English League Tables
1896/97 Tables◄ 1897/98 Tables ►1898/99 Tables
Football League First Division 1897/98
| Pos | Club | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | GA | Pts | Notes |
| 1st | Sheffield United | 30 | 17 | 8 | 5 | 56 | 31 | 1.806 | 42 | Champions |
| 2nd | Sunderland | 30 | 16 | 5 | 9 | 43 | 30 | 1.433 | 37 | Runners Up |
| 3rd | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 30 | 14 | 7 | 9 | 57 | 41 | 1.390 | 35 | - |
| 4th | Everton | 30 | 13 | 9 | 8 | 48 | 39 | 1.231 | 35 | - |
| 5th | The Wednesday | 30 | 15 | 3 | 12 | 51 | 42 | 1.214 | 33 | - |
| 6th | Aston Villa | 30 | 14 | 5 | 11 | 61 | 51 | 1.196 | 33 | - |
| 7th | West Bromwich Albion | 30 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 44 | 45 | 0.978 | 32 | - |
| 8th | Nottingham Forest | 30 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 47 | 49 | 0.959 | 31 | - |
| 9th | Liverpool | 30 | 11 | 6 | 13 | 48 | 45 | 1.067 | 28 | - |
| 10th | Derby County | 30 | 11 | 6 | 13 | 57 | 61 | 0.934 | 28 | - |
| 11th | Bolton Wanderers | 30 | 11 | 4 | 15 | 28 | 41 | 0.683 | 26 | - |
| 12th | Preston North End | 30 | 8 | 8 | 14 | 35 | 43 | 0.814 | 24 | - |
| 13th | Notts County | 30 | 8 | 8 | 14 | 36 | 46 | 0.783 | 24 | - |
| 14th | Bury | 30 | 8 | 8 | 14 | 39 | 51 | 0.765 | 24 | - |
| 15th | Blackburn Rovers | 30 | 7 | 10 | 13 | 39 | 54 | 0.722 | 24 | Retained Status |
| 16th | Stoke | 30 | 8 | 8 | 14 | 35 | 55 | 0.636 | 24 | Retained Status |
Football League Second Division 1897/98
| Pos | Club | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | GA | Pts | Notes |
| 1st | Burnley | 30 | 20 | 8 | 2 | 80 | 24 | 3.333 | 48 | ▲Champions |
| 2nd | Newcastle United | 30 | 21 | 3 | 6 | 64 | 32 | 2.000 | 45 | ▲Runners Up |
| 3rd | Manchester City | 30 | 15 | 9 | 6 | 66 | 36 | 1.833 | 39 | - |
| 4th | Newton Heath | 30 | 16 | 6 | 8 | 64 | 35 | 1.829 | 38 | - |
| 5th | Woolwich Arsenal | 30 | 16 | 5 | 9 | 69 | 49 | 1.408 | 37 | - |
| 6th | Small Heath | 30 | 16 | 4 | 10 | 58 | 50 | 1.160 | 36 | - |
| 7th | Leicester Fosse | 30 | 13 | 7 | 10 | 46 | 35 | 1.314 | 33 | - |
| 8th | Luton Town | 30 | 13 | 4 | 13 | 68 | 50 | 1.360 | 30 | - |
| 9th | Gainsborough Trinity | 30 | 12 | 6 | 12 | 50 | 54 | 0.926 | 30 | - |
| 10th | Walsall | 30 | 12 | 5 | 13 | 58 | 58 | 1.000 | 29 | - |
| 11th | Blackpool | 30 | 10 | 5 | 15 | 49 | 61 | 0.803 | 25 | - |
| 12th | Grimsby Town | 30 | 10 | 4 | 16 | 52 | 62 | 0.839 | 24 | - |
| 13th | Burton Swifts | 30 | 8 | 5 | 17 | 38 | 69 | 0.551 | 21 | - |
| 14th | Lincoln City | 30 | 6 | 5 | 19 | 43 | 82 | 0.524 | 17 | Re Elected |
| 15th | Darwen | 30 | 6 | 2 | 22 | 31 | 76 | 0.408 | 14 | Re Elected |
| 16th | Loughborough | 30 | 6 | 2 | 22 | 24 | 87 | 0.276 | 14 | Re Elected |
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Election for League Membership |
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| The three bottom clubs were required to seek re-election to the League. They were joined in the vote for League membership by 4 non-league clubs. | ||
| Votes | Club | End Result |
| 21 | Lincoln City | Re Elected to the League |
| 18 | Burslem Port Vale | ▲Elected to the League |
| 16 | Loughborough | Re Elected to the League |
| 15 | Darwen | ▼Not Re-Elected to the League |
| 13 | New Brighton Tower | Not Elected to the League |
| 3 | Nelson | Not Elected to the League |
| 1 | Bristol City | Not Elected to the League |
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|
Election for League Membership |
||
| Subsequent to the above vote four new places became available in the Second Division with the re-organisation of the League. No vote was taken and the following was decided: | ||
| Votes | Club | End Result |
| n/a | Darwen | Now Re Elected to the League |
| n/a | Barnsley | ▲Elected to the League |
| n/a | Glossop North End | ▲Elected to the League |
| n/a | New Brighton Tower | ▲Elected to the League |
1896/97 Tables◄ 1897/98 Tables ►1898/99 Tables