1897–98 Western Football League
Encyclopedia
The 1897–98 season was the sixth in the history of the Western Football League
.
For this season the league was restructured, with a new Professional Section being formed, taking five clubs from Division One and three new clubs joining. Division One and Division Two remained as the Amateur Section, with four clubs being promoted from Division Two to Division One, and several new clubs joining both divisions.
Bristol City
were the champions of the new Professional Section, and also competed in the Southern League during this season, along with Swindon Town
, Reading
and Warmley
. Division One of the Amateur Section was won by Bedminster
, and the Division Two champions were newcomers Hanham. A large number of clubs left the Amateur Section at the end of the season, necessitating a merger of the two amateur divisions for the following season.
† Clifton resigned early in the season, and their record was expunged.
† Eastville Wanderers Reserves and Royal Artillery (Horfield) resigned early in the season, and their records were expunged.
1 The system of using goal average to separate two teams tied on points was used up to and including the 1976–77 season.
2 The points system: 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 points for losing.
3 The tables as published at the time contained errors, hence the totals do not balance in some columns.
Western Football League
The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales...
.
For this season the league was restructured, with a new Professional Section being formed, taking five clubs from Division One and three new clubs joining. Division One and Division Two remained as the Amateur Section, with four clubs being promoted from Division Two to Division One, and several new clubs joining both divisions.
Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
were the champions of the new Professional Section, and also competed in the Southern League during this season, along with Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
, Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
and Warmley
Warmley F.C.
Warmley F.C. was a football club based in Warmley, near Kingswood, England. They were formed in 1882. They are widely regarded as playing the first organised football match in the Bristol region against St George....
. Division One of the Amateur Section was won by Bedminster
Bedminster F.C.
Bedminster F.C. was an English football club based in Bristol. The club was established in 1887 as Southville and played at Ashton Gate. They were founder members of the Bristol & District League in 1892, which became the Western League in 1895...
, and the Division Two champions were newcomers Hanham. A large number of clubs left the Amateur Section at the end of the season, necessitating a merger of the two amateur divisions for the following season.
Professional Section
The three new clubs admitted to the league to play in this eight-club section were:- EastleighEastleigh F.C.Eastleigh Football Club is an English semi-professional football club based in Eastleigh, Hampshire. The club are currently members of the Conference South and play at the Silverlake Stadium.-History:...
- ReadingReading F.C.Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
- Swindon TownSwindon Town F.C.Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
- Bristol South EndBristol City F.C.Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
changed their name to Bristol City - St GeorgeRoman Glass St George F.C.Roman Glass St George F.C. is a football club based in the Bristol suburb of St George, Bristol, England. Founded in 1872, they are the oldest club in Bristol...
changed their name to Bristol St George
| Pos | Club | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv1 | Pts2 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bristol City Bristol City F.C. Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City... |
14 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 51 | 16 | 3.19 | 23 | Left to concentrate on the Southern League |
| 2 | Swindon Town Swindon Town F.C. Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011... |
14 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 32 | 15 | 2.13 | 19 | |
| 3 | Reading Reading F.C. Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship... |
14 | |7 | 2 | 5 | 29 | 25 | 1.16 | 16 | Left to concentrate on the Southern League |
| 4 | Bristol St George Roman Glass St George F.C. Roman Glass St George F.C. is a football club based in the Bristol suburb of St George, Bristol, England. Founded in 1872, they are the oldest club in Bristol... |
14 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 25 | 27 | 0.93 | 15 | |
| 5 | Eastville Rovers Bristol Rovers F.C. Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city.... |
14 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 38 | 25 | 1.52 | 14 | |
| 6 | Warmley Warmley F.C. Warmley F.C. was a football club based in Warmley, near Kingswood, England. They were formed in 1882. They are widely regarded as playing the first organised football match in the Bristol region against St George.... |
14 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 36 | 27 | 1.33 | 13 | |
| 7 | Eastleigh Eastleigh F.C. Eastleigh Football Club is an English semi-professional football club based in Eastleigh, Hampshire. The club are currently members of the Conference South and play at the Silverlake Stadium.-History:... |
14 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 22 | 55 | 0.4 | 8 | Joined Southern League at the end of the season |
| 8 | Trowbridge Town Trowbridge Town F.C. Trowbridge Town F.C. are a football club based in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, England, and they play at Woodmarsh on the southern edge of the town. They are currently members of the Hellenic Football League Division One West.-History:... |
14 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 15 | 58 | 0.26 | 4 |
Amateur Division One
This ten-club division was a continuation of the old Division One, with six new clubs:- Barton Hill, promoted from the old Division Two
- Eastville Wanderers, promoted from the old Division Two
- Fishponds, promoted from the old Division Two
- MangotsfieldMangotsfield F.C.Mangotsfield Football Club was an association football club founded in 1888 in the village of Mangotsfield, Gloucestershire in England. They were a founder member of the Bristol & District League in 1892, where they played for six years before being disbanded in 1898.Several attempts were made to...
