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.

Division One

Southern Football League Division One

Season	1898–99
Champions	Southampton (3rd title)
Promoted	none
Relegated	Warmley (resigned)
Matches played	156
Goals scored	506 (3.24 per match)
← 1897–98 1899–1900 →

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

Teams promoted from Division Two:

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

Newly elected teams:

• Bedminster (elected from the Western League)
• Brighton United

Pos	Club	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GAv1	Pts2	Notes
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
4	Chatham Town	24	10	8	6	32	23	1.39	28
5	Reading	24	9	8	7	31	24	1.29	26
6	New Brompton	24	10	5	9	38	30	1.27	25
7	Tottenham Hotspur	24	10	4	10	40	36	1.11	24
8	Bedminster	24	10	4	10	35	39	0.9	24
9	Swindon Town	24	9	5	10	43	49	0.88	23
10	Brighton United	24	9	2	13	37	48	0.77	20
11	Gravesend United	24	7	5	12	42	52	0.81	19
12	Sheppey United	24	5	3	16	23	53	0.43	13	Relegation test matches
13	Royal Artillery	24	4	4	16	17	60	0.28	12	Relegation test matches, changed name to Portsmouth at end of season
14	Warmley	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Resigned from League after 17 matches, record expunged

^{1 The system of using goal average to separate two teams tied on points was used up until the 1976-77 season.}

^{2 The points system: 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 points for losing.}

Division Two London

Southern Football League Division Two London

Season	1898–99
Champions	Thames Ironworks
Promoted	none
Relegated	St Albans (folded) Uxbridge (resigned)
Matches played	132
Goals scored	597 (4.52 per match)
← 1897–98 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

Pos	Club	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GAv1	Pts2	Notes
1	Thames Ironworks	22	19	1	2	64	16	4	39	Promotion test matches
2	Wolverton L&NWR	22	13	4	5	88	43	2.05	30
3	Watford	22	14	2	6	62	35	1.77	30
4	Brentford	22	11	3	8	59	39	1.51	25
5	Wycombe Wanderers	22	10	2	10	55	57	0.96	22
6	Southall	22	11	0	11	44	55	0.8	22
7	Chesham	22	9	2	11	45	62	0.73	20	Changed name to Chesham Town at end of season
8	St Albans	22	8	3	11	45	59	0.76	19	Folded at end of season
9	Shepherds Bush	22	7	3	12	37	53	0.7	17
10	Fulham	22	6	4	12	36	44	0.82	16
11	Uxbridge	22	7	2	13	29	48	0.6	16	Left league at end of season
12	Maidenhead	22	3	2	17	33	86	0.38	8

^{1 The system of using goal average to separate two teams tied on points was used up until the 1976-77 season.}

^{2 The points system: 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 points for losing.}

Division Two South-West

Southern Football League Division Two South-West

Season	1898–99
Champions	Cowes
Promoted	none
Relegated	league disbanded
Matches played	30
Goals scored	160 (5.33 per match)
← 1897–98 1899–1900 →

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

Pos	Club	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GAv1	Pts2	Notes
1	Cowes	10	10	0	0	52	10	5.2	20	Promotion test matches
2	Ryde	10	7	0	3	30	11	2.73	14	Left league at end of season
3	Freemantle	10	5	0	5	21	32	0.66	10	Left league at end of season
4	Sandown Bay	10	4	0	6	22	34	0.65	8	Left league at end of season
5	Eastleigh	10	2	0	8	19	32	0.59	4	Left league at end of season
6	Andover	10	2	0	8	16	41	0.39	4	Left league at end of season
7	East Lancs Regiment	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Resigned from league after three matches, record expunged
8	Trowbridge Town	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Resigned from league after three matches, record expunged

^{1 The system of using goal average to separate two teams tied on points was used up until the 1976-77 season.}

^{2 The points system: 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 points for losing.}

Promotion-relegation test matches

At the end of the season, test matches were held between the bottom two clubs in Division One and the top club in both Division Twos. Royal Artillery lost 4-1 to Cowes, but remained in Division One after reforming as Portsmouth, whilst Cowes were promoted. Sheppey United and Thames Ironworks drew 1-1, leading to Sheppey remaining in Division One and Thames Ironworks joining them.

Division One clubs v Division Two clubs

Division One clubs	v	Division Two clubs

Royal Artillery v Cowes

Royal Artillery	1 – 4	Cowes

Sheppey United v Thames Ironworks

Sheppey United	1 – 1	Thames Ironworks

External links

• Southern League First Division Tables at RSSSF
• Southern League Second Division Tables at RSSSF