0

|match_DER_STK=2–1

|match_DER_SUN=2–0

|match_DER_WED=3–1

|match_DER_WBA=4–1

|match_DER_WOL=5–2

|name_EVE=Everton

|match_EVE_AST=2–0

|match_EVE_BLB=0–2

|match_EVE_BOL=1–1

|match_EVE_BUR=2–1

|match_EVE_BRY=3–2

|match_EVE_DER=2–2

|match_EVE_NOT=6–2

|match_EVE_PNE=3–2

|match_EVE_SHU=5–0

|match_EVE_SMH=3–0

|match_EVE_STK=7–2

|match_EVE_SUN=1–0

|match_EVE_WED=2–2

|match_EVE_WBA=1–1

|match_EVE_WOL=2–0

|name_NOT=Nottingham Forest

|match_NOT_AST=0–2

|match_NOT_BLB=4–2

|match_NOT_BOL=0–0

|match_NOT_BUR=2–1

|match_NOT_BRY=5–0

|match_NOT_DER=2–5

|match_NOT_EVE=2–1

|match_NOT_PNE=0–1

|match_NOT_SHU=3–1

|match_NOT_SMH=3–0

|match_NOT_STK=4–0

|match_NOT_SUN=3–1

|match_NOT_WED=1–0

|match_NOT_WBA=2–0

|match_NOT_WOL=3–2

|name_PNE=Preston North End

|match_PNE_AST=4–3

|match_PNE_BLB=1–1

|match_PNE_BOL=1–0

|match_PNE_BUR=1–1

|match_PNE_BRY=1–1

|match_PNE_DER=1–0

|match_PNE_EVE=1–1

|match_PNE_NOT=6–0

|match_PNE_SHU=4–3

|match_PNE_SMH=3–2

|match_PNE_STK=0–1

|match_PNE_SUN=4–1

|match_PNE_WED=0–1

|match_PNE_WBA=0–0

|match_PNE_WOL=4–3

|name_SHU=Sheffield United

|match_SHU_AST=2–1

|match_SHU_BLB=1–1

|match_SHU_BOL=1–0

|match_SHU_BUR=1–1

|match_SHU_BRY=8–0

|match_SHU_DER=1–1

|match_SHU_EVE=1–2

|match_SHU_NOT=2–1

|match_SHU_PNE=2–1

|match_SHU_SMH=2–0

|match_SHU_STK=1–0

|match_SHU_SUN=1–2

|match_SHU_WED=1–1

|match_SHU_WBA=2–0

|match_SHU_WOL=2–1

|name_SMH=Small Heath

|match_SMH_AST=1–4

|match_SMH_BLB=2–1

|match_SMH_BOL=1–2

|match_SMH_BUR=1–0

|match_SMH_BRY=1–0

|match_SMH_DER=1–3

|match_SMH_EVE=0–3

|match_SMH_NOT=1–0

|match_SMH_PNE=5–2

|match_SMH_SHU=2–1

|match_SMH_STK=1–2

|match_SMH_SUN=0–1

|match_SMH_WED=1–1

|match_SMH_WBA=2–2

|match_SMH_WOL=3–2

|name_STK=Stoke

|match_STK_AST=1–2

|match_STK_BLB=3–0

|match_STK_BOL=2–0

|match_STK_BUR=2–1

|match_STK_BRY=0–2

|match_STK_DER=2–1

|match_STK_EVE=1–2

|match_STK_NOT=1–0

|match_STK_PNE=4–0

|match_STK_SHU=4–0

|match_STK_SMH=6–1

|match_STK_SUN=5–0

|match_STK_WED=5–0

|match_STK_WBA=3–1

|match_STK_WOL=4–1

|name_SUN=Sunderland

|match_SUN_AST=2–1

|match_SUN_BLB=2–1

|match_SUN_BOL=1–0

|match_SUN_BUR=3–1

|match_SUN_BRY=0–0

|match_SUN_DER=2–2

|match_SUN_EVE=3–0

|match_SUN_NOT=1–1

|match_SUN_PNE=4–1

|match_SUN_SHU=1–1

|match_SUN_SMH=2–1

|match_SUN_STK=4–1

|match_SUN_WED=2–1

|match_SUN_WBA=7–1

|match_SUN_WOL=2–2

|name_WED=The Wednesday

|match_WED_AST=1–3

|match_WED_BLB=3–0

|match_WED_BOL=1–1

|match_WED_BUR=1–0

|match_WED_BRY=1–3

|match_WED_DER=0–4

|match_WED_EVE=3–1

|match_WED_NOT=3–0

|match_WED_PNE=1–1

|match_WED_SHU=1–0

|match_WED_SMH=3–0

|match_WED_STK=2–1

|match_WED_SUN=3–0

|match_WED_WBA=5–3

