1898–99 Southampton F.C. season
Encyclopedia
The 1898–99 season was the 14th since the foundation of Southampton F.C.
and their fifth in league football, as members of the Southern League
.
They ended the season as champions of the Southern League for the third consecutive season and reached the Third Round of the FA Cup where they were eliminated by Derby County
of the Football League First Division
.
, the "Saints" became resident at a new stadium about 200 yards down Northlands Road, nicknamed "The Dell", which had been built by George Thomas, a fish merchant who was a director of the football club. At the time of its opening, The Dell was considered to be the most compact ground in the country — the players got their first taste of their new home when they participated in a sports meeting there on 27 August 1898.
Determined to build on their success of the previouis season, the club signed several new players during the summer of 1898, including five past or former internationals — Scotsmen Geordie Dewar
, Peter Meehan
and John Robertson and Englishmen Jack Robinson
and Harry Wood
. Robinson, the current England
goalkeeper, and Robertson had played against each other in the Scotland
vs. England international at Celtic Park
on 2 April 1898, in which England were 3–1 victors, thus claiming the 1898 British Home Championship
.
, who were playing their first-ever league match. On a hot Saturday afternoon, in front of a crowd of 6,524, the Mayor of Southampton (Alderman G.J. Tilling) kicked off "like an international". The Saints soon took the lead when with "a little finessing", Tom Smith
passed the ball through to Watty Keay
who scored The Dell's first goal. Jim McKenzie
missed some good chances and, with Southampton attacking in numbers, Bullimer in the Brighton goal was kept busy. Towards the end of the first-half, Arthur Chadwick
accidentally caught Brighton's centre-forward Willie McArthur on the chin with a high kick. Bleeding profusely, McArthur left the pitch and Brighton had to continue with only ten men. Shortly before the interval, Abe Hartley
scored the second goal, after a smart run up the left by McKenzie. In the second half, McKenzie added a third before Roddy McLeod
reduced the deficit. With over a quarter of an hour to play, Smith completed the scoring, with a goal described as "just such a goal as there is no doubt about – a shot which beats the goalkeeper almost before it is made".
Despite having signed five present or former international plyers during the summer, Southampton were unable to dominate the league as they had done in the previous year, losing their second match to New Brompton and drawing four matches before the New Year. In November, the referee, Mr. T.W.H. Saywell, mistakenly ended the match at Millwall
ten minutes early with Southampton leading 4–1. He soon realised his error and tried to bring the teams back to complete the match, but the crowd had invaded the pitch and refused to leave. The match was completed five months later on 12 April 1899 before a Western League
match at The Dell, with no further score.
On 3 December, the Saints defeated Warmley
6–0 at The Dell, but this result was expunged when Warmley withdrew from the league before the end of the season. Reserve goalkeeper, John Joyce
made his "debut" in this match, but with the result being expunged, had to wait until 21 October 1899 before his official debut. The New Year started with two away defeats; in the match at Sheppey United
on 7 January, Arthur Chadwick
was dismissed, becoming the first Southampton player to be sent off in a league match.
The Saints won five of the next seven games and entered the last day of the season level on points with Bristol City
, their final-day opponents. Bristol City were playing their second season in the Southern League having finished as runners-up in 1897–98, and were undefeated at their St Johns Lane ground. Southampton had the superior goal average, so a draw would give them the title for the third time.
A crowd of 13,000 attended the match, including 400 Saints' supporters. Early in the game, England international goalkeeper Jack Robinson
damaged his right hand, attempting to prevent a goal from Billy Langham
, City's outside-right. Whilst Robinson was receiving medical attention, Harry Haynes
took over in goal, preventing further goals until Robinson's return. Robinson played on in considerable pain but was unable to prevent the ball entering the goal off the cross bar from a Langham free-kick; thus the first half ended with Bristol City having a 2–0 lead.
For the second half, Southampton made a tactical change, switching Roddy McLeod
to centre-forward with Duncan McLean
moving to inside-right and within 12 minutes of the restart the scores were level, after long shots from Arthur Chadwick
and Jock Robertson, the latter going in after a "gentle hint" from Harry Wood
turned the ball past goalkeeper, Hugh Monteith
who had come too far out of his goal. The Southampton fullbacks continued to protect Robinson in goal and the Saints gradually began to have the better of the game. A move involving Robertson and Wood ended with McLean giving Southampton the lead before Wood scored the fourth goal, with a simple header from a corner. Although Caie pulled one back for the home side, Southampton were able to hang on to their lead to win 4–3 and take the Championship for the third consecutive season.
The news of the result had reached Southampton by telegraph and when the team's special train arrived at the Docks station
at 10.30pm, it was greeted by huge crowds of enthusiastic supporters who cheered the team on their victory parade through the streets of the town, accompanied by the Town Band.
Played = Matches played; Won = Matches won; Drawn = Matches drawn; Lost = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GA = Goal average; Points = Points scored
1 Teams tied on points were separated by use of goal average.
2 The points system: 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 points for a defeat.
. In Round One, they met fellow Southern League
side, New Brompton, with Abe Hartley
scoring the winner 20 minutes from time. In the Second Round, Hartley was again the goalscorer, "dribbling through a bewildered Notts County
defence before scoring with a glorious shot".
