1907–08 Football League

The 1907–08 Football League season was the 20th season of The Football League.

The Football League

Season	1907–08
Champions	Manchester United
Relegated	Lincoln City
Resigned	Stoke
New clubs in league	Fulham Oldham Athletic
← 1906–07 1908–09 →

This season saw the only occasion in history of the Football League where two teams have finished with exactly identical records (12 wins, 12 draws, 14 losses, 51 goals scored, 63 goals conceded), resulting in a tied 14th place between Woolwich Arsenal and Blackburn Rovers.

Final league tables

Beginning in the 1894–95 season, clubs finishing level on points were separated according to goal average (goals scored divided by goals conceded). In case one or more teams had the same goal difference, this system favoured those teams who had scored fewer goals. The goal average system was eventually scrapped beginning with the 1976–77 season.

During the first six seasons of the league, (up to the 1893–94 season), re-election process concerned the clubs which finished in the bottom four of the league. From the 1894–95 season and until the 1920–21 season the re-election process was required of the clubs which finished in the bottom three of the league.

First Division

First Division

Season	1907–08
Champions	Manchester United 1st English title
Relegated	Bolton Wanderers Birmingham
Matches played	380
Goals scored	1,176 (3.09 per match)
Top goalscorer	Enoch West (27 goals)
Biggest home win	Newcastle United 8–0 Birmingham (23 November 1907)
Biggest away win	Newcastle United 1–6 Manchester United (12 October 1907)
Highest scoring	Liverpool 7–4 Manchester United (25 March 1908)
← 1906–07 1908–09 →

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GAv	Pts	Relegation
1	Manchester United (C)	38	23	6	9	81	48	1.688	52
2	Aston Villa	38	17	9	12	77	59	1.305	43
3	Manchester City	38	16	11	11	62	54	1.148	43
4	Newcastle United	38	15	12	11	65	54	1.204	42
5	The Wednesday	38	19	4	15	73	64	1.141	42
6	Middlesbrough	38	17	7	14	54	45	1.200	41
7	Bury	38	14	11	13	58	61	0.951	39
8	Liverpool	38	16	6	16	68	61	1.115	38
9	Nottingham Forest	38	13	11	14	59	62	0.952	37
10	Bristol City	38	12	12	14	58	61	0.951	36
11	Everton	38	15	6	17	58	64	0.906	36
12	Preston North End	38	12	12	14	47	53	0.887	36
13	Chelsea	38	14	8	16	53	62	0.855	36
14	Blackburn Rovers	38	12	12	14	51	63	0.810	36
15	Woolwich Arsenal	38	12	12	14	51	63	0.810	36
16	Sunderland	38	16	3	19	78	75	1.040	35
17	Sheffield United	38	12	11	15	52	58	0.897	35
18	Notts County	38	13	8	17	39	51	0.765	34
19	Bolton Wanderers (R)	38	14	5	19	52	58	0.897	33	Relegation to the Second Division
20	Birmingham (R)	38	9	12	17	40	60	0.667	30