|match_WED_WOL=3–1

|name_WBA=West Bromwich Albion

|match_WBA_AST=1–1

|match_WBA_BLB=3–2

|match_WBA_BOL=2–3

|match_WBA_BUR=0–2

|match_WBA_BRY=1–3

|match_WBA_DER=0–0

|match_WBA_EVE=0–3

|match_WBA_NOT=3–1

|match_WBA_PNE=1–2

|match_WBA_SHU=1–0

|match_WBA_SMH=0–0

|match_WBA_STK=1–0

|match_WBA_SUN=1–1

|match_WBA_WED=2–3

|match_WBA_WOL=2–1

|name_WOL=Wolverhampton Wanderers

|match_WOL_AST=1–2

|match_WOL_BLB=1–2

|match_WOL_BOL=5–0

|match_WOL_BUR=5–1

|match_WOL_BRY=1–0

|match_WOL_DER=2–0

|match_WOL_EVE=2–3

|match_WOL_NOT=6–1

|match_WOL_PNE=2–1

|match_WOL_SHU=4–1

|match_WOL_SMH=7–2

|match_WOL_STK=1–0

|match_WOL_SUN=1–3

|match_WOL_WED=4–0

|match_WOL_WBA=1–2

|update=complete

|source=[https://www.rsssf.org/engpaul/FLA/1895-96.html]

}}

=Maps=

{{location map+|England |float=none|width=369 |caption=Locations of the Football League First Division teams|places=

{{location map~ |England |lat=52.49 |long=-1.88 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.75 |long=-2.48 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.59 |long=-2.56 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.79 |long=-2.25 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.58 |long=-2.295|label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=52.92 |long=-1.476|label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.48 |long=-2.97 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=52.942|long=-1.137|label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.75 |long=-2.7 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=52.56 |long=-1.88 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.00 |long=-2.18 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=54.914|long=-1.388|label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.38 |long=-1.47 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.32 |long=-1.47 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=52.509|long=-1.98 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=52.59 |long=-2.13 |label=|position=right}}

The Wednesday (Sheffield)

Small Heath (Birmingham)

Stoke

Sunderland

West Bromwich Albion

Wolverhampton Wanderers

}}

Second Division

{{infobox football league season

| competition = Second Division

| season = 1895–96

| winners = Liverpool

| promoted = Liverpool

| league topscorer = George Allan
(26 goals)

| biggest home win = {{nowrap|Liverpool 10–1 Rotherham Town}}
(18 February 1896)

| biggest away win = {{nowrap|Burton Swifts 0–7 Liverpool}}
(29 February 1896)
{{nowrap|Crewe Alexandra 0–7 Liverpool}}
(28 March 1896)

| highest scoring = {{nowrap|Darwen 10–2 Rotherham Town}}
(13 January 1896)