This set up the first FA Cup match to be played at The Dell, against Derby County
of the Football League First Division
, who were the beaten finalists from the previous year. Although Tom Nicol
scored the first-ever FA Cup goal at The Dell, goals from Steve Bloomer
and Billy McDonald
eased Derby through, on their way to another final.
, Fry was unable to continue and had to be helped from the pitch. Despite playing on with only ten men, the Corinthians still managed to win 2–1.
Two days later, Southampton entertained Rangers
, the newly crowned Scottish Football League
champions, with the Saints going down by the single goal.
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
and their fifth in league football, as members of the Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
.
They ended the season as champions of the Southern League for the third consecutive season and reached the Third Round of the FA Cup where they were eliminated by Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
of the Football League First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
.
Pre-season
Having spent two seasons as temporary residents of Hampshire County Cricket ClubHampshire County Cricket Club
Hampshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Hampshire in cricket's County Championship. The club was founded in 1863 as a successor to the Hampshire county cricket teams and has played at the Antelope Ground from then until 1885, before moving to the County Ground where it...
, the "Saints" became resident at a new stadium about 200 yards down Northlands Road, nicknamed "The Dell", which had been built by George Thomas, a fish merchant who was a director of the football club. At the time of its opening, The Dell was considered to be the most compact ground in the country — the players got their first taste of their new home when they participated in a sports meeting there on 27 August 1898.
Determined to build on their success of the previouis season, the club signed several new players during the summer of 1898, including five past or former internationals — Scotsmen Geordie Dewar
Geordie Dewar
George "Geordie" Dewar , was a Scottish footballer who played in the early days of professional football for Blackburn Rovers as well as being capped twice for Scotland...
, Peter Meehan
Peter Meehan
Peter Meehan was a Scottish professional footballer best known for making nineteen appearances in Sunderland's English Title winning team of 1895....
and John Robertson and Englishmen Jack Robinson
Jack Robinson (footballer)
John William "Jack" Robinson , was a professional footballer who played for, among others Derby County, Southampton and England.-Football career:...
and Harry Wood
Harry Wood (footballer)
Harry Wood was a professional footballer who played most of his career as an inside-forward for Wolverhampton Wanderers and Southampton.-Wolverhampton Wanderers:...
. Robinson, the current England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
goalkeeper, and Robertson had played against each other in the Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
vs. England international at Celtic Park
Celtic Park
Celtic Park is a football stadium in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which is the home ground of Celtic FC. Celtic Park, an all-seater stadium with a capacity of 60,832, is the largest football stadium in Scotland and the sixth-largest stadium in the United Kingdom, after Murrayfield, Old Trafford,...
on 2 April 1898, in which England were 3–1 victors, thus claiming the 1898 British Home Championship
1898 British Home Championship
The 1898 British Home Championship was the fifteenth edition of the annual football tournament played between the British Home Nations. England won the trophy after whitewashing all three opponents and taking the maximum six points...
.
League season
The first league season in the new ground started on 3 September 1898, with a match against Brighton UnitedBrighton United F.C.
Brighton United F.C. were an association football club based in Brighton, Sussex who were active for a few years at the end of the 19th century....
, who were playing their first-ever league match. On a hot Saturday afternoon, in front of a crowd of 6,524, the Mayor of Southampton (Alderman G.J. Tilling) kicked off "like an international". The Saints soon took the lead when with "a little finessing", Tom Smith
Tom Smith (footballer born 1877)
Thomas "Tom" Smith was a professional English footballer who played at outside-right for various clubs around the turn of the 20th century.-Football career:...
passed the ball through to Watty Keay
Watty Keay
Walter "Watty" Keay was a Scottish professional footballer who played as an inside forward for various clubs, including Partick Thistle in Scotland and Derby County and Southampton in England...
who scored The Dell's first goal. Jim McKenzie
Jim McKenzie (footballer)
James R. McKenzie was a Scottish professional footballer who played as an outside-forward for various clubs in Scotland and England in the 1890s.-Football career:...
missed some good chances and, with Southampton attacking in numbers, Bullimer in the Brighton goal was kept busy. Towards the end of the first-half, Arthur Chadwick
Arthur Chadwick
Arthur Chadwick was a professional footballer whose playing career included spells at Portsmouth and Southampton, before going on to be manager at Exeter City, Reading and Southampton...
accidentally caught Brighton's centre-forward Willie McArthur on the chin with a high kick. Bleeding profusely, McArthur left the pitch and Brighton had to continue with only ten men. Shortly before the interval, Abe Hartley
Abe Hartley
Abraham "Abe" Hartley was a Scottish footballer who played for Everton as a centre forward for five years in the 1890s. He also played for Merseyside rivals Liverpool and for his local club, Dumbarton. His career also included stints at Southampton, Woolwich Arsenal and Burnley at the end of his...
scored the second goal, after a smart run up the left by McKenzie. In the second half, McKenzie added a third before Roddy McLeod
Roddy McLeod
Roderick McLeod was a Scottish professional footballer who was part of the West Bromwich Albion team which won the FA Cup in 1892, and was a losing finalist in 1895.-West Bromwich Albion:...
reduced the deficit. With over a quarter of an hour to play, Smith completed the scoring, with a goal described as "just such a goal as there is no doubt about – a shot which beats the goalkeeper almost before it is made".