, promoted from the old Division Two - Midsomer Norton, also playing in the Somerset Senior LeagueSomerset County Football LeagueThe Somerset County Football League is a football competition based in England. It sits at step 7 of the National League System. It is a feeder to the Western League Division One and has promoted a club in five of the last seven seasons - Hengrove Athletic, Portishead, Radstock Town, Oldland...
- RadstockRadstock Town F.C.Radstock Town Football Club play in Radstock, Somerset in the Premier Division of the Western Football League. The club is affiliated to the Somerset County FA.-Club history:...
, also playing in the Somerset Senior LeagueSomerset County Football LeagueThe Somerset County Football League is a football competition based in England. It sits at step 7 of the National League System. It is a feeder to the Western League Division One and has promoted a club in five of the last seven seasons - Hengrove Athletic, Portishead, Radstock Town, Oldland...
| Pos | Club | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv1 | Pts2 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bedminster Bedminster F.C. Bedminster F.C. was an English football club based in Bristol. The club was established in 1887 as Southville and played at Ashton Gate. They were founder members of the Bristol & District League in 1892, which became the Western League in 1895... (P) |
16 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 65 | 11 | 5.91 | 30 | Promoted to Professional Section |
| 2 | Staple Hill Staple Hill F.C. Staple Hill F.C. was an English football club based in Staple Hill, Bristol. The club joined the Bristol & District League in 1893–94, that league's second season, before it was renamed the Western League in 1895. Joint runners-up in Division One in 1895–96, Staple Hill were placed in Division Two... |
16 | 11 | 1 | 4 | 38 | 15 | 2.53 | 23 | |
| 3 | Fishponds | 16 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 26 | 30 | 0.87 | 18 | |
| 4 | Midsomer Norton | 16 | 7 | 2 | 7 | 23 | 33 | 0.7 | 16 | |
| 5 | Barton Hill | 16 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 25 | 25 | 1 | 14 | |
| 6 | Radstock Radstock Town F.C. Radstock Town Football Club play in Radstock, Somerset in the Premier Division of the Western Football League. The club is affiliated to the Somerset County FA.-Club history:... |
16 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 17 | 28 | 0.61 | 14 | Left to concentrate on the Somerset Senior League |
| 7 | St Paul's | 16 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 15 | 28 | 0.54 | 11 | Left the league at the end of the season |
| 8 | Eastville Wanderers | 16 | 4 | 1 | 11 | 15 | 16 | 0.94 | 9 | Left the league at the end of the season |
| 9 | Mangotsfield Mangotsfield F.C. Mangotsfield Football Club was an association football club founded in 1888 in the village of Mangotsfield, Gloucestershire in England. They were a founder member of the Bristol & District League in 1892, where they played for six years before being disbanded in 1898.Several attempts were made to... |
16 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 29 | 0.17 | 9 | Left the league at the end of the season |
| 10 | Clifton Clifton Association F.C. Clifton Association Football Club, later known as Clifton Football Club, was a football club based in the Clifton area of Bristol in the late 19th century.... |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Resigned, record expunged † |
Amateur Division Two
This eight-club division was a continuation of the old Division Two, with seven new clubs:- Barton Hill Reserves
- Cotham
- Eastville Wanderers Reserves
- Fishponds Reserves
- Hanham
- Royal Artillery (Horfield) (not to be confused with Royal Artillery Portsmouth F.C.)
- St Paul's Reserves
| Pos | Club | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv1 | Pts2 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hanham | 10 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 32 | 8 | 4 | 19 | |
| 2 | Cotham | 10 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 32 | 16 | 2 | 16 | |
| 3 | Barton Hill Reserves | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 20 | 14 | 1.43 | 10 | Left the league at the end of the season |
| 4 | St Paul's Reserves | 10 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 19 | 26 | 0.73 | 6 | Left the league at the end of the season |
| 5 | Fishponds Reserves | 10 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 10 | 25 | 0.4 | 3 | Left the league at the end of the season |
| 6 | Bedminster Bedminster F.C. Bedminster F.C. was an English football club based in Bristol. The club was established in 1887 as Southville and played at Ashton Gate. They were founder members of the Bristol & District League in 1892, which became the Western League in 1895... Reserves |
10 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 10 | 34 | 0.29 | 2 | Left the league at the end of the season |
| 7 | Eastville Wanderers Reserves | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Resigned, record expunged † |
| 8 | Royal Artillery (Horfield) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Resigned, record expunged † |
1 The system of using goal average to separate two teams tied on points was used up to and including the 1976–77 season.
2 The points system: 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 points for losing.
3 The tables as published at the time contained errors, hence the totals do not balance in some columns.