Preston set the standards in the early years, winning the league in the first two seasons and finishing runners-up in the following three campaigns. The inaugural season, 1888-89, was the most remarkable, Preston remaining unbeaten on tlieir way to the championship, and not conceding a goal in the FA Cup, which they won by defeating Wolves 3-0 in the Final. Quite justifiably they were dubbed the “Invincibles”.The team’s star striker was a Scot, John Goodall. Goodall had previously shone for Great Lever, and representatives from Deepdale all but kidnapped him to acquire his services. Apart from his goalscoring feats, Goodall was also noteworthy for the fact that despite his roots he played international football for England by dint of residence. Goodall left to join Derby after Preston’s Double-winning campaign.
Rise of Sunderland
Supremacy passed from Preston to Sunderland. The Wearside club had replaced founder-members Stoke in the 1890-91 season and finished in mid-table in their first campaign. They would have finished fifth but had two points deducted for fielding ’keeper Ned Doig before his move from Arbroath was sanctioned. In the next four years Sunderland lifted the title three times and were runners-up once. Of the 116 games played during those four campaigns the “team-of-all-talents” won 81, drew 13 and were beaten just 22 times. Their success was based on a phenomenal home record; the team lost just once in six years on their own ground.
The first of Sunderland’s championships came in 1891-92, when the league was also extended to 14 clubs. Stoke were back, and Darwen were admitted. These clubs occupied the bottom two places, and Darwen had the dubious honour of becoming the first-ever team to suffer relegation to the newly-formed Second Division. The following year saw the league expanded again, to 16 clubs. Nottingham Forest were finally admitted, and ended their debut season in mid-table. The other debutants didn’t fare quite so well. Newton Heath, the team that would eventually be reconstituted as Manchester United, propped up the table five points adrift of their nearest rivals.
The Gunners had been formed in 1886, turned professional in 1891 and had already undergone three name changes.
World History