Despite having signed five present or former international plyers during the summer, Southampton were unable to dominate the league as they had done in the previous year, losing their second match to New Brompton and drawing four matches before the New Year. In November, the referee, Mr. T.W.H. Saywell, mistakenly ended the match at Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
ten minutes early with Southampton leading 4–1. He soon realised his error and tried to bring the teams back to complete the match, but the crowd had invaded the pitch and refused to leave. The match was completed five months later on 12 April 1899 before a Western League
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...
match at The Dell, with no further score.
On 3 December, the Saints defeated 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....
6–0 at The Dell, but this result was expunged when Warmley withdrew from the league before the end of the season. Reserve goalkeeper, John Joyce
John Joyce (footballer)
John William Joyce was an English footballer who played as a goalkeeper for various clubs between 1898 and 1920. Throughout his career, he was known to supporters as "Tiny" in allusion to his size, being 6 feet tall and weighing 14 stone.-Football career:Joyce was born in Burton upon Trent,...
made his "debut" in this match, but with the result being expunged, had to wait until 21 October 1899 before his official debut. The New Year started with two away defeats; in the match at Sheppey United
Sheppey United F.C.
Sheppey United F.C. is an English football club based on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent. The club are currently members of Division One of the Kent County League and play at the Sheppey Sports Ground.-History:...
on 7 January, Arthur Chadwick
Arthur Chadwick
Arthur Chadwick was a professional footballer whose playing career included spells at Portsmouth and Southampton, before going on to be manager at Exeter City, Reading and Southampton...
was dismissed, becoming the first Southampton player to be sent off in a league match.
The Saints won five of the next seven games and entered the last day of the season level on points with 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...
, their final-day opponents. Bristol City were playing their second season in the Southern League having finished as runners-up in 1897–98, and were undefeated at their St Johns Lane ground. Southampton had the superior goal average, so a draw would give them the title for the third time.
A crowd of 13,000 attended the match, including 400 Saints' supporters. Early in the game, England international goalkeeper Jack Robinson
Jack Robinson (footballer)
John William "Jack" Robinson , was a professional footballer who played for, among others Derby County, Southampton and England.-Football career:...
damaged his right hand, attempting to prevent a goal from Billy Langham
Billy Langham
William "Billy" Langham was an English-born footballer who played as an outside right in the Football League around the turn of the 19th century....
, City's outside-right. Whilst Robinson was receiving medical attention, Harry Haynes
Harry Haynes
Harry Haynes was an English footballer who played as a full back for Wolverhampton Wanderers, Small Heath and Southampton in the 1890s.-Midlands:...
took over in goal, preventing further goals until Robinson's return. Robinson played on in considerable pain but was unable to prevent the ball entering the goal off the cross bar from a Langham free-kick; thus the first half ended with Bristol City having a 2–0 lead.
For the second half, Southampton made a tactical change, switching Roddy McLeod
Roddy McLeod
Roderick McLeod was a Scottish professional footballer who was part of the West Bromwich Albion team which won the FA Cup in 1892, and was a losing finalist in 1895.-West Bromwich Albion:...
to centre-forward with Duncan McLean
Duncan McLean (footballer born 1874)
Duncan McLean was a Scottish professional footballer who played for various clubs around the turn of the 20th century, including Southampton in 1898–99, where he helped win the Southern League championship.-Football career:...
moving to inside-right and within 12 minutes of the restart the scores were level, after long shots from Arthur Chadwick
Arthur Chadwick
Arthur Chadwick was a professional footballer whose playing career included spells at Portsmouth and Southampton, before going on to be manager at Exeter City, Reading and Southampton...
and Jock Robertson, the latter going in after a "gentle hint" from Harry Wood
Harry Wood (footballer)
Harry Wood was a professional footballer who played most of his career as an inside-forward for Wolverhampton Wanderers and Southampton.-Wolverhampton Wanderers:...
turned the ball past goalkeeper, Hugh Monteith
Hugh Monteith
Hugh G. Monteith was a Scottish footballer who played as a goalkeeper for various clubs in the 1890s and 1900s, including Bristol City, West Ham United and Bury, with whom he won the FA Cup in 1903.-Playing career:...
who had come too far out of his goal. The Southampton fullbacks continued to protect Robinson in goal and the Saints gradually began to have the better of the game. A move involving Robertson and Wood ended with McLean giving Southampton the lead before Wood scored the fourth goal, with a simple header from a corner. Although Caie pulled one back for the home side, Southampton were able to hang on to their lead to win 4–3 and take the Championship for the third consecutive season.
The news of the result had reached Southampton by telegraph and when the team's special train arrived at the Docks station
Southampton Terminus railway station
Southampton Terminus railway station served the docks and city centre of Southampton, England. The station was first authorized on the 25 July 1834, it began as the terminus of the London and South Western Railway...
at 10.30pm, it was greeted by huge crowds of enthusiastic supporters who cheered the team on their victory parade through the streets of the town, accompanied by the Town Band.