Source: World Football
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated

Results

Home \ Away	AST	BIR	BLB	BOL	BRI	BRY	CHE	EVE	LIV	MCI	MUN	MID	NEW	NOT	NTC	PNE	SHU	SUN	WED	WOO
Aston Villa		2–3	1–1	2–0	4–4	2–2	0–0	0–2	5–1	2–2	1–4	6–0	3–3	4–0	5–1	3–0	1–0	1–0	5–0	0–1
Birmingham	2–3		1–1	2–1	0–4	0–1	1–1	2–1	1–1	2–1	3–4	1–4	1–1	1–0	0–0	2–0	0–0	0–2	2–1	1–2
Blackburn Rovers	2–0	1–0		3–2	4–1	1–0	2–0	2–0	1–3	0–0	1–5	2–0	1–1	3–3	1–1	1–1	3–3	4–2	2–0	1–1
Bolton Wanderers	3–1	1–0	3–1		1–2	3–6	1–2	3–0	0–4	2–0	2–2	1–1	4–0	1–0	0–1	2–0	1–1	2–3	2–1	3–1
Bristol City	2–2	0–0	2–2	2–0		1–1	0–0	3–2	2–0	2–1	1–1	0–1	1–1	3–0	2–1	1–3	3–2	3–0	0–2	1–2
Bury	2–1	1–0	1–1	2–2	1–1		1–1	3–0	3–1	0–0	0–1	1–4	1–2	0–0	0–0	5–1	3–2	2–1	0–2	3–2
Chelsea	1–3	2–2	1–0	1–3	4–1	3–4		2–1	0–2	2–2	1–4	1–0	2–0	0–4	1–2	0–0	2–4	2–1	3–1	2–1
Everton	1–0	4–1	4–1	2–1	0–0	6–1	0–3		2–4	3–3	1–3	2–1	2–0	1–0	1–0	2–1	2–1	0–3	0–0	1–1
Liverpool	5–0	3–4	2–0	1–0	3–1	2–1	1–4	0–0		0–1	7–4	0–1	1–5	0–0	6–0	1–2	3–0	1–0	3–0	4–1
Manchester City	3–2	2–1	2–0	1–0	0–0	2–2	0–3	4–2	1–1		0–0	2–1	1–0	4–2	2–1	5–0	0–2	0–0	3–2	4–0
Manchester United	1–2	1–0	1–2	2–1	2–1	2–1	1–0	4–3	4–0	3–1		2–1	1–1	4–0	0–1	2–1	2–1	3–0	4–1	4–2
Middlesbrough	0–1	1–0	3–0	0–1	0–2	0–2	3–1	0–2	3–1	2–0	2–1		2–1	1–1	3–1	1–0	2–0	3–1	6–1	0–0
Newcastle United	2–5	8–0	3–0	3–0	2–0	3–0	1–0	2–1	3–1	1–1	1–6	1–1		3–0	1–1	0–0	2–3	1–3	2–1	2–1
Nottingham Forest	2–2	1–1	3–2	1–0	3–1	1–2	6–0	5–2	3–1	3–1	2–0	0–3	0–0		2–0	2–2	1–1	4–1	2–2	1–0
Notts County	0–3	0–0	0–2	0–1	3–1	2–1	2–0	2–1	2–2	1–0	1–1	2–0	0–1	2–0		0–1	0–3	4–0	1–2	2–0
Preston North End	3–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	3–0	3–1	2–4	2–2	3–0	2–4	0–0	1–1	2–0	0–1	1–0		0–0	3–2	1–1	3–0
Sheffield United	1–1	1–0	4–2	1–0	2–0	0–2	0–3	2–0	0–0	1–2	2–0	0–0	1–1	2–2	0–1	2–0		5–3	1–3	2–2
Sunderland	3–0	1–0	4–0	1–2	3–3	6–2	3–0	1–2	1–0	2–5	1–2	0–0	2–4	7–2	4–3	4–1	4–1		1–2	5–2
The Wednesday	2–3	1–4	2–0	5–2	5–3	2–0	3–1	1–2	1–2	5–1	2–0	3–2	3–1	2–1	2–0	1–0	2–0	2–3		6–0
Woolwich Arsenal	0–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	0–4	0–0	0–0	2–1	2–1	2–1	1–0	4–1	2–2	3–1	1–1	1–1	5–1	4–0	1–1

Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source:
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Maps

Aston Villa

Birmingham

Blackburn Rovers

Bolton Wanderers

Bristol City

Bury

Chelsea

Everton

Liverpool

Newcastle

Nottingham Forest

Manchester City

Manchester United

Middlesbrough

Notts County

Preston North End

Sunderland

Sheffield United

The Wednesday (Sheffield)

Woolwich Arsenal

Locations of the Football League First Division teams

Second Division

Football League
Second Division

Season	1907–08
Champions	Bradford City (1st title)
Failed re-election	Lincoln City
Matches played	380
Goals scored	1,187 (3.12 per match)
Top goalscorer	John Smith (Hull City), 27
← 1906–07 1908–09 →

Pos	Team	Pld	HW	HD	HL	HGF	HGA	AW	AD	AL	AGF	AGA	GAv	Pts	Promotion or relegation
1	Bradford City	38	15	2	2	58	16	9	4	6	32	26	2.143	54	Division champions
2	Leicester Fosse	38	14	2	3	41	20	7	8	4	31	27	1.532	52	Promoted
3	Oldham Athletic[a]	38	15	4	0	53	14	7	2	10	23	28	1.810	50
4	Fulham[a]	38	12	2	5	50	14	10	3	6	32	35	1.673	49
5	West Bromwich Albion	38	13	3	3	38	13	6	6	7	23	26	1.564	47
6	Derby County	38	15	1	3	50	13	6	3	10	27	32	1.711	46
7	Burnley	38	14	3	2	44	14	6	3	10	23	36	1.340	46
8	Hull City	38	15	1	3	50	23	6	3	10	23	39	1.177	46
9	Wolverhampton Wanderers	38	11	4	4	34	11	4	3	12	16	34	1.111	37	FA Cup Winners
10	Stoke[b]	38	11	5	3	43	13	5	0	14	14	39	1.096	37	Resigned
11	Gainsborough Trinity	38	9	4	6	31	28	5	3	11	16	43	0.662	35
12	Leeds City	38	9	6	4	33	18	3	2	14	20	47	0.815	32
13	Stockport County	38	9	4	6	35	26	3	4	12	13	41	0.716	32
14	Clapton Orient	38	10	5	4	28	13	1	5	13	12	52	0.615	32
15	Blackpool	38	11	3	5	33	19	0	6	13	18	39	0.879	31
16	Barnsley	38	8	3	8	41	31	4	3	12	13	37	0.794	30
17	Glossop	38	9	5	5	36	26	2	3	14	18	48	0.730	30
18	Grimsby Town	38	8	5	6	27	24	3	3	13	16	47	0.606	30	Re-elected
19	Chesterfield Town	38	6	6	7	33	38	0	5	14	13	54	0.500	23
20	Lincoln City	38	7	2	10	27	28	2	1	16	19	55	0.554	21	Failed re-election

Source: ^{[citation needed]}
Notes:

1. New club in the league
2. Stoke resigned from the Football League due to financial difficulties. Bradford Park Avenue and Tottenham Hotspur took the available places in the league the following season.