| matches = 240

| total goals = 943

| longest wins = 10 matches
Liverpool

| longest unbeaten = 10 matches
Burton Wanderers
Liverpool

| longest losses = 6 matches
Lincoln City

| highest attendance =

| lowest attendance =

| average attendance =

| prevseason = 1894–95

| nextseason = 1896–97

}}

{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WDL

|section=Second Division

|source=

|team_order=LIV, MCI, GRI, BUW, NEW, NEH, WOO, LEF, DRW, NTC, BSW, LOU, LIN, BPV, RTW, CRE

|update=complete

|status_LIV=C, O, P

|name_BPV=Burslem Port Vale

|name_BSW=Burton Swifts

|name_BUW=Burton Wanderers

|name_CRE=Crewe Alexandra

|name_DRW=Darwen

|name_GRI=Grimsby Town

|name_LEF=Leicester Fosse

|name_LIN=Lincoln City

|name_LIV=Liverpool

|name_LOU=Loughborough

|name_MCI=Manchester City

|name_NEW=Newcastle United

|name_NEH=Newton Heath

|name_NTC=Notts County

|name_RTW=Rotherham Town

|name_WOO=Woolwich Arsenal

|show_limit=5

|winpoints=2

|use_goal_average=y

|class_rules=1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored

|res_col_header=QR

|col_TSM=green1 |text_TSM=Qualification for test matches

|col_RES=black1 |text_RES=Resigned from league

}}

=Results=

{{#invoke:Sports results|main

|matches_style=FBR|solid_cell=grey

|team16=WOO

|name_BPV=Burslem Port Vale

|match_BPV_BRS=1–0

|match_BPV_BRW=2–2

|match_BPV_CRE=2–1

|match_BPV_DRW=3–3

|match_BPV_GRI=1–4

|match_BPV_LEI=1–1

|match_BPV_LIN=0–1

|match_BPV_LIV=5–4

|match_BPV_LOU=1–1

|match_BPV_MCI=0–1

|match_BPV_NEW=2–0

|match_BPV_NWH=3–0

|match_BPV_NTC=0–4

|match_BPV_ROT=4–0

|match_BPV_WOO=0–2

|name_BRS=Burton Swifts

|match_BRS_BPV=2–1

|match_BRS_BRW=0–2

|match_BRS_CRE=1–1

|match_BRS_DRW=1–2

|match_BRS_GRI=2–1

|match_BRS_LEI=0–2

|match_BRS_LIN=4–0

|match_BRS_LIV=0–7

|match_BRS_LOU=1–2

|match_BRS_MCI=1–4

|match_BRS_NEW=3–1

|match_BRS_NWH=4–1

|match_BRS_NTC=0–0

|match_BRS_ROT=2–0

|match_BRS_WOO=3–2

|name_BRW=Burton Wanderers

|match_BRW_BPV=2–1

|match_BRW_BRS=2–1

|match_BRW_CRE=4–0

|match_BRW_DRW=3–0

|match_BRW_GRI=2–1

|match_BRW_LEI=0–0

|match_BRW_LIN=4–1

|match_BRW_LIV=2–1

|match_BRW_LOU=4–0

|match_BRW_MCI=4–1

|match_BRW_NEW=0–3

|match_BRW_NWH=5–1

|match_BRW_NTC=1–3

|match_BRW_ROT=6–1

|match_BRW_WOO=4–1

|name_CRE=Crewe Alexandra

|match_CRE_BPV=3–2

|match_CRE_BRS=1–3

|match_CRE_BRW=0–1

|match_CRE_DRW=3–1

|match_CRE_GRI=0–1

|match_CRE_LEI=1–1

|match_CRE_LIN=2–2

|match_CRE_LIV=0–7

|match_CRE_LOU=1–2

|match_CRE_MCI=0–2

|match_CRE_NEW=3–0

|match_CRE_NWH=0–2

|match_CRE_NTC=5–1

|match_CRE_ROT=3–2

|match_CRE_WOO=0–1

|name_DRW=Darwen

|match_DRW_BPV=8–2

|match_DRW_BRS=3–0

|match_DRW_BRW=3–0

|match_DRW_CRE=6–1

|match_DRW_GRI=3–3

|match_DRW_LEI=4–1

|match_DRW_LIN=5–0

|match_DRW_LIV=0–4

|match_DRW_LOU=1–1

|match_DRW_MCI=2–3

|match_DRW_NEW=4–4

|match_DRW_NWH=3–0

|match_DRW_NTC=2–0

|match_DRW_ROT=10–2

|match_DRW_WOO=1–1

|name_GRI=Grimsby Town

|match_GRI_BPV=6–1