League results
| Date | Opponents | H / A | Result F – A |
Scorers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 September 1898 | Brighton United Brighton United F.C. Brighton United F.C. were an association football club based in Brighton, Sussex who were active for a few years at the end of the 19th century.... |
H | 4 – 1 | Keay Watty Keay Walter "Watty" Keay was a Scottish professional footballer who played as an inside forward for various clubs, including Partick Thistle in Scotland and Derby County and Southampton in England... , Hartley Abe Hartley Abraham "Abe" Hartley was a Scottish footballer who played for Everton as a centre forward for five years in the 1890s. He also played for Merseyside rivals Liverpool and for his local club, Dumbarton. His career also included stints at Southampton, Woolwich Arsenal and Burnley at the end of his... , McKenzie Jim McKenzie (footballer) James R. McKenzie was a Scottish professional footballer who played as an outside-forward for various clubs in Scotland and England in the 1890s.-Football career:... , Smith Tom Smith (footballer born 1877) Thomas "Tom" Smith was a professional English footballer who played at outside-right for various clubs around the turn of the 20th century.-Football career:... |
| 17 September 1898 | New Brompton | H | 0 – 2 | |
| 24 September 1898 | Gravesend United Gravesend United F.C. Gravesend United Football Club was a football club based in Gravesend, Kent.They were founder members of the Kent League in 1894-95 before moving to join the Southern League in 1896-97... |
A | 2 – 1 | Hartley Abe Hartley Abraham "Abe" Hartley was a Scottish footballer who played for Everton as a centre forward for five years in the 1890s. He also played for Merseyside rivals Liverpool and for his local club, Dumbarton. His career also included stints at Southampton, Woolwich Arsenal and Burnley at the end of his... , Petrie Bob Petrie Robert "Bob" Petrie was a professional footballer who won the FA Cup with Sheffield Wednesday in 1896 and was on the losing side in the 1900 FA Cup final with Southampton.-Playing career:... |
| 1 October 1898 | Millwall Athletic | H | 2 – 0 | Wood Harry Wood (footballer) Harry Wood was a professional footballer who played most of his career as an inside-forward for Wolverhampton Wanderers and Southampton.-Wolverhampton Wanderers:... (2) |
| 8 October 1898 | Royal Artillery | H | 4 – 1 | Hartley Abe Hartley Abraham "Abe" Hartley was a Scottish footballer who played for Everton as a centre forward for five years in the 1890s. He also played for Merseyside rivals Liverpool and for his local club, Dumbarton. His career also included stints at Southampton, Woolwich Arsenal and Burnley at the end of his... , McKenzie Jim McKenzie (footballer) James R. McKenzie was a Scottish professional footballer who played as an outside-forward for various clubs in Scotland and England in the 1890s.-Football career:... , Meston Samuel Meston Samuel Meston was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a half-back for Stoke and Southampton. Whilst with Southampton, he appeared in two FA Cup Finals and won six Southern League championship medals and was the only player ever to do so.-Playing career:Meston was born in Arbroath and... , Wood Harry Wood (footballer) Harry Wood was a professional footballer who played most of his career as an inside-forward for Wolverhampton Wanderers and Southampton.-Wolverhampton Wanderers:... |
| 15 October 1898 | 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... |
H | 0 – 0 | |
| 22 October 1898 | 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... |
A | 1 – 1 | Hartley Abe Hartley Abraham "Abe" Hartley was a Scottish footballer who played for Everton as a centre forward for five years in the 1890s. He also played for Merseyside rivals Liverpool and for his local club, Dumbarton. His career also included stints at Southampton, Woolwich Arsenal and Burnley at the end of his... |
| 5 November 1898 | Gravesend United Gravesend United F.C. Gravesend United Football Club was a football club based in Gravesend, Kent.They were founder members of the Kent League in 1894-95 before moving to join the Southern League in 1896-97... |
H | 4 – 1 | Hartley Abe Hartley Abraham "Abe" Hartley was a Scottish footballer who played for Everton as a centre forward for five years in the 1890s. He also played for Merseyside rivals Liverpool and for his local club, Dumbarton. His career also included stints at Southampton, Woolwich Arsenal and Burnley at the end of his... , Keay Watty Keay Walter "Watty" Keay was a Scottish professional footballer who played as an inside forward for various clubs, including Partick Thistle in Scotland and Derby County and Southampton in England... , McKenzie Jim McKenzie (footballer) James R. McKenzie was a Scottish professional footballer who played as an outside-forward for various clubs in Scotland and England in the 1890s.-Football career:... , Wood Harry Wood (footballer) Harry Wood was a professional footballer who played most of his career as an inside-forward for Wolverhampton Wanderers and Southampton.-Wolverhampton Wanderers:... |
| 12 November 1898 | Sheppey United Sheppey United F.C. Sheppey United F.C. is an English football club based on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent. The club are currently members of Division One of the Kent County League and play at the Sheppey Sports Ground.-History:... |