Results

Home \ Away	BAR	BLP	BRA	BUR	CHF	CLA	DER	FUL	GAI	GLP	GRI	HUL	LEE	LEI	LIN	OLD	STP	STK	WBA	WOL
Barnsley		0–0	1–2	2–3	5–2	2–2	2–4	6–0	1–2	4–1	2–1	4–2	1–3	1–3	2–1	2–1	0–0	0–1	1–3	5–0
Blackpool	1–1		2–1	1–0	2–0	5–0	1–0	2–1	0–1	4–0	3–0	1–1	2–3	2–2	4–3	1–0	1–3	1–0	0–1	0–2
Bradford City	2–0	3–0		2–0	8–1	1–0	3–1	1–3	7–1	2–1	1–1	2–1	5–0	1–5	2–0	1–0	5–0	6–0	0–0	6–2
Burnley	4–1	2–1	2–1		1–1	3–0	2–2	0–1	2–0	1–0	5–1	5–0	1–0	4–1	1–2	2–1	4–0	3–1	1–1	1–0
Chesterfield	1–3	3–2	1–1	2–4		1–1	0–2	1–1	2–2	3–7	0–0	1–2	4–3	2–2	2–1	1–2	4–1	2–4	1–0	2–0
Clapton Orient	2–0	1–1	0–3	0–1	5–1		1–0	0–1	2–0	0–0	2–1	1–0	0–0	0–1	2–0	2–0	4–1	3–0	2–2	1–1
Derby County	3–0	2–1	2–3	1–0	0–0	4–0		0–1	5–2	2–0	4–0	4–1	6–1	1–2	4–0	1–0	3–0	3–0	2–0	3–2
Fulham	2–0	3–0	0–2	2–1	5–0	4–0	0–0		6–0	6–1	0–1	0–1	2–0	5–1	6–1	1–2	0–1	5–1	1–1	2–1
Gainsborough Trinity	0–1	2–1	1–5	2–0	2–1	0–0	1–4	3–3		1–0	3–2	1–2	2–1	1–1	5–1	1–1	3–2	2–0	1–2	0–1
Glossop	3–1	2–2	2–2	3–1	3–2	2–1	2–3	1–2	1–0		1–2	5–1	0–2	2–3	3–1	0–0	1–1	2–0	2–1	1–1
Grimsby Town	4–1	2–2	0–1	0–1	4–3	0–0	1–0	0–4	1–4	4–0		1–1	2–0	1–1	0–2	2–0	2–1	1–0	2–2	0–1
Hull City	2–0	3–2	0–2	3–1	2–0	5–0	4–0	1–2	0–1	3–2	4–2		4–1	3–2	5–3	3–2	0–0	2–1	4–2	2–0
Leeds City	1–1	1–1	0–1	2–2	0–0	5–2	5–1	0–1	0–0	2–1	4–1	3–2		0–0	2–1	1–2	3–0	0–1	1–0	3–1
Leicester Fosse	4–0	2–1	2–1	3–1	3–1	0–2	1–3	2–3	3–0	3–1	1–1	3–2	2–2		1–0	4–1	2–1	1–0	3–0	1–0
Lincoln City	0–2	2–0	2–4	1–3	4–0	2–2	1–0	2–4	2–0	0–1	1–0	0–1	5–0	0–3		0–2	1–1	1–2	0–2	3–1
Oldham Athletic	1–0	3–2	4–0	1–1	4–0	4–1	3–1	3–3	4–1	0–0	2–0	3–0	4–2	1–1	4–0		5–0	3–1	2–1	2–0
Stockport County	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–3	1–0	6–1	2–1	2–0	1–1	3–2	3–0	2–3	2–1	2–1	1–1	2–3		1–2	1–2	1–3
Stoke	4–0	3–1	3–0	0–0	1–1	3–0	0–3	6–1	5–0	4–0	5–0	1–1	2–1	0–1	3–0	1–3	1–0		1–1	0–0
West Bromwich Albion	1–1	3–0	3–2	5–0	4–0	3–0	1–0	3–1	0–1	1–1	1–2	1–0	1–0	1–1	5–2	1–2	2–0	1–0		1–0
Wolverhampton Wanderers	0–1	1–0	0–0	5–1	0–0	2–0	2–2	2–0	1–0	5–0	5–1	1–2	2–0	0–0	3–0	2–1	0–1	2–0	1–2

Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: www.soccerbase.com
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Maps

Fulham

Oldham

Bradford City

Barnsley

Blackpool

Burnley

Chesterfield

Clapton Orient

Derby County

Gainsborough Trinity

Glossop

Grimsby Town

Hull

Leeds City

Leicester Fosse

Lincoln City

Stockport County

Stoke

West Bromwich Albion

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Locations of the Football League Second Division teams

See also

• 1907–08 in English football

References

• Ian Laschke: Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79. Macdonald and Jane's, London & Sydney, 1980.