|match_GRI_BRS=3–0

|match_GRI_BRW=2–1

|match_GRI_CRE=2–0

|match_GRI_DRW=5–0

|match_GRI_LEI=7–1

|match_GRI_LIN=4–2

|match_GRI_LIV=1–0

|match_GRI_LOU=2–0

|match_GRI_MCI=5–0

|match_GRI_NEW=2–1

|match_GRI_NWH=4–2

|match_GRI_NTC=3–0

|match_GRI_ROT=4–0

|match_GRI_WOO=1–1

|name_LEI=Leicester Fosse

|match_LEI_BPV=5–0

|match_LEI_BRS=2–1

|match_LEI_BRW=1–3

|match_LEI_CRE=4–1

|match_LEI_DRW=2–3

|match_LEI_GRI=1–2

|match_LEI_LIN=1–3

|match_LEI_LIV=2–0

|match_LEI_LOU=5–0

|match_LEI_MCI=1–2

|match_LEI_NEW=2–0

|match_LEI_NWH=3–0

|match_LEI_NTC=2–1

|match_LEI_ROT=8–0

|match_LEI_WOO=1–0

|name_LIN=Lincoln City

|match_LIN_BPV=4–2

|match_LIN_BRS=1–2

|match_LIN_BRW=1–2

|match_LIN_CRE=6–2

|match_LIN_DRW=1–0

|match_LIN_GRI=2–5

|match_LIN_LEI=2–3

|match_LIN_LIV=0–1

|match_LIN_LOU=4–1

|match_LIN_MCI=1–2

|match_LIN_NEW=4–0

|match_LIN_NWH=2–0

|match_LIN_NTC=2–3

|match_LIN_ROT=5–0

|match_LIN_WOO=1–1

|name_LIV=Liverpool

|match_LIV_BPV=5–1

|match_LIV_BRS=6–1

|match_LIV_BRW=4–1

|match_LIV_CRE=6–1

|match_LIV_DRW=0–0

|match_LIV_GRI=3–1

|match_LIV_LEI=3–1

|match_LIV_LIN=6–1

|match_LIV_LOU=1–0

|match_LIV_MCI=3–1

|match_LIV_NEW=5–1

|match_LIV_NWH=7–1

|match_LIV_NTC=3–0

|match_LIV_ROT=10–1

|match_LIV_WOO=3–0

|name_LOU=Loughborough

|match_LOU_BPV=3–0

|match_LOU_BRS=2–2

|match_LOU_BRW=1–1

|match_LOU_CRE=4–1

|match_LOU_DRW=4–1

|match_LOU_GRI=0–1

|match_LOU_LEI=1–4

|match_LOU_LIN=3–0

|match_LOU_LIV=2–4

|match_LOU_MCI=2–4

|match_LOU_NEW=1–0

|match_LOU_NWH=3–3

|match_LOU_NTC=1–3

|match_LOU_ROT=3–0

|match_LOU_WOO=2–1

|name_MCI=Manchester City

|match_MCI_BPV=1–0

|match_MCI_BRS=1–1

|match_MCI_BRW=1–1

|match_MCI_CRE=4–0

|match_MCI_DRW=4–1

|match_MCI_GRI=2–1

|match_MCI_LEI=2–0

|match_MCI_LIN=4–0

|match_MCI_LIV=1–1

|match_MCI_LOU=5–1

|match_MCI_NEW=5–2

|match_MCI_NWH=2–1

|match_MCI_NTC=2–0

|match_MCI_ROT=2–0

|match_MCI_WOO=1–0

|name_NEW=Newcastle United

|match_NEW_BPV=4–2

|match_NEW_BRS=5–0

|match_NEW_BRW=4–0

|match_NEW_CRE=6–0

|match_NEW_DRW=7–2

|match_NEW_GRI=1–5

|match_NEW_LEI=1–0

|match_NEW_LIN=5–0

|match_NEW_LIV=1–0

|match_NEW_LOU=3–0

|match_NEW_MCI=4–1

|match_NEW_NWH=2–1

|match_NEW_NTC=5–1

|match_NEW_ROT=6–1

|match_NEW_WOO=3–1

|name_NWH=Newton Heath

|match_NWH_BPV=2–1

|match_NWH_BRS=5–0

|match_NWH_BRW=1–2

|match_NWH_CRE=5–0

|match_NWH_DRW=4–0

|match_NWH_GRI=3–2

|match_NWH_LEI=2–0

|match_NWH_LIN=5–5

|match_NWH_LIV=5–2

|match_NWH_LOU=2–0

|match_NWH_MCI=1–1

|match_NWH_NEW=2–1

|match_NWH_NTC=3–0

|match_NWH_ROT=3–0

|match_NWH_WOO=5–1

|name_NTC=Notts County

|match_NTC_BPV=7–2

|match_NTC_BRS=5–0

|match_NTC_BRW=1–4

|match_NTC_CRE=6–0

|match_NTC_DRW=4–1

|match_NTC_GRI=5–3

|match_NTC_LEI=1–2

|match_NTC_LIN=2–0

|match_NTC_LIV=2–3

|match_NTC_LOU=2–0

|match_NTC_MCI=3–0

|match_NTC_NEW=0–1

|match_NTC_NWH=0–2

|match_NTC_ROT=0–0

|match_NTC_WOO=3–4

|name_ROT=Rotherham Town

|match_ROT_BPV=0–2

|match_ROT_BRS=1–4