H | 6 – 0 | Wood Harry Wood (footballer) Harry Wood was a professional footballer who played most of his career as an inside-forward for Wolverhampton Wanderers and Southampton.-Wolverhampton Wanderers:... (3), Hartley Abe Hartley Abraham "Abe" Hartley was a Scottish footballer who played for Everton as a centre forward for five years in the 1890s. He also played for Merseyside rivals Liverpool and for his local club, Dumbarton. His career also included stints at Southampton, Woolwich Arsenal and Burnley at the end of his... (2), Keay Watty Keay Walter "Watty" Keay was a Scottish professional footballer who played as an inside forward for various clubs, including Partick Thistle in Scotland and Derby County and Southampton in England... |
| 26 November 1898 | Millwall Athletic | A | 4 – 1 | Hartley Abe Hartley Abraham "Abe" Hartley was a Scottish footballer who played for Everton as a centre forward for five years in the 1890s. He also played for Merseyside rivals Liverpool and for his local club, Dumbarton. His career also included stints at Southampton, Woolwich Arsenal and Burnley at the end of his... (2), Chadwick Arthur Chadwick Arthur Chadwick was a professional footballer whose playing career included spells at Portsmouth and Southampton, before going on to be manager at Exeter City, Reading and Southampton... , Keay Watty Keay Walter "Watty" Keay was a Scottish professional footballer who played as an inside forward for various clubs, including Partick Thistle in Scotland and Derby County and Southampton in England... |
| 17 December 1898 | Royal Artillery | A | 1 – 1 | Keay Watty Keay Walter "Watty" Keay was a Scottish professional footballer who played as an inside forward for various clubs, including Partick Thistle in Scotland and Derby County and Southampton in England... |
| 24 December 1898 | 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... |
H | 4 – 1 | Wood Harry Wood (footballer) Harry Wood was a professional footballer who played most of his career as an inside-forward for Wolverhampton Wanderers and Southampton.-Wolverhampton Wanderers:... (2), Hartley Abe Hartley Abraham "Abe" Hartley was a Scottish footballer who played for Everton as a centre forward for five years in the 1890s. He also played for Merseyside rivals Liverpool and for his local club, Dumbarton. His career also included stints at Southampton, Woolwich Arsenal and Burnley at the end of his... , Keay Watty Keay Walter "Watty" Keay was a Scottish professional footballer who played as an inside forward for various clubs, including Partick Thistle in Scotland and Derby County and Southampton in England... |
| 26 December 1898 | Tottenham Hotspur Tottenham Hotspur F.C. Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane.... |
H | 1 – 1 | Wood Harry Wood (footballer) Harry Wood was a professional footballer who played most of his career as an inside-forward for Wolverhampton Wanderers and Southampton.-Wolverhampton Wanderers:... |
| 31 December 1898 | 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... |
H | 1 – 0 | Wood Harry Wood (footballer) Harry Wood was a professional footballer who played most of his career as an inside-forward for Wolverhampton Wanderers and Southampton.-Wolverhampton Wanderers:... |
| 7 January 1999 | Sheppey United Sheppey United F.C. Sheppey United F.C. is an English football club based on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent. The club are currently members of Division One of the Kent County League and play at the Sheppey Sports Ground.-History:... |
A | 1 – 2 | Seeley George Seeley George Alfred Seeley was an English professional footballer who played for various clubs around the turn of the 20th century, including Southampton in 1898–99, where he helped win the Southern League championship.... |
| 18 February 1999 | 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... |
A | 0 – 2 | |
| 11 March 1899 | 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... |
H | 4 – 1 | Hartley Abe Hartley Abraham "Abe" Hartley was a Scottish footballer who played for Everton as a centre forward for five years in the 1890s. He also played for Merseyside rivals Liverpool and for his local club, Dumbarton. His career also included stints at Southampton, Woolwich Arsenal and Burnley at the end of his... (3), Nicol Tom Nicol Thomas H. "Tom" Nicol was a Scottish footballer who played for Burnley first as a centre forward and then as a full back in the 1890s, before later becoming a bowls champion in Southampton.-Burnley:... |
| 18 March 1899 | Chatham Town Chatham Town F.C. Chatham Town are an English Association Football club based in Chatham, Kent. They currently play in Division One North of the Isthmian League and are nicknamed "The Chats".... |
H | 4 – 1 | Hartley Abe Hartley Abraham "Abe" Hartley was a Scottish footballer who played for Everton as a centre forward for five years in the 1890s. He also played for Merseyside rivals Liverpool and for his local club, Dumbarton. His career also included stints at Southampton, Woolwich Arsenal and Burnley at the end of his... , McLean Duncan McLean (footballer born 1874) Duncan McLean was a Scottish professional footballer who played for various clubs around the turn of the 20th century, including Southampton in 1898–99, where he helped win the Southern League championship.-Football career:... , Wood Harry Wood (footballer) Harry Wood was a professional footballer who played most of his career as an inside-forward for Wolverhampton Wanderers and Southampton.-Wolverhampton Wanderers:... , Own goal Own goal An own net occurs in goal-scoring games when a player scores a goal that is registered against his or her own team. It is usually accidental, and may be a result of an attempt at defensive play that failed or was spoiled by opponents.... |
