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.{{fchd|id=THAMEIRO|name=Thames Ironworks}}
Division One
{{Infobox football league season
|competition= Southern Football League Division One
|season= 1898–99
|winners= Southampton (3rd title)
|promoted= none
|relegated= Warmley (resigned)
Royal Artillery Portsmouth (test match losers)
|matches= 156
|total goals= 506
|league topscorer=
|biggest home win=
|biggest away win=
|highest attendance =
|prevseason= 1897–98
|nextseason= 1899–1900
}}
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:
- Bedminster (elected from the Western League)
- Brighton United
|section=Division One
|res_col_header=QR
|show_limit=5
|winpoints=2
|use_goal_ratio=y
|team1=SHP|name_SHP=Southampton
|team2=BRC|name_BRC=Bristol City
|team3=MIL|name_MIL=Millwall Athletic
|team4=CHA|name_CHA=Chatham Town
|team5=REA|name_REA=Reading
|team6=GIL|name_GIL=New Brompton
|team7=TOT|name_TOT=Tottenham Hotspur
|team8=BED|name_BED=Bedminster
|team9=SWI|name_SWI=Swindon Town
|team10=BRU|name_BRU=Brighton United
|team11=GRA|name_GRA=Gravesend United
|team12=SHE|name_SHE=Sheppey United
|team13=POR|name_POR=Royal Artillery Portsmouth
|team14=WAR|name_WAR=Warmley
|win_SHP=15|draw_SHP=5|loss_SHP=4|gf_SHP=54|ga_SHP=24
|win_BRC=15|draw_BRC=3|loss_BRC=6|gf_BRC=55|ga_BRC=33
|win_MIL=12|draw_MIL=6|loss_MIL=6|gf_MIL=59|ga_MIL=35
|win_CHA=10|draw_CHA=8|loss_CHA=6|gf_CHA=32|ga_CHA=23
|win_REA=9|draw_REA=8|loss_REA=7|gf_REA=31|ga_REA=24
|win_GIL=10|draw_GIL=5|loss_GIL=9|gf_GIL=38|ga_GIL=30
|win_TOT=10|draw_TOT=4|loss_TOT=10|gf_TOT=40|ga_TOT=36
|win_BED=10|draw_BED=4|loss_BED=10|gf_BED=35|ga_BED=39
|win_SWI=9|draw_SWI=5|loss_SWI=10|gf_SWI=43|ga_SWI=49
|win_BRU=9|draw_BRU=2|loss_BRU=13|gf_BRU=37|ga_BRU=48
|win_GRA=7|draw_GRA=5|loss_GRA=12|gf_GRA=42|ga_GRA=52
|win_SHE=5|draw_SHE=3|loss_SHE=16|gf_SHE=23|ga_SHE=53
|win_POR=4|draw_POR=4|loss_POR=16|gf_POR=17|ga_POR=60
|win_WAR=0|draw_WAR=0|loss_WAR=0|gf_WAR=0|ga_WAR=0
|col_RTM=#ccccff|text_RTM=Relegation test matches
|result12=RTM
|col_RTMD=#ccccff|text_RTMD=Relegation test matches. Disbanded at end of season after relegation{{Cite web|url=https://www.fchd.info/RA-PORTS.HTM|title=Football Club History Database - Royal Artillery Portsmouth}}
|result13=RTMD
|col_RES=#ffcccc|text_RES=Resigned from League after 17 matches, record expunged
|result14=RES
|update=complete|source=[https://www.rsssf.org/tablese/engsouthernleaghist.html rsssf.com]
|class_rules=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
{{Infobox football league season
|competition= Southern Football League Division Two London
|season= 1898–99
|winners= Thames Ironworks
|promoted= none
|relegated= St Albans (folded)
Uxbridge (resigned)
|matches= 132
|total goals= 597
|league topscorer=
|biggest home win=
|biggest away win=
|highest attendance =
|prevseason= 1897–98
|nextseason= 1899–1900
}}
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:
- Thames Ironworks - London League winners
- Brentford
- Fulham
|section=Division Two London
|res_col_header=QR
|show_limit=5
|winpoints=2
|use_goal_ratio=y
|team1=THA|name_THA=Thames Ironworks
|team2=WOL|name_WOL=Wolverton L&NWR
|team3=WAT|name_WAT=Watford
|team4=BRE|name_BRE=Brentford
|team5=WYC|name_WYC=Wycombe Wanderers
|team6=SOU|name_SOU=Southall
|team7=CHE|name_CHE=Chesham
|team8=STA|name_STA=St Albans
|team9=SHE|name_SHE=Shepherds Bush
|team10=FUL|name_FUL=Fulham
|team11=UXB|name_UXB=Uxbridge
|team12=MAI|name_MAI=Maidenhead
|note_CHE=Changed name to Chesham Town at end of season
|win_THA=19|draw_THA=1|loss_THA=2|gf_THA=64|ga_THA=16
|win_WOL=13|draw_WOL=4|loss_WOL=5|gf_WOL=88|ga_WOL=43
|win_WAT=14|draw_WAT=2|loss_WAT=6|gf_WAT=62|ga_WAT=35
|win_BRE=11|draw_BRE=3|loss_BRE=8|gf_BRE=59|ga_BRE=39
|win_WYC=10|draw_WYC=2|loss_WYC=10|gf_WYC=55|ga_WYC=57
|win_SOU=11|draw_SOU=0|loss_SOU=11|gf_SOU=44|ga_SOU=55
|win_CHE=9|draw_CHE=2|loss_CHE=11|gf_CHE=45|ga_CHE=62
|win_STA=8|draw_STA=3|loss_STA=11|gf_STA=45|ga_STA=59
|win_SHE=7|draw_SHE=3|loss_SHE=12|gf_SHE=37|ga_SHE=53
|win_FUL=6|draw_FUL=4|loss_FUL=12|gf_FUL=36|ga_FUL=44
|win_UXB=7|draw_UXB=2|loss_UXB=13|gf_UXB=29|ga_UXB=48
|win_MAI=3|draw_MAI=2|loss_MAI=17|gf_MAI=33|ga_MAI=86
|col_PTM=#ccccff|text_PTM=Promotion test matches
|result1=PTM
|col_FLD=#ffcccc|text_FLD=Folded at end of season
|result8=FLD
|col_LEFT=#ffcccc|text_LEFT=Left league at end of season
|result11=LEFT
|class_rules=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.
