The invincibles of Preston, the teams with original colors still and the visionary man who changed Football for ever in England!
The original twelve football clubs forming “The Football League” and playing their first games on 8 of September 1888 were Wolverhamtpon Wanderers, West Bromwich Albion, Stoke City, Notts County, Derby County, Aston Villa, Preston North End, Everton, Burnley, Bolton Wanderers, Blackburn Rovers, and Accrington. Six teams from the Midlands and six from Lancashire as the southern clubs were still on amateur status. From that day the whole football world was going to be revolutionized but definitely nobody who took part on that first Saturday could imagine how the game would grow enormously in the future.
By CHRISTOS SOTIRAKOPOULOS
If someone visits Villa Park,in Birmingham outside of the Trinity Road Stand will see a statue of Aston Villa visionary chairman William McGregor whose idea it was to form the first football league in March 1888. He was fed up with friendlies being cancelled at last minute as many teams did not appear in short notice and they had to refund the tickets and almost went bankrupt. His famous words “I beg to tender the following suggestion: that 10 or 12 of the most prominent Clubs in England combine to arrange home and away fixtures each season.” became the start of something great!
The only certain fixture until then and before the league was the FA Cup that started in 1872 so he felt it was time for a proper league.
There were six teams from Midlands and six from Lancashire that had taken part and only three of those teams had never competed in the reformed Premier league since 1992. Preston North End that they were the first winners actually completing the double as well in the season 1888- 1889 staying undefeated, Notts County and Accrington Stanley.
Ironically Notts were in the top flight in the season before the PL began. That was 1991-92 and actually were one of the clubs who voted in favour of breaking away from the Football League! It was the year Leeds United won the league, but Notts went down with Luton and West Ham despite amassing 40 points in a 42 game season!
As someone can notice from looking at the picture Blackburn and Aston Villa still using the original colours. As for the others were some significant changes early on. For an example Notts county change to their more famous black and white kit two years later 1890 alongside Wolves who adopted their gold kit three years later in 1891. Gold and black as the city’s motto is ‘Out of darkness cometh light’ and reflects being in the Black Country.
There is fantastic book by Mark Metcalf that can be found on Amazon books that is the history of the Football League season 1888/89 told in great depth, with reports on every match and profiles of all those who played - amateur and professional - during this thrilling historic season!
Preston were 'invincible' and set the standards for other great teams to follow. Doubts about who scored the first-ever League goal are ended. The standard of football, equipment used and the tactics adopted to win matches is analysed. In the book there are incidents that paved the way for the introduction of the goal net and penalty kick! The clubs, their pitches and grounds - and the fans that filled them - are explored within the economic circumstances and developments of the era.
The difficulties faced by reporters in ensuring they reported accurately the on-field events on the inaugural League season are also aired.
A must read and at the same time an homage to the season that defined Football for ever!