| 27 March 1899 | Brighton United Brighton United F.C. Brighton United F.C. were an association football club based in Brighton, Sussex who were active for a few years at the end of the 19th century.... |
A | 2 – 0 | Steven David Steven David Steven was a Scottish professional footballer who played as an inside-forward around the turn of the 20th century, spending most of his career with his hometown club, Dundee, before he died from a heart attack aged only 25.... (2) |
| 31 March 1899 | Tottenham Hotspur Tottenham Hotspur F.C. Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane.... |
A | 1 – 0 | Wood Harry Wood (footballer) Harry Wood was a professional footballer who played most of his career as an inside-forward for Wolverhampton Wanderers and Southampton.-Wolverhampton Wanderers:... |
| 4 April 1899 | 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... |
A | 1 – 2 | Haynes Harry Haynes Harry Haynes was an English footballer who played as a full back for Wolverhampton Wanderers, Small Heath and Southampton in the 1890s.-Midlands:... |
| 22 April 1899 | Chatham Town Chatham Town F.C. Chatham Town are an English Association Football club based in Chatham, Kent. They currently play in Division One North of the Isthmian League and are nicknamed "The Chats".... |
A | 2 – 1 | McLean Duncan McLean (footballer born 1874) Duncan McLean was a Scottish professional footballer who played for various clubs around the turn of the 20th century, including Southampton in 1898–99, where he helped win the Southern League championship.-Football career:... , Wood Harry Wood (footballer) Harry Wood was a professional footballer who played most of his career as an inside-forward for Wolverhampton Wanderers and Southampton.-Wolverhampton Wanderers:... |
| 24 April 1899 | New Brompton | A | 1 – 1 | Haynes Harry Haynes Harry Haynes was an English footballer who played as a full back for Wolverhampton Wanderers, Small Heath and Southampton in the 1890s.-Midlands:... |
| 29 April 1899 | 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... |
A | 4 – 3 | Wood Harry Wood (footballer) Harry Wood was a professional footballer who played most of his career as an inside-forward for Wolverhampton Wanderers and Southampton.-Wolverhampton Wanderers:... (2), Chadwick Arthur Chadwick Arthur Chadwick was a professional footballer whose playing career included spells at Portsmouth and Southampton, before going on to be manager at Exeter City, Reading and Southampton... , McLean Duncan McLean (footballer born 1874) Duncan McLean was a Scottish professional footballer who played for various clubs around the turn of the 20th century, including Southampton in 1898–99, where he helped win the Southern League championship.-Football career:... |
Legend
| Win | Draw | Loss |
Top of league table
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Average 1 | Points 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southampton | 24 | 15 | 5 | 4 | 54 | 24 | 2.25 | 35 |
| 2 | Bristol City | 24 | 15 | 3 | 6 | 55 | 33 | 1.67 | 33 |
| 3 | Millwall Athletic | 24 | 12 | 6 | 6 | 59 | 35 | 1.69 | 30 |
Played = Matches played; Won = Matches won; Drawn = Matches drawn; Lost = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GA = Goal average; Points = Points scored
1 Teams tied on points were separated by use of goal average.
2 The points system: 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 points for a defeat.
FA Cup
Southampton were excused the qualifying competition of the FA Cup, having reached the semi-finals in the previous year1897–98 Southampton F.C. season
The 1897–98 season was the 13th since the foundation of Southampton F.C. and their fourth in league football, as members of the Southern League.The club improved on their performance in the previous successful season, retaining the Southern League title and reaching the Semi-final of the FA Cup for...
. In Round One, they met fellow Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
side, New Brompton, with Abe Hartley
Abe Hartley
Abraham "Abe" Hartley was a Scottish footballer who played for Everton as a centre forward for five years in the 1890s. He also played for Merseyside rivals Liverpool and for his local club, Dumbarton. His career also included stints at Southampton, Woolwich Arsenal and Burnley at the end of his...
scoring the winner 20 minutes from time. In the Second Round, Hartley was again the goalscorer, "dribbling through a bewildered Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
defence before scoring with a glorious shot".
This set up the first FA Cup match to be played at The Dell, against Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
of the Football League First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
, who were the beaten finalists from the previous year. Although Tom Nicol
Tom Nicol
Thomas H. "Tom" Nicol was a Scottish footballer who played for Burnley first as a centre forward and then as a full back in the 1890s, before later becoming a bowls champion in Southampton.-Burnley:...
scored the first-ever FA Cup goal at The Dell, goals from Steve Bloomer
Steve Bloomer
Steve Bloomer was an English footballer and manager who played for Derby County, Middlesbrough and England during the 1890s and 1900s. Bloomer remains a legend at Derby County and the club anthem, Steve Bloomer's Watchin', is played before every home game...
and Billy McDonald
Billy McDonald
William James McDonald was a former professional footballer, where he played in the Football League for Stoke for whom he made nine appearances. He also played for Derby County.- Career statistics :-References:...
eased Derby through, on their way to another final.