|update=complete|source=[https://www.rsssf.org/tablese/engsouthernleaghist.html rsssf.com]
}}
Division Two South-West
{{Infobox football league season
|competition= Southern Football League Division Two South-West
|season= 1898–99
|winners= Cowes
|promoted= none
|relegated= league disbanded
|matches= 30
|total goals= 160
|league topscorer=
|biggest home win=
|biggest away win=
|highest attendance =
|prevseason= 1897–98
|nextseason= 1899–1900
}}
Division Two South-West was newly formed and short-lived formation. At the end of the season the division was liquidated and the League returned to 2-division structure.
|section=Division Two South-West
|res_col_header=QR
|winpoints=2
|use_goal_ratio=y
|team1=COW|name_COW=Cowes
|team2=RYD|name_RYD=Ryde
|team3=FRE|name_FRE=Freemantle
|team4=SAN|name_SAN=Sandown Bay
|team5=EAS|name_EAS=Eastleigh Athletic
|team6=AND|name_AND=Andover
|team7=ELR|name_ELR=East Lancs Regiment
|team8=TRO|name_TRO=Trowbridge Town
|win_COW=10|draw_COW=0|loss_COW=0|gf_COW=52|ga_COW=10
|win_RYD=7|draw_RYD=0|loss_RYD=3|gf_RYD=30|ga_RYD=11
|win_FRE=5|draw_FRE=0|loss_FRE=5|gf_FRE=21|ga_FRE=32
|win_SAN=4|draw_SAN=0|loss_SAN=6|gf_SAN=22|ga_SAN=34
|win_EAS=2|draw_EAS=0|loss_EAS=8|gf_EAS=19|ga_EAS=32
|win_AND=2|draw_AND=0|loss_AND=8|gf_AND=16|ga_AND=41
|win_ELR=0|draw_ELR=0|loss_ELR=0|gf_ELR=0|ga_ELR=0
|win_TRO=0|draw_TRO=0|loss_TRO=0|gf_TRO=0|ga_TRO=0
|col_PTM=#ccccff|text_PTM=Promotion test matches
|result1=PTM
|col_LEFT=#ffcccc|text_LEFT=Left league at end of season
|result2=LEFT|result3=LEFT|result4=LEFT|result5=LEFT|result6=LEFT
|col_RES=#ffcccc|text_RES=Resigned from league after three matches, record expunged
|result7=RES|result8=RES
|class_rules=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.
|update=complete|source=[https://www.rsssf.org/tablese/engsouthernleaghist.html rsssf.com]
}}
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.{{cite web|url=http://www.diandsaulbooks.co.uk/glory-gunners---the-history-of-royal-artillery-portsmouth-fc-by-kevin-smith-2264-p.asp|title=Glory Gunners – The History of Royal Artillery (Portsmouth) FC|website=Dian D Saul Books.co.uk}} Sheppey United and Thames Ironworks drew 1-1, leading to Sheppey remaining in Division One and Thames Ironworks joining them.
{{football box
|date =
|team1 = Division One clubs
|team2 = Division Two clubs
|stadium =
}}
{{football box
|date =
|time =
|team1 = Royal Artillery Portsmouth
|score = 1 – 4
|report =
|team2 = Cowes
|goals1 =
|goals2 =
|stadium =
|attendance =
|referee = }}
{{football box
|date =
|time =
|team1 = Sheppey United
|score = 1 – 1
|report =
|team2 = Thames Ironworks
|goals1 =
|goals2 =
|stadium =
|attendance =
|referee = }}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.rsssf.org/tablese/engsouthernleaghist.html Southern League First Division Tables at RSSSF]
- [https://www.rsssf.org/tablese/engsouthernleaghist.html Southern League Second Division Tables at RSSSF]
{{Southern Football League seasons}}
{{1898–99 in English football}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Southern Football League, 1898-99}}