|match_ROT_BRW=1–6

|match_ROT_CRE=4–0

|match_ROT_DRW=3–0

|match_ROT_GRI=1–0

|match_ROT_LEI=2–0

|match_ROT_LIN=2–2

|match_ROT_LIV=0–5

|match_ROT_LOU=4–0

|match_ROT_MCI=2–3

|match_ROT_NEW=1–1

|match_ROT_NWH=2–3

|match_ROT_NTC=1–0

|match_ROT_WOO=3–0

|name_WOO=Woolwich Arsenal

|match_WOO_BPV=2–1

|match_WOO_BRS=5–0

|match_WOO_BRW=3–0

|match_WOO_CRE=7–0

|match_WOO_DRW=1–3

|match_WOO_GRI=3–1

|match_WOO_LEI=1–1

|match_WOO_LIN=4–0

|match_WOO_LIV=0–2

|match_WOO_LOU=6–0

|match_WOO_MCI=0–1

|match_WOO_NEW=2–1

|match_WOO_NWH=2–1

|match_WOO_NTC=2–0

|match_WOO_ROT=5–0

|update=

|source= Ian Laschke: Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79. Macdonald and Jane’s, London & Sydney, 1980.

}}

=Maps=

{{location map+|England |float=none |width=369 |caption=Locations of the Football League Second Division teams|places=

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.04 |long=-2.19 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=52.80 |long=-1.68 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=52.80 |long=-1.58 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.698|long=-2.461|label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.099|long=-2.44 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.56 |long=-0.068|label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=52.62 |long=-1.14 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.23 |long=-0.54 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.53 |long=-2.99 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.47 |long=-2.22 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.47 |long=-2.30 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=54.98 |long=-1.62 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=52.942|long=-1.137|label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.43 |long=-1.36 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=52.77 |long=-1.204|label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=51.50 |long=0.068 |label=|location=right}}

Newton Heath (Manchester)

Notts County

Rotherham Town

Woolwich Arsenal

}}

Test Matches

The Football League test matches were a set of play-offs, in which the bottom First Division teams faced the top Second Division teams.

The format had changed from previous seasons, with the number of participants has reduced from six to four (two from each division). Now, each First Division team plays both Second Division teams in a mini league format. The top two finishers would then be considered for election for First Division membership, whilst the bottom two finishers would be invited to play in the Second Division.

The First Division teams, if finishing in the top two, would retain their places in the division. If a Second Division team does so, it would be considered for First Division membership through an election process. Bottom-two Second Division teams would stay in the Second Division.