FA Cup results
| Date | Round | Opponents | H / A | Result F – A |
Scorers | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 January 1899 | Round 1 Proper | New Brompton | A | 1 – 0 | Hartley Abe Hartley Abraham "Abe" Hartley was a Scottish footballer who played for Everton as a centre forward for five years in the 1890s. He also played for Merseyside rivals Liverpool and for his local club, Dumbarton. His career also included stints at Southampton, Woolwich Arsenal and Burnley at the end of his... |
5,000 |
| 11 February 1899 | Round 2 Proper | Notts County Notts County F.C. Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system... |
A | 1 – 0 | Hartley Abe Hartley Abraham "Abe" Hartley was a Scottish footballer who played for Everton as a centre forward for five years in the 1890s. He also played for Merseyside rivals Liverpool and for his local club, Dumbarton. His career also included stints at Southampton, Woolwich Arsenal and Burnley at the end of his... |
18,000 |
| 25 February 1899 | Round 3 Proper | Derby County Derby County F.C. Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English... |
H | 1 – 2 | Nicol Tom Nicol Thomas H. "Tom" Nicol was a Scottish footballer who played for Burnley first as a centre forward and then as a full back in the 1890s, before later becoming a bowls champion in Southampton.-Burnley:... |
14,000 |
Friendly matches
Towards the end of the season, Southampton played a series of friendly matches against the Corinthians — the first two 9both played away) were drawn, but the third the famous amateur side visited The Dell on 1 April 1899. Amongst the Corinthian XI was C.B. Fry, who charged Robinson in the Saints' goal late in the first half, fracturing his own cheekbone. Although he received treatment from the Southampton club president, Dr. BencraftRussell Bencraft
Sir Henry William Russell Bencraft CBE MRCS, LRCP was an English cricketer, cricket administrator and medical practitioner. He was born at Southampton, Hampshire.-Hampshire County Cricket Club:...
, Fry was unable to continue and had to be helped from the pitch. Despite playing on with only ten men, the Corinthians still managed to win 2–1.
Two days later, Southampton entertained Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
, the newly crowned Scottish Football League
Scottish Football League
The Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division. From the league's foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, the Scottish Football League...
champions, with the Saints going down by the single goal.
Player statistics
| Position | Nationality | Name | League apps |
League goals |
FA Cup apps |
FA Cup goals |
Total apps |
Total goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FW |  Kingdom of Scotland |
2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| FW |  Kingdom of England |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| HB | Kingdom of England |
17 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 2 | |
| HB | Kingdom of Scotland |
4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| FB | Kingdom of England |
16 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 19 | 0 | |
| FW | Kingdom of Scotland |
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| FW | Kingdom of Scotland |
21 | 14 | 3 | 2 | 24 | 16 | |
| FB | Kingdom of England |
21 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 24 | 2 | |
| GK | Kingdom of England |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| FW | Kingdom of Scotland |
10 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 6 | |
| FW | Kingdom of Scotland |
6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 3 | |
| FW | Kingdom of Scotland |
8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 3 | |
| FW | Kingdom of Scotland |
3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| FB | Kingdom of Scotland |
15 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 18 | 0 | |
| FB | Kingdom of Scotland |
18 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 21 | 1 | |
| FB | Kingdom of Scotland |
8 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 11 | 2 | |
| HB | Kingdom of Scotland |
9 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 12 | 1 | |
| HB | Kingdom of Scotland |
19 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 22 | 0 | |
| GK | Kingdom of England |
24 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 27 | 0 | |
| FW | Kingdom of England |
8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | |
| FW | Kingdom of England |
14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 1 | |
| FW | Kingdom of Scotland |
9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 2 | |
| FW | Kingdom of England |
24 | 16 | 3 | 0 | 27 | 16 | |
| FW | Kingdom of England |
7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
Key
- GK — Goalkeeper
- FB — Full back
- HB — Half back
- FW — Forward
In
| Date | Position | Name | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 1898 | FW | Sid Cavendish Sid Cavendish Sidney William "Sid" Cavendish was an English professional footballer who played at inside-forward for various clubs around the turn of the 20th century.-Football career:... |
Overseal Town |
| May 1898 | HB | Geordie Dewar Geordie Dewar George "Geordie" Dewar , was a Scottish footballer who played in the early days of professional football for Blackburn Rovers as well as being capped twice for Scotland... |
New Brighton Tower New Brighton Tower F.C. New Brighton Tower F.C. was a short-lived English football club based in New Brighton, Merseyside. Established in 1896, the club spent three seasons in the Football League before folding in 1901. They played at the 80,000-capacity Tower Athletic Grounds.... |
| May 1898 | FB | Peter Durber Peter Durber Peter Durber was a professional footballer who played in the 1900 FA Cup final for Southampton, beating three First division clubs along the way.-Career:... |
Stoke |
| May 1898 | FW | Walter Fairgrieve Walter Fairgrieve Walter Robert Fairgrieve was a Scottish professional footballer who played as an outside forward for Southampton and Luton Town in the late 1890s.-Football career:... |
Glasgow Perthshire Glasgow Perthshire F.C. Glasgow Perthshire Football Club are a Scottish football club based in Possilpark, in the North of Glasgow. Nicknamed the Shire, they were formed in 1890 and play at Keppoch Park, not far from the Saracen Park home of Ashfield... |
