Founder members triumph over Potters in first outing
ON this day 125 years ago founder members Albion beat Stoke 2-0 to top the opening-day English Football League table.
Handsworth-born Joe Wilson fired the club’s maiden league goal before George ‘Spry’ Woodhall netted a second in front of 4,524 spectators at the Victoria Ground.
Despite big victories for Preston North End and Derby County, goal-average saw the Throstles sit pretty at the summit on the night of Saturday, September 8, 1888.
Albion went on to finish sixth in the inaugural season of league football – with North End crowned champions.
RESULTS - Saturday, September 8, 1888
Bolton Wanderers 3 Derby County 6
Everton 2 Accrington 1
Preston North End 5 Burnley 2
Stoke City 0 Albion2
Wolverhampton Wanderers 1 Aston Villa 1
English Football League table Saturday, September 8, 1888
|
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Average | Pts |
1 | ALBION | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | 2 |
2 | Preston | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 2.5 | 2 |
3 | Derby | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
4 | Everton | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
5 | Villa | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
6 | Wolves | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
7 | Blackburn | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
8 | Notts County | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
9 | Accrington | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0.5 | 0 |
10 | Bolton | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 0.5 | 0 |
11 | Burnley | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 0.4 | 0 |
12 | Stoke | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
PIC (TOP): 1888 FA CUP WINNERS… Albion’s team ahead of their first-ever league campaign. Back row: A Aldridge, E Horton, H Green, G Timmins, R Roberts, C Perry, J Wilson. Front row: G Woodhall, W Bassett, J Bayliss, T Pearson.