=First round=

{{TwoLegResult|(2nd Div. Champions) Liverpool| |4–0|Small Heath (1st Div. 15th)| |4–0
Sat 18 Apr|0–0
Mon 20 Apr}}

{{TwoLegResult|(2nd Div. 2nd) Manchester City| |2–7|West Bromwich Albion (1st Div. 16th)| |1–1
Sat 18 Apr|1–6
Mon 20 Apr|var1=1939}}

=Second round=

{{TwoLegResult|(2nd Div. Champions) Liverpool| |2–2|West Bromwich Albion (1st Div. 16th)| |2–0
Sat 25 Apr|0–2
Mon 27 Apr}}

{{TwoLegResult|(2nd Div. 2nd) Manchester City| |3–8|Small Heath (1st Div. 15th)| |3–0
Sat 25 Apr|0–8
Mon 27 Apr|var1=1939}}

=Summary=

Reference works, such Encyclopedia of British FootballSoar, Phil & Tyler, Martin: Encyclopedia of British Football, Willow Books, London. Fourth, updated and revised edition, 1984, p. 167. and Association Football,A. H. Fabian & Green, Geoffrey: Association Football, Volume Two, p. 235. The Caxton Publishing Company Ltd., London, 1960. present the following table with the heading given above.

{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WDL

|res_col_header=Q

|winpoints=2

|team1=LIV|name_LIV=Liverpool

|team2=WBA|name_WBA=West Bromwich Albion

|team3=SMH|name_SMH=Small Heath

|team4=MCI|name_MCI=Manchester City

|col_D1=#FFFF99|text_D1=Elected to play in First Division

|result1=D1|result2=D1

|col_D2=#ffcccc|text_D2=Invited to play in Second Division

|result3=D2|result4=D2

|update=complete|source=

}}

=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.

Liverpool and West Bromwich Albion, winners of the first round matches, and appearing on the top of the summary table, were elected to play in the 1st Division the following season.
Small Heath and Manchester City, who lost in the first round, were not elected to play in 1st Division, but were invited to play in the 2nd Division.

Attendances

=First Division=

{{row counter|

class{{=}}"wikitable sortable" !#!!Football club!!Home games!!Average attendancehttps://www.european-football-statistics.co.uk/attn/archive/eng/aveeng1896.htm
style{{=}}"text-align:center;"\| _row_count	Everton FC	15	16,080
style{{=}}"text-align:center;"\| _row_count	Aston Villa	15	12,360
style{{=}}"text-align:center;"\| _row_count	Bolton Wanderers	15	9,535
style{{=}}"text-align:center;"\| _row_count	The Wednesday	15	8,975
style{{=}}"text-align:center;"\| _row_count	Derby County	15	8,360
style{{=}}"text-align:center;"\| _row_count	Blackburn Rovers	15	7,810
style{{=}}"text-align:center;"\| _row_count	Bury FC	15	7,800
style{{=}}"text-align:center;"\| _row_count	Stoke FC	15	7,600
style{{=}}"text-align:center;"\| _row_count	Preston North End	15	6,975
style{{=}}"text-align:center;"\| _row_count	Sheffield United	15	6,865
style{{=}}"text-align:center;"\| _row_count	Nottingham Forest	15	6,625
style{{=}}"text-align:center;"\| _row_count	Sunderland AFC	15	6,210
style{{=}}"text-align:center;"\| _row_count	Small Heath FC	15	6,065
style{{=}}"text-align:center;"\| _row_count	Wolverhampton Wanderers	15	6,005
style{{=}}"text-align:center;"\| _row_count	Burnley FC	15	5,875
style{{=}}"text-align:center;"\| _row_count	West Bromwich Albion	15	5,660

}}

References

External links

Ian Laschke: Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79. Macdonald and Jane's, London & Sydney, 1980.

1895-96

1895–96 Football League#Second Division

Final league tables

First Division

=Results=

=Maps=

Second Division

=Results=

=Maps=

Test Matches

=First round=

=Second round=

=Summary=

=Consequences=

Attendances

=First Division=

See also

References

External links