| May 1898 | FW | Abe Hartley Abe Hartley Abraham "Abe" Hartley was a Scottish footballer who played for Everton as a centre forward for five years in the 1890s. He also played for Merseyside rivals Liverpool and for his local club, Dumbarton. His career also included stints at Southampton, Woolwich Arsenal and Burnley at the end of his... |
Liverpool Liverpool F.C. Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups... |
| May 1898 | GK | John Joyce John Joyce (footballer) John William Joyce was an English footballer who played as a goalkeeper for various clubs between 1898 and 1920. Throughout his career, he was known to supporters as "Tiny" in allusion to his size, being 6 feet tall and weighing 14 stone.-Football career:Joyce was born in Burton upon Trent,... |
Overseal Town |
| Summer 1898 | FW | Jim McKenzie Jim McKenzie (footballer) James R. McKenzie was a Scottish professional footballer who played as an outside-forward for various clubs in Scotland and England in the 1890s.-Football career:... |
Clyde Clyde F.C. Clyde Football Club are a Scottish professional football team currently playing in the Third Division of the Scottish Football League. Although based for the last fifteen years in the new town of Cumbernauld, they are traditionally associated with an area that covers Rutherglen in South... |
| February 1899 | FW | Duncan McLean Duncan McLean (footballer born 1874) Duncan McLean was a Scottish professional footballer who played for various clubs around the turn of the 20th century, including Southampton in 1898–99, where he helped win the Southern League championship.-Football career:... |
Cowes |
| April 1899 | FW | Roddy McLeod Roddy McLeod Roderick McLeod was a Scottish professional footballer who was part of the West Bromwich Albion team which won the FA Cup in 1892, and was a losing finalist in 1895.-West Bromwich Albion:... |
Brighton United Brighton United F.C. Brighton United F.C. were an association football club based in Brighton, Sussex who were active for a few years at the end of the 19th century.... |
| August 1898 | FB | Peter Meehan Peter Meehan Peter Meehan was a Scottish professional footballer best known for making nineteen appearances in Sunderland's English Title winning team of 1895.... |
Everton Everton F.C. Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football... |
| May 1898 | HB | John Robertson | Everton Everton F.C. Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football... |
| August 1898 | GK | Jack Robinson Jack Robinson (footballer) John William "Jack" Robinson , was a professional footballer who played for, among others Derby County, Southampton and England.-Football career:... |
New Brighton Tower New Brighton Tower F.C. New Brighton Tower F.C. was a short-lived English football club based in New Brighton, Merseyside. Established in 1896, the club spent three seasons in the Football League before folding in 1901. They played at the 80,000-capacity Tower Athletic Grounds.... |
| Summer 1898 | FW | George Seeley George Seeley George Alfred Seeley was an English professional footballer who played for various clubs around the turn of the 20th century, including Southampton in 1898–99, where he helped win the Southern League championship.... |
Eastville Rovers |
| Summer 1898 | FW | Tom Smith Tom Smith (footballer born 1877) Thomas "Tom" Smith was a professional English footballer who played at outside-right for various clubs around the turn of the 20th century.-Football career:... |
Preston North End Preston North End F.C. Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One... |
| May 1898 | FW | Harry Wood Harry Wood (footballer) Harry Wood was a professional footballer who played most of his career as an inside-forward for Wolverhampton Wanderers and Southampton.-Wolverhampton Wanderers:... |
Wolverhampton Wanderers Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at... |
Departures
| Date | Position | Name | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer 1898 | FW | Bob Brown Bob Brown (Victorian footballer) Robert "Bob" Brown was an English professional footballer who played as an outside-forward for various clubs at the end of the 19th century, including three years in the Football League with Burton Wanderers and a year at Southampton in 1897–98, where he helped win the Southern League... |
Queens Park Rangers Queens Park Rangers F.C. Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years... |
| May 1898 | GK | George Clawley George Clawley George Clawley was an English professional goalkeeper who played for Stoke, Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries... |
Stoke |
| Summer 1898 | FW | Jack Farrell Jack Farrell (footballer) John "Jack" Farrell was an English professional footballer who played as a forward. Farrell played in the Football League for Stoke and New Brighton Tower and played a major part in Southern league club Southampton's major cup runs at the turn of the 20th Century.-Early career:Farrell was born in... |
Stoke |
| December 1898 | FW | Jim McKenzie Jim McKenzie (footballer) James R. McKenzie was a Scottish professional footballer who played as an outside-forward for various clubs in Scotland and England in the 1890s.-Football career:... |
Retired |
| Summer 1898 | HB | John McMillan John McMillan (footballer born 1865) John McMillan was a Scottish professional footballer who played at half-back for Heart of Midlothian and Southampton in the 1890s.-Football career:... |
Retired |
| Summer 1898 | FW | Willie Naughton Willie Naughton William A. "Willie" Naughton was a Scottish professional footballer, who played as an outside-forward for various clubs in Scotland and England in the 1880s and 1890s, including Celtic, Stoke and Southampton... |
Carfin Rovers |
| July 1898 | FW | Jack Reynolds Jack Reynolds (footballer born 1869) John "Jack" Reynolds was a footballer who played for, among others, West Bromwich Albion, Aston Villa and Celtic. As an international he played five times for Ireland before it emerged that he was actually English and he subsequently played eight times for England... |
Bristol St George |
| May 1898 | FW | Joe Turner Joe Turner (footballer) Joseph Turner was a professional footballer who played in the 1902 FA Cup final for Southampton. Southampton were a Southern League club at the time, and their feat was all the more remarkable in that they had already been losing finalists two years earlier... |
Stoke |